"I was told Bruno refused to accompany us," she said "and so I thought----"
"Pardon me, madam," said Oswald, interrupting her; "of course, a refusal on the part of Bruno to obey your orders is utterly out of question. Bruno would have preferred to keep me company. It required only a word, however, to remind him that he must not on my account forget for a moment what he owes to you and the baron."
"Well, that is what I thought," said the baroness, who in her heart was very glad to have escaped a "scene" with Oswald, of whom she was more or less afraid, little as she was willing to confess this humiliating weakness even to herself. "He shall not repent having complied with our wishes. The weather is splendid, and I hope we shall have a delightful ride. What a pity, dear doctor, you cannot be one of us! Well, I hope we shall find you quite well again when we return--probably in two or three days.--Ah, mademoiselle, everything in readiness? Well, let us start, dear Grenwitz. Adieu, my dear doctor! Adieu, mademoiselle; n'oubliez pas ce que je vous ai dit! Ah, Mr. Timm! really, I had nearly forgotten you."
"Very flattering and very natural," said Mr. Timm, who had just made his appearance, his pencil stuck behind his ear, and his toilet in very imperfect condition, in order to bid them good-by, and who now helped the baroness into the carriage. "Bon voyage. My kindest regards to Count Grieben! famous old gentleman, who keeps a capital glass of wine! All right! Up!" and Mr. Timm gave the nearest horse a sound blow with his open hand, and then kissed his hand to the people in the carriage as it began to get into motion.
"God be thanked," he said, as the carriage had disappeared, and rubbed his hands with delight "Now we are all alone among the girls. What shall we do for sheer delight! Qu'en dites-vous, Monsieur le docteur? Qu'en dites-vous, Mademoiselle?"
"I have to write some letters, and will go to my room," said Oswald, going into the house.
"Then we'll take a French lesson in the garden, little Marguerite," said Mr. Timm, putting the young lady's arm unceremoniously in his own.
"I have not time," said the pretty Frenchwoman, trying to withdraw her arm.
"Ah, nonsense!" said Albert "If you have not time now that the old scarecrow is gone, when will you have time? We have made very good progress already in the verb aimer: J'aime--tu aimes--nous aimons!"
And Albert drew willing Marguerite into the garden, and those who took a special interest in the romantic couple, could see them roam about there, arm in arm, till dinner-time, and notice, moreover, that they decidedly preferred the divers shrubberies and darker avenues to the more exposed parts, which was perfectly natural in the burning sunlight.