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Nothing daunted； however； he went on：
〃Couldn't we shake all that？〃
The look of wonder returned。 〃Shake all that？〃 she repeated。 〃I
do not understand。〃
〃Well！ I'm not positively aching to see cows； and you must be sick
of showing them。 I think； too； I've about sized the whole show。
Wouldn't it be better if we sat down in that arborsupposing it
won't fall downand you told me all about the lot？ It would save
you a heap of trouble and keep your pretty frock cleaner than
trapesing round。 Of course；〃 he said； with a quick transition to
the gentlest courtesy； 〃if you're conscientious about this thing
we'll go on and not spare a cow。 Consider me in it with you for
the whole morning。〃
She looked at him again； and then suddenly broke into a charming
laugh。 It revealed a set of strong white teeth； as well as a
certain barbaric trace in its cadence which civilized restraint had
not entirely overlaid。
〃I suppose she really is a peasant； in spite of that pretty frock；〃
he said to himself as he laughed too。
But her face presently took a shade of reserve； and with a gentle
but singular significance she said：
〃I think you must see the dairy。〃
Hoffman's hat was in his hand with a vivacity that tumbled the
brown curls on his forehead。 〃By all means；〃 he said instantly；
and began walking by her side in modest but easy silence。 Now that
he thought her a conscientious peasant he was quiet and respectful。
Presently she lifted her eyes； which； despite her gravity； had not
entirely lost their previous mirthfulness； and said：
〃But you Americansin your rich and prosperous country； with your
large lands and your great harvestsyou must know all about
farming。〃
〃Never was in a dairy in my life；〃 said Hoffman gravely。 〃I'm from
the city of New York； where the cows give swill milk； and are kept
in cellars。〃
Her eyebrows contracted prettily in an effort to understand。 Then
she apparently gave it up； and said with a slanting glint of
mischief in her eyes：
〃Then you come here like the other Americans in hope to see the
Grand Duke and Duchess and the Princesses？〃
〃No。 The fact is I almost tumbled into a lot of 'emstanding like
wax figuresthe other side of the park lodge； the other dayand
got away as soon as I could。 I think I prefer the cows。〃
Her head was slightly turned away。 He had to content himself with
looking down upon the strong feet in their serviceable but smartly
buckled shoes that uplifted her upright figure as she moved beside
him。
〃Of course；〃 he added with boyish but unmistakable courtesy； 〃if
it's part of your show to trot out the family； why I'm in that；
too。 I dare say you could make them interesting。〃
〃But why；〃 she said with her head still slightly turned away toward
a figurea sturdy…looking woman； which； for the first time；
Hoffman perceived was walking in a line with them as the chasseur
had done〃why did you come here at all？〃
〃The first time was a fool accident；〃 he returned frankly。 〃I was
making a short cut through what I thought was a public park。 The
second time was because I had been rude to a Police Inspector whom
I found going through my things； but who apologizedas I suppose
by getting me an invitation from the Grand Duke to come here； and I
thought it only the square thing to both of 'em to accept it。 But
I'm mighty glad I came； I wouldn't have missed YOU for a thousand
dollars。 You see I haven't struck anyone I cared to talk to
since。〃 Here he suddenly remarked that she hadn't looked at him；
and that the delicate whiteness of her neck was quite suffused with
pink； and stopped instantly。 Presently he said quite easily：
〃Who's the chorus？〃
〃The lady？〃
〃Yes。 She's watching us as if she didn't quite approve； you know
just as if she didn't catch on。〃
〃She's the head housekeeper of the farm。 Perhaps you would prefer
to have her show you the dairy； shall I call her？〃
The figure in question was very short and stout； with voluminous
petticoats。
〃Please don't； I'll stay without your setting that paperweight on
me。 But here's the dairy。 Don't let her come inside among those
pans of fresh milk with that smile； or there'll be trouble。〃
The young girl paused too； made a slight gesture with her hand； and
the figure passed on as they entered the dairy。 It was beautifully
clean and fresh。 With a persistence that he quickly recognized as
mischievous and ironical； and with his characteristic adaptability
accepted with even greater gravity and assumption of interest； she
showed him all the details。 From thence they passed to the
farmyard； where he hung with breathless attention over the names of
the cows and made her repeat them。 Although she was evidently
familiar with the subject； he could see that her zeal was fitful
and impatient。
〃Suppose we sit down；〃 he said； pointing to an ostentatious rustic
seat in the center of the green。
〃Sir down？〃 she repeated wonderingly。 〃What for？〃
〃To talk。 We'll knock off and call it half a day。〃
〃But if you are not looking at the farm you are； of course； going；〃
she said quickly。
〃Am I？ I don't think these particulars were in my invitation。〃
She again broke into a fit of laughter； and at the same time cast a
bright eye around the field。
〃Come；〃 he said gently； 〃there are no other sightseers waiting； and
your conscience is clear；〃 and he moved toward the rustic seat。
〃Certainly notthere；〃 she added in a low voice。
They moved on slowly together to a copse of willows which overhung
the miniature stream。
〃You are not staying long in Alstadt？〃 she said。
〃No； I only came to see the old town that my ancestors came from。〃
They were walking so close together that her skirt brushed his
trousers； but she suddenly drew away from him； and looking him
fixedly in the eye said：
〃Ah； you have relations here？〃
〃Yes； but they are dead two hundred years。〃
She laughed again with a slight expression of relief。 They had
entered the copse and were walking in dense shadow when she
suddenly stopped and sat down upon a rustic bench。 To his surprise
he found that they were quite alone。
〃Tell me about these relatives；〃 she said； slightly drawing aside
her skirt to make room for him on the seat。
He did not require a second invitation。 He not only told her all
about his ancestral progenitors； but； I fear； even about those more
recent and more nearly related to him； about his own life； his
vocationhe was a clever newspaper correspondent with a roving
commissionhis ambitions； his beliefs and his romance。
〃And then； perhaps； of this visityou will also make 'copy'？〃
He smiled at her quick adaptation of his professional slang； but
shook his head。
〃No；〃 he said gravely。 〃Nothis is YOU。 The CHICAGO INTERVIEWER
is big pay and is rich； but it hasn't capital enough to buy you
from