The Russian prince also was very gracious to Eric, and talked to him a
great deal of Knopf and of a wonderful American child at Mattenheim.

Pranken saluted him in silence, hardly ever exchanging a word with him.

By the first dignitaries of the State and the Court, Eric was kindly
received, and heard from various quarters of the praise bestowed upon
him by the Countess von Wolfsgarten and her husband.

Eric's acquaintance with Weidmann had reached that point where both
regretted that they could see so little of each other, and yet with the
best intentions could come no nearer together. Only once did they
succeed in getting a deeper insight into one another, and here too,
strangely enough, it was when the conversation was personal. They were
speaking of Clodwig, for whom both expressed equal respect, but
Weidmann could not help saying:--

"I admire this power, but I could never exercise it. Our friend has the
faculty of entering heartily into the sphere in which he lives; I mean
by that, he can put on and off his moods of mind as he does his
dress-coat. His own tastes lead him to live among entirely different
interests, interests directly antagonistic to all this whirl and
confusion; but the moment he enters this sphere no trace of any
antagonism appears in him; he seems perfectly in harmony with the life
about him."

Eric took his meaning, and said he could now understood a reproach that
he had been tormenting himself with. Weidmann's eye rested thoughtfully
upon him as he spoke.

"People say, at one time, that we should try to sift every experience,
should take fire at this thing or that; and again, they require us to
pass over things indifferently, and let them go without a protest. I
cannot do that, and therefore am not suited for society."

Weidmann appeared to take a different view of the matter that disturbed
Eric, for he replied that he ought to be perfectly satisfied with
having succeeded in fostering noble thoughts in a boy of Roland's
character and position.

Often, whole evenings passed without Eric's seeing Roland, so
constantly was he surrounded by the young dancers of both sexes, who
praised and petted him like some favorite plaything. Every night he
came home with his breast covered with favors in the German, and the
day found him weary and absent. Eric noticed that perfumed notes were
sometimes handed him by the porter. Any regular course of study was out
of the question. Roland went about