"'It is well, on the whole,' said Klaus, after a pause, 'that the old woman is not there. But will Brockelmann be able to nurse her?'
"'No,' I replied, 'Anna Maria.'
"'Anna Maria?' he asked, and his lip quivered.
"'Klaus,' I begged, 'don't humbug your own self. You must be convinced in your inmost heart that this girl could not have a better nurse than Anna Maria.'
"'I have been perplexed about her,' he answered gloomily.
"'And she about you!' I replied.
"He grew red. 'For what reason?' he asked. 'Because I took this girl under the protection of my house? Because I interfered with an over-taxation of her strength? Because——' he broke on.
"'Anna Maria fears that—well, that la petite will be too much spoiled,' I replied.
"Klaus shrugged his shoulders. 'Well, and now?' he asked. 'Listen, aunt, I thought nothing in the world could alter me; I thought I had become a calm, quiet man; but every nerve has twitched since I have been compelled to see how this girl is treated. Once, as a little boy, I looked on, powerless with rage, to see two great boys tormenting a may-bug; they had climbed a tree because I had scratched and bitten them; my small limbs would not carry me up there, but the dumb fury, the rising tumult in my childish heart, I have never forgotten to this day; and I felt exactly the same way when I heard those little feet tripping here and there about the house—on, on, now on the kitchen-stairs, now in the corridor. Do you not suppose I could see how they kept growing more and more weary, and what a mighty effort they made when Anna Maria's merciless voice called, "Here, Susanna!" or "Venez donc, Susanna!" "Quickly, we will go into the milk-cellar!" "Susanna, where is the key of the linen-press?" I was a coward to endure it, not to have interfered till it was too late. Great heavens! it shall be different,' he cried, and his clenched fist fell threateningly on the table. The great, strong man was beside himself with anxiety and rage.
"I did not venture to answer, and after a few minutes he left the room. I heard him lingering again at Susanna's door, and then go away softly. The misfortune was here! Poor Anna Maria! Poor Klaus!