"The last verse ended in a real laugh, so roguish and charming and so irresistible that we were all drawn into it.
"'Now that is enough!' she cried at last. 'Oh! I do so like to hear how people have to laugh with me when I begin! Oh! I have done it so often when Isa tried to scold me, but now'—she suddenly stopped—'I haven't laughed for so long, I thought I should have forgotten how, but, thank fortune, I can still do it! Oh, I do like to laugh so!'
"Anna Maria rose and went into the garden-parlor, as if she had something to attend to there, but she did not come back, nor did she come when Stürmer and the clergyman wished to take their leave of her. Klaus looked for her in the sitting-room, and even went up to her bedroom, but he returned alone, and the gentlemen had to leave without bidding her good-by.
"'Pray excuse Anna Maria, dear Edwin,' I heard Klaus say; 'she probably does not dream of your going so early; you are certainly in a great hurry.'
"It was true; Stürmer's departure was very abrupt; toward the last he had scarcely spoken a word. I thought it was because he was reminded of his first love; that melody and the words still kept ringing in my ears; an unfortunate song!
"Susanna had long been in bed when Klaus and I stood together in the sitting-room again. I had firmly resolved to inform him of my observations of the evening before, for I saw that Anna Maria was not to be spoken to again about Susanna.
"'Klaus!' I began. He was walking slowly up and down, his hands behind him, and an anxious wrinkle on his brow. 'Klaus, do you know where the old actress is living now?'
"He stood still. 'No, aunt, but—do not take offence—it is quite a matter of indifference to me. Forgive me, my head is so full.'
"I was silent. 'Good!' thought I; 'he is indifferent at last, then.'
"'Please tell me,' he now turned around to me, 'what you think about Anna Maria? I do not understand her at all as she is now.'