Mine shall always be.
I'll invite there as my guest
Him who pleases me."
And Elsa, leaning on her brother's arm, appeared at the door. The Staatsräthin arose.
"Ah, my dearest, motherly friend," cried Elsa from afar, gliding towards her, "I am late, am I not? Could my thoughts have borne me hither, I should have been with you long ago; but imagine--our droschky lost a wheel--and we had to walk all the way."
"I am very sorry," said the Staatsräthin kindly. "You must have had quite a fright."
"Yes, it was a most unfortunate intermezzo, disturbing our anticipations of the pleasant evening," said Herbert politely.
"Oh, it did not spoil my enjoyment," laughed Elsa with pretty assurance, and she piped out the last couplet of her song:
"Thrown from the carriage should I be,
A flowery grave awaiteth me."
"The only thing to lament was our tardiness in reaching you, and I ran myself quite out of breath."