She wished they could go to the balcony first, but that would be too dangerous. The roof could be seen for a great distance. There might already be workmen out somewhere in the nearby countryside. It seemed everyone was suspicious these days, thought Sabina as they made their way down through the dark corridors and out into the courtyard, which now showed the grey of early morning.

The two sisters had not been outside, and had scarcely been near a window, since the night they had arrived at Lebenshaus. Now in their first moments outside they relished drinking in the feel and smell of the crisp morning air. It was damp with dew, containing a refreshing chill that foretold a beautifully warm day of early September.

Knowing they had to take care to be quiet, each in her own way gave expression to the emotions inside.

Sabina threw up her arms and spun around. “Isn’t it wonderful?” she said softly. Both girls watched her abandoned dance of delight, then, both in the same instant, followed Sabina’s lead, shedding for the moment the heaviness of the past years’ fearful hiding.

Suddenly children again, they giggled and ran about, rejoicing in the freedom of being outside.

Sabina led the way, running, down into the garden, and began showing them all her favorite spots. Indeed, it seemed every nook had its favorite features for some uniqueness all its own. Many blossoms still filled the rosebushes from their second blooming, and hundreds of additional fall flowers were now coming into the profusion of their reds, oranges, and yellows.

The time passed quickly. Soon the eastern horizon began to brighten and Sabina knew they must presently return to the house. She took them into her mother’s special place.

“Sit here with me a moment before we have to go back in,” she said in a hushed tone.

The three girls crowded together on the bench. Sabina said nothing more, wanting to see if they would notice the peculiarities of this particular location. A subdued quiet fell over them all.

Ursula was the first to speak.

“Look, Gisela, a fig tree.”

“I thought so,” said her sister, who then rose, leaving the bench. A few paces away she stooped to one knee. “And look here—it’s parsley. Did you know,” she added, glancing back up at Sabina, “that parsley is the bitter herb we use on the Seder plate at Passover?”

“Yes, I did know that,” answered Sabina. “How about this plant… do you know it?”

As she spoke, Sabina now left the bench, sunk to her knees beside Gisela, and pointed to some bright orange flowers. “See what is left after the blooms are spent?” she added, reaching out and breaking off a pointed green pod. With the tips of her fingers she broke it open, and both girls exclaimed in recognition of the tiny black contents inside.