in the morning he always found letters

r the ladies' departure, "what correspondents hav

om her cup, glanced inc

Listen! Miss Cornelli

the father read

letter under great

COR

ll a very useless little fellow. Could you not come here and pay me a little visit? I should love to see you and should enjoy hearing all about Iller-Stream. You could tell me all about good old Martha, whom I love nearly as much as a grandmother

I

ing up the letter agai

d it,

ptly handed h

" the father asked with astonishment. "I expect you to cr

would love to see him,

ed with Martha

from pure surprise and looke

to visit a strange family. You only know this boy and you do not hesitate

will arrange everything for me so that I won't have to see his moth

father said curtly, and gather

he entered Marth

sed old woman. "Here is a letter with an invitation which came for Cornelli

d the most refined and charming manners, and was well educated, and at the same time so simple and childishly devoted to old, plain Martha. She had never read letters like the mother's letter to her son, so beautiful, a

rding to your account, it would be a great blessing f

irector, I certainly would be happy-ah

pe her eyes, she

g you shall hear an account of all that happened." With these words t

ow," he called to his daughter, who sat on the garden bench q

dow. She was a good sentinel, for she always seemed to know

go for four full hours, but that seemed a pure pleasure to them; the longer they ran, the

o call his sisters and his mother, for she wanted to see him alone. She would pay Dino a long visit and then steal quietly away without being noticed. She was also reflecting about everything she wanted

ht possible. The carriage was already halting before the hote

Papa?" she asked. "I can find my way a

t the way; I am coming,

o start off alone, for that had been her

from street to street till they reached a narrow little lane. Here stood the house they had been seeking. When finally four

, we shall probably not remain here very long," he sai

y. She had not quite understood her father's wor

-rope!" he commanded. "When the door is open

opened the door and looked with surprise at the new arrivals thro

very dreadful," the Direc

your mother at home, and c

s she led the gentleman to a room and informed him that she wou

n an arm-chair. He looked about him with astonishment at the small but s

rnelli said to her in a low v

there to peep with curious eyes at the new arrivals. He came out and seizing Cornelli's hand, pulled her aw

nd introduced himself. "Following your son's summons, Mrs. Halm, I have brought you my daughter," he said. "

lli already from what he has told us about her. She has been so kind to him and has entertained him so well when he was alone in Iller-Stream

ment. "Those are just polite words," he said to himself, but aloud he added: "I am afraid that it won't be possible, for my child would not sta

elli here against her

ermission if the chil

was hard to refuse her anything. The Director therefor

surroundings like these? But I am perfectly certain that Cornelli will desire to go back with me. Just the same, I want

wards him so violently that a collision could not be avoided, so the Director opened his arms wide and caught Agnes in them. Agne

ng with pleasure at the lively face with the wide-open,

he replied quick

tor to himself. "And to compare my child to such children

o herself. It did not seem wrong to Dino to tell his mother, because she always knew everything he knew. When the invitation had been sent to Cornelli, Mrs. Halm had seriously told the children not to make any remarks

He looked upon her as an old acquaintance, for Dino had ta

es not sleep here," sa

s cried one whole hour to-day, or perhaps it was two." And Mux led his new friend to a whole pile of

full of sympathy. She knew exactly what

know," ret

not peel the apples?"

cept block-headed Tri

ded Trina?" Corne

as to fetch what we need and always brings the wrong thing. So Dino says: 'We really must send block-hea

secret trouble like her own; she did not have to be afraid

sister never cries. Are you not

though, as if she wanted to cry and a thousand, thousand times she begins t

into great pity. If Nika could not even talk about

d, hurrying to the door which the

her. "There is something in it that looks just like you; it is an owl that has rags o

to see the book. Pleas

lli u

the kitchen at last and, not

seeing him again. The hours she had spent with him had been the only happy ones she had had all summer. Quickly sitting down by his bed, she began to relate to h

new friend's whole attention, he preferred to find o

ther enter

ittle while. You must have many things to talk over about your experiences and friends in Iller-Stream. Dino has looked forward so much t

