passed thee with careless steps, and scarcely bestowed a glance upon thee.”  I looked down, and observed Charlotte’s little sister, Jane, coming up the steps with a glass of water.  I turned toward Charlotte, and I felt her influence over me.  Jane at the moment approached with the glass.  Her sister, Marianne, wished to take it from her.  “No!” cried the child, with the sweetest expression of face, “Charlotte must drink first.”

The affection and simplicity with which this was uttered so charmed me, that I sought to express my feelings by catching up the child and kissing her heartily.  She was frightened, and began to cry.  “You should not do that,” said Charlotte:  I felt perplexed.  “Come, Jane,” she continued, taking her hand, and leading her down the steps again, “it is no matter:  wash yourself quickly in the fresh water.”  I stood and watched them; and when I saw the little dear rubbing her cheeks with her wet hands, in full belief that all the impurities contracted from my ugly beard would be washed off by the miraculous water, and how, though Charlotte said it would do, she continued still to wash with all her might, as though she thought too much were better than too little, I assure you, Wilhelm, I never attended a baptism with greater reverence; and, when Charlotte came up from the well, I could have prostrated myself as before the prophet of an Eastern nation.

In the evening I would not resist telling the story to a person who, I thought, possessed some natural feeling, because he was a man of understanding.  But what a mistake I made.  He maintained it was very wrong of Charlotte, that we should not deceive children, that such things occasioned countless mistakes and superstitions, from which we were bound to protect the young.  It occurred to me then, that this very man had been baptised only a week before; so I said nothing further, but maintained the justice of my own convictions.  We should deal with children as God deals with us, we are happiest under the influence of innocent delusions.

July 8.

What a child is man that he should be so solicitous about a look!  What a child is man!  We had been to Walheim:  the ladies went in a carriage; but during our walk I thought I saw in Charlotte’s dark eyes —­ I am a fool —­ but forgive me! you should see them, —­ those eyes. —­ However, to be brief (for my own eyes are weighed down with sleep), you must know, when the ladies stepped into their carriage again, young W. Seldstadt, Andran, and I were standing about the door.  They are a merry set of fellows, and they were all laughing and joking together.  I watched Charlotte’s eyes.  They wandered from one to the other; but they did not light on me, on me, who stood there motionless, and who saw nothing but her!  My heart bade her a thousand times adieu, but she noticed me not.  The carriage drove off; and my eyes filled with tears.  I looked after her:  suddenly I saw Charlotte’s bonnet leaning out of the window, and she turned to look back, was it at me?  My dear friend, I know not; and in this uncertainty I find consolation.  Perhaps she turned to look at me.  Perhaps!  Good-night —­ what a child I am!