tanton received this telegram, he also
received a letter from his daughter begging him to come home as soon as
he could, as her mail had been tampered with and she strongly suspected
Joles of acting in a most deceitful manner for reasons she could not
fathom. It was because she expected her father that she acted under
Beverly's advice and did not mention the subject to Joles, nor even to
Herr Von Barwig until her father had instituted an inquiry.

The meeting between Von Barwig and his pupil was marked by no special
display of emotion or even more than ordinary interest; for Von Barwig
had steeled himself for the occasion. They greeted each other
cordially, but it was only with the greatest self-control that he
managed to conceal his delight at seeing her once more. Again occurred
the formal presentation of the little bunch of violets; again the
casual remarks about the weather.

"You are not angry?" asked Helene tenderly.

Von Barwig dared not reply; he could only smile and look at her in
silence. After a pause he ventured to say:

"I have offended Mr. Joles's feelings. I am sorry!" Helene held up a
warning finger, indicating her desire to keep silence on that subject,
at least for the present.

"Later on!" she said. "I intend to take up the subject with my father
when he returns."

Von Barwig watched himself closely. He was determined to make no more
mistakes, nor to yield to any temptation to give way to his feelings in
the slightest degree.

"You have practised since I--during my absence?" he asked, assuming a
sternness he by no means felt, and that she saw through at once.

"Yes, _maestro_," she replied meekly. "I have practised every day.
I've really made great progress, _caro maestro_!" and she laughed
softly.

"We shall see," said Von Barwig, with a critical frown on his face. He
was a little self-conscious. He knew his own weakness, his temptation
to become sentimental, and he had to watch himself continually to
prevent his emotional nature from getting uppermost. This
self-restraint made him slightly ill at ease, and Helene noticed it.

"You are strangely quiet this afternoon," she said. "I should have
thought you would have had a great deal to tell me." Von Barwig merely
looked at her.

"Come," said he, "we must get to work!"

"You did not receive a single line from me?" she asked as they neared
the end of the lesson. "What must you have thought?"

"What right have I to think?"