The mother's attempts to comfort them failed entirely, because she had no hope herself.
In the middle of this agitating scene Maezli arrived, perfectly happy and filled with her recent experiences.

She wished to relate what the Castle-Steward had said to her and what she had said to him, and what had happened afterwards.

But no one listened because they were so deeply absorbed with their own disturbing thoughts.

They were not in the least interested in what Maezli had to say about the Steward, as they all thought that the steward was Mr.Trius.That evening the unheard-of happened.

Maezli actually begged to go to bed before the evening song had been sung, because the depressing atmosphere in the house was so little to her taste that she even preferred to go to bed.
Mea had been hoping till now that her mother would find some means to keep Leonore.