ere opened, and Herr Sonnenkamp rose,
taking from the chair his broad straw hat. Two female forms appeared on
the terrace. One, tall, with a long, pale, sad face, wore a morning cap
with deep-red ribbons; and a flaming red shawl; the other was a small,
pretty figure, with sharp, bloodless features, piercing brown eyes, and
coal-black hair lying flat upon the head; she was one of those
countenances that have plainly never been youthful, and to which
advancing age can do no harm. Her dress was of black silk, and she had
suspended from her neck a mother-of-pearl cross that glistened and
shone upon her breast.

Herr Sonnenkamp had that American trait, including in itself so much
that is good, of respectful courteousness and considerate care toward
his own household and relatives; he went to meet the two ladies at the
steps, nodded pleasantly to the lady in black, and extending his hand
to the lady in the red shawl, asked in a kindly tone after her health,
using the English language.

The lady, Frau Ceres, did not deem it necessary to make any reply. She
went to her seat at the breakfast table, and a female attendant
immediately placed a shawl over her lap, and a waiter pushed under her
feet a cushioned footstool.

The lady in black, Signora Boromea Perini, went to the side-table, and
took with a spoon from the tea-canister, which a servant held, the
requisite measure of tea.

"Where is Roland?" inquired Frau Ceres, in a listless tone.

"He will soon be here," answered Sonnenkamp, and made a sign to have
him sent for. Fraeulein Perini brought the first cup to Frau Sonnenkamp,
to whom it appeared too great an exertion to pour in a couple of drops
of milk. In a very subdued tone, Herr Sonnenkamp asked, "Will you eat
anything, dear child?"

Frau Ceres sipped a spoonful, then half a one, and looked about, as if
spent with the effort. It seemed to be a burden to her to be obliged to
sip the tea herself.

"Where is Roland?" she inquired again. "It is inexcusable that he is so
irregular. Did you not say something, Madame Perini?"

"Nothing, my gracious lady."

Herr Sonnenkamp remarked in a very mild, pacifying tone, if she would
endure it patiently a little longer, Roland would receive, it was to be
hoped, a tutor at last who would bring him under the proper discipline.
He then spoke of the letter which Otto von Pranken had written to him.
At the mention of this name, Fraeulein Perini let a biscuit fall into
her cup, a