CORNELLI
said to himself to strengthen his resolution. Cornelli’s lamentations were too much for him and he rushed away.
Several hours later, the time had come for supper and he returned from the iron foundry.
Esther came to meet him: “Oh, I am glad that you have come, Director,” she said excitedly. “When I went up to Cornelli just now she was crying. I wanted her to taste some of the little plum cakes she usually likes so much, but the poor child only shrieked: ‘Oh, leave me here, leave me here!’ Oh, Mr. Hellmut, what if Cornelli should get sick and die?”
“Nonsense, Esther,” he returned; “children do not die from obstinacy.”
The master of the house had tried to speak harshly, but he did not quite succeed. He ran straight upstairs to Cornelli’s room and saw the child on her knees in front of the bed. Her head was pressed into the pillows and she cried as if her heart was breaking.
“Oh, don’t send me away, don’t send me away!” she cried as soon as he entered.
He saw that Cornelli was trembling all over from fear and excitement. “I cannot endure
172
