er; and you, Trude, must remind her of it,
and tell her about my dreadful trial with her father, and that it is my
daughter's duty to release me from it, and beg her husband not to deduct
the gambling-debt from the pension, but pay it this once. For it would
be a dreadful injustice to make me suffer for the general's rage for
play, and show but little gratitude for the riches which I brought her.
You will tell my daughter all this, Trude, and--"

"I will not tell her any thing at all, Frau von Werrig," interrupted.
Trude, warmly. "May my good genius keep me from that, and burdening
my conscience with such falsehoods.--Hark! A carriage is coming, and a
post-horn sounded. They have arrived!"

Old Trude hurried out just as they drove up to the door. The steward and
two servants in livery rushed down the steps to assist them to alight,
and Trude also to greet her favorite, who was now so pale, grave, and
chilling in her appearance.

The large eyes of the lady rested with cold indifference upon the old
woman, whose eyes were turned to her with the tenderest expression. "I
thank you," she said, coldly. "Husband! I beg you to give me your arm."
Proudly she passed the statuary, and over the soft carpets without
comment, or even a word for old Trude.

The steward and housekeeper followed the silent couple.

"Shall I take you to your room first?" asked Ebenstreit, "or will you do
me the pleasure to look at the newly-arranged drawing-rooms?"

"Certainly," she replied, with indifference. "We will first look at the
drawing-rooms, as we shall probably receive much company this winter,
and they are of the first importance. You know that I dislike solitude."

"Indeed, I recall that we are very seldom alone!" sighed her husband.

"It would be fearful if we were," replied his wife, with marked
indifference.

The steward just now opened the little door of the ante-room, sparkling
with chandeliers and mirrors. "Ah! this is really beautiful, and well
chosen," cried Ebenstreit, looking about with an air of great pride and
satisfaction. "Tell me, Marie, is it not worthy of you?"

Glancing coldly around, she replied: "It does not please at all. The
furniture is very costly, and reminds one of the parvenu. Every thing
recalls the riches of the newly-titled banker."

Her husband's brow contracted, but he did not trust himself to contest
his dissatisfaction with his cold, proud wife, but sought another vent
for it.

"You are very un