CHAPTER V
OPPRESSIVE AIR
It seemed as if for several days a heavy atmosphere was weighing down thelimbs of all Mrs. Maxa's household, so that its wonted cheerfulness wasentirely absent. Even the mother went about more silently than usual,for the worry about Bruno's future weighed heavily on her heart. She hadwritten to her brother to come to her as soon as possible, so that theycould talk the matter over and come to a united decision. He hadanswered her that urgent business was forcing him to a journey to SouthGermany, and that it would be time enough to settle the matter after hisreturn. Bruno, having heard about the situation, was already wrought upby the mere possibility of his being obliged to live with the two boys.Secretly he was already making the wildest plans in order to escape suchan intolerable situation. Why shouldn't he simply disappear and go toSpain like the young Baron of Wallerstaetten? Probably the young gentlemanhad had some money to dispose of, while he had none. He might hirehimself out as a sailor, however, and travel to China or Australia. Hemight study the inhabitants and peculiarities of these countries andwrite famous books about them. In that way he could make a goodlivelihood. Might he not join a band of wandering singers? His motherhad already told him how well his voice sounded and that she wanted himto develop it later on. With wrinkled brows Bruno sat about wholeevenings, not saying one word but meditating on his schemes. He found itextremely hard to tell which one of them was best and to think of meansto carry it out.
Mea's forehead, also, was darkened by heavy clouds, but she was not assilent as her brother. Every few moments exclamations of pain orindignation escaped her. But had she not fared badly?
When they had moved from Sils to Nolla, Elvira had immediately approachedMea as if she wanted to become her friend. Mrs. Knippel had sent her aninvitation in order to cement the bonds of friendship, and she had donethe same with Bruno, who was to become her sons' close comrade. It wasquite true that Bruno had declared from the beginning that he would notmake friends with the two who were to share his studies, and every timethey came together fights and quarrels were the result.
But Mea had a heart which craved friendship. She was overcome withhappiness by the advances of the Knippel family, and immediately gaveherself to her new friend with absolute confidence and warm love. Soonmany differences of opinion and of natural disposition showed themselvesin the two girls, but Mea, in her overflowing joy of having found afriend, was little troubled by this at first. She thought that all thesethings would come right by and by when they came closer to each other.She hoped that the desired harmony would come when they became betteracquainted. But the more the two girls got to know know each other, thedeeper their differences grew, and every attempt at a clear understandingonly ended in a wider estrangement.
Mrs. Maxa had always tried to fill her children with a contempt not onlyof all wrong, but also of low and ugly actions. She had made an effortto keep her children from harmful influences and to implant in them ahate for these things. Whenever Mea found Elvira of a different opinionin such matters, she was assured that she was in the right by themother's opinion, which coincided with her own; so she felt as if Elvirashould be shown the right way, too. Whenever this happened, Elviraturned from her and told her that she wanted to hear no sermons.
So the two had not yet become friends, despite the fact that Mea wasstill hoping and wishing for it, and her brother Kurt had proved himselfin the right when he had doubted it from the beginning. Since theincident with Loneli, when Mea had told her friend her opinion inperfectly good faith, Elvira had not spoken to her any more and hadremained angry. But Mea's nature was not inclined to sulk. Whenever shefelt herself injured, words of indignation poured out from her like fierylava from a crater. After that everything was settled. She had beenobliged to sit day after day on the same bench with the sulking girl,and to come to school and leave again without saying a word. Should thissituation, which had already become intolerable to her, continue forever?Mea could only moan with this prospect in view. She was glad that Kurtwas in a strangely depressed mood, too, and hardly ever spoke. He wouldotherwise have been sure to make several horrible songs about herexperiences with the moping Elvira.
