, he meant to promise by this hand-shake
to guard the life just entrusted to him, as the very apple of his eye,
his whole life long.

But Mrs. Baumhagen kissed the young wife daintily on the forehead, laid
her fingers as daintily for one moment in his extended hand, and then
turned to the clergyman who approached with his congratulations.

The young couple looked at each other, and as he looked into her
anxious eyes he pressed her arm closer with his, and she grew calm and
almost cheerful.

Uncle Henry had arranged the wedding-dinner, as was to be expected.

The curtains were drawn in the dining-room, which had a northern
aspect, the lamps were lighted, and all the family silver shone and
sparkled on the table. The old gentler man understood his business. He
had had sleepless nights over it lately, it is true, but the menu was
exquisite. The only pity was that he and Aunt Pauline and Arthur were
the only ones who were capable of appreciating it, according to his
ideas. The chilling mood still rested on the company, even through
Uncle Henry's toasts, not even yielding to the champagne. The old
egotist was almost in despair.

When the company adjourned to the drawing-room for coffee, Gertrude
went to her room. A quarter of an hour later she came into the hall in
her travelling dress. Her husband stood there waiting for her.

From the drawing-room they could hear the murmur of the company--here
all was quiet.

She looked round her once more and nodded to the old clock in the
corner.

"Good-bye, Sophie," she said, as she went down the staircase on his
arm, and the old woman bent over the bannisters in a sudden burst of
tears--"Say good-bye to all of them."

Brilliantly lighted windows shone out upon them in Niendorf when Frank
lifted her out of the carriage, and led her up the steps. The sky was
cloudy, and the fresh spring air was wonderfully soft and odorous.

"Come in!" he cried, opening the brown old house-door.

"Oh, what roses!" she cried with delight.

The balustrade of the staircase, the doorways, the chains from which
the lamps swung were all lavishly adorned with roses, and by the dim
light they glowed against the green background as if they were real
blossoms.

Kind Aunt Rosa!

Hand in hand they mounted the staircase and walked down the corridor.
It was only plastered, but it was quite covered with odorous evergreen.
"This is our sitting-room, Gertrude, till yours is ready."

She stood on the