It was like entering a complete fairyland to comefrom the raw air into this home that displayed such luxuryand good taste.In the vestibule，before the carpetedstairs，there was a great display of flowers among bushesand fan palms.A little fountain splashed water into abasin，which was surrounded by tall callas.
The great salon was magnificently lighted，and alarge part of the company had already gathered.It soonbecame very crowded.People stepped on silk trains andlaces，amid the humming，sonorous mosaic of conversa-tion，which，on the whole，was the least worth while ofall the splendor there.
Had Peer been a vain fellow，which he was not，hecould have imagined that it was a ** for him，so cor-dial was the reception he received from the lady of thehouse and the beaming daughter.Young and elderly
ladies，yes，and gentlemen，too，paid him many compli-ments.
There was music.A young author read a well-writ-ten poem.There was singing，and tactfulness was shownin that no one urged our young and honored singer tomake the affair complete.The lady of the house was amost attentive hostess，brilliant and genial，in that ele-gant salon.
That was his introduction into the great world，andour young friend was soon also one of the select group inthe choice family circle.The singing master shook hishead and laughed，
"How young you are，dear friend，"he said，"thatit can please you to be with these people!In a way theyare good enough，but they look down on us plain citi-zens.For some of them it is only a matter of vanity，anamusement，and for others a sort of sign of exclusive cul-ture，when they receive into their circle artists and the li-ons of the day.These belong in the salon much as theflowers in a vase;they decorate and then they are thrownaway."
"How harsh and unreasonable!"said Peer."You donot know these people;you do not want to know them!"
"No，"answered the singing master."I don't feel athome among them，nor do you，either.That they all re-member and know.They pat you and look at you just asthey pat and look at a race horse that is expected to win awager.You belong to another race than they.They willlet you go when you are no longer in the fashion.Don'tyou understand that?You are not proud enough.You arevain，and you show that by seeking these people's com-pany."
"How very differently you would talk and judge，"said Peer，"if you knew the widow baroness and a few ofmy friends there."
"I shall not come to know them，"said the singingmaster.
"When is the engagement to be announced!"askedFelix one day."Is it the mother or the daughter?"And helaughed."Don't take the daughter，for then you'll haveall the young nobility against you，and I，too，shall beyour enemy，and the deadliest one!"
"What do you mean?"asked Peer.
"You are indeed the favorite.You can go in and outat all hours.With the mother，you'd get money andbelong to a good family."
"Stop your joking，"said Peer."There is nothingamusing to me in what you say."
"It is not supposed to be amusing，"said Felix."Itis a most serious matter，for you surely wouldn't let hergeace sit and weep and be a double widow!"
"Leave the Baroness out of this conversation，"saidPeer."Make fun over me if you want to，but over mealone，and I will answer you!"
"No one will believe that it is a love match on yourside，"continued Felix."She is a little outside of the lineof beauty.True，one does not live on intellect alone!"
"I thought you had more refinement and good
sense，"said Peer，"than to talk so disrespectfully of alady you should esteem and whose house you visit，and Ican't bear to listen to you any longer!"
"What are you going to do about it?"asked Felix."Do you want to fight?"
"I know that you have learned that，and I have not，but I can learn!"And he left Felix.
A couple of days later the two children of thehouse met again，the son from the first floor and the sonfrom the garret.Felix talked to Peer as if no break hadcome between them.He answered courteously，but curt-ly，too.
"What is the matter now!"said Felix."We twowere a little irritable recently，but one must have his littlejoke，which doesn't necessarily mean one is flippant.Idon't like to bear a grudge.So let us forgive and forget."