Maezli

  CHAPTER VIII

  MAeZLI PAYS VISITS

  Whenever Maezli found the time heavy on her hands, she would suddenlyremember people who might want to see her. She had been extremelyoccupied all these days entertaining Leonore, as during school hours shehad been the older girl's sole companion. Her brothers and sisters werenow home for a holiday and constantly surrounded Leonore. Findingherself without her usual employment, Maezli ran after her mother on themorning of the holiday and kept on saying, "I must go to see Apollonie.I am sure Loneli is sad that I have not been to see her so long," untilher mother finally gave her permission to go that afternoon.

  On her way to Apollonie Maezli had been struck by an idea which occupiedher very much. She arrived at the cottage of her old friend and sat downbeside Loneli, who was not in the least sad, but looked about her withthe merriest eyes. "I must go see the Castle-Steward to-day," she saidquickly. "I promised it but I forgot about it."

  "No, no, Maezli," Apollonie said evasively, "we have lots of other thingsto do. We have to see if the plums are getting ripe on the tree in thecorner of the garden, and after that you must see the chickens. Justthink, Maezli, they have little chicks, and you will have to see them. Iam sure you won't ever want to leave them."

  "Oh, yes, when I have seen them I must go to the Castle-Steward because Ipromised to," Maezli replied.

  "I am sure he has forgotten all about it and does not remember you anymore," Apollonie said, trying to ward Maezli off from her design. "Doesyour mama know that you mean to go to the castle?"

  "No, because I only thought of it on my way here," Maezli assured her oldfriend. "But one must always keep a promise; Kurt told me that."

  "Mr. Trius won't even let you in," Apollonie protested.

  "Certainly! He has to. I know the Castle-Steward well, and he is not inthe least afraid of Mr. Trius; I have noticed that," said Maezli, firmlyholding to her resolution.

  Apollonie realized that words would do no good and resolved to entertainMaezli so well with the little chickens and other things that it wouldfinally be too late for her to go to the castle. Maezli inspected thetiny chickens and the ripening plums with great enjoyment, but as thishad barely taken any time at all, she soon said resolutely, "I have to gonow because it is late. If you would like to stay home, Loneli can comewith me. I am sure we can easily find the way."

  "What are you dreaming of, Maezli?" Apollonie cried out. "How do youthink Mr. Trius would receive you if you ask him to let you in, I shouldlike to know? You'll find out something you won't like, I am afraid. No,no, this can't be. If you insist on going, I had better go along."

  Apollonie went indoors to get ready for the walk, as she always put onbetter clothes whenever she mounted to the castle, despite the fact thatshe might not see anyone. Loneli was extremely eager to have a chance tofind out who was the Castle-Steward whom Maezli had promised to visit.She had tried to persuade her grandmother to let her go with Maezli, inwhich case her mother would not need to change her clothes, But thelatter would not even hear of it, remarking, "You can sit on the benchunder the pear tree with your knitting in the meantime, and you can singa song. We are sure to be back again in a little while."

  Soon they started off, Apollonie firmly holding Maezli's hand. Mr. Triusappeared at the door before they even had time to ring; it seemed as ifthe man really had his eyes on everything. Throwing a furious glance atMaezli, he opened the door before Apollonie had said a word. But he hadtaken great care to leave a crack which would only allow a little personlike Maezli to slip through without sticking fast in the opening. Maezliwriggled through and started to run away. The next moment the door wasclosed again. "Do you think I intend to squeeze myself through, too? Youdo not need to bolt it, Mr. Trius," Apollonie said, much offended. "Itis not necessary to cut off the child from me like that, so that I don'teven know where she is going. I am taking care of her, remember. Won'tyou please let me in, for I want to watch her, that is all."

  "Forbidden," said Mr. Trius.

  "Why did you let the child in?"

  "I was ordered to."

  "What? You were ordered to? By the master?" cried out Apollonie. "Oh,Mr. Trius, how could he let the child go in and walk about the gardenwhile his old servant is kept out? She ought to be in there looking afterthings. I am sure you have never told him how I have come to you, comeagain and again and have begged you to admit me. I want to put thingsinto their old order and you don't want me to. You don't even know,apparently, which bed he has and if his pillows are properly covered.You said so yourself. I am sure that the good old Baroness would have nopeace in her grave if she knew all this. And this is all your fault. Ican clearly see that. I can tell you one thing, though! If you refuse togive my messages to the master as I have begged and begged you to sooften, I'll find another way. I'll write a letter."

  "Won't help."

  "What won't help? How can you know that? You won't know what's in theletter. I suppose the Baron still reads his own letters," Apollonieeagerly went on.

  "He receives no letters from these parts."

  This was a terrible blow for Apollonie, to whom this new thought hadgiven great confidence. She therefore decided to say nothing more andquietly watched Mr. Trius as he walked up and down inside the garden.

  Maezli in the meantime had eagerly pursued her way and was soon up on theterrace. Glancing about from there, she saw the gentleman again,stretched out in the shadow of the pine tree, as she had seen him first,and the glinting cover was lying again on his knees. Maezli ran over tohim.

  "How do you do, Mr. Castle-Steward? Are you angry with me because I havenot come for so long?" she called out to him from a distance, and amoment later she was by his side. "It was only on account of Leonore,"Maezli continued. "I should otherwise have come ages ago. But when theothers are all in school she can't be left alone. So I stay with her andI like to do it because she is so nice. Everybody likes Leonore,everybody likes her terribly; Kurt and Bruno, too. They stay home allthe time now because Leonore is with us. You ought to know how nice sheis. You would like her dreadfully right away."

  "Do you think so?" said the gentleman, while something like a smileplayed about his lips. "Is it your sister?"

  "My sister? No, indeed," Maezli said, quite astonished at his error. "Sheis Salo's sister, the boy who was with us and who had to go back toHanover. She has to go back to Hanover, too, as soon as she is well, andmama always gets very sad when she talks about it. But Mea gets sadderstill and even cries. Leonore hates to leave us, but she has to. Shecried dreadfully once because she can never, never have a home. As longas she lives she'll have to be homeless. The beggar-woman who came withthe two ragged children said that. They were homeless, and Leonore saidafterwards, 'I am that way, too,' and then she cried terribly, and wewere sent out into the garden. She might have cried still more if shehad thought about our having a home with a mama while she has none. Shehas no papa or anybody. But you must not think that she is a homelesschild with a torn dress; she looks quite different. Maybe she can find ahome in Apollonie's little house under the hill. Then Salo can come hometo her in the holidays. But mama does not think that this can be. ButLeonore wants it ever so much. I must bring her to you one day."

  "Who are you, child? What is your name," asked the gentleman abruptly.

  Maezli looked at him in astonishment.

  "I am Maezli," she said, "and mama has the same name as I have. But theydon't call her that. Some people call her Mrs. Rector, some mama, andUncle Philip says Maxa to her and Leonore calls her Aunt Maxa."

  "Is your father the rector of Nolla?" the gentleman asked.

  "He has been in heaven a long while, and he was in heaven before we camehere, but mama wanted to come back to Nolla because this was her home.We don't live in the rectory now, but where there is a garden with lotsof paths, and where the big currant-bushes are in the corners, here andhere and here." Maezli traced the position of the bushes exactly on thelionskin. The castle-steward, leaning back in his chair, said n
othingmore. "Do you find it very tiresome here?" Maezli asked sympathetically.

  "Yes, I do," was the answer.

  "Have you no picture-book"

  "No."

  "Oh, I'll bring you one, as soon as I come again. And then--but perhapsyou have a headache?" Maezli interrupted herself. "When my mama wrinklesup her forehead the way you do she always has a headache, and one mustget her some cold water to make it better. I'll quickly get some," andthe next instant Maezli was gone.

  "Come back, child!" the gentleman called after her. "There is nobody inthe castle, and you won't find any."

  It seemed strange to Maezli that there should be nobody to bring water tothe Castle-Steward.

  "I'll find somebody for him," she said, eagerly running down the inclineto the door, in whose vicinity Mr. Trius was wandering up and down.

  "You are to go up to the Castle-Steward at once," she said standing stillin front of him, "and you are to bring him some cold water, because hehas a headache. But very quickly."

  Mr. Trius glanced at Maezli in an infuriated way as if to say: "How doyou dare to come to me like this?" Then throwing the door wide open hegrowled like a cross bear: "Out of here first, so I can close it." AfterMaezli had slipped out he banged the big door with all his might so thatthe hinges rattled. Turning the monstrous key twice in the lock, he alsobolted it with a vengeance. By this he meant to show that no one couldeasily go in again at his pleasure.

  Apollonie, who had been sitting down in the shade not far from the doornow went up to Maezli and said, "You stayed there a long time. What didthe gentleman say?"

