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〃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 does not speak it；〃observed the General。
At dinner； George sat at the right hand of Emily； whom the Generalhad taken down； while the Count led in the General's lady。
Mr。 George talked and told of his travels； and he could talk well；and was the life and soul of the table； though the old Count couldhave been it too。 Emily sat silent； but she listened； and her eyesgleamed； but she said nothing。
In the verandah； among the flowers； she and George stood together；the rose…bushes concealed them。 And George was speaking again； forhe took the lead now。
〃Many thanks for the kind consideration you showed my old mother；〃he said。 〃I know that you went down to her on the night when my fatherdied； and you stayed with her till his eyes were closed。 Myheartiest thanks！〃
He took Emily's hand and kissed it… he might do so on such anoccasion。 She blushed deeply； but pressed his hand； and looked athim with her dear blue eyes。
〃Your mother was a dear soul！〃 she said。 〃How fond she was ofher son！ And she let me read all your letters； so that I almostbelieve I know you。 How kind you were to me when I was little girl！You used to give me pictures。〃
〃Which you tore in two；〃 said George。
〃No； I have still your drawing of the castle。〃
〃I must build the castle in reality now；〃 said George； and hebecame quite warm at his own words。
The General and the General's lady talked to each other in theirroom about the porter's son… how he knew how to behave； and to expresshimself with the greatest propriety。
〃He might be a tutor；〃 said the General。
〃Intellect！〃 said the General's lady； but she did not say anythingmore。
During the beautiful summer…time Mr。 George several timesvisited the Count at his castle； and he was missed when he did note。
〃How much the good God has given you that he has not given to uspoor mortals；〃 said Emily to him。 〃Are you sure you are verygrateful for it？〃
It flattered George that the lovely young girl should look up tohim； and he thought then that Emily had unusually good abilities。And the General felt more and more convinced that George was nocellar…child。
〃His mother was a very good woman；〃 he observed。 〃It is only rightI should do her that justice now she is in her grave。〃
The summer passed away； and the winter came； again there wastalk about Mr。 George。 He was highly respected； and was received inthe first circles。 The General had met him at a court ball。
And now there was a ball to be given in the General's house forEmily； and could Mr。 George be invited to it？
〃He whom the King invites can be invited by the General also；〃said the General； and drew himself up till he stood quite an inchhigher than before。
Mr。 George was invited； and he came； princes and counts came；and they danced； one better than the other。 But Emily could only danceone dance… the first； for she made a false step… nothing ofconsequence； but her foot hurt her； so that she had to be careful； andleave off dancing； and look at the others。 So she sat and looked on；and the architect stood by her side。
〃I suppose you are giving her the whole history of St。 Peter's；〃said the General； as he passed by； and smiled； like thepersonification of patronage。
With the same patronizing smile he received Mr。 George a fewdays afterwards。 The young man came； no doubt； to return thanks forthe invitation to the ball。 What else could it be？ But indeed therewas something else； something very astonishing and startling。 He spokewords of sheer lunacy； so that the General could hardly believe hisown ears。 It was 〃the height of rhodomontade；〃 an offer； quite aninconceivable offer… Mr。 George came to ask the hand of Emily inmarriage！
〃Man！〃 cried the General； and his brain seemed to be boiling。 〃Idon't understand you at all。 What is it you say？ What is it youwant？ I don't know you。 Sir！ Man！ What possesses you to break intomy house？ And am I to stand here and listen to you？〃 He steppedbackwards into his bed…room； locked the door behind him； and leftMr。 George standing alone。 George stood still for a few minutes； andthen turned round and left the room。 Emily was standing in thecorridor。
〃My father has answered？〃 she said； and her voice trembled。
George pressed her hand。
〃He has escaped me；〃 he replied； 〃but a better time will e。〃
There were tears in Emily's eyes； but in the young man's eyesshone courage and confidence； and the sun shone through the window；and cast his beams on the pair； and gave them his blessing。
The General sat in his room； bursting hot。 Yes； he was stillboiling； until he boiled over in the exclamation； 〃Lunacy！ porter！madness！〃
Not an hour was over before the General's lady knew it out ofthe General's own mouth。 She called Emily； and remained alone withher。
〃You poor child；〃 she said； 〃to insult you so！ to insult us so！There are tears in your eyes； too； but they bee you well。 Youlook beautiful in tears。 You look as I looked on my wedding…day。Weep on； my sweet Emily。〃
〃Yes； that I must；〃 said Emily； 〃if you and my father do not say'yes。'〃
〃Child！〃 screamed the General's lady； 〃you are ill！ You aretalking wildly； and I shall have a most terrible headache！ Oh； whata misfortune is ing upon our house！ Don't make your mother die；Emily； or you will have no mother。〃
And the eyes of the General's lady were wet； for she could notbear to think of her own death。
In the newspapers there was an announcement。 〃Mr。 George hasbeen elected Professor of the Fifth Class； number Eight。〃
〃It's a pity that his parents are dead and cannot read it；〃 saidthe new porter people； who now lived in the cellar under the General'sapartments。 They knew that the Professor had been born and grown upwithin their four walls。
〃Now he'll get a salary；〃 said the man。
〃Yes； that's not much for a poor child；〃 said the woman。
〃Eighteen dollars a year；〃 said the man。 〃Why； it's a good deal ofmoney。〃
〃No； I mean the honor of it；〃 replied the wife。 〃Do you think hecares for the money？ Those few dollars he can earn a hundred timesover； and most likely he'll get a rich wife into the bargain。 If wehad children of our own； husband； our child should be an architect anda professor too。〃
George was spoken well of in the cellar； and he was spoken well ofin the first floor。 The old Count took upon himself to do that。
The pictures he had drawn in his childhood gave occasion for it。But how did the conversation e to turn on these pictures？ Why； theyhad been talking of Russia and of Moscow； and thus mention was made ofthe Kremlin； which little George had once drawn for Miss Emily。 He haddrawn many pictures； but the Count especially remembered one； 〃Emily'sCastle；〃 where she was to sleep； and to dance； and to play atreceiving guests。
〃The Professor was a true man；〃 said the Count； 〃and would be aprivy councillor before he died； it was not at all unlikely； and hemight build a real castle for the young lady before that time came：why not？〃
〃That was a strange jest；〃 remarked the General's lady； when theCount had gone away。 The General shook his head thoughtfully； and wentout for a ride； with his groom behind him at a proper distance； and hesat more stiffly than ever on his high horse。
It was Emily's birthday。 Flowers； books； letters； and visitingcards came pouring in。 The General's lady kissed her on the mouth； andthe General kissed her on the forehead； they were affectionateparents； and they and Emily had to receive grand visitors； two ofthe Princes。 They talked of balls and theatres； of diplomaticmissions； of the government of empires and nations； and then theyspoke of talent； native talent； and so the discourse turned upon theyoung architect。
〃He is building up an immortality for himself；〃 said one； 〃andhe will certainly build his way into one of our first families〃。
〃One of our first families！〃 repeated the General and afterwardsthe General's lady； 〃what is meant by one of our first families？〃
〃I know for whom it was intended；〃 said the General's lady； 〃but Ishall not say it。 I don't think it。 Heaven disposes； but I shall beastonished。〃
〃I am astonished al