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In the middle of the verse a chair fell and a loud noise followed, whose cause was not difficult to guess. In an instant Diederich had sprung into the sitting-room. "Hello," he said, with immense joviality, "you seem to have serious intentions." The couple separated, and Herr Kienast answered: "I do not say that I haven't." Whereupon Diederich was deeply moved, and, his eyes gazing earnestly into those of Kienast, he shook the latter's hand, while with his disengaged hand he drew Magda towards them. "This is a surprise! Herr Kienast, make my dear little sister happy. You will always find in me the best of all brothers, as I have been up to this, I may say."

Wiping his eyes he shouted: "Mother! Something has happened." Frau Hessling was standing right outside the door, but so excessive was her emotion that her limbs refused to obey her. Leaning on Diederich's arm, she tottered in, fell upon Herr Kienast's neck, and dissolved into tears. Meanwhile Diederich was knocking at Emma's bedroom door, which was locked. "Come out, Emma; something has happened!" Finally she pulled open the door, her face flaming with rage. "What are you waking me up for? I can easily guess what has happened. Leave me out of your indecencies!" She would have slammed the door again, if Diederich had not in serted his foot. He sternly pointed out to her that, for her churlish behaviour, she deserved never to get a husband. He would not even allow her to dress, but dragged her along, in her dressing-jacket, with her hair down. At the door she escaped from his grasp. "You are making us ridiculous," she hissed. She reached the engaged couple before he did and, holding her head high, she gave them a mocking glance of critical inspection. "So you were afraid to wait until the morning?" she inquired. "Of course, time has no meaning for the happy." Kienast looked at her. She was taller than Magda, and her face, now flushed, looked fuller beneath her loosened hair, which was long and thick. Kienast held her hand longer than was necessary, and when she withdrew it he turned from