negroes. He reproached himself with not having really a
stronger inclination for the negro children, for as he wished to be
honest, he must confess he would only go to America for the sake of
seeing Lilian once more, and observing how she developed, and what
fortune was in store for her.

As Eric was returning to the courtyard, he saw Weidmann and the Banker
getting into the carriage; they were going to the capital to negotiate
for the domain. Eric bade good-bye to them, and expressed his
determination to return at once to Villa Eden. As he named Villa Eden,
he felt a shiver creep over him. Weidmann stepped out of the carriage
once more, took Eric aside, impressed upon him the necessity of being
circumspect, and from the carriage exclaimed,--

"Dear Dournay, both for your mother and your aunt, my house is always
yours."

Eric went away to waken Roland. As he woke up, he cried,--

"Is it morning already? Are they still here?"

"Who?"

"Lilian and her father."

"No; they have been gone this long while."

"And why didn't you wake me up?"

"Because you needed sleep. In one hour we are going home again."

Roland turned defiantly away; but while Eric was talking to him with
great earnestness, he turned his face towards him at last, and on his
long eyelashes stood big tears.

"What tears will those eyes one day shed?" said Eric to himself.

The carriage in which Doctor Fritz and his child had left came back.
The coachman brought still another greeting from Lilian to Roland. The
horses were not taken out, but fed in harness, and soon Eric and Roland
were journeying homewards.

CHAPTER VI.

THE WORLD A MASQUERADE.

If romantic affliction manifests itself in a pale face, a feeling of
loathing, obstinacy, and hatred of one's neighbor and of everything,
then had Roland experienced a genuine romantic affliction. He sat near
Eric in the carriage, and shut his eyes so as to see nothing but what
was going on in his own imagination; he pressed his lips hard together,
pale and trembling, determined not to say a word.

Am I a child still, he asked himself, that can be knocked about hither
and thither, that must obey and ask for no reason? Why didn't Eric give
a reason for his returning so suddenly? Why did Knopf, with a
triumphant smile, tell me that he didn't wake me on purpose? Then it
flashed upon him that Knopf had taken upon himself the responsibility