Kurt, who was usually cheerful, had been as terribly depressed for thelast few days as if he had been carrying a heavy weight around with himall the time. He had kept something from his mother, and therefore theweight seemed to get heavier and heavier. It oppressed Kurt more than hecould say that he had not immediately confessed his fault. But how couldthe mother have believed him when he told her that he had seen a figurewhich could not possibly be human. He really felt like a traitor towardshis mother. All people in Nolla believed anew that a ghost ofWildenstein went about, for the apparition had actually been seen. Kurtknew quite well that it was all his fault. He hardly dared to look athis mother and he longed for somebody to help him. He was filled withthe craving to be happy again.
Only Lippo and Maezli pursued their usual occupations and were untroubledby heavy thoughts. As soon as Maezli noticed that the usual cheerfulnesshad departed from the house, she tried to get into a different atmosphereat once. She always knew a place of refuge in such a case. "Oh, mama, Ihave to go and see Apollonie," she would repeatedly say with firmconviction to her mother. Having the greatest confidence in Apollonie'sguarding hand, and knowing, besides, that Maezli's visits always werewelcome, the mother often let her youngest go there. The little girl waswell able to find her way to the cottage and always went withoutattempting any digressions from the path. In the evening Loneligenerally accompanied her home. Maezli would arrive carrying a largebunch of flowers, the inevitable gift from Apollonie, Presenting them toher mother, she would shout: "There they are again, just look! I havesome for you again, mother."
The mother then looked full of delight at the bunch and said, "Yes, thoseare the same lovely mignonette that used to grow in the castle-garden,Apollonie has transplanted them into her own. But they were much finerin the castle, nowhere could their equal have been found," she concluded,inhaling the delicious fragrance of the flowers.
Maezli promptly poked her little nose into the bouquet, uttering anexclamation of unspeakable delight.
Loneli's eyes were very merry again, and was full of her usual gaiety.Since Kurt had made his little speech and had rehabilitated Loneli'shonour before the school children, the grandmother was as kind to her asof yore and never mentioned the shame-bench again. Loneli's heart wassimply filled with gratefulness for what he had done and she often wishedin turn for an opportunity to help him out of some trouble. She hadnoticed that Kurt was no longer the merriest and most entertaining of thechildren, and had given up being their leader in all gay undertakings.What could be the matter? Loneli hated to see him that way and could nothelp pondering about this remarkable change. Being extremely observant,she had noticed that it was very hard to find out the truth about thenight expedition to the castle. All the boys' answers consisted in darkallusions to the fact that the ghost was wandering about Wildenstein morethan ever. As not one of them wanted to admit the hasty retreat beforethe ghost had even been properly inspected, they only dropped vague andterrifying words about the matter.
Brave little Clevi, who usually relished telling of her dangerousadventures when they had turned out well, was as silent as a mouse aboutit all. Whenever Loneli asked her a straight question needing a straightanswer, Clevi ran away, and Loneli got none. The report was sure to havesome foundation, and the most noticeable thing of all was that Kurt'schange had come since that night. That same day he had taken the loadoff her heart and had been so gay and merry. So Loneli put two and twotogether, and having made these observations, was filled with suddenwrath.
As soon as school was ended, she rushed to the astonished Clevi: "Oh, Iknow what you have done, Clevi. Kurt was your leader and you didn't obeyhim; you all ran away because you were afraid. Oh, you have spoiled itall for him."
"Yes, and what about him? He was afraid himself," Clevi cried outexcitedly, for the reproach had stung he
r. "I could see with whatterrified bounds he flew down the mountain-side."
"Was he afraid, too, do you really mean? But of what?" Loneli questionedfurther.
"Of what? That is easily said: of what! You ought to have seen that hugecreature coming towards us from the castle."
Since it had come out that they had been so frightened, Clevi now told indetail about the horribly tall armoured knight with the high boots andthe long cloak hanging down to his boot-tops.
"Was the mantle blue?" Loneli, who had been listening intensely,interrupted.
