In a ShephercVs House. 837 



The shepherd and his wife were quite bewildered, but I at 

 once won the good graces of the latter by presenting her with 

 a few bottles of wine, a ham and some other eatables. When 

 I expressed a wish to have the stove in the back room, she, to 

 our surprise, lifted it, heated as it was, and carried it in. 



After Miss Runkel had superficially cleaned our abo^e, she 

 made some good coffee, whilst I cooked some ham and eggs 

 for supper, and Prince Alfred brewed a hot whiskey punch. 

 Rather enjoying our strange situation, we sat on benches 

 around the table, eating and drinking with a very good 

 appetite. 



Then the momentous question turned up how we should 

 pass the night, and it was resolved that we should all remain 

 in the warm room, the gentlemen on straw on the floor, and 

 Miss Runkel and myself with Jimmy in the four-poster. ".4 

 /a guerre cornme a la guen-e J " The litter was soon made ; three 

 gendemen. Prince Alfred, Prof. Busch, and Dr. von Kiihle- 

 wetter, lay down on it, while I and Miss Runkel escaladed the 

 high four-poster. 



In an adjoining compartment the shepherd had 

 from the stable a goat and a lamb, which seemed much dis- 

 tressed with their change of quarters, for the lamb was bleating 

 all night most pitifully, and its mother hushed it now and then 

 with a comforting quaver, which displeased Jimmy who growled 

 and snarled. 



Such trifles did not matter, however ; the three gentlemen 

 evinced already some signs of sleep when the shepherdess 

 hurriedly came in to correct a great neglect, that is, to bring 

 me and Miss Runkel two of her nightcaps ; for to sleep with- 

 out a nigfitcap seems a perposterous idea to a Frenchwoman. 

 The good creature was quite stupified by the uproarious laugh- 

 ter produced by her thoughtful kindness. 



When the effects of this intermezzo had died away all set- 

 tled again for sleep. Prince Alfred soon tuned a hymn in hon- 

 our of Morpheus in a fine baritone snore ; and Dr. von Kiihle- 

 wetter accompanied him in a sentimental juvenile treble; 

 whilst Professor Busch snored an equally cadenced deep bass, 

 speaking of a peaceful, evenly balanced mind, and becoming 

 the dignity of his position. It was a wonderful snoratorio 

 rather improved by the bleating of the lamb, the quavering of 

 the goat, and the growling of jimmy. 



u 



