"Ja, ja, dear Fräulein Marianne, please excuse me. I was so happy when I heard that the Herr Professor was to come to the new University here in Berlin and that the Gracious Frau Mother would need me again."
Marianne smiled, and then, lifting her hand to stop conversation, for she heard someone, she called out:
"Ilse, Elsa, here, come, bring your offerings here!"
In came the twins, tall like Bettina, and quite young ladies, but as much alike as ever.
In their hands were trinkets, books, needlework and laces.
"Here," they said, and placed them on the table. Then catching sight of Bettina, they cried: "Your hair, oh, Bettina! Your lovely, lovely hair!"
"It was all I had," said Bettina blushing. "They tell me it will sell and for much money."
Carl came out next, a tall young fellow now with a faint moustache to foretell his manhood.
"This is all I have, dear sister," and he added to the pile a little purse, some books, and a pair of pistols, once his grandfather's.
Madame von Stork followed, her hair gray now, her face lined with sorrow. In her arms was a pile of fine embroideries, linen and lace-trimmed table covers. In one hand was a box of jewels, in the other the amethyst necklace her sister Erna had worn to the marriage of Princess Frederika.