They had not been long in the garden before they saw the two handsome children coming hand in hand down the broad alley.
"Oh, how charming it is!" exclaimed the little girl, delighted. "I never saw anything so charming!"
"And is it not charming," said the boy, "that your governess is still poorly, and that my tutor is gone a journey, and so we have a holiday?"
At this moment they saw Fritz and Mina, who stepped somewhat embarrassed aside.
"Do you live in the garden?" inquired the little girl.
"No, young gentry," returned Mina, to whom no other title suggested itself, and she curtseyed.
"My name is Meta," said the little girl with frank simplicity; "and his name is Hugo," added she, pointing to her brother, "but where, then, do you live?"
"At Steinheim, fifteen miles from here," said Fritz, in his straightforward manner, and perfectly self-possessed. "We are now on a visit to my godmother, Mrs. Dote, the castle housekeeper, during our holidays."
"Indeed! we also have holiday," said Hugo. "Do you know of any bird nests? I have never seen a bird's nest."
"I know of one," returned Fritz, somewhat hesitatingly, "but——"