So it was to be home!  A few years alone at Hellebergene was just what he wished for.  But—­something always occurred to prevent their departure at the time fixed for it.  First he was detained by an invention which he wished to patent.  Up to the present time he had only sketched out ideas which others had adopted; now it was to be different.  The invention was duly patented and handed over to an agent to sell; but still they did not start.  What was the hindrance?  Another invention with a fresh patent more likely to sell than the first, which unfortunately did not go off.  This patent was also taken out, which again cost money, and was handed over to the agent to be sold.  Could he not start now?  Well, yes, he thought he could.  But Fru Kaas soon realised that he was not serious, so she sought the help of a young relative, Hans Ravn, an engineer, like most of the Ravns.  Rafael liked Hans, for he was himself a Ravn in temperament, a thing that he had not realised before; it was quite a revelation to him.  He had believed that the Ravns were like his mother, but now found that she greatly differed from them.  To Hans Ravn Fru Kaas said plainly that now they must start.  The last day of May was the date fixed on, and this Hans was to tell every one, for it would make Rafael bestir himself, his mother thought, if this were known everywhere.  Hans Ravn spread this news far and near, partly because it was his province to do so, partly because he hoped it would be the occasion of a farewell entertainment such as had never been seen.  A banquet actually did take place amid general enthusiasm, which ended in the whole company forming a procession to escort their guest to his house.  Here they encountered a crowd of officers who were proceeding home in the same manner.  They nearly came to blows, but fraternised instead, and the engineers cheered the officers and the officers the engineers.

The next day the history of the two entertainments and the collision between the guests went the round of the papers.

This produced results which Fru Kaas had not foreseen.  The first was a very pleasant one.  The professor who had had Rafael’s first article published drove up to the door, accompanied by his family.  He mounted the stairs, and asked her if she would not, in their company, once more visit the prettiest parts of Munich and its vicinity.  She felt flattered, and accepted the invitation.  As they drove along they talked of nothing but Rafael:  partly about his person, for he was the darling of every lady, partly about the future which lay before him.  The professor said that he had never had a more gifted pupil.  Fru Kaas had brought an excellent binocular glass with her, which she raised to her eyes from time to time to conceal her emotion, and their hearty praise seemed to flood the landscape and buildings with sunshine.

The little party lunched together, and drove home in the afternoon.