der casually looked up, he met Carmen's
sparkling eyes, which seemed to cast on him a look of triumph, as if
she understood his feeling of humiliation which this moment brought to
him as a consequence of his contemptuous manner in the morning. He
thought he could clearly read in her expression what she fain would
have said: "You may perhaps ride well, and he cannot; you were not
afraid to stop the wild horse and save the child's life; but would you
have the courage to undertake what he has been appointed to do?" As
their eyes met, she returned his glance unflinchingly and firmly, but
he could not prevent his eyes from falling before hers.

Meanwhile Brother Daniel had, in his rounds of leave-taking, approached
those near to Alexander. When he reached the latter he hesitated a
moment, having recognized the person who had come to his assistance in
need, and a flush of embarrassment suffused his gentle, almost
effeminate, countenance. But Alexander, bending down quickly, pressed
a kiss on the man's cheek, saying heartily: "Farewell, and good luck go
with you! Believe me, I thoroughly admire your courage."

The Brother looked at him in surprise, and answered: "Thank you very
much, sir!" and passed on.

When Alexander again looked toward Carmen, her eyes were moist with
unshed tears.

"How beautiful that girl is!" thought he. "What an independent, frank
spirit speaks from her eyes; what a lovely expression hovers around her
mouth! She is like a dazzling star among these quiet people,--as if
she had strayed away from her own orbit and found herself here,--so
little does she seem fitted to her surroundings in the little circle in
which she moves. I wonder if she is happy here. A large-hearted,
generous nature cannot be content to submit to all these restrictions.
No, she resists them. I saw that to-day. But she will never become
like the others, and pass her life, in quiet submission, by the side of
a man such as Brother Daniel, for instance."

The leave-taking of the Brother being ended, the congregation received
the general blessing and dispersed. The moment had now come when Frau
von Trautenau and her sons must part from Adele, and many were the
tears shed on the occasion.

The night grew late; the lamp was lighted in Agatha's room. Presently
a gentle tapping was heard on the door, answered by a kindly "Come in."

Carmen entered; and when Agatha, raising her eyes, recognized the girl,
she put aside her