will come when we shall coldly extend to each
other our hands, and say, or even not say, though we feel and know it,
that there was one pure hour, an hour won by a severe struggle, when we
were exalted in our own souls, and because we held each other so
highly, we did not debase nor degrade ourselves. This hour is hard, is
overwhelming; but what is hard and overwhelming now, will be, in the
future, tender and full of restoring strength.

"We would hold each other high, that we may not destroy the laws of
righteous living. And here is life's duty. My friend, it was a saying
of my father, The man of understanding must be able to obey the command
of duty, with the same glow of zeal that others obey the command of
passion. So must it be. The stars shine over our heads, I look upon you
as upon a star that shines in its purity and in its ordained orbit. Ah!
I do not know what I am saying. Enough! Let me now bid you farewell;
when we meet again--"

"No, stay here!" Bella cried, grasping his arm, which she let go
immediately, as if she had touched a snake.

She withdrew two steps, and threw back her head, saying:--

"I thank you."

Eric wanted to reply, but it was better that he should say nothing; he
was about to go away in silence, when Bella cried:--

"One question! Is it true that you saw Manna Sonnenkamp, before you
came here?"

"Yes."

"And you love her, and are here on her account?"

"No."

"I believe you, and I thank you."

There seemed to be in this utterance something consolatory to her, that
she had not been sacrificed to love for another. She looked wildly
around, moved her head right and left, and when she had become calm
again, she said:

"You are right. It is well."

She seemed to be looking for something to give to Eric, without being
able to find it; and now, as if she were giving utterance to a thought
that had long lain upon her mind, and which anxiety for his welfare
forced from her, she cried,--

"Be warned! Be on your guard against my brother; he can be terrible."

Eric went away; it was a hard matter to return to Roland, but he must.

He sat still by Roland's side for a short time, with his hands over his
eyes; the light pained them, and he did not venture to look at Roland.

Then a servant, came with the message that the Count and the Countess
were going to take their departure at once; Eric and Roland could bid
them good-bye in the court-yard.

They went down, and heard that, con