“‘Franz, my dear, I want to speak to you.’
“Franz entered the room, and ‘Now, my dear boy,’ said papa, ‘before you go, let me give you one word of parting advice; but stop, we will shut the door first, if you please. That’s right. Well, now, look here. I know that no pains or expense have been spared over your education. You can play, and dance, and sing, and talk, and make yourself heard wherever you go.’
“‘My dear sir,’ interrupted Franz, ‘I don’t think you need trouble yourself to go on. My mother has just been giving me the advice beforehand.’
“‘No, has she though?’ cried old Franz, looking up in his son’s face; but then he shook his head, and said:—
“‘No, she hasn’t, Franz; no, she hasn’t; so listen to me. We’ve all made a fuss about you, and praised whatever you’ve done, and you’ve been a sort of idol and wonder among us. But, now you’re going among strangers, you will find yourself Mr. Nobody, and the great thing is, you must be contented to be Mr. Nobody at first. Keep yourself in the background, till people have found out your merits for themselves; and never get into anybody’s way. Keep out of the way, in fact, that’s the safest rule. It’s the secret of life for a young man—How impatient you look! but mark my words:—all you have to attend to, with your advantages, is, to keep out of the way.’
“After this bit of advice, the father bestowed his blessing on his dear Franz, and unlocked the door, close to which they found Mrs. Franz, waiting rather impatiently till the conference was over.
“‘What a time you have been, Franz!’ she began; but there was no time to talk about it, for they all knew that the coach, or post-wagon, as they call it in Germany, was waiting.
“Mrs. Franz wrung her son’s hand.
“‘Remember what I’ve said, my dearest Franz!’ she cried.
“‘Trust me!’ was Mr. Franz’s significant reply.