“I will not disturb you,” replied Lynn. “I will go down in the shop.”
“But no,” returned the Fräulein, coaxingly. “Will you not stay with me? I am with the loneliness when mine brudder is away. You will sit with me? Yes? It will be most kind!”
Thus entreated, he could not refuse, and he sat down in the parlour, awkward and ill at ease. His hostess at once proceeded to entertain him.
“You think it will rain, yes?” she asked.
“Yes, I think so.”
“Well, I do not,” returned the Fräulein, smiling. “I always think the best. Let us wait and see which is right.”
“We need rain,” objected Lynn, turning uneasily in his chair.
“But not when mine brudder is out. He and the Herr Doctor will have gone for a long drive. Mine brudder have finished one fine violin and the Herr Doctor will visit the sick. Mine brudder’s friend possesses great skill.”
Lynn looked moodily past her and out of the window. The Fräulein changed her tactics. “You have not seen mine new clothes-brush,” she suggested.
“No,” returned Lynn, unthinkingly, “I haven’t.”