t.'"

Felix clapped the book to in a rage, and said, as the tears of
disappointment came into his eyes, "If our grand uncle talks of ugly
country children, I'm sure he never can have seen Peter Vollrad or
Annie Hentschel, or any of the children in the village here, for I know
there couldn't be prettier children anywhere than they are." "I'm sure
of that," said Christlieb, as if suddenly waking from a dream; "and
isn't Maggy Schulz a beautiful child too, although she hasn't anything
like as pretty ribbons as mine." "Do not talk such stupid nonsense,"
said their papa, "you don't understand what your uncle means, in so
saying."

All further representations to the effect that just this day, of all
others, it was so very glorious in the wood were of no avail, Felix and
Christlieb had to stay in the room, and this was all the more painful
because the company cake, which was on the table, gave out the most
delicious odours, and yet might not be cut into until their uncle's
arrival. "Oh! if he would but come! if he would but only come!" both
the children cried, and almost wept with impatience. At last a vigorous
trampling of horses became audible, and a carriage appeared, which was
so brilliant and so richly covered with golden ornamentation, that the
children were unspeakably amazed, for they had never beheld the like of
it before. A tall and very thin man glided by help of the arm of the
footman, who opened the carriage door, into the arms of Baron von
Brakel, to whose cheek he twice gently laid his own, and whispered
mincingly, "_Bon jour_, my dear cousin; now, no ceremony, I implore!"
Meanwhile the footman had also aided a short stout lady, with very red
cheeks, and two children, a boy and a girl, to glide down to earth from
the carriage (which he performed with much dexterity), so that each of
them came to their feet on the ground.

When they were all thus safely deposited, Felix and Christlieb came
forward (as they had been duly prepared by mamma and papa to do),
seized each a hand of the tall thin man, and said, kissing the same,
"We are very glad you are come, dear noble uncle;" then they did the
same with the hands of the stout lady, and said, "We are very glad you
are come, dear noble aunt;" then they went up to the children, but
stood before them quite dumfounded, for they had never seen children of
the sort before. The boy had on long pantaloons, a little jacket of
scarlet cloth covered all over with golden knots