r behind him； and leftMr。 George standing alone。 George stood still for a few minutes； andthen turned round and left the room。 Emily was standing in thecorridor。
〃My father has answered？〃 she said； and her voice trembled。
George pressed her hand。
〃He has escaped me；〃 he replied； 〃but a better time will e。〃
There were tears in Emily's eyes； but in the young man's eyesshone courage and confidence； and the sun shone through the window；and cast his beams on the pair； and gave them his blessing。
The General sat in his room； bursting hot。 Yes； he was stillboiling； until he boiled over in the exclamation； 〃Lunacy！ porter！madness！〃
Not an hour was over before the General's lady knew it out ofthe General's own mouth。 She called Emily； and remained alone withher。
〃You poor child；〃 she said； 〃to insult you so！ to insult us so！There are tears in your eyes； too； but they bee you well。 Youlook beautiful in tears。 You look as I looked on my wedding…day。Weep on； my sweet Emily。〃
〃Yes； that I must；〃 said Emily； 〃if you and my father do not say'yes。'〃
〃Child！〃 screamed the General's lady； 〃you are ill！ You aretalking wildly； and I shall have a most terrible headache！ Oh； whata misfortune is ing upon our house！ Don't make your mother die；Emily； or you will have no mother。〃
And the eyes of the General's lady were wet； for she could notbear to think of her own death。
In the newspapers there was an announcement。 〃Mr。 George hasbeen elected Professor of the Fifth Class； number Eight。〃
〃It's a pity that his parents are dead and cannot read it；〃 saidthe new porter people； who now lived in the cellar under the General'sapartments。 They knew that the Professor had been born and grown upwithin their four walls。
〃Now he'll get a salary；〃 said the man。
〃Yes； that's not much for a poor child；〃 said the woman。
〃Eighteen dollars a year；〃 said the man。 〃Why； it's a good deal ofmoney。〃
〃No； I mean the honor of it；〃 replied the wife。 〃Do you think hecares for the money？ Those few dollars he can earn a hundred timesover； and most likely he'll get a rich wife into the bargain。 If wehad children of our own； husband； our child should be an architect anda professor too。〃
George was spoken well of in the cellar； and he was spoken well ofin the first floor。 The old Count took upon himself to do that。
The pictures he had drawn in his childhood gave occasion for it。But how did the conversation e to turn on these pictures？ Why； theyhad been talking of Russia and of Moscow； and thus mention was made ofthe Kremlin； which little George had once drawn for Miss Emily。 He haddrawn many pictures； but the Count especially remembered one； 〃Emily'sCastle；〃 where she was to sleep； and to dance； and to play atreceiving guests。
〃The Professor was a true man；〃 said the Count； 〃and would be aprivy councillor before he died； it was not at all unlikely； and hemight build a real castle for the young lady before that time came：why not？〃
〃That was a strange jest；〃 remarked the General's lady； when theCount had gone away。 The General shook his head thoughtfully； and wentout for a ride； with his groom behind him at a proper distance； and hesat more stiffly than ever on his high horse。
It was Emily's birthday。 Flowers； books； letters； and visitingcards came pouring in。 The General's lady kissed her on the mouth； andthe General kissed her on the forehead； they were affectionateparents； and they and Emily had to receive grand visitors； two ofthe Princes。 They talked of balls and theatres； of diplomaticmissions； of the government of empires and nations； and then theyspoke of talent； native talent； and so the discourse turned upon theyoung architect。
〃He is building up an immortality for himself；〃 said one； 〃andhe will certainly build his way into one of our first families〃。
〃One of our first families！〃 repeated the General and afterwardsthe General's lady； 〃what is meant by one of our first families？〃
〃I know for whom it was intended；〃 said the General's lady； 〃but Ishall not say it。 I don't think it。 Heaven disposes； but I shall beastonished。〃
〃I am astonished also！〃 said the General。 〃I haven't an idea in myhead！〃 And he fell into a reverie； waiting for ideas。
There is a power； a nameless power； in the possession of favorfrom above； the favor of Providence； and this favor little George had。But we are forgetting the birthday。
Emily's room was fragrant with flowers； sent by male and femalefriends； on the table lay beautiful presents for greeting andremembrance； but none could e from George… none could e fromhim； but it was not necessary； for the whole house was full ofremembrances of him。 Even out of the ash…bin the blossom of memorypeeped forth； for Emily had sat whimpering there on the day when thewindow…curtain caught fire； and George arrived in the character offire engine。 A glance out of the window； and the acacia treereminded of the days of childhood。 Flowers and leaves had fallen；but there stood the tree covered with hoar frost； looking like asingle huge branch of coral； and the moon shone clear and largeamong the twigs； unchanged in its changings； as it was when Georgedivided his bread and butter with little Emily。
Out of a box the girl took the drawings of the Czar's palace andof her own castle… remembrances of George。 The drawings were lookedat； and many thoughts came。 She remembered the day when； unobserved byher father and mother； she had gone down to the porter's wife wholay dying。 Once again she seemed to sit beside her； holding thedying woman's hand in hers； hearing the dying woman's last words：〃Blessing George！〃 The mother was thinking of her son； and now Emilygave her own interpretation to those words。 Yes； George wascertainly with her on her birthday。
It happened that the next day was another birthday in thathouse； the General's birthday。 He had been born the day after hisdaughter； but before her of course… many years before her。 Manypresents arrived； and among them came a saddle of exquisiteworkmanship； a fortable and costly saddle… one of the Princes hadjust such another。 Now； from whom might this saddle e？ TheGeneral was delighted。 There was a little note with the saddle。 Now ifthe words on the note had been 〃many thanks for yesterday'sreception；〃 we might easily have guessed from whom it came。 But thewords were 〃From somebody whom the General does not know。〃
〃Whom in the world do I not know？〃 exclaimed the General。 〃Iknow everybody；〃 and his thoughts wandered all through society； for heknew everybody there。 〃That saddle es from my wife！〃 he said atlast。 〃She is teasing me… charming！〃
But she was not teasing him； those times were past。
Again there was a feast； but it was not in the General's house； itwas a fancy ball at the Prince's； and masks were allowed too。
The General went as Rubens； in a Spanish costume； with a littleruff round his neck； a sword by his side； and a stately manner。 TheGeneral's lady was Madame Rubens； in black velvet made high roundthe neck； exceedingly warm； and with a mill…stone round her neck inthe shape of a great ruff… accurately dressed after a Dutch picture inthe possession of the General； in which the hands were especiallyadmired。 They were just like the