him," she thought, "for us to be nice to her. Poor
thing, she's lost all she cared for in the world; everybody ought to be
nice to her." And she thought how happy she was herself, and resolved
to be as kind as she knew how to be to the new-comer.

Sydney had a strong reluctance to face emotional or spiritual crises,
and not even after her conversation on the bridge did she acknowledge
to herself that von Rittenheim loved her, or that she cared for him.
She was content to feel the glow that warmed her when she knew that she
was the princess of his fable, and not to analyze her own feeling
further, or to posit in him more than admiration.

Americans usually think of German women as fat and affectionate, or, if
they are extremists, as "fit only to propagate their own undesirable
race." Sydney formulated no idea of Hilda's appearance, but she found
herself none the less surprised when she and Dr. Morgan watched from
the window the tiny figure in its black robes, descending from the
carriage.

"Why, the Baron said she was twenty-five, but she doesn't look any
older than I do," she cried, and she flew down the steps to welcome
her.

Hilda's little speech of thanks was natural and pretty, and Sydney
liked her at once because she liked Friedrich. Katrina was delighted
with her. Tom declared that he could listen to that accent forever, and
John went into absurd raptures that were more serious than they
sounded. Even Mrs. Carroll, usually not enthusiastic, granted her to be
"Pretty? Yes, even lovely. And charming? Very."

Hilda must have felt herself to be under scrutiny during the day, yet
she betrayed no knowledge of it. Her behavior was perfect. Several
times she alluded to Max.

"Poor Max! The shock of his death was to me severe. Have I known
Friedrich long? Oh, yes, indeed. Before ever I met Maximilian. I was
living with my aunt in Heidelberg when he was at the University. I was
a little girl then. Ah, yes, Friedrich always was _nett_ to me, even so
before Max. Yes, always shall I love Friedrich."

It occurred to Sydney that there was a shade too much insistence on
this mutual affection, but she berated herself for a "jealous piece,"
and ordered Uncle Jimmy to bring out on the lawn coffee as well as tea,
in deference to her guest's probable predilection.

"Yes, dear Frau Carroll," said Hilda, in answer to a question. "Indeed,
have I much to talk with him. He comes this evening to see me. I have
much to tell him an