“My dear Titus, you are growing younger every day.  We will certainly stay longer,” said Aunt Ninette decidedly, “just as long as we conveniently can.  I’m sure even the doctor did not expect such good results from one country visit; it is almost miraculous!”

Dora lost no time in carrying the enchanting news of this decision to Paula, for in her inmost heart she had been very unhappy at the thought of going away so soon.  How could she live, away from all this dear family with whom she had learned to feel so entirely at home?  She thought that when the day of separation came her heart would surely break.

When the good news of Dora’s longer stay among them spread through the family, there was general rejoicing, and the little girl was in danger of being fairly hugged to death by her friends.

That evening after the children were all safely in bed, and Miss Hanenwinkel had withdrawn to her own room, Mr. and Mrs. Birkenfeld sat together upon the sofa, talking.  This was the only quiet time that they could count upon in the course of the day, when they could talk over the needs, the pleasures and the pains, of their large and busy family.  They were talking now about the decision of their new friends, and Mrs. Birkenfeld expressed her great satisfaction with it, adding,

“I cannot bear to think of losing Dora.  She has grown very dear to me.  What a real blessing that child has been in the family!  She leaves her mark wherever she goes, and always for good.  Wherever I turn I find some new evidence of her beneficial influence.  And to me personally she is particularly attractive; I can’t understand exactly why, but whenever I look into her eyes, I feel as if I had known her for a long time, and as if we had been sympathetic friends in days gone by.”

“Ah, my dear wife, how often I have heard you say that whenever you feel a particular friendship for any one.  I recollect perfectly that after we had known each other a little while, you said it seemed to you as if we had been intimately acquainted some time before.”

“Well, suppose I did, you most incorrigible tease,” said his wife, “you cannot convince me to the contrary, nor can you take away the fact that Dora is dear and delightful, not only to me, but to all the family besides.  Paula goes about beaming like the sunshine, and with no trace of her usual discontent.  Jule pulls off his own riding-boots without stirring up the whole house about it; Rolf is so full of interest in his pursuits that he has not a moment of idleness all day long; Lili has developed a love for music and a talent for playing the piano, that we never dreamed she possessed; and little Hunne has become so gentle and so contented at his games, that it is a pleasure just to look at the child.”

“I think too,” said Mr. Birkenfeld, “that it is because of Dora’s being with us, that there has been a cessation of those mischievous pranks that the twins were always at, and that kept the house in a constant state of excitement.”