“Everything is ready, Baron,” she said; “we are going to carry you up together, because Mr. Trius can’t do it alone.  I am sure you will sleep well to-night.”

“Where do you want to take me?” the Baron asked, surprised.  “I am quite comfortable able here.”

“No, no, Baron, it is getting too cool for you here.  Your room is a better place at this hour; your mother would have wished it, I am sure.  Will you allow me to call Mr. Trius?”

“I’ll have to give in, I suppose,” the Baron acquiesced.

Mr. Trius was already on the spot, for he was blessed with splendid hearing.

“You are to carry me up,” said the Baron.  “Apollonie will show you how it is done.”

Apollonie immediately seized him firmly about the waist.

“You do the same, Mr. Trius,” she said; “then please, Baron, put one arm about his neck and one around mine.  We shall clasp hands under your feet and lift you up.”

In the most easy, comfortable way the Baron was lifted and carried to his chamber and placed on the fresh bed.  Leaning back on the easy pillows, he looked about him.

“How charming it is,” he said, letting his glance rest here and there.  “You have brought everything back, Mrs. Apollonie, and have made it look the way it was years ago.”

“Make things comfortable for him for the night now,” Apollonie whispered to Mr. Trius, leaving the room to repair to the kitchen.

“Gracious heavens! what disorder,” she cried out on entering, for the whole place was covered with dust and spider-webs.  Opening a cupboard, she saw only a loaf of bread and a couple of eggs, and this was all she was able to find even on further search.

“What a wretch!” she cried out in bitter rage.  “He seems to give his master nothing but eggs.  But I know what I’ll do,” she said to herself, eagerly seeking for a key, which she discovered, as of old, on a rusty nail.  Next she repaired to the cellar where she quickly found what she was after; the bottle stood in sore need of cleaning, however, as did everything else she touched.  Then she set about beating two eggs, adding a glass of the strengthening wine, for she had vividly recollected how much her master used to enjoy this.  When she entered his room with this concoction a little later, the odor from it was so inviting that the Baron breathed it in gratefully.  Mr. Trius had left the room and Apollonie had put the empty cup away, and yet she kept on setting trifles in order.

“Oh, Baron,” she said finally, “there is so much to do still.  I saw the kitchen just now.  If the Baroness had seen it as dirty as that, what would she have said?  And every other place is the same.  I feel as if I couldn’t rest till everything is set in order.  I wish I could work all night!”

“No, no, Apollonie!  You must have a good night’s rest; I intend to sleep, too, in this lovely bed,” he said smilingly.  “Would you like to live here again and undertake the management of the castle?”