"He went down like a cannon-ball. This nation has no capacity for the sea either in its upper or lower classes,--in this whole neighborhood they have not so much as a boat. Twenty years ago there was one here, it is said, but it has been cut up to boil coffee. The best thanks that one can give to this Bielstein man for the disturbance that we have occasioned him, will be to send him a boat to keep among his bundles of straw."
With these thoughts he entered the door of the Dragon; there he went up to the sleepy landlord and asked:
"Where is the young couple that arrived yesterday evening?"
"They are up stairs, I suppose," returned the latter, indifferently; "their bill is to be paid yet, if you will know."
As he was about to ascend to the upper floor, he heard a cry of joy.
"Father, my father!" exclaimed Laura, rushing down the stairs; she threw her arms round his neck, and gave vent to such warm expressions of tenderness and sorrow that Mr. Hummel at once became gracious.
"Vagrants!" he exclaimed; "have I caught you? Wait! you shall pay dearly for this escapade."
The Doctor also rushed headlong down stairs, and greeted Mr. Hummel with outbursts of joy.
"Your carriage will bring the things after us; we will go on ahead," ordered Mr. Hummel. "How did your Don Juan behave?" he asked, in a low tone, of his daughter.
"Father, he took care of me like an angel, and sat on a chair the whole night before my door. It was terrible, father."