child, "Health to the New Year! Health to the New Year!" Every guest
took a glass, crying joyfully, "Health to the New Year!" and clinked
his glass against his neighbor's. Loulou went in search of her
father to drink with him; after he had given her a friendly kiss on
her rosy cheek, he regarded her with fatherly pride. She went to her
mother, taking her in her arms and kissing her on both cheeks. The
third person whom she sought was Wilhelm. They could not exchange
words, but her eyes sought his and they both flashed a mutual and
joyous recognition. Her brown eyes had said to his black ones, "May
this be a year of happiness for us," and the black eyes had
understood the brown ones in their flight and thanked them. The gay
tumult lasted for several minutes, the buzz of talking, the clatter
of glasses, and the coming and going of servants. Then suddenly an
invisible hand seemed to lay hold of the general disorder, ruling
and directing it, dissolving groups who had chanced together, here
driving them forward, there arranging them backward. According to
some fixed law, without delaying or waiting, an orderly procession
was formed into the dining-room. The invisible spirit hand which
possessed all this power was thrice-holy etiquette; the law which
brought order out of confusion, and gave to everyone his place, was
that of precedence. Paul and Wilhelm, these strangers to drawing-
room customs, were new to the performance. A smile flitted over
Wilhelm's face, over Paul's came a reverent expression. What he saw
made a distinct impression of wonderment on him. The constraint
ceased immediately the guests had taken their places at the table.
The scent of the flowers vied with the perfumes worn by the women
and could not overcome them. The crystal glasses sparkled in the
light of the wax candles, the jewels, and the bright eyes round the
table. The servants poured out the noble Rhine wine, the celebrated
Burgundy, the elegant Bordeaux, and the mischievous Champagne, whose