At
last the pale student approached inquisitively, cast a scornful glance
at the party, and was about to pass on with great dignity. But I
sprang up in a twinkling, and, before he knew what I was about,
seized him by his long surtout and waltzed merrily round with him.
He actually began to try to dance after the latest and most approved
fashion, and footed it so nimbly that the moisture stood in beads upon
his forehead, his long coat flew round like a wheel, and he looked
at me so strangely withal, and his eyes rolled so, that I began to be
really afraid of him, and suddenly released him.
The old woman was very curious to know the contents of the note,
and why I was so very merry of a sudden. But the matter was far too
intricate for me to be able to explain it to her. I merely pointed
to a couple of storks that were sailing through the air far above our
heads, and said that so must I go, far, far away. At this she opened
her bleared eyes wide, and cast a sinister glance first at me and then
at the old man. After that, I noticed as often as I turned away that
they put their heads together and talked eagerly, glancing askance
toward me from time to time.
This puzzled me. I pondered upon what scheme they could be hatching,
and I grew more quiet. The sun had long set, so I wished them all good
night and betook myself thoughtfully to my bedroom.
I felt so happy and so restless that for a long while I paced the
apartment to and fro.
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