the pretty song
about Denmark."

"But did you lose much through that?" asked Otto, smiling, and soon they
found themselves very much at variance, just as if they had been old
acquaintances. "I do not think much of these patriotic scraps, where the
poet, in his weakness, supports himself by this beautiful sentiment
of patriotism in the people. You will certainly grant that here the
multitude always applauds when it only hears the word 'Father-land,' or
the name of 'Christian IV.' The poet must give something more; this is
a left-handed kind of patriotism. One would really believe that Denmark
were the only country in the world!"

"Fie, Mr. Thostrup!" said the lady: "do you not then love your
father-land?"

"I believe I love it properly!" returned he: "and because it really
possesses so much that is excellent do I desire that only what is
genuine should be esteemed, only what is genuine be prized."

"I agree in the main with Mr. Thostrup," said Miss Grethe, who was
busied in unpicking and turning her cloak, in order, as she herself
said, to spoil it on the other side. "I think he is right! If a poem is
well spoken on the stage, it has always a kind of effect. It is just the
same as with stuffs--they may be of a middling quality and may have an
unfavorable pattern, but if they are worn by a pretty figure they look
well after all!"

"I am often vexed with the public!" said Otto. "It applauds at improper
places, and sometimes exhibits an extraordinary innocence."

"Those are 'the lords of the kingdom of mind,'" said Miss Grethe,
smiling.

[Note: "We are the lords of the kingdom of mind!
We are the stem which can never decay!"
--Students' Song, by CHRISTIAN WINTHER.]

"No, the _neighbors_!" replied Otto quickly.

At this moment Miss Julle entered. She had been wandering from shop
to shop, she said, until she could bear it no longer! She had had the
stuffs down from all the shelves, and at length had succeeded so far
as to become possessed of eight small pieces--beautiful patterns, she
maintained. And now she knew very well where the different stuffs were
to be had, how wide they were, and how much the yard. "And whom did I
meet?" said she; "only think! down the middle of East Street came the
actor--you know well! Our little passion! He is really charming off the
stage."

"Did you meet him?" said Laide. "That girl is always lucky!"

"Mr. Thostrup," said the mother, presenting him, for the yo