Sonnenkamp continued:--

"An amateur is all very well; but I prefer a man with a profession."

"I am entirely of the same opinion," Eric answered; "and I am amazed at
the good results practically secured in the new world, by adopting a
different course."

With constrained calmness he continued,--

"In regard to this matter, I have only one desire, and only one request
to make."

"And that is?"

Sonnenkamp again placed his hand upon the table as if he were laying
down a stake at play.

"I should like that you would not find it disagreeable to consider me
at first, for some days, a guest in your house."

Eric said nothing more, hoping that Sonnenkamp would answer at once in
the affirmative; but he cracked in two, abruptly, a cigar which he had
just lighted, and which did not seem to draw freely, and threw it away
into the shrubbery. His face became red again, and a mocking smile
played upon his lips, as he thought: "Very confident indeed! This young
man imagines that if he can only get a lodgment for a few days, he can
so bewitch every one that he will be deemed indispensable. We shall
see!"

As he maintained a persistent silence, Eric said:--

"It would be desirable as well for you as for me, before making a
permanent agreement, to know more of each other; and I especially
desire this on Roland's account."

Sonnenkamp smiled, and watched two butterflies chasing each other,
hardly giving any attention to Eric as he went on to state, that the
boy seemed to him in one respect too mature, and in another not mature
enough to be made acquainted with the selection of a tutor, and perhaps
to have a voice in it; therefore he must first know him as a guest in
the house, and afterwards as his tutor; also it was his own desire that
Roland should not know that his tutor received pay in money, or at
least, should not know the amount.

At the word money, Sonnenkamp seemed to come out of his
butterfly-gazing.

"What sum would you demand?" asked he, putting into his mouth a fresh
cigar that he had held for some time in his hand. Eric replied that it
was not for him, but for the father, to determine that.

Sonnenkamp brought his cigar to a glow with a few violent whiffs, and
with great unction declared how well he knew that no sum was large
enough to compensate adequately the painstaking duties of education and
instruction.

Then leaning back in his chair, crossing his legs, and holding on to
his left leg with the ri