rapidly along over the clear water, between the sun-illumined
mountains, on which, here and there, harvests were still being
gathered.

The passengers stood or walked on deck, enjoying the wide prospect; but
below in the cabin, lay Manna, with closed eyes, not heeding Fraeulein
Perini's injunction to come up and refresh herself with the view and
the free air, only begging to be left alone. And so she lay and
thought, half dreaming, half awake, of all that had happened to her and
hers. How utterly different it was when she went up the river, with
Roland, last spring! Eric's warning came into her mind, how wealth, and
the ease with which it enables one to make disposition of external
means and of those who serve, seduce us into healing ourselves with
amusements and outward remedies.

This reproach did not now trouble her: she only wished to part
peacefully from a Past, under obligations contracted in her soul to the
friendly souls there, which she wished to fulfil, even though outwardly
separating herself from them. Her soul lay bound by obligations to the
women yonder: she wanted to take care to be truly comprehended, even
though she was outwardly cutting herself off from them.

The difference of faith between Eric and herself again arose before
her. But what course remained to her? To become untrue there to the
pious sisters, or here to Eric; but no, that was no longer possible.
She hoped that the great soul of the Superior would give her calmness;
and thus she lay, sunk in a half-slumber during the whole trip.

On deck, Fraeulein Perini was glad, on the whole, that Manna had
remained unseen; for here and there among the passengers Sonnenkamp was
mentioned, and the report was, that the Prince's negro had lifted him
up with both hands, and had carried him, struggling, down the
staircase, until he was set at liberty by the servants, who brought him
to the carriage. An agent, whom Fraeulein Perini knew, was already
wondering who would buy the Villa, for it was absolutely certain that
the man would not remain there.

In the forward cabin, where Lootz had ensconced himself, he was obliged
to hear the fruiterers who were carrying to the Lower. Rhine the fruit
which they had brought from Sonnenkamp's head-gardener, saying one to
another, that they would not be willing to take a mouthful of fruit
cultivated by this man. They granted him the merit, however, of having
done much toward the introduction of a species of apples