"'Susanna,' she said, kindly, 'a sensible woman shall go at once to your Isa. And now compose yourself; I have a quiet word to say to you when I come back.'
"'God knows what that may mean!' I thought, looking at the weeping girl. 'What does she mean to say quietly to her?' I stroked Susanna's hair gently. 'Do not cry, ma petite,' I said, consolingly. 'Everything is in God's hand. He guides and rules every human life according to his will; trust him, he will bring it right!' I do not know if Susanna understood me; a fresh burst of tears was the reply, and all inconsolable sounded this bitter sobbing.
"Anna Maria came back and sat down opposite Susanna. 'Will you listen to me rationally?' she said, somewhat severely.
"Susanna started up and gave her a defiant look. 'I am listening,' she said.
"Just then I was called away; the pastor's sister, an early friend of mine, had come to pay me a visit. I went, not without anxiously regarding the two girls. What in the world could Anna Maria have in view?
"After two mortal hours Mademoiselle Grüne took her leave; she no doubt found me more distraught than is usually permissible; even talking over a wedding festivity which we had attended together in the remote period of our youth, at which Minna Grüne came very near becoming engaged, and which ended in a fire, failed to interest me as usual. When I came down-stairs again I found Anna Maria over her housekeeping books; Susanna was not to be seen.
"'Anna Maria,' I asked, more hastily than is my wont, 'what have you been talking about with Susanna?'
"'I wanted to talk with her about her future,' she replied, 'but——'
"'About her future?' I repeated, faintly.
"'Yes, indeed, aunt, for things cannot go on in this way any longer. Susanna suffers from a dreadful disease—she has ennui. In my opinion this doing nothing is enough to make the most healthy people ill.'