was, more rivals than he cared for, in the field.

"You should get on with her, I think, Guest," he said slily. "You read
these German writers she is so interested in. But don't be discouraged
by her manner. For though she's one of the most unselfish women I ever
met, her way of Speaking is sometimes abrupt. She reminds me, if it
doesn't sound unkind, of a faithful watch-dog, or something of the
sort, which cannot express its devotion as it would like to."

When, after a lively greeting from Ephie, and a few pleasant words from
Mrs. Cayhill, Maurice found himself standing beside Johanna, the truth
of Dove's simile was obvious to him. This dark, unattractive girl had
apparently no thought for anything but her tea-making; she moved the
cups this way and that, filled the pot with water, blew out and lighted
again the flame of the spirit-lamp, without paying the least heed to
Maurice, making, indeed, such an ostentatious show of being occupied,
that it would have needed a brave man to break in upon her duties with
idle words. He remained standing, however, in a constrained silence,
which lasted until she could not invent anything else to do, and was
obliged to drink her own tea. Then he said abruptly, in a tone which he
meant to be easy, but which was only jaunty: "And how do you like being
in Germany, Miss Cayhill? Does it not seem very strange after America?"

Johanna lifted her shortsighted eyes to his face, and looked coolly and
disconcertingly at him through her glasses, as if she had just become
aware of his presence.

"Strange? Why should it?" she asked in an unfriendly tone.

"Why, what I mean is, everything must be so different here from what
you are accustomed to--at least it is from what we are used to in
England," he corrected himself. "The ways and manners, and the
language, and all that sort of thing, you know."

"Excuse me, I do not know," she answered in the same tone as before.
"If a person takes the trouble to prepare himself for residence in a
foreign country, nothing need seem either strange or surprising. But
English people, as is well known, expect to find a replica of England
in every country they go to."

There was a pause, in which James, the pianist, who was a regular
visitor, approached to have his cup refilled. All the circle knew, of
course, that Johanna was "doing for a new man"; and it seemed to
Maurice that James half closed one eye at him, and gave him a small,
sympathetic nudge with