"The account, Herr Baron. I didn't want to give it to Anna.... It might perhaps have upset her too much."
"Oh yes...." He put the envelope in his pocket and thought that it felt strangely different to any other....
Therese appeared with a little Spanish hat, ready to go out. "Here I am. Goodbye, mamma. Shan't be home for dinner."
She went down the stairs with George and threw him sideways a glance of pleasure.
"Where can I take you?" asked George.
"Just take me along with you. I'll get out somewhere."
They got in, the vehicle went on. She put to him all kinds of questions which he had already answered in the apartment, as though she took it for granted that he was now bound to be more candid with her than before the others. She did not learn anything except that he felt comfortable in his new surroundings and that his work gave him satisfaction. Had his appearance been a great surprise for Anna? No, not at all. He had of course given her notice of it. And was it really true that he meant to come back again at Easter? It was his definite intention....
She seemed surprised. "Do you know that I had almost imagined...."
"What?"
"That we would never see you again!"