e of her to say it.

But when Frau Laemke said in a voice full of feeling: "Now I
shall have to treat you as a grown-up, Wolfgang--you're getting too big
now--but I like you none the less for that, you may be sure, I could
hardly be fonder of my own children"--he felt happier than he had done
the whole day. His face grew tender and full of emotion, and he pressed
the gnarled hand that gave his such a hearty shake firmly.

Then he sat down near them; they wanted to hear about
everything.

He showed them his gold watch and let it strike the hour; but he did
not talk much, the atmosphere of the room filled him with a vague
feeling of delight, and he sat quite still. There was the same smell of
freshly-made coffee as once before, and the myrtle in the window and
the pale monthly rose mingled their fainter perfume with it. He had
quite forgotten that he had already been there some time; all at once
it occurred to him with a sudden feeling of dread that he had something
to ask. He cast a searching glance at the woman. She was just saying:
"Oh, how pleased your mother will be to have such a big son," when he
jerked out: "Am I her son?" And as she did not answer, but only looked
at him uncertainly with her eyes full of dismay, he almost shouted it:
"Am I her son?"

The mother and daughter exchanged a rapid glance; Frau Laemke had
turned scarlet and looked very embarrassed. The boy had got hold of her
arms with both hands and was bending over her. There was no getting out
of it.

"Don't tell me any lies," he said hastily. "I shall find it out all
the same. I must find it out. Is she my mother? Answer. And my
father--he isn't my real father either?"

"Good gracious, Wolfgang, what makes you think of such a thing?"
Frau Laemke hid her embarrassment under a forced laugh. "That's all
nonsense."

"Oh no." He remained quite serious. "I'm old enough now. I must know
it. I must."

The woman positively writhed: oh, how disagreeable it was for her;
let the boy go somewhere else and ask. "I should get into nice trouble
with them if I told tales," she said, trying to get out of it. "Ask
your parents themselves, they'll tell you all you want to know. I'll
take care not to meddle with such things."

Frida opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but a
warning glance made her remain silent. Her mother flew at her angrily:
"Will you be quiet? To think of you mixing yourself up with it. What
next. On the whole, what d