At that moment the door opened, and a sprightly little man with white hair leapt into the room. When he saw Katharine, he stood speechless at first and then advanced running. "Signorina, the adorable and illustrious Signorina once more!" he cried. "Ah, what joy, what delight to see you here!" "Signor Luigi," she exclaimed, "how glad I am to see you again!" "Ah," he cried, as he shook both her hands time after time, and then lightly kissed them, "the world have changed places with Heaven. I have not forgot you one leetle minute. See here, my pocket-book, your gift, nearest my faithful heart. And the bow, 'my Queen,' here she is—under my faithful arm. Ah, she is a treasure. We chosed her well—you and 'brother' and I. Yes, that was a splendid idea of mine!" "Yes, it was brilliant," Katharine said, laughing. "How often I have laughed over it. How often I have thought of you all. And you see I have kept my word, and come back on quartette-night." [35] [35] "The last quartette-night," he said. "But never mind. It will be an adorable finishing-up. And we will play extra beautiful for the Signorina. I will make my violoncello sing superb. The others—they shall be nowhere!" The door opened once more, and a stately-looking German came in carrying his violin case. He had bushy hair and a fierce moustache. "Guten Abend, Signor," he said. "Guten Abend. It is sehr kalt to-night. Meine Finger——" Then suddenly he saw Katharine, and Signor Luigi was only just in time to prevent the violin case from falling to the ground. "Lieber Himmel!" he cried. "I do see my distinguished pupil." "Distinguished for my ignorance and impatience, Herr Edelhart, wasn't it?" said Katharine, greeting him. "And for wunderbar charm," added the German fervently. "Ah, I have had no one so distinguished for that. The others have had a little talent or none—generally none—and no charm. But Fräulein's wunderbar charm—it could not be described—only felt. Ah, and how himmlisch that you are come back. My violin shall sing her very best to-night. She shall inspire herself to welcome Fräulein. The others shall be nowhere! They——"
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