, which,
by a long balcony, looked over the lake, and that fine mountain range
that leads to the Splugen pass. A beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers
ornamented the centre of the small dinner-table, tastily decked with
Bohemian glass, and napkins with lace borders. I rather liked this
little display of elegance. It was a sort of ally on my side against
the utilitarian plainness of my guest. As I walked up and down the room,
awaiting his arrival, I could not help a sigh, and a very deep one too,
over the thought of what had been my enjoyment that moment if my guest
had been one of a different temperament,--a man willing to take me on
my own showing, and ready to accept any version I should like to give of
myself. How gracefully, how charmingly I could have played the host to
such a man! What vigor would it have imparted to my imagination,
what brilliancy to my fancy! With what a princely grace might I have
dispensed my hospitalities, as though such occasions were the daily
habit of my life; whereas a dinner with Harpar would be nothing more
or less than an airing with a "Slave in the chariot,"--a perpetual
reminder, like the face of a poor relation, that my lot was cast in an
humble sphere, and it was no use trying to disguise it.

"What's all this for?" said Harpar's harsh voice, as he entered the
room. "Why did n't you order our mutton-chop below stairs in the common
room, and not a banquet in this fashion? You must be well aware I could
n't do this sort of thing by _you_. Why, then, have you attempted it
with _me?_"

"I have always thought it was a host's prerogative," said I, meekly, "to
be the arbiter of his own entertainment."

"So it might where he is the arbiter of his purse; but you know well
enough neither you nor I have any pretension to these costly ways, and
they have this disadvantage, that they make all intercourse stilted
and unnatural. If you and I had to sit down to table, dressed in court
suits, with wigs and bags, ain't it likely we'd be easy and cordial
together? Well, this is precisely the same."

"I am really sorry," said I, with a forced appearance of courtesy,
"to have incurred so severe a lesson, but you must allow me this one
trangression before I begin to profit by it." And so saying, I rang the
bell and ordered dinner.

Harpar made no reply, but walked the room, with his hands deep in his
pockets, humming a tune to himself as he went.

At last we sat down to table; everything was excelle