第119章

Beforethewinterwasfaradvanced，itisactuallyonrecordthatEmmytookanightandreceivedcompanywithgreatproprietyandmodesty。ShehadaFrenchmaster，whocomplimentedheruponthepurityofheraccentandherfacilityoflearning；thefactisshehadlearnedlongagoandgroundedherselfsubsequentlyinthegrammarsoastobeabletoteachittoGeorge；andMadamStrumpffcametogiveherlessonsinsinging，whichsheperformedsowellandwithsuchatruevoicethattheMajor’swindows，whohadlodgingsoppositeunderthePrimeMinister，werealwaysopentohearthelesson。

SomeoftheGermanladies，whoareverysentimentalandsimpleintheirtastes，fellinlovewithherandbegantocallherduatonce。Thesearetrivialdetails，buttheyrelatetohappytimes。TheMajormadehimselfGeorge’stutorandreadCaesarandmathematicswithhim，andtheyhadaGermanmasterandrodeoutofeveningsbythesideofEmmy’scarriage——shewasalwaystootimid，andmadeadreadfuloutcryattheslightestdisturbanceonhorse-back。SoshedroveaboutwithoneofherdearGermanfriends，andJosasleepontheback-seatofthebarouche。

HewasbecomingverysweetupontheGrafinnFannydeButterbrod，averygentletender-heartedandunassumingyoungcreature，aCanonessandCountessinherownright，butwithscarcelytenpoundsperyeartoherfortune，andFannyforherpartdeclaredthattobeAmelia’ssisterwasthegreatestdelightthatHeavencouldbestowonher，andJosmighthaveputaCountess’sshieldandcoronetbythesideofhisownarmsonhiscarriageandforks；when——wheneventsoccurred，andthosegrandfetesgivenuponthemarriageoftheHereditaryPrinceofPumpernickelwiththelovelyPrincessAmeliaofHumbourg-Schlippenschloppentookplace。

AtthisfestivalthemagnificencedisplayedwassuchashadnotbeenknowninthelittleGermanplacesincethedaysoftheprodigalVictorXIV。AlltheneighbouringPrinces，Princesses，andGrandeeswereinvitedtothefeast。BedsrosetohalfacrownpernightinPumpernickel，andtheArmywasexhaustedinprovidingguardsofhonourfortheHighnesses，Serenities，andExcellencieswhoarrivedfromallquarters。ThePrincesswasmarriedbyproxy，atherfather’sresidence，bytheCountdeSchlusselback。Snuff-boxesweregivenawayinprofusion(aswelearnedfromtheCourtjeweller，whosoldandafterwardsboughtthemagain)，andbushelsoftheOrderofSaintMichaelofPumpernickelweresenttothenoblesoftheCourt，whilehampersofthecordonsanddecorationsoftheWheelofSt。CatherineofSchlippenschloppenwerebroughttoours。TheFrenchenvoygotboth。”Heiscoveredwithribbonslikeaprizecart-horse。”Tapewormsaid，whowasnotallowedbytherulesofhisservicetotakeanydecorations：“Lethimhavethecordons；butwithwhomisthevictory？”Thefactis，itwasatriumphofBritishdiplomacy，theFrenchpartyhavingproposedandtriedtheirutmosttocarryamarriagewithaPrincessoftheHouseofPotztausend-Donnerwetter，whom，asamatterofcourse，weopposed。

Everybodywasaskedtothefetesofthemarriage。

Garlandsandtriumphalarcheswerehungacrosstheroadtowelcometheyoungbride。ThegreatSaintMichael’sFountainranwithuncommonlysourwine，whilethatintheArtilleryPlacefrothedwithbeer。Thegreatwatersplayed；andpoleswereputupintheparkandgardensforthehappypeasantry，whichtheymightclimbattheirleisure，carryingoffwatches，silverforks，prizesausageshungwithpinkribbon，&c。，atthetop。Georgygotone，wrenchingitoff，havingswarmedupthepoletothedelightofthespectators，andslidingdownwiththerapidityofafallofwater。Butitwasfortheglory’ssakemerely。Theboygavethesausagetoapeasant，whohadverynearlyseizedit，andstoodatthefootofthemast，blubbering，becausehewasunsuccessful。

AttheFrenchChancellerietheyhadsixmorelampionsintheirilluminationthanourshad；butourtransparency，whichrepresentedtheyoungCoupleadvancingandDiscordflyingaway，withthemostludicrouslikenesstotheFrenchAmbassador，beattheFrenchpicturehollow；andIhavenodoubtgotTapewormtheadvancementandtheCrossoftheBathwhichhesubsequentlyattained。

Crowdsofforeignersarrivedforthefetes，andofEnglish，ofcourse。BesidestheCourtballs，publicballsweregivenattheTownHallandtheRedoute，andintheformerplacetherewasaroomfortrente-et-quaranteandrouletteestablished，fortheweekofthefestivitiesonly，andbyoneofthegreatGermancompaniesfromEmsorAix-la-Chapelle。Theofficersorinhabitantsofthetownwerenotallowedtoplayatthesegames，butstrangers，peasants，ladieswereadmitted，andanyonewhochosetoloseorwinmoney。

That