rybody laughed, more from politeness than anything else, for the
entertainment was gratuitous, but the girl was hurt, for she hated to
see her future husband laughed at. The leadsman frowned and grew silent.
He no longer enjoyed the festivities. But he carefully hid his real
feelings, for otherwise he would have been laughed at for a fool
unable to appreciate a joke. But still worse things happened, for his
impersonator danced and cut all sorts of ridiculous antics, in the
endeavour to act the leadsman's name in dumb charade; first his surname,
which he had inherited from his father, and then his Christian name,
which his mother had chosen for him at his baptism. These names were
sacred to him, and although there may have been a little boastful sound
about them, he had always scorned to change them.

He wanted to rise from his chair and leave, but his sweetheart caught
hold of his hand, and he stayed where he was.

When, the procession was over and everybody who had been sitting on
the balcony had risen, the great man laid a friendly hand on the girl's
shoulder, and said, with his kindly smile:--

"They have a strange way here of celebrating their heroes, one mustn't
mind it!"

In the evening there was a garden party and the leadsman was present,
but his pleasure was gone; he had been laughed at, and he had grown
small in his own estimation, smaller than the fool, who had made quite a
hit as a jester. Therefore he was despondent, felt uneasy at the thought
of the future and doubtful of his own capability. And wherever he went
he met the fool who was caricaturing him. He saw his faults enlarged,
especially his pride and his boastfulness; all his secret thoughts and
weaknesses were made public.

For three painful hours he examined the account book of his conscience;
what no man had dared to tell him before, the fool had told him. Perfect
knowledge of oneself is a splendid thing, Socrates calls it the highest
of all goods. Towards the end of the evening the leadsman had conquered
himself, admitted his faults, and resolved to turn over a new leaf.

As he was passing a group of people he heard a voice behind a hedge
saying:--

"It's extraordinary, how the leadsman has improved. He's really quite a
delightful fellow!"

These words did him good; but what pleased him more than anything else
were a few whispered words from his sweetheart.

"You are so nice to-night," she said, "that you look quite handsome."

He hand