he now?

Manna and the Professorin were walking with the Banker's
daughter-in-law, who had been drawn thither by her desire to know
Roland's sister, and her much praised mother-in-law. The three ladies
had quickly formed a league of friendship, based on the foundation of a
fine and liberal culture. Yet, though the inmates of the Villa were so
happy together, each one harbored the restless longing to depart.

The ladies entered the conservatory.

A wave of aromatic perfumes floated towards them, and flowed around
them. Their eyes were refreshed by the thousand hues of the
newly-opened blossoms.

The Professorin spoke of the rest she should find in watching over the
culture of these plants.

Manna expressed her intention of devoting herself, in the days that
were to come, to botany, both theoretical and practical. The Banker's
daughter-in-law promised soon to do the same.

With a feeling of pleasurable excitement, they sat in the green-house,
where to-day, for the first time, the great windows had been
opened. Manna sent for her harp, and they found that the Banker's
daughter-in-law could sing several songs of which the harpist knew the
accompaniment. It was an hour filled with the pure joy of existence,
untroubled by one thought of the past, by one anxiety for the morrow.

Manna had caused a beautiful myrtle-tree to be placed on the table,
wishing to weave from its boughs a crown for Lina, whose marriage was
to be solemnized almost immediately. As she sat thus, with the blooming
branches before her, Weidmann entered, and said joyously,--

"This tree bears leaves and blossoms enough for threefold bridal
wreaths, and I hope they will be worn."

Then he told them that he came as the Major's ambassador, to summon the
ladies' attention to the story of Fraeulein Milch.

The Major came in with the Fraeulein, who, casting a strange look at the
Banker's daughter-in-law, said,--

"You are to be present too."

The Major, having called thither the Banker and Professor Einsiedel,
declared his readiness to yield to the instance of his friends, and
reside at the Villa, in order to superintend and keep everything in
good condition; but only with the stipulation that Fraeulein Milch
should at last be released from her vow; stating that she was ready,
after having related her life-history, to submit to the verdict of
their friends, the Banker and the Professor.

"Another story!" moaned the Professor. He dreaded the idea of