"But I do know," said the baroness, rising; "and formerly that was enough for you, dear Grenwitz. Come, it is time for us to start, if we wish to reach Count Grieben's for dinner. There is Malte. I hope you are warmly dressed. Where on earth is Bruno?"
"Up stairs with the doctor. He wants to stay if the doctor stays."
"There you see, dear Grenwitz; there you have it. A nice education, indeed. At once go up stairs, Malte! Bruno must get ready instantly; do you hear, instantly!"
"I won't tell him any such thing," replied Malte. "You can do it yourself."
"So I will," said the baroness, ringing the bell. "Tell Dr. Stein I beg him to come down for a moment!" she said to the servant.
The servant disappeared; the baroness walked up and down in the room with rapid strides.
"Only for Heaven's sake no scene, dear Anna Maria," said the old gentleman, who had risen.
The baroness did not vouchsafe an answer, for at that moment the door opened, and Oswald and Bruno came in--Bruno with a dark, defiant face and traces of recent tears in his eyes, but quite ready to start; a straw hat covered with oil-cloth in his hand.
"You wish to see me, madam," said Oswald, bowing to the baroness.
The baroness was not a little disconcerted by this unexpected solution of the difficulty.