Our Own Set

ing in his studio on a divan covered with a picturesque Persian rug and endeavoring--having for the moment nothing better to do--to te

l's works of art like illustrations cut out of a picture book. The scirocco brooded in the atmosphere and the general was out of sorts; he could not get on with his painting, and though it was now a quarter to five not a visitor had

onious effect of grey tone and horses seen from behind. All his pictures returned to him from the exhibitions unsold, excepting one which was purchased by the emperor in consideration of the general's former merits as a soldier rather

hat he had discovered a very fine though much damaged piece of tapestry in a convent, and had bought it for a mere song; he had in fact purchased it for the general because he knew that it was just such a specimen as

wished he could lead such a life--in which there were no evening parties, routs, balls or dinners. Next he wandered round the room looking at all the studies that hid their faces against the wall. "Charming!" "Superb!" he kept exclaiming i

up,' "but you know I am independent in my aims, I set my face against making concess

at this profe

"my advice is that you should never attempt it, but leave all your

te in earnest in his desire to sell his

beauty and his artistic convictions, and he heeded not the requirements of his customers--he would make nothing bu

ud rap was again heard which seems to be traditional at a studio door; it is supposed to be neces

s no sooner opened than in flitted a slender creature, fair and blooming,

neral delightedly. "This is a surpr

morning," answe

in astonishment, as Zinka shut the d

arriage--it was very nice of me do not you think?--Why, what a face to make!... And why have you not given me a kiss. Uncle Klinger?" She stoo

desperately punctilious as to the proprieties when any lady in whom he took an interest was implicated, "I am ch

ncle Sterzl used always to say that it was of no use to worry about it; that if people were ladies and gentlemen everything was proper, and if they we

"tell me at least where you are living before you whisk

his studio. Oh, the vanity of men! Who can foresee its limits!--But I am perfectly reasonable, I acknowledge my mistake--simpleton that I am!... And I have been looking forward all day to taking you by surprise. I meant to ask you to dine with us at the Hotel de l'Europe and to come with me f

ch crest-fallen. A voice

disgrace

e whole scene from a recess, and who

e shortly, beginning

is this despotic

-daughter, Z

h Zinka at first sight. And when a few days after Zinka's irruption into the general's studio the old gentleman accepted an invitation to dine with the Barones

consequence--the little party was as gay and pleasant as was po

efore she, or rather her children, had become rich through an advantageous sale of part of their land, and this of course added to the charms of her society. She was perpetually complaining in a tone of feeble elegance--the sleeping-carriages were intolerable, the seats were so badly stuffed, Rome was so dirty, the hotels were so bad, the conveyances so miserable; she brought in the names of all t

int's day?" she asked. "The company is u

hed for her follies on

Zinka?" he said to ch

exclaimed she, coloring slightly; she evidently did not like this allusion

etheart?" asked her brother,

d in a tone of deep melancholy w

k or a medal blessed by th

thing much mo

But Zinka burst out laughing. "No, no, somet

t what his fascinating little sister wou

rribly disappointed," he said, and Zinka went

ged to see it. My Rome was a suburb of Heaven, but this Rome is a su

said the general, who alway

is more interesting as a museum of antiquities with life-size illustra

ted Zinka, casting down her eye

rtment fit to live in. Wherever we go there is some drawback; the stairs are too dark, or

"if you really have seen nothing of Rome excep

lse," cried Zinka, "indeed, I kn

our d

erday; mamma had

aroness putting her salts to her no

good style in the baroness's estimation. Sempaly put on a symp

corner, a driver signed to us--so, with his first finger. In we got and he asked us where we wished to go, but as I had no answer ready he said with the most paternal air: 'Ah! the signora wants to see Rome--good, I will show her Rome!' And he set off, round and round and in and out, all through the city. I was positively giddy with this waltz round all the sights of Rome. He showed me a perfect forest of fallen pillars, with images of gods and fragments of sculpture carefully heaped round them, like Christmas boxes for lovers of antiquities--'the Campo Vaccino,' h

the baroness looked anyt

riends with a common driver and in the second, that you will not drive about Rome in a Botta

oth sensitive an

a Botta? said Sterzl, who rubbed his mother the wrong way from morning till

tta driver, but if you will allow me, I will do my

ur way about?" asked the

u," replied Sempaly laughing; "my only serious occupa

ve. Not so Sterzl, who was himself too painfully alive to her aristocratic airs and pretensions. However, the society of his sister, whom he adored, had put him into the best of humors; he launched forth a

, as she sang the melancholy, dreamy strains of her native land. Sterzl, who always yawned all through an opera, listened to her singing, his head resting on his hand, in a sort of ecstasy. In

wn, with her song, she suddenly struck up an air by Lecocq that she had heard Judic sing at Nice. The word

ernation, "you really are incredible--w

general. But Zinka stopped short; her face

empaly; then he tenderly stroked her golden head with his large, firm hand, saying: "

first words were: "Tell me, how is it that with such a fool of a m