When Loneli came back from her stroll, she saw her grandmother sitting on the window-seat, sobbing violently.

“But grandmother, why are you crying?  Everything is so wonderful here, and all the birds outside are singing.”

“I am singing with them in my heart, child; these tears are tears of joy,” said the grandmother.  “Sit down, Loneli, and I’ll tell you what is going to happen to-morrow.  I feel as if this happiness was too much for me, Loneli.”  Apollonie was once more swept away by emotion, and it took her a little time before she could tell Loneli the wonderful news.

On this day it was so quiet in Mrs. Maxa’s garden, that it hardly seemed as if the whole family was gathered in the vine-covered gardens.  The thought of its being Leonore’s last Sunday kept them from being gay, despite the fact that they were playing a game which they usually enjoyed.  The mother’s thoughts were wandering, too, for she had waited all day to get news from the castle.  Wondering what this meant, Mrs. Maxa found it difficult to keep her attention on the children.  Maezli undertook a little stroll from time to time, for her companions depressed her very much.  She had been to see Kathy, who was sitting near the house-door, and had chatted occasionally with the passers, but now she returned carrying a letter.

“A boy brought it, and Kathy asked him from whom it was, but he didn’t know,” she explained.

“Give it to me, Maezli,” said the mother.  “It is addressed to Leonore, though,” she added, a bit frightened, “but—­”

Leonore put both hands up to her face.  “Please read it, Aunt Maxa, I can’t.”

“You need not be frightened, children,” she said quickly, with a joyful flush on her cheeks.  “Listen!  As the Castle-Steward wants to see his two young friends, Leonore and Maezli, again, he invites them, with the rest of the family, including the mother, to spend the following day at Castle Wildenstein.”

“I am glad,” said Maezli rapidly, “then Kurt can see that the Castle-Steward and Mr. Trius are two people.”

The children had been entirely taken aback by fright, which turned into surprise, but they began to shout joyfully now, for the prospect of being invited to the castle was an event nobody could have predicted.  For years they had only seen the mysterious shuttered doors and windows, and it was no wonder that they were delighted.  Mea had heartily voiced her delight with the others till she noticed that Leonore had become very quiet and melancholy.

“But, Leonore,” she exclaimed, “why don’t you look forward to the lovely day we are going to have?  I can’t imagine anything nicer than to be able to inspect the whole castle.”

“I can’t,” Leonore replied.  “I know too well that everything will be over after that day, and I may even never see you any more.”

Poor Mea was deeply affected by these words, and immediately her joy had flown.  It was rather difficult to quiet everybody down in bed that night and even when Kurt had gone to sleep he uttered strange triumphant exclamations, for in his dreams the boy had climbed to the top of the highest battlement.