feeling of shame on her part. As she thought it
over, it seemed to her that she detected something unnatural in his
tone, something forced and constrained.

She thought again of Eric. Where is he now? Is he talking with any one?
He certainly suffers deeply; he has saved himself and thee. Her
thoughts were like a whirlwind. Now she scornfully exulted. It was only
a trifling jest, an experiment, a bold play! She, Bella, the strong,
had only tried to bring a young man to his knees before her, and she
would have thrust him away with contempt if she had succeeded. She can
say this--who can contradict her? Her whole past life was good evidence
in her favor, and yet she felt ashamed of this lie.

But what is now to be done? she asked again. She is simply to be quiet;
she will meet the man with indifference; her last word to him was to
warn him against any attachment to Manna. There was the whole! That was
the pivot on which, turned the whole bold game. She promised herself to
root out of her soul every passionate feeling, every violent emotion.
She was now grateful to the destiny that had aroused within her the
strong forces of nature--her virtue had now been tried in the fire.

She took the veil from her face, and looked up at the stars. They
should be witnesses that all immoderate, all childish allurements, that
were unworthy of her, should be put far away. Now she silently thought
of what Eric had said, "For this end are culture and knowledge bestowed
upon us, that we should rule over ourselves."

As they were going up the hill on which Wolfsgarten was situated, there
came over her a feeling of imprisonment; she thought her hands were
tied, and she put them outside of her mantle. Clodwig thought she was
seeking his hand; he took hers and held it with a gentle pressure.

They reached Wolfsgarten in silence, and Clodwig said, as they stood in
the brightly lighted garden-saloon,--

"We can be silent in each other's company; and this is the fairest
comradeship, when each one abides in himself and yet is with another."

Bella nodded, looking at the whole surroundings with a wondering
glance. What is all this? To whom does all this belong? What power has
brought her here? Where has she been? How would it be now, here alone
with her husband, if----

It seemed to her that she must fall on her knees, grasp his hand, and
beg for forgiveness.

But it is better, she thought, not for herself--she believed that she
was ready to