But, presently, she remembered the woman they had lodged with, and how she must have cleaned her dress and dried it.
The old man clapped his knee with his hand.
"Ach Himmel, child!" he cried. "It is she who has stolen it."
Then he shouldered his bundle, declaring he must fetch it.
"Auf wiedersehen, my Bettina," he said, and departed from Memel.
It was only a day's journey to the village, but a week passed and no Hans. Then another.
Madame von Stork shook her head.
"His trouble has crazed him," she said. "We will keep the child, yes?" and she looked at her husband.
The Professor nodded.
"Our Franz loved her," he answered. "She is not noble, it is true, but she is sweet and good, and our children love her. The Stork's nest, dear wife," and he smiled at her lovingly, "is always big enough for one more, it is not, my dear Clara?"