metimes the love which I
have for them contends with the love which I have for you. Do not string
the bow too tightly, Victor! And now--farewell, beloved, farewell! In a
month's time you will see me, your Eva, again, in M----s."

"Stop!" said he, "do you think you are to leave me in that way? Where is
my ring?"

"On my heart," returned she, "day and night it rests there--farewell!
ah, let me go!"

"Say once more that you love me above every thing in this world!" said
he, "that you belong only to me!"

"Only to you! farewell!" and with these words Eva tore herself away from
him, and hastened with flying feet, like one terrified, across the
churchyard. The Major followed her slowly. A dark form stepped at that
moment hastily forward, as if it had arisen from one of the graves, and
met the Major face to face. It seemed to him as if a cold wind passed
through his heart, for the form tall and silent, and at that dark hour,
and in the churchyard, had something in it ominous and spectre-like, and
as it had evidently advanced to him with design, he paused suddenly, and
asked, sharply, "Who are you?"

"Eva's father!" replied a suppressed but powerful voice, and by the
up-flaring light of a lamp which the wind drove towards them, the Major
saw the eyes of the Judge riveted upon him with a wrathful and
threatening expression. His heart sank for a moment; but in the next he
said, with all his accustomed haughty levity:

"Now there is no necessity for me to watch longer after her;" and so
saying he turned hastily aside, and vanished in the darkness.

The Judge followed his daughter without nearing her. When he came home,
such a deep and painful grief lay on his brow as had never been observed
there before.

For the first time in his life the powerful head of the Judge seemed
actually bowed.

* * * * *

At this time Stjernhoek came to the city quite unexpectedly. He had heard
of the misfortune which had befallen the Franks, as well as of the part
which Henrik acted on this occasion, and of the illness which was the
consequence of it, and he came now in order to see him before he
travelled abroad. This visit, which had occasioned Stjernhoek to diverge
as much as sixty English miles out of his way, surprised and deeply
affected Henrik, who as he entered the room met him with the most candid
expression of cordial devotion. Stjernhoek seized his outstretched hand,
and a sudden paleness overspre