tion for the sake of filling the
intervals between driving and banqueting. The plan would be unbearable;
he would have an arrangement which he could control and to which he
could give the tone of his own mind.

He went into the court with Roland, and politely asked to be excused
from the drive, as he felt the necessity of being alone for a few
hours.

This announcement was received by glances of various expression. Herr
Sonnenkamp said quickly, that he laid no sort of constraint upon his
guests: Pranken and Fraeulein Perini exchanged looks in which there
seemed to be a malicious pleasure in the harm that Eric had done
himself by the wilfulness which led to a want of tact.

Roland said at once that he would like to stay at home with Eric, but
Pranken rejoined in an exultant tone:

"Herr Dournay just wishes to be alone; if you stay with him, my dear
Roland, the gentleman will just not be alone."

He uttered the word "gentleman" in a peculiarly disagreeable tone.

The second carriage was sent away. Fraeulein Perini, Pranken, and Roland
entered the other; Sonnenkamp seated himself on the box; he was fond of
managing four horses from the box-seat; four-in-hand was a great
delight to him. This driving four-in-hand was generally taken for
ostentation, but it was only a personal gratification.

Frau Ceres also remained behind; she had already exerted herself to be
social quite enough for that day.

Eric watched the party drive off, then returned to his room.

He sat there alone in perfect quiet, more weary than it would have
seemed possible to become in so short a time, but the day Lad been one
of excitement, and full of a violent effort to make himself master over
novel circumstances. How much he had been through! It seemed years
since he looked over the Roman antiquities with Clodwig. During the day
he had been obliged to turn over and over, and to unfold his own
character and environment; he had tasted for the first time the humble
bread of servitude, and the feeling, half of friendliness, half of
ingratitude, the enigmatic in Sonnenkamp, in Roland, in Fraeulein
Perini, and Frau Ceres, seemed to him like the dim memory of a dream,
like a far-off life, as his thoughts went home to his mother.

A profound home-sickness threatened to overcome him, but he shook it
off resolutely. It must not be! His military training helped him; his
orders were to stand at his post, keep a close watch, and never to
tire.

"Never to