  "Very little, but I told him a lot," Maezli said. "He has a headache,Apollonie, and just think! nobody ever brings him any water, and Mr.Trius even turns the key and bolts the door before he goes to him."

  Apollonie broke out into such lamentations and complaints after thesewords that Maezli could not bear it.

  "But he has the water long ago, Apollonie. I am sure Mr. Trius gave itto him. Please don't go on so," she said a trifle impatiently. But thiswas only oil poured on the flames.

  "Yes, no one knows what he does and what he doesn't do," Apollonielamented, louder than ever. "The poor master is sick, and all hisservant does is to stumble about the place, not asking after his needsand letting everything go to rack and ruin. Not a cabbage-head or apea-plant is to be seen. Not one strawberry or raspberry, no goldenapricots on the wall or a single little dainty peach. The disordereverywhere is frightful. When I think how wonderfully it used to bemanaged by the Baroness!" Apollonie kept on wiping her eyes becausepresent conditions worried her dreadfully. "You can't understand it,Maezli," she continued, when she had calmed down a trifle. "You see,child, I should be glad to give a finger of my right hand if I could goup there one day a week in order to arrange things for the master as theyshould be and fix the garden and the vegetables. The stuff the oldsoldier is giving him to eat is perfectly horrid, I know."

  Maezli hated to hear complaints, so she always looked for a remedy.

  "You don't need to be so unhappy," she said. "Just cook some nicemilk-pudding for him and I'll take it up to him. Then he'll havesomething good to eat, something much better than vegetables; oh, yes, athousand times better."

  "You little innocent! Oh, when I think of forty years ago!" Apolloniecried out, but she complained no further. Maezli's answers had clearlygiven her the conviction that the child could not possibly understand thedifficult situation she was in.

  Maezli chattered gaily by Apollonie's side, and as soon as she reachedhome, wanted to tell her mother what had happened. But the child was tohave no opportunity for that day. The mother had been very careful inkeeping the contents of Miss Remke's letter from the children in ordernot to spoil their last two weeks together. Unfortunately Bruno had thatday received a letter from Salo, in which he wrote that in ten days oneof the ladies was coming to fetch Leonore home, as she was completelywell. Salo remarked quite frankly that he himself hardly looked forwardto Leonore's coming, as he saw in each of her letters how happy she wasin Aunt Maxa's household and how difficult the separation would be forher. Whenever he thought how hard it would be for her to grow accustomedto the change again, all his joy vanished at the prospect of her return.Bruno had read the whole letter aloud and had therewith conjured up suchconsternation and grief on every side that the mother hardly knew how tocomfort them. Leonore herself was sitting in the midst of the excitedgroup. She gave no sound and had unsuccessfully tried to swallow herrising tears, but they had got the better of her and were falling overher cheeks in a steady stream.

  Mea was crying excitedly, "Oh, mother, you must help us. You have towrite to the ladies that they mustn't come. Please don't let Leonorego!"

  Bruno remarked passionately that no one had the right to drag a sickperson on a journey against the doctor's wishes. The doctor had said thelast time he had been here that Leonore was to have not less than a monthfor her complete recovery.

  Kurt cried out over and over again, "Oh, mother, it's cruel, it'sperfectly cruel! We all want to keep her here and she wants to stay. Nowshe is to be violently taken from us. Isn't that absolutely cruel?"

  Lippo, coming close to Leonore, also did his best to console her. Heremembered that he could not say "stay with us" any more, but he hadanother plan.

  "Don't cry, Leonore," he said encouragingly. "As soon as I am big, UnclePhilip has promised to give me a house and a lot of meadows. I'll be afarmer then, and I'll write to you to come to live with me, and Salo cancome for the holidays, too."

  Leonore could not help smiling, but it only brought more tears when shethought how much love she was receiving from all these children, and thatshe had to leave them and might never see them again. The mother'sattempts to comfort them failed entirely, because she had no hopeherself.

  In the middle of this agitating scene Maezli arrived, perfectly happy andfilled with her recent experiences. She wished to relate what theCastle-Steward had said to her and what she had said to him, and what hadhappened afterwards. But no one listened because they were so deeplyabsorbed with their own disturbing thoughts. They were not in the leastinterested in what Maezli had to say about the Steward, as they allthought that the steward was Mr. Trius. That evening the unheard-ofhappened. Maezli actually begged to go to bed before the evening song hadbeen sung, because the depressing atmosphere in the house was so littleto her taste that she even preferred to go to bed.

  Mea had been hoping till now that her mother would find some means tokeep Leonore. If it could not be the way Apollonie planned, she might atleast stay for a long stretch of time. All of a sudden this hope wasgone entirely, and the day of separation was terribly near. The girllooked so completely miserable when she started out for school next daythat the mother had not the heart to let her go without a little comfort.

  "You only need to go to school two more days, Mea," she said. "Next weekyou can stay home and spend all your time with Leonore."

  Mea was very glad to hear it, but without uttering a word she ran away,for everything that concerned Leonore brought tears to her eyes.

  Leonore had been looking so pale the last few days that Mrs. Maxasurveyed her anxiously. Perhaps the recovery had not been as complete asthey had hoped, for the news of the close date of her departure hadproved to be a great strain for her. Mrs. Maxa went about quitedowncast and silent herself. Nothing for a long time had been so hardfor her to bear as the thought of separation from the little girl she hadbegun to love like one of her own, who had also grown so lovinglyattached to her. The pressure lay on them all very heavily. Bruno neversaid a word. Kurt, standing in a corner with a note-book, was busilyscribbling down his melancholy thoughts, but he did not show his versesto anyone, as the tragic feeling in them might have drawn remarks fromBruno which he might not have been able to endure. Lippo faithfullyfollowed Leonore wherever she went and from time to time repeated hisconsoling words, but he said them in such a wailing voice that theysounded extremely doleful. Maezli alone still gazed about her with m
erryeyes and was dancing with joy when she saw that it was a bright sunnyday.

  "You can take a little walk with Leonore, Maezli," the mother saidimmediately after lunch, as soon as the other children had started off toschool. "Leonore will grow too pale if she does not get into the openair. Take her on a pretty walk, Maezli. You might go to Apollonie."

  Maezli most willingly got her little hat, and the children set out. Whenthey had passed half-way across the garden Maezli suddenly stood still.

  "Oh, I forgot something," she said. "I have to go back again. Pleasewait for me, I won't be long."

  Maezli disappeared but came back very shortly with a large picture-bookunder each arm. They were the biggest she had found and she had chosenthem because she thought: The bigger the books, the bigger his delight atlooking at them.

  "Now I'll tell you what I thought," she said on reaching Leonore. "Yousee, up in the castle under a big tree sits the sick Castle-Steward. Ipromised to go to see him soon again and to bring him a picture book.But I am bringing him two because he'll like two better. I also promisedto bring you and something else besides. You don't know why he needsthat other thing, but you will hear when we are up there. Let us gonow."

  "But, Maezli, I don't know the gentleman and he doesn't know me," Leonorebegan to object. "I can't go, because he might not like it. Besidesyour mother knows nothing about it."

  But Maezli had not the slightest intention of giving up her expedition.

  "I have everything I want to bring him now, and the Castle-Steward hasprobably been waiting for us all day, so, you see, we simply must go.Mama also says that one has to go to see sick people and bring themthings, because it cheers them up. He has to sit all day alone under thetree and he gets dreadfully tired. When he has a headache not a personcomes to bring him anything. It is not nice of you not to want to gowhen he is expecting us."

  Maezli had talked so eagerly that she not only became absolutely convincedherself that it would be the greatest wrong if she did not go to see theCastle-Steward, but produced a similar feeling in Leonore.

  "I shall gladly go with you, if you think the sick gentleman does notobject," she said; "I only didn't know whether he would want us."

  Maezli was satisfied now, and, gaily talking, led Leonore toward the loftyiron door. The path led up between fragrant meadows and heavily ladenapple trees, and when they reached their destination, they found it quitesuperfluous to ring the bell. Mr. Trius had long ago observed them andstood immovably behind the door. Hoping that he would open it, thechildren waited expectantly, but he did not budge.

  "We want to pay a visit to the Castle-Steward," said Maezli. "You'dbetter open soon."

  "Not for two," was the answer.

  "Certainly. We both have to go in, because he is expecting us," Maezliinformed him. "I promised to bring Leonore, so you'd better open."

  But Mr. Trius did not stir.

  "Come, Maezli, we'd better go back," said Leonore in a low voice. "Can'tyou see that he won't open it? Maybe he is not allowed."

  But it was no easy matter to turn Maezli from her project.

