After he had left the Hiltners Frau Sabina bent down to her mother-in-
law's ear--though she had lost her quickness of hearing, she had retained
her sight perfectly--and, raising her voice, told her the name of the
young lady who had just left them. Then she asked if she, too, did not
admire Barbara's beauty, and what she thought of her.

The grandmother nodded, exclaiming in a low tone, "Beautiful, beautiful--
a wonderfully beautiful creature!" Then she gazed thoughtfully into
vacancy, and at last asked whether she had heard correctly that Jungfrau
Blomberg was also a remarkable singer.

Her daughter-in-law eagerly nodded assent to this question.

The aged woman silently bowed her head, but quickly raised it again, and
there was a faint tinge of regret in her voice as she began: "Too much,
certainly too much. Such marvels are rare. But one thing or the other.
For women of her stamp there are only two conditions, and no other--
rapturous happiness and utter misery. She will be content with no
average. It does not suit such natures."

Here she paused abruptly, for Martina entered the room, and with
affectionate solicitude said to her granddaughter: "Young Trainer was
here just now. Has anything happened between you? I see by your eyes
that you have been weeping."