34 MATRIMONY AND MOONSHINE. 



Early the next morning Drost again stood in the saloon of Herr 

 Von Zetten, who, after a very short conversation, led him to his 

 daughter's apartment. As the door opened, Julia flew to the piano 

 and the officer of the Guards into a corner. 



" Your future husband, Julia!" cried the father. " Come, cousin/' 

 continued he, turning to the officer of the guards, " love likes to be 

 alone." 



The cousin bowed, and they instantly disappeared together. 



Drost stood beside Julia; a deep blush overspread her counte- 

 nance. He knew not whether joy or confusion dyed her cheeks. 

 Her eyes that were cast timidly down, and the powder from the 

 cousin's curls that lay about the room, were contradictions which 

 tranquillized and tormented him alternately. He looked at her with 

 an inquiring eye a tear stood tremblingly in Julia's. 



fc Is it one of pleasure ?" said he. 



Julia's head fell upon his shoulder, and the tear upon his hand. 

 The cousin, his confusion, and his powder were forgotten ; he felt 



only that Julia would soon become his ; and she was his, in less 



than three days. 



A crowd of cousins now flocked to her with felicitations and em- 

 braces. Visits were received and paid ; a week passed, and Drost 

 had not been able to speak to his wife for two minutes together. At 

 the ball she was incessantly engaged ; the rules of propriety did not 

 allow him to dance with her any more. He offered his hand to ano- 

 ther lady, but his eyes followed Julia, his feet went astray, and he 

 ceased to hear the measure. 



" Mon Dieu !" exclaimed a French marquis, with a look and a 

 shrug, and he drew up his foot, which Drost had trodden on. 



" Oh, my dress !" cried a lady ; and Drost saw with affright that 

 his feet were entangled in a train He disengaged himself with a 

 thousand excuses; and a shower of lemonade and negus streamed 

 over a waiter, whom he had struck in disentangling himself. 



" Mille diables !" shrieked the waiter, shaking the superfluous 

 moisture from himself over the dancers 



All the young men of the court crowded round Julia ; Drost tried 

 to press forward to her, and she flew round the room in a waltz with 

 her cousin. The lively quick waltz sounded to the husband like 

 a funeral hymn. At length the music ceased, the lights were extin- 

 guished, the dancers vanished, and Julia hung on his arm. He 

 hurried her to the carriage; and she wished him a good night, as she 

 sunk exhausted to sleep. 



In the morning the effects of a sleepless night were visible on the 

 countenance of Drost. He placed her hand between his own. 



" Dearest Julia, I have to solicit my first request of you." 



What can you have to request of me ?" cried Julia. 



" I have been considering the future plan of our life, and should 

 wish that the quiet of the country, nature and solitude, should now 

 and then vary the pleasures and ennui of the town." 



(< Do you doubt my compliance ?" said Julia, rubbing her eyes. 



Drost was delighted. " Let us make the trial," said he, " eight 

 leagues hence I have an estate, and, when a boy, used to be very 



