Sara, watching his face, felt an indescribable satisfaction in it, and as if an old friend, and one who could be trusted, had suddenly been present. Those were the same honest, critical brown eyes which had looked kindly upon her, as they sat and spoke of friendship in the little _Ruheplatz_ beneath the cathedral walls at Lahnburg. As for Falkenberg, after the first words of greeting, he scarcely spoke to Sara, but allowed himself to be monopolised by Luise, who, true to her nature, had flirted with him, or tried to do so, since she was two years old. Though he did not speak much to Sara, his eyes wandered now and then towards her with an inquiring, considerate expression. She was very quiet, but looked marvellously handsome, in her black velvet gown and pearl necklace. Excitement, pleasure, high, strong emotion, never made her talkative, but they brought a soft glow to her dark grey eyes, which beautified her wonderfully. To-night the pleasure had been very great, the excitement very strong, and she looked proportionately splendid. Here the curtain went up for the last picture, and when that was over, came the crush to get out of the hall. ‘Look here, _mein Bester_!’ observed Wilhelmi to Herr Falkenberg. ‘My womenkind will be more than enough for me. Will you take Miss Ford and Miss Wellfield under your charge, and see them home?’ ‘With pleasure,’ was the reply; and with an exchange of hasty good-nights, the Wilhelmis were carried forward in the crowd, while Falkenberg and the two English girls made their way slowly after them. Seated in their _Droschke_, and driving towards the Jägerstrasse, Falkenberg said: ‘May I call at your atelier soon, Miss Ford, as I am staying here? I dare say I shall be at the Wilhelmis’ for some little time.’ ‘I shall be very glad if you will,’ responded Sara; ‘though,’ she added, after a pause, ‘I am afraid there is not much for you to see.’ ‘To-morrow afternoon,’ he suggested, ‘or will you be too tired?’ ‘I shall not be tired at all. Pray come, and have coffee with me, if you care to remain.’ ‘Thank you. I shall not fail,’ he answered, as the cab stopped, and he handed them out. ‘We all owe you a debt of thanks, _mein Fräulein_, for acting as you did to-night,’ he said, as he shook hands with her. ‘I am glad you were pleased, and I hope the affair will bring some money to poor little Frau Goldmark. Then, till to-morrow, Herr Falkenberg.’ ‘Till to-morrow. _Gute nacht, meine Damen._’ [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. HERR FALKENBERG’S FRIENDSHIP. ‘Oh, snows so pure—oh, peaks so high, I lift to you a hopeless eye; I see your icy ramparts drawn, Between the sleepers and the dawn. * * * * * I see you, passionless and pure, Above the lightnings stand secure; But may not climb....’