than my dead brother was!" he exclaimed.

And just as he was uttering these words in a somewhat loud and
trembling voice, Manna passed by; she had come out of the Priest's
house. She greeted both quietly, and pressed her prayer-book tightly to
her heart.

"I would be glad to have her a happy nun, but she will not be a happy
nun," said Fraeulein Milch.

"Naturally," said Eric, jokingly; "she will be Frau von Pranken."

"Frau von Pranken! Never."

"And are you earnest in saying so?"

"Yes, for Herr von Pranken is going to marry the young widow, the
daughter of Herr von Endlich."

"I don't understand this."

"Don't forget, Captain, that I have told you so this day. I know a
little something about men. I have never had a word from Baron Pranken
except the question, 'Where is the Major?' He never addressed me myself
in any way, and I do not take it ill of him, but still, for all that, I
know him."

Eric's countenance brightened; he had no reason for putting faith in
Fraeulein Milch's conjecture, and still he did put faith in it. And now
it occurred to him, that he had joyfully anticipated something, he knew
not what, to-day; now he had experienced it.

He accompanied Fraeulein Milch home. The Major was not in; he had gone
to the castle, for there was still a great deal to be done, to be ready
for the solemn opening of the castle-which was soon to take place.

Eric turned back and went, to his mother's.

CHAPTER XIII.

A GRACIOUS HAND POURS OUT THE WINE.

"Are you, too, down-hearted and meditative?" cried the Doctor, meeting
him as he was entering the house. "I find here a whole colony of
low-spirited people. What is there then in this whole affair so
discouraging? Herr Sonnenkamp is getting new clothes and a new equipage
made. In old times, I still remember them, a commoner did not dare to
drive out in a coach and four, or, if he did, the horses had to be put
in hempen traces. Well, Herr Sonnenkamp is getting leather traces made.
What of that? Frau Ceres is sick, Manna is sick, the Professorin is
sick, the Captain looks sick; Fraeulein Perini and your aunt are the
only ones in health in the hospital. Effervescing powders must be the
prescription for everybody to-day." The Doctor brought with him a
cheerful tone, which, like a spicy breeze from the mountain forests,
was sweeping away the mists. The Mother could not tell why she was so
uneasy, Eric could