aving more
religion than is embodied in it. The idea of the pure is persecuted,
hunted down, obscured, in the world; and the hand must be sure of its
high consecration, which ventures to attack a sanctuary of that idea."

The morning sun had become lord over the mist, shining brightly over
river and mountains. The convent bell rang, and the great house was all
astir.

The Professorin went down, and knelt behind a pillar; the sisters and
the children assembled together.

She remained until the morning service had ended, and then going into
the dining-hall, she begged Manna and the Superior to permit her to
take leave. They accompanied her to the shore.

The Professorin exhorted Manna to stay at the convent, and devote
herself to reflection and pure thought. She spoke with such earnestness
that the Superior, taking her by the hand, uttered in a low tone what
was evidently a prayer.

The Professorin perceived that her old friend was praying in her
behalf. And why should there not be just as good grounds for this form,
as for an inward thought and wish for another, on whom one would invoke
every blessing, unexpressed in words? With a light heart, she was set
over to the main-land.

Sonnenkamp was surprised that she did not have Manna with her; but she
said, in explanation, that she would not interfere any farther in this
matter. She went back with Sonnenkamp to the villa. On board the boat,
she sketched out in full the plan of an organized system of charity,
which must be so arranged that Manna could go from one sanctuary into
another.

Sonnenkamp listened in silence, but in no pleasant humor. The whole
world seemed to have entered into a conspiracy against him, to make of
him a sanctified hypocrite.

Yesterday, Pranken had made the same demand upon him, and he had said
in reply, that it was a contemptible thing for the very nobility to be
desirous of playing the hypocrite; but Pranken had insisted principally
upon the religious obligation.

Sonnenkamp had shrugged his shoulders, for the man kept his mask on
even when he was alone with him. He only consented after Pranken had
added, that, by this means, the Court would not only be justified in
conferring the title of nobility, but would feel bound to do it. Here
now was Frau Dournay making a similar demand; and this was so far good,
that her intentions were most likely honest.

The journey home was not very animated, for they were returning from a
bootless err