Manna declared how happy it made her, to be able to do so much for the child.
Sonnenkamp hummed to himself,—
"Yes, yes, that's the way. I know what you are, a child who takes to a stranger child. But enough!"
He rose hastily.
The parents and Roland left the cell. Manna remained there with Heimchen.
Upon the steps, Sonnenkamp said to his wife,—
"This is your doing! The child is estranged from me; you have turned her heart from me, you have said to her-—-"
A strange laugh, a laugh sounding as if it came from some other person, was uttered by Frau Ceres. Roland stared at her; here is something incomprehensible to him.
The parents and the boy rejoined the visitors in the park, and Sonnenkamp informed them very calmly that he had given permission to his daughter, in order not to interrupt and disturb her education by outside impressions, to remain at the convent until Easter. Pranken darted a strange glance at Sonnenkamp, and then expressed his admiration of the imperturbable composure with which Sonnenkamp accomplished everything.
Bella and Fräulein Perini had walked over the island. They did not return for a long time; at last they came from the room of the Superior.