“There is a padlock and a great bar outside the door; those she cannot force, and no one about the place will do such a piece of service for her. They dislike her, every one of them.”
They rose up from the table; the bell was just on the stroke of eleven.
“But the Baron must play us a little piece!” said the physician.
“Then Mr. Thostrup will sing us the pretty Jutlandish song by Steen-Blicher!” exclaimed Louise.
“O yes!” said the mother, and clapped Otto on the shoulder.
Wilhelm played.
“Do sing!” said Wilhelm; all besought him to do so, and Otto sang the Jutlandish song for them.
“See, you sang that with the proper humor,” said Sophie, and clapped her hands in applause. With that all arose, offered to him their hands, and Wilhelm whispered to him, yet so that the sisters heard it, “This evening you have been right amiable!”
Otto and Wilhelm went to their sleeping-room.
“But, my good friend,” said Wilhelm, “what did you really go into the garden for? Be so good as to confess to me: you were not unwell! You did not go only into the garden! you went into the wood, and you remained a long time there! I saw it! You made a little visit to the handsome woman while the fiddler was here, did you not? I do not trust you so entirely!”