NAGE. CONCLUSION OF THE
STORY.

Two years had past away when one morning a handsome carriage well
loaded with baggage drew up at the door of the Golden Angel (principal
hotel in W----), and out of it got a young gentleman, a lady very
closely shrouded in wraps, and an old man. Ludwig happened to be
passing at the time, and naturally he had a look at the arrivals
through his eye-glass. The young gentleman happened to turn round, and
he immediately embraced Ludwig, crying out, "My dear old fellow!"

The latter was not a little astonished to see his old friend Euchar,
for it was he who had got out of the carriage. "My dear fellow," he
said, "who is that terribly muffled-up lady?--and the old gentleman?
And, bless my soul, here comes a fourgon with baggage, and sitting on
the back of it--good gracious, do my eyes deceive me?"

Euchar took Ludwig by the arm, led him a step or two across the street,
and said, "You shall hear all about everything in good time, dear
friend; but, to begin with, how have things been going with you? You
are terribly pale--the fire of your eyes has gone out. To tell you the
honest truth, you look about ten years older than when I saw you last.
Have you been having a bad illness or some serious trouble?"

"Oh, dear no!" answered Ludwig. "Quite the contrary. I believe I am the
very happiest fellow under the sun, for I am living a life of utterly
ideal, Utopian love and bliss. The heavenly Victorine gave me that
exquisite, tender hand of hers--bestowed it, my dear fellow, upon
unworthy me rather more than a year ago! That pretty house which you
see there with its windows shining in the sun is my home, and you must
come there with me this moment and see that earthly paradise of mine.
How delighted my dear wife will be to see you again! Let us give her a
surprise."

Euchar begged for a few minutes time just to change his dress, and
promised to come then at once and see with his own eyes how all things
had worked together for Ludwig's happiness.

Ludwig came to meet his friend at the bottom of the stair, and begged
him to make as little noise as possible in coming up, explaining that
Victorine often suffered terribly from nervous headaches, and had a bad
one just then, which rendered her nervous system so sensitive that she
could hear the very softest footfall in any part of the house, although
her own rooms were in the most distant part of it. Consequently they
two now crept as softly as th