THE SENTIMENTAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRL. How interesting that was! Tell us another story, grandma. [_There is loud assent._] Yes, yes, grandma shall tell us another story! GRANDMOTHER. But I have already told you so much. You heard all our history. THE SENTIMENTAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRL. Not I, grandma; I have not heard the story of when you got lost in the _Friedrichsrode_ forest. GRANDMOTHER. That story I have told you so often, children. Ask your mother about it; she'll tell you. THE POLITE YOUNG MAN. But, grandma, I haven't heard it, either. Just tell us that one and we'll go to play tennis. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. If you'll pardon me, grandma, I believe you ought to tell us a different incident to-day. I've heard that history so often. Tell us something contemporaneous. Tell us about the first sewing machine, or the first railroad, or about crinolines or contemporary theater or art. THE BLOND YOUNG LADY. No. Tell us about the woods. THE OTHERS. Yes, yes, that's right,--the story of how you got lost. [_The Disagreeable Young Man shrugs his shoulder and buries his head in his book. Grandmother begins to narrate, and the circle of her admiring and attentive audience grows narrower._] GRANDMOTHER. Well, my children, it happened in the year eighteen hundred and forty, a year after grandfather was almost shot by error. In those days the happenings took us quite far away from here to _Friedrichsrode_, my dears, where you have never been. Your grandfather had a small estate there, and that's how we made our livelihood. We always wished and prayed to get the management of the large estate of the Count of Schwanhausen. But we lived there humbly in the little house. THE BLOND YOUNG LADY. Was my mamma home then? GRANDMOTHER. No, she was not in this world yet. But a year later she was born. So your grandfather and I lived then in this little red-roofed house. Your grandfather used to be busy with the land the entire day. Those days I was taking on weight, and to reduce I would take long walks through the country. One day in October--in the afternoon--it was beautiful sunny autumn weather--as usual I went again on my long walk. The country there is very beautiful--all hills--covered with dense forests. This afternoon my way led into the famous forest of _Friedrichsrode_. When there I kept on walking--here and there I would stop to pick a flower. THE BLOND YOUNG LADY. Don't forget, grandma, that it was quite late when you left your house.