t any more light in, or they will be
spoiled."

In his interest in the animals, Claus forgot his shrewd two-fold plan;
he went with Roland and Joseph into the court, where Roland immediately
left them. He saw his father and Eric sitting together, and felt angry
with Eric for not telling him directly who he was. Soon overcoming this
feeling, however, he would gladly have hastened to him and embraced
him, but he restrained himself, and only approached when he heard the
whole party laughing.

He pressed close to Eric confidingly, and his eyes said, "I thank you;
I know who you are."

Eric did not understand his glance, until Roland said,--

"The others have had you long enough, now come with me."

He accompanied Eric to his room, and seemed to be waiting to talk with
him, but Eric begged to be left alone; he was inexpressibly weary, and,
like a heavy burden, there lay upon his spirit the consciousness that
he who enters the service of others cannot live his own life;
especially if he attaches to himself a faithful soul which he is to
mould, sustain, and guide, he must never be weary, never say, "Now
leave me to myself," but must be always ready, always expectant, always
at the beck and call of others.

Roland was much troubled at Eric's look of fatigue; he could not
suspect that he was extremely dissatisfied with himself. It was not
merely the weariness after imparting extensive and various knowledge
which often brings a sense of exhaustion, it was pure chagrin that he
had allowed himself to be beguiled into drawing a plan of vast extent,
and for what object? The education of a single boy.

Eric's chief vexation was, however, that he was obliged to acknowledge
himself still so undisciplined; he must become more self-restrained
before he could give stability and right training to another. In this
state of discontent he hardly heard the boy, who talked on about the
wonderful opening of the dog's eyes, and kept asking him questions, and
looking inquiringly in his face.

A servant entered, and announced that the carriages were ready for a
drive.

Eric was startled. What sort of a life was this? To promenade in the
garden, ride, drive, eat, amuse one's self. How could he guard and
preserve his own inner life? How would it be possible to hold a young
spirit to a definite course of constant self-development?

Eric's pride rose; he had not worked all his life for this,--exercised
himself in earnest and strict renuncia