ingale. Just think, the dear innocent child wouldn't compromise
herself by taking an excursion with me _tete-a-tete_. She insisted that
her friend Christiane must go too, or she would stay at home. Now the
excellent musician is really very disagreeable to me, for the express
reason that she trains young and lively talent to virtue and Sebastian
Bach. But what was I to do? The little one laconically told me we would
be taken for husband and wife, wedded in true burgher fashion, and I
gave up the point. So I went to Fraeulein Christiane to invite her,
wondering in case she accepted, whom I should ask as the fourth man--a
pleasure party of three is absurd of course. I thought of you for a
moment. Would you have come? Well, when I went into her room, I found
Heinrich, the dissatisfied, sitting at her piano, talking his
contradictory little tattle. Do you know I think he has designs in that
quarter despite the ugliness of his sweetheart. What could I do but
offer him the fourth seat in the carriage? I hoped he would say no, for
as you're aware, he can't endure me. But _quod non_! he eagerly
accepted, and so far everything has passed off charmingly. We're in
high spirits, even before the champagne, and what fire-works of wit
will be let off afterwards no one can tell. You'll come in just at the
right moment, and on the way home it'll be so much the better, if we
can't all find seats in one carriage."

"You're very kind," answered Edwin, smilingly releasing himself from
the grasp of his friend who wanted to drag him away at once. "But I've
brought a companion too, and it's doubtful--"

"Whom? Surely not--? Oh! you deepest of all philosophers--'yesterday on
a proud steed, to-day shot through the heart'--the princess?"

Edwin nodded.

"And I let myself be deluded into giving him the address
yesterday--well done! So we won't disturb you, but leave the fir and
palm to themselves."

"You're very much mistaken," said Edwin with a half sigh, "True, as
regards the temperature, tropical vegetation doesn't ill suit me, if
palms only didn't mean victory; for in spite of our apparent intimacy,
her highness is still as much surrounded by ice as ever. I really
believe the best way to prevent the chill from finally producing the
sleep of death, will be to bring her to you--if she's inclined to come,
which I scarcely doubt."

"Bravo! I'll prepare the ladies. A relative of yours? A little cousin
from the country."

"For aught I care.