ing most
bitterly the loss of the dear sweet child. Yet when he was painting he
never thought of Dorina, but always of Felicia; she continued to be his
constant ideal.

At length he received letters from his native town. Herr Elias Roos had
departed this life, his business agent wrote, and Traugott's presence
was required in order to settle matters with the book-keeper, who had
married Miss Christina and undertaken the business. Traugott hurried
back to Dantzic by the shortest route.

Again he was standing in Arthur's Hall, leaning against the granite
pillar, opposite the burgomaster and the page; he dwelt upon the
wonderful adventure which had had such a painful influence upon his
life; and, a prey to deep and hopeless sadness, he stood and looked
with a set fixed gaze upon the youth, who greeted him with living eyes,
as it were, and whispered in a sweet and charming voice, "And so you
could not desert me then after all?"

"Can I believe my eyes? Is it really your own respected self come back
again safe and sound, and quite cured of your unpleasant melancholy?"
croaked a voice near Traugott. It was the well-known broker. "I have
not found her," escaped Traugott involuntarily. "Whom do you mean? Whom
has your honour not found?" asked the broker. "The painter Godofredus
Berklinger and his daughter Felicia," rejoined Traugott. "I have
searched all Italy for them; not a soul knew anything about them in
Sorrento." This made the broker open his eyes and stare at him, and he
stammered, "Where do you say you have searched for Berklinger and
Felicia? In Italy? in Naples? in Sorrento?" "Why, yes; to be sure,"
replied Traugott, very testily. Whereupon the broker struck his hands
together several times in succession, crying as he did so, "Did you
ever now? Did you ever hear tell of such a thing? But Herr Traugott!
Herr Traugott!" "Well, what is there to be so much astonished at?"
rejoined Traugott, "don't behave in such a foolish fashion, pray. Of
course a man will travel as far as Sorrento for his sweetheart's sake.
Yes, yes; I loved Felicia and followed her." But the broker skipped
about on one foot, and continued to say, "Well, now, did you ever? did
you ever?" until Traugott placed his hand earnestly upon his arm and
asked, "Come, tell me then, in heaven's name! what is it that you find
so extraordinary?" The broker began, "But, my good Herr Traugott, do
you mean to say you don't know that Herr Aloysius Brandstetter, our
r