e wherewithal to clothe herself decently. Now,
cousin, that you are initiated into the mysteries of my wardrobe,
you understand why I could not come to table in a ball costume. But
don't trouble me with any more of your silly remarks about dress;
let me continue.

"My grandfather returned from Arnheim, cured of his melancholy and
more deeply in debt than ever. His stay, even with a friend, had cost
him much money in dress. He had had to order a new general's uniform,
as he could not go into society in that of a colonel; then there were
fees to servants; and, worst of all, that abominable high play which
is the curse of our nation. In short, on his return he was obliged to
sell the home-farm, and even this did not bring in sufficient money
to satisfy his creditors. This time my grandfather solemnly vowed he
would never enter society again, and he has kept his word; but he soon
fell into a black melancholy, from which he is only just recovering.

"Rolf, a brave soldier, but one who, in spite of his merits, would
never have obtained the rank of officer without grandpapa's protection,
called upon us. He was a sort of servant in the house before I
was born, making himself generally useful as only soldiers can. His
sister was my nurse, my mother having died soon after I came into the
world. Unfortunately, she had neither education nor character to fit
her for the task. With the best intentions, she thoroughly spoilt me,
a work in which she was assisted by her brother, Sergeant Rolf, who
would sooner have thought of disobeying his colonel than of opposing
any caprice of his 'little Major,' as he already called me. Well,
when he got his pension as captain he stayed here a few days, and his
company seemed to be a welcome change to grandfather; and perceiving
that a third person would be an agreeable addition to our society,
I proposed to him to take up his quarters here, as he could live
on his pension in one place as well as another. My proposition was
eagerly accepted, and I took the command, as he expresses it, whilst
he did his best to cheer up the General, and the winter has passed
less monotonously than I anticipated.

"Meantime Rolf has inherited some property in North Brabant, and now
he insists upon paying his quota towards the housekeeping expenses,
to which I have consented for the General's sake, because he is so
fond of delicacies. But you don't know how I suffer when I see them
rivalling each other in the pleasu