‘If I had to say “Atrocious,” I’m afraid I should say it, much though I might dislike having to do so,’ he answered, smiling. ‘As it is, I wish to say nothing of the kind.’ ‘Oh, what a relief!’ ‘There are the carriages coming round,’ he added composedly, ‘to take us to the Ems railway station. May I take the sketch to my own room? There is no time to look at it now.’ ‘Certainly, if you care to do so.’ ‘Thank you,’ said he, taking it up, and leaving the room with it. Sara sat down at the piano, and played tunes, until at last Frau von Trockenau came whirling into the room with a pair of long gloves in her hand. ‘Are you ready, Sara? Yes—of course. How horrid of you! You never keep the company waiting. What a rush it is, this life! Oh, how I long to be alone sometimes!’ ‘Complimentary to us and to poor Count Trockenau!’ The countess laughed heartily. ‘My poor Fritz!—of course I spoke exceptionally.’ ‘You know you would hate to be alone,’ added Sara. ‘You cannot live out of a rush. I wonder what you would do if you had to lead my life at Elberthal.’ ‘Ah, but you have a great soul. Mine is such a very little one. Little in every way. It is so small that it has led me to—what do you think?’ ‘I am sure I cannot say. To tell Hans Lemde that I am dying to paint his portrait, I dare say.’ ‘No! But oh, what a lovely idea! I will tell him so, and I will say that you said it. Poor Hans! I imagine him sitting to you. Oh, I think I see his face!’ They both laughed in a manner which Baron Lemde would probably think malignant, and Frau von Trockenau went on. ‘No, but I was so annoyed at the way in which Helene and Maria Lehnberg behaved last evening—giving themselves such airs, that I have done something spiteful to them to-day.’ ‘Shameful! But what is it?’ ‘I have doomed them to drive with me and Lemde in the barouche; Fritz rides, and I am sending you first in the pony-phaeton with Herr Falkenberg.’ ‘I see nothing so very spiteful in that. Why should your cousins object?’ ‘My dear Sara! I believe you live in a dream. Don’t you know that Helene Lehnberg would give her right hand if Falk——Oh, here he is. Good-morning, Herr Falkenberg. I shall not be a moment. How beautifully you are dressed, Sara! Beside you, I feel like a collection of tags of coloured ribbon. You are both ready. Well, shall we go? Herr Falkenberg, I am going to ask you to drive Miss Ford to the station in the pony-phaeton. Herr von Lemde will go with my cousins and me.’ ‘I shall be delighted,’ observed Herr Falkenberg; and Sara followed the countess out of the room, lost in wonder as to what she meant by saying that she had done something spiteful to her cousins, and what it was Helene Lehnberg would give her right hand for. Very soon she was seated beside Falkenberg, and they were driving down the hill, along the Nassau Road to Ems, which was reached before long; past the hotel of the _Vier Jahreszeiten_, to the station. * * * * *