"Frau Nüssler, you mean young Jochen----"
"Hush, Bräsig, name no names! You might, for all him,"--pointing to Jochen--"but on his account," and she pointed to Bauschan, "you must be very careful, for he is cleverer than all of us put together. Just see, how he pricks up his ears."
"Hm!" said Bräsig, looking under Jochen's chair, "truly! but that need not hinder us. Frau Nüssler, this business must come to a happy ending."
"Yes, Bräsig, I say so, myself, every day, but only tell me, what is to become of me, and of him?" pointing again to Jochen. "When Mining and Rudolph get the control, what shall I do, what shall he do?"
"Frau Nüssler, you will have quiet days, and enjoy yourself in your descendants."
"That may be, Bräsig, and one gets accustomed to everything, even to idleness; but look at me, with all my housekeeping I grow stouter, every day, and if I should sit still in my chair I should soon be unable to move, and be a perfect monster."
"Frau Nüssler," said Uncle Bräsig, standing before her, while the recollection of his youth came over him, "you were always handsome, and you always will be," and he made a bow, and grasped her hand.
"Bräsig, that is a stupid joke!" said Frau Nüssler, drawing her hand away, "and just look at that old dog! Hasn't he sense enough to understand it? But we are not talking about me, now; what shall become of him? I can do all sorts of handiwork; but he, if he has nothing more to do?"
"He smokes tobacco, and sleeps," said Bräsig.
"Yes," said she, "just at present, but he has altered fearfully, of late. I say nothing about the foolish old goose-business, for I can talk him out of that, but he has become so contrary, of late, he is always disputing, and since he has had nothing to occupy his mind, he imagines the most foolish things."