“Well, you are done for, that is certain, my dear Wilhelm.  Confound it, you have gone in for it with a vengeance!  I always thought that when you did catch fire, you would give no end of a blaze.  So all your philosophy of abnegation, all your contempt for appearance go for nothing.  What is your sweet brown maiden but a charming appearance!  Nevertheless you have fallen completely in love with her, for which I wish you happiness with all my heart.  I do not doubt that she loves you, because I should have been in love with you long ago if I had been a sweet brown maiden, you shockingly beautiful man.  One thing is very like you, you say no word on what would most interest a Philistine like myself, viz., the worldly circumstances of the adored one.  I must know her name, her relations, her descent.  For all this you have naturally no curiosity.  A name is smoke and empty sound.  Now don’t let your love go too far—­sleep, and take care of your appetite, and keep a corner in your perilously full heart for your true

“Paul”

Wilhelm smiled as he read these lines in the strong symmetrical handwriting of his friend, and hastened to send him the news he desired.  In the meanwhile his happiness was continual and increasing, and nothing troubled it but the thought of the coming separation.  These two innocent children could hide their love as little as the sun his light.  They were always together, their eyes always fixed on one another, their hands as often as possible clasped in each other’s.  All the people in the hotel noticed it, and were pleased about it, so natural did it seem that this handsome couple should be united by love.  The chambermaid, rosy Bertha, saw what was going on with her sly peasant’s eye, and by way of making herself agreeable used to whisper to him where he could find the young lady when she happened to meet him on the staircase.  Wilhelm good-naturedly forgave the girl her obtrusiveness.  Only Herr Ellrich saw nothing.  In his foreign newspapers, in the blue smoke from his cigars, in the clouds of powder from his gun, be found nothing which could enlighten him as to the two young people’s beautiful secret.

Frau Ellrich certainly had more knowledge than that.  In spite of her correspondence and her long afternoon naps, she retained enough observation to see the condition of things pretty clearly.  She waited for a confession from Loulou, and as this did not come soon enough for the impatience of her mother’s heart, she tried a loving question.  After a warm embrace from the girl, a few tears, a great many kisses, the mother and daughter understood each other.  Wilhelm had pleased Frau Ellrich very much, and she had no objection to raise, but she could make no answer on her own responsibility, as she knew the views of her husband on the marriage of his only child, and after a few days she made him a cautious communication.  Herr Ellrich did not take it badly, but as a practical man of the world he wished to give the feelings of