ght to a knowledge of their true selves in
the midst of this whirl of society. She also asked Eric to take her
some day into the Cabinet of Antiques, and give her some instruction
about them. With a tone of sisterly advice she reminded him that
etiquette required the making of certain visits on his part, in order
not to be left out of society.

She was rejoiced to hear that he had already done part of his duty in
this respect; and in reply to his remark that he had even inquired for
the Sovereign's negro, but found he was spending the winter in Naples
with the invalid princess of the royal family, she asked:--

"Ah? Herr Sonnenkamp sent you then to the nigger on some special
commission?"

Eric replied that he did not understand the question, upon which Bella
hastily changed the subject, saying that it was only an idle jest; and
soon afterwards she was laughing and talking with Sonnenkamp, and
calling his attention to a man in the company, the brother of Herr von
Endlich, who kept the most fashionable tailor's shop in the capital.

Herr von Endlich could not help inviting his brother, who was a person
of consideration in the city; and it was thought an excellent joke,
that the man who sold the clothes yesterday could see now how well they
fitted his customers.

Sonnenkamp congratulated himself that he would at least have no such
intolerable family connections to dread when he should enter the ranks
of the nobility.

CHAPTER IV.

THE BLUE RIBBON.

Every evening was spent now at the theatre, or at some great
entertainment. The morning did not begin till noon. In accordance with
Bella's advice, Eric had made the requisite visits, and was generally
included in the invitations.

He beheld this society life with fresh eyes, like one coming from
another world. What lay behind these smiling, gaily-dressed exteriors,
and the friendly greetings they exchanged with one another? He
shuddered as he looked at the white-cravatted crowd. In the
smoking-room each man vied with another in telling lewd tales, and then
returned to the married ladies and young girls in the dancing-hall, and
put on his most courtly manners.

Eric for the most part kept modestly in the background, but Bella was
exceedingly friendly and confiding in her manner towards him. She
floated gaily down the stream of intoxicating pleasures, pleased to be
one of the first, if not the supreme.