She informed the Rector's widow that she had come to her with a quite incredible communication.
Mrs.Maxa found it necessary at this point to interrupt her friend.

She had noticed that Maezli was all ears to what was coming.
"Maezli, go and play with Lippo till I come," she said.
"Please tell me all about it afterwards, Apollonie," was Maezli's instruction before going to do as she was bid.
Apollonie's communication took a considerable time.

She had just left when the family sat down to a belated supper.
Kurt swallowed his meal with signs of immoderate impatience.

As soon as possible he rushed away, after having given his promise not to come home late.

The friends that were to join him in this expedition had to be sought out first.