d come forth in the garden, the birds were
singing, and the boats sailing merrily up and down the river, when, on
the day preceding Roland's birthday, a note was found in his room,
saying that the family must not be uneasy about him, for he would
return the next day, bringing something most beautiful with him.

Upon inquiry, it appeared that Roland had set off with Lootz for the
convent.

CHAPTER XII.

ORESTES AND IPHIGENIA.

Two steamers, one bound for the valley, the other for the mountains,
were standing in the stream at a little distance from the island. In
the one bound for the valley was Roland. In answer to his impatient
question why they did not land, the captain silently pointed to the
island, where a procession of priests and nuns were following a bier
covered with flowers, and borne by girls dressed in white. The voices
of children, as they sang, rose on the clear Spring air. Roland's heart
trembled; what if his sister----?

"It must be a little child," said an elderly man standing near him;
"the bier is so small; those young girls could not carry it otherwise."

Roland breathed more freely; he knew his sister must be among the
mourners.

He had landed, and was standing on the bank beside the boatman, who was
to row him over to the island. The man shook his head and said
softly:--

"Not yet, not yet; but perhaps you are a relation of the child?"

"What child?"

"A little child has died in the convent; oh, such a beautiful child! it
made one happy only to look at her. The Lord God will have to make but
little change to turn her into an angel."

"How old was she?"

"Seven, or eight at the most. Hark, there they come!"

The bells rang out into the Spring air, the smoke of the incense
ascended, as the procession moved along the shore.

The boatman took off his hat, and prayed with folded hands. Roland,
too, stood with uncovered head, and with a sudden shock he thought:
Thus might I have been borne to the grave. Such a weakness came over
him that he was obliged to sit down; he kept his eyes fixed upon the
island; the procession went on, then disappeared, and all was still.

Now they were sinking the young body in the ground; the birds sang, no
breath of air stirred, a steamboat came towards the mountain; all was
like the figures in a dream.

The procession came in sight again, singing, and vanished through the
open doors of the con