  "If he won't open it I'll scream so loud that the Castle-Steward willhear it," she said obstinately. "He is sure to say something then, forhe is waiting for us. I can shout very loud, just listen: 'Mr.Castle-Steward!'"

  Her cry was so vigorous that Mr. Trius became quite blue with rage. "Bequiet, you little monster!" he said, but he opened the door nevertheless.

  "Maybe we shouldn't go in," said Leonore. Maezli pulled her along,however, and never let go her hand till they had reached the terrace; shehad no desire to leave her friend behind when they were so near theirgoal. Now, Maezli quickly taking back the second picture-book, whichLeonore had been carrying for her, began to run.

  "Just come! Leonore. Look! there he sits already." With this Maezli flewover to the large pine tree.

  "How do you do, Mr. Castle-Steward! Didn't I come soon again, thistime?" she merrily called out to him. "I have also brought everything Ipromised. Here are the picture books--look! two of them. I thought youmight look through one too quickly."

  Maezli laid both books on the lion skin and began to rummage through herpockets. "Look what else I brought you," and Maezli laid down a tinyivory whistle. "Kurt gave it to me once and now I give it to you. Ifyou have a headache and Mr. Trius is far away, all you need to do is towhistle. Then he can come and bring you some water. He'll hear it far,far away, because it whistles as loud as anything. Just try it once! Ihave also brought you Leonore."

  The gentleman started slightly and looked up. Leonore had shylyretreated behind the chair, but Maezli pulled her forward. The gentlemannow threw a penetrating glance at the delicate looking little girl, whohardly dared to raise her large, dark eyes to his. Leonore, who hadblushed violently under his scrutiny, said in a barely audible voice,"Perhaps we should not have come; but Maezli thought we might be allowedto see you. Can we do something for you? Perhaps Maezli should not havebrought me. Oh, I am so sorry if I have offended you."

  "No, indeed. Maezli meant well when she wanted me to meet her friend,"the gentleman said in quite a friendly voice. "What is the name ofMaezli's friend?"

  "Leonore von Wallerstaetten," the girl answered, and noticing the largebooks on the gentleman's knees, she added, "May I take the books away?They might be too heavy."

  "Yes, you might, but it was very good of Maezli to bring them all the wayup to me," he said. "I'll look at them a little later."

  "May I fix your pillow for you? It does not do you much good that way,"said Leonore, pulling it up. It had long ago slipped out of position.

  "Oh, this is better, this is lovely," the sick man replied, comfortablyleaning back in the chair.

  "What a shame! It won't stay, I am afraid. It is falling down again,"said Leonore regretfully. "We ought to have a ribbon. If I only had oneand a thread and needle!--but perhaps we could come again to-morrow--"

  Leonore became quite frightened suddenly at her boldness and remainedsilent from embarrassment. But Maezli got her out of this tryingsituation. Full of confidence she announced that they would return thenext day with everything necessary.

  The gentleman now asked Leonore where she came from and where she lived.She related that she had been living in a boarding school for severalyears, ever since the death of her great-aunt, with whom both she and herbrother had found a home.

  "Have you no other relations?" the gentleman asked, keenly observing herthe while.

  "No, none at all, except an uncle who has been living in Spain for manyyears. My aunt told us that he won't ever come back and that no oneknows where he is. If we knew where he is, we should have written to himlong ago. Salo would go to Spain as soon as he was allowed to and Ishould go to him in any case."

  "Why?" the gentleman asked.

  "Because he is our father's brother," she replied, "and we could love himlike a father, too. He is the only person in the whole world to whom wecould belong. We have wished many and many a time a chance to look forhim, because we might live with him."

  "No, you couldn't do that. I know him, I have been in Spain," theCastle-Steward said curtly.

  A light spread over Leonore's face, as if her heart had been suddenlyflooded with hope.

  "Oh, do you really know our uncle? Do you know where he is living?" shecried out, while her cheeks flushed with happiness. "Oh, please tell mewhat you know about him."

  When she gazed up at the gentleman with such sparkling eyes, it seemed tohim that he ought to consider his reply carefully.

  Suddenly he said positively, "No, no, you can never seek him out. Youruncle is an old, sick man, and no young people could possibly live withhim. He must remain alone in his old owl's nest. You could not go tohim there."

  "But we should go to him so much more, if he is old and ill. He needs usmore then than if he had a family," Leonore said eagerly. "He could beour father and we his children and we could take care of him and lovehim. If he only were not so dreadfully far away! If you could only t
ellus where he lives, we could write to him and get his permission to gothere. Without him we can't do anything at all, because Mr. von Stielein Hanover wants Salo to study for years and years longer. We have to doeverything he says, unless our uncle should call us. Oh, please tell mewhere he lives!"

  "Just think of all the deprivations you would have to suffer with yourold uncle! Think how lonely it would be for you to live with a sick manin a wild nest among the rocks! What do you say to that?" he said curtly.

  "Oh, it would only be glorious for Salo and me to have a real home withan uncle we loved," Leonore continued, showing that her longing could notbe quenched. "There is only one thing I should miss there, but I have tomiss it in Hanover, too. I shall never, never feel at home there!"

  "Well, what is this?" the gentleman queried.

  "That I can't be together with Aunt Maxa and the children."

  "Shall we ask Aunt Maxa's advice? Would this suit you, child?"

  "Oh, yes indeed," Leonore answered happily.

  At the mention of Aunt Maxa she suddenly remembered that they had nottold her where they were going. As she was afraid that they hadremained away too long already, Lenore urged Maezli to take her leavequickly, while she gave her hand to the steward.

  "Will you deliver a message for me, Leonore?" he said; "will you tellyour Aunt Maxa that the master of the castle, whom she knew long yearsago, would love to visit her, but he is unable? Ask her if he may hopethat she will come up to him at the castle instead?"

  Maezli gave her hand now to say good-bye, and when she noticed that thepillow had slipped down again, she said, "Apollonie would just love toset things in order for you, but Mr. Trius won't let her in. She wouldbe willing to give a finger from her right hand if she were allowed to doeverything Mr. Trius doesn't do."

  "Come now, Maezli," said Leonore, for she had the feeling that thispeculiar revelation might be followed by others as unintelligible. Butthe Castle-Steward smiled, as if he had comprehended Maezli's words.

  Mrs. Maxa was standing in front of her house, surrounded by herchildren, anxiously looking for the two missing ones. Nobody couldunderstand where Leonore and Maezli might have stayed so long. Suddenlythey caught a glimpse of two blue ribbons fluttering from Leonore's hat.Quickly the children rushed to meet them.

  "Where do you come from? Where did you stay so long? Where have you beenall this time," sounded from all sides.

  "In the castle," was the answer.

  The excitement only grew at this.

  "How could you get there? Who opened the door? What did you do at thecastle?" The questions were poured out at such a rate that no answercould possibly have been heard.

  "I went to see the Castle-Steward before. I have been to see him quiteoften," said Maezli loudly, for she was desirous of being heard.

  Leonore had gone ahead with the mother's arm linked in hers, for she wasvery anxious to deliver her message.

  Kurt was too much interested in Maezli's expedition to the castle to befrightened off by the first unintelligible account. He had to find outhow it had come about and what had happened, but the two did not get veryfar in their dialogue.

  As soon as Maezli began to talk first about Mr. Trius and then about theSteward, Kurt always said quickly, "But this is all one and the sameperson. Don't make two out of them, Maezli! All the world knows that Mr.Trius is the Steward of Castle Wildenstein; he is one person and nottwo."

  Then Maezli answered, "Mr. Trius is one and the Castle-Steward isanother. They are two people and not one."

  After they had repeated this about three times Bruno said, "Oh, Kurt,leave her alone. Maezli thinks that there are two, when she calls himfirst Mr. Trius and then Mr. Castle-Steward."

  That was too much for Maezli, and shouting vigorously, "They are twopeople, they are two people," she ran away.

  Leonore had related in the meantime how Maezli had proposed to visit thesick Castle-Steward and how she had at first been reluctant to go, tillMaezli had made her feel that she was wrong. She related everything thathad happened and all the questions he had asked her.

  "Just think, Aunt Maxa," Leonore went on, "the gentleman knows our unclein Spain. He said that he had been there, too, and he knows that ouruncle is old and ill and is living all by himself. I wanted so much tofind out where he was, and asked him to tell me, but he thought it wouldnot help, as we couldn't possibly go to him. So I said that we mightwrite, and just think, Aunt Maxa! at last he said he would ask youradvice." Then Leonore gave her message. "He did not say that theCastle-Steward, as he called himself to Maezli, sent the message, but toldme that it was from the master of the castle, whom you knew a long timeago," Leonore concluded. "Oh, just think! Aunt Maxa, we might find ouruncle after all. Oh, please help us, for I want so much to write tohim."

