He could have stayed for several hours longer, and was quite astonished when toward four o'clock the tireless young people's parents put an end to the evening by their departure.
As Wilhelm came up to Loulou she had ceased to look cross.

Near her stood the hero of the cotillion, the lieutenant of the Guards, covered with the little favors the ladies had given him.

But that did not prevent her saying in quite a tender voice, "I shall see you soon again, shall I not ?" and Wilhelm pressed her little hand warmly.
In the hall Wilhelm and Paul had to distribute gratuities to the waiting servants, a custom (unknown in France and England) which dishonors German hospitality, and a minute later they found themselves outside in the starlit night.

It blew icy cold over the Thiergarten; across the darkness the snow-laden trees and the closely-cropped grass looked feebly white.

Wilhelm, shivering, wrapped himself in his fur coat.