“I know not which is most to be admired—your astounding resignation or her excellent reasoning.” She looked at him for a moment, and then having satisfied herself that he was not laughing, said, confidingly— “Mamma has been very liberal, and promises me everything in fifties and hundreds.” “Fifties and hundreds!” repeated Hamilton. “The smalls in hundreds—the large in fifties.” “You will undoubtedly think me very stupid, but I have not the most remote idea of what you mean.” “I am to get a _trousseau_ such as mamma herself had; all the smaller things, such as pillow-cases, towels, and stockings, a hundred of each! Table-cloths, and such things, in fifties.” “Ha! That must naturally have made you think quite differently of Major Stultz!” Again she looked at him inquiringly. “No; it did not make me think differently of him. But what can I do?” “You cannot do better than try to like him as fast as possible.” “If he had only a _von_ before his name!” she observed sorrowfully. “Why, what difference would that make?” “If he were _noble_, I should not mind the difference of age. _My_ mamma was a countess!” she added, proudly. “Then, why not wish him to be a count at once?” “No; that I could not expect, as I have no fortune, and papa is not a _von_.” “I should like to know the exact meaning of this _von_.” “It is the first grade of nobility; then comes ritter or chevalier; then baron, count, prince, duke. I wonder how mamma could have married any one who was not a count or baron; but then papa was so very handsome, and that makes a great difference!” “Most undoubtedly! A handsome face is a good letter of recommendation.” “Are you noble?” she asked, abruptly. “I have no _von_ before my name,” answered Hamilton, laughing. “Are you not count or baron?” “Neither.” “So you are only Mr. Ham_eeltone_?” “Only Mr. _Alfred_ Hamilton.”