CHAPTER VIII.

THE TRIUMPH OF THE OPPRESSED.

Roland entered the cottage, and found the Professorin, Eric, and Manna
in grave conversation together; they had imparted the dreadful secret
to each other, and what weighed the most heavily upon them was the
thought how Roland would bear it when he should learn of it. He now
came in and said:--

"Manna, we are disgraced children!"

The three hastened to him, and affectionately embraced and kissed him.

"Be strong, brother!" said Eric, throwing his arms around him. "I can
blow you strong, my brother."

Hiawatha's saying echoed in Roland's soul, and he looked around on all
sides, as if bewildered. He sat down speechless on a chair, and the
three dear to him sat in silence near him.

Sonnenkamp, meanwhile, had got out at the entrance of the park, and
walked towards the villa; it seemed to him as if the ground would give
way under his feet, and the house and trees vanish. Are you sick? he
asked himself. You are not to be sick! He whistled softly to himself;
his gigantic strength still held out.

Here everything is as it was, and you yourself are here, too, he said,
exerting a powerful control over himself, as he stood upon his property
and grounds. He seemed to be wrestling with a hostile world enlisted
against him, and he repelled the encompassing foes with heroic
strength; they should not cut off the sources of his confidence and
power. He felt himself well armed and equipped. Pranken is right; one
must not let himself be cowed, one must bid defiance to the world, and
then it will bow itself in humility, and in a year--no, much sooner,
all will come and flatter him.

He remained standing on the steps, holding on by the railing, for all
his strength seemed exhausted; but drawing a deep breath, and plucking
up his courage, as it were, he soon recovered his self-possession. He
looked about without constraint, he had become so accustomed to
feigning, that he was determined no one should see in him any trace of
disturbance.

He went up the steps with a firm and steady stride. He took Pranken's
arm, and told him in a candid tone how highly he esteemed him and
admired his strength, of which he already felt the effect in himself.

He went with Pranken to his room, nodding to everything, which still
held its place here, and should hold it firmly for the time to come. He
requested his son--so he called Pranken--his son, of whom he was proud,