The others made kind remarks to him without going into distinctions about the periods of his artistic development.
Nürnberger declared that he had been most agreeably disillusioned by George's songs. "I will not conceal the fact from you," he remarked, "that going by the views I have frequently heard you express, my dear Baron, I should have imagined them considerably less intelligible."
"Quite charming, really," said Wilt, "all so simple and melodious without bombast or affectation."
"And he is the man," thought George grimly, "who dubbed me a dilettante."
Willy came up to him. "Now you just say, Herr Hofrat, that you can manage to whistle them, and if I know anything about physiognomy the Baron will send two gentlemen to see you in the morning."
"Oh no," said George, pulling himself together and smiling; "fortunately, the songs were written in a period which I have long since got over, so I don't feel wounded by any blame or by any praise."
A servant brought in ices, the groups broke up and Anna stood alone with George by the pianoforte.
He asked her quickly "What does it really mean?"
"I don't know," she replied, and looked at him in astonishment.
"Do you feel quite all right now?"