All night long the girl watched beside him--to no one would she yield
her place at the sick bed. She had been up till dawn the night before as
well, but how differently occupied! This was her penance.
Now and then she nodded sleepily in her chair, but the slightest moan
from the sick man sufficed to wake her. Sometimes she renewed the cold
bandage on his head, and bathed her own eyes to keep herself awake. At
the first cock-crow kindly sleep settled softly on the patient. He
stretched himself out and began to snore with beautiful regularity. At
first the girl was terrified, and thought the death struggle was at
hand, but presently she grew very happy. This was a good honest snore,
such as could only emanate from healthy lungs; and besides, as she
reflected, it kept her wide awake. When the cock crew for the second
time, he was in a sound slumber.
Then he started from sleep and yawned widely.
Thank heaven! He could yawn again.
The spasms had quite ceased, and all who suffer from their nerves know
the worth of a good yawn after the attack. It is as good as a lottery
prize.
The girl wished to give him more coffee, but the man shook his head.
"Water," he murmured.
So she rapped through to the doctor, who was reposing in the next room,
to know if she might give the patient water, as he was asking for it.
The doctor rose, and came out in dressing-gown and slippers, to see for
himself. He was most satisfied. "He is going on well; to be thirsty is a
good sign. Give him as much water as he wants." The invalid drank a
whole carafe and then dropped into a quiet slumber.
"Now he is fast asleep," said the doctor to Klari, "so you may go and
lie down on the bed in the housekeeper's room. I will leave my door
open, and take care of him."
But the girl pleaded so hard to be allowed to stay, to lean her head on
the table and thus steal a nap, that he at last let her do as she
pleased. Suddenly she awoke with a start to find it was day, and the
sparrows were twittering at the windows.
The patient was then dreaming as well as sleeping. His lips moved, he
murmured something and laughed. His eyes half opened, but evidently with
a great effort, for they closed immediately. But his parched lips seemed
to be asking for something.
"Shall I give you water?" whispered the girl.
"Yes," he muttered, with his eyes shut.
So she brought him the water bottle, but he had not strength enough in
his arms--this great fellow--even to raise the tumbler to his mouth. She
had to lift his head and give it to him. Even while drinking he fell
half asleep.
Hardly had his head touched the pillow when he began to hum
aloud--probably a continuation of the gay air of his dreams:
"Why not love this world of ours?
Gypsy maid, Magyar maid, both are flowers."