"Besides," she continued, "we are not quite without society. There is the family of our president von Wendenstein at the castle, and we make up quite a large party. We are not so much out of the world as you imagine. Last winter we very often danced at the castle."
"Danced!" exclaimed the candidate, as he folded his hands over his breast.
"Yes," said Helena; "the company staying at Lüchow often came over, and we had quite as much fun as they could have had in Hanover."
"But my uncle, did he not object to your participating in such extremely worldly amusements?" asked the candidate.
"Not in the least," she replied; "why should he?"
The candidate seemed to have an answer ready, but to repress it; and, after a short pause, he said in a gentle tone of superiority,--
"The opinion becomes more and more confirmed in all well-regulated circles, that such amusements are quite inadmissible in a clergyman's family."
"Indeed! what an excellent thing it is that we are quite out of the way of those well-regulated circles," said Helena coldly, for she felt displeased at her father's judgment being condemned, and her own amusements disapproved.
The candidate was silent.
"Of what does the family at the castle consist?" he asked after a pause; "I must go there and be introduced as soon as possible."