"It depends upon yourself, then," said the lady, accepting the independent speech in good part, "not upon others."
"Mainly upon myself; but I have springs that can be set in motion, if one can only find out how to play upon them. I was told you were coming."
"Indeed!" with an air of pleasant surprise. "By whom, and when?"
"By whom? The white shadows. When? In my dreams."
"The white shadows! They exist then! Edward, do you hear?"
"It is not so, my lady," interposed Mother Denise, in ill-humour at the turn the conversation was taking; "the shadows do not exist, despite what people say. Fritz is over-fond of fooling."
"It is my trade," retorted Fritz. "I know what I know, grandmother."
"Is Fritz your grandson, then?" asked the Advocate's wife, of Mother Denise.
"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Mother Denise.
"What is not," remarked Fritz sententiously, "may be. Bear that in mind, grandmother; I may remind you of it one day."