Thelatter，withhiseyescastdown，andwithaperfectlyindifferentmanner，playedthecardindicated，andTrudelefttheroomquietlyandunobserved。
“Everythingisarranged，mychild，“saidTrude，asshere-enteredMarie\'sroom。“Theyareplayingcards，whichalwayslaststwohours，thenHerrEbenstreitgoesaway，andthefamilywillgotobed。Youhaveeighteenhours，beforeyouwillbediscovered。Hark！itstrikesseven，anditisalreadyquitedark。Whenthepost-hornsounds，thenitistime。”
“Oh，Trude！mydearmother，myheartalmostceasestobeat，withanxiety，andIquakewithfear，“sighedMarie。“IamconsciousthatIhavecommencedafearfulundertaking！“
“Theyhavedrivenyoutoit——itisnotyourfault，“saidTrude，consolingly。“Everyhumanbeingisfreetoworkouthisowngoodorbadfortune，and，asourdearOldFritzsays，\'tobehappyinthefutureworldinhisownway。\'Theyhavesoldyouformoney，andyouonlyprovetothemthatyouarenoslave。”
“AndIprovealsothatIamadisobedientdaughter，“addedMarie，trembling。“Atthishour，itweighslikeaheavyburdenuponmyheart，andthewordsofHolyWritburnintomyverysoul——\'Honorthyfatherandthymother，thatitmaybewellwiththee。\'“