“How I like him for inviting that Lieutenant-major to supper without knowing his name! Don’t you? It is so English! I am very glad he is coming back to us!” “His return ought to be a matter of indifference to you,” said Hildegarde, without looking up. “But I cannot be so indifferent as you are!” said Crescenz, petulantly. “And, though I am going to be married to Major Stultz, Lina Berger says that Mr. Hamilton may still be ‘_mein schatz_’ just the same, and no harm!” “Lina Berger talks great nonsense,” said Hildegarde, with heightened colour. “This is, however, worse than nonsense.” “And yet she could give you some good advice, if you choose to listen to her,” observed Crescenz, nodding her head sagaciously. “I do not require any advice from a person I so thoroughly dislike and despise.” “Oh, that’s just the same with her; she says she always disliked you, but that she despises you now that you have fallen in love with Theodor Biedermann!” “What an absurd idea!” said Hildegarde, contemptuously. “Marie de Hoffmann has already told me something of that kind.” “Lina told me long ago that Mr. Biedermann did not think you at all handsome!” “That I think very probable,” said Hildegarde. “And she says now, he is just the person to teach you not to fall in love without provocation!” “I think he is more likely to teach me to write German grammatically,” answered Hildegarde, with a careless laugh. “And do you really not care for anybody, and you a whole year older than I am!” exclaimed Crescenz, with unfeigned astonishment. “Lina first thought you liked Mr. Hamilton, until I assured her you hated him. Then she said you had taken a wild kind of fancy to our cousin Oscar. Then she thought you were pretending to like Count Zedwitz on account of his rank and——” “I am sure I ought to be obliged to you, Crescenz, for discussing my affairs in this manner with my great enemy,” said Hildegarde, indignantly. “Oh, don’t be angry. I assure you she talked all herself. I did not say a single word——” “You forget having confessed that you told her all I confided to you about Count Zedwitz.” “But you never confided in me at all, Hildegarde! All I know was what I overheard when you were so angry about the letter, you know!” “I remember speaking to you about that letter, and telling you to rejoice that you had never any annoyance of the kind.” “But I assure you, Lina had heard everything from the Doctor——” “Pshaw!” cried Hildegarde, pushing back her chair, “there is no use talking to you!” “I am quite prepared for remarks of this kind,” said Crescenz, with a ludicrous imitation of Hildegarde’s natural dignity of manner; “Lina says there is no bearing you since I have been engaged to be married!” “So,” said Hildegarde, throwing down her work; “but I do not quite understand the——” “Oh, it is easily understood—you are older, and think you ought to have been first.” “This is really too absurd,” cried Hildegarde, laughing good-humouredly.