trea, who
nevertheless, with her bandeau of pearls in her hair, and a certain
bloom of innocence and goodness in her youthful countenance, looked
uncommonly well. Her heart beat with an indescribable desire to be
engaged.

"Ah!" sighed she, as she saw two most elegant young men, the two
brothers B----, walking round the circle of ladies, with their
eye-glasses in their hands. Their eye-glasses rested for a moment on
Petrea; the one whispered something in the ear of the other; both
smiled, and went on. Petrea felt humiliated, she knew not why.

"Now!" thought she, as Lieutenant S---- approached her quickly. But
Lieutenant S---- came to engage Miss T----, and Petrea remained sitting.
The music played the liveliest _anglaise_, and Petrea's feet were all in
agitation to be moving.

"Ah!" thought she, "if I were but a man I would engage Petrea."

The _anglaise_ streamed past Petrea's nose.

"Where is Eva?" asked Jeremias Munter, in a hasty and displeased tone,
from Louise, in the pause between the _anglaise_ and the waltz.

"She has remained at home with Leonore," said Louise; "she was
determined upon it."

"How stupid!" exclaimed he; "why did I come here then."

"Nay, that I really cannot tell!" returned Louise, smiling.

"Not!" retorted the Assessor. "Now then I will tell you, sister Louise,
I came here entirely to see Eva dance--solely and altogether on that
account, and for nothing else. What a stupid affair it was that she
should stop at home! You had a great deal better, all the rest of you,
have stopped at home together; you yourself, dear sister, reckoned into
the bargain! Petrea, there! what has she to do here? She was always a
vexation to me, but now I cannot endure her, since she has not
understanding enough to stay at home in Eva's place; and this little
curly-pate, which must dance with grown people just as if she were a
regular person; could not she find a piece of sugar to keep her at home,
instead of coming here to be in a flurry! You are all wearisome
together; and such entertainments as these are the most horrible things
I know."

Louise floated away in the waltz with Jacobi, laughing over this sally;
and the Countess Solenstrale, the sun of the ball, said as she passed
her chair, "Charmant, charmant!"

Besides this couple, who distinguished themselves by their easy
harmonious motion, there was another, which whirled past in wild
circles, and drew all eyes upon them likewise: this was Sara and