What is the matter? Clara is very lively."

"Mr. Sesemann," began the lady with weighty
earnestness, " Clara is also concerned ; we have been
awfully deceived."

" How so ? " asked Mr. Sesemann, calmly drinking
his tea.
" We had decided, as you know, Mr. Sesemann,
to have a playmate for Clara in the house, and as I
knew how particular you were to have your daughter
associate only with a good and noble companion, 1
had my mind on a young Swiss girl in the hopes of
seeing one of those persons whom I had so often
read about — one who had sprung in the mountain air.
MR. SESEMAN RECEIVES STRANGE NEWS. 129

SO to speak, and goes through life without touching
the earth."

" I believe," remarked Mr. Sesemann, " that the
Swiss children touch the earth, if they intend to
move along, else they would have wings instead of
feet."

"Oh, Mr. Sesemann, you understand what 1
mean," added the Miss ; " I meant one of those well,
known figures living in the clear high mountain
regions, and which pass by us like an ideal breath."

" But what would my Clara do with an ideal
breath. Miss Eottenmeier ? "

^' No, Mr. Sesemann, I am not joking ; the matter
is more serious to me than you think. I have been
deceived frightfully ! really quite dreadfully de-
ceived ! "

" But where is the dreadfulness ? The child does
not look so very frightful," remarked Mr. Sese-
mann calmly.
