a that she looked wholly different from her brother, except that
her eyes were like his.

"But where is Roland?"

He was now seen coming down the steps; he was urgently requesting Eric
to go with him, while Eric and the Mother bade him go alone.

He obeyed, and was welcomed by their royal Highnesses in a very cordial
manner.

The Prince went towards the house, where the Professorin was standing
on the steps with Eric; he went up to her with quick step, holding out
both hands, and saying how glad he was to see her again; then, pointing
to the miniature, he added that he cherished a most grateful
remembrance of its subject, and wore his image not on but in his
breast. Eric seemed to be hardly noticed, till a glance from his mother
said, "Speak to my son," and the Prince turned to him with the words:--

"I hope, dear Dournay, that you have a better pupil than your excellent
father had in me."

Eric found nothing to say in reply, but bowed in silence. Pranken
approached, and asked:--

"Will your Highness see the Park and the Victoria Regia in bloom first,
or the house?"

"Ask the Princess," was the answer.

Pranken moved with great deference towards the other group, catching
Manna's bright glance, which followed him everywhere. Where was Eric
now? There stood the poor fellow, and it was laughable to think of his
daring to aspire to an equality with a Pranken.

The Princess said that, after her drive, she would prefer to go into
the house first.

They repaired to the balcony room, where a breakfast stood ready, and
Sonnenkamp had the audacity to beg their Highnesses to accept with
favor such a simple and extempore repast as a commoner could offer
them.

Frau Ceres was favored with a seat at the Prince's right hand, and the
Professorin was seated at his left; the Princess sat between Sonnenkamp
and Roland.

Eric was fortunate enough to find, among the gentlemen in attendance, a
former comrade to converse with.

"You must enter the military school soon," said the Prince, addressing
Roland.

Sonnenkamp looked fixedly at him; the Prince knew very well when Roland
was to enter, and every moment Sonnenkamp expected to see a sign given
to one of the chamberlains to hand him his patent of nobility, but it
did not come. The Prince talked very earnestly with the Professorin,
expressing his regret that a lady of such rare spiritual and mental
endowments should have withdrawn from Court.

They soon rose from the t