ⅩⅦ
Measured by the expectations of a poor－born child，Peer now led a prosperous，pleasant life．He was so welloff that，as Felix once hadsaid，he could give a big **for his friends．He thought of it，and thought of histwoearliest friends，his mother and his grandmother．For themand himself he provided a festival．
It was wonderful spring weather，and the two old peo－ple were going to drive with him out of town and see a littlecountryplace that the singing master had recently bought．As hewas seating himself in the carriage，a woman camealonghumbly clad，about thirty years old；she had a noterecommending her，signed byMadam Hof．
"Don't you know me？"she said．"Little Curly－head，they used to call me．The curls are gone；there isso much that is gone；but there arestill good peopleleft．We two have appeared together inthe ballet．Youhave become better off than I．You have become a greatman．I am nowseparated from two husbands and no
longer at the theater．"
The note requested a sewing machine for her．
"In what ballet have we two performed together？"askedPeer．
"In the Tyrant of Padua，"she replied．"We wereboth pages，in blue velvet andberets．Don't you rememberlittle Malle Knallerup？I walked right behind you in theprocession．
"And stepped on the side of my foot！"saidPeer，laughing．
"Did I？"she said．"ThenI took too long a step．But you have gone far ahead ofme．You have understoodhow to use your head instead ofyour legs．"And sheloked coquettishly at him withher melancholy face，quitesure she had paid him a wittycompliment．Peer was agenerous fellow．She should have the sewing machine，hepromised．Little Malle had indeed been one of those whoin pariticular haddriven him out of the ballet into a morefortunate career．
He was soon outside the merchant's house，andhe thenascended the stairs to his mother's and hisgrandmother's．They were in their best clothes，andby chancethey had a visit from Madam Hof，who wasat once invitedto drive with them；whereupon she hadquite a strugglewith herself，which ended in her send－ing a note to Herr Hof to inform him that she hadaccepted theinvitation．
"Such fine greeting Peer gets！"she said．
"How stylishy we are driving！"said Mother．
"And in such a beautiful，comfortable carriage，"said Grandmother．
Near the town，close to the royal park，stood a cozylittle house，surrounded by vinesand roses，hazels andfruit trees．Here the carriage stopped．This was the coun－try house．They were received by an old womanwell ac－quainted with Mother and Grandmother；she had oftenhelped them with their washing and ironing．
The garden was inspected，and the house was in-spected．There was one particularly charming thing—alittleglasshouse with beautiful flowers in it．It was con－nected with the sitting room；the slidingdoor betweencould be pushed right into the wall．
"That is just like a coulisse on the stage，"saidMadamHof．"It moves by band．Andone can sit herejust as in a bird cage，with chickweedall about．It iscalled a winter garden．"
The bedroom was equally delightful in its way．Therewere long，heavy curtains at the windows，soft car－pets，andtwo armchairs so comfortable that Mother andGrandmother must try them．
"One would get very lazy sitting in them，"saidMother
"One loses his weight，"said Madam Hof．"Indeed，here you two music people canrest comfortably after yourtheatrical labors．I havealso known what they are！Yes，believeme，I can still dream of doing high kicks，and Hofdoes high kicks by my side！Is it notcharming—'twosouls and one thought'！"
"The air is fresher here，and there is more room，than in the two small rooms up in the garret，"said Peerwith beaming eyes．
"That there is，"said Mother．"Still，home is nice，too．There you were born，my sweet boy，and there I livedwith yourfather．"
"It is better here，"said Grandmother．"Here youhave a whole mansion．I do notbegrudge you and that no－ble man，the singing master，this home of peace．"
"Then I do not begrudge you this，Grandmother，andyou，my dear blessed mother！You two shall always livehere，and not，as in town，walk up so many steps and beinsuch narrow and small quarters．You shall have a ser－vant to help you and shall see me as often as in town．Areyou happy about it？Are you content withit？"
"What is all this the boy stands here and says！"saidMother．
"The house，the garden—it'sall yours，Mother，andyours，Grandmother！To be able to give you this iswhat Ihave striven for．My friend the singing master hasfaithfullyhelped me with getting it ready．"
"What is all this you are saying，child！"exclaimedthe mother．"You want togive us a gentleman's mansion！You sweet boy！Yes，you would do it if you could！"
"I am serious，"he said．"The house is yours andGrandmother's．"Hekissed them both，and they burst intotears．Madam Hof shed just as many．It is thehappiestmoment of my life！exclaimed Peer，as he embraced allthree of them．
And now they had to see everything all over again，sinceit was their own．They now had that beautifullittleglasshouse in which to put their five or six pot plants fromthe garretroof．Instead of a little cupboard，they had herea great roomy pantry，and thekitchen was a complete，warm little chamber．The chimney bad an oven and cook-ing stove；itlooked like a great，shining flatiron，saidMother．
"Now you have a fireside corner just like I have！"saidMadam Hof．"This is magnificent！You have attainedall that people can attain on this earth，and you，too，myown，popular friend！"
"Not all！"said Peer．
"The little wife will come along！"said ModamHof．"I have her already for you！I feel sure I know who sheis！But I shallkeep my mouth shut．You wonderful man！Isn't all this like a ballet！"Shelaughed with tears in hereyes，and so did Mother andGrandmother．
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