ll mankind.

Roland fell into a sort of ecstasy, and Eric with difficulty refrained
from pressing him to his heart. He was happy, for the sun had risen in
Roland, the sun of thought which can never set; clouds may obscure it,
but it stands and shines for ever.

The two descended to the river, and bathed joyfully in it under the
early light, and to each the water was as a new baptism. The bells were
ringing as they returned to the villa, and in the distance they saw
Manna going to church.

Herr Sonnenkamp also had risen early, and paid a morning visit to the
Professorin.

"I have followed your good advice," he said, "and made Roland no
present to-day. Your account of the way in which royal children keep
their birthday was charming; they are not to receive, but to give. I
have followed your suggestions in every particular, and given Roland
nothing but the means and opportunity of bestowing upon others; I owe
you double thanks for allowing me to take the entire credit of the
idea. Any approach to untruthfulness is distasteful to me, but for my
son's sake, I venture to practice a little deception to-day."

The lady pressed her lips together. Here was this man, whose whole life
was a lie, trying to pass himself off for a man of truth! But she had
already taught herself not to be always inquiring too closely into the
motives of good deeds. She asked about the presents that Roland was to
distribute, and finally yielded to Sonnenkamp's desire that she should
accompany him to the villa.

As they approached the door, a carriage drove up from which jumped
Pranken. He had come, he said, because it was Roland's birthday, and
expressed great pleasure at hearing that Manna also had arrived:
Fraeulein Perini's telegram he thought it needless to mention. As he
stood upon the terrace overlooking the Rhine, he saw Manna walking up
and down not far off with a little book in her hand, and could perceive
the motion of her lips as she repeated the words from it.

Fraeulein Perini soon appeared, and exchanged a few whispered words with
Pranken. Great was her pride at having frustrated the cunningly woven
plans of this Professor's family, which so plumed itself on its lofty
sense of honor. There was no doubt in her mind that the idea of
bringing Manna from the convent had originated with Eric, and she saw
further evidence of his plotting, in the girl's having been taken to
the green cottage on the very evening of her arrival, and return