[CHAPTER IV]
ON THE WAY
Oh, what is that country,
And where can it be?—Rossetti.
If Fraulein heard what Leonore said, she did not seem surprised, for though she did not, of course, know about the little girl's curious dream, she knew that Hildegarde's coming had been freely talked about the evening before. But she was very astonished a moment later when Hildegarde, looking up quietly, said with a smile—
'I have come to meet you. I was sure I should.'
'My dear child!' exclaimed Fraulein. 'How could you know? The fairies must have told you!'
The little stranger smiled again.
'This is Leonore,' she said, taking the other child's hand. 'Grandmamma told me her name, but grandmamma did not know I should meet you'; and she shook her head with a funny little air of mystery.