mind
from every personal disquietude, as the only means of being able to
devote himself to the new difficulties of his task.

In a large close carriage, made half of glass, with two servants in fur
coats sitting on the box, and the footman behind, Sonnenkamp and Frau
Ceres drove about the city. The question whether Roland's cards should
be left too had been carefully considered, and it was finally decided
in the affirmative.

Eric used the day's leave of absence he had obtained in visiting some
of his old comrades, and spending some time with them at the military
club. He was more cordially greeted than he expected, and the men he
met were better and sounder than he remembered them. Of course the
talk was of the newly-established gaming-table, of horses and
ballet-dancers, but there was a prevailing seriousness among many of
his comrades. The great excitements of the day, which were affecting
all minds, were not without their results even in this military club.
One young man, who sat in the window with Eric, went so far as to envy
him for having struck out for himself an independent career.

Eric's mind grew quite light and tranquil after visiting a few more of
his friends, and he returned to find the Sonnenkamp family in good
humor also.

On this first day, the Cabinetsrath, with his wife and two daughters,
was invited to dinner. The dresses had come from Paris, and were
already the town-talk of the little capital, the custom-house officials
having told their wives, and they their relations, that dresses had
been received from Paris finer than any in the wardrobe of the Queen
herself. They were duly admired by the ladies, and everything was in
the best possible train. Sonnenkamp had his party at whist in the
fashionable club-house, to which the Cabinetsrath introduced him; and
as they rose from table, Bella and her husband were announced as the
first visitors.

Bella's gait, manner, and dress always suggested not only invisible
servants in livery to appear, but a carriage and horses besides; she
always looked as if she had just left her carriage, or was about to
enter it; it was so in the drawing-room, and so in the street. She was
extremely animated, and only to Eric regretted that his mother still
continued in the country. She told Sonnenkamp that Otto would arrive in
a few days, with the Russian prince, for the two men were to take part
in a French comedy that was to be performed at court, in which she also
w