"It was night-time, and you can imagine we did not see the colorclearly," Clevi said indignantly. "But the color has nothing to do withit, it was the length, the horrible, horrible length of that thing! Itlooked just too awful. He had a high helmet on his head besides, with astill higher bunch of black plumes that nodded in the most frightfulway."
A gleam of joy sparkled in Loneli's eyes. Flying away like an arrow, shesought out Mrs. Maxa's house. Kurt was standing at the hawthorn hedgein front of the garden with his schoolbag still slung around him. He hadnot rushed in ahead of the others according to his custom.
With puckered brow he was pulling one leaf after another from the hedge.Then he flung them all away, as if he wanted with each to rid himself ofa disagreeable thought.
"Kurt," Loneli called to him, "please wait a moment. Don't go in yet,for I want to tell you something."
When Loneli stood beside Kurt she was suddenly filled with embarrassment.She knew exactly what she had to say, but it would sound as if she wastrying to examine Kurt. This kept her from beginning.
"Tell me what you want, Loneli," Kurt encouraged her, when he saw herhesitation.
So Loneli began:
"I wanted to ask you if--if--oh, Kurt! Are you so sad on account of whathappened at the castle and because you thought there was no ghost?"
"I don't want to hear anything more about it," Kurt said evasively,pulling a handful of leaves from the hedge and throwing them angrily tothe ground.
"But it might only have been a man after all," Loneli continued quietly.
"Yes, yes, that is easily said, Loneli. How can you talk when youhaven't even seen him?"
Kurt flung the last leaves away impatiently and tried to go. But Loneliwould not yield.
"Just wait a moment, Kurt," she entreated. "It is true that I did notsee him, but Clevi told me all about him. I know why he looked that wayand why he was so enormous. I also know where he got the armour, thelong blue mantle, and the high black plumes."
"What!" Kurt exclaimed, staring at Loneli as if she were a curious ghostherself. How can you know anything about it?"
"Certainly I know about it," Loneli assured him. "Listen! You mustremember that grandmother lived a long time at the castle, so she hastold me everything that went on up there. In the lowest story there is ahuge old hall, and the walls are covered with weapons and things likearmour and helmets. In one corner there is an armoured knight with ablack-plumed helmet on his head. Whenever the young gentlemen from thecastle wanted to play a special prank, one of them would take the knighton his shoulders, and the knightly long mantle would be hung over hisshoulders so as to cover him down to his high boot-tops. This figurelooked so terrible coming along the terrace that everybody always ranaway, even in bright daylight. Once the two young ladies shrieked loudlywhen they suddenly saw the fearful knight. That pleased the younggentlemen more than anything."
"Oh, then my mother saw him, too, and knows what he looks like," Kurtexclaimed with a sudden start, for he had been breathlessly listening.
"Certainly, for she was one of the young ladies," Loneli said.
"But now nobody is at the castle except Mr. Trius, and he couldn't havebeen there," Kurt objected. "I know that he sneaks about the meadowstill late in the evening in order to catch apple-thieves. That is so farfrom the little woods that he could not possibly have heard us."
"But it was Mr. Trius just the same, you can believe me, Kurt," Loneliassured her friend. "My grandmother has often said that Mr. Triusalways knows everything that is going on. He seems to hide behind thehedges and then suddenly comes out from behind the trees when one leastexpects him. You know that the boys have known about your plan severaldays and that they don't always talk in a low voice. Besides, they havebeen trying to get hold of apples every night. You can be sure that Mr.Trius heard distinctly what your plan was."
"Yes, that is true, but I have to go to mother now," Kurt exclaimed, ashe started toward the house. Then, turning back once more, he said:"Thank you ever so much, Loneli, you have done me a greater service thanyou can realize by telling me everything. Nothing could have made mehappier than what you have said." As he spoke these words he shook thelittle girl's hand with all his might.
The boy ran into the house, while Loneli hastened home with leaps andbounds, for her heart was thrilling with great joy.
"Where is mother, where is mother?" Kurt impetuously asked Lippo, whom hemet in the hall carrying a large water-pitcher entrusted to him by Kathy.
