The gentlemen were comfortably smoking in the veranda, after dinner; and Alexander, who sat on the steps, half hidden by a large syringa-bush in full bloom, flushed deeply at Pohlen’s words.  In a sharp tone of reprimand, he said: 

“My friend, Creole is a term which is not at all agreeable to some people; for the rest, flattery is often another name for insult; perhaps the young lady considered yours as such.”

“Do you think so?” drawled out Pohlen.  “That is altogether a new thing to me.  A lady of higher quality would at least have known how to receive homage offered to her; and a second time I will not put up with a rebuff from this Moravian girl, but will treat her as she does me.”

Alexander colored with anger, and his blood boiled.  It was only by a powerful effort that he controlled himself sufficiently to answer in a tolerably calm voice: 

“A lady of higher quality?  Higher quality presupposes greater merit, and you will do well to bear in mind, Herr von Pohlen, that this lady is my mother’s guest, and, as such, is under my most special protection.  Any mortification or insult inflicted on her is also inflicted on me.”

“Gentlemen, I beg the conversation may not become serious, but retain the bantering tone in which I began it.  Let what has been said lead to nothing unpleasant,” interrupted the general, in a pacifying manner.  “Herr von Pohlen will, of course, remember what he owes to the inmates of this hospitable mansion.  You two fortunate knights must vie with each other as to who shall win the favor of this young maiden, who is as beautiful as a dream.  For myself, I lament nothing so much as my sixty years, which prevent me from entering the lists with you.”

Alexander rose as the old man finished speaking, and as he passed down the steps, said: 

“If agreeable, let us find the ladies now, General; they are, I think, awaiting us on the lawn.”

He paused abruptly, for at the foot of the steps stood Carmen, as if irresolute whether to advance or withdraw.  She had evidently heard the foregoing conversation, for she was very pale and trembled slightly.  The young officer descended quickly toward her, as she raised her head, and calmly waited for him to pass.  As he came up to where she stood, she whispered softly: 

“I thank you!” and a gentle glance from the beautiful black eyes thrilled him with pleasure.  Then seeing the other gentlemen preparing to descend also, her face became suffused with blushes.

“I came to find a cushion for Frau von Trautenau,” she remarked confusedly.

“Allow me, Fraulein Carmen, to take it to my mother,” said Alexander, coming to her assistance; and he ran back, upstairs, as she hastened away.

Games were now arranged on the lawn, and Fraulein von Bergen, a merry maiden, soon had every one actively engaged in them.  There were familiar ones, which Carmen had often played at school with the day-pupils; but how different they seemed here, when the gentlemen took part in them!  Carmen could never have been as unrestrained as the general’s daughter; but she laughed merrily and enjoyed it all, contenting herself with allowing Adele to catch her, and carefully avoiding any contact with the others.