"Shaking my head, I rose to go into the little room and hear what was to be done now. But I sat down again, almost stunned at the sound of Klaus's voice, which came out to me so crushingly cold and clear:
"'I should like to ask you, Anna Maria, to occupy the girl hereafter in some way better suited to her; this swoon was the natural effect of constant over-exertion.'
"I could not picture Anna Maria to myself at this moment, for Klaus had never used such a tone to her before. My old heart began to beat violently from anxiety. 'It is here! It is here!' I said to myself. 'Yes, it had to come!'
"'I think this swoon is rather a consequence of Susanna's running about too much in the fearful heat yesterday,' she replied coldly. 'However, as you wish; I will leave it entirely to you to decide what occupation is most fitting for Susanna Mattoni.'
"'Great heavens! Anna Maria, do you not understand?' Klaus rejoined, almost imploringly. 'Look at the girl: she is delicate and accustomed to the easy life of a large city, never to a regular life. I beg you not to take it amiss, it is my opinion and——'
"'I am sorry that I have made such a mistake,' Anna Maria interrupted, icily. 'I have tried to do my best for this unfortunate child, who has grown up in most wretched circumstances. I wanted to make a capable, housewifely maiden of her, but I see myself that such miserable comedian blood is not to be improved, and I ask you now only for one thing——'
"She broke off. What would come now? I looked about me in horror to see if any one were listening. But Marieken was clattering about with her pots and pans in the kitchen, and the children were playing before the outside door.
"'That you will not require me to endure this frivolous creature, this frippery and finery, this trifling, flighty being. I have an unspeakable aversion to her,' she concluded.
"'So that is your confession of faith, Anna Maria?' asked Klaus, and his voice sounded angry. 'I tell you Susanna Mattoni remains here in the family. I will have it, for a sacred promise binds me, and I hope that you will never let her feel what you think of her. Her light-mindedness, her unsteadiness, and all the faults which you have just cited, cannot be laid to her charge, for from her youth up she has never learned to recognize them as faults. Of frivolity, moreover, I have no evidences, for a couple of bonbons do not seem to me sufficient proof.'
"'I cannot act contrary to my convictions,' returned Anna Maria, 'and if I am no longer to educate Susanna as I think well for her, you had better find another place for her.'