oes not look well in it."

"Don't you think that I have told her so already?" replied Henrik. "I
have preached so long against the 'court-preacher,' that he ought long
ago to have been banished from respectable society; but it is all to no
purpose. He has worked himself so completely into the good graces of our
gracious oldest, that depend upon it, my brother, we must endure him all
our lives long. And what think you? I almost fancy our Cousin of
Oestanvik likes him!"

"Nay," said Jacobi, "one can very well see that that creature has a
wretched taste--a true Hottentot taste!"

"And is that the reason," remarked Henrik, "that he likes Louise?"

"Hum!" said Jacobi.

At dinner-time the bargaining young ladies came back, attended by the
bargaining gentlemen, who had, after all, gone about peacefully with the
"court-preacher." Louise was quite full of glory; never in her whole
life before had she made more lucky bargains.

"Look, sisters," said she, "this muslin for a crown-banco[8] the ell! Is
it not a charming colour? I have saved in it alone twelve shillings.[9]
And see these ribbons which I have got for four-and-twenty shillings the
ell--thirty were asked. Are they not beautiful?--will they not look
magnificently?--is it not a real discovery?--did you ever hear of
anything like it? Sara, if you will go to the same shop as I do, you
will get all at the same price. I have made that agreement for you at
three places: at Bergvall's, and at Astroem's, and Madame Florea's for
the flowers."

Sara thanked her, but said she had altered her plans; she did not intend
to have the same dress as Louise and Eva, but another, which pleased her
better.

The sisters were astonished, and rather vexed; Louise quite offended.
Had they not already agreed about it? What was to become of the Three
Graces?

Sara answered, that the third Grace might be whoever she would, but for
her part she should not have that honour.

The sisters thought her very ungracious.

Eva ran up to Leonore in order to show her her purchases.

"Look at this rose, Leonore," said she, "is it not very pretty? just as
if it were natural! And these ribbons!"

"Yes, yes," said Leonore, with a depressed voice, regarding these
ornaments with a gloomy look; and then pushing them from her so hastily
that they fell on the floor, burst into tears. Eva was quite concerned;
a book had fallen on her beautiful rose and had crushed it. For one
moment Eva shed tears over