MATRIMONY AND MOONSHINE. 37 



" Dear Drost," said she, as she sat down on the stump of an oak, 

 " what kind of shepherds are here ? Your Myrtillo is an admirable 

 imitation of a bandit. Alas ! Gessner never saw such men, or else he 

 has published a book of falsehoods." 



" In your Gessner/' said Drost, vexed, and stretching himself on 

 the grass, a nightingale sings in every page ; but he does not say a 

 word of the footpath by which one must approach them." 



" No, nor of the bad roads !" cried Julia. 



" Nor how hard the ground is !" sighed Drost, as he raised himself 

 up, smarting with pain. 



" I think," said Julia, we will descend the hill again, for it is quite 

 as cool in-doors." 



" And the sofa is much softer," said Dorst, springing up : and 

 they returned to the house, heated and fatigued. 



" Only allow," said Julia, when she had a little recovered, " that 

 nature is like our operas. When we looked at it this morning from 

 our box, every thing appeared beautiful ; but when we went upon the 

 stage, every charm vanished but we must have been gone a tre- 

 mendous time." As she spoke the church clock struck one. 



" It must be much later," said Dorst " the tedious village 

 clocks." He took out his watch, but it was only one o'clock. " Then 

 we have still an hour to get through before dinner !" they both ex- 

 claimed at the same instant. 



They dozed, despaired, and dressed and dinner was served. They 

 took their seats opposite to each other in silence. No company no 

 play-bills no news no journal of the fashions. What should they 

 talk about ? Drost sat thoughtfully, and Julia looked at her hands. 



" Do you know," said she, at length, " that Hamlet is performed 

 to-night?" 



"Hamlet! I always see that piece with pleasure Hamlet! I 

 used to fancy myself like him he who is raised above the prejudices 

 f his time, and* loves virtue so ardently !" exclaimed Drost, pressing 

 her hand tenderly. 



" What pleasure my sisters will have this evening !" said Julia, 

 sorrowfully, drawing back her hand. " The whole court will be 

 there ; and my dress would have been ready to-day. Poor Ophelia !" 

 sighed Julia, " how I long to see her." 

 " Alas ! poor ghost !" sighed Drost. 



The village pastor and his lady were announced. A short, thick 

 man, in the dark dress of piety, with a pair of rosy cheeks, entered, 

 conducting a tall, meagre woman, who looked down upon him like 

 Mount St. Gothard upon Switzerland. The powder lay like a cap 

 of snow 011 her summit ; a sky-blue dress enveloped her like ether, 

 which was trimmed with black lace, and evinced the bad taste of a past 

 age. She hung over the little black figure, that resembled a dark 

 cloud at her feet. 



Drost conducted the lady to the sofa, and gave a chair to the pastor. 

 He talked of English dogs the pastor, of agriculture Julia, of the 

 Opera and the pastor's lady, of flax and storms. The thread of con- 

 versation snapped every instant. The pastor played with his hat 

 Drost counted the pictures on the wall Julia pressed her lips to- 



