He said: "No; I am one of those dreadful Yankees you have
possibly read about."

Her teeth gleamed. "Yes, I have heard of them. But you do not
appear so very dreadful; though at present you are truly not at
your best. What is this--this Yankeeland like?"

"It would take me ever so long to tell you about it, it is such
a great country."

"You are a patriot!" clapping her hands. "No other country is so
fine and large and great as your own. But tell me, is it as
large as Austria?"

"Austria? You will not be offended if I tell you?"

"No."

"Well," with fun in his eyes, "it is my opinion that I could
hide Austria in my country so thoroughly that nobody would ever
be able to find it again." He wondered how she would accept this
statement.

She lifted her chin and laughed, and the bulldog wagged his tail,
as he always did when mirth touched her. He jumped up beside
Maurice and looked into his face. Maurice patted his broad head,
and he submitted. The girl looked rather surprised.

"Are you a magician?" she asked.