She started to walk back and forth in the room. Suppose she were to prove to her mother that Baron Karl really was a coward. In that case, she would not have to marry him. But what good would it do? They would only lose Hanssonborg. She was in a trap, with no way out.
Another blast of wind, and the whole house shook. One day it might fall down. They would have to watch it crumble before their very eyes.
Next morning, Baron Karl came down to breakfast in a sullen mood. He said that the storm had kept him awake all night. He told them that he would soon be leaving Hanssonborg. Fru Hansson sighed and gave her daughter a wistful look of appeal.
After breakfast, when Greta went for her usual stroll with the Baron, she said, "Please don't go away. We want you to stay."
Karl stopped and stared at her unbelievingly. It was the first time she had ever spoken to him like that.
"Then you will set our wedding day?" he asked her, and his nose twitched with excitement and hay fever.
"Yes," answered Greta. "Let it be whenever you wish it."
At that, the Baron became so excited that he swallowed three pills at once and choked. They had to hurry back to the house. Greta spent the rest of the morning weeping in her room.
Meanwhile, in the twisting streets of Stockholm, Erik and his schoolmates were again sightseeing. It was their last day. They were returning home that evening.
However, Erik was planning to go to Herr Banker's house that afternoon to hear Herr Banker's answer. He was seeing the city through a maze of worried hopes, praying that Herr Banker would agree to help the Hanssons.