Herr and Frau Sperber had come over to see what had become of the fugitives, and were standing at a little distance, not wishing to break in upon the sacred dance. Frau Kummerfelden, who now and then spent the week-end in summer with them--for the Sperbers' hospitality was boundless--had come with them.
The three old people stood motionless. "Ah ... yes!" said good Herr Sperber; and if he had made a long speech on all the joy and all the sorrow of this mysterious earth, it could not have been deeper or more expressive. The old Kummerfelden said to herself, "You dear good Sperber, I should like to shake hands with you for that--you've hit it exactly." And she repeated after him, "Ah ... yes!" But it went to Frau Sperber's heart, for Frau Kummerfelden had not been a famous tragic actress for nothing.
"Don't make a person's heart heavy, you foolish Suse!" she said to her good friend. "You must always go putting emotion into things."
"But," said Herr Sperber, "it can't go on like this--it would be a nice state of things. Tubby must marry."
"Marry!" said Frau Kummerfelden. "A beauty like her! That would be a shame!"
"Well, what do you intend to do with her?" asked Herr Sperber. "After all, that's what women are meant for."
"Yes, more's the pity."
"And old Rauchfuss's daughter especially ought to marry early--or we shall see things. She's a devil of a girl ... The pastor says he's got somebody for her."
"Well, why not? The pastor, he'll have somebody decent," said Frau Kummerfelden.
"And what about our nephew?" asked Frau Sperber. "Both the girl and the estate would be just the thing for him; and then we should have him near us."