Two of the helpless ones came in at that moment, with frosty, early-morning faces. Anna put the vision she had seen at the kitchen door from her mind, and went to meet them with happy smiles and greetings. Frau von Treumann did her best to respond warmly, but it was very early to be enthusiastic, and at that hour of the day she was accustomed to being a little cross. Besides, she had had no coffee yet, and her hostess evidently had, and that made a great difference to one's sentiments. The baroness looked pinched and bloodless; she was as frigid as ever to Anna, said nothing about having seen her before, and seemed to want to be left alone. So that the mutual gazing into each other's eyes did not, after all, take place. The princess waited to see that they had all they wanted, and then went out rattling her keys; and after an interval, during which Anna chattered cheerful and ungrammatical German, and the window was shut, and warming food eaten, Frau von Treumann became amiable and began to talk. She drew from her pocket a letter and a photograph. "This is my son," she said. "I brought it down to show you. And I have had a long letter from him already. He never neglects his mother. Truly a good son is a source of joy." "I suppose so," said Anna. The baroness turned her eyes slowly round and fixed them on the photograph. "Aha," she thought, "the son again. Last night the son, this morning the son--always the son. The excellent Treumann loses no time." "He is good-looking, my Karlchen, is he not?" "Yes," said Anna. "It is a becoming uniform." "Oh--becoming! He looks adorable in it. Especially on his horse. I would not let him be anything but a hussar because of the charming uniform. And he suits it exactly--such a lightly built, graceful figure. _He_ never stumbles over people's feet. Herr von Lohm nearly crushed my poor foot last night. It was difficult not to scream. I never did admire those long men made by the meter, who seem as though they would go on for ever if there were no ceilings." "He _is_ rather long," agreed Anna, smiling. "Heartwhole," thought Frau von Treumann. "Tell me, dear Miss Estcourt----" she said, laying her hand on Anna's. "Oh, don't call me Miss Estcourt." "But what, then?" "Oh, you must call me Anna. We are to be like sisters here--and you, too, please, call me Anna," she said, turning to the baroness. "You are very good," said the baroness. "Well, my little sister," said Frau von Treumann, smiling, "my baby sister----" "Baby sister!" thought the baroness. "Excellent Treumann." "--you know an old woman of my age could not really have a sister of yours." "Yes, she could--not a whole sister, perhaps, but a half one." "Well, as you please. The idea is sweet to me. I was going to ask you--but Karlchen's letter is too touching, really--such thoughts in it--such high ideals----" And she turned over the sheets, of which there were three, and began to blow her nose.