"It will only be to prove that I am really music-mad, as they have been telling me ever since I was born. If that is the case, from the evidences I have had since I came here I think I shall recover." "What do you mean?" asked Spener. "I mean that I see how little I really know about the science. I never heard anything to equal the musical knowledge and execution of Loretz's daughter and this Sister Benigna you speak of." "Ah! I am not a musician. I tried the trombone, but lacked the patience. I am satisfied to admire. And so you liked the singers? Which best?" "Both." "Come, come--what was the difference?" "The difference?" repeated Leonhard reflecting. Spener also seemed to reflect on his question, and was so absorbed in his thinking that he seemed to be startled when Leonhard, from his studies of the square house with the wide halls and the large rooms with high ceilings, turned to him and said, "The difference, sir, is between two women." "No difference at all, do you mean? Do you mean they are alike? They are not alike." "Not so alike that I have seen anything like either of them." "Ah! neither have I. For that reason I shall marry one of them, while the other I would not marry--no, not if she were the only woman on the continent." "You are a fortunate man," said Leonhard. "I intend to prove that. Nothing more is necessary than the girl's consent--is there?--if you have made up your mind that you must have her." "I should think you might say that, sir." "But you don't hazard an opinion as to which, sir." "Not I." "Why not?" "It might be Miss Elise, if--" "If what?" "I am not accustomed to see young ladies in their homes. I have only fancied sometimes what a pretty girl might be in her father's house." "Well, sir?" said Spener impatiently. "A young lady like Miss Elise would have a great deal to say, I should suppose." "Is she dumb? I thought she could talk. I should have said so." "I should have guessed, too, that she would always be singing about the house." "And if not--what then?" "Something must be going wrong somewhere. So you see it can't be Miss Elise, according to my judgment." Spener laughed when this conclusion was reached.