"Hard for uncle, hard for tante, hard for Twonette--very hard for Twonette." She spoke jestingly, but one might easily see her emotion.
"And you, Fraeulein ?" he asked smilingly.
"I--I dare not say how hard it has been for me, Little Max.

Do you not see?
I fear--I fear I shall--weep--if I try to tell you.

I am almost weeping now.

I fear I have grown gray because of it," she answered, closing with a nervous laugh.

Max, too, could hardly speak.