"Did anything bad happen in the night?"
"No," said the young German lady, looking at her plate. "There is an invalid in the house."
"Did you hear Heléne?" asked Olga, looking at Johannes earnestly. "I never hear her now. At first I used to very plainly, but now I sleep through it. Poor Heléne!"
"Poor Heléne!" lisped Frieda dutifully after her, resuming her busy spooning of the malted milk.
At noon Johannes was again summoned to the drawing-room. He had had a long walk, alone, beside the sea, and felt more at his ease. He had resolved to ask if he might not go away, since he was out of place here, and felt unhappy. And the party the next evening, at Lady Crimmetart's, where he was expected with an instrument—that was too much for him. He must get away before that.
But ere he had a chance to speak about it, his hostess began thus:
"Were you alarmed in the night, Johannes? Did you hear anything?"
Johannes nodded.
"Well, now that I trust you, fully, I will confide to you my sorrowful secret. Listen."