ot very cold. Flowers were
blooming along the embankments and in the rank green fields with a
dogged energy; in the various distances were groups of trees
embowering cottages and even villages, and always along the ditches and
watercourses were double lines of low willows. At the first stop the
train made, the passengers flocked to the refreshment-booth, prettily
arranged beside the station, where the abundance of the cherries and
strawberries gave proof that vegetation was in other respects superior
to the elements. But it was not of the profusion of the sausages, and
the ham which openly in slices or covertly in sandwiches claimed its
primacy in the German affections; every form of this was flanked by tall
glasses of beer.

A number of the natives stood by and stared unsmiling at the train,
which had broken out in a rash of little American flags at every window.
This boyish display, which must have made the Americans themselves
laugh, if their sense of humor had not been lost in their impassioned
patriotism, was the last expression of unity among the Norumbia's
passengers, and they met no more in their sea-solidarity. Of their table
acquaintance the Marches saw no one except Burnamy, who came through the
train looking for them. He said he was in one of the rear cars with the
Eltwins, and was going to Carlsbad with them in the sleeping-car train
leaving Hamburg at seven. He owned to having seen the Triscoes since
they had left Cuxhaven; Mrs. March would not suffer herself to ask him
whether they were in the same carriage with the Eltwins. He had got a
letter from Mr. Stoller at Cuxhaven, and he begged the Marches to let
him engage rooms for them at the hotel where he was going to stay with
him.

After they reached Hamburg they had flying glimpses of him and of others
in the odious rivalry to get their baggage examined first which seized
upon all, and in which they no longer knew one another, but selfishly
struggled for the good-will of porters and inspectors. There was really
no such haste; but none could govern themselves against the general
frenzy. With the porter he secured March conspired and perspired to win
the attention of a cold but not unkindly inspector. The officer opened
one trunk, and after a glance at it marked all as passed, and then there
ensued a heroic strife with the porter as to the pieces which were to go
to the Berlin station for their journey next day, and the pieces which
were to go to the hot