tivity, were at an end. It is true that Louise composed herself
speedily, besought pardon, and assigned as the cause of her emotion
sudden spasm in the chest. Elise and Eva, and more particularly Petrea,
endeavoured, on account of Henrik and Jacobi, to jest back again the
former merriment, but it would not come, and nothing more could succeed.
Everybody, but more especially Jacobi, were out of tune, and they now
began to speak of returning home.

But now all at once the heavy trampling of horses, and a bustle at the
inn door was heard, and at the same moment a splendid landau, drawn by
four prancing bays, drew up before it. It was the Landed-proprietor,
who, unacquainted with returning there after a short absence, and who
had drawn up at this inn for a moment's breathing-time for his horses,
and to order for himself a glass of the beer for which the place was
renowned. The company which he here so unexpectedly encountered
occasioned an alteration in his first plan. He determined to accompany
the family to the city, and besought his aunt and cousins to make use of
his landau. It would certainly please them so much; it went with such
unexampled ease; was so comfortable that one could sleep therein with
perfect convenience even on the heaviest roads, etc., etc. Elise, who
really had suffered from the merciless shaking of the hired carriage,
was inclined to accept the offer; and as it immediately began to rain,
and as the Judge preferred the carriage to the chaise in which he had
driven with Eva, the affair was quickly arranged. Elise and some of the
daughters were to go in the landau, which was turned in the mean time
into a coach; and the Judge and the rest of the company were to divide
themselves among the other carriages. As these were ready to receive the
company, Jacobi drove his Medewi-carriage close on the landau of the
Landed-proprietor, who looked more than once with a dark countenance to
see whether any profane or injurious contact had taken place between the
great and the little carriage.

Jacobi's heart beat violently as Louise came out on the steps of the inn
door. The Landed-proprietor stood on one side offering her his hand, and
Jacobi on the other offering his also, to conduct her to her former
seat. She appeared faint, and moved slowly. She hesitated for one
moment, and then gave, with downcast eyes, her hand to the
Landed-proprietor, who assisted her triumphantly into the carriage to
her mother, and moun