take wine," she explained.

With another bow, which included both his hostesses, Mr. Ramy
drank off the cherry brandy and pronounced it excellent.

Evelina meanwhile, with an assumption of industry intended to
put their guest at ease, had taken up her instruments and was
twisting a rose-petal into shape.

"You make artificial flowers, I see, ma'am," said Mr. Ramy
with interest. "It's very pretty work. I had a lady-vriend in
Shermany dat used to make flowers." He put out a square finger-tip
to touch the petal.

Evelina blushed a little. "You left Germany long ago, I
suppose?"

"Dear me yes, a goot while ago. I was only ninedeen when I
come to the States."

After this the conversation dragged on intermittently till Mr.
Ramy, peering about the room with the short-sighted glance of his
race, said with an air of interest: "You're pleasantly fixed here;
it looks real cosy." The note of wistfulness in his voice was
obscurely moving to Ann Eliza.

"Oh, we live very plainly," said Evelina, with an affectation
of grandeur deeply impressive to her sister. "We have very simple
tastes."