A young girl conducted the friends into the public room; she lighted the way for them.

Her slender figure and her floating gait drew Wilhelm's attention toward her; his hand touched her shoulder, she sprang aside and fixed her beautiful grave eyes upon him; but their expression became milder, she smiled and colored at the same time.
"You are the sister of little Jonas!" cried Wilhelm, recognizing the young girl he had seen with him at Christmas.
"I must also thank you," said she, "for your kindness toward the poor boy!" She quickly placed the lights on the table, and left the room with a gentle glance.
"She is beautiful, very beautiful!" exclaimed Wilhelm.

"That was really quite a pleasant meeting." "Is it then you, Herr Baron, who honor me thus ?" cried the host, stepping in--an elderly man with a jovial countenance.

"Yes, the Baron will doubtless visit his dear relations in hunch?
It is now some little time since you were there." "This is our host!" said Wilhelm to Otto.

"He and his wife were born upon my parent's estate." "Yes," said the host, "in my youth I have shot many a snipe and wild duck with the Herr Baron's father.