"Fräulein," he said, "this is the young tutor to the little serene Highnesses, I will leave you together, as the Prince wished." When they were alone the boy felt very uncomfortable. He was very shy. This perhaps was as well, for there was no shyness at all on the part of his companion. "So," she said, looking at him with a smile, and eyes that were again bright, "you are the new toy. I have heard of you. You are a wonderful holy child; what they call 'pious' in this country. How very funny! come and give me a kiss." "No, Fräulein," said Mark, blushing still more, "that would be improper in me." "Would it?" said the girl lightly; "don't angels kiss? How very stupid it must be to be an angel! Come and look at poor 'Fifine' then! I suppose she is quite dead." And, opening the cage, she took out the piteous heap of yellow feathers and held it in her delicate hand, while the tears came again into her large dark eyes. "Ah! it was dreadful," she said, "to sing and see him die." "But, Fräulein," said the boy, "you sang most beautifully. I never heard anything so wonderful. It was heaven itself." The girl looked at him very kindly. "Oh, you like my singing," she said, "I am glad of that. Do you know, we shall be great friends. I like you. You are a very pretty boy." And she tried to put her arm round his neck. Mark eluded her embrace. "Fräulein," he said, with a dignified air, which made his companion laugh, "you must remember that I am tutor to their serene Highnesses; I shall be very glad to be friends with you, and you will tell me something about the people in the palace." "Oh!" replied the girl, "there is no one but our own company, but they are the greatest fun, and better fun here than anywhere else. It is delightful to see them among these stupid, solemn, heavy Germans, with their terrible language. I shall love to see you with them, you will stare your pretty eyes out. There's old Carricchio--that's not his name, you know, but he is called so because of his part--that is the best of them, they are always the same--off the stage or on it--always laughing, always joking, always kicking up their heels. You will see the faces--such delicious grimaces, old Carricchio will make at you when he asks you for the salt. But don't be frightened, I'll take care of you. They are all in love with me, but I like you already better than all of them. You shall come on yourself sometime, just as you are; you will make a delightful part." Mark stared at her with amazement. "But what are these people?" he said; "what do they do?" "Oh, you will see," she said, laughing; "how can I tell you. You never dreamt of such things; you will stare your eyes out. Well, there's the Prince, and the little Highnesses, and the old _Barotin_, the governess, and"--here a change came over the girl's face--"and the Princess is coming soon, I hear, with her '_servente_.'" "The Princess!" said the boy, "does she ever come?"