Therese disappeared to fetch her hat and jacket. George went into the
next room. Old Frau Golowski seemed to have been waiting for him; with
a strangely anxious face she came up to him and put an envelope in his
hand.
"What is that?"
"The account, Herr Baron. I didn't want to give it to Anna.... It might
perhaps have upset her too much."
"Oh yes...." He put the envelope in his pocket and thought that it felt
strangely different to any other....
Therese appeared with a little Spanish hat, ready to go out. "Here I
am. Goodbye, mamma. Shan't be home for dinner."
She went down the stairs with George and threw him sideways a glance of
pleasure.
"Where can I take you?" asked George.
"Just take me along with you. I'll get out somewhere."
They got in, the vehicle went on. She put to him all kinds of questions
which he had already answered in the apartment, as though she took
it for granted that he was now bound to be more candid with her
than before the others. She did not learn anything except that he
felt comfortable in his new surroundings and that his work gave him
satisfaction. Had his appearance been a great surprise for Anna? No,
not at all. He had of course given her notice of it. And was it really
true that he meant to come back again at Easter? It was his definite
intention....