and embroidery, and a
little bright sabre at his side; while on his head was a curious red
cap with a white feather, from under which he peeped shyly and
bashfully with his yellow face, and his bleared, heavy eyes. The girl
had on a white dress--very much like Christlieb's, but with a frightful
quantity of ribbons and tags--and her hair was most curiously frizzed
up into knots, and twisted upon the top of her head, where there was,
besides, a little shining coronet.

Christlieb plucked up courage, and was going to take the little girl's
hand; but she snatched it away in a hurry, and put on such an angry
tearful face, that Christlieb was quite frightened, and let her alone.
Felix wanted to have a closer look at the boy's pretty sabre, and put
out his hand to it, but the youngster began to cry, "My sabre, my
sabre, he's going to take my sabre!" and ran to the thin man, behind
whom he hid himself. Felix grew red in the face, and said, much
annoyed: "_I_ don't want to take your sabre--young stupid!"

The last two words were murmured between his teeth, but Baron von
Brakel seemed to have heard all, and was much put out about it, for he
fingered his waistcoat nervously, and said, "Oh, Felix!" The stout lady
said, "Adelgunda! Herrmann! the children are doing you no harm; do not
be so silly." The thin gentleman saying, "They will soon make
acquaintance," took Madam von Brakel by the hand, and conducted her to
the house. Baron von Brakel followed him with the stout lady, to whose
skirts Adelgunda and Herrmann clung. Christlieb and Felix came after
them.

"The cake will be cut now," Felix whispered to his sister. "Oh, yes!
oh, yes! yes!" answered she delighted. "And then we'll be off into the
wood," continued Felix. "And not bother more about these stupid
stranger things," added Christlieb. Felix cut a caper; and then they
went into the room. Adelgunda and Herrmann might not have any of the
cake, because their papa and mamma said it was not good for them; so
each of them had a little biscuit, which the footman had to produce
from a bag which he had brought. Felix and Christlieb munched bravely
at the substantial piece of cake which their dear mamma had given to
each, and enjoyed themselves.

THE FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE VISIT OF THE
DISTINGUISHED RELATIVES.

The thin gentleman, whose name was Cyprianus von Brakel, was first
cousin to the Baron Thaddeus von Brakel, but a personage of