A strange gentleman had come, too, who was half-way up the stairs with two leaps.  But Lippo had grabbed the tails of his coat and, holding on to them with both hands, shrieked, “Nobody is allowed to go up.  You must not go up.”

Laughingly turning about, the gentleman said, “Just let me go, little one.  I am allowed because I am the doctor.  Your uncle told me where to go, so I’ll easily find my way.  But I’ll make use of you some day, for you are a splendid sentinel.”

When the doctor on his return found him still on the same spot, he called him a pillar of good order and told him that he would send for him if he should ever need a reliable watchman.

Soon after, Lippo uttered sudden shouts of joy, for he saw his mother coming downstairs.  What a surprise it was to see her when they had thought that she would be shut up for one or two days longer!

“Mama is coming!  Mama is coming!”

All had heard his exclamations and Mea was the first to appear, pulling Loneli after her.  Bruno came rushing from one side and Kurt from the other, and Maezli shot like an arrow right into their midst.  The mother found herself solidly surrounded.

“Mama, just think—­”

“Oh, listen, mama!”

“Oh, mama, I want to tell you—­”

“Do you know, mama?”

This came from all sides and all at once.

“To-morrow, children, to-morrow,” said the mother.  “We must be very happy that we can see each other so soon again.  I wanted to send one of you to Apollonie, but I am glad to see you here, Loneli.”

Mrs. Maxa now told Loneli the message she was to take to her grandmother.  The doctor had just been there and had found Leonore much better already.  As her fever had gone down, he feared no serious illness.  Leonore was to spend several more days in bed and therefore she was to have a nurse who could also take care of her at night-time.  For this nobody better than grandmother Apollonie could be found, and Mrs. Maxa would be so glad for her patient’s and her own sake if she could arrange to come to the house for several days and nights.  She told Loneli to tell her grandmother that the little girl was named Leonore and that Mrs. Maxa was quite sure she would not be hard to take care of.

The mother would not allow herself to be detained any longer.  To all the questions which stormed in upon her she only had one answer:  “To-morrow, children, to-morrow.”  Then she disappeared again into the sick room.

“Please tell me what she is like, when you have seen her.  I am so curious,” said Loneli, taking leave, and Mea promised to give the sympathetic Loneli a full report of everything.

Next morning extremely early Apollonie appeared at Mrs. Maxa’s house.  As the door was not open yet, she knocked quietly and after a while Kathy appeared with heavy, sleepy eyes.

“Why should anybody rush about at this early hour,” she said a little angrily.  It did not suit her at all that Apollonie should have found out what a short time she had been astir.