I often do it, and it pleases me when the lightning strikes, and dashes my hard old head to the ground, but does not hurt me at all--Farewell, Herr Moritz, the lightning-rod must go in." Trude entered suddenly and noiselessly the sitting-room, and interrupted the angry reproaches which Frau von Werrig hurled against Marie in a furious stream of words.

The countess's rage turned against Trude, who stared as if to challenge her.

"What do you want?
How dare you enter uncalled ?" "I thought you were calling deaf old Trude, or why did you scream so ?" replied Trude, tartly.
"Perhaps it was the general.

Ah! there lies the poor, dear old man, groaning and crying, and nobody has any pity for him." "Ah! Trude, it is good luck that you are here," whined the general.

"No one troubles himself about me.