“Must one, then, have a light, fickle mood to please you?” asked Otto.
“Yes, certainly!” answered Sophie, ironically.
“Then it is true what your cousin told me!” said Otto. “If one will be fortunate with the ladies, one must at least be somewhat frivolous, fond of pleasure, and fickle,—that makes one interesting. Yes, he has made himself acquainted with the world, he has experience in everything!”
“Yes, perfectly!” said Sophie, and laughed aloud.
Otto was silent, with contracted brow.
“I wish you sunshine!” said Sophie, and smiling raised her finger. Otto remained unchanged—he wrinkled his brow.
“You must change very much!” said she, half gravely; and danced out of the room.
Three weeks passed by, rich in great events in the kingdom of the heart; it was still a diplomatic secret: the eyes betrayed it by their pantomimic language, the mouth alone was silent, and it is after all the deciding power.
Otto visited the merchant’s family. Maren had departed just the day before. In vain had she awaited his visit throughout the three weeks.
“You quite forget your true friends!” said the ladies. “Believe us, Maja was a little angry with you, and yet we have messages. Now she is sailing over the salt sea.”