chen avenues of the garden, which was bright to-day with
gay toilettes from the town.

Sabine floated on with a perfect nebula of gentlemen around her.
Possibly this court would have given more pleasure to most other women,
but, at all events, the effect was very striking. The gentle Liebold's
face wore a continual smile of delight, which he was obliged to
suppress, as well as he could, from the fear of being supposed to laugh
at the passers-by: Sabine's shawl hung on his arm. Specht had, by a bold
_coup de main_, possessed himself of her parasol, and walked on, hoping
that some falling blossom, some passing butterfly, might afford him a
pretext for beginning a conversation with her. But this was no easy
matter, for Fink was on the other side. He was in one of his most
malevolent moods, and Sabine could not help laughing against her will at
his unmerciful comments upon many of the company. And so they walked on
among the tripping, rustling crowd of pleasure-seekers. There was a
constant bowing, smiling, and greeting; the merchant had each moment to
take off his hat, and, whenever he did so, the fourteen clerks took off
theirs too, and created quite a draught; and very imposing it was. After
having swum thus with the stream for some time, Sabine expressed a wish
to rest. Instantly benches were set, the table got ready, and an
ubiquitous waiter brought a giant coffee-pot and the number of cups
required. Sabine's office was no sinecure. She chose Anton for her
adjutant, and it was a pretty sight to see how kindly she gave each one
his cup, how watchful she was lest the sugar-bowl and the cream-jug
should be interrupted in their rounds, and at the same time how she
contrived to bow to her passing acquaintance, and to carry on a
conversation with any friends of her brother's who came up to her. She
was very lovely thus. Anton and Fink both felt how well her serene
activity became her; and Fink said, "If this be for you a day of
recreation, I do not envy your other days. No princess has such a
reception--so many to bow, smile, and speak to as you; but you get on
capitally, and have no doubt studied it. Now comes the mayor himself to
pay his compliments. I am really sorry for you; you have to lend me your
ear; Liebold's cup is in your hand, and your eyes must be reverentially
fixed upon the great civic official. I am curious to know whether you
understand my words."

"Take your spoon out of your cup, and I will fill it immedi