ed. But she no longer needed to fear them, for she felt
that the strength which had awakened within her after she became
conscious of her love was still sustaining and directing her, and would
enable her to govern matters which she could not help believing that she
herself would be too weak to guide to their goal. She felt freed from her
former wavering and hesitation, and as formerly in the modest house of
the Beguines, now in the stately citadel she realised that, in sorrow and
severe trial, she had learned to assert her position in life by her own
strength. Her father, whom she was to meet presently, would find little
outward change in her, but when he had perceived the transformation
wrought in the character of his helpless "little saint" it would please
him to hear from her how wonderfully her mother's last prophetic words
were being fulfilled.

She was emerging from the forge fire of life, steeled for every conflict,
yet those would be wrong who believed that, trusting to her own newly won
strength, she had forgotten to look heavenward. On the contrary, never
had she felt nearer to her God, her Saviour, and the gracious Virgin.
Without them she could accomplish nothing, yet for the first time she had
undertaken tasks and sought to win goals which were worthy of beseeching
them for aid. Love had taught her to be faithful in worldly life, and she
said to herself, "Better, far better I can certainly become; but firmer
faith cannot be kept."

Wolff's hiding place was a large, airy room, affording a view of the
Frank country, with its meadows, fields, and forests. Eva saw there by
the light of the blazing pine chips her father, sister, and
brother-in-law.

Yet the meeting between all these beloved ones after a long separation
partook more of sorrow than of joy. Els had really resolved to leave the
Eysvogel mansion, yet she met her Aunt Christine with the joyful cry: "I
shall stay! Wolff's father and I have become good friends."

In fact, a few hours before Herr Casper had looked at her kindly and
gratefully, and when she showed him how happy this rendered her, warmly
entreated her in a broken voice not to leave him. She had proved herself
to be his good angel, and the sight of her was the only bright spot in
his clouded life. Then she had gladly promised to stay, and intended to
keep her word. She had only accompanied her father, who had unexpectedly
returned for a short time, because she could trust the nun who sha