fe to the
Professorin."

Never before had the Major made so long a speech at table, and never
had he been so joyous as to-day. Soon after dinner he went towards
home, repeating over to himself by the way the words of his speech, for
he specially prided himself on being able to give it to Fraeulein Milch
word for word. All the reputation in the world is of no account if she
does not praise him, for she has the best insight into everything.

When he reached the house, and Fraeulein Milch complained to him that
to-day her sweet cream had turned sour, and not a drop was to be got in
the whole village, he signified to her by a wave of the hand that she
was to keep silence, so that he should not forget his toast. Placing
himself directly in front of her, he said:--

"This is the speech I made at dinner." Laadi looked up at her master,
when she heard him declaiming with such energy, and when the Major had
concluded, she signified by a bark that she comprehended him. The Major
did not mean to tell a lie, but the speech was assuredly better, at
least it was longer, as he rehearsed it now to Fraeulein Milch, than the
one he had made. She said, when he got through:--

"I am only glad that there were some good people there to hear you."

Fraeulein Milch did not take to Herr and Frau Sonnenkamp; but she
especially disliked Fraeulein Perini.

"Why haven't you spread our beautiful white table-cloth?" asked the
Major, when he surveyed the neat table set in the garden.

"Because the white is too dazzling in the sunlight."

"That's true; it's well. Mustn't I shut Laadi up? she's so
demonstrative."

"No; just let the dog be loose."

The Major was quite in despair that he could not do something to show
honor to his guests.

After a while he came back in triumph, for he had done something which
was a great sacrifice for him; he had begged the Grand-master's cook to
give him a pitcher of fresh cream. He scarcely ever borrowed anything,
but to-day an exception must be made.

He managed to place the pitcher upon the table unnoticed by Fraeulein
Milch, and put his hand up to his mouth to keep himself from laughing
outright, when he thought of the Fraeulein's astonishment at finding
sweet cream upon the table.

He did still more. He went into the sitting-room and dragged his great,
leather-covered easy-chair into the garden, for the Professorin to sit
in; but when Fraeulein Milch came out, she surprised him by pointing out
that