suffocatingly hot here. Allow me at
least to open the windows--"

"Don't talk nonsense, my dear Koenig," she said quietly. "I can read
your good old heart as easily as the coarse print of my hymn book.
You've come here to tell a piece of news that pleases you, and yet
you've not the pluck to speak out. And that's just what surprises me;
for whatever pleases you, my old friend, has always been agreeable and
welcome to me. So out with it quick. I must go to the meeting of the
lying-in society in half an hour. Is Leah improving? Has any quack of a
doctor suddenly inspired you with such good courage?"

"You are the very embodiment of wisdom," replied the artist, who had
taken the chair at her work-table and was thoughtfully rummaging in her
little basket. "It is certainly a doctor, who has inspired me with
courage, but he's no quack, and the affair is altogether--"

He hesitated again and stooped to look for a thimble which he had
luckily dropped. "Keep your hands away from my things, for heaven's
sake," said the good lady sharply. "You know your meddling makes me as
nervous as I should make you if I wanted to paint a part of your
pictures. And now, once for all, for I hate all mysteries and enigmas,
what doctor are you talking about and what hopes has he given to you?"

"You shall hear, my dear friend, but I know you'll not like the mode of
cure, and that's why I want to prepare you a little; for you often put
on a look that makes even an old friend fear you. But if you want me to
speak out: our Leah's engaged!"

"Engaged! That's certainly a piece of news nobody could be prepared
for. My dear old friend, I hope you're not joking with me. You almost
look as if you'd come from a drinking bout and had all sorts of fancies
and notions in your head."

"Another sign of your sharp-sighted wisdom, dear lady!" laughed the
artist, rubbing his hands in delight, for he had already told the most
difficult part. "I really have emptied half a bottle or perhaps three
quarters, as my son-in-law, he who is to be I mean--these people who
are in love don't know how to value good wine--"

"Better and better! Have matters already gone so far? A formal
betrothal dinner, and Leah's second mother would have heard nothing
about the matter, if the wine had not betrayed it. Well, Herr Koenig,
I've had to forgive many things in the course of our long acquaintance;
but this--this--"

The artist started up from his chair, as if he had been touc