Maezli undertook a little stroll from time to time, for her companions depressed her very much.

She had been to see Kathy, who was sitting near the house-door, and had chatted occasionally with the passers, but now she returned carrying a letter.
"A boy brought it, and Kathy asked him from whom it was, but he didn't know," she explained.
"Give it to me, Maezli," said the mother.

"It is addressed to Leonore, though," she added, a bit frightened, "but--" Leonore put both hands up to her face.

"Please read it, Aunt Maxa, I can't." "You need not be frightened, children," she said quickly, with a joyful flush on her cheeks.

"Listen! As the Castle-Steward wants to see his two young friends, Leonore and Maezli, again, he invites them, with the rest of the family, including the mother, to spend the following day at Castle Wildenstein." "I am glad," said Maezli rapidly, "then Kurt can see that the Castle-Steward and Mr.Trius are two people." The children had been entirely taken aback by fright, which turned into surprise, but they began to shout joyfully now, for the prospect of being invited to the castle was an event nobody could have predicted.