sibility; he was looking for a patron who
would be disposed to invest capital in the plan. If such a person could
be found, he was willing to place Daniel Nothafft, whose name was now
known to him, in the responsible position of making the collections and
editing them. There would be a good deal of work connected with the
undertaking: the treasures of the archives, libraries, and convents
would have to be investigated; corrections would have to be made; notes
would have to be written; and the entire work would have to be seen
through the press. To do this would take several years. The publisher
consequently insisted that whoever was placed in charge should sign a
contract to remain until the work had been finished, he in turn agreeing
to pay the editor a salary of three thousand marks a year.

Eberhard made careful inquiries as to the standing of the firm, and
finding that it enjoyed a rating well above the average, he agreed to
furnish the requisite capital.

A few days after the conversation between Sylvia and Marian, Daniel
received a letter in the morning mail from Philander and Sons,
requesting him to accept the position, a detailed description of which
was given. In the event of his acceptance, all he had to do was to sign
the enclosed contract.

He read the letter carefully and quietly from beginning to end. His face
did not brighten up. He walked back and forth in the room a few times,
and then went to the window and looked out. "It seems to rain every day
this summer," he said.

Marian had returned to the table. She took the letter with the enclosed
contract and read both of them. Her heart beat with joy, but she was
exceedingly careful not to betray her state of mind to Daniel: she was
afraid of his contradictory and crotchety disposition. She hardly dared
look at him, as she waited in anxious suspense to see what he would do.

Finally he came back to the table, made a wry face, stared at the
letter, and then said quite laconically: "Church music? Yes, I will do
it." With that he took his pen, and scrawled his name to the contract.

"Thank God," whispered Marian.

That afternoon they left Daniel. Eva hung on her father's neck, quite
unwilling to leave him. Without the least display of shyness, she kissed
him many times, laughing as she did so. She was overflowing with a
natural and whole-hearted love for him. Daniel offered no resistance. He
looked serious. As his eye caught that of the child, he shudde