emperors have given to him."

"But he might wear at least a nice gold chain to it," said
Catharine. "Why, I am sure he has no less than a dozen of them. But
he never wears one of them, not even the other day when the Princess
Esterhazy called for him with her carriage to drive with him to the
emperor. The doctor wore on that occasion only a plain blue ribbon,
on which his own name was embroidered in silver."

"Well, there is a story to that ribbon," said the mistress,
thoughtfully. "My husband brought it likewise from Loudon, and he
got it there on one of his proudest days. I did not know the story
myself, for you are aware my husband is always so modest, and never
talks about his great triumphs in Loudon, and I would not have
learned any thing about the ribbon if he had not worn it the other
day when he accompanied the princess to the emperor. Ah, Catharine,
it is a very beautiful and touching story!"

Catharine did not know this story at all; hence she asked her
mistress with more than usual animation to tell her all about the
ribbon.

The doctor's wife assented readily. She sat down on a chair at
Catharine's side, and looked with a pleasant smile at the cat who
had come up to her, and, purring comfortably, lay down on the hem of
her dress.

"Yes," said she, "the story of that ribbon is quite touching, and I
do not know really, Catharine, but I will have to shed a few tears
while telling it. It was in Loudon, when my husband had just