Kurt, rushing to her side, informed her that their mother meant to tell them the story of Wallerstaetten as soon as everything was quiet that night and the little ones were put to bed: "Just mark now if we won't hear about the ghost of Wallerstaetten," he remarked at the end.
Kurt was mistaken, however.

Everything was still and quiet long ago, the little ones were in bed and the last lessons were done.

But Bruno had not yet returned.

Over and over again the mother looked at the clock.
"You must not be afraid, mother, that they will have a quarrel, because the rector is with them," Kurt said consolingly.
Now rapid steps sounded outside, the door was violently flung open and Bruno appeared, pale with rage: "Those two mean creatures, those malicious rascals; the sneaky hypocrites!--the--the--" "Bruno, no more please," the mother interrupted.

"You are beside yourself.