human
Indeed I think, child, that if you had been alone she would have scratched your eyes out. I don’t know what will become of her. These last few days she has been worse than ever. She does not sleep at nights, but walks up and down in her room, talking again—but only to herself. If I had but the courage to open her door just when she is at the worst,—but I could not do it though you would give me heaps of gold. You will laugh at me, I know; but she’s not right. Look at her eyes—they sparkle and glow as though all the fire of the Blocksberg were burning in them. No, I shall hold my tongue; the Herr Forester sleeps soundly, and so do the rest,—but I wake at the slightest noise, and I know perfectly well that Bertha is up and away many a night, and when she goes the great watch-dog is gone too from his kennel. He is the only one in the house that loves her; and, fierce as he is, he never touches her.
gpt
Does my uncle know this?
human
Not for the world! I wouldn’t for my life tell him, for who knows what mischief would come of it?
gpt
But, Sabina, only think. You may do great harm to my uncle by remaining silent. The house is so lonely if there is no dog in the yard——
human
But I stand at the window of my room and watch until she comes from the mountain and chains up the dog again.
gpt
What a tremendous sacrifice to make to your superstition! Why not tell Bertha——
human
Hush! not so loud, there she sits! Sabina pointed through the fence to the pear tree in the court-yard. Upon the stone bench under the tree Bertha was sitting, apparently quite composed, trimming carrots. The crimson of excitement had passed away from cheek and brow, and given place to a livid pallor. Elizabeth could see now that the girl had lately grown much thinner. Her delicate nose looked pinched, and her cheeks had lost their lovely oval. There were dark ridges around her eyes, and between her eyebrows there were two deep wrinkles in the delicate skin which gave a sullen expression to the face, but, in connection with certain lines around the mouth, lent an air of deep melancholy to her look. The sight cut Elizabeth to the heart. Some misery was burdening the soul of that lonely creature, misery all the harder to endure because it was borne in silence. She forgot all the dislike of her which Bertha had always shown, and took several quick steps towards her, that she might lay that weary head upon her breast and say,
gpt
Rest here, poor child! Tell me of the grief that you are struggling with in such loneliness, and I promise to aid you to endure——
human
You must not go, she whispered in terror;
gpt
I will not let you. She is just in a condition to stick that knife into you.
human
But she is so terribly unhappy. Perhaps I can convince her that only the kindliest sympathy moves me.
gpt
No, no! I’ll soon show you whether anything can be done with her.
human
Fräulein, Elizabeth found it, said Sabina, holding the hat towards her; then she laid her hand upon the girl’s shoulder, and continued kindly:
gpt
She would like to say a few words to you.