midday
There followed a short pause . Willibald 's glance met his mother 's ; then he turned toward Toni and said , in a half-depressed tone : `` No , Toni , I must go home -- there is nothing else for it . '' Toni took this news , which another girl would have seriously deplored , very calmly , and began to plan where they had better dine on the morrow , for they had a long distance to go by carriage before they would meet the express train . This troubled her much more than the parting , and she finally decided that she would prepare a luncheon for them , so that they need have no care concerning their midday meal . Frau von Eschenhagen triumphed in her heart as she went to announce their departure to her brother-in-law . She had already decided upon the reason which she would give him for their abrupt departure . Of course a great many things could happen on a large estate like Burgsdorf , which would demand the master 's presence at a moment 's notice .