about; and one never knows anything about these Germans."

"I thought--your sister said--you knew all about him," I said, in rather
a low voice.

"As much as one needs to know about a mere teacher. But the person you
have in your house all the time is different."

"But he is a gentleman," I put in more firmly.

"I hope he is. He had letters to some friends of ours. But what are
letters? People give them when they're asked for them, and half the time
know nothing of the person for whom they do the favor, besides his name
and general standing. Hardly that, sometimes." Then, as if to put away a
tiresome and unwelcome subject, he began again to talk about the place.

But I had lost my interest in the subject, and thought only of returning
to the house.

"Don't," I said, playfully putting out my hand as he took out another
cigar to light. "You have smoked enough to-night. Do you know, you smoke
a great deal more than is good for you."

"Well, I will not smoke any more to-night if you say so. Only don't go
in the house."

"Oh, yes, you know we only came out to smoke."

He stood in front of the path that led to the piazza and said, in an
affectionate, gentle way, "Stay and walk a little longer. I have not