are allowed to do so much more than in Europe. And it is always best to
be careful, is it not?--to follow the customs of the country, I mean. In
France and Germany people are so particular. I wanted to ask you what is
the custom in Warsaw."

Martin stepped to one side in order to avoid the parasol.

"In Warsaw you can do as you like. We are not French, and Heaven forbid
that we should resemble the Germans in anything. Here every one goes
about the streets as they do in England or America."

As if to confirm this, he walked on slowly, and she walked by his side.

"I can show you the best shops," he said, "such as they are. This is
Ulrich's, the flower shop. Those violets are Russian. The only good
thing I ever heard of that came from Russia. Do you like violets?"

"I love them," answered Netty, and she walked on rather hurriedly to the
next shop.

"You would naturally."

"Why?" asked Netty, looking with a curious interest at the packets of
tea in the Russian shop next to Ulrich's.

"Is it not the correct thing to select the flower that matches the
eyes?"

"It is very kind of you to say that," said Netty, in a voice
half-afraid, half-reproachful.

"It is very kind of Heaven to give you such eyes," answered Martin,
gayly. He was more and more surprised to find how easy it was to get on
with Netty, whom he seemed to have known all his life. Like many lively
persons, he rather liked a companion to possess a vein of gravity, and
this Netty seemed to have. He was sure that she was religious and very
good.

"You know," said Netty, hastily, and ignoring his remark, "I am much
interested in Poland. It is such a romantic country. People have done
such great things, have they not, in Poland? I mean the nobles--and the
poor peasants, too in their small way, I suppose?"

"The nobles have come to great grief in Poland--that is all," replied
Martin, with a short laugh.

"And it is so sad," said Netty, with a shake of the head; "but I am
sure it will all come right some day. Do you think so? I am sure you are
interested in Poland--you and your sister and your father."

"We are supposed to be," admitted Martin. "But no one cares for Poland
now, I am afraid. The rest of the world has other things to think of,
and, in England and America, Poland is forgotten now--and her history,
which is the saddest history of any nation in the world."

"But I am sure you are wrong there," said Netty, earnestly. "I know a
great number