Liza nodded.
"Then I shall take your photographs," he said.
While they had been speaking, Catharina rose from her seat, and passed into the house.
Her mother followed her, and watched her go into the kitchen.
"I should like to cook the forellen," she said very quietly.
It was months since she had done anything in the house. The old mother's heart beat with pleasure.
"Catharina, my best loved child!" she whispered; and she gathered the poor suffering soul near to her.
In about half an hour the Disagreeable Man and Bernardine sat down to their meal. Robert Allitsen had ordered a bottle of Sassella, and he was just pouring it out when Catharina brought in the forellen.
"Why, Catharina," he said, "you don't mean you've cooked them? Then they will be good!" She smiled, and seemed pleased, and then went out of the room.
Then he told Bernardine her history, and spoke with such kindness and sympathy that Bernardine was again amazed at him. But she made no remark.