CHAPTER VI.
A FRIGHTFUL DEED.
It was a beautiful, bright Sunday morning.

In the garden all was peaceful and lovely.

No sound broke the perfect stillness, save when now and then a rosy-cheeked apple fell to the ground, for the apples were ripening fast in the autumn sun.
Mr.and Mrs.Birkenfeld had gone to church, and with them Paula and Miss Hanenwinkel.

In the sitting-room, Jule and Hunne were harmoniously discussing over a big dish of hazel-nuts, in how many different ways they could make the nutcracker crack a nut.

The twins, since the lesson they had had in the wash-house, had returned contented to the mimic ark, with its wooden men and women, and they were now playing with it on the school-room table, which they had all to themselves to-day.