An inapropos visit

New Market Square in Dresdenfrom the Jüdenhof - Bernardo Bellotto

After ascertaining that we were Americans, ands intended remaining some days in Dresden, they gave us their address, with a reiterated request to call upon them before we left.  So last evening we called to pay our respects, and I must say that I never spent an evening in any family that seemed more happy among themselves.  Before going there we ascertained that they were the wife and daughter of the first lawyer in Dresden.  On our entry we found the Father & Mother both occupied in a room through which we passed, with a Lawyer and the old lady after introducing us to [70] two or three of her daughters excused her own and her husband’s absence by saying that they were engaged with their lawyer in drawing up a contract of marriage for one of the daughters who was to be wedded in two days.  I began to fear our visit might prove a little inapropos, but we were compelled to wait for the appearance of our former acquaintance the daughter, and her sister l’affiancée—who were out, but were shortly to return.  They all spoke English, but as it seems always to be my lot, I seated myself next to one who prayed me to excuse her speaking that language and compelled me for the rest of the evening to converse in French.  I must say this much for them that I never saw five sisters before so thoroughly well educated as they.