able, and Sonnenkamp was made happy by the
Prince's praise of his green-house and park, and his skilful fruit
culture. Suddenly, in the orchard, the Prince asked the Professorin:--

"Where is your sister-in-law, the beautiful Claudine?"

"She is close by; she lives with me in the house in which Herr
Sonnenkamp has established us."

"We will call upon her," said the Prince, abruptly; and they went
through the new gate, across the meadows, to the green cottage.

The Aunt was very much surprised, but retained her quiet
self-possession. The Prince told her that he could never think of
harp-playing without at the same time thinking of Fraeulein Claudine;
one of the pleasantest recollections of his youth was of seeing and
hearing her, as she sat with her long curls, on a tabouret in his
mother's room; it was the prettiest bit of romance among his childish
memories. Then again he expressed his gratitude to the sister of his
teacher, and extolled Herr Sonnenkamp's good fortune in having two such
noble ladies as neighbors.

The Prince sincerely desired to make people happy, and he believed that
he could do so with his porcelain flowers of speech; he was perfectly
convinced that from this day forth Aunt Claudine would feel an
unexampled satisfaction and happiness.

He remained a long time at the cottage, and gave orders that the
carriages should follow him, that they might start from there on their
return.

Eric, who had not been asked to join the party, remained behind at the
villa, and talked with a tall coal-black negro, named Adams.

The negro, who wore a fantastic livery, soon became confidential, and
said that he had been a member of a circus company, and was much
applauded for his bold leaps, and his extraordinary strength; the
brother of the Prince, when travelling in America, had bought his
freedom, and he was now the Prince's favorite footman. His only trouble
was that his wife, a white woman who had loved him dearly, and his
child were dead, and he should never get another wife.

Eric had never before spoken to a man who had been a slave, and he
could not help saying how much it moved him to do so.

While Eric was talking with the negro, he little thought that he was
being talked of in the green cottage; his aunt resolutely turned the
conversation upon him, and told the Prince what a man he had become. As
the guests were about to enter their carriage, the Prince said, in
quite a loud voice, to the Professor