ee; the mother all
this time hoping within herself that he would so manage it that he
himself should retain the head--but no! the head remained in Petrea's
hand, and she uttered a loud cry of joy. After supper, the parents again
opposed what had taken place; but the Candidate was so cheerful and so
determined that it should remain as it was settled already, that Petrea,
the happiest of mortals, ventured to carry out the girl and rose-bush;
yet, she did not miss a motherly warning by the way, which mingled some
tears with her joy. The Candidate had, in the mean time, on account of
his kindness towards the children, and his good-nature towards Petrea,
made a favourable impression on the parents.

"Who knows," said Elise to her husband, "but that he may turn out very
well. He has, probably, his faults, but he has his good qualities too;
there is something really very agreeable in his voice and countenance;
but he must leave off that habit of looking at himself so continually in
the glass."

"I feel assured that he must have worth," said the Judge, "from the
recommendation of my friend B. This vanity, and these foppish habits of
his, we shall soon know how to get rid of; the man himself is
unquestionably good; and, dear Elise, be kind to him, and manage so that
he shall feel at home with us."

The children also, in their place of rest, made their observations on
the Candidate.

"I think he is much handsomer than my father," said little Petrea.

"I think," said the Queen-bee, in a tone of correction, "that nobody can
be more perfect than my father."

"That is true, excepting mamma," exclaimed Eva, out of her little bed.

"Ah," said Petrea, "I like him so much; he has given me that lovely
picture. Do you know what I shall call that girl? I shall call her Rosa;
and I'll tell you a long story about her. There was once upon a
time----"

All the sisters listened eagerly, for Petrea could relate better and
prettier stories than any of them. It was therefore said among
themselves that Petrea was very clever; but as the Queen-bee was
desirous that Petrea should not build much on this opinion, she now
listened to her history without bestowing upon it one token of applause,
although it was found to be sufficiently interesting to keep the whole
little auditorium awake till midnight.

"What will become of my preserves?" thought Elise, one day as she
remarked the quantity which vanished from the plate of the Candidate;
but wh