Green Heinrich

It was not until after midnight that my turn came again to take over the death watch now that we had strangely enough instituted it. This time I stayed in the room until morning; the hours passed by me quickly, like a moment of time, and I had no idea what I really was thinking and feeling. It was so quiet that through the stillness I seemed to be able to hear the murmur of Eternity; the pale and lifeless girl continued to lie motionless, but in the dim light, the coloured flowers of the rug appeared to be growing. Now the morning star rose and was reflected in the lake; I extinguished the lamp in its honour, so that it alone might be Anna’s funeral candle, then I sat in the dark, in my corner, and watched the room grow gradually light. With the dawn, which passed into the purest golden-red of morning, there seemed to be a stirring of life around the quiet figure until it lay there, clear in the bright daylight. I had got up and placed myself in front of the bed, and when her features became distinguishable, I pronounced her name, but soundlessly, breathing it only; the deathly quiet continued, and when I timidly touched her hand, I drew back my own, appalled, as if I had come into contact with red-hot iron; for the hand was cold, like a little lump of clay.