"At any rate," she continued, with animation, "I ought to express my thanks to you, Herr Baron, for the happy influence the atmosphere of your house has exercised on my young scapegraces. My only fear is that I may have abused your hospitality in sending them over to you nearly every day. I trust that they have always given my kind regards?" "I believe so, probably." He gazed out of the window. At that moment he longed for nothing more earnestly than to be delivered from this woman's offensive chatter. Herr von Stolt, who hitherto had been content to smile in his sleeve in cynical enjoyment of his wife's sallies, now joined in the conversation. He inquired after the condition of the crops at Uhlenfelde, and gave a good report of his own. The harvest had been got in satisfactorily on the whole; only the wheat was middling. He left the rest to Providence. "But do tell me, Kletzingk," he said, suddenly taking another tack, "what is up at Halewitz? The rye there is yellow as guineas and still uncut. I could scarcely believe my eyes as we drove by there to-day." Baron Kletzingk bit his lips, bent his head, and stared silently at the ground. "I don't mean to reproach you for it, of course," Stolt added hastily; "we all know that you are not responsible for this estate falling into a neglected hell--pardon the expression, Malwine--but our friend has been globe-trotting for four years. In my opinion it is time that he came home." "I am expecting him now," replied Kletzingk. The effect of this announcement was stupendous. Herr von Stolt nearly choked in suppressing a cry of amazement, and his wife bounded up as if she had been shot from a cannon. "Leo Sellenthin! It is impossible! Coming now by this train?" "Yes, by this train." "Where is he coming from?" "That I don't know, dear madame. My last letter to him was addressed to La Plata." "And you tell me all this as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Aren't you pleased?" "How could I be otherwise than delighted?" Kletzingk responded. "With him I lost half myself." "Ah, to be sure. And, do tell me, Leo and you--the old intimacy exists still?" "Still, madame, and I hope and trust that it will continue to exist in defiance of anything the world may choose to say." His eyes rested steadily on her face, while she turned to study a fly-paper with interest. The two young cuirassier officers rushed in to announce that the train was in sight. When they saw the baron they appeared suddenly abashed. They waited awkwardly till he offered them his hand, and then seized it with somewhat excessive warmth. But Kletzingk was far from paying heed to their manners. It was with an effort that he roused himself sufficiently to bid the old lady and gentleman a courteous farewell. "I hope Sellenthin will speak to us," called Frau von Stolt after him.