When they were done we threw down some flowers, and saw them scramble for them, kiss their hands to the invisible ladies, and go laughing away, to smoke and drink beer, I suppose.  Next morning Fred showed me one of the crumpled flowers in his vest pocket, and looked very sentimental.  I laughed at him, and said I didn’t throw it, but Flo, which seemed to disgust him, for he tossed it out of the window, and turned sensible again.  I’m afraid I’m going to have trouble with that boy, it begins to look like it.

The baths at Nassau were very gay, so was Baden-Baden, where Fred lost some money, and I scolded him.  He needs someone to look after him when Frank is not with him.  Kate said once she hoped he’d marry soon, and I quite agree with her that it would be well for him.  Frankfurt was delightful.  I saw Goethe’s house, Schiller’s statue, and Dannecker’s famous ‘Ariadne.’  It was very lovely, but I should have enjoyed it more if I had known the story better.  I didn’t like to ask, as everyone knew it or pretended they did.  I wish Jo would tell me all about it.  I ought to have read more, for I find I don’t know anything, and it mortifies me.

Now comes the serious part, for it happened here, and Fred has just gone.  He has been so kind and jolly that we all got quite fond of him.  I never thought of anything but a traveling friendship till the serenade night.  Since then I’ve begun to feel that the moonlight walks, balcony talks, and daily adventures were something more to him than fun.  I haven’t flirted, Mother, truly, but remembered what you said to me, and have done my very best.  I can’t help it if people like me.  I don’t try to make them, and it worries me if I don’t care for them, though Jo says I haven’t got any heart.  Now I know Mother will shake her head, and the girls say, “Oh, the mercenary little wretch!”, but I’ve made up my mind, and if Fred asks me, I shall accept him, though I’m not madly in love.  I like him, and we get on comfortably together.  He is handsome, young, clever enough, and very rich—­ever so much richer than the Laurences.  I don’t think his family would object, and I should be very happy, for they are all kind, well-bred, generous people, and they like me.  Fred, as the eldest twin, will have the estate, I suppose, and such a splendid one it is!  A city house in a fashionable street, not so showy as our big houses, but twice as comfortable and full of solid luxury, such as English people believe in.  I like it, for it’s genuine.  I’ve seen the plate, the family jewels, the old servants, and pictures of the country place, with its park, great house, lovely grounds, and fine horses.  Oh, it would be all I should ask!  And I’d rather have it than any title such as girls snap up so readily, and find nothing behind.  I may be mercenary, but I hate poverty, and don’t mean to bear it a minute longer than I can help.  One of us must marry well.  Meg didn’t,