remembered the word 'bekommen,' and supposing it to mean the same in English as in German, he exclaimed, 'When shall I become a bowl of soup?' The waiter answered, 'Never, sir, I hope." "

"Your story reminds me of another," said Harry. "A certain gentleman went abroad for a short tour -or it may have been on business-having two or three young men with him, one of whom professed to be a German scholar, equal to the difficulties of the way. At one of their first haltingplaces they wished to wash their hands, and as the means for so doing were not visible, the young gentleman was called upon to make known their need. He said something in German, and long delay followed. The waiter at length reappeared carrying two bowls of soup."

"There was an English lady abroad," said Mrs. Fitzroy, "who at the custom-house, when her boxes were being examined, and a small medicinechest appeared, exclaimed, 'O ce n'est qu'un petit médecin!""

"O mammalaughed Allie.

a little doctor; how ridiculous!"

Other stories followed, and presently Mr. Fitzroy broke in upon them with, "Is it to be Neckarsteinach to-morrow?"

"O please, yes," cried several voices.

"Then I will order the carriages this evening. No fear about weather, I think. Better to take the more distant excursion while we can, and Harry must see the town and castle another day.

If this heat continues we shall soon have some heavy thunderstorms."

"There is lightning every evening," said Dessie. "I saw it last night like little bright needles running all over a great black cloud near the horizon, and there was blue sky over our heads."

"That must have been more than thirty miles away," pronounced Allie sententiously. "I know it, because papa told me we could hear thunder up to thirty miles away, and we could see lightning up to wasn't it?-three hundred miles. And last night we didn't hear a bit of thunder."

"I wonder what a bit of thunder may be like ?" said Mr. Fitzroy. "By-the-by I bargain for one thing, which is that Miss Bruce accompanies us to-morrow."

"I thought I might perhaps remain at home and study," said Miss Bruce.

You are a little

"No, I think not this time. too fond of books. Study of the castles may prove quite as beneficial to you as to the girls.”

"The 'girls' don't look greatly in need of relaxation," Harry remarked; and a few minutes later, Dessie having vanished with Allie, Mrs. Fitzroy asked him

"How do you think Dessie seems ?

"How?" repeated Harry. "Physically or morally, Aunt Laura? Both, I suppose. She looks well. Just a trifle more tame than at home; yes, certainly, she has the air of being under control, which she never used to have. Perhaps I ought not to say this before Emmie."

"Em is safe," said Mrs. Fitzroy, smiling, but Emmie rose quickly, with an answering smile, and went out of the room.

"I must beg Emmie's pardon; I had no intention of driving her away," said Harry, finding himself too late to stop her. "Some girls repeat things to one another, but Emmie looks discreet."

"Emmie is discreet," said her mother. "Yes, I think Dessie is on the whole improved. She is much more under control than when she first came. Also she is just now very unhappy."

"Dessie unhappy?"

"You seem to think it impossible. She is very much distressed about poor little Hugh."

"Ah, poor child!" said Harry, with feeling; "I am afraid that is a bad business. But as for Dessie -I should certainly have expected it to make some impression on her, but what am I to think? Look at her high spirits this evening. And Edith writes me word that Ella has never received from Dessie a single line since she has been told of the child's state."

"I don't think you must judge Dessie by ordinary rules. It is a curious nature, but she has a heart, though it is smothered under a good deal of rubbish, and she seems to have a great objection to letting it be seen."

"If you have managed to dig through the rubbish, you have accomplished a feat," said Harry. "But-Dessie unhappy!" and he smiled incredulously.

"Wait!" said Mrs. Fitzroy.

"EMMIE!

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE SWALLOWS' NEST.

Are you ready?"

"Yes, papa," came in distressed tones through a closed door. "I'm nearly—almost-quite ready— just-I'll come in two minutes

"Make haste; for we have no time to lose. You should have dressed earlier."

"I'm coming, papa. I've only-got-three things to do."

Mr. Fitzroy went downstairs, and Dessie rushed into the room.

"What are you after, Em? Everybody is ready -all waiting for you. Why, you're not half

dressed!"

"I've got my boots on. It's only just my jacket -and my hat-and my necktie-and I can't find my gloves," said the bewildered Emmeline. "I had them yesterday. I only just began to readand I thought I was sure to be in time-but somehow-it was only just

"Only just somehow that you never are in time ! Where do you keep your gloves? Left-hand top drawer? Here's a pair."

"Those are my best. I wanted the others. I must look”

hat.

"Nonsense! you can't keep all the world waiting while you are looking. Just put on these, and take them off when you want to pick flowers. Pop Never mind about a veil. Now, you Come along!" And Dessie dragged the unwilling Emmeline down three flights of stairs, nearly landing her prostrate at the bottom.

on your
are all right.

"O Dessie, don't, please. I am so uncomfortable —all in a mess."

"You should go to your looking-glass two hours earlier, if you want such an amount of titivating. Come along. Here she is, aunt.”

"My dear Emmie, you really should manage not to delay us all like this."

"I am very sorry, mamma."

"Emmie's unfailing answer," said Bertie.

"Jump in," said Mr. Fitzroy, giving her his hand. "We must be off. In with you, Dessie."

Emmeline was in the first carriage, with her parents and Harry. Dessie had had the choice given to her, by Emmie's particular wish, but had chosen to be in the second carriage, with Miss Bruce, Allie, and Bertie. It would be “ more fun," she said.

But Bertie and Allie were disappointed, for she seemed to have little fun at command. She left that part of the matter to Bertie, and only laughed absently at his jokes, spending most of her time in gazing at the water.

The greater part of their drive lay beside the Neckar, along the bank on the farther side away