It annoyed me. I had seen some one, then. What would Phyllis, proud Phyllis, say, I mused, when she heard that a barmaid was her prototype? This thought had scarcely left me when the door in the rear of the bar opened and in came the barmaid herself. No, it was not Phyllis, but the resemblance was so startling that I caught my breath and stared at her with a persistency which bordered on rudeness. The barmaid was blonde, whereas Phyllis was neither blonde nor brunette, but stood between the extremes, and there was a difference in the eyes: I could see that even in the insufficient light. "Good evening, fraulein," said I, with apparent composure. "And what might your name be?" "It is Gretchen, if it please you," with a courtesy. I had a vague idea that this courtesy was made mockingly. "Gretchen? I have heard the name before," said I, "and you remind me of some one I have seen." "Herr has been to the great city?" B---- is the greatest city in the world to the provincial. "Yes," said I; "but you remind me of no one I ever saw there." She plucked a leaf from the rose she wore and began nibbling at it. Her mouth was smaller than the one belonging to Phyllis. "The person to whom I refer," I went on, "lives in America, where your compatriots brew fine beer and wax rich." "Ah, Herr is an American? I like Americans," archly. "They are so liberal." I laughed, but I did not tell her why. All foreigners have a great love of Americans--"They are so liberal." "So you find Americans liberal? Is it with money or with compliments?" Said Gretchen: "The one when they haven't the other." A very bright barmaid, thought I. Then I said: "Is this your home?" "Yes," said Gretchen. "I was born here and I have tended the roses for ever so long." "I have heard of Gretchen of the steins, but I never before heard of a Gretchen of the roses." "Herr must have a large store of compliments on hand to begin this early." "It is a part of my capital," said I. "Once in Switzerland I complimented an innkeeper, and when my bill was presented I found that all extras had been crossed off." Gretchen laughed. It was a low laugh, a laugh which appeared to me as having been aroused not at what I had said, but at something which had recurred to her. I wanted to hear it again. So I said: "I suppose you have a stein here from which the King has drunk; all taverns and inns have them." Gretchen only smiled, but the smile was worth something. "No; the King has never been within five miles of this inn." "So much the worse for the King." "And why that?" "The King has missed seeing Gretchen." It was then Gretchen laughed. "I have never heard compliments like Herr's before." "Why, I have any amount of them. I'll drink half a litre to your health." She filled one of the old blue earthen steins. "I haven't seen your roses in the gardens, but I'll drink to those in your cheeks," said I, and I drew back the pewter lid.