"But what, then?"
"Oh, you must call me Anna. We are to be like sisters here—and you, too, please, call me Anna," she said, turning to the baroness.
"You are very good," said the baroness.
"Well, my little sister," said Frau von Treumann, smiling, "my baby sister——"
"Baby sister!" thought the baroness. "Excellent Treumann."
"—you know an old woman of my age could not really have a sister of yours."
"Yes, she could—not a whole sister, perhaps, but a half one."
"Well, as you please. The idea is sweet to me. I was going to ask you—but Karlchen's letter is too touching, really—such thoughts in it—such high ideals——" And she turned over the sheets, of which there were three, and began to blow her nose.
"He has written you a very long letter," said Anna pleasantly; the extent to which the nose blowing was being carried made her uneasy. Was there to be crying?
"You have a cold, dear Frau von Treumann?" inquired the baroness with solicitude.