Arno had fallen asleep. Breathing quietly he
lay there with a smiling face. I lit a fresh candle
and set it behind a screen. I could not endure
darkness. For me, on this last night, sleep was
impossible. Throwing on a wrapper I lay quietly
beside him, and with one elbow supporting my
head watched him, weeping quietly the while. I
dared not stir, sleep was so necessary for him. For
six hours I still had him.
Ah! six o'clock. The orderly tapped on the
door.
Arno instantly rose and dressed himself rapidly,
cheering me up with all manner of hopeful words.
" Courage, Martha! It will all be over in two
months and I shall be safe at home again. Nonsense!



"GROUND ARMS!" 39

out of a thousand bullets only one hits the mark.
Other men have returned from war — there is your
father. It had to be. You did not marry a Hus-
sar to cultivate hyacinths for you. I will write as
often as possible and report what a jolly campaign
it is. If anything were going to happen to me I
could not be so cheerful. I am going to win a
decoration, that is all. Take care of yourself and
Rudolph. It will be something for him to hear his
father talk about the war of '59."

Again the orderly tapped on the door.
"Good-by, my wife" — his voice broke — a kiss,
the very last, and he was gone.
