`` Make your room bright with these . When one is ill nothing is so cheering as the sight of flowers . '' Meantime the others had descended and gone their separate ways . As Karl crossed the courtyard a little child ran to meet him with outstretched arms and a shout of satisfaction . He caught it up and carried it away on his shoulder , like one used to caress and be caressed by children . Helen , waiting at the door of the tower while the major dusted his coat , saw this , and said , suddenly , directing his attention to man and child , -- `` He seems fond of little people . I wonder if he has any of his own . '' `` Hoffman ? No , my dear ; he 's not married ; I asked him that when I engaged him . '' `` And he said he was not ? '' `` Yes ; he 's not more than five or six-and-twenty , and fond of a wandering life , so what should he want of a wife and a flock of bantlings ? '' `` He seems sad and sober sometimes , and I fancied he might have some domestic trouble to harass him . Do n't you think there is something peculiar about him ? '' asked Helen , remembering Hoffman 's hint that her uncle knew his wish to travel incognito , and wondering if he would throw any light upon the matter . But the major 's face was impenetrable and his answer unsatisfactory . `` Well , I do n't know . Every one has some worry or other , and as for being peculiar , all foreigners seem more or less so to us , they are so unreserved and demonstrative . I like Hoffman more and more every day , and shall be sorry when I part with him . '' `` Ludmilla is his sister , then , or he did n't tell uncle the truth . It is no concern of mine ; but I wish I knew , '' thought Helen anxiously , and then wondered why she should care .
A feeling of distrust had taken possession of her and she determined to be on the watch , for the unsuspicious major would be easily duped , and XXXXX trusted more to her own quick and keen eye than to his experience .
Helen Hoffman Karl Ludmilla arms bantlings day something ways worry