"One knows well enough where mama must be when it is nearly lunch-time.You came home late from school," Lippo answered, carefully trotting awaywith his fragile burden.
"Yes, I did, you little sentinel of good order," Kurt laughed out,passing Lippo in order to hasten to the dining-room.
Now Kurt could laugh again.
"Oh, are you as far as that already," he cried out in surprise when hefound everybody settling down to lunch. "What a shame! I wanted to tellyou something, mother."
She gazed at him questioningly. He had not had any urgent news for herlately, and she was glad to hear his clear voice and see his merry eyesagain.
"You must wait now till after lunch, Kurt," she said kindly, "for youwere rather late to-day."
"Yes, I was rather slow at first," Kurt informed her. "Then Loneli ranafter me to tell me something she has found out. I have often saidbefore that Loneli is the most clever child in all Nolla, besides beingthe most friendly and obliging one could possibly find. Even if she isonly brought up by simple Apollonie, she is more refined at bottom than agirl I know who adorns her outside with the most beautiful ribbons andflowers. I would rather have a single Loneli than a thousand Elviras."
Lippo had been anxiously looking at Kurt for some time.
"Here come the beans and you have your plate still full of soup," he saidexcitedly.
"Kurt, I think that it would be better for you to eat your soup insteadof uttering such strange speeches. Besides, we all agree with you aboutLoneli. I think that she is an unusually nice and sympathetic child."
"Oh, Kurt," the observant little Maezli exclaimed, "do you have to talk somuch all at once because you talked so little yesterday, the day beforeyesterday and the day before that?"
"Yes, that is the exact reason, Maezli," Kurt said with a laugh. His soupwas soon eaten, for his spirits had fully come back now, and in theshortest time he had emptied his plate.
Kurt was only able to get his mother to himself after school. The elderchildren were busy at that time and the two little ones had taken a walkto Apollonie. His mother, having clearly understood his wish to have athorough talk with her, had reserved this quiet hour for him. Kurt madean honest confession of his disobedience without once excusing himself bysaying that he had only done it to destroy all foolish superstition andby this means to become her helper. He could therefore tell her withoutreserve how terribly he had been cast down the last few days. The weighthad been very heavy on his heart before his confession, because he hadbeen so ashamed of the miserable end of the undertaking. He had,moreover, been very much afraid that she would tell him that no ghost ofWildenstein existed, after he himself had seen the incredible apparition.What Loneli had told him had relieved him immensely. Now his mother, whohad seen the terrible sight herself, could understand his fright.
"Oh, little mother, I hope you are not angry with me any more," Kurtbegged her heartily. "I shall never do anything any more you don't wantme to, for I know now
what it feels like. I know that this was mypunishment for doing what you had forbidden me to do."
When his mother saw that Kurt had realized his mistake and had humblyborne the punishment, she did not scold him any further. She confirmedeverything Loneli had told him about the knight. She also agreed withthe little girl that the watchful Mr. Trius had probably discovered longago what Kurt had planned to do that night. With the horrible apparitionhe had probably meant to punish and banish the boys for good.
"Oh, Kurt," the mother concluded, "I hope I can rely on you from now onnot to have anything more to do with the matter of the fabulous ghost ofWildenstein."
Kurt could give his honest promise, for he had enough of his endeavour toprove the non-existence of the ghost. It put him into the best spiritsthat there had been nothing supernatural about it, and that he was ableagain to talk with his mother as before. With a loud and jubilant songhe joined his brothers and sisters.
Mrs. Maxa was also very happy that Kurt had regained his cheerfulness.What met her ears now, though, was not Kurt's singing, but loud cries ofdelight. Opening the door, she distinguished the well-known calls of"Uncle Philip, Uncle Philip!" So her longed-for brother was near at last.Her two little ones, who had met with him on their stroll home, werebringing him along. All five children shouted loudly in order to lettheir uncle know how welcome he was.
