ircle again; for that ostentatious hypocrisy has of late become
sufficiently clear to me. How thankful am I to the worthy man, who
shook the bandage from my eyes!"

"You mean Count Brandenstein?" said his friend: "You take then the part
of the wicked against the pious, of sin against virtue?"

"Let us drop this language now," replied Alfred, "I feel myself, since
I became acquainted with that person, more my own man."

"Do you know then," interrupted the Baron, "any thing of the story?
They say the savage, the American, is come, a spotted, copper-coloured
man, with hair like scales or prickles. People say too, this wild
animal would marry that froward girl Dorothea.

"Nothing is known for certain," said Alfred. "The American will at all
events be a man like all others, and consequently she will be more
happy with him, than with Baron Wallen."

"Whom you are incapable of appreciating," cried the officer, as with a
slight bow he withdrew.

"You think then," continued the Baron, "a well-bred girl might live
happily with such a sea-monster? But indeed in life a great many sorts
of happiness must be consumed, that every one may get something to suit
him; and they tell me, the pretty Dorothea is so ungodly, that perhaps
the most ungodly cannibal is not too bad for her."

"You are misinformed," answered Alfred, and was on the point of
beginning a story, when the good-natured Sophia came tripping up, to
remind him that he had engaged her for the next quadrille. The Baron in
the mean while drank, and promised Miss Erhard to dance the next Polish
Waltz, or at all events the merry "Turn Out" with her.

* * * * *

When Dorothea was missed that night, and the Baron had communicated the
history of his unfortunate courtship, the whole house was thrown into
the greatest confusion. Servants were sent out with lights, but all
came back in the stormy night without intelligence. The mother was very
uneasy, and seemed to reproach herself with having urged a violent
temper, such as she knew her eldest daughter's to be, too far. She did
not go to rest, but wandered about in the house, and her two younger
daughters endeavoured to comfort her. In the morning appeared a
messenger from Madame von Halden, and delivered a note to the Baroness;
shortly after a coach drew up, from which Dorothea alighted, whom her
mother received with a forced composure. But little was said, not a
word of reproach however