Astheydrewinamongthebroadvine-webbedslopesoftheWurzburg，hills，thestrangersaidshewasgoingtochangethere，andtakeatrainontoBerlin。Mrs。Marchwonderedwhethershewouldbeabletokeepupthecomedytothelast；andshehadtoownthatshecarrieditoffveryeasilywhenthefriendswhomshewasexpectingdidnotmeetheronthearrivaloftheirtrain。SherefusedMarch’soffersofhelp，andremainedquietlyseatedwhilehegotouttheirwrapsandbags。ShereturnedwithahardysmilethecoldleaveMrs。Marchtookofher；andwhenaportercametothedoor，andforcedhiswaybytheMarches，toaskwithanxiousservilityifshe，weretheBaronessvon——，shebadethemangetthem。
a’traeger’，andthencomebackforher。Shewavedthemacomplacentadieubeforetheymixedwiththecrowdandlostsightofher。
“Well，mydear。”saidMarch，addressingthesnobbishnessinhiswifewhichheknewtobesowhollyimpersonal，“you’vemingledwithonehighhote，anyway。Imustsayshedidn’tlookit，anymorethantheDukeandDuchessofOrleans，andyetshe’sonlyabaroness。Thinkofourbeingthreehoursinthesamecompartment，andshedoingallshecouldtoimpressusandourgettingnogoodofit！Ihopedyouwerefeelingherquality，sothatweshouldhaveitinthefamily，anyway，andalwaysknowwhatitwaslike。Butsofar，thehighhoteshaveallbeenterriblydisappointing。”
Heteasedonastheyfollowedthetraegerwiththeirbaggageoutofthestation；andintheomnibusonthewaytotheirhotel，herecurredtothelosstheyhadsufferedinthebaroness’sfailuretodramatizehernobilityeffectually。“Afterall，perhapsshewasasmuchdisappointedinus。Idon’tsupposewelookedanymorelikedemocratsthanshelookedlikeanaristocrat。”
“Butthere’sagreatdifference。”Mrs。Marchreturnedatlast。“Itisn’tatallaparallelcase。Wewerenotrealdemocrats，andshewasarealaristocrat。”