You know what I
mean. It is so easy to become accustomed to
thoughtfulness and devotion, and so dreadfully hard to be
happy without it, once one has had it. This has been a
sort of training for what I may expect when Vienna has
swallowed you up."
"You are still obstinate? These three weeks have not
changed you? Ach, Dawn! Kindchen!--"
But I knew that these were thin spots marked
"Danger!" in our conversational pond. So, "Come," said
I. "I have two new aborigines for you to meet. They are
the very shiniest and wildest of all our shiny-faced and
wild aborigines. And you should see their trousers and
neckties! If you dare to come back from Vienna wearing
trousers like these!--"
"And is the party in honor of these new aborigines?"
laughed Von Gerhard. "You did not explain in your note.
Merely you asked me to come, knowing that I cared not
if it were a lawn fete or a ball, so long as I might
again be with you."
We were on our way to the dining room, where the
festivities were to be held. I stopped and turned a look
of surprise upon him.
"Don't you know that the Knapfs are leaving? Did I
neglect to mention that this is a farewell party for Herr
and Frau Knapf? We are losing our home, and we have just
one week in which to find another.
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