Maria had not mounted the stairs so joyously for weeks as she did to-day.

She would have sung, had it been seemly, though she felt a little anxious; for perhaps her husband would not think she had done right to invite, on her own authority, a stranger, especially a sick stranger, who was a friend of Spain, to be their guest.
As she passed the dining-room, she heard the gentlemen consulting together.

Then Peter began to speak.

She noticed the pleasant depth of his voice, and said to herself that Henrica would like to hear it.

A few minutes after she entered the apartment, to greet her husband's guests, who were also hers.