“You receive a thistle and a withered leaf!” whispered Wilhelm, as Otto seated himself.
“But yet the most beautiful!” answered he. “The copper beech contrasts so sweetly with the whitish-green thistle and the yellow leaf.”
“My sister Sophie,” said Louise, “lays us each day a different garland;—it is such a pretty decoration! If she is not here we get none; that would have been the case to-day, but when I learned that Wilhelm was coming, and that we,” she added, with a friendly glance, “should have two other guests, I in great haste, made an attempt, and”—
“And wished to show how nicely it could be made without robbing your flowers!” interrupted Sophie, laughing. “In reality, I am very cruel! I cut all the heads of her favorites off. To-morrow, as a parody upon her garland of to-day, will I make one of green cabbage and pea-shells!”
“Madeira or port wine?” asked the Kammerjunker, and led the conversation from flowers to articles of food and drink.
“One feels one’s self comfortable here at the hall! Miss Louise cares for the body, and Miss Sophie for the soul!”
“And mamma bestows a good cup of coffee,” said the mother; “you must also praise me a little!”
“I give music after dinner!” cried Wilhelm; “and thus the whole family will have shown their activity!”
“But no voluntaries!” said the Kammerjunker; “no voluntaries, dear friend! No, a brisk song, so that one can hear what it is! but none of your artificial things!” A right proper blow on the shoulders was intended to soften his expression.