"Well, don't be too late. Soon after eight o'clock will answer. You
will only find a few friends there."
At the appointed hour we see Wulf in the Kahrings' brilliantly
lighted apartments. Happily he has passed the purgatorial ordeal of
the servants, but he gives a final reassuring glance at his toilet.
Yes; it is _en regle_, even to the cravat and gloves. The
_portières_ are drawn aside, and Wulf's first glance seeks and rests
upon Lady Von Kahring, who seems in earnest conversation with an
elderly gentlemen. Perhaps she has not observed the young stranger's
entrance, as he stands hesitating lest he should interrupt her
_tête-à-tête_ in the least degree. She continues her discussion,
until her companion directs her attention in a friendly way to the
new-comer. Approaching Wulf with the most amiable warmth, she
exclaims: "How kind you are to come upon so late an invitation! The
servant forgot to deliver it, and we feared we should suffer from his
negligence. Now, please find the young people in the next room, with
Arnold." And with a pleasant gesture she invites him to enter.
The truth of the matter was, several of the invited guests had sent
regrets, and as there promised to be more ladies than gentlemen
present, the baron's wife at the last moment thought of Wulf as a
make-shift.
"Who is this young man? Have I seen him before?" inquired Lady Von
Kahring's companion.
"O," she replied, apologetically, "if I had imagined you were
especially interested in him I should have taken pleasure in
presenting him to you. He is a stranger we learned to know at the
sea-shore. At present he is here studying medicine, and he is a kind
of _protégé_ of Arnold's."
"One can readily discern that he has not been long in Berlin," was
the unamiable response.
"He needs training, sir," remarked Arnold, derisively, passing at
that moment.
Wulf was, as it were, in a new world. Welcomed by the baron's
daughter and son, he was presented to so many persons that finally he
had not the remotest idea who one of them was. But what of that?
There was all around a magical atmosphere of light, splendor, beauty,
kindness, and refinement. Such a throng of agreeable figures in
white, glittering attire, with which the young officers' uniforms
picturesquely contrasted, he had never before witnessed. It was like
a dream of the Arabian Nights.
And Wulf was wonderfully complimented. In the conventional monotony
of "society," stale associations become so palling that every
new-comer is hailed with pleasure.
"Who is that handsome young man? Where does he come from?" were the
inquiries made.
"He is a stranger, very gifted, and of good family. Young Kahring,
who always has good taste, even if it be sometimes bizarre,
introduced him. There must be something back of it, if Lady Von
Kahring chaperons him; she does nothing without a motive. Perhaps he
is very rich."
These were the passing comments upon Wulf, of which he had no
suspicion. He was polite in conversation, had felt the need of
companionship, and all these bright, charming people gratified him.
That the beautiful assemblage was often hollow and insincere he never
dreamed. He accepted as genuine coin what was simply empty
compliment. For this reason he was intoxicated by every one's
extreme friendliness, and believed honestly that so many delightful
people had never been brought together before.
Lady Von Kahring was a model hostess. Her whole consideration was
the comfort and enjoyment of her guests. She did not manifest this
desire too anxiously, but most graciously. While sitting here,
absorbed in conversation with some neglected old lady, her vigilant
eye did not fail to observe a young man standing alone yonder, and a
significant glance quickly brought a servant with refreshment to his
side. While filling with readiness a gap at the whist-table, she was
perfectly able at the same time to hold the young people in proper
check.
"Arnold, be so good as to open the piano. Eugenie, please accompany
Herr Ericksen as nicely as possible. O, Herr Ericksen we shall all
be so much indebted to you, if you will kindly favor us with a
song--one of the folk-songs with which you charmed us at the
sea-side;" and turning to her whist companions she says softly: "You
can not imagine what a beautiful voice this young gentleman has--a
splendid bass, somewhat untrained; but the folk-songs are even more
fascinating when sung in this popular way."
Wulf sang. He gave great pleasure to the company. The young ladies
hung upon his lips; the privy counselor's wife secretly envied Lady
Von Kahring this fortunate acquisition; the very economical Lady Von
Steiniger hastily calculated in her own mind how she should be able
to secure this young man for her salon, in order to save something in
the way of material attractions by the musical entertainment he would
afford her guests.
When Wulf had finished, several desired to make his acquaintance.
His head whirled with high titles and princely names. A social game,
which Arnold arranged, also conferred upon him much attention. The
mistakes he committed against society's regulations were overlooked
and laughed at as eccentricities, and even admired.
"Now, your _entrée_ into society has been very auspiciously
launched," said Arnold. "You make conquests like the great Caesar."
Wulf made no reply. His face glowed: his pulse quickened. He was as
yet so unaccustomed to so much attention.
"Only wait awhile," pursued the young ensign; "you will get cool, if,
only, you do not take cold."
When Wulf returned late to his lodgings, his room looked even
comical. He tried to study; but great, splendid forms capered around
his books, and he did not long for his mother's spinning-wheel that
night.