on, and your duty is done: your duty was to the daughter, for
the son will build up an independent life. Frau Ceres--poh!--let them
supply her with dresses and ornaments, and lull her to sleep with a
pretty story. He went into the garden, into the green-house, where the
black mould was lying in a heap. He put on his gray sack, grubbed in
the dirt, smelt the fresh earth; but to-day there seemed to be no odor
to it. He rent the garment in pieces as he took it off.

"Away forever!" he exclaimed. "Childish folly! It's all over!" He stood
for a while before the spot where Eric had taken breakfast on the first
morning. So this was the man, and he to be sole master here for the
future? He to possess all this,--a schoolmaster?

The Cooper came along the road. Sonnenkamp called out to him, and
commended his bringing up the fire-engine, adding, with a zest, that
the settlers in the far West found this their best weapon against the
savages, spurting hot water upon them; and it was still more effective
to put in a trifle of sulphuric acid, and blind every one hit in the
face. The cooper stared, with eyes and mouth wide open, at the man who
could say these horrible things in such a free and easy way.

Sonnenkamp left him standing there, and, going into the orchard, helped
very carefully and tenderly to gather the fruit. He thought of the days
when this fruit was growing, of the spring when Roland was
convalescent, of the visit of the Prince, the journey to the springs,
the days of sunshine until now, the dewy nights; and he thought
silently, when will there be another crop of fruit? how will it be with
you then? where? perhaps under ground; then you cannot turn over the
black mould: then his head swam.

It is a shame that we must die, and a double shame to know that we
must.

He stared fixedly as if he were bewildered, for it came over him that
on this very spot he had said something like this to Eric, the first
morning he had come there. Has this place a peculiar power to awaken
thoughts of death? Are you standing over the spot of earth which shall
be your grave?

He was called away; for the notary with his two assistants had arrived
just at the dinner hour. He sat down with him at the table, and
appeared in as good spirits as if nothing had happened. The notary
occupied Pranken's usual seat. After dinner, he transacted business
with the notary, being long and busily engaged in writing. The two
assistants signed as witnesses