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How could he live on, unmasked before the world, unmasked before Timéa, and before Noémi? Thrown down from the pedestal on which he had stood for years at home and abroad, under the halo of his sovereign's favor and his compatriots' veneration! How could he ever look again on the woman who had defended him in his rival's presence with such holy sorrow, when she learned that he was the very opposite of all she had admired in her husband, and that his whole life was a lie? And how could he meet Noémi when she knew he was Timéa's husband? or dare to take Dodi on his lap? Nowhere, nowhere in the wide world was there a place where he could hide. It was as that man had said: there was nothing for him but to turn his back on the civilized world like him; to change his name like him; to sneak like a thief from one town to another like him; to wander homeless on the face of the earth. .
Michael now suffered from sleeplessness; he could not close his eyes. And the thought troubled him as to what Dodi was doing. He sent Noémi out often to see if he wanted anything. And whenever she did so she kissed the little dead child on the bier, and spoke caressing words for Michael to hear: "My little Dodi! my darling sweet, asleep again!
You shall know all: when you have put the boy to bed, come to me on the veranda and I will tell you everything. You will shudder and wonder over what you will hear; but in the end you will forgive me, as God forgave me when He sent me here." After supper Noémi put Dodi to bed, and then came out to Michael, sat beside him on the bench, and leaned on his breast.
After the meal he sat down on the bench outside the house, and lighted his clay pipe. Noémi sat by him and took Dodi on her knees, who was now expected to exhibit what he had learned during the day. A new word! And is not this one word a greater acquirement than all the wisdom of the world? "What would you sell Dodi for?" Noémi asked him once in jest. "For the whole earth full of diamonds?"
Those children dancing on the golden background are like Dodi are they not like him? A pity they are so high up. Are you cold in these great halls? So am I come, let us go away. It is better by the fire in our little hut. I do not love these high palaces; and this town is often visited by earthquakes I fear the vault may fall in on us.
Noémi dressed little Dodi, and then her eyes rested thoughtfully on Michael. She wanted time to realize all she had heard from him, but women have quick perceptions. Suddenly Noémi said to her husband, "Michael, you have still one duty to fulfill in the world." "What duty, and to whom?" "You owe Timéa the secret that other woman revealed to you." "What secret?"
All three listened silently Noémi, Dodi, and the dog. The steps come quickly nearer. Ah, now all three recognize them! "Papa!" cried Dodi, laughing. Noémi hastened to cut the rope which fastened the door-bolt with her sharp knife, and Almira raised herself on her fore-feet and suddenly gave utterance to a bark. The next moment Michael had Noémi and Dodi in his arms.
Noémi would not have a mound raised over him; Michael would be so sad when he saw it, and it would retard his recovery. They made a flower-bed there, and planted in its midst a rose-tree one of those Timar had grafted with white flowers, whose purity was unstained. Then she went back to the sick man. His first words were, "Where have you left Dodi?" "Out in the garden." "What has he on?"
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