Marchalwaysinsistedthattheystoodasideapologetically，butsheheldasfirmlythattheystoodasideimpertinently，oratleastindifferently，andthattheinsulttoherAmericanwomanhoodwasperfectlyideal。Itistruethatnothingofthekindhappenedagainduringtheirstayatthehotel；theprince’sofficerswereafterwardsaboutinthecorridorsandonthestairs，buttheyofferednoshadowofobstructiontohergoingandcoming，andthelandlordhimselfwasnotsopreoccupiedwithhishighhotesbuthehadtimetoexpresshisgriefthatshehadbeenobligedtogooutforsupper。
TheysatisfiedthepassionforthelittleobsoletecapitalwhichhadbeengrowinguponthembystrollingpasttheoldResidentatanhoursofavorableforafirstimpression。Itloomedinthegatheringduskevenvasterthanitwas，anditwasreallyvastenoughfortheprideofaKingofFrance，muchmoreaMargraveofAnsbach。TimehadblackenedandblotcheditscoarselimestonewallstoonecomplexionwiththestatuesswellingandstruttinginthefigureofRomanlegionariesbeforeit，andstandingoutagainsttheeveningskyalongitsbalustradedroof，andhadsoftenedtotherighttintthestretchofhalfadozenhouseswithmansardroofsandrenaissancefacadesobsequiouslyinkeepingwiththeVersaillesidealofaResident。Intherear，andelsewhereatfitdistancefromitscourts，anativearchitectureprevailed；andatnogreatremovetheMarchesfoundthemselvesinasimpleGermantownagain。
Theretheystumbleduponalittlebookseller’sshopblinkinginaquietcorner，andboughtthreeorfourguidesandsmallhistoriesofAnsbach，whichtheycarriedhome，andstudiedbetweendrowsingandwaking。ThewonderfulGermansyntaxseemsatitsmostenigmaticalinthissortofliterature，andsometimestheylostthemselvesinitslabyrinthscompletely，andonlymadetheirwayperilouslyoutwiththehelpofcumulativedeclensions，pastarticlesandadjectivesblindlyseekingtheirnouns，tolong-procrastinatedverbsdancinglikeswamp-firesinthedistance。Theyemergedalittlelessignorantthantheywentin，andbetterqualifiedthantheywouldotherwisehavebeenfortheirsecondvisittotheSchloss，whichtheypaidearlythenextmorning。
Theyweresoearly，indeed，thatwhentheymountedfromthegreatinnercourt，muchtoobigforAnsbach，ifnotforthebuilding，andrungthecustodian’sbell，asmilingmaidwholetthemintoanante-room，whereshekeptonpickingovervegetablesforherdinner，saidthecustodianwasbusy，andcouldnotbeseentillteno’clock。Sheseemed，inhernookofthepretentiouspile，asinnocentlyunconsciousofitshistoryasanyhen-sparrowwhohadbuilthernestinsomecoignofitsarchitecture；andherfriendly，peacefuldomesticityremainedawholesomehumanbackgroundtothetragediesandcomediesofthepast，andheldtheminapicturesquereliefinwhichtheywerealiketolerableandevencharming。
ThehistoryofAnsbachstrikesitsrootsinthesoiloffable，andabovegroundisagnarledandtwistedgrowthofgoodandbadfromthetimeoftheGreatCharlestothetimeoftheGreatFrederick。Betweenthesetimesshehadhervariousrulers，ecclesiasticalandsecular，invariousformsofvassalagetotheempire；butfornearlyfourcenturieshersovereigntywasinthehandsofthemargraves，whoreignedinaconstantlyincreasingsplendortillthelastsoldheroutrighttotheKingofPrussiain1791，andwenttoliveinEnglandontheproceeds。