sor Crutius; she wanted to stop
after the first few lines, but the Major begged:

"Read on; do read on."

She read on to the end.

"O Thou really good Builder of all the worlds, what queer material
you've put into the construction of the world! Good heavens! there's
something frightful about a newspaper; now everybody knows about this."

Fraeulein Milch was just on the point of saying that this was no news to
her, but she had the self-command, doubly difficult for a woman, to
keep from telling what she knew. It was better to say nothing, as she
would thus escape a long explanation to the Major why she had said
nothing about it a long time ago. Not till the Major begged her to go
to the Professorin, who would be greatly troubled by this
communication, did she say:--

"The Professorin, as well as I, knew it a long time ago."

In his bewilderment, the Major did not ask how it happened that she
knew; he only opened his eyes wider. He had said to her a great many
good and kind things, but the best of all was when he observed:--

"Yes. You might belong to our Brotherhood, you can keep a secret."

After a while the Major continued:--

"Look, children, down below there is the wonderfully beautiful Villa
with its parks, its gardens, and with its millions inside the
house--ha! and Roland and Manna. Fraeulein Milch, don't try to prevent
me. I must go down there, for nobody knows what's going on there, and I
must do something to help them. Don't say anything against it, Fraeulein
Milch, I entreat you."

"I haven't said anything to hinder you; on the contrary, I think you
ought to go."

Before she had finished speaking, a messenger came from the Villa for
the Major to go there.

Lina wanted to join him, thinking she might be of some assistance to
Manna; but the Major said that the Professorin and Aunt Claudine were
enough already, and Lina ought not to spoil now any of her happiness.

Just as the Major was about to set off, a voice cried:--

"Herr Major, just stop. I'm coming."

With flushed face, and out of breath, Knopf came up.

"Do you know it?" asked the Major.

"Yes, indeed, and that's the reason I've come. Perhaps I can do
something at the Villa."

"Good! I'm going, so come with me. No, you stay here, stay with the
Fraeulein. I'll have you sent for if you're needed."

And so the Major walked down the mountain, and the four who remained
followed him with affectionate looks.