ly, and
draws such beautiful things already.

After that Fani and I go into the garden by ourselves and play
about as much as we like. We run into every corner of it, for all
about are stone seats to rest on, and white marble statues, and the
garden is large and beautiful and stretches way down to the river;
and there stand the great lindens, and it is all the most splendid
and beautiful place in the world. Please tell Fred that I am
looking all the time after beetles and such things, but I haven't
been able to catch any; he mustn't be vexed with me, perhaps I
shall succeed better by and by.

After supper Aunt Clarissa sits down at the piano, and we sing
Nora's favorite song and several others that she has taught me.
Generally Fani sits in the other room and draws by himself; but
when he sings with us it sounds much better, and it's only when he
sings, too, that Mrs. Stanhope comes in to listen. After this, we
get our lessons ready for the next day. But time passes much too
quickly here; and Fani and I are always sorry when the day is over
and we have to go to bed. I am almost never tired now; and, oh, it
is so lovely to live here and to be with Fani. When we go in to our
meals, Aunt Clarissa always says, "Thank God that we have children
again with us at table!" And yesterday Mrs. Stanhope answered: "I
think you would like to have the house full of children." And Aunt
Clarissa replied, "I should never have too many of them." Then Mrs.
Stanhope said: "Next year we must invite our friends from
Switzerland to visit us; all four of the doctor's children; and you
can take little Rikli under your special charge." At these words
Fani shouted for joy; but I couldn't utter a sound; I could
scarcely swallow, I was so delighted. Aunt Clarissa clapped her
hands and said, "Elsli must write directly and invite them, so that
we may make sure of them"; and, afterwards, she said to me again,
"What a splendid plan that is of Mrs. Stanhope's!" In the evening
Fani and I went all round the garden to pick out all the places
that we particularly want to show you. Fred will be able to catch
his own insects. Fani is going to write you a long letter, and then
one to Oscar; but first he wants to draw a picture of the linden
trees and the little spot under them, to send