‘Yes,’ replied Rudolf Falkenberg. ‘I met her a month or two ago at Ems—Nassau, rather, at the Countess of Trockenau’s.’ He continued to gaze intently at the living picture, while Miss Ford on her part soon had her features and expression entirely under her own control again. She posed admirably for the remainder of the scene, and for the repetition of it which was stormily demanded. The shade of expression on the lady’s face was of the very slightest; but it was enough for the audience to be all of one mind as to what it meant, and ‘She will have him’ was the universal verdict. At last the curtain finally fell upon this picture, and with it ended Sara’s share in the performance. The two last ‘_Bilder_’ were also admirably done, but they did not excite the interest which had been called out by the last. One was a scene from Schiller’s _Wallenstein_, and the other from Goethe’s _Egmont_. In the bustle of the interval ensuing between the two last pictures, Sara came into the room with Wilhelmi, who had been behind the scenes to fetch her away. Everyone was standing up, and almost everyone in animated conversation, so that Miss Ford gained her place almost unobserved. Not altogether unnoticed, though, for before anyone else could speak, Falkenberg had held out his hand with a smile, saying: ‘Thus we meet again, Miss Ford.’ ‘Not exactly “thus,”’ said Sara, laughing. ‘I saw you suddenly, and was so surprised that I am afraid I moved, or laughed, or something. The impulse to bow to you, and say “How do you do?” below the breath, as one does, was almost irresistible.’ ‘I ought to have remained in the background where I was, and from whence I saw you in Thusnelda. I would not have disturbed _that_ for the world.’ ‘And that reminds me,’ here observed Fräulein Wilhelmi in a plaintive voice, ‘Miss Ford, where is my poor Max?’ ‘Behind the scenes, dressing for Egmont,’ replied Sara, laughing. ‘I shall never consent to this sort of thing again,’ said Luise. ‘Or if I do, I shall take a part as well. Did you only come to-day, Herr Falkenberg, or did papa know that you intended to visit us?’ ‘No; I only decided yesterday to come, and I only arrived by the evening train from Frankfort. I went to your house, and found where you all were, and came here.’ ‘Of course you are staying with us, as usual?’ observed Luise. ‘Your father has kindly asked me to do so,’ he replied, smiling.