pened,
and the beautiful face, looking twice as charming in a lace morning cap
as it had ever seemed before, suddenly appeared.

She recognized him instantly; an involuntary movement of the head told
him that her first thought was to refuse to see him, but the next
instant she changed her mind.

"Is it _you_!" she exclaimed, but without betraying any surprise in the
tone. "I half expected you; I know no one can escape destiny. Come in.
You will doubtless excuse my cap."

He silently followed her into a neatly furnished room. His emotion was
so great, that he vainly strove to utter a few indifferent words, and
as if exhausted by a long walk, he sank down into one of the chairs
beside her sofa. Neither did she seem to know what tone to adopt.
Standing beside a flower stand, which however contained no exotics like
the one in Jaegerstrasse, she busied herself in pulling off the yellow
leaves, and in binding up a drooping tendril.

He had time to look at her. She was attired, in a simple morning dress,
which displayed her supple figure to even more advantage than her usual
costume, and the little cap on her wavy brown hair gave her a somewhat
matronly air, which contrasted most charmingly with the pale, childish
face.

"My change is very much for the worse, don't you think so?" she asked,
still busied with the flowers. "This plush furniture--it's said to be
an elegant apartment, but in comparison to the really stylish
appearance of the old rooms, looks like a mere lumber shop. However, I
can pay this quarter's rent and live among respectable people. But tell
me, how did you discover me? I thought, as I had discharged the
carriage, and no longer allowed the dwarf, who begged most pitifully to
be kept, to wear livery, I could live here in the most complete
incognita--so long as my money lasted. You were angry with me because I
vanished so suddenly, were you not? Look into my face and tell me
frankly, whether you were really angry or not?"

She had turned hastily toward him and was now gazing at him with
beseeching, mischievous eyes, as if she no more doubted the falsity of
her words, than that he would be weak enough to show mercy before
justice.

"My dear Fraeulein," said he, trying to smile, "as you have,
unfortunately, never permitted me to show you any kindness, I've not
ventured to take the liberty of being angry with you. I had forced
myself upon you, you took the first opportunity to get rid of
me--that's so