In another second Hawermann had joined them, and Mrs. Behrens had scarcely recovered from the shock of seeing him, when her pastor came up, and said:  “What’s the matter, Regina?  What does all this mean?” The poor little lady’s consternation was indescribable, but Braesig, from whose clothes the water was running in streams, was too angry to hold his tongue, and exclaimed:  “You confounded rascal!  You gray-hound!” giving Fred a hearty dig in the ribs as he spoke.  “It’s all your fault that I shall have another attack of gout.  But now, I’ll tell you what, every one shall know what a d——­d Jesuit you are.  Hawermann, he * * ” “For God’s sake,” cried Mrs. Behrens, “don’t attend to a single word that Braesig says.  Hawermann, Mr. von Rambow, the whole thing is ended and done with.  It’s all over now, and what has still to be done or said can quite well be managed by my pastor alone; it’s a family matter and concerns no one but ourselves.  Isn’t that the case, my dear Fred?  It’s merely a family matter I assure you, and no one has anything to do with it but we two.  But now, come away, my boy, we’ll tell my pastor all about it.  Good-night, Mr. von Rambow.  Good-night, Hawermann, Fred will soon follow you.  Come away, Braesig, you must go to bed at once.”

And so she managed to disperse the assembly.  The two who were left in ignorance of what had happened, went home separately, shaking their heads over the affair.  Hawermann was indignant with his two young people, and put out because he was to have no explanation of their conduct.  Frank was mistrustful of everyone; he had recognized Louisa’s hat and shawl in spite of the darkness, and thought that the mystery must have something to do with her, though how he was unable to conjecture.

Fred was much cast down in spirit.  The clergyman and his wife went on in front of him, and the latter told her husband the whole story from beginning to end, scolding her hopeful nephew roundly the whole time.  The procession moved on toward the parsonage, and as the evil-doer guessed that a bad half-hour awaited him there, he had serious thoughts of making his escape while it was possible, but Braesig came as close up to him as if he had known what he was thinking of, and that only made him rage and chafe the more inwardly.  When Braesig asked Mrs. Behrens who it was that had come up in the nick of time, and she had answered that it was Frank, Triddelfitz stood still and shaking his fist in the direction of Puempelhagen, said fiercely “I am betrayed, and she will be sold, sold to that man because of his rank and position!” “Boy!” cried Mrs. Behrens, “will you hold your tongue!” “Hush, Regina,” said her husband, who had now a pretty good idea of what had taken place, “now please go in and see that Braesig’s room is prepared, and get him sent to bed as quickly as you can.  I will remain here and speak to Fred.”

This was done.  The parson appealed to Fred’s common sense, but his sense of injury far exceeded that other, and his spirit seethed and boiled like wine in the process of fermentation.  He put aside all the clergyman’s gentle arguments, and declared passionately that his own aunt had determined to destroy the whole happiness of his life, and that she cared more for the rich aristocrat than for her sister’s son.