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nd his family expecting；no doubt； to receive invitations in return。 One half of the panywere already seated at the card…tables； the other half seemed to bewaiting the result of their hostess's question； 〃Well； how shall weamuse ourselves？〃
Conversation followed； which； after a while； began to prove veryentertaining。 Among other subjects； it turned upon the events of themiddle ages； which some persons maintained were more full ofinterest than our own times。 Counsellor Knapp defended this opinion sowarmly that the lady of the house immediately went over to his side；and both exclaimed against Oersted's Essays on Ancient and ModernTimes； in which the preference is given to our own。 The counsellorconsidered the times of the Danish king； Hans； as the noblest andhappiest。
The conversation on this topic was only interrupted for a momentby the arrival of a newspaper； which did not； however； contain muchworth reading； and while it is still going on we will pay a visit tothe ante…room； in which cloaks； sticks； and goloshes were carefullyplaced。 Here sat two maidens； one young； and the other old； as if theyhad e and were waiting to acpany their mistresses home； but onlooking at them more closely； it could easily be seen that they wereno mon servants。 Their shapes were too graceful； theirplexions too delicate； and the cut of their dresses much tooelegant。 They were two fairies。 The younger was not Fortune herself；but the chambermaid of one of Fortune's attendants； who carriesabout her more trifling gifts。 The elder one； who was named Care；looked rather gloomy； she always goes about to perform her ownbusiness in person； for then she knows it is properly done。 Theywere telling each other where they had been during the day。 Themessenger of Fortune had only transacted a few unimportant matters；for instance； she had preserved a new bon from a shower of rain；and obtained for an honest man a bow from a titled nobody； and soon； but she had something extraordinary to relate； after all。
〃I must tell you；〃 said she； 〃that to…day is my birthday； and inhonor of it I have been intrusted with a pair of goloshes； tointroduce amongst mankind。 These goloshes have the property ofmaking every one who puts them on imagine himself in any place hewishes； or that he exists at any period。 Every wish is fulfilled atthe moment it is expressed； so that for once mankind have the chanceof being happy。〃
No；〃 replied Care； 〃you may depend upon it that whoever puts onthose goloshes will be very unhappy； and bless the moment in whichhe can get rid of them。〃
〃What are you thinking of？〃 replied the other。 〃Now see； I willplace them by the door； some one will take them instead of his own；and he will be the happy man。〃
This was the end of their conversation。COUNSELLOR
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COUNSELLOR
IT was late when Counsellor Knapp； lost in thought about the timesof King Hans； desired to return home； and fate so ordered it that heput on the goloshes of Fortune instead of his own； and walked out intothe East Street。 Through the magic power of the goloshes； he was atonce carried back three hundred years； to the times of King Hans；for which he had been longing when he put them on。 Therefore heimmediately set his foot into the mud and mire of the street； which inthose days possessed no pavement。
〃Why； this is horrible； how dreadfully dirty it is！〃 said thecounsellor； and the whole pavement has vanished； and the lamps are allout。〃
The moon had not yet risen high enough to perate the thickfoggy air； and all the objects around him were confused together inthe darkness。 At the nearest corner； a lamp hung before a picture ofthe Madonna； but the light it gave was almost useless； for he onlyperceived it when he came quite close and his eyes fell on the paintedfigures of the Mother and Child。
〃That is most likely a museum of art；〃 thought he； 〃and theyhave forgotten to take down the sign。〃
Two men； in the dress of olden times； passed by him。
〃What odd figures！〃 thought he； 〃they must be returning fromsome masquerade。〃
Suddenly he heard the sound of a drum and fifes； and then ablazing light from torches shone upon him。 The counsellor staredwith astonishment as he beheld a most strange procession pass beforehim。 First came a whole troop of drummers； beating their drums verycleverly； they were followed by life…guards； with longbows andcrossbows。 The principal person in the procession was aclerical…looking gentleman。 The astonished counsellor asked what itall meant； and who the gentleman might be。
〃That is the bishop of Zealand。〃
〃Good gracious！〃 he exclaimed； 〃what in the world has happenedto the bishop？ what can he be thinking about？〃 Then he shook hishead and said； 〃It cannot possibly be the bishop himself。〃
While musing on this strange affair； and without looking to theright or left； he walked on through East Street and over HighbridgePlace。 The bridge； which he supposed led to Palace Square； was nowhereto be found； but instead； he saw a bank and some shallow water； andtwo people； who sat in a boat。
〃Does the gentleman wish to be ferried over the Holm？〃 asked one。
〃To the Holm！〃 exclaimed the counsellor； not knowing in what agehe was now existing； 〃I want to go to Christian's Haven； in LittleTurf Street。〃 The men stared at him。 〃Pray tell me where the bridgeis！〃 said he。 〃It is shameful that the lamps are not lighted here； andit is as muddy as if one were walking in a marsh。〃 But the more hetalked with the boatmen the less they could understand each other。
〃I don't understand your outlandish talk；〃 he cried at last；angrily turning his back upon them。 He could not； however； find thebridge nor any railings。
〃What a scandalous condition this place is in；〃 said he； never；certainly； had he found his own times so miserable as on this evening。〃I think it will be better for me to take a coach； but where arethey？〃 There was not one to be seen！ 〃I shall be obliged to go back tothe king's new market；〃 said he； 〃where there are plenty ofcarriages standing； or I shall never reach Christian's Haven。〃 Then hewent towards East Street； and had nearly passed through it； when themoon burst forth from a cloud。
〃Dear me； what have they been erecting here？〃 he cried； as hecaught sight of the East gate； which in olden times used to stand atthe end of East Street。 However； he found an opening through whichhe passed； and came out upon where he expected to find the new market。Nothing was to be seen but an open meadow； surrounded by a few bushes；through which ran a broad canal or stream。 A few miserable…lookingwooden booths； for the acmodation of Dutch watermen； stood on theopposite shore。
〃Either I behold a fata morgana； or I must be tipsy；〃 groanedthe counsellor。 〃What can it be？ What is the matter with me？〃 Heturned back in the full conviction that he must be ill。 In walkingthrough the street this time； he examined the houses more closely；he found that most of them were built of lath and plaster； and manyhad only a thatched roof。
〃I am certainly all wrong；〃 said he； with a sigh； and yet I onlydrank one glass of punch。 But I cannot bear even that； and it was veryfoolish to give us punch and hot salmon； I shall speak about it to ourhostess； the agent's lady。 Suppose I were to go back now and say howill I feel； I fear it would look so ridiculous； and it is not verylikely that I should find any one up。〃 Then he looked for the house；but it was not in existence。
〃This is really frightful； I cannot even recognize East Street。Not a shop to be seen； nothing but old； wretched； tumble…downhouses； just as if I were at Roeskilde or Ringstedt。 Oh； I really mustbe ill！ It is no use to stand upon ceremony。 But where in the world isthe agent's house。 There is a house； but it is not his； and peoplestill up in it； I can hear。 Oh dear！ I certainly am very queer。〃 As hereached the half…open door； he saw a light and went in。 It was atavern of the olden times； and seemed a kind of beershop。 The room hadthe appearance of a Dutch interior。 A number of people； consistingof seamen； Copenhagen citizens； and a few scholars； sat in deepconversation over their mugs； and took very little notice of the newer。
〃Pardon me；〃 said the counsellor； addressing the landlady； 〃I do