notice the flattering speech and obsequious
attentions of the assessor. Richard observed that her countenance was
tranquil, but her manner more grave than usual. She still held the
little one by the hand, who pressed yet closer to her the nearer the
wonderful man came. Hamm's voice rose to a tone of enthusiasm, and he
took a step or two toward the object of his reverence, when a strange
enemy confronted him. Some swallows had come in with Angela. Till now
they were quiet and seemed to be observing the assessor; but when he
approached Angela, briskly gesticulating, the swallows raised their
well-known shrill cry of anxiety, left their perches and fluttered
around the official. Interrupted in the full flow of his eloquence, he
struck about with his hands to frighten them. The swallows only became
the noisier, and their fluttering about Hamm assumed a decidedly
warlike character. They seemed to consider him as a dangerous enemy of
Angela whom they wished to keep off. Richard looked on in wonder,
Siegwart shook his head and stroked his beard, and Angela smiled at the
swallows.

"These are abominable creatures," cried Hamm warding them off. "Why,
such a thing never happened to me before. Off with you! you troublesome
wretches."

The birds flew out of the room, still screaming; and their shrill cries
could be heard high up in the air.

"The swallows have a grudge against you," said Siegwart. "They
generally treat only the cats and hawks in this way."

"Perhaps they have been frightened at this red ribbon," returned Hamm.
"I regret, my dear young lady, to have frightened your little pets.
When I come again, I will leave the object of their terror at home."

"You should not deprive yourself of an ornament which has an honorable
significance on account of the swallows, particularly as we do not know
whether it was really the red color that displeased them," said she.

"You think, then, Miss Angela, that there is something else about me
they dislike?"

"I do not know, Herr Assessor."

"Oh! if I only knew the cause of their displeasure," said Hamm
enthusiastically. "You have an affection for the swallows, and I would
not displease any thing that you love."

She answered by an inclination, and was about to leave the room.

"Angela," said her father, "here is Herr Frank, to whom you are under
obligations."

She moved a step or two toward Richard.

"Sir," said she gently, "you returned some things that were valuable t