back again
after a while; but he ate and drank nothing the whole evening.

The Banker, who read a great many journals, asked Dr. Fritz if the
horrible stories one reads of American life had any foundation in
truth.

"Most certainly," answered Dr. Fritz--Roland looked sharply at
him--"if we fix the gaze upon some individual and separate fact in the
development of life in the New World, we shall often be wounded by
monstrous appearances of deformity; but a very distinguished statesman
once gave me a striking illustration, of which I am glad to make a
wider extension. This gentleman said to me:--'I was at Munich, and
there I first understood aright my fatherland. I was at the foundry
where the gigantic statue of Bavaria was cast, and the different parts
of the figure were lying around, here an arm, a knee, a hand, there the
head and a part of the trunk, all horrible to look at in this separate
condition. But when I saw the whole colossal statue set up in its
place, and in all its beautiful harmony of proportions, then it
occurred to me that America must be looked at in this way. The
separate parts appear monstrous, but if one regards it at as a whole,
it is of an unequalled beauty and grandeur.'"

At these words, Roland looked up at Eric with a bright, triumphant
glance, and smiled.

They rose from the table. Lilian was soon put to bed, and when Dr.
Fritz took leave previous to retiring, Roland retained his hand firmly,
saying:--

"I thank you for having so beautifully extolled my fatherland. I shall
never forget it."

"Shall you not consider Germany as your fatherland?"

"No," was Roland's loud and decided answer.

"Stay here; I have something yet to say to you," said Weidmann in a low
tone to Eric.

Roland walked about with Knopf in the bright starry night, and Knopf
had to promise him that he would wake him up to say good-bye to Dr.
Fritz and his child. Roland then consented to go to bed, but was long
in falling asleep, for the events of the day, the noise of the brook,
and the clattering of the mill kept him awake. But at last weariness
and youth gained the victory, and he slept soundly.

CHAPTER V.

NOCTURNAL INFORMATION, AND A FAREWELL LOST BY SLEEP.

Roland slept; he little thought that over him and his destiny two men
were keeping watch in the deepest anxiety.

Eric had followed his host into the workroom, and here Weidmann asked
him: "Do you know