though very dear to her as remembrances of her mother and Mrs Milbirn. “Old Isaac told me a different story,” said the father with a faltering voice, as he laid his hand affectionately on the fair ringlets of his child; “it is he who has got the jewels which you exchanged for tears of joy and gratitude.”
“Father—” interrupted Joanna, seeming to wish to hide from me the knowledge of what she had done.
It may easily be imagined that I got the jewels back that very evening, which I sent along with some strings of pearls and corals, and a comb set with seven brilliants—to keep to the number so highly venerated by my grandmother—with a choice of elegant ball-dresses to Blumenwalde, adding that I would myself come in the evening with a carriage to convey my lovely bride to the ball.
I then hastened to Mrs Waldmark, to whom I wished to communicate my secret, but I found the worthy lady so busy with arrangements for the evening’s fête, that I could not gain her ear one moment. However, I communicated my secret to the old honest valet de chambre, whom I briefly instructed in his part.
The day lingered, but the hour of assembly arrived at last, and when I entered the ball-room, with the lovely Joanna leaning on my arm, who truly looked in her ornaments the queen of the ball, the honest valet called aloud: “Mr Blum and his bride, Miss Joanna Wilmar,” while the orchestra struck up a merry air, and the whole company stood mute with astonishment, gazing on the beautiful creature at my side, who herself overwhelmed by so unexpected a disclosure of the whole secret, sunk almost fainting into the arms of her friend Mrs Waldmark.
“Robert,” exclaimed the worthy matron, with joyful emotion, “how happy your choice makes me! This evening is one of the happiest of my life!” She would have said more, but Joanna was now surrounded by a circle of congratulating friends, and among those who crowded around me was the
