neck and
shoulders in the long mirror seemed to shock her, and she drew more
closely about her the encircling cloud of tulle. Roland and Eric
entered. Eric stood motionless.

"How late you are!" said Manna.

Eric explained that he had been introducing his teacher to the routine
of watering-place life, and expressed the hope that Manna would enjoy
the society of the delicate-minded old man.

"Your teacher?" said Manna, and again Eric noticed the tears in her
voice. "Introduce me to him to-morrow. But now make haste, or you will
be late to the assembly."

"I am not invited," replied Eric.

"No! he is not invited, and so I am not going either," cried Roland.

The father and mother appeared, but their persuasions had no effect
upon the boy. He would not even yield to Eric's urgent entreaty, but
persisted in remaining behind. After the family had actually driven off
to the Hall, Roland appeared to regret not having gone with them, and
insisted on Eric's taking him to the gallery, whence they could see the
dancing.

Pranken was manager of the assembly, and Manna shared the distinction
with him. Her cheeks glowed, and she seemed in great spirits, but to
Roland's vexation, she did not once look up to the gallery. Manna, in
fact, hardly knew herself. In the midst of the gaiety, she said to
Pranken:--

"Did you know that Captain Dournay's teacher had arrived?"

Pranken knit his brows. So she was thinking of him in the midst of this
gaiety! He was silent for awhile, not knowing what to reply; at last he
said in a light tone:--

"Ah, teacher! Don't you get tired of this whole pack of teachers? Here
we have pleasing music, dancing,--come!"

He whirled her swiftly among the circle of dancers, and she felt as if
she were no longer upon the ground, but were floating in the air.

"Let us go!" said Roland to Eric in the gallery. They left the hall,
and took by moonlight the same beautiful walk through the forest that
they had enjoyed in the morning.

"Is there no way in which I may relieve myself of a secret that has
been confided to me?" asked Roland. "I should so like to talk it over
with you! May I not tell it you?"

"No, you must not under any circumstances break your word. If you did,
you would lose all hold upon yourself."

Roland sighed; he sorely wanted to tell Eric that his family was to
receive a title.

When they came out upon the clearing, and saw the town and the whole
valley lying in the moonlight, and