Traugott's astonishment to find a row of pictures
apparently painted by the most illustrious masters of the Netherlands
School. For the most part they represented scenes taken from real life;
for example, a company returning from hunting, another amusing
themselves with singing and playing, and such like subjects. They bore
evidences of great thought, and particularly the expression of the
heads, which were realised with especially vigorous life-like power.
Just as Traugott was about to return into the former room, he noticed
another picture close beside the door, which held him fascinated to the
spot. It was a remarkably pretty maiden dressed in old-German style,
but her face was exactly like the youth's, only fuller and with a
little more colour in it, and she seemed to be somewhat taller too. A
tremor of nameless delight ran through Traugott at the sight of this
beautiful girl. In strength and vitality the picture was quite equal to
anything by Van Dyk. The dark eyes were looking down upon Traugott with
a soft yearning look, whilst her sweet lips appeared to be half opened
ready to whisper loving words. "O heaven! Good heaven!" sighed
Traugott with a sigh that came from the very bottom of his heart;
"where--oh! where can I find her?" "Let us go," said the youth.
Then Traugott cried in a sort of rapturous frenzy, "Oh! it is indeed
she!--the beloved of my soul, whom I have so long carried about in my
heart, but whom I only knew in vague stirrings of emotion. Where--oh!
where is she?" The tears started from young Berklinger's eyes; he
appeared to be shaken by a convulsive and sudden attack of pain, and to
control himself with difficulty. "Come along," he at length said, in a
firm voice, "that is a portrait of my unhappy sister Felicia.[8] She
has gone for ever. You will never see her."

Like one in a dream, Traugott suffered himself to be led into the
other room. The old man was still sleeping; but all at once he started
up, and staring at Traugott with eyes flashing with anger, he cried,
"What do you want? What do you want, sir?" Then the youth stepped
forward and reminded him that he had just been showing his new picture
to Traugott, had he forgotten? At this Berklinger appeared to recollect
all that had passed; it was evident that he was much affected; and he
replied in an undertone, "Pardon an old man's forgetfulness, my good
sir." "Your new piece is an admirable--an excellent work. Master
Berklinger," Traugott proc