change official life made in men's characters,
for Balbus, the successor of Pix, on whose humble bearing she had
founded great hopes, showed himself in his new post just as aggressive
as his predecessor. She had once more found a heap of cigar-boxes
outside the three compartments which Pix had erected by main force in
her own special domain, and she was just going to declare war against
Balbus on their account. At that moment she remarked a door of the upper
story wide open, and thought of thieves, and of calling out for help,
but, upon consideration, judicially determined first to investigate the
mystery. She crept into the curtained rooms, and was in some danger of
being petrified with amazement when she saw her nephew standing there
alone, looking at a picture of his departed wife, taken as a bride, in
white silk, with a myrtle-wreath in her hair. The cousin could not
restrain a sympathizing sigh. The merchant turned round in amazement. "I
mean to remove the picture to my own room," said he, softly.

"But you have another portrait of Mary there already, and this one has
always depressed you," cried the cousin.

"Years make us calmer," replied the merchant; "and, in course of time,
another bride may come here."

The cousin's eyes flashed as she repeated "Another!"

"It was only a passing idea," said the merchant, cheerfully walking
through the suite of rooms, followed by the cousin, proudly shrugging
her shoulders. They might try to blind her as much as they liked; it was
all in vain.

Neither did the cautious Sabine succeed any better.

Anton had silently sat near the cousin at dinner. When he rose, the good
lady remarked that Sabine's eyes rested with an expression of tender
anxiety upon his pale face, and then filled with tears. As soon as he
had left the room, she moved to the window that looked into the court.
The cousin crept behind her, and looked out too. Sabine was gazing down
intently; suddenly she smiled, and her face was perfectly transfigured.
Yet there was nothing to be seen but Anton, with his back toward them,
caressing Pluto, who barked and jumped up at him.

"Oh!" thought the cousin, "it is not over Pluto that she laughs and
cries at once."

And soon after, one day that the merchant opened the drawing-room door
and called his sister out, the cousin spied a man with a great parcel
standing in the hall. Her sharp eyes recognized in him a porter from one
of the great draper's shops. The brother