"No, sir,--doctor!--Can I call you doctor? We give names to everything, why should you be the exception?" And she smiled.
It was the first time that he had seen her smile, and it enchanted him.
"If, then, it is so hard not to call me by name, christen me yourself. There are kindly titles invented by friendship or good will. Am I not worthy, in your stern sight, of any of these?"
"Oh, none that I could find would be worthy of you, you are so kind, so--oh, yes! I have a title for you!"
"Well? I am curious."
"Kind sir!--will you allow that?"
"Ah, my dear Fräulein Hartwich, it is you who are too kind."
Ernestine smiled again. A fleeting blush tinged her cheek.
Johannes looked at her. "Do you know that you seem much more cheerful than when I saw you last?"
"Thanks to your skill, kind sir."