He has referred to the old days and recurred to the many kindnesses shown to him by Esther and Helen and the mission workers at Tolchaco. He is delighted to hear of the marriage of Clifford and Miss Gray, but in all the reminiscent talk he is evidently preoccupied and looks often at Helen as a hungry and thirsty man would eye the full table from which he may be debarred.
The clock strikes a late hour. He makes a feeble excuse to go and mutters something about not having observed the time.
"Die Uhr schlagt keinem Glucklichen?" Helen smilingly observes.
Bauer starts in surprise and leans over towards her.
"You speak German?" he asks with a strange look on his face.
"I have had plenty of time to learn it since you left us."
He looks up and sees that the other members of the family have in some way become much interested in Walter's new plans of electrical dock openers which are spread out on the dining room table.
"You mean since I left you sitting on that log at Tolchaco?"
"Maybe that is what I mean," Helen says, and she is more agitated than she has for years thought she could be.
"Then you know what 'Loben ist nicht Lieben' means now?"