“How could you do such a thing,” she began to complain.  “I can see quite clearly what will happen without unduly imagining anything.  The low nature and character of the two boys rouses Bruno’s ire, and he constantly flies into a rage when he is with them.  It is my greatest sorrow that he can’t control himself.  What on earth will happen if the three are compelled to be together daily, nay constantly, and will even live together.  The matter frightens me more than you can realize, Philip, and now you have made it impossible for me to change the plan.”

“But, Maxa, can’t you see that I could not act otherwise.  Mr. Knippel was terribly anxious to arrange it all, and you know how quickly he is offended.  He always imagines that his low birth is in his way, for he cannot understand our utter indifference to all the money he has heaped up.  You must not be so anxious about it.  It can’t possibly last very long,” the brother consoled her.  “There is sure to be a violent quarrel between them soon, and as soon as that happens, I promise to take the matter in hand.  That will give us good grounds to separate them.”

The prospect of a horrible fight was, however, no consolation to Mrs. Maxa.  But she said nothing more for the matter was irrevocably settled.

“I have to tell you something now which will put you into a happier mood,” he began, clearly relieved that his unpleasant communication had been made.  “Yesterday evening the two ladies from Hanover who were my travelling companions some time ago came to me to ask my advice about something which troubled them very much.  They have received an urgent call to return home to their aged mother, who has fallen very ill and has asked to see them.  The little girl who is in their care, however, has been so sick for a few days that they had to call the doctor.  They summoned him again yesterday in order to consult him as to whether there might be danger if the child travelled.  He told them positively that they could not think of letting her go now, and that she might not be able to go for weeks.  A slow fever showed that she was on the point of serious illness, Which would not quickly pass.  The ladies were extremely frightened and told the doctor their dilemma, for they were both absolutely compelled to leave.  One of them might be able to return in about two weeks, but they had to find a reliable person in the meantime who could nurse the child.  This was terribly difficult for them as strangers.  The doctor’s advice was to bring the young invalid to the hospital in Sils, where she would be well taken care of and he could see her every day.  The ladies wanted my opinion before deciding.  They realize that doctors always favor hospitals because the care of their patients is made simple and easy, so they wondered if I advised them to have the young girl sent there.  I told them that the place was not at all badly equipped, but that it was rather small, and the patients were of course very mixed.  When I asked the ladies if it would not be better if the child’s parents decided that difficult question, I received the information that Leonore von Wallerstaetten was an orphan and that the aunt who had put her in their care had also died.”