The Disagreeable Man grunted, but behaved after the fashion of a hero, claiming, however, a little silent sympathy from Bernardine.
It was a pleasant, homely scene: and Bernardine, who, felt quite at her ease amongst these people, chatted away with them as though she had known them all her life.
Then Frau Steinhart suddenly remembered that her guests needed some food, and Liza was despatched to her duties as cook; though it was some time before she could be induced to leave off looking at the photographs.
"Take them with you, Liza," said the Disagreeable Man. "Then we shall get our meal all the quicker!"
She ran off laughing, and finally Bernardine found herself alone with
Catharina.
"Liza is very happy," she said to Bernardine. "She loves, and is loved."
"That is the greatest happiness," Bernardine said half to herself.
"Fräulein knows?" Catharina asked eagerly.
Bernardine looked wistfully at her companion. "No, Catharina," she said.
"I have only heard and read and seen."
"Then you cannot understand," Catharina said almost proudly. "But I understand!"