Dr. Reinsfeld sat in his room, writing diligently. So much had to be arranged and prepared for his successor, who was to arrive in the course of the next week, and who was to buy the house and furniture. The young physician's belongings were not very valuable, nevertheless he looked about him upon his poor possessions with a sad, yearning expression. Here he had been so happy, and so miserable!
A carriage drove up and stopped before his door. Benno looked up from his writing to see who his visitor might be, and then hurried to the door, in surprise, as he recognized the graceful figure of Frau Gersdorf about to alight. This distinguished relative, whose acquaintance he had formerly dreaded to make, had come to be his cherished little friend, whose interest in his unhappy love was intense. He had been obliged to discourage this interest of hers, but he was nevertheless grateful for it.
He went out with a welcome upon his lips to open the carriage door, but started, dismayed, for beside his young cousin sat a shyly shrinking figure,--Alice Nordheim.
"Yes, I am not alone," said Molly, highly delighted by the effect of her surprise. "We have been out driving, and did not wish to pass through Oberstein without seeing you. Well, Benno, are you not glad we stopped?"
Reinsfeld stood dumfounded. Driving in this cold rainy weather? Why had Alice come? And why did she tremble so as he helped her out of the carriage, seeming afraid to look at him? He could not utter a word; but indeed there was no need that he should, for Frau Gersdorf gave no one any chance to speak. She chattered on until they were in Benno's study, and then she began afresh:
"And so here we are. You wanted to come, Alice, and now you look as if you would like to run away. Why? I may surely call upon my cousin if I please, and you are with me, chaperoned by a married woman, so your duenna can make no possible objection. And you need not be in the least embarrassed, children. I know everything,--I grasp the entire situation, and it is very natural that you should wish to talk to each other. So now begin!"
She seated herself in the arm-chair which the doctor had just left, and prepared with great solemnity to assist at the interview. But a long pause ensued,--neither Alice nor Benno spoke,--and, after some minutes of silence, Molly began to be tired.
"I dare say you would rather talk without listeners," she remarked. "Good! I will go into the next room, and see that no one interrupts you."
Without waiting for a reply, she suited the action to the word, and left the room for the one adjoining, by the closed door of which she placed herself as sentinel.
But Molly had forgotten the other door of the study, which led through a small vestibule out into the garden, and she was quite unconscious that through the garden Veit Gronau was just now approaching the house, leaving Said and Djelma to await him at the garden gate.