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266 antly, and then hurried down the steps with the blessed prospect of having a young and lovely little creature receive him affectionately upon his return from the gloomy gravities of his profession.

When Doctor Graesler entered, Frau Sommer was sitting at the bedside of her child, which tossed about feverishly. After a few introductory questions and remarks he set about making a careful examination of the sick child, and was obliged at the end to express the expectation that a rash would probably break out. The mother was in despair. She had already lost one child three years before, she said, and her husband had died six months ago while he was away from home on a business trip; in fact, she had not even seen his grave. What would become of her if she should now be robbed of the last thing that had been left her? Doctor Graesler explained to her that at present there was no occasion for undue apprehension, that it might possibly turn out to be nothing but a simple inflammation of the throat, and that, moreover, such a strong, well-nourished child ought to be able to offer sufficient resistance to an even more serious illness. He succeeded in advancing any number of reassuring possibilities, and noticed with relief that his sensible words had not failed of their effect upon the mother. He prescribed the necessary medicines, and the servant was dispatched to the nearby pharmacy; meanwhile Graesler tarried at the bedside of the child, feeling its pulse from time to time and frequently touching its hot, dry forehead, on which his hand occasionally met that of the solicitous mother. After a silence of some duration the latter began again to whisper anxious questions; the doctor seized her hand in a fatherly manner, spoke to her soothingly; he called to mind that Sabine would probably be satisfied with him now, and at the same time noticed, in the dim and greenish light from a shaded chandelier, that the loosely flowing wrapper of the young widow concealed a very attractive figure. When the servant had returned, he rose and repeated what he had already mentioned casually at his entrance, namely, that he was unfortunately not in a position to undertake the further treatment of the child as he would be leaving town in the course of the next few days. The mother entreated him to remain the child's doctor at least as long as he expected to stay in the city. She had had such sad experiences with the doctors there in town; but she had immediately felt the most unreserved confidence in him, and if anybody was capable of saving her beloved child she knew