e is all that," replied Fritz; "still, he must be taught not to molest
Master Mouser. Here, Gelert!"

The dog at once sprang up again from his recumbent position on the
hearthrug; while Mouser, his excessive spiny and porcupinish appearance
having become somewhat toned down, was now watchfully observing this new
variety of the dog species, which his natural instinct taught him to
regard with antagonism and yet who was so utterly different from Burgher
Jans' terrier, the only specimen of the canine race with whom he had
been previously acquainted.

"See," said Fritz to the retriever, laying one hand on his head and
stroking the cat with the other, "you mustn't touch poor Mouser. Good
dog!"

The animal gave a sniff of intelligence, seeming to know at once what
was expected of him; and, never, from that moment, did he ever exhibit
the slightest approach of hostility to pussy--no, not even when Mouser,
as he did sometimes from curiosity, would approach him at the very
delicate juncture when he was engaged on a bone, which few dogs can
stand--the two ever after remaining on the friendliest of friendly
terms; so friendly, indeed, that Mouser would frequently curl himself to
sleep between Gelert's paws on the hearthrug.

This little diversion had drawn away the conversation from Madaleine's
treatment by the old Baroness Stolzenkop; but, presently, Madame Dort
proceeded to explain to Fritz that, on account of his telling her in one
of his letters home how anxious he was in the matter, and knowing
besides how much she was indebted to Madaleine for saving his life by
her kindly nursing when he was in the villa hospital at Mezieres, she
had written to her at Darmstadt, asking her to pay her a visit and so
light up a lonely house with her presence until her son should have
returned from the war. "And a veritable house fairy she has been,"
concluded the widow, speaking from her heart, with tears in her eyes.
"She has been like sunshine to me in the winter of my desolation."

"And Mouser likes her, too," said Lorischen, as if that settled the
matter.

"She's the best manager in the world," next put in Madame Dort. "She
has saved me a world of trouble since she's been in the house."

"And she cooks better than any one else in Lubeck!" exclaimed the old
nurse, not to be beat in enumerating all the good qualities of Fritz's
guardian angel, who had taken her heart, as well as the widow's, by
storm.

Meanwhile, the subject o