r
coat-of-arms. Besides, I have seen hassocks in the church with
coats-of-arms embroidered on them; we'll have those too."

Fraeulein Perini nodded.

"And something else yet!" said she.

"Really? Do you know of something else?" exclaimed Frau Ceres.

"Yes, it will be something well befitting your pious mind. You have
already thought of it, only you have forgotten about it."

"What? what have I forgotten?"

"You intended, when the title was obtained, to embroider an altar-cloth
at once."

"Yes, so we will. Did I ever say so? Ah! I forget everything. Ah, dear
madame, stay with me always, advise me in everything. Have you a large,
frame? Let us begin at once."

Fraeulein Perini had everything ready, silk, worsted, gold-thread and
silver-thread, frame and patterns. Frau Ceres actually made a few
stitches, but then stopped and said:--

"I am trembling to-day; but I have commenced the altar-cloth, and now
we will work on at it. You will help me, will you not?"

Fraeulein Perini assented; she knew that she would have to do the whole
herself, but Frau Ceres had now become somewhat calmer.

"Will you not send for the Priest, or hadn't we better go and visit him
ourselves?"

"As you see fit."

"No, we had better be alone. Where is Manna, I wonder? She ought to
come, she ought to be with her mother."

She rang and sent for Manna; but received for answer, that she had just
gone to rest; she begged her mother to excuse her, she was very tired.

"But where is the Professorin? Oughtn't she to come and congratulate
me?"

"She was with Fraeulein Manna, and went home again," answered Fraeulein
Perini.

"She was in the house, and didn't come to see me?" said Frau Ceres, in
an angry tone; "she shall come at once--this very moment. Send for her.
I am the Mother, to me is honor first due, then to the daughter. Send
for her, she must come at once."

Fraeulein Perini had to gratify her, but with great caution, she
impressed upon Frau Ceres the necessity of being quite composed and
dignified in her manner toward the learned court-lady, who must not
suppose that people would have to learn from her, at the outset, how to
comport themselves in elevated positions.

"You should be rather quiet in your manner, Frau Baroness."

"Frau Baroness! Am I to expect that the Professorin will address me
so?"

"Certainly, she is perfectly well bred."

Frau Ceres began once more to walk restlessly up and down the room.
Every once i