“I really wouldn’t have intruded if I had known—”
“Known what?” inquired Eugen, with well-assumed surprise.
“I thought you were just by yourselves, you know, and—”
“So we are; but we can do with other society. Friedel here gets very tedious sometimes—in fact, langweilig. Come again, nicht wahr?”
“If I sha’n’t be in your way,” said Karl, looking round the room with somewhat wistful eyes.
We assured him to the contrary, and he promised, with unnecessary emphasis, to come again.
“He will return; I know he will!” said Eugen, after he had gone.
The next time that Herr Linders arrived, which was ere many days had passed, he looked excited and important; and after the first greetings were over, he undid a great number of papers which wrapped and infolded a parcel of considerable dimensions, and displayed to our enraptured view of a white woolly animal of stupendous dimensions, fastened upon a green stand, which stand, when pressed, caused the creature to give forth a howl like unto no lowing of oxen nor bleating of sheep ever heard on earth. This inviting-looking creature he held forth toward Sigmund, who stared at it.
“Perhaps he’s got one already?” said Karl, seeing that the child did not display any violent enthusiasm about the treasure.
“Oh, no!” said Eugen, promptly.