The following morning, Maria and the children were seated at the breakfast table with Max. The Baroness chose to breakfast later in the morning, the Captain's 7:00 am breakfast too early for her Viennese style. This morning however, the Captain failed to appear for the prompt 7:00 am breakfast, the children became unsettled.

"Fraulein Maria?" Marta asked, "Where's father?"

"He's never later for breakfast," Louisa observed.

"Perhaps your father went to bed later than usual," Maria suggested, "He's a busy man, busy men get tired."

Before anything more could be said about the Captain's tardiness, the Captain himself emerged looking tired but her smiled, "Good morning, children, Fraulein, Max, sorry I'm a bit late, I overslept."

The children seemed to accept his explanation with no further questions but as Maria studied Captain von Trapp's eyes, she saw how dark they were, how hollow. It was quite obvious to one who'd suffered insomnia at times that the Captain had little to no sleep at all the night before.

By now, Maria could tell when any member of the von Trapp household was telling her a fib. Each child had their own way of revealing their dishonesty. Gretel would simply cry. Marta and Kurt would blush and start to stutter. Frederick would forget all reason and make up the most outlandish story so far from believable it was impossible to become angry with him. Liesl would craftily turn the question around so Maria had to answer a question instead of asking one. Louisa would become evasive and to her knowledge, Brigita didn't fib, she spoke her mind and took her punishment. The Captain, well, he repeated himself.

"How did you sleep last night, Captain?" Maria asked as she helped Gretel spread jam on her toast.

"Fine, Fraulein. Fine," he answered sipping his coffee.

"Ah ha," thought Maria, definitely lying.

"Well, that's nice to know," she smiled and busied herself with her own breakfast.

"Fraulein Maria," Kurt asked, "Can we go on a picnic today? It's so nice out."

"Well, I don't see why not. Captain, would it be all right if the children and I went."

"Of course it would be, Fraulein. As a matter of fact, I'll come with you. It's been years since I've been on a family picnic," the Captain announced to the excited shrieks of his children. "Unfortunately, Georg, I have to hear a groups or two today, and I can't accompany you," Max told them.

"I don't recall inviting you, Max.," the Captain said flatly but with a hint of mischief in his blue eyes.

The two men laughed and Maria smiled. "Captain," Maria spoke up, "perhaps you and the Baroness would prefer to take the children. I could."

The mere suggestion of Maria staying behind brought fervent protest from the children and surprisingly from the Captain, "Fraulein, Baroness Schraeder does not care for hill climbing or picnicking. Please, the children will be so disappointed if you don't join us." The sincerity of his tone of voice would have changed Maria's mind even if Gretel and Marta did not plead with her, "Please, Fraulein Maria, please," was heard about the table.

"All right," Maria agreed, "we'll meet in the front hall at 10:30 am. There's a lovely grassy hill that is; if that's agreeable to you Captain?"

Captain von Trapp noticed his children's governess was very, very edgy this morning. She was almost too agreeable, openly seeking his approval on decisions that weeks ago she'd made herself in spite of his orders to the contrary. This made him uneasy, something was not right with Maria and he had to find a way to address it. The Captain cleared his throat, "Children, as soon as you finish your breakfast, I'd like it if you studied your school work for an hour or so. You won't be able to do it this afternoon."

A chorus of "Yes, Father" was heard about the table and when breakfast was over the children went to their rooms, Max headed for Saint Thomas' monastery, and Maria began to follow the children to their rooms.

"Fraulein," the Captain intervened, "Could I speak with you for a few moments in my study?"

"Of course, Captain," she immediately obeyed and followed the Captain to his study. He sat not behind his desk but on the large comfortable sofa. Maria remained standing, so ever the gentleman, the Captain rose and invited her to sit, "Fraulein, have a seat please," he indicated the sofa. Maria sat at the very end of the sofa. Once she was seated, Captain von Trapp resumed his seat.

"Fraulein," he cleared his throat. How could he do this tastefully and not frighten or anger her?

Maria was startled by the Captain's manner. Usually he was in control, but today he was ill at ease and nervously shifting his weight about of the sofa and wringing his hands.

"Yes," Maria waited for him to continue.

"Well, I wanted to ask you that is, are you happy here? You seem distant the last few days since I've returned and I was wondering if the children or I had done something.?"

Maria paled at the Captain's question, "No, Captain. The children are really dears and no, I'm perfectly happy here."

