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456 EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE
make it too—it is genius which commands, and should have the place of honour ! Oh yes ! I advance with the times, as every one is obliged to do. Oh, you will enchant us with the little instrument, will you not ? '
And with these words he handed to the clergyman's son the flute cut from the willow tree by the pool, and announced aloud that the tutor was about to perform a solo on that instrument.
Now, they only wanted to make fun of him, that was easily seen ; and therefore the tutor would not play, though indeed he could do so very well; but they crowded round him and importuned him so strongly, that at last he took the flute and put it to his lips.
That was a wonderful flute ! A sound, as sustained as that which is emitted by the whistle of a steam engine, and much stronger, echoed far over courtyard, garden, and wood, miles away into the country ; and simultaneously with the tone came a rushing wind that roared, ' Everything in its right place ! ' And papa flew as if carried by the wind straight out of the hall and into the shepherd's cot; and the shepherd flew, not into the hall, for there he could not come—no, but into the room of the servants, among the smart lackeys who strutted about there in silk stockings ; and the proud servants were struck motionless with horror at the thought that such a personage dared to sit down to table with them.
But in the hall the young baroness flew up to the place of honour at the top of the table, where she was worthy to sit; and the young clergyman's son had a seat next to her ; and there the two sat as if they were a newly-married pair. An old count of one of the most ancient families in the country remained untouched in his place of honour ; for the flute was just, as men ought to be. The witty young gentleman, the son of his father and nothing else, who had been the cause of the flute-playing, flew head-over-heels into the poultry house—but not alone.
For a whole mile round about the sounds of the flute were heard, and singular events took place. A rich merchant's family, driving along in a coach and four, was blown quite out of the carriage, and could not even find a place on the footboard at the back. Two rich peasants who in our |
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