se, and on the day of the Feast of the
Invention of the Cross; and still more when he had everything arranged
just as it had been on the celebrated day of my aunt's marriage--that
was to have been. Mistress Anne crept about, in whispered prayer, her
face contracted with anxious alarm. The bride came in her wedding
dress, the clergyman arrived nothing out of the common was to be heard
or seen. But when the blessing was pronounced, a gentle sigh seemed to
pass through the room; and the bride, and I myself, and every one
present declared that at that instant we all felt an indescribable
sense of happiness strike through us like an electric spark. Since that
moment there never has been the slightest trace of anything haunting
me, except to-day, when thinking vividly of the charming Pauline, did
bring a haunting something into my married happiness."

"This Alexander said with an odd smile, and looking round him.

"'Oh! you donkey!' said Marzell. 'I hope she may not turn up here
to-day. I really shouldn't like to answer for the consequences.'

"Meanwhile a good many pleasure-seekers had come into the grounds, and
taken their places at various tables. But the one where the Aslings had
been sitting on that memorable day two years ago was still unoccupied.

"'There's a very distinct presentiment at work within me,' said
Severin. 'I quite expect to see that place there occupied by ----'

"He stopped, for as he spoke, behold! Geheime Rath Asling appeared,
with his wife on his arm; Pauline came after them, looking the picture
of happiness and beauty--in all other respects exactly the Pauline of
two years back. Just as was the case then, she was looking back over
her shoulder, as if expecting to see somebody. She caught sight of
Alexander, who had risen from his chair.

"'Ah!' she cried, running up to him joyfully. 'Here you are already!'

"He took her hand, and said to Marzell and Severin:

"'Dear old friends! this is my darling wife, Pauline!'"

The Brethren were much pleased with Ottmar's story.

"You had special reasons for laying the scene of your story in Berlin,"
said Theodore, "and giving the names of streets, squares, etc. But I
think it is a good thing, as a general rule, to indicate localities in
this way. It not only brings in an element of historical truth, which
helps a sluggish fancy; but--at all events for people who know the
places--the story gains greatly in life and vigour."

"Our friend hasn't manage