hy other request, I have granted it, as thou
seest, but it makes me a little anxious. What is the joke? And how can
it serve thee? That is what I do not understand, and I have plagued
myself not a little to guess."

Among the Polish memoranda was this: "Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, 200 rubles,"
which I assumed to represent a salary. This would give him eight hundred
a year, at least twelve times the amount which his sister--who must
either have been cook or housekeeper, since she spoke of going to market
for the family--could have received. His application to her for money,
and the manner of her reference to it, indicated some imprudence or
irregularity on his part. What the "other request" was, I could
not guess; but as I was turning and twisting the worn leaf in some
perplexity, I made a sudden discovery. One side of the bottom edge had
been very slightly doubled over in folding, and as I smoothed it out, I
noticed some diminutive letters in the crease. The paper had been worn
nearly through, but I made out the words: "Write very soon, dear Otto!"

This was the name in the order for the gold ring, signed "B. V. H."--a
link, indeed, but a fresh puzzle. Knowing the stubborn prejudices of
caste in Germany, and above all in Eastern Prussia and Silesia, I should
have been compelled to accept "Otto," whose sister was in service,
as himself the servant of "B. V. H.," but for the tenderly respectful
letter of "Amelie de----," declining the marriage offer for her sister.
I re-read this letter very carefully, to determine whether it was really
intended for "Otto." It ran thus:

"DEAR FRIEND,--I will not say that your letter was entirely
unexpected, either to Helmine or myself. I should, perhaps, have
less faith in the sincerity of your attachment if you had not
already involuntarily betrayed it. When I say that although I
detected the inclination of your heart some weeks ago, and that I
also saw it was becoming evident to my sister, yet I refrained from
mentioning the subject at all until she came to me last evening
with your letter in her hand,--when I say this, you will understand
that I have acted towards you with the respect and sympathy which
I profoundly feel. Helmine fully shares this feeling, and her poor
heart is too painfully moved to allow her to reply. Do I not say,
in saying this, what her reply must be? But, though her heart
cannot respond to your love, she hopes