ged from the cover
and stood before me: they were Vaterchen and Tintefleck.

"Sit down," said I, pointing to each in turn to take a place at either
side of me. They had, it is true, been the cause of the great calamity
of my life, but in no sense was the fault theirs, and I wished to show
that I was generous and open-minded. Vaterchen acceded to my repeated
invitation with a courteous humility, and seated himself at a little
distance off; but Tintefleck threw herself on the grass, and with such a
careless _abandon_ that her hair escaped from the net that held it, and
fell in great wavy masses across my feet.

"Ay," thought I, as I looked at the graceful outlines of her finely
shaped figure, "here is the Amaryllis come to complete the tableau; only
I would wish fewer spangles, and a little more simplicity."

I saw that it was necessary to reassure Vaterchen as to my perfect
sanity by some explanation as to my strange mode of travelling, and told
him briefly, "that it was a caprice common enough with my countrymen to
assume the knapsack, and take the road on foot; that we fancied in
this wise we obtained a nearer view of life, and at least gained
companionship with many from whom the accident of station might exclude
us." I said this with an artful delicacy, meant to imply that I was
pointing at a very great and valuable privilege of pedestrianism.

He smiled with a sad, a very sad expression on his features, "But
in what wise, highly honored sir?"--he addressed me always as Hoch
Geehrter Herr,--"could you promise to yourself advantage from such
associations as these? I cannot believe you would condescend to know
us simply to carry away in memory the little traits that must needs
distinguish such lives as ours. I would not insult my respect for you by
supposing that you come amongst us to note the absurd contrast between
our real wretchedness and our mock gayety; and yet what else is there to
gain? What can the poor mountebank teach you beyond this?"

"Much," said I, with fervor, as I grasped his hand, and shook it
heartily; "much, if you only gave me this one lesson that I now listen
to, and I learn that a man's heart can beat as truthfully under motley
as under the embroidered coat of a minister. The man who speaks as you
do, can teach me much."

He gave a short but heavy sigh, and turned away his head. He arose
after a few minutes, and, going gently across the grass, spread his
handkerchief over the head and face