“Very pretty! Who taught you that, Kitty?”
“I once found it in a book of songs which belonged to mother. I almost think she made it herself.”
During this conversation Paul had stood there stupefied with horror; but when he heard his mother’s name his anger overpowered him, and he cracked his whip over the heads of the couple, so that the withered leaves of the arbor flew rustling about.
With a loud cry they all sprang up. No sooner had the brothers recognized him than they attempted to make off; but the girls clung to them whimpering. They sought protection against their own brother.
“Come here!” he called out to them. Then they left their lovers and flew to one another for mutual protection.
The two Erdmanns receded farther still.
“You stay here!” he cried.
“What do you want with us?” said the elder one, who was the first to recover his impudence.
“You shall answer to me for your conduct.”
“You know where we are to be found,” said the younger one, and pulled his brother by the coat-tail as a hint to escape with him. But at this moment Paul seized him by the throat.