" Apollonie was once more swept away by emotion, and it took
her a little time before she could tell Loneli the wonderful news.
On this day it was so quiet in Mrs. Maxa's garden, that it hardly seemed
as if the whole family was gathered in the vine-covered gardens. The
thought of its being Leonore's last Sunday kept them from being gay,
despite the fact that they were playing a game which they usually
enjoyed. The mother's thoughts were wandering, too, for she had waited
all day to get news from the castle. Wondering what this meant, Mrs.
Maxa found it difficult to keep her attention on the children. Maezli
undertook a little stroll from time to time, for her companions depressed
her very much. She had been to see Kathy, who was sitting near the
house-door, and had chatted occasionally with the passers, but now she
returned carrying a letter.
"A boy brought it, and Kathy asked him from whom it was, but he didn't
know," she explained.
"Give it to me, Maezli," said the mother. "It is addressed to Leonore,
though," she added, a bit frightened, "but--"
Leonore put both hands up to her face. "Please read it, Aunt Maxa, I
can't."
"You need not be frightened, children," she said quickly, with a joyful
flush on her cheeks. "Listen! As the Castle-Steward wants to see his two
young friends, Leonore and Maezli, again, he invites them, with the rest
of the family, including the mother, to spend the following day at Castle
Wildenstein.
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