his
two comrades, Eric and Roland, who fired at his word of command, so
that the three reports sounded as one. But this was the whole
celebration of the merry harvest-home.

Fires had been already made at the villa, and Sonnenkamp's pride in
each stove having its own chimney was shown to be well founded. But it
was a truly festive occasion when the Professorin had a fire kindled
for the first time in her sitting-room. She had invited Eric and Roland
to be present, and Fraeulein Milch happened to be there. And as they sat
together before the open fire-place, in serene and homelike content, it
would be hard to say precisely what it was that made them so cheery and
peaceful.

The Mother exhorted Eric to resume his habit of reading aloud, in the
cosy winter evenings, some great poems, and he promised to do so. He
felt that he must make some extra effort to dispel the coldness
produced by his refusal to receive as a pupil the son of the
Cabinetsraethin.

Sonnenkamp, who had an extensive hunting-park, sent out cards inviting
some persons of the best society to a hunting-party. Invitations also
came from the neighbors, and Eric was able to be present with Roland at
a great hunting-party as often as once a week.

Roland was proud of his father's skill in the chase; he was regarded by
all as the leader, and the whole company listened with pleasure to his
accounts of grand hunts in America. He had even made a short excursion
to Algiers, and there shot a lion, whose skin was now under his
writing-table; it was meant for a sleigh-robe, but here in the country,
a merry sleigh-ride was a rare thing.

The supper after the chase, in a large apartment fitted up for the
purpose, was always of the merriest sort. The Major was here in his
element, and officiated as lord of the castle; he spoke of the evenings
which Eric enlivened at Villa Eden by reading the ancient and modern
dramas; he never knew before that there were so many fine things in the
world, and that one individual man could make everything so plain
merely by his voice.

Eric had read aloud almost without exception one evening every week.
The impression made upon the hearers was various. The Major always sat
with his hands devoutly folded; Frau Ceres reclined in her easy-chair,
occasionally opening her eyes, to show that she was not asleep;
Fraeulein Perini was employed with some hand-work, which she prosecuted
steadily, exhibiting no emotion; the Mother and the Aunt