“There is no real foundation for the talk,” the mother replied, “and no one of all those who talk has ever seen the apparition with his own eyes.  It is always other people who tell, and those have been told again by others, that something uncanny has been seen at the castle.  The talk first started from a misfortune which happened years ago, and later on the matter came up and people thought a similar misfortune had taken place again.  Although this was an absolutely false report, all the old stories were brought up again and the talk became livelier than ever.  But people who know better should be very emphatic in suppressing it.”

“What was the misfortune that happened long ago in the castle and then again?” Kurt asked in great suspense.

“I have no time to tell you now, Kurt,” the mother declared decisively.  “You have to attend to your school work and I to other affairs.  When I have you all together quietly some evening I shall tell you about those bygone times.  It will be better for you to know than to muse about all the reports you hear.  You are most active of all in that, Kurt, and I do not like it; so I hope that you will let the matter rest as soon as you have understood how unfounded the talk really is.  Come now, Apollonie, and I will give you the plants you wanted.  I am so glad to be able to let you have some of my geraniums.  You keep your little flower garden in such perfect order that it is a pleasure to see it.”

During the foregoing speeches Apollonie’s face had clearly expressed disagreement with what had been said; she had, however, too much respect for the lady to utter her doubts.  Bright sunshine spread itself over her features now, because her flower garden was her greatest pride and joy.

“Yes, yes, Mrs. Rector, it is a beautiful thing to raise flowers,” she said, nodding her head.  “They always do their duty, and if one grows a little to one side, I can put a stick beside it and it grows straight again as it ought to.  If only the child were like that, then I should have no more cares.  But she only has her own ideas in her head, and such strange whims that it would be hard to tell where they come from.”

“There is nothing bad about having her own ideas,” replied the rector’s widow.  “It naturally depends on what kind of ideas they are.  It seems to me that Loneli is a good-natured child, who is easily led.  All children need guidance.  What special whims does Loneli have?”

“Oh, Mrs. Rector, nobody knows what things the child might do,” Apollonie said eagerly.  “Yesterday she came home from school with glowing eyes and said to me, ’Grandmother, I should love to go to Spain.  Beautiful flowers of all colors grow there and large sparkling grapes, and the sun shines down brightly on the flowers so that they glisten!  I wish I could go right away!’ Just think of a ten-year-old child saying such a thing.  I wonder what to expect next.”