The animated conversation was suddenly interrupted by a letter which was
handed to the doctor.
"A letter from an old friend, who is sending me a patient to the
sanitarium. He is a young boy, hardly as old as our Max--there, read it."
Whereupon the doctor handed the letter to his wife.
"Oh, the poor boy!" exclaimed his wife. "Is he here? Bring him in. Perhaps
it will do him good to see the children."
"I think he is quite near," said the doctor; he went out, and soon came in
again with the sexton and Toni. He led the former into a bay window and
began talking with him in a low tone. Meanwhile the doctor's wife drew
near to Toni, who on entering had pressed into the nearest corner. She
spoke kindly to him and invited him to come to the table and eat something
with her children. Toni did not move. Then lively little Marie jumped down
from her chair and came to Toni with a large piece of bread and butter.
"There, take a bite," she said encouragingly.
Toni remained motionless.
"See, you must do so," and the little girl bit a good piece from the bread
and held it to him, then again a little nearer, so he only needed to bite
into it. But he stared in front of him and made no motion.
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