Eva liked the poor girl, in whom there was something heroic, resolute; it was painful to her that the brave child believed herself to have rescued something, while by her plunge into the sea and her skill in rowing, she had only brought a stranger's boat into the haven; and when the little one, with radiant eyes, stepped towards Eva, and with a triumphant smile, pointed to the skiff which she had rowed to the shore, the former embraced the girl--she was so full of her own happiness that others' misfortunes touched her doubly. Certainly, she had not considered the consequences, as the embrace had rendered her morning toilet so wet that she shivered with the cold damp, and her mother scoldingly bade her go home to change her clothes. First, however, Herr von Blanden was invited to share the modest mid-day meal at the inn, as well as accompany them to the forest, on an afternoon excursion, which had been arranged with other visitors. His acceptance made her parents and Eva equally happy. On their road home, the Regierungsrath calculated to his wife what the average revenue of the Rositten, Kulmitten and Nehren estates would be, trying to draw the correct medium of income between favourable and unfavourable years. He knew the nature of the soil, the number of acres; the result worked out in ponderous figures was received by the Frau Räthin with a well-pleased smile. Eva had hastened on in front; yet her parents' conversation was confined to income, taxes, and other questions of national economy. No discussion was needed, for they understood one another. Suddenly Frau Räthin stayed her winged steps; daring hopes and plans had lent a more lively movement to her usually majestic gait; but a rising thought suddenly paralysed it in a most disturbing manner. "Gracious heavens!" cried she, as she supported herself with her parasol against an old oak trunk. "What is the matter with you, Miranda?" asked her husband anxiously. "We have invited him--and have quite forgotten the one thing!" "The poor dinner, do you mean? Oh, people are used to that at the seaside; Spartan fare is the rule here!" "No, no! We have forgotten to ask--" "What then, in the world?" "If Herr von Blanden is not already married?" The Regierungsrath's chin jumped into his cravat with a slight shock of alarm. "You are right, Miranda! We are very foolish!" "He is no longer a youth; I should put him down as being thirty years old, and a man of that age, of his brilliant position, looked up to, rich--nothing else can be possible--he must have had a wife long since!" Lost in sad thought, both walked silently side by side. "But if I consider it properly," said Kalzow, "it cannot well be so. He would have taken his wife with him to the sea." "People do not always take their wives with them to bathing-places."