The door banged, the footman sprang on to the box, and off they went as fast as the long legs of the chestnut would carry them.
For the last two years Paul had owned a villa on the Uhlenhorst, in the Carlstrasse, and there the fast trotter drew up.

Wilhelm had said but little during the drive, and Paul had confined the expression of his feeling of delight to clapping his friend on the shoulder from time to time, and pressing his hand.

Rather less than half an hour's drive brought them to their destination.

Paul would not hear of Wilhelm making any alteration in his dress, but drew him as he was into the smoking room on the ground floor, where Malvine came to meet him, and received him in her hearty but quiet and uneffusive manner.

She was the picture of health, but had grown perhaps a little too stout for her age.