a pause, and then the door opened a little way, and Otto thought
that he could see someone peeping in from without. By and by the
door opened further, there was another pause, and then a
slender, elfish-looking little girl, with straight black hair
and shining black eyes, crept noiselessly into the room.

She stood close by the door with her finger in her mouth,
staring at the boy where he lay upon his couch, and Otto upon
his part lay, full of wonder, gazing back upon the little elfin
creature.

She, seeing that he made no sign or motion, stepped a little
nearer, and then, after a moment's pause, a little nearer still,
until, at last, she stood within a few feet of where he lay.

"Art thou the Baron Otto?" said she.

"Yes," answered Otto.

"Prut!" said she, "and is that so! Why, I thought that thou wert
a great tall fellow at least, and here thou art a little boy no
older than Carl Max, the gooseherd." Then, after a little pause
- "My name is Pauline, and my father is the Baron. I heard him
tell my mother all about thee, and so I wanted to come here and
see thee myself: Art thou sick?"

"Yes," said Otto, "I am sick."

"And did my father hurt thee?"