“My father’s too practical for all that. All he has time for is politics and diplomacy.”

“My father is practical too. But perhaps in a different way. He’s the most levelheaded man I know, though I think Brigitte and Uncle Otto consider him a country provincial. I don’t think they care enough about us even to despise us. I’m sure they all chuckle amongst themselves whenever we leave after a visit.”

“Do you really think so?”

“The rest of the family considers us odd. But Papa and Mama and I don’t mind. We love our life in the country, whatever they may think of it.”

They had reached the small fishpond and now sat down on the garden bench beside it.

“So tell me more about your life in the country, as you call it,” said Matthew.

“We have milk cows—Papa loves the cows—and lots of horses—do you ride?”

“Not much.”

“Oh, but you must do more of it then. There’s no better way to see the country than on horseback!”

“It’s not so easy to do when you’re stuck in the middle of Berlin. What else?”

“Fields and fields of wheat and rye and barley—oh, and the most fabulous garden in all of Germany. I wish I could take you through it right now. It’s nothing like these potted and cut flowers of Uncle Otto’s.”

“He’s got lots of nice plump goldfish,” said Matthew with fun in his tone.

“You’re right. And this pond is larger than any of the small ponds in our garden. But I’ll trade goldfish for trees and hedges anytime. It’s a real garden… people get lost in it!”

“Lost? Are you kidding?” laughed Matthew.

“No, it’s enormous. I tell you, people lose their direction and can’t find their way back to the house!”

“I would like to see it. That sounds like a challenge I’d enjoy taking.”

“Are you fond of flowers and plants?” asked Sabina.

“No more than anything else. They’re OK, I suppose.”

“Oh, I love them… especially roses. Papa’s rose garden sits right in the center and is the best part of the whole Spring Garden.”

“I don’t know much about roses, though they’re pretty and smell nice.”

The look on Sabina’s face was almost one of shock. “That’s all you have to say about them!” she replied.

As she spoke, her hands and eyes, even her feet were in constant animation accompanying her words. Does she ever sit still? he wondered.

“They are the most magnificent of all the flowers,” she went on. “The more you know of roses, the more you cannot help loving them. And the more you know of roses, the more you discover… well, about life and God… and everything. They are one of the most special things God has made in all his creation.”