,--

"It's all a story. It was another creature entirely that went through
all this, that used to lie in her hammock all day long and dream out
there, and now in Europe--but it is just as well, just as well, isn't
it?" she said, and reached out her hands affectionately to the
Professorin and Fraeulein Perini.

"Do you think," she said, turning to the Professorin mysteriously, "do
you think that our noble rank is altogether safe and sure?"

"After the decree is issued, everything is secure, but no one can say
that anything is certain before it comes to pass; unforeseen obstacles
may arise at the very last moment."

"What obstacles? what do you mean? what? what do you know? Tell me
all."

The Professorin shuddered inwardly. The restlessness and terror, the
wilful, overbearing, and weak nature of Frau Ceres were now for the
first time made clear to her; here was a woman who sought to torment
her husband by revealing to her child the father's past life.

With entreaties and commands Frau Ceres endeavored to get a statement
of the possible obstacles, and she was only quieted by the Professorin
assuring her that she knew of nothing definite. In spite of the
darkness, Fraeulein Perini noticed how painfully this untruth fell from
the lips of the Professorin; in fact she was just able to let it pass
her lips, because she felt herself in the situation of the physician
who does not venture to tell his fever-stricken patient the bitter
truth.

Frau Ceres lay back in the corner of the carriage; she went to sleep
like a child that has cried itself out with temper. Fraeulein Perini
earnestly begged the Professorin to call Frau Ceres 'Baroness' when she
woke up. She told the coachman to turn back; they were on their way
home to the Villa.

Frau Ceres was hard to wake; they put her to bed. She thanked the two
ladies sincerely, and smiled pleasantly, when the Professorin said at
last,--

"I hope you'll sleep well, Frau Baroness."

CHAPTER XII.

AN EMPTY NEST AND A HOME FOR ALL.

Toiling hard, and still singing lustily, the bird has built his nest
from odds and ends from every quarter; restless in his task, he has fed
his young while starving himself, contenting himself with the growth of
the young birds; and now they have all flown away, the nest is empty
and forsaken,--torn to shreds.

Such was the reflection in Eric's mind, as he stood in the evening by
Roland's