This seemed quite hopeful to Leonore, and she was glad to be able to give her brother this news.  Mrs. Maxa herself lost no time in writing to the ladies in Hanover that Leonore’s uncle had returned and wished to keep her near him.

Apollonie was meanwhile getting ready for her walk.  Her agitation was so great that she took rather long in getting ready.  Her toilet finally completed, she hurried up the incline with astonishing ease, for the hope of being admitted to the castle made her feel at least ten years younger, though she still had some doubts whether the door would be opened for her; On her arrival she pulled the bell-rope.  Mr. Trius appeared, quietly opened and silently walked away again.  Apollonie, who knew from Maezli where the master was, went towards the terrace.  When she saw the sick man, she was completely overcome by memories of former times.  She only said shakily, “Oh, Baron, Baron!  I cannot bear this!  It is my fault that you have no proper room or bed!  And ill and suffering as you are!” Apollonie could get no further for sobs and tears.

The Baron shook her hand kindly.  “What is the matter, Mrs. Apollonie?  We have always been good friends.  What do you mean?”

He then heard from Apollonie that it had been the Baroness’ wish to leave the whole house unchanged on account of his possible return.  Apollonie frankly admitted that she had only moved the things away to keep them from being ruined and had naturally counted on putting every object back again as soon as he came back, for she remembered where every pin-cushion and tiny picture belonged.  She begged the Baron’s permission to let her fix his room to-day, another one the day after, and so on till the castle looked again as his mother had wished it to be.

The Baron replied that Apollonie could do whatever she chose, adding that he trusted her entirely.

Her heart was filled with joy as she ran towards the attic.  She came down soon afterwards laden with blankets, sheets and pillows, only to go up again for a new load.  This went on for a couple of hours, and between times she set the manifold objects in order.  How gladly she put up the heavy hangings in the Baron’s room.  She knew how he had always loved the beautiful red color which dimmed the bright sunlight.  Apollonie stood still in the middle of the room and looked about her.  Everything was there down to the two pen-holders the Baron had last been using, which were on the big shell of the bronze inkstand.  Beside them lay a black pen-wiper with red and white roses which Miss Leonore herself had embroidered.  The cover was half turned back and the snow-white bed with the high pillows was ready to receive the sick man.  Over the bed hung a little picture of his mother, which had been there since his boyhood, and Apollonie had also remembered every other detail.  When she went down to the terrace, a cool evening breeze was already blowing through the branches of the pine tree.