"Oh, how glad I am that you have come at last! Welcome, Philip! Pleasecome in," Mrs. Maxa called out to him.
"I'll come as soon as it is possible," he replied, breathing heavily. Heheld a child with each hand, and three were between his feet, allwelcoming him tumultuously, so that for the moment it was impossible forhim to move forward.
Gradually the whole knot moved into the house and towards the uncle'sarmchair. Here ten busy hands fastened him down so that he should not atonce get away.
"You rascals, you!" the uncle said, quite exhausted. "A man is lucky toescape from you with his life. Are you trying to throttle yourgodfather, Lippo? Whoever put two fat little arms about a godfather'sneck like that? You seem to have climbed the chair from behind and tohave only your foot on the arm of the chair. If you slip, I shall bestrangled. Who then will find out for whom I brought a harmonica that'sburied in the depths of my coat-pocket? It gives forth the most beautifulmelodies you ever heard, when you have learned to play it."
A harmonica was the most wonderful thing Lippo could imagine. Hisneighbor in school, a little girl called Toneli, owned one and could playwhole songs on it--he had always thought it splendid. If a harmonica wasreally destined for him, he had better let go his uncle's arm.
Uncle Philip dove into his deep pockets with both hands, and soon thewonderful, coveted object really came to light. And how much bigger andfiner it was than Toneli's little instrument. Such a one must be able tosound the loveliest tones. Lippo, holding his treasure in his hand,could hardly believe it to be his own property, but Uncle Philipreassured him, saying: "Come, Lippo, take it, the harmonica is meant foryou."
There were presents for all the children in the depths of the pockets,and one child after another ran away to show his gift to his mother.Lippo saw and heard nothing else just then. In expectation of themelodies which would well up he blew with all his might quite horrible,ear-shattering sounds.
"Lippo, you must learn how to play a little first. Everything has to belearned. Give it to me," said Uncle Philip; "you see you must do thisway." Setting the instrument to his lips and pushing it up and down, heplayed the merriest tunes. Lippo looked up in speechless admiration athis god-father. He was tremendously impressed that Uncle Philip could doeverything, even blow a harmonica, which generally only boys were able todo. How fine it sounded! He was sure that nobody else could bring forthsuch beautiful melodies.
Lippo was interrupted by his brothers and sisters, who were noisilyannouncing supper. So Uncle Philip was taken in their midst into thedining-room, and he might have been likened to a prisoner-of-war capturedby the victors amidst shouts of triumph.
The mother had purposely ordered supper a little early, and she noticedthat her brother was satisfied with the arrangement. If his intentionhad been to shorten the time he could have with the children, he had nointention of cheating them of amusement, and he told them so manyentertaining things that they felt they had never had a better time withhim. At last, however, it was quiet in the living-room. Uncle Philipwas sitting there alone, waiting for his sister, who had gone upstairswith the children.
"First of all, Philip," she said on her return, as she settled downbeside him, "what shall be done with Bruno? I am sure you told Mr.Knippel not to engage board and lodging for him."
"On the contrary, I gave him full power to do so," the brother replied."Mr. Knippel gave me the impression that you would agree to it and wouldbe very grateful if he took the matter in hand, so I thought that thatwould be the simplest way out. It won't be so very terrible if the boyslive together. Don't always imagine the worst. But I must tell yousomething else."
Uncle Philip seemed to be rather glad to pass quickly over the hardproblem. He guessed in fact that his communication would cause hissister great consternation. And he had guessed rightly. In her frightover his first words she had not even heard the last.
"How could you do such a thing," she began to complain. "I can see quiteclearly what will happen without unduly imagining anything. The lownature and character of the two boys rouses Bruno's ire, and heconstantly flies into a rage when he is with them. It is my greatestsorrow that he can't control himself. What on earth will happen if thethree are compelled to be together daily, nay constantly, and will evenlive together. The matter frightens me more than you can realize,Philip, and now you have made it impossible for me to change the plan."
