cial
origin I could vie in elegance and manner with my lady in Berlin--now
that you know me, you can understand what a tempting prospect this
afforded.

"I persuaded my guardian to pay me my share of our little inheritance
and the net proceeds of our furniture at once. I intended to keep the
few hundred thalers for pocket money in the great city, or use it at
once if my outfit should not be presentable. During the year that I
wore mourning for my parents and was alone nearly all day, I had put my
wardrobe in order as well as I could. But who could tell what the
baroness would say to it? Well, I needn't have troubled myself about
her. I liked her very well, and also the house and children---I could
not have desired anything better. But unfortunately I pleased her too
well; for scarcely had we exchanged a few words, during which she
scanned me from head to foot, when she said with the greatest
cordiality: 'My dear Fraeulein, I regret having given you unnecessary
trouble. But you're far too pretty, to enter a house where there are
grown up sons and a great many young people going in and out. You would
turn the heads of some or perhaps all of them, and there would be
murders and homicides to pay. Don't take my frankness amiss, but I know
my circle, and moreover am ready to indemnify you for breaking the
engagement.'

"There was nothing to take amiss, and so fifteen minutes after I was
again standing in the street below, entirely alone, and without even
knowing the name of a hotel where it would be proper for me to stay;
for in my bewilderment, I had not thought of asking the baroness, who
seemed very anxious to get rid of me before the aforesaid grown up sons
came home.

"On one course, however, I was positively determined: not to go back to
my former poverty in the little nest of gossips, where on Sundays the
very flies dropped from the walls out of pure weariness, and during the
week nothing was talked about but cooking, washing and saving--I would
rather have drowned myself. And who missed me at home? Who needed me?
Who would have been particularly glad to see me again? I should only
have found malicious faces, taunts, and probably even heard evil
interpretations of my unlucky expedition.

"As for the first time in my life, I walked in perfect freedom through
the streets, and the elegant ladies rustled past me, the carriages
rolled through the Unter den Linden, and the shop windows glittered
with the most beautiful