. Drawing a little table to the
window, she sat down and began to read. But, on this day, her thoughts
wandered; and, ultimately, propping her chin on her hand, she fell into
reverie, which began with something like "the fool and his Schiller!"
and ended with her rising, and going to the well-stocked book-shelves
that stood at the foot of the bed.

She took out a couple of volumes and looked through them, then returned
them to their places on the shelf. No, she said to herself, why should
she? What she had told the young man was true: she never lent her
books; he would soil them, or, worse still, not appreciate them as he
ought--she could not give anyone who visited there on Sunday, credit
for a nice taste.

Unknown to herself, however, something worked in her, for, the very
next time Maurice was there, she met him in the passage, as he was
leaving, and impulsively thrust a paper parcel into his hand.

"There is a book, if you care to take it."

He did not express the surprise he felt, nor did he look at the title.
But Ephie, who was accompanying him to the door, made a face of
laughing stupefaction behind her sister's back, and went out on the
landing with him, to whisper: "What HAVE you been doing to Joan?"--at
which remark, and at Maurice's blank face, she laughed so immoderately
that she was forced to go down the stairs with him, for fear Joan
should hear her; and, in the house-door, she stood, a white-clad little
figure, and waved her hand to him until he turned the corner.

Having read the first volume of HAMMER UND AMBOSS deep into two nights,
Maurice returned it and carried away the second. But it was only after
he had finished PROBLEMATISCHE NATUREN, and had expressed himself with
due enthusiasm, that Johanna began to thaw a little. She did not
discuss what he read with him; but, going on the assumption that a
person who could relish her favourite author had some good in him, she
gave the young man the following proof of her favour.

Between Ephie and him there had sprung up spontaneously a mutual
liking, which it is hard to tell the cause of. For Ephie knew nothing
of Maurice's tastes, interests and ambitions, and he did not dream of
asking her to share them. Yet, with the safe instincts of a young girl,
she chose him for a brother from among all her other acquaintances;
called him "Morry"; scarcely ever coquetted with him; and let him
freely into her secrets. It is easier to see why Maurice was attracte