ship remain
pretty much the same. I mean that we all consider each other something
rather above the common, in suitability to each other at all events, so
as to be worthy of a thorough friendship. So let us leave the old days
out of sight, with all the promise and anticipations belonging to them,
and, starting from the conviction which I have expressed, see how we
can best establish a new bond of union."

"Heaven be thanked," said Ottmar, "that Lothair could no longer endure
the forced, unnatural condition in which we were, and that you,
Theodore, have at once exorcised the malignant little fiend which was
vexing and teasing us. This constrained feeling of 'You are bound to be
enjoying yourself, whether you really are or not,' was beginning to
stifle me, and I was just getting fearfully out of temper, when Lothair
broke out as he did. But now that Theodore has pointed out so clearly
what it was that was amiss, I seem to be brought much nearer to you
all, and things appear as if the old kindly unconstrained comfort, with
which we used to meet, were getting the upper hand. Theodore is right;
though Time has altered a good many things, our belief in each other
remains untouched. And with this, I solemnly declare the preliminaries
of our new League established; and it is laid down as a rule that we
come together once every week on a certain day--otherwise we shall lose
sight of each other in this big town, and be further asunder than
ever."

"A great idea," cried Lothair, "only you should add a few regular
rules as to our weekly meetings; for instance, that we are, or are not,
to talk upon certain subjects; or that each of us is bound to be three
times as witty as usual; or that we must always eat sardine-salad. In
this fashion, the fullest blown form of Philistinism that flourishes in
any club will burst in upon us. Don't you think, Ottmar, that anything
in the shape of a formal stipulation connected with our meetings would
at once introduce an element of constraint, destructive, at all events,
of _my_ enjoyment in them? Let me remind you of the extreme repugnance
which we used to feel towards everything in the shape of a 'club,' or
whatever name might be given to absurd institutions of the kind, where
all sorts of tedium and wearisomeness are carried forward on system.
And now you propose to force and constrain, artificially, this
four-bladed clover-plant of ours--which can only flourish and thrive
naturally without any