"I would do it very readily," said the little lady seriously, "but I am not pretty enough for him with my insignificant little face and my snub nose. I shall marry some day a rich city man, who will be impressed with our old nobility--for the Strummins are as old as the island, you know--some Herr Schulze or Müller or Schmidt. By-the-bye, what is the name of the officer who came with you?"
"Schmidt--Reinhold Schmidt."
"No; you are joking!"
"No, really; but he is not an officer."
"Not an officer? But how is he a captain then?"
"He is captain of a ship."
"In the navy?"
"Only a merchant-captain."
"No! you don't say so!"
It came out so comically, and Meta clasped her little hands in such naïve amazement, that Elsa could not help laughing, and laughed all the more to hide the blush of confusion which rose to her cheek.