hful nurse.

She looked round before answering. "I have seen him," she said. "He has
been here, and the Fraeulein has been so angry! She says she will tell my
master. Oh, it has been such a day!" The poor young woman, who was
usually so composed and self-restrained, was on the point of bursting
into tears; but by a strong effort she checked herself, and tried to
busy herself with rearranging the white china cup, so as to place it
more conveniently to my hand.

"Come, Thekla," said I, "tell me all about it. I have heard loud voices
talking, and I fancied something had put the Fraeulein out; and Lottchen
looked flurried when she brought me my dinner. Is Franz here? How has he
found you out?"

"He is here. Yes, I am sure it is he; but four years makes such a
difference in a man; his whole look and manner seemed so strange to me;
but he knew me at once, and called me all the old names which we used to
call each other when we were children; and he must needs tell me how it
had come to pass that he had not married that Swiss Anna. He said he had
never loved her; and that now he was going home to settle, and he hoped
that I would come too, and----" There she stopped short.

"And marry him, and live at the inn at Altenahr," said I, smiling, to
reassure her, though I felt rather disappointed about the whole affair.

"No," she replied. "Old Weber, his father, is dead; he died in debt, and
Franz will have no money. And he was always one that needed money. Some
are, you know; and while I was thinking, and he was standing near me,
the Fraeulein came in; and--and--I don't wonder--for poor Franz is not
a pleasant-looking man now-a-days--she was very angry, and called me
a bold, bad girl, and said she could have no such goings on at the
'Halbmond,' but would tell my master when he came home from the forest."

"But you could have told her that you were old friends." I hesitated,
before saying the word lovers, but, after a pause, out it came.

"Franz might have said so," she replied, a little stiffly. "I could not;
but he went off as soon as she bade him. He went to the 'Adler' over the
way, only saying he would come for my answer to-morrow morning. I think
it was he that should have told her what we were--neighbours' children
and early friends--not have left it all to me. Oh," said she, clasping
her hands tight together, "she will make such a story of it to my
master."

"Never mind," said I, "tell the master I want to see him, a