When she awoke the sun was already high. She felt strengthened and full of joyous life. The melancholy of the evening before had been dispelled. It even caused no diminution of her good spirits, when, in the course of the forenoon, her aunts came to see her.
“Oh, it is lovely of you to visit me ... please sit down. Now tell me, how do you enjoy being with us? Isn’t it all wonderful?”
The old ladies sat down. Then Franka for the first time noticed that their faces expressed a certain solemn sullenness.
“We have come to say good-bye, Franka,” said Countess Adele.
“We cannot endure it any longer,” added Fräulein Albertine in explanation.
“What, you are going to leave Lucerne, before the Rose-Week is ended?”
The countess nodded. “Yes, we are leaving to-day. I believe that, if I were to remain longer, I should lose my mind. These flyings up in the air, these uncanny pictures on the sky, all these upsetting performances and declamations.... No, it is not normal at all, I might almost say not comme il faut. We of our class cannot take any pleasure in it. Yesterday evening, at supper, I declared that I was going home. Albertine was agreeable.”
“Perfectly agreeable,” corroborated Albertine.
“Coriolan was delighted; only Malhof—he was furious—he is going to stay. We do not need him. Coriolan is sufficient protection for our return journey. He is a genuine knight of the good old stamp.... Now, tell me about the prince who was paying you such pronounced attention the day before yesterday.... Why did he not show himself yesterday? Is the affair at an end?”
“’Tis no affair at all,” replied Franka testily.