She
had as her only ornament a pale gold band in her hair, and wore a
simple dress of light-flowered material, the high waistband fitting
close to the girlish figure. Conventionality began to assert its
rights over nature, and the girl too felt confused at finding
herself in the middle of a conversation with a strange man, suddenly
shot down at her very feet. Wilhelm understood and shared her
embarrassment, and bowing, he said:
"As no doubt we are at the same house, allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Wilhelm Eynhardt. I come from Berlin, and took up my
abode an hour ago at the Schloss hotel."
"From Berlin," said the girl quickly; "then we are neighbors. That
is very nice. And where do you live in Berlin, if I may ask?"
"In Dorotheenstrasse."
"Of course you do," and a clear laugh deepened the shadow of her
dimples.
"Why 'of course?'" asked Wilhelm, rather surprised.
"Why, because that is our Latin quarter, and as a student--you are a
student, I suppose?"
"Yes, and no. In the German sense I am no longer a student, for I
took my degree a year ago; but the word in English is better and
truer, as there 'student' is used where we should say scholar
(gelehrter). Scholars we are, not only learners. In the English
sense then I am a student, and hope to remain so all my life.
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