Her color came and went as she listened with
deep attention. Now and then she made some blushing reply, and
when his eye was turned away she would steal a sidelong glance at
his romantic countenance, and heave a gentle sigh of tender
happiness. It was evident that the young couple were completely
enamored. The aunts, who were deeply versed in the mysteries of
the heart, declared that they had fallen in love with each other
at first sight.
The feast went on merrily, or at least noisily, for the guests
were all blessed with those keen appetites that attend upon light
purses and mountain air. The baron told his best and longest
stories, and never had he told them so well or with such great
effect. If there was anything marvellous, his auditors were lost
in astonishment; and if anything facetious, they were sure to
laugh exactly in the right place. The baron, it is true, like
most great men, was too dignified to utter any joke but a dull
one; it was always enforced, however, by a bumper of excellent
Hockheimer, and even a dull joke at one's own table, served up
with jolly old wine, is irresistible. Many good things were said
by poorer and keener wits that would not bear repeating, except
on similar occasions; many sly speeches whispered in ladies' ears
that almost convulsed them with suppressed laughter; and a song
or two roared out by a poor but merry and broad-faced cousin of
the baron that absolutely made the maiden aunts hold up their
fans.
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