The Events which took place during those Eight Days

           Onthefollowingevening,attheusualhour,VanBaerleheardsomeonescratchatthegratedlittlewindow,justasRosahadbeeninthehabitofdoingintheheydayoftheirfriendship.

           Corneliusbeing,asmayeasilybeimagined,notfarofffromthedoor,perceivedRosa,whoatlastwaswaitingagainforhimwithherlampinherhand.

           Seeinghimsosadandpale,shewasstartled,andsaid,—

           “Youareill,MynheerCornelius?”

           “Yes,Iam,”heanswered,asindeedhewassufferinginmindandinbody.

           “Isawthatyoudidnoteat,”saidRosa;“myfathertoldmethatyouremainedinbedallday.Ithenwrotetocalmyouruneasinessconcerningthefateofthemostpreciousobjectofyouranxiety.”

           “AndI,”saidCornelius,“Ihaveanswered.Seeingyourreturn,mydearRosa,Ithoughtyouhadreceivedmyletter.”

           “Itistrue;Ihavereceivedit.”

           “Youcannotthistimeexcuseyourselfwithnotbeingabletoread.Notonlydoyoureadveryfluently,butalsoyouhavemademarvellousprogressinwriting.”

           “Indeed,Ihavenotonlyreceived,butalsoreadyournote.AccordinglyIamcometoseewhethertheremightnotbesomeremedytorestoreyoutohealth.”

           “Restoremetohealth?”criedCornelius;“buthaveyouanygoodnewstocommunicatetome?”

           Sayingthis,thepoorprisonerlookedatRosa,hiseyessparklingwithhope.

           Whethershedidnot,orwouldnot,understandthislook,Rosaansweredgravely,—

           “Ihaveonlytospeaktoyouaboutyourtulip,which,asIwellknow,istheobjectuppermostinyourmind.