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 had said，he could give a big **for his friends.He thought of it，and thought of his twoearliest 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 littlecountry place that the singing master had recently bought.As he was seating himself in the carriage，a woman camealong humbly clad，about thirty years old;she had a noterecommending her，signed by Madam 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 are still good peopleleft.We two have appeared together in the ballet.Youhave become better off than I.You have become a greatman.I am now separated 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?"asked Peer.
"In the Tyrant of Padua，"she replied."We wereboth pages，in blue velvet and berets.Don't you rememberlittle Malle Knallerup?I walked right behind you in theprocession.
"And stepped on the side of my foot!"said Peer，laughing.
"Did I?"she said."Then I took too long a step.But you have gone far ahead of me.You have understoodhow to use your head instead of your legs."And sheloked coquettishly at him with her melancholy face，quitesure she had paid him a witty compliment.Peer was agenerous fellow.She should have the sewing machine，hepromised.Little Malle had indeed been one of those whoin pariticular had driven him out of the ballet into a morefortunate career.
He was soon outside the merchant's house，andhe then ascended the stairs to his mother's and hisgrandmother's.They were in their best clothes，andby chance they had a visit from Madam Hof，who wasat once invited to drive with them;whereupon she hadquite a struggle with herself，which ended in her send-ing a note to Herr Hof to inform him that she hadaccepted the invitation.
"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 vines and roses，hazels andfruit trees.Here the carriage stopped.This was the coun-try house.They were received by an old woman well 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—alittle glasshouse with beautiful flowers in it.It was con-nected with the sitting room;the sliding door betweencould be pushed right into the wall.
"That is just like a coulisse on the stage，"saidMadam Hof."It moves by band.And one can sit herejust as in a bird cage，with chickweed all about.It iscalled a winter garden."
The bedroom was equally delightful in its way.There were long，heavy curtains at the windows，soft car-pets，and two armchairs so comfortable that Mother andGrandmother must try them.
"One would get very lazy sitting in them，"said Mother
"One loses his weight，"said Madam Hof."Indeed，here you two music people can rest comfortably after yourtheatrical labors.I have also known what they are!Yes，believe me，I can still dream of doing high kicks，and Hofdoes high kicks by my side!Is it not charming—'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 your father."