n obeying the voice
of his heart; and the young lady, who soon observed what havoc she had
made with the glance designed for the old soldier, felt the situation
piquant and not unpleasing.

The passers-by, who, of course, at once saw what was going on (be it
observed that this is one of the few scenes of life in which the leading
actors are quite unconscious of their audience), thought, for the most
part, that the comedy was amusing to witness. They looked round and
smiled to themselves; for they all knew that either it would lead
to nothing, in which case it was only the most innocent of youthful
amusements; or it would lead to an engagement, and an engagement is the
most delightful thing in the world.

While they thus pursued their course at a fitting distance, now on the
same sidewalk and now on opposite sides of the street, Cousin Hans had
ample time for reflection.

As to the fact of his being in love he was quite clear. The symptoms
were all there; he knew that he was in for it, in for real, true,
genuine, love; and he was happy in the knowledge. Yes, so happy was
Cousin Hans that he, who at other times was apt to stand upon his
rights, accepted with a quiet, complacent smile all the jostlings and
shoves, the smothered objurgations and other unpleasantnesses, which
inevitably befall any one who rushes hastily along a crowded street,
keeping his eyes fixed upon an object in front of him.

No--the love was obvious, indubitable. That settled, he tried to
picture to himself the beloved one's, the heavenly creature's, mundane
circumstances. And there was no great difficulty in that; she had been
walking with her old father, had suddenly discovered that it was past
twelve o'clock, and had hastily said good-bye for the present, in order
to go home and see to the dinner. For she was doubtless domestic, this
sweet creature, and evidently motherless.

The last conjecture was, perhaps, a result of the dread of
mothers-in-law inculcated by all reputable authors; but it was none the
less confident on that account. And now it only remained for Cousin Hans
to discover, in the first place, where she lived, in the second place
who she was, and in the third place how he could make her acquaintance.

Where she lived he would soon learn, for was she not on her way home?
Who she was, he could easily find out from the neighbors. And as for
making her acquaintance--good heavens! is not a little difficulty an
indispensable part of