sentence he had learned by heart had
completely left him.

"I could not speak to you for two days because auntie, that is, Miss
Husted, was watching," said Jenny, laying the cloth. Poons nodded and
smiled. "She was watching," said Jenny, but he made no sign. "Verstay?
Verstay?" she repeated, making her little stock of German go as far as
she could.

"Nein! Ich--" said Poons hopelessly. He was hunting for the piece of
paper with his declaration of love on it, and was having a great deal of
trouble finding it. Where was it? He knew it was in one of his pockets;
but which one? He looked very awkward and embarrassed.

"Have you your lessons learned?" asked Jenny, taking out her
English-German "Conversation Made Easy" book, and hoping to help him out
by starting on a topic.

"Nein," replied Poons, who knew what she meant when he saw the book.
Then he added in German that he had been so thoroughly occupied in
practising that he had no time, but that he had something of great
importance that he wanted to say to her.

Jenny almost shook her head off trying to make it clear that she didn't
understand a word he said.

"Fraeulein Chenny," he began again, but gave it up. He opened the lesson
book and read in English, with a strong German accent, "Heff you
die--hett of--die poy--found?" Then he looked at her ardently, as if he
had just uttered the most delicate sentiment. Jenny smiled, and read
what she considered to be an appropriate answer.

"Nein, ich hab die slissell meine--Grossmutter----"

She looked at him for approval,

"Schluessel," corrected Poons.

"Slissell," repeated Jenny.

"Schluess----"

"Sliss----"

Poons gave up trying and went back to his book, reading the following
with deep-bated breath and loving emphasis.

"Vich---iss--to der hotel--die--vay?"

Jenny's reply came with business-like rapidity.

"Der pantoffle ist in die zimmer----"

"Puntoffel," corrected Poons.

"Pantoffle," responded his pupil.

"Tsimmer," said he.

"Zimmer," repeated she, placing the accent strongly on the "Z"; and so
the lesson went on. Suddenly a smile of joy spread itself over Poons's
features. In searching for his handkerchief he had fished out a piece of
paper from his hip-pocket. Joy! it was the lost declaration of
dependence! He opened it, and read her the following with such ardent
tenderness and affection, that the girl's heart fairly beat double time.

"Fraeulein Chenny," he began, putting