When father follows Fraulein Maria out of the room, Baroness Shraeder gives a surprised laugh although I really don't think there is anything to laugh at. Uncle Max insists we tell him all about how we learned to sing so beautifully. So we do, or rather Kurt and I do because Liesl has a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes and barely participates in the explanation and Friedrich and Louisa keep on clearing their throats. Gretl finds a permanent seat on the sofa next to the Baroness, which I suppose should make me angry but I just can't be angry at anything, I feel so happy and light and free.
Father hugged me. He hugged the others too, stroked Liesl's cheek, smiled at Friedrich, shared a laugh with Kurt but he hugged me first.
When father comes back, the Baroness raised her perfect eyebrows and asks, "Everything all right?"
"Yes, quite," father says. He glances at us and seems to study us anew.
"Remember, Georg, you promised to give me a tour of your mansion while I was here," the Baroness says.
Father turns back to the Baroness. "Can you really have any interest in dusty rooms full of history?"
She leans on his arm gracefully and says, "Certainly I do. You know, a house says a lot about the owner. Especially the forbidden rooms."
Father laughs. "And are you so sure that I've got them?"
"Well, I hope so. It would make things much more exciting."
It seems to me that father and the Baroness have their own secret language that nobody else understands. I don't like it. But even that does not spoil my happiness because when Fraulein Maria comes back into the room with her hair brushed, wearing a neat, dry dress, I can easily see that no matter what happened before, she is not going anywhere. Not with the respectful nod father gives her and her answering smile.
I still need to be sure. "You are still our governess, aren't you?" I whisper, coming up to her.
Fraulein Maria gives me a startled look, then, says, "Yes, Brigitta, of course, I am."
"Fraulein, however did you manage it?" Uncle Max asks.
"Manage what, sir?"
"Not 'sir'. Only servants and people who owe me money call me 'sir'. What I meant was how did you know that Georg used to love this song?"
"I…I didn't. I only chose it because I loved it."
"Well, it was a lovely choice, my dear," the baroness says. "What are you planning to teach the children next?"
The way she says it makes it seem like she's referring to other things than singing. Things that aren't very proper for us to learn.
"Well, let's see. I have some ideas…" Fraulein Maria's eyes turn playful. She doesn't say anything but glances at father for a moment and father is suddenly busy examining his sleeves for imaginary dust. But I see the smile that crosses his face and I wonder what private joke they are sharing.
"Fraulein, take the children upstairs and get them ready for dinner," he says suddenly.
Fraulein Maria seems startled. "Y-yes, captain."
"But father…" Gretl begins to protest.
"Gretl, I'll see you at dinner," father says quite firmly. But not harshly as he would have before.
Did our singing really work such magic?
When we go back to our rooms, Liesl follows me in and says, "Brigitta, I have to tell you something."
"All right," I say, but my stomach suddenly feels hollow. "Is it something good? Because last time you 'told me something,' you made me cry."
"I'm sorry about that. I don't think I will this time." Liesl takes a deep breath. "Today, you hugged father. I have been wanting to do the same thing for five years…but I was much too afraid."
"What? You?" I stare at her. "But you…you are the most affectionate of us. You're always putting your arms around me or Marta or Gretl or anyone who needs it!"
"Yes, Liesl says. 'But that's when I am sure that my embrace will be accepted. With father, I was afraid it wouldn't be. So even when mother had just died and father looked like he needed comfort, I still didn't put my arms around him because I was afraid of being pushed away. And then you did it today and you set me an example."
Me? An example to Liesl? Tears are suddenly streaming down my cheeks.
Liesl looks both dismayed and amused. "I did make you cry, after all."
"That's all right," I sob. "I like it."
Kurt comes into the room, saying, "Liesl, Fraulein Maria wants you…" then, seeing that I am crying, stares and backs out again.
During dinner, uncle Max does most of the talking, telling amusing stories of the people he has brought to fame and their manners and quirks.
"So the dear woman gives a bow just as she is supposed to, only after the bow she gives another bow, even lower. And then she decides that she rather likes the exercise, so she leaves the stage walking backwards and bowing, over and over and over again."
We are all laughing. But along with eating and laughing, there is a lot of watching going on at the table. Baroness Shraeder watches father, of course, while father watches… us. And I find that I am entirely unused to having father's eyes fixed so attentively on me, fixed on me not because I have done something wrong but just because I am me.
After dinner, uncle Max says he has a surprise for us.
"Now, Max, you did get Georg's approval first?" the Baroness asks.
"Of course not. He wouldn't have given it," uncle Max says lightly and when we finally reach the parlor, there stands a beautiful puppet theater.
We all shriek and rush over to examine the puppets (there must be at least ten!), the curtains and the gorgeous scenery.
Father chuckles. "A waste of time," he says. "But I expected worse."
"So sorry to disappoint you," says uncle Max.
Father and the Baroness go for an evening walk. Uncle Max also disappears somewhere. We spend hours playing around with the puppets, trying to understand how the strings work and trading with each other. Fraulein Maria sits back and watches us act silly for a while but suddenly, her eyes widen and a smile grows on her face. "Of course," she whispers. "Of course!"
Before any of us can ask her what she means, she leaves the room. In a moment, she is back with a sheet of paper and a pen. She goes over and studies each puppet, then scribbles something.
'What are you writing?" we keep asking her.
"You'll see."
We have to content ourselves with that.
Before bed, Fraulein Maria gathers us for prayer in her room, the way she has been doing for weeks. But today, for the first time, I pray, not because I want to please her, but because my heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for all the wonderful things that have happened today.
