tive in regard to the respect
shown him, and he never forgave any one for neglecting to pay the
proper attention to Fraeulein Milch. Fraeulein Milch was a very
excellent, respectable person, if they could overlook one thing.

They returned to the villa in good spirits.

The first person they met in the courtyard was the Major. He looked
somewhat out of humor, but his countenance lighted up when the
Professorin said that she had intended to call upon him and Fraeulein
Milch to-day, and to get a cup of coffee, as she unfortunately could
not fall into the ways of this part of the country, and drink wine
every day.

The Major nodded; but he soon went off to send a child of the porter's
to Fraeulein Milch with the welcome message.

The Mother was very animated, and Eric expressed his joy that his
mother experienced something of that exhilaration produced by a sight
of the life of the people and the life of nature along the Rhine.

When Roland came to dinner, he said in a low tone to the Professorin:--

"I have looked into the Conversations-Lexicon, and to-day is Theodore
Parker's birthday; to-day is the twenty-fourth of August."

The Mother whispered that it would be well for him to speak of it to no
one but her.

CHAPTER XIII.

SOUR CREAM SWEETENED.

The Major had never been in better spirits at the table than to-day. He
forgot to beckon to Joseph to fill up a second time his glass with the
favorite Burgundy.

Frau Ceres smiled dubiously when the Professorin gave an account of the
excellent people she had seen, the refreshing influence of the prospect
of river and mountain, and the yet fairer one of such noble, genuine,
domestic life. She added that she had but little acquaintance with
other lands, but it was certain that no land surpassed Germany in real
depth of feeling and generally diffused culture. Cities and villages,
that were only empty names to the traveller whizzing by, concealed
within them the beautiful and the best adornments of humanity.

"Nowhere, not in any place where church-bells have rung, has a better
sermon been preached than that," said the Major to Eric. He then rose.
"Now, the Mother--all of you drink with me--now, long life to the
Mother; she enjoys life herself, and makes other people see life on its
beautiful and fair side, and the Builder of all the worlds will bless
her for it. My brothers!--I mean my--my--then, long li