He was summoned to the baroness, but said she must wait awhile. Then a messenger came again for him. In a sullen mood he went up to her. She was quite mild, and asked him to stay some days with them till they had found another tutor. He promised, since she had asked him so pressingly. She said she would drive with the boys into the town.
The sleigh came to the door, and the baron stood by, and said, "You can sit on the box."
"I know my place," said John. At the first halting-place the baroness asked him to get into the sleigh, but he would not.
They stayed in the town eight days. In the meanwhile John had written a somewhat arrogant letter, in an independent tone, home, which did not please his father, although he had flattered him in it. "I think you should have first asked if you could come home," he said. In that he was right. But John had never thought otherwise of his parents' house than of an hotel, where he could get board and lodging without paying.
So he was home again. Through an incomprehensible simplicity he had let himself be persuaded to continue to go through his former pupils' school-work with them, though he received nothing for it. One evening Fitz wanted to take him to a café.
"No," said John, "I must give some lessons."
"Where?"
"To the Secretary's boys."
"What! haven't you done with them yet?"
"No, I have promised to help them till they get a new teacher."