"There are just one or two little things I wish to say. Your aunt has
a clever ayah who knows what to do, and when, she has her attacks I
leave her alone--by her own wish. Also, she doesn't like to have her
health noticed--though everyone knows that she's more or less an
invalid. I believe, if her mind were diverted and occupied she would
be better."

"I'm a pretty good nurse," began Sophy; "I've a Red Cross certificate
and I like nursing----"

"Oh, that is of no use," he interrupted impatiently. "You must nurse
her _mind_; amuse her with cards, reading, games, music--that is your
job. Well, then there is the housekeeping; you will have to take the
place of Fernanda. She looked after the servants, the mending, the
stores, and the cooking--you shall, step into _her_ shoes. Of course,
it will be an immense responsibility for a young girl."

As he spoke he turned his head and looked at his _vis-a-vis_ with a
glance which seemed to imply that he was endowing her with an empire.

"Of course, I am aware that you English are slatternly, ignorant, and
extravagant managers," he continued pleasantly, "but my excellent
friend and neighbour, Frau Wurm, has promised to take you in hand."

"But I'm afraid I could not undertake all this," protested Sophy. "I
know very little of housekeeping in a large establishment. I can knit
and sew, make coffee and savouries, arrange flowers--and that's about
all."

"Gott! Gott! Can you not make confitures and cakes and salads?
Confiture I must have with every meal--a nice saucer of cherries or
raspberries or greengages, so good with meat. Well, well, never mind,
you shall soon learn. Frau Wurm will teach you much. We no longer see
company--just two or three men to dine and smoke; your aunt has dropped
her English circle. The English community changes, and many of her old
friends have gone away or died--and a good job, too! We live in the
German quarter and are surrounded by compatriots. You speak German, of
course?"

"No--only French; German is so difficult."

"Tch! tch! tch! How lazy you English are! We all speak English. As
for me, my mother was English--you could not tell that I was not born
an Englishman?"

Apart from his appearance and guttural r's, this claim was justified.

"I suppose you made lots of friends on board ship?"

"Yes, a good many."

"Girls, I suppose--idle girls, who will come buzzing round to coax you
to play with them. That is all they