The sleeper drew calmly in with every breath the repose that surrounded her,--and what a blessing it was for the poor, wearied child! The Staatsräthin had superintended the arrangement of the breakfast-table, and was seated with her work at the window. But her hands were dropped idly in her lap, and her eyes, red with weeping, were fixed sadly upon the flame of the spirit-lamp that had been burning for an hour beneath the coffee-urn. "Do you not think I had better have fresh coffee prepared? this has been waiting so long," she said to her son as he entered the room. "Just as you please, mother dear," said Johannes. "You know I understand nothing of such things." The Staatsräthin rang for the servant. "Regina, take this coffee away and bring back the urn. I will boil some more." The maid did as she was directed, with a sullen face. "'Tis a shame to waste such good coffee!" she muttered as she went out. "It is very disagreeable, mother," observed Johannes, "to have Regina criticising all our arrangements. I do not like to have servants of that sort about me. If you cannot break her of it, pray send her away." "She does her work well, and is thoroughly honest," replied the Staatsräthin. "That may be, but there certainly are servants to be had who would do their duty more respectfully and good-humouredly. I do not like to have my comfort destroyed by sullen faces around me. I like to have people who render their service cheerfully." "It is not very easy to find them." "They must be sought until they are found," said Johannes, cutting short the conversation by opening and beginning to read his newspaper. The Staatsräthin sighed, but said not a word. Regina re-entered with the urn, and asked crossly, "Is the Fräulein not to be wakened yet?" "No!" was Johannes's curt reply. "Then the urn might as well be washed, if the coffee is not to be made until noon," she grumbled again, and left the room, closing the door with something of a slam. "Now, mother, this really is too much. I cannot undertake the direction of the servant-maids, but I will not tolerate them when they are so insolent. Regina must conduct herself differently, or she goes!" "You have suddenly grown very impatient with the girl," said his mother bitterly. "I hope you may always be as implicitly obeyed as you desire." "I understand what you mean, mother, but it does not touch me. I desire only what is right,--obedience from the servants whom I hire, love from a wife who is my equal." "Love alone will not answer." "Yes, true, faithful love will." "There must be submission and self-sacrifice." "True love embraces all these,--submission, self-sacrifice, the entire self." "It is not every one who can love truly; so be upon your guard that you are not intentionally or unintentionally deceived."