Nino therefore went home with a heavy heart, longing to explain to Hedwig why he had been tied to the baroness,--that it was the price of her silence and of the privilege he had enjoyed of giving lessons to the contessina; but knowing also that all explanation was out of the question for the present.

When he was gone Hedwig and the baroness were left together.
"It must have been a great surprise to you, my dear," said the elder lady kindly.
"What ?" "That your little professor should turn out a great artist in disguise.

It was a surprise to me, too,--ah, another illusion destroyed.

Dear child! You have still so many illusions,--beautiful, pure illusions.

Dieu! how I envy you!" They generally talked French together, though the baroness knows German.