“No.”

“Then I won’t be afraid of him either,” Maezli remarked, quite reassured.  The gentleman who had chased away Mr. Trius so easily and was not afraid of the bad baron gave her all the confidence in the world.  Under his protection she could face every danger.

“I’ll go home now, but I’ll come soon again,” and with this Maezli gave her hand in a most winning way.  When she wanted to say good-bye she realized that she did not know either the gentleman’s name or title, so she stopped.

“I am the Castle Steward,” said the gentleman, helping Maezli.  When the leave-taking was done Maezli ran back towards the door.  Sure enough, Mr. Trius was standing inside the portals and Apollonie on the outside, for the careful man had not opened them again.  He thought that the excited woman might forcibly enter the garden in order to seek the child.

“God be thanked that you are here again!” she cried when Maezli came out.  She quickly took her hand.  Mr. Trius, after violently shutting the gate, had immediately turned his back upon the visitors.

“I was simply frightened to death, Maezli.  How could you run away from me?  I did not know where you had got to.”

“You didn’t need to be so frightened,” Maezli said with calm assurance.  “I was with the Castle-Steward.  I don’t need to be afraid of anything with him, not even of Mr. Trius.”

“What, the Castle-Steward!  What are you saying, Maezli?  Who said it was the Steward?” Apollonie’s words were full of anxiety, as if Maezli might be threatened with great danger.

“He told me so himself.  He was sitting all alone under a big tree.  He sits there alone all the time.  But I am going up to see him soon again,” Maezli informed her.

“No, no, Maezli, what are you thinking of?  You can’t do it if he has not told you to.  I am sure Mr. Trius will see that you won’t get in there any more,” said Apollonie, and she was quite sure that Maezli’s plan would never succeed.

But if Maezli ever made a discovery, she was not easily led away.

“Yes, but he won’t be allowed to stop me,” she said a little scornfully.

That evening Loneli was allowed to bring Maezli home.  She always loved to go to Mrs. Maxa’s house, because Kurt and Mea were her best friends.  Loneli was always so friendly and obliging to everybody that the school children often asked her to deliver messages.  This often took place in cases of estrangements when a third person was needed.  Loneli had been asked after school to-day to give a message to Mea and she was glad of the chance to deliver it.

Mea had sent a proposal of peace to Elvira through Loneli, for she hated the constant sulking of her friend and the unpleasant new manner she exhibited in turning her back upon her.  Mea had twice before tried to be reconciled to the embittered Elvira, but unfortunately in vain.  She did not dare to admit this to Kurt, who would not have approved of her behaviour but would have even made a horrible song about it.  But one could always rely on Loneli, who was discreet.  Mea, standing at the window, saw Loneli coming towards the house and ran down to meet her.