e suffering of a secret love,
encompassed by perils, they wanted to learn what had taken glace at the
capital. They could not anticipate what had really occurred.

Eric let Manna return alone. He told her that he had been at the
Major's the evening before, and he, wanted to go again, in order to
request him and Fraeulein Milch to keep the matter a profound secret.

As Eric was going along the road, a carriage came up; his name was
called, and Bella got put.

"I am rejoiced to meet you alone. Do you know that we never see each
other alone in these days? But to-day I shall not be with you. Clodwig
sends his greeting, and an earnest request that you will visit him at
Wolfsgarten. He is lonely and you are lonely, and it will be pleasant
for you to pass with him these first days of separation, and to stay
with us until you have got somewhat reconciled to the absence of your
dear pupil. Clodwig has grand projects in your behalf. You can go back
at once in our carriage to Wolfsgarten, and I shall be here with my
sister-in-law until matters are arranged. Where is the dear child?"

Eric escorted Bella to the villa, but he could not utter a word.
Fortunately, Fraeulein Perini came up, and he could hand Bella over to
her. He hastened to Manna and informed her in a few hasty words that
Bella had arrived. She looked up, half roguishly, half pitifully, and
asked:--

"Is it true that you once loved her?"

"Yes and no. Are you jealous?"

"No, for I know that you have never loved, never; you can never have
loved any one but me. Come, Eric, let us now go up to her, hand in
hand, and acknowledge at once what we are to each other, and also
before the world. Let us have no single moment of deception or
concealment. I have the courage to confess all, and I am happy to have
it to confess. Regard to the world must not deprive us of a moment, of
one single moment, in which we can see each other, freely take each
other's hand, and appear before the world, as we are in reality, one."

Eric had great difficulty in bringing Manna to use foresight and
prudence; he desired her, as the first token of their relation as
husband and wife, to conform to his will.

Manna wept, and said peevishly:--

"Very well; I will obey you, but I'll see no one."

Eric tried every means to induce her to see Bella, but she refused,
saying:--

"Can you, the pure, the good, allow me to be so debased for an hour?
How am I to endure it, how am I to conduct mys