"Come up, Monsieur Moses," said the girl: "the doctor has just come in,
and has not gone to bed. Come up a moment and warm yourself!"
But Father Steinbrenner had heard it all.
"Very well, Theresa!" said he, coming out of his room; "keep the fire
burning. I shall be back in an hour at latest."
He had already put on his large three-cornered cap, and his goat's-hair
great-coat.
We walked across the square without speaking. I went first; in a few
minutes we ascended our stairs.
Sorle had placed a candle at the top of the stairs; I took it and led
M. Steinbrenner to the baby's room.
All seemed quiet as we entered. Zeffen was sitting in an arm-chair
behind the door, with her head on her knees, and her shoulders
uncovered; she was no longer crying but weeping. The child was in bed.
Sorle, standing at its side, looked at us.
The doctor laid his cap on the bureau.
"It is too warm here," said he, "give us a little air."
Then he went to the bed. Zeffen had risen from her chair, as pale as
death. The doctor took the lamp, and looked at our poor little David;
he raised the coverlet and lifted out the little round limbs; he
listened to the breathing. Esdras having begun to cry, he turned round
and said: "Take the other child away from this room--we must be quiet!
and besides, the air of a sick-room is not good for such small
children."
He gave me a side look. I understood what he meant to say. It was the
typhus! I looked at my wife; she understood it all.
I felt at that moment as if my heart were torn; I wanted to groan, but
Zeffen was there leaning over, behind us, and I said nothing; nor did
Sorle.
The doctor asked for paper to write a prescription, and we went out
together. I led him to our room, and shut the door, and began to sob.
"Moses," said he, "you are a man, do not weep! Remember that you ought
to set an example of courage to two poor women."
"Is there no hope?" I asked him in a low voice, afraid of being heard.
"It is the typhus!" said he. "We will do what we can. There, that is
the prescription; go to Tribolin's; his boy is up at night now, and he
will give you the medicine. Be quick! And then, in heaven's name,
take the other child out of that room, and your daughter too, if
possible. Try to find some one out of the family, accustomed to
sickness; the typhus is contagious."