Trudi's set was enormous; and as all the less aristocratic Hanoverian ladies hastened to imitate, Jungbluth lived in great contentment and prosperity with a young wife whose hair was reposefully straight, and a baby whose godmother was Trudi. "Blue woods! Anemones!" read Trudi with immense contempt. "Is the boy in his senses? The idea of expecting me to go to that dreary place now. Ah, now I understand," she added, turning the page, "it is Bibi--he is really after her, and of course can get along quicker if I am there to help. Excellent Axel! And why did he go to the pains of trotting out the anemones? What is the use of not being frank with me? I can see through him, whatever he does. He is so good-natured that I am sure he will lend us heaps of Bibi's money once he has got it. _So, lieber Jungbluth_," she said aloud, "that will do to-day. Beautiful--beautiful--better than ever. I am in a hurry. I travel to Berlin this very afternoon." And the next day she arrived at Stralsund, and was met by her brother at the station. She greeted him with enthusiasm. "As we are here," she said, when they were driving through the town, "let us pay our respects to the Regierungspräsidentin. It will save our coming in again to-morrow." "No, I cannot to-day. I must get back as quickly as possible. The hands had their Easter ball yesterday, and when I left Lohm this morning half of them were still in bed." "Well, then, the horses will have to do the journey again to-morrow, for no time should be lost." "Yes, you can come in to-morrow, if you long so much to see your friend." "And you?" asked Trudi, in a tone of astonishment. "And I? I am up to my ears now in work. Last week was the first week for four months that we could plough. Now we have lost these three days at Easter. I cannot spare a single hour." "But, my dear Axel, Bibi is of far greater importance for the future of Lohm than any amount of ploughing." "I confess I do not see how." "I don't understand you." "Why didn't you bring the little boys?" "What have you asked me to come here for?" "Come, Trudi, you've not been near me for eight months. Isn't it natural that you should pay me a little visit?" "No, it isn't natural at all to come to such a place in winter, and leave all the fun at home. I came because of Bibi." "What! You'll come for Bibi, but not for your own brother?" "Now, Axel, you know very well that I have come for you both." "For us both? What would Miss Bibi say if she heard you talking of herself and of me as 'you both'?" "I wish you would not bother to go on like this. It's a great waste of time." "So it is, my dear. Any talk about Bibi Bornstedt, as far as I am concerned, is a hopeless waste of time." "Axel!" "Trudi?" "You don't mean to say that you are not thinking of her?" "Thinking of her? I never let my thoughts linger round strange young ladies." "Then what in heaven's name have you got me here for?" "The anemones are coming out----" "_Ach_----"