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hasalso been good in placing you among kind people。 The old Count atthe corner yonder has been speaking to me about you。 I have alsoseen your sketches； but we will not say any more about those； forthere is a good deal to correct in them。 But from this time forwardyou may e twice a…week to my drawing…class； and then you willsoon learn how to do them better。 I think there's more of thearchitect than of the painter in you。 You will have time to think thatover； but go across to the old Count this very day； and thank Godfor having sent you such a friend。〃
It was a great house… the house of the old Count at the corner。Round the windows elephants and dromedaries were carved； all fromthe old times； but the old Count loved the new time best； and whatit brought； whether it came from the first floor； or from thecellar； or from the attic。
〃I think；〃 said； the porter's wife； 〃the grander people are； thefewer airs do they give themselves。 How kind and straightforward theold count is！ and he talks exactly like you and me。 Now； the Generaland his lady can't do that。 And George was fairly wild with delightyesterday at the good reception he met with at the Count's； and soam I to…day； after speaking to the great man。 Wasn't it a good thingthat we didn't bind George apprentice to a handicraftsman？ for hehas abilities of his own。〃
〃But they must be helped on by others；〃 said the father。
〃That help he has got now；〃 rejoined the mother； 〃for the Countspoke out quite clearly and distinctly。〃
〃But I fancy it began with the General；〃 said the father； 〃andwe must thank them too。〃
〃Let us do so with all my heart；〃 cried the mother； 〃though Ifancy we have not much to thank them for。 I will thank the good God；and I will thank Him； too； for letting little Emily get well。〃
Emily was getting on bravely； and George got on bravely too。 Inthe course of the year he won the little silver prize medal of theAcademy； and afterwards he gained the great one too。
〃It would have been better； after all； if he had beenapprenticed to a handicraftsman；〃 said the porter's wife； weeping；〃for then we could have kept him with us。 What is he to do in Rome？I shall never get a sight of him again； not even if he es back； butthat he won't do； the dear boy。〃
〃It is fortune and fame for him；〃 said the father。
〃Yes； thank you； my friend；〃 said the mother； 〃you are saying whatyou do not mean。 You are just as sorrowful as I am。〃
And it was all true about the sorrow and the journey。 Buteverybody said it was a great piece of good fortune for the youngfellow。 And he had to take leave； and of the General too。 TheGeneral's lady did not show herself； for she had her bad headache。On this occasion the General told his only anecdote； about what he hadsaid to the Prince； and how the Prince had said to him； 〃You areinparable。〃 And he held out a languid hand to George。
Emily gave George her hand too； and looked almost sorry； andGeorge was the most sorry of all。
Time goes by when one has something to do； and it goes by； too；when one has nothing to do。 The time is equally long； but notequally useful。 It was useful to George； and did not seem long at all；except when he happened to be thinking of his home。 How might the goodfolks be getting on； up stairs and down stairs？ Yes； there was writingabout that； and many things can be put into a letter… brightsunshine and dark； heavy days。 Both of these were in the letterwhich brought the news that his father was dead； and that his motherwas alone now。 She wrote that Emily had e down to see her； andhad been to her like an angel of fort； and concerning herself；she added that she had been allowed to keep her situation asporteress。
The General's lady kept a diary； and in this diary was recordedevery ball she attended and every visit she received。 The diary wasillustrated by the insertion of the visiting cards of the diplomaticcircle and of the most noble families； and the General's lady wasproud of it。 The diary kept growing through a long time； and amid manysevere headaches； and through a long course of half…nights； that is tosay； of court balls。 Emily had now been to a court ball for thefirst time。 Her mother had worn a bright red dress； with black lace；in the Spanish style； the daughter had been attired in white； fair anddelicate； green silk ribbons fluttered like flag…leaves among heryellow locks； and on her head she wore a wreath of water…lillies。Her eyes were so blue and clear； her mouth was so delicate and red；she looked like a little water spirit； as beautiful as such a spiritcan be imagined。 The Princes danced with her； one after another ofcourse； and the General's lady had not a headache for a weekafterwards。
But the first ball was not the last； and Emily could not stand it；it was a good thing； therefore； that summer brought with it rest；and exercise in the open air。 The family had been invited by the oldCount to visit him at him castle。 That was a castle with a gardenwhich was worth seeing。 Part of this garden was laid out quite inthe style of the old days； with stiff green hedges； you walked as ifbetween green walls with peep…holes in them。 Box trees and yew treesstood there trimmed into the form of stars and pyramids； and watersprang from fountains in large grottoes lined with shells。 Allaround stood figures of the most beautiful stone… that could be seenin their clothes as well as in their faces； every flower…bed had adifferent shape； and represented a fish； or a coat of arms； or amonogram。 That was the French part of the garden； and from this partthe visitor came into what appeared like the green； fresh forest；where the trees might grow as they chose； and accordingly they weregreat and glorious。 The grass was green； and beautiful to walk on； andit was regularly cut； and rolled； and swept； and tended。 That wasthe English part of the garden。
〃Old time and new time；〃 said the Count； 〃here they run wellinto one another。 In two years the building itself will put on aproper appearance； there will be a plete metamorphosis in beautyand improvement。 I shall show you the drawings； and I shall show youthe architect； for he is to dine here to…day。〃
〃Charming！〃 said the General。
〃'Tis like Paradise here；〃 said the General's lady； 〃and yonderyou have a knight's castle！〃
〃That's my poultry…house；〃 observed the Count。 〃The pigeons livein the tower； the turkeys in the first floor； but old Elsie rules inthe ground floor。 She has apartments on all sides of her。 Thesitting hens have their own room； and the hens with chickens havetheirs； and the ducks have their own particular door leading to thewater。〃
〃Charming！〃 repeated the General。
And all sailed forth to see these wonderful things。 Old Elsiestood in the room on the ground floor； and by her side stood ArchitectGeorge。 He and Emily now met for the first time after several years；and they met in the poultry…house。
Yes； there he stood； and was handsome enough to be looked at。His face was frank and energetic； he had black shining hair； and asmile about his mouth； which said； 〃I have a brownie that sits in myear； and knows every one of you； inside and out。〃 Old Elsie had pulledoff her wooden shoes； and stood there in her stockings； to do honor tothe noble guests。 The hens clucked； and the cocks crowed； and theducks waddled to and fro； and said； 〃Quack； quack！〃 But the fair； palegirl； the friend of his childhood； the daughter of the General；stood there with a rosy blush on her usually pale cheeks； and her eyesopened wide； and her mouth seemed to speak without uttering a word；and the greeting he received from her was the most beautifulgreeting a young man can desire from a young lady； if they are notrelated； or have not danced many times together； and she and thearchitect had never danced together。
The Count shook hands with him； and introduced him。
〃He is not altogether a stranger； our young friend George。〃
The General's lady bowed to him； and the General's daughter wasvery nearly giving him her hand； but she did not give it to him。
〃Our little Master George！〃 said the General。 〃Old friends！Charming！〃
〃You have bee quite an Italian；〃 said the General's lady；〃and I presume you speak the language like a native？〃
〃My wife sings the language； but she