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〃What do you mean by that？〃
I was not prepared； and didn't know anything to say； so it was awkward；
for she kept looking at me； but Seppi was alert and spoke up：
〃Why； of course it would be pleasant to remember； for the very reason we
were out so late was that Nikolaus got to telling how good you are to
him； and how he never got whipped when you were by to save him； and he
was so full of it； and we were so full of the interest of it； that none
of us noticed how late it was getting。〃
〃Did he say that？ Did he？〃 and she put her apron to her eyes。
〃You can ask Theodorhe will tell you the same。〃
〃It is a dear； good lad； my Nick；〃 she said。 〃I am sorry I let him get
whipped； I will never do it again。 To thinkall the time I was sitting
here last night； fretting and angry at him； he was loving me and praising
me！ Dear； dear； if we could only know！ Then we shouldn't ever go wrong；
but we are only poor； dumb beasts groping around and making mistakes。 I
shan't ever think of last night without a pang。〃
She was like all the rest； it seemed as if nobody could open a mouth； in
these wretched days； without saying something that made us shiver。 They
were 〃groping around；〃 and did not know what true； sorrowfully true
things they were saying by accident。
Seppi asked if Nikolaus might go out with us。
〃I am sorry；〃 she answered； 〃but he can't。 To punish him further； his
father doesn't allow him to go out of the house to…day。〃
We had a great hope！ I saw it in Seppi's eyes。 We thought； 〃If he
cannot leave the house； he cannot be drowned。〃 Seppi asked； to make
sure：
〃Must he stay in all day； or only the morning？〃
〃All day。 It's such a pity； too； it's a beautiful day； and he is so
unused to being shut up。 But he is busy planning his party； and maybe
that is company for him。 I do hope he isn't too lonesome。〃
Seppi saw that in her eye which emboldened him to ask if we might go up
and help him pass his time。
〃And welcome！〃 she said； right heartily。 〃Now I call that real
friendship； when you might be abroad in the fields and the woods； having
a happy time。 You are good boys； I'll allow that； though you don't
always find satisfactory ways of improving it。 Take these cakesfor
yourselvesand give him this one； from his mother。〃
The first thing we noticed when we entered Nikolaus's room was the time
a quarter to 10。 Could that be correct？ Only such a few minutes to
live！ I felt a contraction at my heart。 Nikolaus jumped up and gave us
a glad welcome。 He was in good spirits over his plannings for his party
and had not been lonesome。
〃Sit down；〃 he said； 〃and look at what I've been doing。 And I've
finished a kite that you will say is a beauty。 It's drying； in the
kitchen； I'll fetch it。〃
He had been spending his penny savings in fanciful trifles of various
kinds； to go as prizes in the games； and they were marshaled with fine
and showy effect upon the table。 He said：
〃Examine them at your leisure while I get mother to touch up the kite
with her iron if it isn't dry enough yet。〃
Then he tripped out and went clattering down…stairs； whistling。
We did not look at the things； we couldn't take any interest in anything
but the clock。 We sat staring at it in silence； listening to the
ticking； and every time the minute…hand jumped we nodded recognitionone
minute fewer to cover in the race for life or for death。 Finally Seppi
drew a deep breath and said：
〃Two minutes to ten。 Seven minutes more and he will pass the death…
point。 Theodor； he is going to be saved！ He's going to〃
〃Hush！ I'm on needles。 Watch the clock and keep still。〃
Five minutes more。 We were panting with the strain and the excitement。
Another three minutes； and there was a footstep on the stair。
〃Saved！〃 And we jumped up and faced the door。
The old mother entered； bringing the kite。 〃Isn't it a beauty？〃 she
said。 〃And； dear me； how he has slaved over itever since daylight； I
think； and only finished it awhile before you came。〃 She stood it
against the wall； and stepped back to take a view of it。 〃He drew the
pictures his own self； and I think they are very good。 The church isn't
so very good； I'll have to admit； but look at the bridgeany one can
recognize the bridge in a minute。 He asked me to bring it up。。。。 Dear
me！ it's seven minutes past ten； and I〃
〃But where is he？〃
〃He？ Oh； he'll be here soon； he's gone out a minute。〃
〃Gone out？〃
〃Yes。 Just as he came down…stairs little Lisa's mother came in and said
the child had wandered off somewhere； and as she was a little uneasy I
told Nikolaus to never mind about his father's ordersgo and look her
up。。。。 Why； how white you two do look！ I do believe you are sick。 Sit
down； I'll fetch something。 That cake has disagreed with you。 It is a
little heavy； but I thought〃
She disappeared without finishing her sentence； and we hurried at once to
the back window and looked toward the river。 There was a great crowd at
the other end of the bridge； and people were flying toward that point
from every direction。
〃Oh； it is all overpoor Nikolaus！ Why； oh； why did she let him get out
of the house！〃
〃Come away；〃 said Seppi； half sobbing； 〃come quickwe can't bear to meet
her； in five minutes she will know。〃
But we were not to escape。 She came upon us at the foot of the stairs；
with her cordials in her hands； and made us come in and sit down and take
the medicine。 Then she watched the effect； and it did not satisfy her；
so she made us wait longer； and kept upbraiding herself for giving us the
unwholesome cake。
Presently the thing happened which we were dreading。 There was a sound
of tramping and scraping outside； and a crowd came solemnly in； with
heads uncovered； and laid the two drowned bodies on the bed。
〃Oh； my God！〃 that poor mother cried out； and fell on her knees； and put
her arms about her dead boy and began to cover the wet face with kisses。
〃Oh； it was I that sent him； and I have been his death。 If I had obeyed；
and kept him in the house； this would not have happened。 And I am
rightly punished； I was cruel to him last night； and him begging me； his
own mother； to be his friend。〃
And so she went on and on； and all the women cried； and pitied her； and
tried to comfort her； but she could not forgive herself and could not be
comforted； and kept on saying if she had not sent him out he would be
alive and well now； and she was the cause of his death。
It shows how foolish people are when they blame themselves for anything
they have done。 Satan knows； and he said nothing happens that your first
act hasn't arranged to happen and made inevitable； and so； of your own
motion you can't ever alter the scheme or do a thing that will break a
link。 Next we heard screams； and Frau Brandt came wildly plowing and
plunging through the crowd with her dress in disorder and hair flying
loose； and flung herself upon her dead child with moans and kisses and
pleadings and endearments； and by and by she rose up almost exhausted
with her outpourings of passionate emotion； and clenched her fist and
lifted it toward the sky； and her tear…drenched face grew hard and