it was
the duty of him who allowed himself to be called "father" by him to
prepare a future for him. So the man mapped out a certain plan. When
the boy had got so far as to pass the examination that entitled him to
one year's service in the army, he would take him away from school,
send him a year to France, England and possibly also to America, to
firms of high standing in each country, and then, when he had started
from the bottom and learnt something, he would make him a partner. He
thought how nice it would be then to be able to lay many things on
younger shoulders. And the boy would no doubt be reliable; one could
see that already.

If only Kate did not expect such a ridiculous amount of him. She was
always after the boy--if not in person, then in her thoughts, at any
rate. She worried him--it could not be helped, he was not an
affectionate child--and did it make her happy?

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
Kate.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

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. He would employ
the time making some excursions on foot in the Tyrol, as it was a long
time since he had had a holiday. A couple of pounds less in weight
would do him no harm.

But where was Wolfgang to be meanwhile?

"At home," said his father. "He's old enough; eleven years. He is at
school in the morning and in the garden in the afternoons, and Hofmann
can come and see him every other day--to reassure you."

It was an unbearable thought for the mother to leave the child
alone. She would have preferred to take him with her. But Paul had got
vexed: "What next?" And the doctor had said. "On no account."

Then Kate had wanted to induce her husband to take the boy with him:
"How healthy it would be for him to run about to his heart's content
for once in a way."

"It seems to me he does enough of that here. Really, Kate, the boy
is as strong as can be, don't always make such a fuss about him.
Besides, I'm not going to take him away from school when it's quite
unnecessary."

To be sure, he must not lose his place in the form, and possibly
become one of the last. Kate was so ambitious