r breakfast."

Malvine met him downstairs with a friendly smile and shake of the hand.
This morning she wore a long blue morning gown with gay colored
embroidery at the throat and wrists and a little lace cap with blue
ribbons. The breakfast was as elaborate as on the day before.

"I want to take you over to my place to-day, Wilhelm. We have a
shooting party, the weather is lovely, and it will be a nice change for
you."

"Thanks, Paul, but I would much rather you left me here. I am no
sportsman, as you know very well."

"We'll soon make you into one. Nobody is born a sportsman, or rather we
are all born sportsmen, but forget it in our wretched town life, and
afterward have to set to work and learn laboriously the art that came
so naturally to our forefathers. Not, however, that you need fire a
single shot, it is more for the healthy out-of-door exercise, and to
show you Friesenmoor in its winter dress, and for the society which
will interest you. They are neighbors of mine--nearly every one of them
a character--old Baron Huning, who fought in the Crimea as an English
officer, Count Chamberlain von Swerte, crammed with curious court
stories, Graf Olderode, who, in spite of his gout, will jump for joy
when I introduce you as the best friend I have in the world, and add
that you have just been banished from Berlin under the Socialist Act.
And then there are my pupils--I've got a Russian prince among them, and
a very near neighbor, a young nobleman from the Marches, an officer in
the Red Hussars. Now don't be a slow coach, come along."

"You are very kind, but I should be very sorry to make your gouty Graf
jump, even for joy."

"Dr. Enyhardt is quite right," Malvine now joined in. "What an idea too
to carry him off from me before he has had time to settle comfortably.
You stay with me. Herr Doctor; this is my day, and you shall make the
acquaintance of some charmingly pretty girls this afternoon. That will
interest you more than Paul's old Chamberlains."

"All right," laughed Paul; "but you had better look out, Wilhelm, I
smell a rat. Malvine has designs upon you, she wants to get you
married. If you came with me you would be the hunter, but if you stay
here you will find yourself in the position of the game."

"And if he is," retorted Malvine, "it is surely the better part to let
yourself be caught by a pretty girl than to go and shoot poor hares and
wild ducks."

Paul did not press his invitation, and drove off