r, was her consolation; he seemed so confiding and so friendly. She had felt immediately to her great discomfort how different and how horrible she looked in comparison with these charming children. When she had stood in front of Nika,

en them. This gave her a little courage to follow Dino's mother, who was waiting in the doorway. When Cornelli ente

with animation. "Dino has talked so much a

," said Mux, dragging his

cut him short. She could not be misunderstood, for

he kitchen, so he could not get he

round all the time," he cried out furiously, "a

mother

rightful things. Shouldn't he g

o fight against this proposed punishment

me and it is a feast day for us. Mux shall not go to bed, but he mus

So he said grace in quite a tolerable manner. Cornelli had been very much touched by his desire to sit bes

the mother had to supervise Trina's work, so Mux was entrusted with the t

has really broken a man on th

. And why should the man hav

book on Cornelli's lap and pointing to a splendid colored picture. "Read what is

s orders Rudolph von Warth

it," Mux said

an to read the story that explained it. She read more eagerly each instant, f

x a little impatiently. "N

erent Agnes, it is a queen. You must never think any

t wagon, now," begged Mu

st look how he is pressing his hands up to hi

ook hi

absorbed in the story that she did not notice how Mux was pul

o has shortened his rest a little, for he is lon

to her friend. She felt some regret, however, at having to leave the

he youngest," said the mother. Cornelli's regretful glance at it had not esca

had thought it possible, and it was not long before Mux came running with the message that s

li, jumping up because she knew

uldn't you like to stay with us a few days, Cornelli? It would be so

er and really want her to stay. But that probably would not last if she remained and they got to know her better. Soon the mother came in with Mux. The li

f joy. "I was just going to propose it to you, and I am so glad that Dino has persuaded you. Your father has already given me his p

ellmut, and soon after that, fat litt

ino with a mixed feeling of wonderful de

our two sisters. I have to think of poor little block-headed Trina all the time, when she does everything wrong and does no

to laugh

about her, for mother is very good to her. Just be happy, Cornelli

me. After a while the mother came to announce that it was time for Dino's rest. The prosp

is picture book, hatching out new ideas, no doubt. Just then the half grown Trina entered with a basket on her arm. While she

awkward every day, Tri

ika's eyes as Trina was. The latter failed to excuse herself and from embarrassment became more clumsy in

nd when the children's work is done we shall al

he songs, and so I can't

is book. He wanted to renew his conversation

is time for you to retire," she said

rted rel

way, he was still able to call to Cornel

nothing happened. They were both so deeply occupied with their work that they did not even raise their heads. Cornelli now remembered the lovely story book. She had already

one lovely tune after another as quickly and easily as if it did not cause her any trouble. She knew from Dino that Agnes was not much more than a year older than she was. She listened with

her eagerly, "I am pla

I have just finished

nd how are you getting a

sked the

y, but the days were very short now and she could not paint by l

e of daylight, I could

lli had never before seen such a lovely picture. Sparkling crimson roses were hanging down an old wall and dense ivy was creeping up between them with shiny green leaves. An old oak tree w

seemed to hear the murmuring of the brook, far, far away through the meadow. It was all so full of life! And to think that Nika had

hile she stood there a stupid, awkward, block-headed Trina, whom nobody on earth ever could possibly lov

no, for they always conclude

impressions that day to be able to sing. She knew quite well the old evening song that they were

othing at all. When you are hoarse and Dino is in bed, our singing is

inging," said Nika, shaking h

rth anything," Agnes declared. "It is a shame that the most

tired, dear child. I am going to take you to a tiny bedroom, for I have no larger one. Your door leads

then you are practically

ht cordially and wishe

good-night, too, and then Co

e her arrival. How high the two stood above her! Cornelli was not a bit sle

with lovely roses and trees and the meadow with clear water. At last Cornelli's eyes closed, but she kept on seeing the flowers and seemed to be looking up admiringly at Nika, who stood beside her, tall and

ng! One cannot tell what she is thinking about. How could Dino find her so amus

t she insists on looking like a wild islander. I do not underst