she has already learnt, I am amused to see, _not_
to address a lady as "_gnaedige_ Frau," or "Fraeulein"--a style of
address imperative in South Germany from a maid to her mistress. Minna
has not, however, imbibed all of the democratic principles that will, I
fear, come to her only too soon, for she has not yet learnt to emulate
her mistress in dress. It is really quite refreshing to see a servant
dressed as a servant. Minna is the perfection of neatness, and her
plain stuff or print gowns are _sans reproche_ in their freshness. In
the matter of aprons she must be quite reckless, for they always look
as if just from the ironing-table. They are made, too, in an
especially pretty fashion that I have never before seen out of Munich.
Scorning chignons, Minna appears with her own luxuriant hair in massive
braids wound about her well-shaped head, and as to-day is Sunday and a
_Fest-tag_, she adorns herself with a large shell-comb. She has very
pretty, coquettish ways, that have already melted the heart of our
hitherto unsusceptible Bernard, and it is quite charming to hear her
attempts to converse with him in her broken English.

Minna came to me this morning directly after breakfast, and said,
"Where shall I go to church, Fraeulein Cecilia?"

"I do not really know, Minna," I replied. "You are a Lutheran, I
suppose?"

"Yes, Fraeulein Cecilia."

"There is no church of that sort here," I said, "but there is a
Reformed Church next door."

With a very doubtful expression, she said: "I will see, Fraeulein. And
_bitte_, is not the _Pfingsten_ a Fest-tag in America? In our country,
you know, it is _more_ than Sunday, and the people always amuse
themselves."

I explained to her as clearly as I could, that Pfingsten (Whit-Sunday)
was only a Fest-tag in her church, mine, and the Church of England, and
that it was never in this country a Fest-tag, outside of the religious
observance.

A very perplexed face was the result of my explanations; why Pfingsten
should not be Pfingsten the world over, and a public holiday with all
sorts of merry-makings, she could not understand.

CHAPTER II.

Arrival of the Piano--Routine of a Day--Morning Toilettes--The
Dining-room--Pictures--Ida and Gabrielle--How occupied--The Evening
Mail--Musical Evenings.

_June 4_.

Yesterday the piano was sent up from Steinway's, where it has been
stored since last fall, and now we have all settled to our different
occupations, and are