CHAPTER I.
THE NEW HOME.
Winter was over and gone.

The early summer roses had opened again, and raised their heads high about the villa on the Rhine.

They glowed and blossomed in all the garden-beds, and glistened in the sunshine, and sent their sweet perfume far and near on every breeze.

On the pebbly path that led down from the splashing fountain to the lindens by the river, Fani and Elsli scampered back and forth, drinking in the fragrant air.
"Do you know where Mrs.Stanhope's house gets its name ?" asked Fani, as he stood by a bed of flowers, watching with delight the airy butterflies flitting from blossom to blossom, and then floating away as in ecstacy up into the blue air.
"Of course I do," answered Elsli; "it is called Rosemount because there are so many rose-bushes stretching from up here way down to the lindens." "Well, that's true; but there's nothing melancholy about it," said Fani, reproachfully.

"What makes you look so sad, Elsli?
You almost always look sad nowadays, and it isn't right, for I'm sure there's no reason for it.