l engaged. He went to Stuttgard in company with Anselm Meyer,
Betsy's father, and bought old clothes to make new ones of. He
particularly affected the old scarlet swallow-tail coats of the court
footmen, in procuring which Anselm was of great assistance to him, as
he had made acquaintances in high places in the times when all things
wanted for the court were obtained on the contract-system. These
liveries were cut up into red waistcoats for the peasants, such as are
worn in the Black Forest to this day. They also purchased the old
uniforms of the officers, and transformed the red lining of the
warrior's habiliments into vestments for the peaceful shepherd. It was
said, however, that Anselm managed to monopolize the lion's share of
the profits, besides securing an additional commission at the hands of
the illustrious venders.

From the time that Balt went out of fashion and the fortunes of the
house began to ebb, the couple ceased the practice of ever exchanging a
word of good feeling. Balt was scarcely permitted to hold a spoon in
his hand long enough to eat his dinner. He could hardly call his soul
his own; and, though nominally the master-tailor, he had not the power
to cut a piece of bacon to his liking of a Sunday. Wherever he was, he
was in his wife's way: she was absolute mistress, for she went on a
trip every fall, and after her return the establishment always showed
symptoms of a good supply of funds.

The children clung to the mother, of course, for not only had Balt
fallen from his high estate, but he was not much at home. He hardly
showed himself, except to eat and sleep. The former was well salted
with pithy conversation, and the latter soothed with a well-ordered
lecture.

Crescence now looked contemptuously at her father. The geometer
entered, and at once the father and mother ran over with the milk of
human kindness and loved each other tenderly. Crescence alone looked
sad, and her lips trembled.

"Hurry, Crescence, and get dressed," said her mother. "Mr. Geometer,
will you take dinner with us to-day? Do, please. It's nothing much,
to-be-sure,--sourcrout, dumplings, and ham; but you'll like it for all
that: Crescence did the cooking." A shrill giggle accompanied almost
every word, the effect of which was further enhanced by a way the good
lady had of twitching her nose as she spoke.

Balt exerted all his eloquence, and almost resorted to "gentle
compulsion," to induce the geometer to stay. He took h