eeded; "I have never seen anything equal to
it. I am sure it must cost a great deal of study and an immense amount
of labour before a man can advance so far as to turn out a work like
that. I discern that I have an inextinguishable propensity for art, and
I earnestly entreat you, my good old master, to accept me as your
pupil; you will find me industrious." The old man grew quite cheerful
and amiable; and embracing Traugott, he promised that he would be a
faithful master to him.

Thus it came to pass that Traugott visited the old painter every day
that came, and made very rapid progress in his studies. He now
conceived an unconquerable disgust of business, and was so careless
that Herr Elias Roos had to speak out and openly find fault with him;
and finally he was very glad when Traugott kept away from the office
altogether, on the pretext that he was suffering from a lingering
illness. For this same reason the wedding, to Christina's no little
annoyance, was indefinitely postponed. "Your Herr Traugott seems to be
suffering from some secret trouble," said one of Herr Elias Roos's
merchant-friends to him one day; "perhaps it's the balance of some old
love-affair that he's anxious to settle before the wedding-day. He
looks very pale and distracted." "And why shouldn't he then?" rejoined
Herr Elias. "I wonder now," he continued after a pause,--"I wonder
now if that little rogue Christina has been having words with him? My
book-keeper--the love-smitten old ass--he is always kissing and
squeezing her hand. Traugott's devilishly in love with my little girl,
I know. Can there be any jealousy? Well, I'll sound my young
gentleman."

But however carefully he sounded he could find no satisfactory bottom,
and he said to his merchant-friend, "That Traugott is a most peculiar
fellow; well, I must just let him go his own way; though if he had not
fifty thousand thalers in my business I know what I should do, since
now he never does a stroke of anything."

Traugott, absorbed in art, would now have led a real bright sunshiny
life, had his heart not been torn with passionate love for the
beautiful Felicia, whom he often saw in wonderful dreams. The picture
had disappeared; the old man had taken it away; and Traugott durst not
ask him about it without risk of seriously offending him. On the whole,
old Berklinger continued to grow more confidential; and instead of
taking any honorarium for his instruction, he permitted Traugott to
help