"I felt that you were in here," said he. "All at once I seemed to know you were here and alone. And before I realised what I was doing, I came in. I didn't mean to."
"Didn't mean to come and see me while you were here?" she echoed in reproach. "Why not?"
"For the same reason I didn't stay when I was here before. I——"
"Why did you go away that time?" she demanded. "Why did you go without a word of good-bye to—to any of us?"
"Tell her, boy," adjured Peter Grimm. "Don't mind my feelings."
"Your uncle sent me away," blurted Hartmann, "but it was partly at my own request."
"Oom Peter sent you away? Why?"
"I told him the truth again."
"Oh! One of your usual hot arguments that used to worry me so? I remember how excited you both used to get. Was it about the superiority of potatoes to orchids this time?"
"No. The superiority of one person to the whole world."