The doctor went on to express in a few words his sympathy with Heinrich over old Bermann's death. He remembered the dead man's celebrated speech in opposition to the introduction of Tschech as the judicial language in certain Bohemian districts. At that time the Jewish provincial advocate had come within an ace of being Minister of Justice. Yes, times had changed. Heinrich started to listen. After all this could be made use of in the political comedy. Doctor Stauber took his leave. George accompanied him to the carriage which was waiting outside, and availed himself of the opportunity to ask the doctor some medical questions. The latter was able to reassure him in every respect. "It's only a pity," he continued, "that circumstances do not allow Anna to nurse the child herself." George stood still meditatively. It could not hurt her, could it?... At any rate, only the child? Or her as well?... He asked the doctor. "Why talk about it, my dear Baron, if it's not practicable? That's all right, don't you worry," he added, with one foot already in the carriage. "One needn't be nervous about the child of people like you two." George looked him straight in the eye and said: "I will at any rate take care that he lives the first years of his life in healthy air." "That's very nice," said Doctor Stauber gently. "But speaking generally there is no healthier air in the world for children than their parents' home." He shook hands with George and the carriage rolled away. George remained standing for a moment and felt a lively irritation against the doctor. He vowed mentally that he would never allow the conversation with him to take a turn that would as it were entitle him to give unsolicited advice or make veiled reproaches. What did the old man know? What did he really understand about the whole thing? George's antagonism became more and more violent. When I choose to, he said to himself, I will marry her. Can't she have the child with her anyway? Hasn't she said herself that she will be proud of having a child? I am not going to repudiate it either, and I will do everything in my power. And later on sometime.... But I should be doing an injustice to myself, to her, to the child if I were to make up my mind to-day to do something which at any rate is still premature.