"But yet the most beautiful!" answered he. "The copper beech contrasts so sweetly with the whitish-green thistle and the yellow leaf."
"My sister Sophie," said Louise, "lays us each day a different garland;--it is such a pretty decoration! If she is not here we get none; that would have been the case to-day, but when I learned that Wilhelm was coming, and that we," she added, with a friendly glance, "should have two other guests, I in great haste, made an attempt, and"--
"And wished to show how nicely it could be made without robbing your flowers!" interrupted Sophie, laughing. "In reality, I am very cruel! I cut all the heads of her favorites off. To-morrow, as a parody upon her garland of to-day, will I make one of green cabbage and pea-shells!"
"Madeira or port wine?" asked the Kammerjunker, and led the conversation from flowers to articles of food and drink.
"One feels one's self comfortable here at the hall! Miss Louise cares for the body, and Miss Sophie for the soul!"
"And mamma bestows a good cup of coffee," said the mother; "you must also praise me a little!"
"I give music after dinner!" cried Wilhelm; "and thus the whole family will have shown their activity!"
"But no voluntaries!" said the Kammerjunker; "no voluntaries, dear friend! No, a brisk song, so that one can hear what it is! but none of your artificial things!" A right proper blow on the shoulders was intended to soften his expression.
"She sees if the cloth is clean and white --If the bed has pillows and sheets; If the candle fits in the candlestick....
"Modest she is, although you know She makes the whole of the place; And in she slips in the evening glow, To light the room with her merry face "--OEHLENSCHLÄGER
A quiet, busy house-fairy was Louise; the beautiful, fragrant flowers were her favorites. Good-humoredly she smiled at the raillery of her sister, quietly listened to each thoughtless jest; but if any one, in joke, touched upon what was holy to her soul, she was aroused from her calmness and attained a certain eloquence.
We will now become more nearly acquainted with the sisters, and on this account pass over to one of the following days.
An abode together of a week, at a country-seat, will often bring about a greater intimacy than if, throughout a whole winter, people had met in large companies in cities. Otto soon felt himself at home; he was treated as a near relative. Wilhelm related all he knew of the beautiful Eva, and Sophie discovered that she was a romantic character. Mamma pitied the poor child, and Louise wished she had her on the estate: an inn was, after all, no proper place for a respectable girl. They then spoke of the winter enjoyments in Copenhagen, of art, and the theatre. Louise could not speak much with them upon these subjects, although she had seen one play, "Dyveke:" the amiable nature of the actress had spoken deeply to her heart.