“Fraulein,” said the little German girl, gravely, “I do not think the lady who came this morning would bring you any ill fortune, for she spoke with such gentleness when she asked about you.”

“When she asked about me?  What was she like, then, this black messenger?”

“How could I see, Fraulein?—­her veil was so thick.  But her hair was gray; I could see that.  And she had a beautiful figure—­not quite as tall as you, Fraulein; I watched her as she went away.”

“I am not sure that it is safe, Anneli, to watch the people whom Santa Claus sends,” the young mistress said, lightly.  “However, you have not told me what the strange lady said to you.”

“That will I now tell you, Fraulein,” said the other, with an air of importance.  “Well, when I heard the knock at the door, I went instantly; I thought it was strange to hear a knock so early, instead of the bell.  Then there was the lady; and she did not ask who lived there, but she said, ’Miss Lind is not up yet?  But then, Fraulein, you must understand, she did not speak like that, for it was in English, and she spoke very slowly, as if it was with difficulty.  I would have said, ‘Will the gnadige Frau be pleased to speak German?’ but I was afraid it might be impertinent for a maid-servant to address a lady so.  Besides, Fraulein, she might have been a French lady, and not able to understand our German.”

“Quite so, Anneli.  Well?”

“Then I told her I believed you were still in your room.  Then she said, still speaking very slowly, as if it was all learned, ’Will you be so kind as to put those flowers just outside her room, so that she will get them when she comes out?’ And I said I would do that.  Then she said, ’I hope Miss Lind is very well;’ and I said, ‘Oh yes.’  She stood for a moment just then, Fraulein, as if not knowing whether to go away or not; and then she asked again if you were quite well and strong and cheerful, and again I said, ‘Oh yes;’ and no sooner had I said that than she put something into my hand and went away.  Would you believe it, Fraulein? it was a sovereign—­an English golden sovereign.  And so I ran after her and said, ‘Lady, this is a mistake,’ and I offered her the sovereign.  That was right, was it not, Fraulein?”

“Certainly.”

“Well, she did not speak to me at all this time.  I think the poor lady has less English even than I myself; but she closed my hand over the sovereign, and then patted me on the arm, and went away.  It was then that I looked after her.  I said to myself, ’Well, there is only one lady that I know who has a more beautiful figure than that—­that is my mistress.’  But she was not so tall as you, Fraulein.”

Natalie Lind paid no attention to this adroit piece of flattery on the part of her little Saxon maid.

“It is very extraordinary, Anneli,” she said, after awhile; then she added, “I hope the piece of gold you have will not turn to dust and ashes.”