ans, bade
farewell to Biberli, who looked after her with surprise, yet silently
conjectured that this errand to the Emperor was in his behalf, and then
went into the entry, where Sister Hildegard told her that Father
Benedictus had just died.

The monks were still chanting beside his deathbed. Brother AEgidius, the
friend and comrade of the dead man, however, had left them and approached
Eva.

Deeply agitated, he struggled to repress his sobs as he told her that the
old man's longing was fulfilled and his Saviour had summoned him. To die
thus, richly outweighed the many sacrifices he had so willingly made here
below during a long life. If Eva had witnessed his death she would have
perceived the aptness of the saying that a monk's life is bitter, but his
death is sweet. Such an end was granted only to those who cast the world
aside. Let her consider this once more, ere she renounced the eternal
bliss for which formerly she had so devoutly yearned.

Eva's only answer was the expression of her grief for his friend's
decease. But whilst passing out into the darkness she thought: the holy
Brother certainly had a beautiful and happy death, yet how gently,
trusting in the mercy of her Redeemer, my mother also passed away, though
during her life and on her deathbed she remained in the world. And
then--whilst Father Benedictus was closing his eyes--what concern did he
probably have for aught save his own salvation, but my mother forgot
herself and thought only of others, of those whom she loved, whilst the
Saviour summoned her to Himself. Her eyes were already dim and her tongue
faltered when she uttered the words which had guided her daughter until
now. The forge fire of life burns fiercely, yet to it my gratitude is due
if the resolutions I formed in the forest after I had gathered the
flowers for her and saw Heinz kneeling in prayer have not been vain, but
have changed the capricious, selfish child into a woman who can render
some service to others.

If Heinz comes now and seeks me, I think I can say trustingly, "Here I
am!" We have both striven for the divine Love and recognised its glorious
beauty. If later, hand in hand, we can interweave it with the earthly
one, why should it not be acceptable to the Saviour? If Heinz offers me
his affection I will greet it as "Sister Love," and it will certainly
summon me with no lower voice to praise the Father from whom it comes and
who has bestowed it upon me, as do the sun, the m