Baum availed himself of every opportunity to speak with Walpurga. He was in deep affliction; his wife was seriously ill, and Walpurga endeavored to console him. In return, Baum lent a willing ear to all her complaints, for she had just heard from home, that Zenza denied all knowledge of the little golden heart that Countess Irma had sent to the child. "Ah, and so your countess has a golden heart left to give away," said Baum in a mocking voice. "You ought to be glad to have such a friend." "And so I am. Oh, if she were only here again, then it would be a real paradise. I don't worry about Zenza's making away with the golden heart; there must be some bad people, or else the world would be too beautiful." "And I tell you, it's only half a life when the king's away. Just wait till he comes back and see how it will be then. When there's no man about, it isn't a complete house." The queen approached and Baum withdrew. "What was that man saying to you?" asked the queen. "We were telling each other of our troubles; he has great longing for the king and I, dear queen, have great longing for my Countess Irma." "I long for her, too; but she has asked to have her leave of absence extended for another fortnight." Peacefully and calmly, the days passed by. Walpurga's favorite resort was in the neighborhood of the dairy-farm; for there were cows there, and cows are the same everywhere, and don't know that they belong to the king, or that their milk is served at his table. Walpurga remarked this one day to Baum, who had discovered that he could meet her there, and he replied: "Oh, how clever you are; if I only had got a wife like you." "There are dozens like me." "Oh, not so clever as you are. You could get far in the world, if you only wanted to." "How far should I go?" said Walpurga. "I want to go home and no farther." "No one will think the worse of you for that, but one can make a new home." "I don't understand you." "I can't explain now. Countess Brinkenstein is coming. Meet me in the shrubbery behind the chapel, this evening when they're all at table, I've something good to tell you." Walpurga had not time to reply. Baum saw Countess Brinkenstein approaching and, in a loud voice, gave the dairy inspector an order from the head cook, and then walked away quickly, respectfully saluting the countess as he passed. Countess Brinkenstein administered a severe reproof to Mademoiselle Kramer for having allowed Walpurga to stand there with the prince, and chatter with the servants. Mademoiselle Kramer made no reply, and only motioned Walpurga to go into the vine-clad arbor. Walpurga was busy conjecturing what sort of advice Baum might have to give her. He knew lots of things and perhaps knew of some clever stroke, by which Hansei, her mother and the child might be brought to the palace. But Hansei wouldn't do for a lackey. Perhaps, though, they could make him court fisherman or chief woodsman of the royal forest.