ount Funnibos
and I are travellers round the world, imbued with a desire to see
everything interesting, beautiful, wonderful, and strange on our way,
and especially the habits and customs of the inhabitants of the
countries we visit. We shall therefore esteem it a favour if you will
allow us to make your acquaintance, and that of your charming family.
Those young ladies are, I presume, your daughters, and your excellent
Vrouw, seated under the porch, is, I conclude, affording instruction to
one of the younger members of your family."

"You are perfectly right, Mynheers. As you have announced you names, I
am bound to inform you that mine is Hartog Van Arent, those three ladies
are my daughters, and the elder lady is my Vrouw, to whom I shall have
the happiness of introducing you if you will come through the gate you
will find a little further on near the house."

Again the Count and Baron bowed, and expressed the honour they should
feel at being introduced to the Vrouw Van Arent and her charming
daughters. The young ladies, on hearing this, smiled sweetly, and
rising from their seats approached the house to be in readiness to be
introduced to the strangers. The Vrouw welcomed them cordially, as
Dutch ladies are accustomed to receive guests, and the young ladies were
not behind their mother in that respect, while the little girl ran up
with her doll, which she held up to be admired, thinking more of it than
herself. In a few minutes the Count and the Baron made themselves
perfectly at home, as if they had known the family all their lives.
Mynheer Van Arent invited them to enter the house, and after partaking
of an early supper, they spent a pleasant evening. The young ladies
played the piano and sang, if not artistically, with sweet voices, so
that the Count and the Baron professed themselves completely captivated.
They were considering it time to take their departure, when another
guest was announced, and a gentleman entered who was received by Mynheer
Van Arent and his Vrouw in as cordial a manner as they had been. He was
introduced to the Count and the Baron as Mynheer Bunckum. He made them
a somewhat stiff bow, which they returned with, their usual politeness.
He evidently was taking great pains to make himself agreeable to the
young ladies, who seemed, however, not over-inclined to encourage his
attentions.

At last, pulling out his watch, he observed that it was getting late,
looking at the Count and the