The days when Maezli came for a visit here were happy days for Loneli.  There was always something funny going on at meal-time, because Maezli had so many amusing things to speak about.  On those days she was never obliged to tell her grandmother exactly what lessons she had known in school and which she had not.  Usually Apollonie was dreadfully anxious to hear how punctually she had fulfilled her duties, and she always chose lunch-time for that purpose because then no other affair interfered with talking.  Beaming with joy, Loneli now sat beside Maezli, who was telling uninterruptedly about Salo.  She told them that he was friendlier and nicer than any boy she had ever seen, and she quoted Bruno, Mea and Kurt as saying exactly the same thing.  Usually they disagreed on such points.  Apollonie was quite absorbed in listening, too, and nodding her head once in a while, she seemed to say:  “Yes, yes, I know that he couldn’t be called Salo for nothing.”  This interesting subject of conversation kept her longer than usual to-day.

“Suddenly she started up, quite frightened.  Oh, is it possible?  It is nearly one o’clock.  Hurry up, Loneli, or you’ll be late for school.  Maezli, you and I have something to do, too, this afternoon.  I shall take you on a walk and I’ll tell you where we are going as soon as we start.”

As the dishes had to be washed first, Apollonie thought that Maezli might go out to play in the garden.  But Maezli preferred to see the plates washed and dried and afterwards set in neat rows.  After these tasks Apollonie put on a good apron, a beautiful neck-cloth, and after packing up several shirts, cloths and stockings into a large basket the two set out.

“Where are we going?” Maezli asked, inspecting the basket.  “Who are you taking these things to?”

“They belong to Mr. Trius,” replied Apollonie.  “We are going all the way up to the castle, as far as the great iron door.  When I pull the bell-knob, Mr. Trius comes and gets this basket.  You’ll be able to peep in through the door till he comes back again with the empty basket.”

“Can one look into the garden from there and see the big mignonette-bushes that mama liked so much?” Maezli asked.

“Yes, yes, the garden is there,” Apollonie replied with a profound sigh, “but the great rose and mignonette beds are gone.  It would take a long time nowadays to find even a couple of the flowers.”

“We could surely find them inside,” Maezli said with great certainty.

“But Maezli, what are you thinking of?  Nobody is allowed to go in.  You see, Mr. Trius lets nobody either into the garden or into the castle,” Apollonie repeated with great emphasis.  “I should have gone in long ago if he had let me.  Oh, how I should have loved to go, and I know how badly needed I am.  What a dreadful disorder all the rooms must be in!  If I could only go a single time to do the most necessary things!” Apollonie in her great trouble had quite forgotten that she was speaking to little Maezli.