the group, and remarked that he was always
surprised anew to see how many odd characters settled here on the banks
of the Rhine. The Major stood apart and looked at Herr Sonnenkamp, as
if he would say: I beg you, don't do this too; stay with us. It would
be pleasanter to me than to give her the prettiest bon-bons which I
shall carry home, to be able to say to Fraeulein Milch, What they say
about Herr Sonnenkamp isn't true! For again had Fraeulein Milch
penetrated the well-guarded mystery.

Eric pitied the Major, who looked unusually dull, and he succeeded in
getting at the cause of his low spirits, for the Major said,

"It's just as if a Christian were to turn Turk! Ah, you may laugh, but
Fraeulein Milch is right. All that beautiful money, which has been
earned with so much trouble, is now to be thrown away on the nobles,
and we commoners may stand aside, and never have any more notice taken
of us."

Eric silently pressed the Major's hand, and the latter asked:--

"But where's Roland?"

Indeed, where was Roland? He had vanished soon after their arrival, and
was nowhere to be seen. The evening came on gradually, and wonderfully
beautiful music from wind instruments was heard in the thick shrubbery;
for a while, the guests in the garden were silent, and then it seemed
as if the music made them only the more talkative. Eric looked for
Roland, but no one could tell him anything of him.

The music ceased, and darkness gathered. On the balcony of the house
appeared a trumpeter, in a costume of the middle ages, and sounded a
call; the company repaired to the house, up the steps to the great hall
and the adjoining rooms. Here a few seats were placed; in the
foreground, two great arm-chairs, dressed with flowers, for the bride
and bridegroom; behind them, a line of chairs for the oldest and most
distinguished guests.

Frau Ceres was conducted to a seat near Bella; Fraeulein Perini had
managed very adroitly to get near her and pull gently at her cloak.
Frau Ceres understood, and all eyes, which had been resting on the
bridal pair, now turned to her. Such ornaments, imitating a wreath of
wheat-ears of which each grain was a great diamond, such a dress,
sown thick with pearls and diamonds, were never before seen; a
long-continued murmur of applause ran through the assembly.

Frau Ceres stood by her chair, as if rooted to the spot, till Bella
begged her to sit down; she looked smilingly at the splendid jewels: it
was all