“You are a real mother, Mrs. Lesa, even for children that are not your own. I like that. But you see, my wife has been ordered a complete rest. So I had to send the children away. If the boy is allowed to be with his mother, the girl wants to be with her, too, and she is by nature very noisy—of course she can’t help it. But the mother wants her children back for she worries about them more when they are absent. But I think my visit has been long enough, Mrs. Lesa,” said Mr. Thornau, getting up. “Please permit me to come again, for I like your home extremely.”
Mrs. Lesa accompanied her guest outside and called the children. Hugo was still leaning against the tree, but when the girls came running forward he slowly followed. When Stefeli heard that her mother had invited Mr. Thornau to come again, she said quickly, “You must be sure to come, too, Alida. I might be up on the pasture then, and you could see what it is like there.”
Alida promised to return, and after taking leave, Mr. Thornau and the children wandered back to Mrs. Troll’s house. As she appeared in the doorway just then, Mr. Thornau immediately informed her that the children were leaving her in a few days. Their mother wanted them back sooner than he had expected to take them home, but he promised her to fulfill his obligations. The chief reason for their going, though, was that he wished no one to suffer for an act of courtesy shown his children.
How changed Mr. Thornau was of a sudden, Mrs. Troll thought to herself. He had turned from her so abruptly, he who had always been so courteous and friendly. He really meant to take the children away. Of course he would never bring them back. And all on account of that miserable boy across the way. It was really laughable. However, Mrs. Troll was not in a mood to laugh at all. Now when it was too late she would willingly have taken back the harsh words she had said to Vinzi.
Just then the carriage Mr. Thornau had ordered drove up. Alida, close at her father’s side, extracted a triple promise from him that he would soon take them away. When the carriage started she had to let him go. Lost in deep thought, Mr. Thornau drove down the mountain-side. His impression of Mrs. Lesa and her household had been extremely pleasant, and he wished he had known the woman before he had placed his children elsewhere. She might have been justified in feeling deep resentment against them, as the boy had really been banished on their account, but not a trace of such feeling had she shown. He also decided to let his daughter discontinue her music study. He was sure that if she had real love for music it would show itself in some other way. Suddenly Mr. Thornau was greeted by a wanderer going in the same direction and in whom he recognized his table-companion from the hotel.
“Oh, Mr. Delrick, what a hermit you are!” he called out, ordering his carriage to stop. “If you refuse to get into my carriage I shall think that my company is not good enough for you.”
Mr. Delrick politely thanked him for the offer, but said that he was unwilling to give up his daily walk even for such good company.
“Good! then I’ll join you,” said Mr. Thornau, jumping out of the carriage. “I am sure what I have to say will interest you.”
Mr. Delrick smiled, and the two men walked along side by side.
“Do not smile in such an incredulous way,” continued Mr. Thornau. “Do you really intend to turn your back on society and live alone?”