The housekeeper and most of the men and maids had accompanied their mistress to help in the kitchen and to wait upon the visitors.

Deep silence reigned throughout the great empty house, but Kuni's heart had never throbbed so loudly.

If Lienhard came now, her fate would be decided, and she knew that he must come.

Just before noon, he really did rap with the knocker on the outer door.

He wanted the christening gift, which Frau Schurstab had forgotten to take for the infant.