Agathe grimaced in pain. “It’s my chest. It feels as though someone’s pulling a rope around it tighter and tighter.”
Madlen lifted her blankets and removed the compress. She carefully wiped off the leftover herbs that had stuck on her skin with a cloth. “Do you feel a little better?”
“Yes, a little.”
“That’s good.” Madlen turned around. “Roswitha, can you please take a wet towel outside until it’s nice and cold?”
“Of course.” She hurried out.
Madlen turned to Agathe again. “I want to be honest with you. Your chest infection is very serious. But it does seem to be waning. When Roswitha brings back the cloth, we’ll lay it on your face so you can inhale the cold deeply. This will cause everything to open up. Then we’ll continue with the warm compresses again. It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but that’s a good thing.”
“I trust you.” Agathe refused to listen to the voice of doubt that yelled at her from deep inside. This young woman, her niece, had grown so close to her heart. And she knew Madlen felt the same way and would do everything in her power to help her. Roswitha returned to the room with the cold cloth.
“Put it over your face.” Madlen covered Agathe’s chest with blankets again.
“Just lay it on?”
Madlen nodded. “Give it to me. I’ll show you.” She took the cloth and slid it over Agathe’s face. “Open your mouth and breathe as deep as you possibly can.”
Immediately, her aunt did what Madlen told her to do. She took four deep breaths, until a violent coughing spasm erupted. She vomited bile and mucus; she could hardly settle down. Madlen held her close and laid her down softly when the spasm was over. Agathe lay still with her eyes closed. At first, her breathing was short and shallow, but then it became steadier. Finally, Madlen noticed that she’d fallen asleep.
“Make some more brew for her,” she asked Roswitha. “We’re going in the right direction.”
Had she turned around, the doubt written on Roswitha’s face wouldn’t have escaped her. But Madlen just watched Agathe, breathing deeper and more evenly. Carefully, Madlen laid her head on Agathe’s chest. Was she deceiving herself, or did the wheezing noise already sound fainter than it did yesterday? Satisfied, she sat up again and looked at Agathe. “Just have a little patience. I’ll make you well again. I promise.”
This went on for five more days, as Madlen and Roswitha cared for Agathe without pause. For three of those days, Agathe seemed to be doing much worse. Roswitha begged her to let her send for a doctor. But Agathe forbid it. She trusted Madlen and didn’t want the girl to think otherwise. Madlen said several times that she wouldn’t be offended if Agathe did send for a doctor. But Aunt Agathe was firm in her resolve. On the morning of the fifth day, something had changed overnight significantly. Upon awakening, Agathe felt much better. She looked at Roswitha, who had replaced Madlen in the early hours of the morning and fallen asleep in the chair next to Agathe’s bed. Agathe chuckled, sat up, and laid her hand flat upon her chest. She inhaled and exhaled deeply several times and tried to determine whether this liberating feeling was just temporary or a long-lasting improvement. When Madlen entered the bedchamber, she was surprised to see Agathe sitting up all by herself. Agathe put a finger to her lips to show that Roswitha had fallen asleep. Madlen smiled and touched her on the shoulders gently. “Roswitha, go to bed and lie down a little. I’m awake now and I’ll stay here.” Roswitha sleepily consented and padded out of the bedchamber, without even looking at Agathe, who gazed at her with amusement.
“You both must be totally exhausted.” Agathe stretched out her hand to Madlen, who took it and finally sat on the edge of her aunt’s bed.
“You look much better. How do you feel?”
“Better than I’ve felt in a long time.” Agathe took Madlen’s hand and pulled it onto her chest. “Feel. It’s much easier for me to breathe.”
Madlen let her hand lie still for a moment, then bent over and pressed her ear to the same spot. She listened. Her aunt inhaled and exhaled evenly. The rattle was gone. She pushed herself up with a jerk.
“Agathe!” Overjoyed, she hugged her aunt. “I really think we’ve done it.”
“I feel it, too!” Agathe replied. “Oh, my Madlen, I thank you so much. If you hadn’t come here, I would never have made it.”
Madlen looked at her aunt pensively. “You know, Clara always said that everything happens for a reason. Maybe I had to flee Heidelberg so that I could come here and help you.”