Thefairstranger\'snamewasFannyLovelace。Thisnamepronounced/Loveless/isthatofanoldEnglishfamily，butRichardsonhasgivenittoacreationwhosefameeclipsesallothers!MissLovelacehadcometosettlebythelakeforherfather\'shealth，thephysicianshavingrecommendedhimtheairofLucerne。ThesetwoEnglishpeoplehadarrivedwithnootherservantthanalittlegirloffourteen，adumbchild，muchattachedtoMissFanny，onwhomshewaitedveryintelligently，andhadsettled，twowinterssince，withmonsieurandMadameBergmann，theretiredhead-gardenersofHisExcellencyCountBorromeoofIsolaBellaandIsolaMadreintheLagoMaggoire。TheseSwiss，whowerepossessedofanincomeofaboutathousandcrownsayear，hadletthetopstoryoftheirhousetotheLovelacesforthreeyears，atarentoftwohundredfrancsayear。OldLovelace，amanofninety，andmuchbroken，wastoopoortoallowhimselfanygratifications，andveryrarelywentout；hisdaughterworkedtomaintainhim，translatingEnglishbooks，andwritingsomeherself，itwassaid。TheLovelacescouldnotaffordtohireboatstorowonthelake，orhorsesandguidestoexploretheneighborhood。
PovertydemandingsuchprivationasthisexcitesallthegreatercompassionamongtheSwiss，becauseitdeprivesthemofachanceofprofit。ThecookoftheestablishmentfedthethreeEnglishboardersforahundredfrancsamonthinclusive。InGersauitwasgenerallybelieved，however，thatthegardenerandhiswife，inspiteoftheirpretensions，usedthecook\'snameasascreentonetthelittleprofitsofthisbargain。TheBergmannshadmadebeautifulgardensroundtheirhouse，andhadbuiltahothouse。Theflowers，thefruit，andthebotanicalraritiesofthisspotwerewhathadinducedtheyoungladytosettleonitasshepassedthroughGersau。MissFannywassaidtobenineteenyearsold；shewastheoldman\'syoungestchild，andtheobjectofhisadulation。AbouttwomonthsagoshehadhiredapianofromLucerne，forsheseemedtobecrazyaboutmusic。
\"Shelovesflowersandmusic，andsheisunmarried!\"thoughtRodolphe；
\"whatgoodluck!\"
ThenextdayRodolphewenttoaskleavetovisitthehothousesandgardens，whichwerebeginningtobesomewhatfamous。Thepermissionwasnotimmediatelygranted。Theretiredgardenersasked，strangelyenough，toseeRodolphe\'spassport；itwassenttothematonce。Thepaperwasnotreturnedtohimtillnextmorning，bythehandsofthecook，whoexpressedhermaster\'spleasureinshowinghimtheirplace。