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Rh "Oh, you must look in at barracks first," said Dorine, angrily. "Of course you must look in at barracks first. And then, if you have a moment to spare . . ."

"I can go from here," said Gerrit, dejectedly. "Are you coming?"

"I?" screamed Dorine. "Do you think I'm going back with you? No, thank you. I've told Mamma, I've told you and now I'm going home to bed. For, if I'm not careful and go trotting about wherever you send me, I shall go off my head myself. . . . I? I'm going to bed. . . ."

She rose, walked round the table, sat down again; and suddenly her voice changed, tears of pity came into her eyes and she wailed:

"Poor Mamma! She's quite ill. . . . What an idea of that horrible creature's, to go running straight to Mamma. Why frighten her like that? Why not first have told one of us? . . . I'll just go round to Constance . . . and to Adolphine: then they can console Mamma a bit. . . . You call in at Paul's on your way: he may be able to help you, if there's anything to be done. . . . But, after that, I'm going home to bed."

"Yes," said Gerrit, "I'll go now."

And then at once he began to hesitate: ought he not to go to barracks first? Should he go first to Paul. . . or straight to Ernst? He went into