saidthegeneral.

"'tislikeparadisehere,"saidthegeneral'slady,"andyonderyouhaveaknight'scastle!"

"that'smypoultry-house,"observedthecount."thepigeonsliveinthetower,theturkeysinthefirstfloor,butoldelsierulesinthegroundfloor.shehasapartmentsonallsidesofher.thesittinghenshavetheirownroom,andthehenswithchickenshavetheirs;andtheduckshavetheirownparticulardoorleadingtothewater."

"charming!"repeatedthegeneral.

andallsailedforthtoseethesewonderfulthings.oldelsiestoodintheroomonthegroundfloor,andbyhersidestoodarchitectgeorge.heandemilynowmetforthefirsttimeafterseveralyears,andtheymetinthepoultry-house.

yes,therehestood,andwashandsomeenoughtobelookedsfacewasfrankandenergetic;hehadblackshininghair,andasmileabouthismouth,whichsaid,"ihaveabrowniethatsitsinmyear,andknowseveryoneofyou,insideandout."oldelsiehadpulledoffherwoodenshoes,andstoodthereinherstockings,todohonortothenobleguests.thehensclucked,andthecockscrowed,andtheduckswaddledtoandfro,andsaid,"quack,quack!"butthefair,palegirl,thefriendofhischildhood,thedaughterofthegeneral,stoodtherewitharosyblushonherusuallypalecheeks,andhereyesopenedwide,andhermouthseemedtospeakwithoututteringaword,andthegreetinghereceivedfromherwasthemostbeautifulgreetingayoungmancandesirefromayounglady,iftheyarenotrelated,orhavenotdancedmanytimestogether,andsheandthearchitecthadneverdancedtogether.

thecountshookhandswithhim,andintroducedhim.

"heisnotaltogetherastranger,ouryoungfriendgeorge."

thegeneral'sladybowedtohim,andthegeneral'sdaughterwasverynearlygivinghimherhand;butshedidnotgiveittohim.

"ourlittlemastergeorge!"saidthegeneral."oldfriends!charming!"

"youhavebecomequiteanitalian,"saidthegeneral'slady,"andipresumeyouspeakthelanguagelikeanative?"

"mywifesingsthelanguage,butshedoesnotspeakit,"observedthegeneral.

atdinner,georgesatattherighthandofemily,whomthegeneralhadtakendown,whilethecountledinthegeneral'slady.

mr.georgetalkedandtoldofhistravels;andhecouldtalkwell,andwasthelifeandsoulofthetable,thoughtheoldcountcouldhavebeenittoo.emilysatsilent,butshelistened,andhereyesgleamed,butshesaidnothing.

intheverandah,amongtheflowers,sheandgeorgestoodtogether;therose-bushesconcealedthem.andgeorgewasspeakingagain,forhetooktheleadnow.

"manythanksforthekindconsiderationyoushowedmyoldmother,"hesaid."iknowthatyouwentdowntoheronthenightwhenmyfatherdied,andyoustayedwithhertillhiseyeswereclosed.myheartiestthanks!"

hetookemily'shandandkissedit-hemightdosoonsuchanoccasion.sheblusheddeeply,butpressedhishand,andlookedathimwithherdearblueeyes.

"yourmotherwasadearsoul!"shesaid."howfondshewasofherson!andsheletmereadallyourletters,sothatialmostbelieveiknowyou.howkindyouweretomewheniwaslittlegirl!youusedtogivemepictures."

"whichyoutoreintwo,"saidgeorge.

"no,ihavestillyourdrawingofthecastle."

"imustbuildthecastleinrealitynow,"saidgeorge;andhebecamequitewarmathisownwords.

thegeneralandthegeneral'sladytalkedtoeachotherintheirroomabouttheporter'sson-howheknewhowtobehave,andtoexpresshimselfwiththegreatestpropriety.

"hemightbeatutor,"saidthegeneral.

"intellect!"