topic of conversation, and that was his
Excellency O----. The distinguished personal qualities of his
Excellency, his noble character, his goodness, his spirit, his
commanding carriage, his imposing exterior, could not be sufficiently
celebrated and exalted by Jacobi; nay, even his broad lion-like
forehead, his strong glance, and his beautiful patrician hands, were
many a time described.

Jacobi had for some time been attached to his Excellency as his
secretary, and he had now the hope of his assistance in his future
prospects. In the mean time his Excellency had shown him the greatest
kindness; had given him many opportunities of increasing his knowledge,
and had offered to take him with him on a journey to foreign countries;
besides all which, he had himself practised him in French. In one word,
Excellency O---- was the most excellent excellency in all the world, an
actual excellentissimus. Jacobi was devoted to him heart and soul, was
rich in anecdotes about Excellency O----, and in anecdotes which he had
heard of his Excellency.

Louise, more than any member of the family, had the property of being a
good listener, and therefore she heard more than any one else of his
Excellency O----, but yet not alone of him; Jacobi had always a
something to relate to her, a something on which he wanted her
consideration, and if Louise were not too much occupied with her
thoughts about the weaving, he was always quite sure, not only of her
sincere sympathy, but of her most deliberate judgment, as well on moral
questions as on questions of economical arrangement, dress, plans for
the future, and so forth. He himself imparted to her good advice--which,
however, was not often followed--for playing Postillion. He drew
patterns for her embroidery, and read aloud to her gladly, and that
novels in preference to sermons.

But he was not long permitted to sit in peace by her side, for very soon
the seat on the other side of her was occupied by a person whom we will
call "the Landed-proprietor," from the circumstance of his most eminent
distinction being the possession of an estate in the neighbourhood of
the town.

The Landed-proprietor appeared to the Candidate--we will for the future
adhere to this our old appellation, for, in a certain sense, in this
world, all men are Candidates--quite disposed to make a quarrel about
the place he was inclined to take.

Beside his large estate, the Landed-proprietor was possessed of a large
por