"I must do so now, even if I were not obliged to go on account of the picture."
"Why?"
"To restore my faith in mankind, at least the part most important to me, myself," replied Gotthold, with a smile, whose derision did not escape Herr Wollnow.
"I am very much displeased with you," said the latter, as he re-entered the dining-room, after accompanying Gotthold to the door.
"With me?"
"What must the man think of me? What a meddlesome awkward fellow he must consider me. It is a real piece of good fortune that I went no farther."
"But what have I done?"
"Why did you never tell me this famous narrative of your youth, from which it is very evident that he loved and probably still loves your friend Cecilia, as you call her, although I have never seen anything of the friendship."
"Do you really think so?" exclaimed Fran Wollnow, starting up and throwing her arms around her husband; "do you really think so? Did he tell you so?"
In spite of his vexation, Herr Wollnow could not help laughing.