  Mrs. Maxa had listened with ever-growing agitation, and she was sodeeply affected that she could not say a word. She could not express thethought which thrilled her so, because she did not know the Baron'sintentions. Mea's loud complaints at this moment conveniently hid hermother's silence.

  "Oh, Leonore," she cried out, "if you go to Spain, we shan't see eachother again for the rest of our lives; then you will never, never comeback here any more!"

  "Do you really think so?" Leonore asked, much downcast. She felt that itwould be hard for her to choose in such a case, and she suddenly did notknow if she really wanted to go to Spain.

  "It is not very easy to make a trip to Spain, children," said the mother,"and I am sure that it is not necessary to get excited about it."

  When Kurt, after the belated supper that night, renewed his examinationabout the single or the double Steward of Castle Wildenstein, theirmother announced that bedtime had not only come for the little ones, butfor all. Soon after, the whole lively party was sleeping soundly andonly the mother was still sitting in her room, sunk in deep meditation.She had not been able to think over the Baron's words till now and shewondered what hopes she might build upon them. He might only want totalk over Leonore's situation because he had realized how little she feltat home in Hanover. But all this thinking led to nothing, and she knewthat our good Lord in heaven, who opens doors which seem most tightlybarred, had let it happen for a purpose. She was so grateful that shewould be able to see the person who, more than anyone else, heldLeonore's destiny in his hands. Full of confidence in God, she hopedthat the hand which had opened an impassable road would also lead anembittered heart back to himself, and by renewing in him the love of hisfellowmen, bring about much happiness and joy.

  CHAPTER IX

  IN THE CASTLE

  The next afternoon, after planning a pleasant walk for Leonore and Maezli,Mrs. Maxa started on her way to the castle. As soon as she neared thegrated iron door it opened wide, and holding his hat in his hand, Mr.Trius stood deeply bowing in the opening.

  "May I see the Baron?" asked Mrs. Maxa.

  After another reverence Mr. Trius led the visitor up the hill, and whenhe had duly announced her, invited her with a third bow to step forward.It was quite evident that Mr. Trius had been definitely ordered tochange his usual mode of behaviour.

  Mrs. Maxa now approached the chair near the pine tree.

  "Have you really come, Mrs. Maxa?" said the sick man, putting out hishand. "Did no bitter feelings against the evil-doer keep you back?"

  Mrs. Maxa pressed the proffered hand and replied, "I could wish for nogreater joy, Baron, than to have your door opened for me. I havewondered oftener than you could think if this would ever happen, for Iwanted an opportunity to serve you. I know no bitter feelings and neverhave known them. Everybody who has loved this castle and its inmates hasknown they suffered grief and pain."

  "I returned to this old cave here to die," said the Baron. "You can seeplainly that I am a broken man. I only wished to forget the past in thissolitude, and I thought it right for me to die forgotten. Then yourlittle girl came in here one day--I have not been able to discover how."

  "Oh, please forgive her," said Mrs. Maxa. "It is a rid
dle to me, too,how she succeeded in entering this garden. I knew nothing about it tillyesterday evening when the children came home from the castle. I amterribly afraid that Maezli has annoyed you."

  "She has not done so at all, for she is her mother's true child," saidthe Baron. "She was so anxious to help me and to bring me what I lacked.Because she loved Leonore so much, she wanted me to know her, too, but Icannot understand Leonore. She begged and begged to be allowed to seeher uncle, as she wished to live with him and love him like a father.She even longs to seek him out in a foreign country. What shall I do?Please give me your advice, Mrs. Maxa."

  "There is only one thing to do, Baron," the lady replied with anoverflowing heart. "God Himself has done what we never could haveaccomplished, despite all our wishes. The child has been led into yourarms by God and therefore belongs to you from now on. You must becomeher father and let her love and take care of you. You will soon realizewhat a treasure she is, and through her the good old times will come backto this castle. You will grow young again yourself as soon as you twoare here together."

  The Baron replied: "Our dear Maxa always saw things in an ideal light.How could a delicate child like Leonore fit into a wilderness like thiscastle. Everything here is deserted and forlorn. Just think of the oldwatchman here and me, what miserable housemates we should be. Won't youreceive the child in your house, for she clearly longs to have a home? Iknow that she will find one there and apparently has found it already.She can learn by and by who her uncle is and then she can come to visithim sometimes."

  Amazed at this sudden change, Mrs. Maxa was silent for a while. How shewould have rejoiced at this prospect a few days ago!

  "I love Leonore like my own child and wanted nothing better than to keepher with me," she said finally, "but I think differently now. Thechildren belong to you, and the castle of their fathers must become theirhome. You must let Leonore surround you with her delightful and soothingpersonality, which is sure to make you happy. When you come to know heryou will soon realize of what I should have robbed you. There is nonecessity at all for the castle to remain forlorn and empty. Despite theloss of our dear loved ones, the life here can again become as pleasantas in former times. Your mother always hoped that this would happen ather eldest son's return, as she had desired that his home should remainunchanged even after her death. Leonore can have her quarters in yourmother's rooms."

  "I wonder if you would like to see the rooms you knew so well, Mrs.Maxa," the Baron said slowly.

  Mrs. Maxa gladly assented to this.

  "May I go everywhere?" she asked. "I know my way so well."

  "Certainly, wherever you wish," the Baron replied.

  Entering the large hall, Mrs. Maxa was filled with deep emotion. Hereshe had spent the most beautiful days of her childhood in delicious gameswith the unforgettable Leonore and the two young Barons. Everything wasas it had been then. The large stone table in the middle, the stonebenches on the walls and the niches with the old knights of Wallerstaettenstood there as of yore.

  When she went into the dining-hall, everything looked bare and empty.The portraits of ancestors had been taken from the walls and the glintingpewter plates and goblets were gone from the large oaken sideboard. Mrs.Maxa shook her head.

  Going up the stairs, she decided first of all to go to the Baron's rooms,for she wondered what care he was receiving. Rigid with consternation,she stopped under the doorway. What a room it was! Not the tiniestpicture was on the wall and not a single small rug lay on the unevenboards. Nothing but an empty bedstead, an old wicker chair and a tablewhich had plainly been dragged there from the servants' quarters,comprised the furniture. Mrs. Maxa looked again to make sure that itwas really the Baron's room. There was no doubt of it, it was thebalcony room in the tower. Where did the Baron sleep?

  As the sight proved more than she could bear, she quickly sought the lateBaroness' chamber. Here, too, everything was empty and the redplush-covered chairs and the sofa in the corner over which all thepictures of the children used to hang were gone. Only an empty bedsteadstood in the corner.

  Mrs. Maxa went next to Leonore's room, which used to be extremelypretty. Lovely pictures used to hang on the walls, chairs covered inlight blue silk were standing about, a half-rounded bed was placed in acorner, and she remembered the dearest little desk on which two flowervases, always filled with fresh roses, used to stand. Mrs. Maxa did noteven go in this time, it was too horribly forlorn. The only thing whichstill spoke of old times was the wallpaper with the tiny red and blueflowers. She quickly went out. Throwing a single glance at the largeball-room, she likened it to a dreary desert. Not a curtain, not a chairor painting could be seen. Where could all the valuable damask-coveredfurniture have gone to? Was it possible that the castle had been robbedand no one knew of it?

  It was probable, however, that Mr. Trius did not know about anything,and it was plain that the Baron himself had not troubled about thesethings. Mrs. Maxa hurriedly went back to him.

  "To what a dreary home you have come back, my poor friend!" she criedout, "and I know that your mother never wished you to find it like this.How unhappy you must have felt when you entered these walls after so manyyears! You cannot help feeling miserable here, and it is all quiteincomprehensible to me."

  "Not to me," the Baron quietly replied; "I somehow felt it had to be thatway. Did I value my home before? It is a just retribution to me to findthe place so empty and forlorn. I only returned to die here and I canawait death in daytime on my chair out here and at night time in my nest.I need nothing further; but death has not come as quickly as I thought itwould. Why are you trying to bring me back to life again?"

  "This is what I decidedly mean to do, so we shall banish the subject ofdeath from now on, as I confidently believe that our Lord in Heaven hasother plans for you," Mrs. Maxa said decisively. "I can see for myselfthat it is better for Leonore to stay with us, and I am ever so happy foryour permission. May I write the ladies in Hanover that you do not wantLeonore to be fetched away for the present?"

  The Baron heartily gave this permission.

  "I have to trouble you for one thing, Baron. Can you remember Apollonie,who was for many years your most faithful servant?"

  The Baron smilingly answered, "Of course I remember her. How could Ipossibly forget Apollonie, who was always ready to help us in everything.Your little daughter has already given me news of her."

