"And you complied with your mother's request rather than with mine, and preferred to mine the company of strangers."
"You did so too," sobbed Molly; "you drove away without a thought of your poor wife consumed with grief and longing!"
Albert put his arm around her caressingly, as he said, tenderly, "And were you really unhappy, my little Molly? So was I."
His young wife looked up at him through her tears, and nestled close to him: "When were you coming back?" she asked.
"The day after to-morrow, if I could have managed to stay away so long."
"And I came to-day. Is not that enough for you?"
"Yes, my darling, quite enough!" said Gersdorf. "And if you choose we will return to Heilborn this very day."
"No, we will not," said Molly, resolutely. "I have quarrelled with mamma, and with papa too; they did not want me to come. I have brought our luggage, and now we will stay here."
"So much the better," said Albert, much relieved. "I went to Heilborn solely for your sake, and here we are really in the midst of the mountains. I am only afraid that we must try to find some other quarters; the doctor's house can hardly hold you with all your trunks."
The little lady turned up her nose as she surveyed the room, where the smoke still lingered and the broken pipe and the three-legged chair encumbered the floor.