“I begin my day at this hour,” said Apollonie, “and there is no need for me to rush about.  I can leave that to those who get up late.  I have come to take Mrs. Rector’s place in the sick room.”

“She hasn’t even called yet,” Kathy flung out.

“So much the better, then I have at least not come too late.  I can find some work everywhere,” and with this Apollonie entered the living room and began to set it in order.

Kathy did not hinder her and, to show her gratitude, attempted to start a little conversation.  But Apollonie was not in the mood for that.  She was solely filled by the question who the sick Leonore was that she was going to nurse.  Could it be possible?

That moment a bell sounded from upstairs, and Apollonie obeyed the call.  Mrs. Maxa, opening the door, let her enter.  Wide awake, Leonore was sitting up in bed.  Her thick, curly hair was falling far down below her shoulders, and her dark, solemn eyes were gazing with surprise at Apollonie.  The latter looked immovably at the little girl, while tears were coursing down her cheeks.

“Oh, oh,” she said, as soon as she was able to control her emotion, “one does not need to ask where our little Leonore comes from.  It seems to me as if old times had come back again.  Yes, she looked exactly like that when she came to the castle; only she was not quite so pale.”

“Leonore,” Mrs. Maxa said, “Mrs. Apollonie has known both your father and mother very well.  So I thought that you would like to have her for a nurse.”

“Certainly,” Leonore replied happily, while she stretched out her hand in a friendly manner towards Apollonie.  “Won’t you tell me everything you know about them?” Apollonie was only too glad to do that, but in her agitation she had first to wipe her eyes.

There was no end to the children’s enthusiasm when they found that their mother was to be their own again.  The unaccustomed separation had seemed much longer and harder to bear than they had imagined, but it was all over now, she was back and would be theirs now for all time to come.

Bruno suggested that they should divide up their mother’s time between them to-day.  This would make it possible for all to get her hearing separately.  In all this time a great deal of matter had accumulated which was crying to be heard.  If they were all to talk to her at once, as had happened several times before, no one would have any satisfaction, as she might not even be able to understand them.  So it was settled that every child should have their mother alone for an hour, and they were to take their turns according to age.

“So of course the first hour after school from eleven till twelve belongs to me,” was Bruno’s statement.

“From one till two I shall have my turn,” Mea cried out.  She was counting on asking her mother so many questions that they might easily take three hours.  She had no communications to make but she was terribly eager to hear all about Leonore.