  "She is the only one who might know what happened to the furniture," Mrs.Maxa continued. "I am going to see her right away, and I wish you wouldadmit her when she comes. In case the place has really been robbed, youmust let me get what you require. Nobody is looking after you and youstand sorely in need of good care. I am quite sure that your motherwould like me to look after you. Do you not think so?"

  "I do," the Baron replied smilingly, "and I feel that I ought to beobedient."

  After these words Mrs. Maxa took her leave and rapidly walked down themountain.

  She unexpectedly entered Apollonie's garden while the latter was workingthere, and immediately described to her the terrible state of things atthe castle. She had always believed that the Baron would find ithome-like and furnished, and now everything was gone, and he had not evena bed to sleep in, but was obliged to spend both day and night in hischair.

  Apollonie had been wringing her hands all the time and broke out at lastbitterly, "How could I have foreseen that? Oh, what a Turk, what asavage, what an old heathen that miserable Trius is," she sobbed, full ofrage and grief. "I understand now why he never answered my questions. Ihave asked him many a time if he had taken out the right bed and wasusing the things belonging to it which were marked with a blue crown inthe corners. He only used to grin at me and never said a word. He nevereven looked for them and calmly let my poor sick Baron suffer. Nothingis missing, not even the tiniest picture or trifle, and he had to comeback to a terrible waste! All my sleepless nights were not in vain, but Ihad not the slightest idea that it could be as bad as that. The worst ofit is that it is m
y fault.

  "Yes, it really is all my fault, Mrs. Maxa," and Apollonie went on totell how this had come about. Baron Bruno had only heard the news of hisbrother's marriage and his mother's death when he returned the first timeyears ago. He left again immediately, and she was quite sure that he didnot intend to return for a long while. As no one had lived at the castlefor so long, she had decided to put all the beautiful things safely away,in order to keep them from ruin and possible thieves. So she had storedthem in the attic, wrapped in sheets, and had locked the place up.Apollonie had never doubted that she would be called to the castle assoon as the Baron returned, for she belonged there as of old and occupiedthe little gardener's cottage belonging to it. But her dreams were notto come true.

  "I must go to him this minute," gasped Apollonie; she had spoken rapidlyand with intense excitement. "I want to fix my master's room to-day. Iam sure I can do it, for all the furniture from the different rooms ismarked and grouped together. But shall I be let in? The horriblestubborn old watchman always keeps me out."

  But Mrs. Maxa was able to quiet her on that score by the Baron's recentpromise, and she even urged Apollonie to start directly. The Baronshould be told of the situation and have a bed prepared for him thatnight. After this Mrs. Maxa left.

  Leonore, knowing where the mother had gone, flew to meet her when she sawher coming.

  "Did he give you the address, Aunt Maxa," she asked expectantly.

  "He means to let you know when he has traced it."

  This seemed quite hopeful to Leonore, and she was glad to be able to giveher brother this news. Mrs. Maxa herself lost no time in writing to theladies in Hanover that Leonore's uncle had returned and wished to keepher near him.

  Apollonie was meanwhile getting ready for her walk. Her agitation was sogreat that she took rather long in getting ready. Her toilet finallycompleted, she hurried up the incline with astonishing ease, for the hopeof being admitted to the castle made her feel at least ten years younger,though she still had some doubts whether the door would be opened forher; On her arrival she pulled the bell-rope. Mr. Trius appeared,quietly opened and silently walked away again. Apollonie, who knew fromMaezli where the master was, went towards the terrace. When she saw thesick man, she was completely overcome by memories of former times. Sheonly said shakily, "Oh, Baron, Baron! I cannot bear this! It is my faultthat you have no proper room or bed! And ill and suffering as you are!"Apollonie could get no further for sobs and tears.

  The Baron shook her hand kindly. "What is the matter, Mrs. Apollonie?We have always been good friends. What do you mean?"

  He then heard from Apollonie that it had been the Baroness' wish to leavethe whole house unchanged on account of his possible return. Apolloniefrankly admitted that she had only moved the things away to keep themfrom being ruined and had naturally counted on putting every object backagain as soon as he came back, for she remembered where every pin-cushionand tiny picture belonged. She begged the Baron's permission to let herfix his room to-day, another one the day after, and so on till the castlelooked again as his mother had wished it to be.

  The Baron replied that Apollonie could do whatever she chose, adding thathe trusted her entirely.

  Her heart was filled with joy as she ran towards the attic. She camedown soon afterwards laden with blankets, sheets and pillows, only to goup again for a new load. This went on for a couple of hours, and betweentimes she set the manifold objects in order. How gladly she put up theheavy hangings in the Baron's room. She knew how he had always loved thebeautiful red color which dimmed the bright sunlight. Apollonie stoodstill in the middle of the room and looked about her. Everything wasthere down to the two pen-holders the Baron had last been using, whichwere on the big shell of the bronze inkstand. Beside them lay a blackpen-wiper with red and white roses which Miss Leonore herself hadembroidered. The cover was half turned back and the snow-white bed withthe high pillows was ready to receive the sick man. Over the bed hung alittle picture of his mother, which had been there since his boyhood, andApollonie had also remembered every other detail. When she went down tothe terrace, a cool evening breeze was already blowing through thebranches of the pine tree.

  "Everything is ready, Baron," she said; "we are going to carry you uptogether, because Mr. Trius can't do it alone. I am sure you will sleepwell to-night."

  "Where do you want to take me?" the Baron asked, surprised. "I am quitecomfortable able here."

  "No, no, Baron, it is getting too cool for you here. Your room is abetter place at this hour; your mother would have wished it, I am sure.Will you allow me to call Mr. Trius?"

  "I'll have to give in, I suppose," the Baron acquiesced.

  Mr. Trius was already on the spot, for he was blessed with splendidhearing.

  "You are to carry me up," said the Baron. "Apollonie will show you howit is done."

  Apollonie immediately seized him firmly about the waist.

  "You do the same, Mr. Trius," she said; "then please, Baron, put one armabout his neck and one around mine. We shall clasp hands under your feetand lift you up."

  In the most easy, comfortable way the Baron was lifted and carried to hischamber and placed on the fresh bed. Leaning back on the easy pillows,he looked about him.

  "How charming it is," he said, letting his glance rest here and there."You have brought everything back, Mrs. Apollonie, and have made it lookthe way it was years ago."

  "Make things comfortable for him for the night now," Apollonie whisperedto Mr. Trius, leaving the room to repair to the kitchen.

  "Gracious heavens! what disorder," she cried out on entering, for thewhole place was covered with dust and spider-webs. Opening a cupboard,she saw only a loaf of bread and a couple of eggs, and this was all shewas able to find even on further search.

  "What a wretch!" she cried out in bitter rage. "He seems to give hismaster nothing but eggs. But I know what I'll do," she said to herself,eagerly seeking for a key, which she discovered, as of old, on a rustynail. Next she repaired to the cellar where she quickly found what shewas after; the bottle stood in sore need of cleaning, however, as dideverything else she touched. Then she set about beating two eggs, addinga glass of the strengthening wine, for she had vividly recollected howmuch her master used to enjoy this. When she entered his room with thisconcoction a little later, the odor from it was so inviting that theBaron breathed it in gratefully. Mr. Trius had left the room andApollonie had put the empty cup away, and yet she kept on setting triflesin order.

  "Oh, Baron," she said finally, "there is so much to do still. I saw thekitchen just now. If the Baroness had seen it as dirty as that, whatwould she have said? And every other place is the same. I feel as if Icouldn't rest till everything is set in order. I wish I could work allnight!"

  "No, no, Apollonie! You must have a good night's rest; I intend to sleep,too, in this lovely bed," he said smilingly. "Would you like to livehere again and undertake the management of the castle?"

  Apollonie stared at her master at first as if she could not comprehendhis words.

  "Tell me what you think of it? Are you willing to do it?" he asked again.

  "Am I willing? am I willing? Oh, Baron, of course I am, and you cannotknow how happy I am," she cried out with frank delight. "I can cometo-morrow morning, Baron, to-morrow, but now--I wonder what you'll say.You see, I am living with my daughter's child, who is twelve years old.She is a very good child, but is scarcely old enough yet to help much inthe house and garden."

  "How splendid! When Apollonie will be too old to do the work, we shallhave a young one to carry it on," said the Baron. "When you move up heretomorrow, you will know which quarters to choose for yourself, I know."

  The Baron sank back with evident comfort into his pillows, and Apolloniewandered home with a heart overflowing with happiness. At the first raysof the sun next morning she was already in front of her cottage, packingonly the most necessary things for herself and the child into a cart, asshe intended to fetch the rest of them later. Loneli had just heard
thegreat news, because she had been asleep when her grandmother returned thenight before. She was so absolutely overcome by the prospect of becomingan inmate of the castle that she stood still in the middle of the littlechamber.

