Jezebel's Daughter

ler's house, when I heard a woman's voice behind me asking the way to the Poste Restant

adness, which made it additionally interesting. I did what most ot

de and so perfectly worn that I should have doubted her being a German girl, if I had not heard the purely South-German accent in which she put her question. It was answered, briefly and civilly, by the conductor of the post-carriage in which I had traveled. But, at that hour, the old court-yard of the post-office was thronged with pe

rection of Mr. Keller's house. I followed my instincts instead, and offered my services to t

st-office," I said. "Will you

s paying the double penalty of being a young man,

leasant for a young lady to find herself alone in such a crowded place a

gain, and altered

r; I will thankfully a

ffer you

ct amiability, however. "Thank you, s

a passport, and asked if there was a letter waiting for the person named in it. The letter was found; but was not immediately delivered. As well as I could understand, the postage had been insufficient

the crowd. The clerk thought so too. He looked at the clock. "You must be quick ab

"It's more than ten minutes' walk,

h a very small sum," I reminded her, "that it would be

tter, and her doubt of the propriety of accepting

right in me to borrow money of a stranger, however little it may be. And, even if I d

o pay it back?

s,

orrow." I said this, with the intention of reconciling her to the loan of the money. It had exactly

kindness, if--" She stopped again. The clerk looked once more

oke out plainly at last. "Will you kindly tell me, sir,

r first, and then an

ood as to send it to

er pale face suddenly flushed. "Oh!" she exc

truth occurred to my m

; "and his so

ked away from me with a pained, humiliated expression. Doubt was no longer po

ealment of the discovery that I had made. I said at once, "I

n wonder, not unmi

know who I a

hew of Mrs. Wagner, of London. Fritz is staying in her hous

before, became radiant with happiness. "Oh!" sh

by day, in his dreams by night. All her shyness vanished. She impulsively gave me her hand. "How can I be grateful enough to the good angel who has brought us together!" she exclaimed. "If we were not in the street, I d

oment, I forgot my own little love affair in Eng

use and look at us. I offered Minna my arm, and

dly frankness that charmed me. "But you are ex

persisted, "and save you the trouble

ppened! I am a selfish wretch; I have not borne my sorrow and suspense as I ought; I have made her miserable about me, because I was miserable about Fritz. It's all over now. Thank you again and again. The

ve spoken about Fritz a little too freely, and might have excited hopes which could never be realized. The contemplat

ngelman-one a widower, the other an old bachelor-lived together in the ancient buil

his pipe. "In my leisure moments," he used to say, "give me my flowers, my pipe, and my peace of mind-and I ask no more." Widely as they differed in character, the two partners had the truest regard for one another. Mr. Engelman believed Mr. Keller to be the most accomplished and remarkable man in Germany. Mr. Keller was as firmly persuaded, on his side, that Mr. Engelman was an angel in sweetness of temper, and a model of modest and unassuming good sense. Mr. Engelman l

German supper. Specimens of Mr. Engelman's flowers adorned the table in honor of

eave dear Mrs. Wag

boy Fritz?" a

ared, and Mr. Engelman had lit his pipe, and I had kept him company with a cigar, then Mr. Keller put the

vasion of the office by a select army of female clerks. The effect produced by the discl

his pipe, and looked at Mr

st on the table, and appealed to M

usiness? How many opinions of philosophers on the moral and physical incapacities of women did I quote? Did I, or

elman looked

my dear friend,

expected, exactly what I predicted, has come to pass. Put down your pipe! I can bear a great deal-but tobacco smoke is beyond me at such a crisis as this. And

oman when I first saw he

cried Mr

Engelman. "Allow me to present you wit

quiet, and

and then you put them in again. What noble perseverance! If I live a while longer I do really think you will make a clev

in despair. "I appeal to you, David," he said, and poured the fu

at there were two irremediable vices in the composition of women. Their dispositions presented, morally speaking, a disastrous mixture of the imitativeness of a monkey and the restlessness of a child. Having proved this by copious references to the highest authorities, Mr. Keller logically claimed my aunt as a woman, and, as such, not onl

s. Mr. Keller resolved to address a written remonstrance to my aunt. Mr.