ng
there, and will explain all to Frau v. Schmidt; and Babette will serve
her for a time. When Max is well enough to have the change of air the
doctor prescribes for him, thou shalt take him to Altenahr, and thither
will I also go; and become known to thy people and thy father. And
before Christmas the gentleman here shall dance at our wedding."

"I must go home to England, dear friends, before many days are over.
Perhaps we may travel together as far as Remagen. Another year I will
come back to Heppenheim and see you."

As I planned it, so it was. We left Heppenheim all together on a lovely
All-Saints' Day. The day before--the day of All-Souls--I had watched
Fritz and Thekla lead little Lina up to the Acre of God, the Field of
Rest, to hang the wreath of immortelles on her mother's grave. Peace be
with the dead and the living.

LIBBIE MARSH'S THREE ERAS.

ERA I.

VALENTINE'S DAY.

Last November but one, there was a flitting in our neighbourhood; hardly
a flitting, after all, for it was only a single person changing her
place of abode from one lodging to another; and instead of a cartload of
drawers and baskets, dressers and beds, with old king clock at the top
of all, it was only one large wooden chest to be carried after the girl,
who moved slowly and heavily along the streets, listless and depressed,
more from the state of her mind than of her body. It was Libbie Marsh,
who had been obliged to quit her room in Dean Street, because the
acquaintances whom she had been living with were leaving Manchester. She
tried to think herself fortunate in having met with lodgings rather more
out of the town, and with those who were known to be respectable; she
did indeed try to be contented, but in spite of her reason, the old
feeling of desolation came over her, as she was now about to be thrown
again entirely among strangers.

No. 2, ---- Court, Albemarle Street, was reached at last, and the pace,
slow as it was, slackened as she drew near the spot where she was to be
left by the man who carried her box, for, trivial as her acquaintance
with him was, he was not quite a stranger, as every one else was,
peering out of their open doors, and satisfying themselves it was only
"Dixon's new lodger."

Dixon's house was the last on the left-hand side of the court. A high
dead brick wall connected it with its opposite neighbour. All the
dwellings were of the same monotonous pattern, and one side of the court
looked at i