d Rosalie,
complainingly.

"He will be here in time," replied Itzig's patroness. "You know how he
toils and moils that you may have a brilliant establishment. You are
fortunate," said she, with a sigh; "you are now entering upon life, and
you will be a lady of consequence. You must go to the capital for a few
weeks after your marriage, to spend the honeymoon quietly, and be
introduced to my relations; and, meanwhile, I shall have this story
furnished for you, and will move up stairs, and spend the rest of my
life in nursing Ehrenthal."

"Will my father make his appearance to-day?" inquired Rosalie.

"He must do so on account of our relations. He must pronounce the
paternal blessing upon you."

"He is sure to bring disgrace upon us, and to talk nonsense again," said
the dutiful daughter.

"I have told him what he is to say," answered her mother; "and he
nodded, to show that he understood me."

The bell rang, the door opened, and company appeared. The room soon
filled. Ladies in gorgeous gold-embroidered silk dresses, with sparkling
chains and ear-rings, occupied the large sofa and arm-chairs around.
They were mostly large in figure, with here and there a pair of lustrous
eyes and a set of handsome features. They looked like a gay tulip-bed
out of which the gardener has rooted every sober-colored flower. Behind
them stood the gentlemen, with cunning faces and hands in their pockets,
altogether much less imposing and agreeable to behold. Thus all the
company waited for the bridegroom, who still delayed his coming.

At length he appeared. His eyes wandered suspiciously around; his voice
faltered as he accosted his betrothed. He strove to the utmost to find
some polite words to say to the beautiful girl, and could almost himself
have laughed savagely at the blank he felt within. He did not see her
brilliant eyes, her gorgeous bust, and magnificent attire. Even when at
her side he was obliged to think of something else--of that of which he
was always thinking. He soon turned away from her and joined the
gentlemen, who became more conversable after his arrival. A few
commonplace observations, made by the younger men, were heard from time
to time, such as, "Miss Rosalie looks enchantingly beautiful;" and, "I
wonder whether Ehrenthal will appear;" and, "This long continuance of
fog is unusual, and very unhealthy: one is obliged to wear flannel." At
length some one uttered the words "four and a half per cent." There was