“No notice from the police nor from the court of justice has been sent to your father; but a complaint has been lodged against you from another quarter.  Only three days after he went from home, Feklitus came back again, without bag or baggage, as if he had fled for his life.  He told a terrible tale of some scrape into which you had led him, and from which he had got away safe only by his own most skilful management.  On the evening of that unlucky Festival he had scampered away from his captors with all his might, flung himself into a railway carriage, and, travelling all night, had not stopped till he reached home.  Now you see, dear Oscar, that you have something to answer for in this affair; for even if Feklitus was unnecessarily frightened, it does not alter the fact that you got him involved in a most unpleasant way, and his parents are naturally very angry with you.  You must at any rate take measures to set Mrs. Bickel’s mind at rest She told me yesterday that she had lost her sleep and her appetite, from thinking about the beautiful leather trunk, and the six new suits of clothes, which she has no doubt the waiters at the Crown Prince are sharing among themselves.  You must go to the hotel, pack all the clothes carefully, lock the trunk, and send it to him.  Send the keys in a separate package, and then you will have removed one cause of their not unreasonable displeasure.”

With Fred, aunty pathetically condoled on the loss of his collection; and then she added:—­

“Yet you see, my dear Fred, you are to blame after all; for I told you not to put your creatures where they would displease Mrs. Stanhope, if she should see them.  I could not specify every such place, but I trusted to your commonsense to tell you that beetles and caterpillars do not belong in a writing-desk!  You are such an insatiable collector!  You will have to learn moderation.  If you had only been satisfied with a reasonable number of the finest specimens, you would not have needed so many boxes; I am very glad that Fani hindered you from asking for them in a house where so many kindnesses were being shown to all of you.  It ill becomes guests to make unreasonable demands.  After all, dear Fred, I hope you will be able to bring home a few treasures, notwithstanding your great loss, and we will enjoy them together.”

These letters were a great relief to all; but some uneasiness still remained.  They did not know yet how Mrs. Stanhope would treat their several delinquencies, when she knew all about them, and, besides, they were homesick.

“What about going home?” they asked each other; and none of the letters had mentioned the subject.  They were disappointed.

As to Fani, he began to wonder what Mrs. Stanhope’s plans were for him.  When would she talk with him again?  Would he have to go back to the factory?  She had never since that day talked with him as she used to do; but often he was aware that she was looking at him, long and thoughtfully.