She said that it was a good thing that Oscar wanted to take the flute; for her husband had decided to let Feklitus take the trip to the Rhine; and he could play on the flute to Mrs.Stanhope; all the more, because none of the doctor's children were musical.
She and Mr.Bickel thought, too, that it would be pleasant for their son to be there with the others, and that it would show people that the doctor's children had other and better acquaintances at home than the two poor children whom Mrs.Stanhope had taken with her.
But here Mrs.Stein interrupted the stream of words to say that there was no occasion for that, as Mrs.Stanhope had seen for herself that Fani and Elsli were her children's most intimate friends.

She then inquired whether Mrs.Bickel wished Feklitus to go with her children.
Mrs.Bickel declared that she should not think of such a thing as that.
In that case Mrs.Stanhope would naturally ask him to stay at her house, which of course they would not allow; as if he could not afford to pay for his lodging! But she would be glad if Oscar would write as soon as convenient and tell Feklitus the best way to go, and also find out the chief hotel in the neighborhood.

Then, if Oscar would meet him on his arrival, and show him the way to it, Feklitus would take a room there, and spend the time between meals with the children at Mrs.Stanhope's.
His father meant to go himself very soon to visit his young relatives, as it was only proper that he should do; and he would bring the boy home.
Mrs.Stein listened patiently to this long discourse, but her thoughts often wandered away into the next room, to aunty and the bags.

How were they getting on all this time?
She promised Mrs.Bickel that Oscar would do what she asked, and now she hoped the visit was coming to a close.

But there was more to ask.
How many suits of clothes did she think needed for such a journey?
Would six new ones be enough?
Wouldn't it be well to fill one trunk entirely with new shirts, so that they needn't be washed away from home; hotel laundry work was so bad.