'May we take Tartaglia?' asked Emil.

'Of course you may.'

Tartaglia immediately scrambled, with delighted struggles, on to the
box and sat there, licking himself; it was obviously a thing he was
accustomed to. Gemma put on a large straw hat with brown ribbons; the
hat was bent down in front, so as to shade almost the whole of her
face from the sun. The line of shadow stopped just at her lips; they
wore a tender maiden flush, like the petals of a centifoil rose, and
her teeth gleamed stealthily--innocently too, as when children smile.
Gemma sat facing the horses, with Sanin; Klueber and Emil sat opposite.
The pale face of Frau Lenore appeared at the window; Gemma waved her
handkerchief to her, and the horses started.




XV


Soden is a little town half an hour's distance from Frankfort. It lies
in a beautiful country among the spurs of the Taunus Mountains, and
is known among us in Russia for its waters, which are supposed to be
beneficial to people with weak lungs. The Frankforters visit it more
for purposes of recreation, as Soden possesses a fine park and various
'wirthschaften,' where one may drink beer and coffee in the shade
of the tall limes and maples. The road from Frankfort to Soden runs
along the right bank of the Maine, and is planted all along with fruit
trees. While the carriage was rolling slowly along an excellent road,