Then Reinhold, who had been conversing with her father, excused himself with a friendly nod, and catching sight of Else, turned about and came straight toward her. Else trembled so that she had to steady herself with her left hand against the arm of the chair, for she wished to remain entirely cool and unconscious; but as he stepped up to her, his beautiful honest eyes still aglow from the gracious greeting accorded him by her father, and a certain shyness in his open manly face, which seemed to ask, "Shall I be welcomed by you, too?"--her heart grew warm and kind; even though her hand remained on the arm of the chair, she extended to him the other at full length; her dark eyes sparkled, her red lips laughed, and she said, as heartily and frankly as if there had not been a fairer name in the world--"Welcome to our house, dear Mr. Schmidt!" He had grasped her hand and said a few words which she only half heard. She turned around to Schönau; the Captain had vanished; a flush came to her cheeks. "It doesn't matter," she muttered. "What does not matter, Miss Else?" "I shall tell you later, when there is to be some dancing after dinner; to be sure I don't know----" "Whether I dance? Indeed I am passionately fond of it." "The Rhinelander, too?" "The Rhinelander, too! And, in spite of your incredulous smile, not so badly that Miss von Werben should not give me the honor." "The Rhinelander, then! All the rest I have declined. Now I must mingle with the company." She gave a friendly nod and turned away, but turned quickly again. "Do you like my brother?" "Very much!" "I wish so much that you might become intimate with each other. Do make a little effort. Will you?" "Gladly." She was now really much occupied. Reinhold, too, mingled with the company, without any of the misgivings which he had felt upon entering the brilliant circle of strangers. For he had now been received by the hostess as a dear friend of the family! Even the eyes of her stately aunt had glanced at him with a certain good-natured curiosity, formal as her bow had been; on the other hand, her father had shaken his hand so heartily and after the first words of welcome, drawing him aside with evident confidence, said to him: "I must first of all make you acquainted with Colonel von Sattelstädt and Captain von Schönau, both of the General Staff. The gentlemen will be eager to hear. Please express yourself with entire freedom--I consider that important. I have yet a special request in the matter, which I wish to communicate to you as soon as I get that far. Then I shall see you later!"