When therefore one morning George Voss showed himself at the door of the inn, neither his father nor Madame Voss expected him.
But his father was kind to him, and his mother-in-law hovered round him with demonstrations of love and gratitude, as though much were due to him for coming back at all.

'But you expected me,' said George.
'No, indeed,' said his father.

'We did not expect you now any more than on any other day since you left us.' 'I sent word by Edmond Greisse,' said George.

Edmond was interrogated, and declared that he had forgotten to give the message.

George was too clever to pursue the matter any farther, and when he first met Marie Bromar, there was not a word said between them beyond what might have been said between any young persons so related, after an absence of twelve months.