supposed
there was nothing in the world troubled her."

"And yet I am very much tormented. I can well tell you, Trude, as you
are familiar with our circumstances," sighed the countess. "You know the
general is tolerably well; the journeys to Wiesbaden and Teplitz have
cured him of the gout unfortunately, so that he can go about."

"Are you sorry for that, Frau von Werrig?"

"Certainly I am, Trude, as he has returned to his former habits,
frequenting the society of drinking-houses and gamblers. Imagine the
general played yesterday, lost all his ready money, and that was not
enough, but signed away the year's pension from Herr von Ebenstreit,
during which time we have nothing but the miserable army annuity to live
upon."

"Then your income will be less to live upon than formerly, for dear
Marie earned something with her flowers and lessons which she gave to
you, although she was never thanked for it. She was then my dear
good Marie, so industrious and patient, and worked untiringly for her
parents! Then she forgot them not, and toiled early and late, and, oh,
it breaks my heart to think of it, and I must cry in your presence!"

She raised the corner of her dark-blue apron and dried her eyes, holding
it there as she continued to weep.

"What an ugly apron!" cried the countess, "and how meanly you are
dressed altogether! Is that the way you intend to go looking as the
housekeeper of a rich and genteel family? Go, Trude, quickly, and put
something better on, that you may receive your master and mistress in a
suitable dress."

"I shall remain as I am, for I am very properly dressed. It may not
be suitable for a housekeeper, but it becomes old Trude, and it is my
Sunday frock, which I always wore when I was maid-of-all-work to you.
You may not remember it, but dear Marie (I should say Baroness von
Ebenstreit) will, perhaps, and it may recall her little room in the
garret, and then--"

"And then she will at last think, Trude, how we took care of her, and
how thankful she ought to be to her parents that they married her to a
rich man. If Marie sees it at last--"

"You forget with whom you speak, Frau von Werrig," Trude interrupted
her, scornfully, "and that it does not become you to speak of Marie to
old Trude, but you should remember her title."

"Well, then, when Baroness von Ebenstreit enters this costly house, she
must understand that her mother was mindful of her best interests, and
that she owes all this to h