"But, Maxa, can't you see that I could not act otherwise. Mr. Knippelwas terribly anxious to arrange it all, and you know how quickly he isoffended. He always imagines that his low birth is in his way, for hecannot understand our utter indifference to all the money he has heapedup. You must not be so anxious about it. It can't possibly last verylong," the brother consoled her. "There is sure to be a violent quarrelbetween them soon, and as soon as that happens, I promise to take thematter in hand. That will give us good grounds to separate them."
The prospect of a horrible fight was, however, no consolation to Mrs.Maxa. But she said nothing more for the matter was irrevocably settled.
"I have to tell you something now which will put you into a happiermood," he began, clearly relieved that his unpleasant communication hadbeen made. "Yesterday evening the two ladies from Hanover who were mytravelling companions some time ago came to me to ask my advice aboutsomething which troubled them very much. They have received an urgentcall to return home to their aged mother, who has fallen very ill and hasasked to see them. The little girl who is in their care, however, hasbeen so sick for a few days that they had to call the doctor. Theysummoned him again yesterday in order to consult him as to whether theremight be danger if the child travelled. He told them positively thatthey could not think of letting her go now, and that she might not beable to go for weeks. A slow fever showed that she was on the point ofserious illness, Which would not quickly pass. The ladies were extremelyfrightened and told the doctor their dilemma, for they were bothabsolutely compelled to leave. One of them might be able to return inabout two weeks, but they had to find a reliable person in the meantimewho could nurse the child. This was terribly difficult for them asstrangers. The doctor's advice was to bring the young invalid to thehospital in Sils, where she would be well taken care of and he could seeher every day. The ladies wanted my opinion before deciding. Theyrealize that doctors always favor hospitals because the care of theirpatients is made simple and easy, so they wondered if I advised them tohave the young girl sent there. I told them that the place was not atall badly equipped, but that it was rather small, and the patients wereof course very mixed. When I asked the ladies if it would not be betterif the child's parents decided that difficult question, I received thein
formation that Leonore von Wallerstaetten was an orphan and that theaunt who had put her in their care had also died."
"Oh, Philip, now there is no doubt any more that she is our Leonore'slittle daughter," Mrs. Maxa cried in the greatest agitation. "Oh,Philip, how could you ever advise them to send her to the hospital? Whydidn't you say right away that your sister would immediately take thechild into her house."
"How could I do that? Just think a moment, Maxa!" said the brother. "Didyou want me to add to your troubles and anxieties by bringing a patientsick with fever into your house? It might turn out to be a dangerousillness, which all your five might catch; what should you have said to methen?"
"Philip, I shall go to Sils with you to-morrow and I'll ask you to takeme to the ladies. I want them to know who I am, of course. I shall tellthem that I have the right as her mother's nearest friend to receiveLeonore into my house and to nurse her. I am sure that the littlepatient can take the trip in your closed carriage. You can quickly go tothe doctor to tell him of our plan and have the carriage sent to us.Please do this for me, Philip! I can't stand that the child of ourLeonore should go to a strange hospital all by herself."
Mrs. Maxa had spoken with such decision that her brother had listened toher in greatest surprise.
"So you have resolved to carry this through, Maxa? Are you sure that youwon't have to take it all back after your excitement has vanished?" heasked her.
"You can rely on me, Philip. I have absolutely made up my mind to doit," the sister assured him. "You must help me now to put it through. Ishall be able to take care of things when she gets here, but do all inyour power to prevent the ladies from putting obstacles in my path. Yousee, I do not even know them."
"I shall do whatever you wish," the listener said willingly. "Itcertainly is hard to tell where a woman will set up complaints and whereshe will suddenly not know either fear or obstacles! I have already toldthe two Miss Remkes about you. As soon as I knew the child's name, Irealized the situation. I told the ladies about your being the bestfriend of their charge's mother, and that you would surely go to see hernow and then in the hospital. This pleased them greatly."
