Hildegarde’s varying colour showed how much she suffered during this speech; and Hamilton was again on the point of leaving the room, when Madame Rosenberg called out: “You need not run away again, we have talked the matter out, and intend to be good friends in future, eh, Hildegarde? Come here and give me a kiss to prove that you bear no malice.” Hildegarde put aside her work, approached her step-mother, and received her hearty kiss with an evident effort at cordiality. “May I hope to be included in this reconciliation?” asked Hamilton, holding out his hand, with a smile. Hildegarde pretended not to understand him; and again took her place at the table. “Hildegarde,” said her step-mother, “you may give your hand to Mr. Hamilton—he is an Englishman, and will put no wrong construction on the action. Captain Smith told me that shaking hands is a common English custom, and means nothing more than kissing a lady’s hand here.” “I should think it must mean a great deal less,” said Hamilton, laughing, while Hildegarde, after a moment’s consideration, placed her hand in his, and unreservedly returned his firm pressure. “Ah! here comes the Major,” cried Madame Rosenberg, as a slight knock was heard at the drawing-room door. “Come in, Major, and tell us what you have been doing with yourself the whole afternoon; we expected you to supper, and I should not be surprised if Crescenz were to scold you a little for your unusual absence.” “I cannot imagine Crescenz scolding me, even if I deserved it, which, however, in this instance, is not the case,” said Major Stultz. “I have spent the whole day in lodging-hunting. The sooner I am established the better, as Crescenz must assist me to choose our furniture.” “Why, what a hurry you are in,” said Madame Rosenberg, with evident satisfaction. “Quite an ardent lover, I declare. However, I shall not be behindhand in performing my part. The workwoman comes to-morrow, and then we shall work our fingers to the bone, eh, Crescenz?” Crescenz blushed, and smiled faintly. “I should like very much to talk over the different lodgings with you, Crescenz,” said Major Stultz, growing very red. “I have noted them for that purpose in my pocket-book. That is,” he added, in a whisper, “if we can go to another table.” Madame Rosenberg heard the whisper, pushed a candle towards him, and pointed to a card-table at the other end of the room. No sooner were they established at it than she jingled her keys once or twice, as a sort of tacit excuse, and then left the room.