  "Come, come," the grandmother urged, "we have no time for wondering, aswe shall have to be busy all day."

  "What will Kurt and Mea say?" was Loneli's first exclamation. She wouldhave loved to run over to them right away, for whenever anything happenedto her she always felt the wish to tell her two best friends.

  "Yes, and think what Mrs. Rector will say," Apollonie added. "But letus quickly finish up here, for we must get to the castle as soon aspossible. You are not going to school for the next two days and onSunday I hope to be all done."

  Apollonie rapidly tied up her bundle and locked the cottage door. Thenquickly setting out, they did not stop till they had reached theiron-grated door. Mr. Trius, after letting them wait a while, appearedwith dragging steps.

  "Why not before daybreak?" he growled.

  "Because you might have been still in bed and could not have unlocked thedoor. But for that I should have come then," Apollonie quickly retorted.

  So he silently led the way, for he had had to realize that Apollonie wasnot in the least backward now that she had the master's full support.She first sought out her old chamber, and Loneli was extremely puzzled tosee her grandmother wiping her eyes over and over again. The whole thingwas like a beautiful fairy story to the child, and she loved the charmingroom with the dark wainscoting along the wall.

  But Apollonie did not indulge very long in dreams and memories. Soonafter, she was making war on the fine spider-webs in the kitchen, and ina couple of hours it already looked livable and cosy there. Mr. Triussmiled quite pleasantly when he entered, as he was just on the point ofbrewing himself and his master a cup of coffee. The only thing heusually added was a piece of dry bread, as he was too lazy to get milkand butter from the neighboring farmers, and his master had never askedfor either. The steaming coffee and hot milk and the fresh white breadApollonie had prepared looked very appetizing to him. The wooden bencheswere clean scrubbed, and he didn't object to absence of the annoyingspider-webs, which had always tickled his nose.

  Apollonie, pouring the fragrant beverage into a large cup, politelyinvited Mr. Trius to take his seat at the table. He could not helpenjoying the meal and the new order of things in the kitchen. Apollonienow prepared the breakfast tray, setting on it the good old china thatthe Baroness had always used. She had put a plate with roundbutter-balls beside the steaming coffee-pot, and fresh round rolls peepedinvitingly from an old-fashioned little china basket.

  When Apollonie came to her master's room, he exclaimed, "Oh, how goodthis looks! Just like old times."

  At first he thought that even looking at it would do him good, butApollonie did not agree with him.

  "Please take a little, Baron," she begged him, "otherwise your strengthwill not come back. Take a little bit at first and gradually more andmore. I know you will like the butter. Loneli got it at the best farmhereabouts."

  After tasting a little the Baron was surprised how good it was.

  When her master was comfortably sitting in the lovely morning sun,Apollonie fetched Loneli out. She wanted the child to thank him forreceiving her into his house. Now the great task of cleaning and movingbegan, and it took a whole day of feverish activity to get the rooms inthe castle settled. Only at meal times was this interrupted, forApollonie did not look at this as a minor matter, and she carefullyplanned what to give her master.

  For Mr. Trius she had to consider the quantity, for he seemed to have anexcellent appetite and clearly enjoyed coming to the neat-lookingkitchen. He had begun to show his gratitude to Apollonie by willinglycarrying the heavy furniture about.

  Two days had passed in uninterrupted work, and Apollonie had accomplishedwhat she had set out to do. When she brought her master his breakfast onSunday, she stood irresolutely holding the doorknob in her hand.

  "Have you something to tell me Apollonie? You certainly can't complainthat I don't appreciate your delicious coffee. Just look at the progressI am making."

  With comical seriousness the Baron pointed to the empty cup and the soleremaining roll.

  "God be thanked and praised for that," she said joyfully. "I shall tellyou because you asked me. I wonder if you would give me a little Sundaypleasure by inspecting all the rooms. I have your chair already at thedoor."

  After the great work Apollonie had done, his only objection was that shedesired something which meant pleasure for him and labour for her. Buthe was willing enough to be put into the heavy wheel-chair.

  "It is wonderful what you have done, Apollonie," he concluded. "You seemto have even changed Mr. Trius from an old bear into an obedient lamb."

  Soon after, the Baron sat propped up in his wheel-chair. Here, guided byApollonie, he was taken first of all to the large ball-room, which hadwitnessed all the happy gatherings of the family and their friends. Itactually glistened in its renewed splendor, and the Baron silently lookedabout him. The tower room, which had been his brother Salo's abode, wasinspected next, and again the Baron uttered no word. Beautiful portraitsof his ancestors adorned these walls, and he recalled how Salo had lovedthem.

  Apollonie moved next to the room of the Baroness where every object wasin its place again. The faithful servant noticed how her master'sglances drank it all in and as they remained he still showed no desire toleave.

  "My mother was sitting in this arm-chair when I last spoke to her," hesaid at last, "and this red pin cushion was lying on the table beforeher. I remember standing there and playing with the pins, and I canrecall every word she said. Don't carry me down to-day, Mrs.Apollonie," he continued after a pause, "I want to spend my Sunday here.I am glad there are no more empty rooms to flee from."

  Apollonie was more gratified than she could say that her master wasbeginning to feel at home and hoped that it would soon become dear tohim. She wanted him to see also Leonore's bright and cheerful room,which the Baroness had had furnished in the daintiest way, and was unableto suppress her wish. "Please, Baron, take one more small trip with me,"she begged. "We can soon come back here."

  As he raised no objection, they set out. Through the wide-open windowsof the room the woods could be seen. Flocks of gay birds sat carollingon the luxuriant branches of the fir trees, and their songs filled theroom with laughter. The Baron let his gaze roam out to the trees withtheir merry minstrels and back again to the pleasant chamber.

  "You have accomplished miracles, Mrs. Apollonie," he cried out. "Itonly took you two days to change this mournful cave into a pleasant abodewhere young people could be happy. Please take me back to my mother'sroom now and come to me as soon as you find time, for I have something totalk over with you."

  An interview lasting a considerable time took place that afternoon.Loneli had been thinking about Kurt and Mea while she was wanderinghappily up and down the terrace, and she wondered how soon they wouldhear of the great event. She was very anxious for them to pay her avisit, for which she was already making plans.

  When Loneli came back from her stroll, she saw her grandmother sitting onthe window-seat, sobbing violently.

  "But grandmother, why are you crying? Everything is so wonderful here,and all the birds outside are singing."

  "I am singing with them in my heart, child; these tears are tears ofjoy," said the grandmother. "Sit down, Loneli, and I'll tell you what isgoing to happen to-morrow. I feel as if this happiness was too much forme, Loneli." Apollonie was once more swept away by emotion, and it tookher a little time before she could tell Loneli the wonderful news.

  On this day it was so quiet in Mrs. Maxa's garden, that it hardly seemedas if the whole family was gathered in the vine-covered gardens. Thethought of its being Leonore's last Sunday kept them from being gay,despite the fact that they were playing a game which they usuallyenjoyed. The mother's thoughts were wandering, too, for she had waitedall day to get news from the c
astle. Wondering what this meant, Mrs.Maxa found it difficult to keep her attention on the children. Maezliundertook a little stroll from time to time, for her companions depressedher very much. She had been to see Kathy, who was sitting near thehouse-door, and had chatted occasionally with the passers, but now shereturned carrying a letter.

  "A boy brought it, and Kathy asked him from whom it was, but he didn'tknow," she explained.

  "Give it to me, Maezli," said the mother. "It is addressed to Leonore,though," she added, a bit frightened, "but--"

  Leonore put both hands up to her face. "Please read it, Aunt Maxa, Ican't."

  "You need not be frightened, children," she said quickly, with a joyfulflush on her cheeks. "Listen! As the Castle-Steward wants to see his twoyoung friends, Leonore and Maezli, again, he invites them, with the restof the family, including the mother, to spend the following day at CastleWildenstein."

  "I am glad," said Maezli rapidly, "then Kurt can see that theCastle-Steward and Mr. Trius are two people."

  The children had been entirely taken aback by fright, which turned intosurprise, but they began to shout joyfully now, for the prospect of beinginvited to the castle was an event nobody could have predicted. Foryears they had only seen the mysterious shuttered doors and windows, andit was no wonder that they were delighted. Mea had heartily voiced herdelight with the others till she noticed that Leonore had become veryquiet and melancholy.

  "But, Leonore," she exclaimed, "why don't you look forward to the lovelyday we are going to have? I can't imagine anything nicer than to be ableto inspect the whole castle."

  "I can't," Leonore replied. "I know too well that everything will beover after that day, and I may even never see you any more."

