returned from Oxford, where the university had conferred upon him
the title of Doctor of--"

"Yes, yes, I know," grumbled Catharine, "that is the reason why we
now have to call him doctor, which does not sound near as imposing
and distinguished as our master's former title of Kapellmeister."

"But then it is a very high honor to obtain the title of doctor of
music in England, Catharine. The great composer Handel lived thirty
years in England without receiving it, and my husband had not been
there but a few months when they conferred the title upon him. Well,
then, on the day after his return from Oxford, he was invited to the
house of a gentleman of high rank and great wealth, who gave him a
brilliant party. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were
present, and when my husband appeared among them they rose and bowed
as respectfully as though he were a king. When the doctor had
returned the compliment, he perceived that every lady in the room
wore in her hair a ribbon of blue silk, on which his name had been
embroidered in silver. His host wore the same name in silver beads
on his coat-facings, so that he looked precisely as if he were my
husband's servant, and dressed in his livery. Oh, it was a splendid
festival which Mr. Shaw--that was the gentleman's name--gave him on
that day. At length Mr. Shaw asked the doctor to give him a
souvenir, whereupon he presented him with a snuff-box he had
purchased in the course of the day for a few shillings; and when my
husband requested the lady of the house, whom he pronounces the most
beautiful woman on earth, to give him likewise a souvenir; Mrs. Shaw
thereupon took the ribbon from her head and handed it to him; and my
husband pressed it to his lips, and assured her he would always wear
that ribbon on the most solemn occasions. You see, Catharine, he