Running ahead quickly, he flung open the living-room door and called in, “Take Maezli out of the way or else something horrible will happen again.”

After saying this he ran away.  Bruno and Mea, who were busy in the room with their work, did not find it necessary to follow Kurt’s command.  If he found it so necessary, why didn’t he do it himself, they thought, remaining seated.  Maezli had risen rapidly and looked towards the door with large expectant eyes, wondering what was going to happen.  Mrs. Knippel now entered.

“Why does something horrible always happen when Mrs. Knippel comes?” Maezli asked in a loud voice.

Mea, quickly getting up, went out of the door, pulling Maezli after her; to explain her hasty retreat, she said that she wanted to fetch her mother.  She simply had to take that horrible little Maezli out of the way; who could know what she might say next.  She always brought forward her most awful ideas when it was least suitable.  The mother, who was on the way already, entered just when Mea was running out with Maezli.  Bruno also slipped quickly after them.  He had only waited for his mother’s appearance in order to fly.

“Your children are certainly very peculiar,” the district attorney’s wife began.  “I have to think so every time I see them.  What do all your admonitions help, I should like to know?  Nature will have its way!  Not one of my children has ever been so impertinent, to say the least, as your little daughter is already.”

“I am very sorry you should have to tell me that,” Mrs. Maxa replied.  “Isn’t it possible that the child should have unconsciously said an impertinence?  I hope you have never had a similar experience with my older children.”

“No, I could not say that,” Mrs. Knippel answered.  “But I should say that all of them have inherited the love of preaching, especially your daughter Mea.  Children can be unlike by disposition without its being necessary that one of them should constantly make sermons to the other.”

“My children are very often of different opinions, but I could not say that they preach much to each other,” said Mrs. Maxa.

“It is certainly Mea’s habit to do so, and that is why she is not able to keep peace with her friends.  I suppose you received a letter from our Rector telling you of the refusal to teach the boys any further.”

This was said with a less severe intonation.

Mrs. Maxa confirmed the statement.

“So the change we have looked forward to has really come,” the visitor continued, “and my husband agrees with me that prompt action should be taken.  He is going to the city to-morrow; in fact, he has left already in order to visit his sister on the way.  He will look for a suitable, attractive home in town that the three boys can move into next fall.”

“You do not mean to tell me, Mrs. Knippel, that your husband is ordering living-quarters for Bruno, too?” Mrs. Maxa said in consternation.