nd said, with
a greater degree of satisfaction than he had for a long time evinced,
"It was easy to discover that this visit of Fink's was not exactly
accidental, nor occasioned by his friendship for Mr. Wohlfart, as the
young men both made it appear: you two pretended to be wiser than I; but
I was right after all, and the visit concerns us more nearly than our
agent."

The baroness cast a terrified glance at her daughter, but Lenore's eyes
were so fully fixed on her father that her mother was comforted.

"And what do you suppose has brought this gentleman here?" continued the
baron.

Lenore shook her head, and said at last, "Father, Herr von Fink has long
been most intimate with Wohlfart, and they have not seen each other for
some years. How natural that Fink should take advantage of his slight
acquaintance with us to spend a few weeks with his dearest friend! Why
should we seek any other reason for his presence?"

"You speak as young people always do. Men are less influenced by ideal
impressions, and more ruled by their own interest, than your juvenile
wisdom apprehends."

"Interest!" said the baroness.

"What is there surprising in it?" continued the baron. "Both are
tradespeople. Fink knows enough of the charms of business to lose no
opportunity of making a good bargain. I will tell you why he is come
here. Our excellent Wohlfart has written to him stating, 'Here is an
estate, and this estate has an owner who is at present unable to
overlook its management himself. There is something to be made here. You
have money, therefore come; I am your friend; some of the profits will
naturally fall to my share.'"

The baroness gazed steadfastly at her husband, but Lenore sprang up and
cried, with all the energy of a deeply-wounded heart, "Father, I will
not hear you speak thus of a man who has never shown us any thing but
the most unselfish devotion. His friendship for us is such as to enable
him to bear with boundless patience the privations of this lonely place,
and the disagreeables of his present position."

"His friendship?" said the baron; "I never laid claim to so great a
distinction."

"We have done so, though," cried Lenore, impetuously. "At a time when my
mother found no one else to stand by us, Wohlfart faithfully clung to us
still. From the day that my brother brought him to us till this very
hour, he has acted for you and cared for us."

"Very well," admitted the baron; "I find no fault with his acti