er her dress.

"Perhaps; but I will take care not to lose it."

"Why not?" I asked, looking fixedly at her.

"Because I will not make the romance of an hour a question for life."

"All you are saying to Francis may be very gallant and witty, nephew,"
cried the General, "but it is not polite to leave the card-table in
the midst of a game."

"If the Freule would join us we could play quadrille," said Rolf.

"Thanks, Captain, I prefer playing the piano, if it does not disturb
you."

Her playing was like herself, fantastic and bizarre; gradually,
however, it became sweet and melancholy, and moved me almost to
tears. My thoughts were with the music, and I lost every game
afterwards. The General was furious, and let me perceive it. I was
about to pay my debt, when Francis entered precipitately, and said
in a decided tone--so decided, indeed, as to displease me--that I
should not pay. I answered in the same tone, and to cut short all
arguments I placed the money on the table. She then tried to snatch
out of Rolf's hand the note I had given him. I told her I thought
her interference very unbecoming.

"Oh, very well; it's all the same to me if you wish to be plundered."

And with this she returned to the piano; whilst the General, who seemed
to gloat over his gains, remained silent during this little scene. It
gave me a painful insight into his character. I pitied the old man,
who played not for amusement but for the sake of money, and would
take it in large or small sums from a poor relation or a richer man.

But at the same time, as I went to join Francis at the piano, I
thought my money well spent in discovering the General's weakness,
which had so influenced his granddaughter's past life.

"Will you play?" she asked, brusquely.

"I don't feel disposed."

"As you like," she said, turning to the instrument and striking the
keys as if she would break them.

I took up an old newspaper and pretended to be reading it.

In the end she played a prelude, and then began the air of Bettly in
the chalet--

Liberte cherie,
Seul bien de la vie,
Regne toujours la!
Tra la, la, la, tra la, la, la!
Tant pis pour qui s'en fachera!

I threw aside the paper, and, approaching the piano, I whispered--

"Do you remember how this charming little opera ends?"

"Certainly, like all other pieces suitable for the theatre; but in
real