he lad
in private; the old man watched him with extraordinary vigilance, and
always instantly interfered when he was beginning to talk freely and
unconstrainedly with his friend. This pained Traugott greatly, as from
his extraordinary likeness to Felizitas he was devoted to him; and
often, when he was near the lad, he almost felt as if the beloved form
was by him in all its beauty--as if he felt the sweet breath of her
love; and he would fain have taken the lad to his heart as if he had
been the adored Felizitas herself.

"The winter was over; the beautiful spring shone forth, and blossomed
in all its loveliness in wood and meadow. Elias Boos advised Traugott
to go to some watering-place, or try a course of whey. Christina began
to look forward to her marriage again, though Traugott seldom showed
himself, and still seldomer allowed the idea of such a thing as
marriage to enter his head.

"One day, Traugott had been obliged to go to the office and spend a
considerable time there, in connection with the settlement of some
important accounts; so that the usual hour for his lesson was long
past, and he did not arrive at Berklinger's till it was late in the
evening twilight. He found nobody in the front-room, and from the next
proceeded the sound of a lute. He had never heard the instrument
before. He listened. A song, broken by pauses, breathed through the
chords like gentle sighs. He opened the door. Heavens! a female figure,
in ancient German dress, was seated with her back to him, with high
lace collar, exactly like the portrait. At the slight sound which
Traugott made in opening the door, the lady rose, laid the lute on the
table, and turned. It was her very self!

"'Felizitas!' Traugott cried wildly, in the fulness of his rapture, and
was going to kneel at her feet, when he felt himself seized by the neck
from behind, with a mighty grip, and dragged out of the room.

"'Profligate! Villain unparalleled!' cried old Berklinger, as he thrust
him out, 'this is your love of art, is it? Do you want to kill me?'

"He dragged him out at the door; a knife was gleaming in his hand.
Traugott fled down-stairs, stupefied, half crazy with love and terror.
He hurried home.

"He rolled about, sleepless, from side to side in his bed.

"'Felizitas! Felizitas!' he cried, torn with anguish and love-pain;
'you are here, and I may not see you!--cannot take you to my arms! For
you love me, that I know, by the bitter torture that I fee