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The hawker, too drunk to argue,leaned against the wall and stuttered
irrelevancies.
The doctor was in a white overall, flanked by a Sister, alsoin
stiff, white starch.
He could not swallow: his little mouthand throat were a
bed of ulcers.
These were a present from Mamsell Mimi, and had beenbrought by
special messenger. All day Peterle lay in state on the top of a chest of
drawers.
Until both children slept, she caused the carriage to move gently to
andfro.
With the aid of a neighbour she got the perambulator down the stairs,
andlaid Peterle in it. And Peterles mother forgot Peterle over him; for Willi
wasthe apple of her eye.
Father set off earlier than usualfor work, that he
might register the decease by the way.
I will thank you to give me another cup
of tea. As it was late, and his work over for the day, the doctor was inno
hurry to be gone. Towards evening his moans grew fainter, his little feet
turned cold.
Her eye hung reverently on the silky texture;her fingers followed
it. When Peterle woke and cried,Henriette snatched him from his bed and cuddled
him to her. She pointed with her thumb over her shoulder, wasting no words. But
at this Henriette hugged Peterle to her. A bell rang; the handful of strangers
retired; the ward resumed itseveryday air. Surely five minutes delay will not
seriously inconvenience her,Annemarie?
She was a tall, angular woman,with large
hands, a flat figure, and iron-grey hair. But now, too, for the first time, she
felt howtired she was.
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