, and show him
that he had chosen wisely in trusting him to "crack the nut" which he
himself had pronounced a hard one. The yearning and renunciation, the
reproaches and doubts which disturbed his life, until recently so easy,
had disgusted him with it. He would not spare it. Yet if he fell he would
be deprived of the possibility of doing anything whatever for those who
through his imprudence had lost their dearest possession--their good
name. Whenever this picture rose before him it sometimes seemed as if Eva
was gazing at him with her large, bright eyes as trustingly as during the
pause in the dancing, and anon he fancied he saw her as she looked at her
mother's consecration in her deep mourning before the altar. At that time
her grief and pain had prevented her from noticing how his gaze rested on
her; yet never had she appeared more desirable, never had he longed more
ardently to clasp her in his arms, console her, and assure her that his
love should teach her to forget her grief, that she was destined to find
new happiness in a union with him.

This had happened to him just as he commenced the struggle for a new
life. Startled, he confessed it to his grey-haired guide, and used the
means which the Minorite advised him to employ to attain forgetfulness
and renunciation, but always in vain. Had he, like St. Francis, rushed
among briers, his blood would not have turned into roses, but doubtless
fresh memories of her whose happiness his guilt had so suddenly and
cruelly destroyed.

For her sake he had already begun to doubt his vocation on the very
threshold of his new career, and did not recover courage until Father
Benedictus, who had communicated with the Abbess Kunigunde, informed him
that Eva was wax in her hands, and within the next few days she would
induce her niece to take the veil.

This news had exerted a deep influence upon the young knight's soul. If
Eva entered the cloister before him, the only strong tie which united him
to the world would be severed, and nothing save the thought of his mother
would prevent his following his vocation. Yet vehement indignation seized
him when he heard from Biberli that the slanderer's malice would force
Eva to seek refuge with the Sisters.

No, a thousand times no! The woman whom he loved should need to seek
refuge from nothing for which Heinz Schorlin's desire and resolve alike
commanded him to make amends.

He must succeed in proving to the whole world that she and