Such was the account given by Frau Goldmark (who had a cousin in Lahnburg, with whom she corresponded) to that very Fräulein Waldschmidt who had been disabled by scarlet fever from taking a share in the _tableaux vivants_. When it is remembered what language Frau Goldmark had formerly used in speaking to Sara Ford of this very young lady, it becomes almost impossible for an impartial mind to acquit her entirely of a spirit of time-serving. Sara had been pacing about the terrace for a long time, now and then reading over again portions of Avice’s letter, and anon lost in her own mournful reflections. At last, raising her eyes as she turned in her walk, she saw Falkenberg’s figure advancing towards her. The first impulse that rushed across her mind was to conceal the letter she held in her hand, after which she found herself blushing hotly at the idea of doing so, and thinking, with a sudden prophetic fear, that it would be an evil day–if ever it should dawn–on which she could not meet his eyes. The uncomfortable sensation remained, however, that she had been cherishing wrong thoughts–thoughts best described by the hackneyed term ‘improper.’ She advanced to meet Falkenberg, and held out her hand to him. She wished she could have smiled and looked glad to see him, in answer to the long and wistful look he gave her; but she felt more unhappy, more constrained in his presence than ever, and it was with a look of profound gravity that she greeted him. ‘You did not expect to see me?’ said he. ‘I always feel that you may or may not come any day,’ said Sara. ‘You are better. So your letters have told me–so you look,’ said he. ‘Better–I am well in body,’ she rejoined; and as she spoke, the same look of deep dejection returned–to her eyes the same cloud as that which of late had constantly been there. ‘Not in mind?’ asked Rudolf, gently. She shook her head. ‘I wish I could say that I even felt as if I were becoming better. Everything seems as dark, or darker than it was before. Do you see this letter?’ She held it up, and her face was dark as she spoke. ‘Yes, of course.’