is acquaintance?'

'Authors are best known by their writings,' replied Walstein; 'I admire
his, because, amid much wildness, he is a great reader of the human
heart, and I find many echoes in his pages of what I dare only to think
and to utter in solitude.'

'I shall introduce you to him. He is exceedingly vain, and likes to make
the acquaintance of an admirer.'

'I entreat you not,' replied Walstein, really alarmed. 'It is precisely
because I admire him very much that I never wish to see him. What
can the conversation of Sidonia be compared with his writings? His
appearance and his manner will only destroy the ideal, in which it is
always interesting to indulge.'

'Well, be not alarmed! He is not now in Dresden. He has been leading a
wild life for some time in our Saxon Switzerland, in a state of despair.
I am the unhappy nymph who occasions his present desperation,' continued
Madame de Schulembourg, with a smile. 'Do not think me heartless; all
his passion is imagination. Change of scene ever cures him; he has
written to me every week--his letters are each time more reasonable.
I have no doubt he has by this time relieved his mind in some mad work
which will amuse us all very much, and will return again to Dresden
quite cool. I delight in Sidonia--he is my especial favourite.'

After some little time the companions re-entered the carriage. The
public drive was now full of sparkling equipages. Madame de Schulembourg
gaily bowed, as she passed along, to many a beautiful friend.

'Dear girls, come home with us this eve,' she exclaimed, as she curbed
her ponies by the side of an open carriage, and addressed two young
ladies who were seated within it with their mother. 'Let me introduce
Mr. Walstein to you-Madame de Man-heim, the Misses de Manheim, otherwise
Augusta and Amelia. Ask any of our friends whom you pass. There is
Emilius--How do you do? Count Voyna, come home with us, and bring your
Bavarian friend.'

'How is Sidonia, Madame de Schulembourg?' inquired Augusta.

'Oh, quite mad. He will not be sane this week. There is his last letter;
read it, and return it to me when we meet. Adieu, Madame de Manheim;
adieu, dear girls; do not stay long: adieu, adieu.' So they drove away.

IBRAHIM PASHA

THE eyes of all Europe have been lately directed with feverish anxiety
towards the East. With the early history of the present ruler of Egypt,
and with his projects of military reform, our readers are doubtless