who immediately resumed their
functions, and every thing appeared as if the city was well pleased to
find itself returning to the old order of things.

Three days had thus passed away. Early on the fourth, Oberstein sent
for Alf. 'I have caused St. Lambert's church to be repaired and
embellished a little,' said the general to him. 'It looked as drear and
desolate in its large plundered interior, as if the Zihim and Ohim[2]
were to rule in it--and the poor people must truly have some external
show with their public worship. We must in some measure provide for an
impression upon their senses, because their thoughts and feelings are
confined within a narrow circle. If you please my young friend, we will
go together and observe what great things the painters and garnishers
have accomplished in so short a time.'

Alf proceeded to the church with the old hero, and could not refrain
from expressing his surprise when he found the lateral walks wholly
desolate and untrimmed.

'Only be patient, the best is yet to come,' said the smiling Oberstein,
consolingly, and passed into the next lateral walk, where, turning
suddenly, they found themselves before the freshly gilded and well
adorned high altar. Before it, with the church service in his hand,
stood doctor Fabricius in his priestly robes. With a myrtle wreath in
her blond hair, in a simple white dress, her eyes cast down, her cheeks
glowing with love, joy and shame, stood the faithful little Clara,
opposite the youth; while his kinsman Gerhard, Hanslein, and the old
body servant of the bishop, as witnesses of the marriage ceremony,
approached to wish him joy.

'Oh my God!' cried Alf, surprised and enraptured,--and the worthy
Oberstein himself accompanied the pair before the clergyman.

The YES was spoken--the benediction pronounced--and Alf had seized the
hand of his young wife to lead her out of church--when an episcopalian
officer entered and delivered to the general a letter of which he was
the bearer.

Oberstein opened, read, and angrily stamped his foot. 'No joy without
interruption,' cried he. 'More than a year have we been detained before
these rascally walls without any interruption of the everlasting
sameness. This is the first day which I had thought to spend happily
here, and now this is to be marred by such a bum-bailiff commission! I
cannot help you, my dear bridegroom,' proceeded he, turning to Alf;
'the bishop here commands that you immediately bring to Du