Uncle Philip began now to lay minute plans for the morrow. His sisterhad to give her promise to be ready very early in order to reach Sils ingood time, for the patient was to be taken to the hospital in the courseof the forenoon. He also gave her all the needed instructions relatingto the coachman and the carriage.
She listened quietly till he had finished and then said, "I have somenews for you, too. Just think! Baron Bruno has come back. He arrived inthe middle of the night when nobody could see him. He is absolutelyalone now in the desolate castle. Just imagine how he must feel to bewithin those walls again where he spent his happy years with all thoseloved ones he has not seen since he left the castle in a fit of terror."
"Yes, and why did it happen? Wasn't it his own will?" the brother saidharshly. "Whenever you speak about him, your voice takes on a tone as ifyou were speaking about a misunderstood angel. Why did the raging lioncome back all of a sudden?"
"Please, Philip, don't be so hard!" his sister said, "He is entirely leftalone now. Is sorrow easier to bear when it is our own doing? I heardthat he was ill. That is probably the reason why he has come home. Iknow all this from Apollonie, who is in communication with Mr. Trius.She keeps on scheming to find a way to set the rooms in order for heryoung master, as she still calls him. She knows how his mother wouldwish everything to be for her son. I understand quite well that sheworries night and day about the state things are in at the castle. Herformer master has for nurse, servant, cook and valet only that peculiarand ancient Mr. Trius. She can hardly think about it without wishingthat she might do something for her old friend. The poor woman is soanxious to make his life at the castle a little more the way it used tobe in the old times."
"For heaven's sake, Maxa, I hope you are not trying to interfere. Do youintend to undertake that, too?" the brother exclaimed in perturbation."If he wanted things different, he certainly would find a way. Pleasehave nothing to do with it, otherwise you'll be sorry."
"You can be perfectly reassured, for unfortunately nothing whatever canbe done," Mrs. Maxa replied. "If I had known a way to do something forhim, I should have done it. My great wish is to let a little sunshineinto the closed up, sombre rooms, and may be even a little deeper. I hadgreat hopes of doing something through Apollonie, who knows so much aboutthe castle, but she has explained the state of affairs to me. She wasgoing to enter and take things in hand as soon as she heard from Mr.Trius that her master had returned, for she still considers herself hisservant as in times gone by. It was her intention, naturally, to puteverything into the usual order in the house. But Mr. Trius won't evenlet her go into the garden. He let her know that he had received ordersnot to let anyone into the place. His master knew no one here and had nointention of meeting anyone. I know quite well, therefore, that I shallhe unable to gratify my great desire of doing something for thatmiserable, lonely man."
"So much the better," the brother said, quite relieved. "I am glad thatthe villain has bolted you out himself. If I should have tried to keepyou out, you certainly would have found means to resist me, I know."
"I willingly admit it," Mrs. Maxa replied with a smile. "But Philip, Ishould consider it wise for us to go to bed now, if we have to make anearly start to Sils to-morrow."
Brother and sister separated, but Mrs. Maxa had many arrangements tomake before she came to rest. If the ladies would consent to put thelittle girl in her charge, she meant to bring her immediately home withher. Therefore everything had to be made ready for the little patient.
About midnight Mrs. Maxa still went to and fro in a bedroom on the topfloor, which was entirely isolated. When everything necessary had beenmade ready, she tried to place various embellishments in the littlechamber. Finally she placed in the middle of the table a round bowl,which was to be filled to-morrow with the most beautiful roses from hergarden. Mrs. Maxa wanted the child of her adored Leonore to receive apleasant impression from her room in the strange new house. When themorning sun would shine in through the open windows and the green slopeof the castle would send its greeting to her, she did not want littleLeonore to feel dissatisfied with her new quarters. With this thoughtMrs. Maxa happily closed the door of the room behind her and sought outher own chamber.