he cross
and her neck, a large gold heart, gold earrings, and on her head an
ornament, which, in Holland and Germany, is called a _zitternabel_,
shook and trembled as she walked along to church, hanging on the arm of
her dear corporal. Some of the bridges were too narrow to admit the
happy pair to pass abreast. The knot was tied. The name Vandersloosh
was abandoned without regret, for the sharper one of Van Spitter; and
flushed with joy, and the thermometer at ninety-six, the cavalcade
returned home, and refreshed themselves with some beer of the Frau Van
Spitter's own brewing.

Let it not, however, be supposed that they dined tete-a-tete; no, no--
the corporal and his wife were not so churlish as that. The dinner
party consisted of a chosen set, the most particular friends of the
corporal. Mr Short, first officer and boatswain, Mr William Spurey,
Mr and Mrs Salisbury; and last, although not the least important
person in this history, Philip Smallbones, Esquire, who having obtained
money somehow, was now remarkable for the neatness of his apparel. The
fair widow, assisted by Moggy and Babette, cooked the dinner, and when
it was ready came in from the kitchen as red as a fury, and announced
it: and then it was served up, and they all sat down to table in the
little parlour. It was very close, the gentlemen took off their
jackets, and the widow and Moggy fanned themselves, and the enormous
demand by evaporation was supplied with foaming beer. None could have
done the honours of the table better than the corporal and his lady, who
sat melting and stuck together on the little fubsy sofa, which had been
the witness of so much pretended and so much real love.

But the Lust Haus is now lighted up, the company are assembling fast;
Babette is waddling and trotting like an armadillo from corner to
corner: Babette here and Babette there, it is Babette everywhere. The
room is full, and the musicians have commenced tuning their instruments;
the party run from the table to join the rest. A general cheer greets
the widow as she is led into the room by the corporal--for she had asked
many of her friends as well as the crew of the Yungfrau, and many others
came who were not invited; so that the wedding day, instead of
disbursement, produced one of large receipt to the happy pair.

"Now then, corporal, you must open the ball with your lady," cried Bill
Spurey.

"Mein Gott! yes."

"What shall it be, Madam Van Spitter?"