find

you more eminently sympathetic. You are in love. One word more are there

any obstacles in your way?'

There were obstacles in my way. She was too old for me, and too poor for meand it all came to nothing in due course of time. I admitted the obstacles; abstaining, with an Englishman's shyness, from entering into details. My reply was enough, and more than enough, for Fritz. 'Good Heavens!' he exclaimed; 'our destinies

exactly resemble each other!

supremely wretched men.

We are both

David, I can

restrain myself no longer; I must positively embrace you!'

I resisted to the best of my ability—but he was the stronger man of the two. His

long arms almost strangled me; his bristly

moustache scratched my cheek. In my

first involuntary impulse of disgust, I clenched my fist. Young Mr. Keller never suspected (my English brethren alone will understand) how very near my fist and his head were to becoming personally and violently acquainted. Different nations different customs. I can smile as I write. about it now.

Fritz took his seat again. My heart is at ease; I can pour myself out freely,' he said. 'Never, my friend, was there such an interesting love-story as mine. She is the sweetest girl living. Dark, slim, gracious, delightful, desirable, just eighteen. The image, I should suppose, of what her widowed mother was at her age. Her name is Minna. Daughter and only child of Madame

Fontaine. Madame Fontaine is a truly grand creature, a Roman matron. She is the victim of envy and scandal. Would you believe it? There are wretches in Würzburg (her husband the doctor was professor of chemistry at the University)-—there are wretches, I say, who call my Minna's mother

66

Jezebel," and my Minna herself "Jezebel's Daughter!" I have fought three duels with my fellow-students to avenge that one insult. Alas, David, there is another person who is influenced by those odious calumnies! -a person sacred to me-the honoured author of my being. Is it not dreadful? My good father turns tyrant in this one thing; declares I shall never marry "Jezebel's Daughter; exiles me, by his paternal commands, to this foreign country; and

perches me on a high stool to copy letters.

Ha! he little knows my heart.

I am

my Minna's and my Minna is mine. In body and soul, in time and in eternity, we are one. Do you see my tears? Do my tears speak for me? The heart's relief is in crying freely. There is a German song to that effect. When I recover myself, I will sing it to you. Music is a great comforter; music is the friend of love. There is another German song to that effect.' He suddenly dried his eyes, and got on his feet; some new idea had apparently occurred to him. 'It is dreadfully dull here,' he said; ‘I am not used to evenings at home. Have you any music in London? Help me to forget Minna for an hour or two. Take me to the music.'

Having, by this time, heard quite enough of his raptures, I was eager on my side for a change of any kind. I helped him to forget Minna at a Vauxhall Concert. He thought our English orchestra wanting in subtlety and spirit. On the other hand, he did full justice, afterwards, to our English bottled beer. When we left the Gardens he sang me that German song, 'My heart's relief is crying freely,' with a fervour of sentiment which must have awakened every light sleeper in the neighbourhood.

Retiring to my bedchamber, I found an open letter on my toilet-table. It was addressed to my aunt by the lawyer; and it announced that he had decided on accompanying her to the madhouse-without pledging himself to any further concession.