and we are great enough to scorn all trifling.

One beautiful July morning Bella gave a great breakfast, to which the
Sonnenkamp family was invited, and Manna came with her mother; there
were also present the Cabinetsraethin, the Adjutant-general, besides
several others of the highest nobility, both gentlemen and ladies, from
different countries.

The rich and tasteful arrangement of the flowers on the breakfast-table
excited the admiration of the guests. Bella presented Herr Sonnenkamp
as the generous and skilful giver, and, with great tact, called the
attention of the guests to the admirable taste in arranging flowers
possessed by this famous garden-artist, whom she even proclaimed the
true high priest of flowers.

Sonnenkamp was delighted at the impression produced.

Manna timidly remarked that her taste was offended by the profusion of
flowers displayed here on all occasions; she thought that massing them
together, and tying them into close bunches, destroyed the whole
character of the flowers, of roses especially; their tender nature
suffered from such treatment.

Eric replied that, without these flowers, life here would lose an
important element of brilliancy and cheerfulness; that the purest and
best things were not safe from abuse and exaggeration, but that we
should not therefore lose sight of the beautiful underlying principle.

Pranken observed the impression which these words made, and gave a more
lively turn to the conversation, by saying that he too did not like
bouquets; flowers, birds, and women were the ornaments of life, and
should be dealt tenderly with and left unconfined.

Jest and merriment now reigned supreme. All were in that happy frame of
mind which is induced by the drinking of the waters and the fresh
morning air. There was not wanting an object on which to exercise their
wit, in the person of a long lieutenant from Schwarzburg-Sondershausen,
or Schwarzhausen-Sonderburg, as Bella always called it. The long
lieutenant had openly confessed that his object in coming to the Baths
was to bless the daughter of some rich commoner with his title. He had
made Bella his confidante, and she amused herself now by bringing him
into all manner of ridiculous positions.

The tall lieutenant took it all in good part; his standing joke was
that he regretted, on his honor, Roland's not being Sonnenkamp's
daughter, that he might marry her.

Manna blushed, for this plainly implied that she was conside