For years they had only seen the mysterious shuttered doors and windows, and it was no wonder that they were delighted.

Mea had heartily voiced her delight with the others till she noticed that Leonore had become very quiet and melancholy.
"But, Leonore," she exclaimed, "why don't you look forward to the lovely day we are going to have?
I can't imagine anything nicer than to be able to inspect the whole castle." "I can't," Leonore replied.

"I know too well that everything will be over after that day, and I may even never see you any more." Poor Mea was deeply affected by these words, and immediately her joy had flown.

It was rather difficult to quiet everybody down in bed that night and even when Kurt had gone to sleep he uttered strange triumphant exclamations, for in his dreams the boy had climbed to the top of the highest battlement.
At ten o'clock next morning all the children were ready to leave and had formed a regular procession.

Bruno and Kurt had placed themselves at the head and were only waiting for their mother.
Now the two boys started off at such a rate that no one else could keep up with them, so the mother appointed Leonore and Mea as guides, and herself followed with Maezli.