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This coming home so late at night, this responsible control no, it would not do for Käte to worry herself to death. Paul Schlieben had taken this step resignedly. And it seemed as though the days at the Schliebens' villa were really to be quieter, more peaceful. It was winter, and the snow was such a soft protecting cover for many a buried hope.
There was Hans Flebbe his father was coachman at the banker's, who owned the splendid villa on the other side of the road and lived in Bellevuestrasse in Berlin in the winter and there were also Artur and Frida. But their father was only porter in a villa that was let out to different families. As soon as these three came home from school, they would stand outside the Schliebens' villa.
Another maid had been engaged, one in whom Käte had certainly not much confidence from the commencement Lisbeth had straightway given her the impression of being much more intelligent but there was no choice, as it was not the time of year when servants generally leave; and she had to go to the baths as quickly as possible. So Cilia Pioschek from the Warthe district came to the Schliebens.
Those were days of the purest happiness at the Schliebens'. The villa had been bought now, some rooms had been built on to it, and another piece of land had been added to the garden as a play-ground. They could not think of not giving the boy sufficient space to romp about in. Some sand was brought there, a heap as high as a dune in which to dig.
And the Venn wept. Large drops fell from the mist. The mist itself turned into tears, to slowly falling and then to rushing, streaming, never-ending tears. The Schliebens had reached Berlin safely. Käte was exhausted when she got out of the train; her hair was untidy, she did not look quite so smart as usual. It had been no trifle to make that long journey with the child.
There was certainly no want of nicer children to play with; school-fellows whose parents lived in similar villas to theirs used to invite him; and the families in Berlin, with whom the Schliebens were on friendly terms and who were pleased when their children could get out to the Grunewald on their holidays, often asked him to come and see them too.
They would have to let the subject drop. The doctor, who had already taxed himself with stupidity in his heart oh dear, now he had aroused everybody's curiosity instead of helping the Schliebens heard the gentlemen pass on to politics with great relief. It was midnight before the last guests left the villa.
The Schliebens overwhelmed their doctor with reproaches. Why had he not told them it long ago? He must surely have known. Why had he left them in such ignorance? Dr. Hofmann defended himself: had he not again and again exhorted them to be careful? He had been anxious about the boy's heart ever since he had had scarlet fever, and had not concealed his fears.
He had many a time given the boy an imperceptible, pacifying nod, when his eyes had sought his across the table as though asking for help. Yes, it was really getting more and more difficult to get on with Käte. The Schliebens went away. The husband had consulted the doctor with regard to his wife, and he had ordered Franzensbad. But it was absolutely impossible for him to accompany her there.
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