thrilled him with pleasure. Then seeing the other gentlemen preparing
to descend also, her face became suffused with blushes.

"I came to find a cushion for Frau von Trautenau," she remarked
confusedly.

"Allow me, Fraulein Carmen, to take it to my mother," said Alexander,
coming to her assistance; and he ran back, upstairs, as she hastened
away.

Games were now arranged on the lawn, and Fraulein von Bergen, a merry
maiden, soon had every one actively engaged in them. There were
familiar ones, which Carmen had often played at school with the
day-pupils; but how different they seemed here, when the gentlemen took
part in them! Carmen could never have been as unrestrained as the
general's daughter; but she laughed merrily and enjoyed it all,
contenting herself with allowing Adele to catch her, and carefully
avoiding any contact with the others.

After a while a drop of rain fell, then another, and at last a hard
shower drove the party from the open air into the drawing-room; but the
spirit of merriment had been aroused, and sitting down quietly was not
to be thought of.

"Come, papa, lead out your war-horse to the front!" urged the general's
daughter; and the old gentleman good-naturedly seated himself at the
piano and began thrumming the one, solitary piece he could play--a
lively galop. Herr von Pohlen seized Fraulein von Bergen, Hans his
sister, and the two couples went whirling through the mazes of the
dance.