ghly pleased； and consequently； when aweek had elapsed； George sent her a few more pictures； all withbuildings in them； for； you see； she could imagine all sorts of thingsinside the windows and doors。
He drew a Chinese house； with bells hanging from every one ofsixteen stories。 He drew two Grecian temples with slender marblepillars； and with steps all round them。 He drew a Norwegian church。 Itwas easy to see that this church had been built entirely of wood； hewnout and wonderfully put together； every story looked as if it hadrockers； like a cradle。 But the most beautiful of all was thecastle； drawn on one of the leaves； and which he called 〃Emily'sCastle。〃 This was the kind of place in which she must live。 That iswhat George had thought； and consequently he had put into thisbuilding whatever he thought most beautiful in all the others。 Ithad carved wood…work； like the Norwegian church； marble pillars；like the Grecian temple； bells in every story； and was crowned withcupolas； green and gilded； like those of the Kremlin of the Czar。 Itwas a real child's castle； and under every window was written what thehall or the room inside was intended to be； for instance： 〃HereEmily sleeps；〃 〃Here Emily dances；〃 〃Here Emily plays at receivingvisitors。〃 It was a real pleasure to look at the castle； and rightwell was the castle looked at accordingly。
〃Charming！〃 said the General。
But the old Count… for there was an old Count there； who was stillgrander than the General； and had a castle of his own… said nothing atall； he heard that it had been designed and drawn by the porter'slittle son。 Not that he was so very little； either； for he had alreadybeen confirmed。 The old Count looked at the pictures； and had hisown thoughts as he did so。
One day； when it was very gloomy； gray； wet weather； the brightestof days dawned for George； for the Professor at the Academy called himinto his room。
〃Listen to me； my friend；〃 said the Professor； 〃I want to speak toyou。 The Lord has been good to you in giving you abilities； and He hasalso been good in placing you among kind people。 The old Count atthe corner yonder has been speaking to me about you。 I have alsoseen your sketches； but we will not say any more about those； forthere is a good deal to correct in them。 But from this time forwardyou may e twice a…week to my drawing…class； and then you willsoon learn how to do them better。 I think there's more of thearchitect than of the painter in you。 You will have time to think thatover； but go across to the old Count this very day； and thank Godfor having sent you such a friend。〃
It was a great house… the house of the old Count at the corner。Round the windows elephants and dromedaries were carved； all fromthe old times； but the old Count loved the new time best； and whatit brought； whether it came from the first floor； or from thecellar； or from the attic。
〃I think；〃 said； the porter's wife； 〃the grander people are； thefewer airs do they give themselves。 How kind and straightforward theold count is！ and he talks exactly like you and me。 Now； the Generaland his lady can't do that。 And George was fairly wild with delightyesterday at the good reception he met with at the Count's； and soam I to…day； after speaking to the great man。 Wasn't it a good thingthat we didn't bind George apprentice to a handicraftsman？ for hehas abilities of his own。〃
〃But they must be helped on by others；〃 said the father。
〃That help he has got now；〃 rejoined the mother； 〃for the Countspoke out quite clearly and distinctly。〃
〃But I fancy it began with the General；〃 said the father； 〃andwe must thank them too。〃
〃Let us do so with all my heart；〃 cried the mother； 〃though Ifancy we have not much to thank them for。 I will thank the good God；and I will thank Him； too； for letting little Emily get well。〃
Emily was getting on bravely； and George got on bravely too。 Inthe course of the year he won the little silver prize medal of theAcademy； and afterwards he gained the great one too。
〃It would have been better； after all； if he had beenapprenticed to a handicraftsman；〃 said the porter's wife； weeping；〃for then we could have kept him with us。 What is he to do in Rome？I shall never get a sight of him again； not even if he es back； butthat he won't do； the dear boy。〃
〃It is fortune and fame for him；〃 said the father。
〃Yes； thank you； my friend；〃 said the mother； 〃you are saying whatyou do not mean。 You are just as sorrowful as I am。〃
And it was all true about the sorrow and the journey。 Buteverybody said it was a great piece of good fortune for the youngfellow。 And he had to take leave； and of the General too。 TheGeneral's lady did not show herself； for she had her bad headache。On this occasion the General told his only anecdote； about what he hadsaid to the Prince； and how the Prince had said to him； 〃You areinparable。〃 And he held out a languid hand to George。
Emily gave George her hand too； and looked almost sorry； andGeorge was the most sorry of all。
Time goes by when one has something to do； and it goes by； too；when one has nothing to do。 The time is equally long； but notequally useful。 It was useful to George； and did not seem long at all；except when he happened to be thinking of his home。 How might the goodfolks be getting on； up stairs and down stairs？ Yes； there was writingabout that； and many things can be put into a letter… brightsunshine and dark； heavy days。 Both of these were in the letterwhich brought the news that his father was dead； and that his motherwas alone now。 She wrote that Emily had e down to see her； andhad been to her like an angel of fort； and concerning herself；she added that she had been allowed to keep her situation asporteress。
The General's lady kept a diary； and in this diary was recordedevery ball she attended and every visit she received。 The diary wasillustrated by the insertion of the visiting cards of the diplomaticcircle and of the most noble families； and the General's lady wasproud of it。 The diary kept growing through a long time； and amid manysevere headaches； and through a long course of half…nights； that is tosay； of court balls。 Emily had now been to a court ball for thefirst time。 Her mother had worn a bright red dress； with black lace；in the Spanish style； the daughter had been attired in white； fair anddelicate； green silk ribbons fluttered like flag…leaves among heryellow locks； and on her head she wore a wreath of water…lillies。Her eyes were so blue and clear； her mouth was so delicate and red；she looked like a little water spirit； as beautiful as such a spiritcan be imagined。 The Princes danced with her； one after another ofcourse； and the General's lady had not a headache for a weekafterwards。
But the first ball was not the last； and Emily could not stand it；it was a good thing； therefore； that summer brought with it rest；and exercise in the open air。 The family had been invited by the oldCount to visit him at him castle。 That was a castle with a gardenwhich was worth seeing。 Part of this garden was laid out quite inthe style of the old days； with stiff green hedges； you walked as ifbetween green walls with peep…holes in them。 Box trees and yew treesstood there trimmed into the form of star