Again she looked at him inquiringly.
“No; it did not make me think differently of him. But what can I do?”
“You cannot do better than try to like him as fast as possible.”
“If he had only a von before his name!” she observed sorrowfully.
“Why, what difference would that make?”
“If he were noble, I should not mind the difference of age. My mamma was a countess!” she added, proudly.
“Then, why not wish him to be a count at once?”
“No; that I could not expect, as I have no fortune, and papa is not a von.”
“I should like to know the exact meaning of this von.”
“It is the first grade of nobility; then comes ritter or chevalier; then baron, count, prince, duke. I wonder how mamma could have married any one who was not a count or baron; but then papa was so very handsome, and that makes a great difference!”