  Poor Mea was deeply affected by these words, and immediately her joy hadflown. It was rather difficult to quiet everybody down in bed that nightand even when Kurt had gone to sleep he uttered strange triumphantexclamations, for in his dreams the boy had climbed to the top of thehighest battlement.

  At ten o'clock next morning all the children were ready to leave and hadformed a regular procession. Bruno and Kurt had placed themselves at thehead and were only waiting for their mother.

  Now the two boys started off at such a rate that no one else could keepup with them, so the mother appointed Leonore and Mea as guides, andherself followed with Maezli. She firmly held the little girl's hand, forthere was no telling what she might undertake otherwise, and the lessindependent Lippo held his mother's other hand, so that the two olderbrothers were obliged to accommodate their steps to the rest. But Kurt,simply bursting with impatience, dashed ahead once, only to drop behindagain; later on he would appear from behind a hedge. Lippo simply couldnot stand such disorder, and to even up the pairs he took Bruno's hand.When they reached the familiar iron-grated door at last, to theirsurprise both wings of it were thrown open.

  Mr. Trius, with his hat lowered to the ground, stood at his post toreceive them. Shining silver buttons set off a coat which plainlybelonged to his gala suit. Kurt was so completely confounded by thisreception that he quickly fell into line with the rest, and theprocession proceeded. The first thing they saw on the terrace was a longfestive table with garlands of ivy and flowers. Apollonie soon afterappeared in a beautiful silk gown the Baroness had given her, and hermeasured movements made the occasion seem extremely solemn. She had, toall appearance, become "Castle Apollonie" again. Loneli, wearing apretty dress and carrying a huge bouquet of flowers, stepped up toLeonore. Then she handed her the flowers and recited in a clear,impressive voice the following words which Apollonie had composedherself:

  "Thrice welcome to this home of thine, Lady of Castle Wildenstein."

  Leonore, rigid with surprise, first stared at Loneli, then looked at themother.

  Mrs. Maxa took Leonore's hand and led her to the Baron, who hadsmilingly surveyed the scene.

  "I think that her uncle is going to make his little niece a speech atlast," Mrs. Maxa said, placing Leonore's hand in her uncle's. Like aflash comprehension dawned on Leonore.

  "Dear uncle, dear uncle!" she cried out, embracing him tenderly. "Is itreally true that you are my uncle? Is this wonderful thing really true?"

  "Yes, child, I am the uncle you longed to love like a father," said theBaron. "I want to be your father and I hope you can love me a little.Will you mind living with me, Leonore?"

  "Oh, dear, dear uncle," Leonore repeated with renewed signs of warmaffection. "It is not very hard to love you. When you told me that myuncle in Spain was sick and miserable, I wished he could be just likeyou. I really can't quite believe that Salo and I may live with you inthis wonderful castle, where I can be so near Aunt Maxa and everybody Ilove. I wonder what Salo will say. May I write to him today and let himknow that we shall have a home with you?"

  "How do you do, Mr. Castle-Steward,"

  Maezli said that moment, thrusting a plump, round hand between Leonore'sand the Baron's. Maezli had actually made use of the first moment herhand was free.

  "Now Kurt can see for himself that you and Mr. Trius are two people;can't he, Mr. Steward?"

  "This certainly must be cleared up," the Baron answered, shaking Maezli'shand. "We shall prove to them all that Maezli knows what she has seen.Leonore, I want to meet your friends now. Won't you bring them to me?"

  The children were all standing around their mother and Apollonie, whowere clearing up the mystery for them. The mother had barely been ableto check their violent outbreak, but could not quite quench allenthusiasm. When they heard that Leonore had come to introduce them toher uncle, they were a little scared, but Leonore understood theirhesitation and declared, "Just come! You have no idea how nice he is."Pulling Mea with her, she compelled the others to follow, and arriving ather uncle's side, she immediately began, "This is Bruno, my brother'sbest friend, and this is Mea, my best friend. I never had a friend likeher in all my life. This is Kurt--"

  "Kurt is my friend," said the uncle; "I know him because he is the poet.I hope he'll make songs about us all now; I know the one about Mr.Trius."

  Quite taken aback, Kurt looked at the Baron. How could he know thatsong? His mother had strictly forbidden him to show it to anyone, and hehad only read it aloud at home. How could a stranger hear about it?

  "You can say in your new song that Mr. Castle-Steward and Mr. Trius aretwo persons and not one; you can see that yourself," Maezli declaredaloud.

  Kurt then suddenly understood that his impudent small sister had probablybeen the informer and he did not know what to answer.

  But Leonore helped him over his embarrassment by continuing, "This isLippo, Uncle, who has asked me to live with him when he is grown up.Isn't he a wonderful friend, Uncle? He knew I had no home."

  "You have quite marvellous friends, Leonore," said the Baron; "they mustvisit you very often, if Mrs. Maxa will allow it."

  "Gladly, and I know that their happiness will be yours, too, when you seethem all wandering through the house and garden."

  "Yes, all of us, and Salo, too," Leonore exclaimed. "Do you think Salowill soon be here, Uncle?"

  Apollonie had approached the lively group under the pine tree, and asthere happened to be a suitable pause, she announced that dinner wasready.

  "I really ought to invite my dear friend, Mrs. Maxa, to come to thetable _with me_; I shall ask, however, who is going to take me?" said theBaron.

  All the children immediately cried, "I," "I," "I," "I," "I," "I," andhands caught hold of the back and both sides of the Baron's chair.

  "I am driving in a coach and six to-day! How things have changed for me!"the gentleman said smilingly. The meal Apollonie had planned was a greatsuccess and the open air on the terrace added to the children'senjoyment.

  When the fruit course, which consisted of yellow plums, was eaten, theBaron gave the young birds, as he called the children, permission to flyfreely about. It seemed to crown all the preceding pleasures to be ableto roam without restraint in the woods and meadows. First of all theyran towards th
e adjoining woods, where their need for an outlet could begratified.

  "Long years to you, Leonore!" Bruno cried. "Now you and Salo are goingto have a wonderful home quite near to us. Isn't it splendid! When Salocomes, we shall be together."

  "Long live the Baron!" Kurt screamed now with all his might. "Hurrah forCastle Wildenstein, the wonderful new home! Long live Apollonie! Butwhere is Loneli?" he suddenly interrupted himself in the midst of hisoutburst; "she ought to be here, too."

  When everybody agreed with him, Kurt dashed towards the terrace whereLoneli was just helping her grandmother carry away the dishes.

  "We want to have Loneli with us, Apollonie. Please let her come withme," Kurt explained his errand.

  "Who wants her, do you say?" Apollonie began rather severely, despite aglad note in her voice which could not be disguised.

  "Everybody does, and Leonore especially," was Kurt's sly answer.

  "You can go, Loneli," said the grandmother. "You must celebrate thisgreat day with them."

  Loneli actually glowed with joy when she ran off with Kurt.

  As they were sitting under the pine tree, the Baron and Mrs. Maxa werereviving memories of long ago, and he listened with great emotion whenMrs. Maxa told him how faithfully his mother had tried to send him news.Her letters had, however, miscarried, because he had changed hisresidence so frequently. But he had wanted him to know how constant hismother's love had been and how anxiously she was waiting his return.

  "Mrs. Maxa," he said after a little pause, "I feel terribly ashamed. Icame here with anger and hate in my heart against God and man, and myonly hope was to die as soon as possible. I expected to be forsaken anddespised, and instead of that I meet only kindness and love on everyside. I never deserved such a thing! Do you think I can ever atone forall the wrong I've done?"

  "We must always bear in mind that there is One who is glad to forgive usour sins, Baron, and He can deliver us from them if we sincerely beg Himto," Mrs. Maxa answered.

  As the Baron remained silent, Mrs. Maxa added, "Will you let me saysomething to you on the strength of our old friendship, Baron Bruno?"

  "Certainly. I can trust my dear Maxa to say only what is right," hereplied.

  "I have noticed that you have evaded mentioning the name Salo, that youseemed reluctant to answer Leonore's questions concerning his possiblecoming. I know that bitter memories are connected with the name, but Ialso want you to know that you will deprive yourself of a great blessingif you banish the boy who bears that name."

  "Please let him come here, if only for a little while," Mrs. Maxabegged, yet more strongly, "so that you can see him. If you can'twillingly see him who may be the pride and joy of your life, then openthe door of his home because, before God, it is right, which you mustfeel as fully as I."

  The Baron was silent, then finally said, "Salo may come."

  Mrs. Maxa's face shone with joy and gratitude. Many things had still tobe discussed, and the two old friends remained sitting under the pinetree till the last rays of the setting sun were throwing a rosy lightover the gray castle. The children were at last returning from theirwalk across the meadows. They looked like a full-blown garden when theyapproached the Baron's chair, for they were covered with garlands ofpoppies, ivy and cornflowers. Now supper was announced, and the Baronwas escorted to the terrace as before. It was a true triumphal marchthis time, when he, throned in his chair with the lion-skin on his knees,was pushed along by the gaily decked children. The Baron told them howmuch he would enjoy taking a similar ride into the fields some day.

