se houses, these gardens, and these streets are the
birthplaces of a lot in life. Here the friends had first met, here
their minds had risen to heights unthought of before, and here they
separated with heartfelt sorrow. They vowed that in old age they would
travel hither again and seek out the silent playgrounds of their
youthful thoughts.

10.
A MEETING.

Having rested but a few days at Nordstetten, Ivo set out to visit his
friend, whose home was at the other end of Wurtemberg, on the borders
of Franconia. This brought him for the first time to the hill-top which
had occupied his thoughts on the evening before Gregory's first mass,
when he had thought that from there he might climb into heaven at once.
Now he knew that there is no place on earth whence the entrance into
heaven is open: alas! the goal itself now eluded his sight, and he
asked, hopelessly, "Whither?" He looked for heaven upon earth, and knew
not how to grasp it.

In silent thought he wandered through the towns and villages, watching
the busy doings of men with curious eyes: the riddle of existence
became more and more inexplicable. The vintagers were out in the
fields, singing songs, firing off salutes of triumph; but Ivo only
asked, "Are you making the wine which shall turn into blood?"

On the evening of the third day he was wandering toward the good town
of Schwaebisch-Hall, in a bright sunset, just as that had been which he
had seen in the field with Nat. He stood still, and thought sadly of
the humble friend he had lost forever. His eyes fell upon a shepherd
who stood with his back to the road, leaning upon his staff and looking
into the fire of the sky. He sang,--

"Up yonder, up yonder,
At the heavenly gate,
A poor soul is standing
In sorrowful strait."

Something like a thrill of premonition passed through Ivo's veins: he
ran into the field to ask the shepherd how far it was to Hall. The dog
barked at him, and the shepherd turned round, saying, "Be quiet,
Bless." With a cry of "Is it you?" Ivo lay in the arms of Nat.

There was no end of questions and answers. Late in the evening Ivo
said, "Oh, I must go already; I must see to get a night's lodging
somewhere."

"Why?" asked Nat, pointing to his red van: "don't you like the Red Cart
Hotel? Stay with me; I'll huddle into one corner, and you shall