Captain von Trapp looked relieved and his smile reached his eyes, "Good, Fraulein, you've brought life and music to this house, you've mad it a happy home again. I wanted to be sure that you're happy."

"I am, Captain," she affirmed, "May I be excused now? I need to drill Brigitta on her mathematics and Liesl on her history."

"Certainly, Fraulein. I'll be seeing you later," the Captain rose as she did and saw her out, watching her ascend the stairs to the nursery.

Something was not right, just not right. He didn't know Maria well, but he knew she had spirit, drive, passion, and since he began to become reacquainted with his children, a result of that passion, she seemed off. Something was bothering her, but what?

Baroness Schraeder's voice broke into his thoughts, "Good morning, Darling. Did you sleep well?"

"Fine, Elsa. Fine," he answered, "and you?"

"Well it was a late night, but I slept like a baby. Was one of the children ill last night?' the Baroness asked unexpectedly, "I thought I saw you near Maria's room."

"Gretel had a nightmare," he said very testily, "Maria didn't' answer her door. I was checking on her."

"Ah," she nodded, "How about a ride on the lake this afternoon, Georg. It's going to be a lovely day."

"Oh, I'd love to Darling, but I promised the children a picnic," the Captain replied.

"Well, Maria can take them can't she?" the Baroness asked with a bat of her eyelashes at the Captain, "We've barely had anytime alone since I've been here."

"I'm sorry, Elsa. I promised the children. Maria is going, but I promised them I'd join them," the Captain made sure his tone left no room for further arguments.

"Georg, you know I don't like eating outdoors," she protested.

"I know. I'll be back before dinner. You just relax around the villa today and tomorrow we'll go out on the lake." With that the Captain left the Baroness staring after him as he went to change for the outing.

The children, the Captain and Maria met in the hall at the appointed time. Frau Schmidt packed an ample lunch and the Captain and Frederick took the heavy baskets.

The children ran ahead, enthused by the day out in the sun, while Maria and the Captain walked slowly behind.

"Fraulein," Captain von Trapp broke the silence, "those songs you sing with the children, some I recognize, but others are new. Did you compose them yourself?"

"Most of them are folk songs, some are folk melodies with the words redone. When I was a very little girl, I.my mother died when I was very young and I was sent to live with relatives. Sometimes I'd get um." she stopped. She could never tell the Captain about those things, "lonely and I'd write little poemes and sing them to my favorite folk tunes.

Raindrops on rose and Whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and Warm woolen mittens

And then I'd fell better, so now whenever I feel down I sing that song and it really does work, Captain." She blushed a bit and smiled.

"It's a nice little song. I sang it briefly to Gretel last night," he slipped. He hadn't wanted to mention the previous night.

"Gretel? Why?" Maria asked confused and concerned.

"She had a bit of a bad dream nothing serious. I was up all ready and saw no need to disturb you so." he trailed off not wanting to tell her about her own nightmare if she had no recall of it.

Captain von Trapp watched Maria's face but no trace of memory crossed her features. After a moment she spoke, "You should have woken me, Captain. I'm their governess. It's my job to."

"We all need to sleep, Fraulein and mine seems to be escaping me of late," the Captain replied.

"You should try to read before bed, it helps me," she commented as they reached the picnic spot.

The Captain handed her down so she could sit on the blanket and helped her lay out the sandwiches for lunch, along with potato salad and carrot apple salad. Gretel and Marta laughed happily as they flew a kite, and the Captain watched as Kurt and Frederick tossed a ball over Brigitta's head, he laughed happily.

The couple sat and ate first, letting the children enjoy their freedom. Louisa seemed to be off on her own somewhere, while Liesl dreamily doodled in a sketch pad. The peaceful silence was shattered by Gretel and Marta running up to them, "Fraulein Maria our kite is caught in the tree."

"Is it?" Maria rose and examined the tree, "Yes, it is locked over the branch. Don't worry, I'll go up and get it."

"Fraulein, perhaps, I should." the Captain offered, but Maria laughed off his gallantry.

"Captain, I've been climbing trees since I was a little girl. It's nothing."

With that she hoisted up her skirt and began to climb the tall tree to free the girls kite. The Captain held his breath, and could not shake the dreadful feeling that something awful.a loud crack of a weak branch confirmed his worst fears and he and the children watched in horror as the branch holding Maria gave way and she and it fell speedily to the ground.