Rolf sat a little way off under the ash-tree, and studied his Latin lesson.  Wili sat by his side, meaning to study his little piece, but first he looked at the birds in the branches, and then at the laborers in the field, and then at the red apples upon the tree, for Wili loved visible things, and it was only with the greatest difficulty, and generally with Lili’s assistance, that he could get the invisible into his little head.  Consequently, his afternoon study usually turned to a continuous observation of the surrounding landscape.

Jule also seemed inclined to pass his time in looking about him instead of reading aloud, for he did not open his book, but allowed his eyes to wander in all directions, particularly towards his sister.

“Paula,” he said at last, “the expression of your countenance to-day is as if you were a wandering collection of vexations.”

“Oh, do read to us, Jule; then we shall have something more agreeable than these similes which nobody can understand the meaning of.”

“It would be nicer if you would read, Jule,” added her mother, “but I must say too, Paula, that you have been for the last few days so short and snappish that I should really like to know what is amiss with you.  You seem out of sorts with every one about you.”

“But mamma, with whom can I have any real companionship?  I have not a single friend in all Tannenburg.  I have nobody in all the world with whom I can be intimate.”

The mother suggested that Paula might be a little more friendly with her sister Lili, and also with Miss Hanenwinkel.  But Paula declared, that Lili was much too young, and the governess much too old.  The latter was really only twenty, but to Paula she seemed very old indeed.  For girls to be intimate, she declared they must be of the same age, so that they could thoroughly understand each other’s feelings, and they must be always together.  Without such a friend Paula said there was no real pleasure in life, for a girl needed some one to whom she could confide her secrets, and who would tell her own in return.

“Yes, Paula is at the romantic age,” said her brother.  “I am sure that for a long time she has peeped into every field flower to see if it would not suddenly unfurl a hidden banner, and turn into a Joan of Arc.  Every little mole that she sees in the fields, she half suspects may wear a seal-ring on his little finger, and be a Gustavus Vasa in disguise, searching amid the mole-hills for his lost kingdom.”

“Do not be so teasing, Jule,” said his mother reprovingly.  “There is certainly something very delightful in such an intimacy as Paula describes.  I had such an experience myself, and the memory of that happy time is dear to me even now!”

“Oh, do tell us again about your dear friend Lili, mamma,” exclaimed Paula, who had often heard her mother speak of this intimate friendship, and had indeed formed her own ideal upon that model.  Lili also joined her sister in begging for the story, and even more urgently, for she knew nothing about this friend, although she bore the same name.