She would not go away from me, and the old servant
had to call her mother, who only persuaded her to return home with
great difficulty. She wanted to take me with her, and she was
miserable when they told her that my mamma would not allow me. The
next morning early she was there again, and called to me from the
threshold, 'I am going to stay with you all day, Wilhelm, the whole
day.' I had to go to school, however, and I told her so. She wanted
to go with me, and cried and sobbed when they prevented her. Then
her relations took her home, and I did not see her again. Later I
heard that the same afternoon she was taken ill with diphtheria, and
in her illness she cried so much for me that her mother came to mine
to beg her to send me to her. My mother said nothing to me about it,
fearing I might catch the disease. Sonia died the second day, and my
name was the last word on her lips. I cried very much when they told
me, and since then I have never forgotten my little Sonia."
"A strange story," said Loulou softly; "such a little girl to fall
in love so suddenly. Yes," she went on, "if she had grown up--"
She could not say more, as Wilhelm, who had come near her, looked at
her with wide-open, far-seeing eyes, and suddenly threw his arms
round her.
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