After a pause she continued:-- "I am sure you are not ashamed of your birthplace, and--" He interrupted her sharply:-- "I also am sure I am not ashamed of it." "If you had permitted me to finish," she said quietly, "you would have had no need to speak so sharply.

I spoke seriously.

I wanted to say that I am sure you have no reason to feel ashamed of your birthplace, and that perhaps I ought not to have asked a question that you evidently do not want to answer.

Uncle says if my curiosity were taken from me, there would be nothing left but my toes." Her contrition melted Max at once, and he said:-- I will gladly tell you, Fraeulein, if you want to know.

I was born--" "No, no," she interrupted, "you shall not tell me.