hand. How does
the hand feel that held in it millions of your own? That gives
strength, does it not? Be not faint-hearted; I trust you, you and I
alone know it. Now go, my son, be proud within yourself and modest
before the world; you are more, you have more, than all the nobility of
this land, more perhaps than the Prince himself. There, my child,
there! this moment makes me happy--very happy. If I die, you know
already--you know all now. There, go now. Come and let me kiss you
once. Now go."

Roland could not utter a word; he went, he stood outside the door, he
stared at his hands,--these hands had held millions of his own;
everything that, he had ever thought and heard of the joy and woe of
riches, everything was in utter confusion in his mind; inwardly,
however, he experienced a sensation of joy, of proud enthusiasm, that
had almost made him shout aloud. If he had only been permitted to tell
it all to Eric! He felt as if he could not keep it to himself; but then
he was not allowed to communicate it to any one. His father had put his
trust in him; he dared not betray the trust.

He went to his mother. Frau Ceres, handsomely dressed, was walking up
and down in the great hall; she gave Roland a haughty nod, and gazed at
him a long while without saying a word; at length she said:--

"How am I to be saluted simply with 'Good-morning, mamma?' It ought to
be, 'Good-morning, Frau mamma, good-morning, Frau Baroness. You are
very gracious, Frau Baroness--I commend myself to your grace, Frau
Baroness--you look extremely well, Frau Baroness.' Ha, ha, ha!"

Roland felt a painful shudder thrill through him; it seemed to him as
if his mother had suddenly become insane. But in a moment she was
standing before a mirror, and saying:--

"Your father is right--quite right; we have all been born to-day for
the first time, we have come into the world anew, and we are all noble.
Now come, kiss your mother, your gracious mother."

She kissed Roland passionately, and then said, that if she could only
have all the malicious tale-bearers there, they would be smothered with
envy at beholding the good fortune that had befallen her.

"But where is Manna?" asked Roland.

"She is silly, she has been spoiled in the convent, and will not hear a
word about anything; she has shut herself up in her room, and will not
let any one see her. Go try if she will not speak to you, and get her
to smile. The Professorin has always told me that I was se