eatest confidence, when the latter
had taken her to the room set apart for her use.

"You will have much trouble with me, my dear Czipra, at first, for I am
very clumsy. I know now that I have learned nothing, with which I can do
good to myself or others. I am so helpless. But you will be all the
cleverer, I know: I shall soon learn from you. Oh, you will often find
fault with me, when I make mistakes; but when one girl reproaches
another it does not matter. You will teach me housekeeping, will you
not?"

"You would like to learn?"

"Of course. One cannot remain for ever a burden to one's relations; only
in case I learn can I be of use, if some poor man takes me as his wife;
if not I must take service with some stranger, and must know these
things anyhow."

There was much bitterness in these words; but the orphan of the ruined
gentleman said them with such calm, such peace of mind, that every
string of Czipra's heart was relaxed as when a damp mist affects the
strings of a harp.

Meanwhile they had brought Melanie's travelling-trunk: there was only
one, and no bonnet-boxes--almost incredible!

"Very well,--so begin at once to put your own things in order. Here are
the wardrobes for your robes and linen. Keep them all neat. The young
lady, whose stockings the chamber-maid has to look for, some in one
room, some in another, will never make a good housekeeper."

Melanie drew her only trunk beside her and opened it: she took out her
upper-dresses.

There were only four, one of calico, one of batiste, then one ordinary,
and one for special occasions.

"They have become a little crumpled in packing. Please have them bring
me an iron; I must iron them before I hang them up."

"Do you wish to iron them yourself?"

"Naturally. There are not many of them: those I must make
respectable--the servant can heat the iron. Oh, they must last a long
time."

"Why haven't you brought more with you?"

Melanie's face for a moment flushed a full rose--then she answered this
indiscreet inquiry calmly:

"Simply, my dear Czipra, because the rest were seized by our creditors,
who claimed them as a debt."

"Couldn't you have anticipated them?"

Melanie clasped her hands on her breast, and said with the astonishment
of moral aversion:

"How? By doing so I should have swindled them."

Czipra recollected herself.

"True; you are right."

Czipra helped Melanie to put her things in the cupboards. With a woman's
critical eye