ately," said
Sabine, laughing, as she rose to greet her old acquaintance. Meanwhile,
Anton amused himself by listening to the remarks made on his party by
the passers-by. "That is Herr von Fink," whispered a young lady to her
companion. "A pretty face; a capital figure," drawled a lieutenant.
"What is one among so many?" muttered another idler. "Hush! those are
the Schroeters," said a clerk to his brother. Then two tall handsome
forms came slowly by--Dame Ehrenthal and Rosalie. Rosalie passed next to
the table: a deep flush suffused her face. She threw a troubled glance
at Fink, who, in spite of the lively conversation he was carrying on
with Sabine, had eyes for every thing that was going on. Anton rose to
bow; and the imperturbable Fink coolly took off his hat, and looked at
the two ladies with as much unconcern as though he had never admired the
bracelets on Rosalie's white arm. Anton's bow, Rosalie's striking
beauty, and, perhaps, some peculiarity in their dress, had attracted
Sabine's attention.

Ehrenthal's daughter did not heed the bow, but fixed her dark eyes on
Sabine, whom she took for her fortunate rival, with such a flashing
glance of anger and hatred that Sabine shrank as though to avoid the
spring of a beast of prey.

Fink's lip curled, and he slightly shrugged his shoulders. When the
ladies had passed by, Sabine asked who they were.

"Some acquaintances of Anton's," said he, satirically.

Anton named them as the mother and sister of the young student of whom
he had lately told her.

Sabine was silent, and leaned back on the bench; her gay spirits were
over. The conversation flagged; and when her brother returned from a
visit to the next table, she rose and invited the party to come and see
her garden. Again the nebula followed her, but Fink was no longer at her
side. That burning glance had withered the green tendrils that had been
drawing them together. Sabine turned to Anton, and tried to be cheerful,
but he saw the effort it cost her.

This large garden, with its hot-houses and conservatories, was one of
Sabine's favorite resorts, both in summer and winter. While the merchant
carried off Fink to look at a plot of neighboring ground which he
thought of buying, the clerks besieged Sabine with questions as to the
names and peculiarities of the different plants. She showed them a
great palm-tree that her brother had given her, tropical ferns, gorgeous
cactuses, and told them that she often drank cof