decree as revolting, and she detested the
book whose authority among men gives effect to its meaning. On the
other hand, she failed to observe that woman's sway is powerful and
acknowledged wherever it exerts itself over weak man through affection
and grace. Quite as little did Miss Louise observe that men assume the
stature of giants so soon as women presume to appear in relation to
them strong and manlike. Least of all did she discover anything
gigantic in the kind-hearted Seraphin. In the consciousness of her
fancied superiority of education, she smiled at the simplicity of his
faith, and, as the handsome young gentleman appeared by no means an
ineligible _parti_, she believed it to be her special task to train her
prospective husband according to her own notions. She imagined this
course of training would prove an easy undertaking for a lady whose
charms had been uniformly triumphant over the hearts of gentlemen. But
one circumstance appeared to her unaccountable--that was Seraphin's
cold-bloodedness and unshaken independence. For eight days she had
plied her arts in vain, the most exquisite coquetry had been wasted to
no purpose, even the irresistible fire of her most lovely eyes had
produced no perceptible impression on the impregnable citadel of the
landholder's heart.

"He is a mere child as yet, the most spotless innocence," she would
muse hopefully. "He has been sheltered under a mother's wings like a
pullet, and for this I am beholden to Madame Gerlach, for she has
trained up an obedient husband for me."

Seraphin sauntered through the walks of the garden, absorbed in gloomy
reflections on the leaders of progress. Their utter disregard of honor
and unparalleled baseness were disgusting to him as an honorable man,
whilst their corruption and readiness for deeds of meanness were
offensive to him as a Christian. Regarding Greifmann, also, he
entertained misgivings. Upon closer examination, however, the
unsuspecting youth thought he discovered in the banker's manner of
treating the leaders and their principles a strong infusion of ridicule
and irony. Hence, imposed upon by his own good nature, he concluded
that Greifmann ought not in justice to be ranked among the hideous
monstrosities of progress.

With head sunk and rapt in thought, Gerlach strayed indefinitely amid
the flowers and shrubbery. All at once he stood before Louise. The
young lady was seated under a vine-covered arbor; in one hand she held
a boo