languages. One daughter was a prominent member of the Berlin ballet, the
other was prepared by a most careful education to be a governess. She
gave various lessons to my sisters, and criticised our proceedings
sharply, as she did those of her fellow-creatures in general. "I can't
help it--I Must say what I think," was the palliating remark which
followed every severe censure; and I owe to her the conviction that it
is much easier to express disapproval, when it can be done with impunity,
than to keep it to one's self, as I am also indebted to her for the
subject of my fairy tale, The Elixir.

I shall return to Fraulein Lamperi, for her connection with our family
did not cease until her death, and she lived to be ninety. Her
aristocratic connections in Florence--be it said to their honour--
never repudiated her, but visited her when they came to Berlin, and the
equipage of the Italian ambassador followed at her funeral, for he, too,
belonged to her father's kindred. The extreme kindness extended to her
by Emperor William I and his sovereign spouse solaced her old age in
various ways.

One of the dearest friends of my sister Paula and of our family knew more
of me, unfortunately, at this time than I of her. Her name was Babette
Meyer, now Countess Palckreuth. She lived in our neighbourhood, and was
a charming, graceful child, but not one of our acquaintances.

When she was grown up--we were good friends then--she told me she was
coming from school one winter day, and some boys threw snowballs at her.
Then Ludo and I appeared--"the Ebers boys" and she thought that would be
the end of her; but instead of attacking her we fell upon the boys, who
turned upon us, and drove them away, she escaping betwixt Scylla and
Charybdis.