It was not until toward morning that Otto fell into sleep. Wilhelm and he were allowed to take their own time in rising, and thus it was late in the day before these two gentlemen made their appearance at the breakfast-table; the Kammerjunker was already come over to the hall, and now was more adorned than common.

 

"Mr. Thostrup shall be one of the initiated!" said the mother. "It will be time enough this evening for strangers to know of it. The Kammerjunker and my Sophie are betrothed."

 

"See, it was in the bright moonlight, Mr. Thostrup, that I became such a happy man!" said the Kammerjunker, and kissed the tips of Sophie's fingers. He offered his other hand to Otto.

 

Otto's countenance remained unchanged, a smile played upon his lips. "I congratulate you!" said he; "it is indeed a joyful day! If I were a poet, I would give you an ode!"

 

Louise looked at him with an extraordinary expression of pain in her countenance.

 

Wilhelm called the Kammerjunker brother-in-law, and smiling shook both his hands.

 

Otto was unusually gay, jested, and laughed. The ladies went to their toilet, Otto into the garden.

 

He had been so convinced in his own mind that Sophie returned his passion. With what pleasure had she listened to him! with what an expression had her eye rested upon him! Her little jests had been to him such convincing proofs that the hope which he nourished was no self-delusion. She was the light around which his thoughts had circled. Love to her was to him a good angel, which sung to him consolation and life's gladness in his dark moments.

 

Now, all was suddenly over. It was as if the angel had left him; the flame of love which had so entirely filled his soul, was in a moment extinguished to its last spark. Sophie was become a stranger to him; her intellectual eye, which smiled in love on the Kammerjunker, seemed to him the soulless eye of the automaton. A stupefying indifference went through him, deadly as poison that is infused into the human blood.

 

"The vain girl! she thought to make herself more important by repelling from her a faithful heart! She should only see how changed her image is in my soul. All the weaknesses which my love for her made me pass over, now step forth with repulsive features! Not a word which she spoke fell to the ground. The diamond has lost its lustre; I feel only its sharp corners!"

 

Sophie had given the preference to a man who, in respect of intellect, stood far below Otto! Sophie, who seemed to be enthusiastic for art and beauty, for everything glorious in the kingdom of mind, could thus have deceived him!

 

We will now see the sisters in their chamber.

 

Louise seemed pensive, she sat silently looking before her.

 

Sophie stood thoughtfully with a smile upon her lips.

 

"The Kammerjunker is very handsome, however!" exclaimed she: "he looks so manly!"

 

"You ought to find him love-worthy!" said Louise.

 

"Yes," replied her sister, "I have always admired these strong countenances! He is an Axel--a northern blackbearded savage. Faces such as Wilhelm's look like ladies'! And he is so good! He has said, that immediately after our marriage we shall make a tour to Hamburg. What dress do you think I should wear?"

 

"When you make the journey to Hamburg?" inquired Louise.

 

"O no, child! to-day I mean. Thostrup was indeed very polite! he congratulated me! I felt, however, rather curious when it was told to him. I had quite expected a scene! I was almost ready to beg of you to tell him first of all. He ought to have been prepared. But he was, however, very rational! I should not have expected it from him. I really wish him all good, but he is an extraordinary character! so melancholy! Do you think that he will take my betrothal to heart? I noticed that when I was kissed he turned himself suddenly round to the window and played with the flowers. I wish that he would soon go! The journey into foreign countries will do him good--there he will soon forget his heart's troubles. To-morrow I will write to Cousin Joachim; he will also be surprised!"

 

Late in the afternoon came Jakoba, the Mamsell, the preacher, and yet a few other guests.

 

In the evening the table was arranged festively. The betrothed sat together, and Otto had the place of honor--he sat on the other side of Sophie. The preacher had written a song to the tune of "Be thou our social guardian-goddess;" this was ............