. Specht looked at him all evening mistrustfully,
as he sat on the sofa-bed, stroking old Pluto, who had come with him to
the party. Specht now poured out another glass for Pix, and laid it down
beside him. Pix quaffed it in silence; Specht refilled it, and began in
a free-and-easy tone--"Now, Pix, what do you think of the pumpkins?"

"It is a crazy idea," said Pix.

Specht turned away much hurt, but he soon returned to the charge. "You
will grant, Pix, that men may hold different opinions on many subjects,
and yet need not be enemies."

"I grant that."

"Why, then, are you my enemy? Why do you think meanly of me? It is hard
to live on bad terms with one's colleagues. I will not conceal that I
esteem you, and that your conduct pains me. You have refused me
satisfaction, and yet you are angry with me."

"Don't heat yourself," said Pix; "I have refused you no satisfaction,
and I am not angry with you."

"Will you prove this to these gentlemen?" cried Specht, much pleased;
"will you hob-nob with me?"

"Come, now," said Pix, good-humoredly, "I have no wish to quarrel; I
only say this pumpkin notion was a crazy one."

"But it is my notion still," cried Specht, withdrawing his glass; "I
water them with bullock's blood, and in a few weeks they will be green."

"No," said Pix; "that is over forever, as you will see yourself
to-morrow morning. And now come here and hob-nob with me, and pumpkins
shall never be spoken of between us any more."

Specht hob-nobbed with all his heart, and became exceedingly cheerful.
The weight that had long oppressed him had fallen off. He sang, he shook
all his colleagues by the hand, and dealt more largely than ever in bold
assertions.

As Anton went down stairs with the others, he remarked that Pluto was
carrying something yellow in his mouth, and gnawing it eagerly.

"It is Specht's pumpkin," said Pix; "the dog has taken it for a piece of
beef, and bitten it to pieces."

CHAPTER XXIV.

Anton stood by the sick-bed of his friend Bernhard, and looked with
sincere sympathy at his wasted form. The young student's face was more
furrowed than ever, his complexion was transparent as wax, his long hair
hung in disorder around his damp brow, and his eyes shone with feverish
excitement.

"All the time you have been away," said he, sadly, "I have been longing
for you; now that you are returned, I shall be better."

"I will often come if our conversation does not excite you too muc