e in the light-green frock--fresh as spring,
airy as a butterfly, he called it--the refrain of an old ditty rose to
his lips, and he sang it with great enjoyment:

"Hope's clad in April green--
Trommelommelom, trommelommelom,
Tender it's vernal sheen--
Trommelommelom, trommelommelom."

This verse seemed to him eminently suited to the situation, and he
repeated it over and over again--now in the waltz-time of the old
melody, now as a march, and again as a serenade--now in loud, jubilant
tones, and then half whispering, as if he were confiding his love and
his hope to the moon and the silent groves.

Cousin Ola was almost sick; for, great as was his respect for his
brother's singing, he became at last so dog-tired of this April-green
hope and this eternal "Trommelommelom" that it was a great relief to him
when they at last arrived at the Sheriff's.

The afternoon passed as it always does on such occasions; they all
enjoyed themselves mightily. For most of them were in love, and those
who were not found almost a greater pleasure in keeping an eye upon
those who were.

Some one proposed a game of "La Grace" in the garden. Cousin Hans
rushed nimbly about and played a thousand pranks, threw the game into
confusion, and paid his partner all sorts of attentions.

Cousin Ola stood at his post and gave his whole mind to his task; he
caught the ring and sent it off again with never failing precision.
Ola would have enjoyed himself, too, if only his conscience had not so
bitterly upbraided him for his nefarious love for his brother's "future
wife."

When the evening began to grow cool the party went in-doors, and the
dancing began.

Ola did not dance much at any time, but to-day he was not at all in
the humor. He occupied himself in observing Hans, who spent the whole
evening in worshipping his lady-love. A spasm shot through Ola's heart
when he saw the light-green frock whirl away in his brother's arms, and
it seemed to him that they danced every dance together.

At last came the time for breaking up. Most of the older folks had
already taken their departure in their respective carriages, the
young people having resolved to see each other home in the delicious
moonlight.

But when the last galop was over, the hostess would not hear of the
young ladies going right out into the evening air, while they were still
warm with dancing. She therefore decreed half an hour for cooling down,
and, to occu