  When Mrs. Maxa gave the sign for parting after the merry supper party,no sign of grief was shown because the Baron had already told them thatLeonore was to move up into the castle in a few days. They were all tobe present then. After that there would be no end to their visits.

  When the Baron shook Maezli's hand at parting, he said, "You came to seeme first, Maezli, so you shall always be my special friend."

  "Yes, I'll be your friend," Maezli said firmly.

  When Leonore tenderly took leave of her uncle she whispered in his ear,"May Salo come soon, Uncle?"

  This time the answer was a clear affirmative, and the child's heart wasfilled with rapture.

  "Oh, Aunt Maxa," he cried aloud, "Can't we sing our evening song up here?I should love to sing the song my mother used to sing."

  When consent was given, they grouped themselves about the Baron's chairand sang:

  God, Who disposes all things well, I want but what Thou givest me. Oh how can we Thine acts foretell, When Thou are far more wise than we?

  All the way home the children kept looking back at the castle, for theirday had been too marvellous.

  The next day three letters were sent to Salo, one from Bruno and one fromLeonore, both full of enthusiasm about the great event of the day before;and one from Mrs. Maxa. The last thrilled Salo most, because itcontained a summons for him to come to his new home.

  The news that Baron Bruno had come back and that Apollonie had resumedher old post at the castle had spread all over the neighborhood.Everybody had heard that Loneli also was living at the castle, that BaronSalo's daughter had come, and his son was soon to be there. The reportthat Mrs. Rector Bergmann's whole family had spent a day at the castlewas reported, too, and everybody talked about the intimate friendship ofthe two families.

  A few days after the celebration at the castle the district attorney'swife came to call on Mrs. Maxa. She lost no time in telling her hostessthat she counted on Baron Salo's son joining the other three lads in townand that her husband had agreed to look up another room for him. She hadno doubt that the sons of the three most important families of Nollaought naturally to live and study together, and she knew that everyeffort would be made to find Salo a suitable room, even if theapplication came rather late. Mrs. Maxa did not need to mind theseannoying negotiations now, but calmly replied that the Baron would sendhis nephew to the high school in the city and would undoubtedly make hisown arrangements. Mrs. Knippel, after remarking that her husbandcounted on seeing the Baron himself, withdrew. A moment after she leftLoneli came into the house to see Mea.

  "Just think, Mea," the peace-loving Loneli said to her, "I have a messagefor you from Elvira; she wants you to know that she is willing to forgiveyou on condition that she may meet Leonore. She wants to be her friendand sit beside her in school."

  "It's too late now, and it won't help her. I don't care whether shewants to make up with me or not," Mea said placidly. "Neither Leonorenor I are going to school. You won't have to go either, Loneli, becausea lady is coming to the castle to teach us all. Baron Wallerstaetten andmama have settled it, so I know it."

  Loneli could hardly believe her ears, the surprise seemed too great."Then I shan't have to sit on the shame-bench any more," she said with abeaming face, for a heavy trouble was removed from her heart.

  "You can ask Leonore if she wants to meet Elvira," said Mea, for Leonorehad stepped up to them.

  But Loneli's message held no interest whatever for Leonore, who wishedfor no new acquaintances. She only desired to give the time she was notspending with her uncle to Mea and her brothers and sisters. Least ofall she wished to meet a girl who had been so disagreeable to her belovedMea.

  Uncle Philip had been away on a business trip. On his arrival home hereceived the following note from his sister: "If you still want to seeLeonore with us, come as soon as possible. She is going to live with heruncle at the castle in a very few days. I shall tell you all about itwhen you come."

  He arrived the very next morning, and as soon as he met his sister, heexploded: "I was quite sure, Maxa, that you would immediately deliver thelittle dove into the vulture's claws. I wish I had never put her in yourcare!"

  "Come in, Philip and sit down," Mrs. Maxa said composedly. "We aregoing to have dinner in a moment, and then you will have the chance toask the dove herself what she thinks of the vulture's claws."

  Uncle Philip opened the door and found the children absolutely immers
edin the recent events. The instant he stepped over the threshold theyrushed up to him and fairly flooded him with news. Their speeches camethick and fast, and he heard nothing but manifestations of love for thedear, good Baron, Leonore's charming uncle, the good, kindCastle-Steward. Maezli had not given up this title even now.

  "Do you see, Philip, that you can't swim against the stream?" said Mrs.Maxa when she was sitting alone with her brother after dinner. "The bestthing you can do is to pay your old friend a call; that would add you tothe list of his admirers, instead of your bearing him a grudge."

  But Uncle Philip violently objected to this proposal.

  "Baron Bruno spoke of you with a sincere feeling of attachment which youapparently don't deserve," his sister said. "He was afraid of yourfeeling towards him, though. Listen to what he said 'I fear that hewon't wish to have anything to do with me, and I shall be powerless inthat case.'"

  "I won't refuse the hand of an old friend, though, Maxa," said thebrother now, "if he offers it to me to reestablish peace. What is hegoing to do for Salo's son?"

  "Salo has already been sent word that he is to have the castle of hisancestors for a home," replied Mrs. Maxa.

  "I am going out for a walk," Uncle Philip said suddenly, taking down hishat from the peg, and Mrs. Maxa guessed quite well where he was going.He reappeared at supper time and sat down with merry eyes in the midst ofthem all.

  "Leonore," he began, "as soon as you are the mistress of the castle, Ishall often be your guest. Your uncle and I have just done some businesstogether. He told me how different everything used to be in the castlegrounds and that he regretted not understanding about these matters. Sohe asked me to take charge of things, as they were in my special field.He hoped my old attachment to the place"--at these words Uncle Philip'svoice became quite hoarse suddenly--"Maxa, your plum-cake is so sweet itmakes one hoarse," he said, for he would never admit that he had beenovercome by deep emotion. "So I have undertaken to attend to the matterand I shall often come to the castle."

  That Uncle Philip belonged to the castle, too, now awoke hearty outburstsfrom the children, which the mother happily joined, for it had been hergreatest wish that the two should become friends again.

  The last evening before Leonore was to move into the castle had come, andthe children were all sitting in a little corner. They were in the mostcheerful mood, busily making delightful plans for the future. Suddenlythe door opened, and wild shrieks of joy burst from everybody. "Salo,Salo, Salo!" they all cried out. The boy had just arrived in time tohave a last splendid evening with his friends before moving into his newhome. The next day turned out more wonderful than they had ever dared todream, and it was followed again by a succession of other days asdelightful. Every time the children came together it seemed like a newparty, and the Baron took great care that those parties did not end tooquickly.

  Kurt had soon informed Salo and Bruno that there was a large hall withweapons and armor at the ground floor of the castle. When the boys askedApollonie to admit them, she opened a little side door for them, becauseMr. Trius had hidden the other key. Salo lifted the armoured knight tohis shoulders, and had the long, blue cloak draped around him. He lookedlike a frightful giant as he wandered up and down the big room, and Kurtrecognized the ghost of Wildenstein he had seen that dreadful night.

  Salo, with his charming disposition, soon entirely won over his uncle,who decided to send his nephew to the neighboring town to study, and Saloand Bruno were to spend their study-time as well as their holidaystogether.

  When the summer holidays were over, Salo and Bruno moved into town, buteven this leave-taking did not prove very hard. The children were not tobe separated very long, for the boys were to spend many week-ends athome, besides all their holidays. Bruno had soon written to his motherfrom town that she need not worry at all about the Knippel boys, as theyscarcely ever saw them.

  When Mrs. Maxa cannot help recalling all her former fears and plans forthe future because her son's violent temper caused her such anxiety, shesaid to herself with a glad heart:

  Oh how can we Thine acts foretell, When Thou are far more wise than we?

  Apollonie has become the real, true Castle-Apollonie of yore and managesfor her master's sake to live in undisturbed peace with Mr. Trius. Sheis taking such good care of the Baron and his little adopted daughterthat a bloom of health has spread over their cheeks. On sunny days theBaron can frequently be seen walking up and down the terrace on Leonore'sarm, and his young guide is very careful of his health and looks afterhim tenderly. The sound of a beautiful voice can often be heard throughthe open castle windows, for Leonore has inherited her mother's voice,and it gives her uncle the keenest pleasure to listen to the songs sheused to sing in bygone days. The people in Nolla unanimously agree thatthe ghost of Wildenstein has gone to his eternal rest, because peaceagain is reigning at the castle.

  THE END

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