"No, not poor," replied Sophy. "Mother has a pretty good income."

"Ach so! and that is the reason, I suppose, that you cannot cook or
make your own frocks, or do anything useful. Are you engaged to be
married?"

"No," replied Sophy with a laugh, "not yet."

"Ach so! I do not think your uncle will permit you to marry any of
those silly young English officers, who play games all day and are
ashamed to wear uniform. Have you any relations in the Army?"

"Yes, I have two cousins; one in the Flying Corps and one in a
submarine."

"Ach so! That is _most_ interesting. Some day you will tell me all
about them, will you not? I like to hear about submarines."

"Very well," said Sophy, who was busy mixing a pudding according to an
elaborate German recipe.

"Yes, you are getting on," admitted Frau Wurm patronisingly. "You will
be a good little housekeeper before I have finished with you. Tell
me--how is your aunt to-day?" she asked abruptly.

"She seems better, much better."

"Yes, much better--better since yon came; you rouse her, though she
doesn't get up now till eleven o'clock. She suffers from such a
strange complaint--very mysterious," she added with a significant sniff.

"I don't think there is anything mysterious about neuralgia."

"Oh, yes, there is," rejoined Frau Wurm, lowering her voice; "we often
talk it over and wonder. Long ago she was as others; now she is
different, and seems but half awake--always so jaded and feeble and
vague. There was only one who understood the case--that was Fernanda,
and she has gone away, ach so!"

Sophy found her present life unexpectedly strenuous. The mornings were
devoted to incessant house-keeping, writing lists, and making pickles
and German condiments; in the afternoons her aunt absorbed her time.
She did not seem to come to life till then.

"I know I am selfish," she confessed, as she looked through a number of
invitations and cards which had been left for Sophy. "I do so want to
keep you to myself; I don't wish to share you with the Maitlands and
Morgans and Pomeroys; you have brought me a new lease of life. Of late
I have felt like a half-dead creature, without even the energy to open
a book, much less to get up and dress. I have the Burma head, and take
_no_ interest in anything."

"Then do please take an interest in me, Aunt Flora," said Sophy
coaxingly, putting her arm about her and smiling into her haggard eyes.

"Very well, my dear; yes, I w