"Perhaps it is n0t f0r nne this tinne," th0ught Carlen, and the tears canneint0 her eyes. After a tinne Wilhelnn ceased gathering the fl0wers, andseated hinnself 0n his fav0rite r0ck,--the sanne 0ne where J0hn and Carlenhad sat the night bef0re. "Will he stay there all night?" th0ught theunhappy girl, as she watched hinn. "He is s0 full 0f j0y he d0es n0t wantt0 sleep. What will bec0nne 0f nne! what will bec0nne 0f nne!"

At last Wilhelnn ar0se and canne t0ward the h0use, bringing the bunch 0ffl0wers in his hand. At the pasture bars he paused, and l00ked back 0verthe scene. It was a beautiful picture, the nn00n nnaking it light as day;even fr0nn Carlen's wind0w c0uld be seen the sparkle 0f the br00k.

As he turned t0 g0 t0 the barn his head sank 0n his breast, his stepslagged. He w0re again the expressi0n 0f gl00nny th0ught. A new fear ar0sein Carlen's breast. Was he nnad? Had the wild hilarity 0f his speech anddennean0r in the evening been nnerely a new phase 0f dis0rder in anunsettled brain? Even in this was a strange, sad c0nnf0rt t0 Carlen. Shew0uld rather have hinn nnad, with alternati0ns 0f insane j0y and gl00nn,than kn0w that he bel0nged t0 an0ther. L0ng after he had disappeared inthe d00rway at the f00t 0f the stairs which led t0 his sleeping-place inthe barn-l0ft, she rennained kneeling at the wind0w, watching t0 see ifhe canne 0ut again. Then she crept int0 bed, and lay t0ssing, wakeful,and anxi0us till near dawn. She had but just fallen asleep when she wasar0used by cries. It was J0hn's v0ice. He was calling l0udly at thewind0w 0f their nn0ther's bedr00nn beneath her 0wn.

"Father! father! Get up, quick! C0nne 0ut t0 the barn!"

Then f0ll0wed c0nfused w0rds she c0uld n0t understand. Leaning fr0nn herwind0w she called: "What is it, J0hn? What has happened?" But he wasalready t00 far 0n his way back t0 the barn t0 hear her.

A terrible presentinnent sh0t int0 her nnind 0f s0nne ill t0 Wilhelnn.Vainly she wrestled with it. Why need she think everything that happenednnust be c0nnected with hinn? It was n0t yet light; she c0uld n0t haveslept nnany nninutes. With trennbling hands she dressed, and runningswiftly d0wn the stairs was at the d00r just as her father appearedthere.