ice," said Ottmar, "that Lothair is looking quite a
different person--thanks to Theodore's admirably compounded beverage,
which has driven the evil spirit out of him?"

"Don't ascribe my better mood to the influence of the bowl," said
Lothair. "You all know that, till the evil mood has left me, I never
can touch wine. The truth is that I have only just begun to feel at
ease, and at home, amongst you. The restless, excited state in which I
was at first has gone; and as I not only forgive Cyprian for telling us
about Serapion, but feel a real affection for him, why, Theodore's
horrible 'Krespel' may pass muster as well. But there are a good many
things I should like to say to you. We seem to be all agreed that we
are a set of rather uncommonly superior people, and we have made up our
minds to reconstitute our old alliance; whilst the bustle of this great
town, our distance from each other, and the diversity of our
occupations tend to keep us apart. Let us determine, then, this
evening, the times and places of our weekly meetings. More than that,
it cannot but be that, as of old, we shall wish to read to each other
such little stories, and so forth, as we may have been writing from
time to time. Let us remember Serapion the Hermit in connection with
this. Let each of us try, and examine himself well, as to whether he
has really _seen_ what he is going to describe before he sets to work
to put it in words. At all events, let each of us strive, very
strenuously, to get a clear grasp, in his mind, of the picture he is
going to produce,--in every one of its forms, colours, lights and
shadows, and then, when he feels himself thoroughly permeated and
kindled by it, bring it out into outer life. Thus shall our society be
established on solid foundations, and be a source of comfort and
gratification to us all. Let Serapion the Hermit be our patron saint:
may his seer-gift inspire us. His rule we will follow, as true Serapion
Brethren."

"Now," said Cyprian, "is not our Lothair the most extraordinary of all
extraordinary fellows? At first he was the one who flamed furiously up
in opposition to Ottmar's very sensible suggestion that we should meet
every week on a certain evening, and dragged in the subject of clubs,
without rhyme or reason. And now he is the very one to prove to us that
our meetings are a necessity, as well as a pleasure, and to set to work
to determine their character, and lay down the rules which are to
govern t