The tone in which the young girl said these words was so very sad, that Sophie regretted having been carried away by the secret antipathy she felt in her heart against Stein, and perhaps still more by a desire to provoke Helen by violent contradiction, and thus to punish her for her reserve.
"Still," she said, to soothe the wound; "still, this is not to be my final judgment about Doctor Stein; it is nothing but a first impression. I shall probably think differently about him when I see him more frequently. Franz is so very fond of him, and, you know, we girls when we are engaged are apt to be jealous. But I just remember, he may be here every moment!" she cried, interrupting herself.
"Who?" said Helen, "Oswald?"
"I had really quite forgotten it. Thoughtless girl that I am!"
"What is it?"
"Stein and Franz had agreed to hear a lecture by Professor Benseler together. And Franz went directly after dinner to see a patient of father's in the country. I was to have sent word to Stein. I wonder if it is time yet?"
"It is half-past five now," said Helen, stepping to the window to look at her watch. "It is almost dark and I must make haste to get home."
At that moment there came a knock at the door.
"There he is!" cried the two young ladies unisono, trembling like a couple of deer when a shot is fired in the wood.
Another knock.