; she knew how,
while Frau Ceres remained apparently or really quite inattentive, to
keep up the conversation with short questions, or remarks, as she
occasionally looked up from her embroidery and cast a glance, the real
convent glance, shy but benignant, upon Herr Sonnenkamp. In this way
Frau Ceres could listen, without exerting herself to join in the
conversation.

Fraeulein Perini seemed to serve Herr Sonnenkamp as a person upon whom
he could practice politeness; and they stood in the most courteous
relation to each other. He would, in fact, have been glad to dismiss
her long before, but she was fastened upon him like the rheumatism-ring
which he wore on his left thumb.

Frau Ceres was always carefully waited upon by Fraeulein Perini; never
alone, she had a constant companion and attendant, and when they drove
out, Herr Sonnenkamp always left the seat next his wife to Fraeulein
Perini, riding backwards himself. He could not be rid of her, and it
was best to treat her with polite consideration. Besides, she had many
excellent qualities, and best of all, no whims; she was always
even-tempered, never put herself forward, and always had an opinion,
which generally was one that caused no discussion. She never appeared
offended; if she was overlooked, she seemed not to notice it; or if
drawn into conversation, she was agreeable, and even witty; she was
always ready to help, to do for and to meet others, and never talked of
herself.

Every morning, summer and winter, she went to church, and was always in
order, as if ready for a journey at an hour's notice; she knew where
everything was in the house, and was never in the way in travelling.
She was always busy with embroidery, and there was no church for miles
around which had not an altar-cloth, or some part of the decoration, of
her work.

She spoke all the continental languages with ease, except German, which
she said she never could learn. Sonnenkamp was convinced, however, that
she understood it perfectly, and that her want of comprehension was
only a mask whose object it was easy to see.

Her relations with Roland were peculiarly distant. She treated him as
the young master of the house, but concerned herself no further about
him, even declining his father's proposal that she should instruct him
in the languages. She never stepped out of the circle that appeared
marked out for her; after being Manna's governess, she became wholly
and exclusively the companion o