ed
time--there arrived at the place of rendezvous old Manasseh with his
hopeful nephew--Tussmann--and Edmund Lehsen with the Goldsmith. The
wooers, not excepting the Baron, were almost frightened when they saw
Albertine, who had never seemed so lovely and taking. I am in a
position to assure every lady, married or otherwise, who attaches the
proper amount of importance to dress, that the way in which Albertine's
was trimmed, and the material of the trimmings, were most elegant; that
the frock itself was just the right length to show her pretty little
feet in their white satin shoes; that the arms of it (short, of
course), and the corsage were bordered with the richest Point; that her
white French gloves came up to just the least little bit above her
elbows, showing her beautiful arm; that the only thing she had on her
head was a lovely gold comb set with jewels; in short, that her dress
was quite that of a bride, except that she had no myrtle wreath in her
bonny brown hair. But the reason why she was so much more beautiful
than she ever had been before was that love and hope beamed in her eyes
and bloomed on her cheeks.

Bosswinkel, in a burst of hospitality, had provided a splendid lunch.
Old Manasseh glowered at the table laid out for this repast with
malignant glances askance, and when the Commissionsrath begged him to
fall to, on his countenance could be read the answer of Shylock:--

"Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet, the
Nazarite, conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you,
talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with
you, drink with you, nor pray with you."

The Baron was less conscientious, for he ate more beefsteak than was
seemly, and talked a great deal of stupid nonsense, as was his wont.

The Commissionsrath behaved wholly contrarily to his nature on this
important occasion. Not only did he pour out bumpers of Port and
Madeira, regardless of expense, and even told the company that he had
some Madeira in his cellar a hundred years old; but when the luncheon
was over he explained to the suitors the method in which his daughter's
hand was to be disposed of in a speech much better put together than
anybody would ever have expected of him. They were given to understand
most clearly that the successful one must find her portrait in the
casket which he chose.

When twelve o'clock struck the door of the hall opened, and there was
seen