Frau Jenny Treibel

One is the upper-class Treibel family consisting of the Councillor of commerce and his wife, Frau Jenny, as well as their sons Otto and Leopold.

Years before, when Wilibald was still a student, he was also the secret admirer of Jenny, who at that time was the daughter of Willibald's landlord.

Willibald even went so far as to write a poem to Jenny in which he pronounced his love for her, though he failed to achieve the desired effect.

She finds the social life with the wives of the other teachers quite boring, and her father's correction of pupils’ school work offers little variation.

Leopold, who is a shy and timid young man, promises Corinna that he will stand up to his mother and that the two shall be wed.