nk you--now go--go--before he returns--go--good-night!"

Eric went back to his chamber. What he had experienced seemed to him
like a dream; the hidden element of mystery which seemed at Wolfsgarten
to envelop the family of Sonnenkamp was more and, more evident. Here
were the strangest sorts of riddles. Roland, full of life and spirits,
came to him; the brief separation had given both a new and joyful
pleasure in meeting again; it was as great as if they had been
separated for years.

Roland asked Eric to tell him about the Huguenots; there had evidently
been much talk about them during the drive. Eric put him off, saying
that it was not necessary, at least not now, to dwell upon the horrible
tortures which human beings inflicted upon one another on account of
their religious belief.

Roland informed Eric that Herr von Pranken was going the next day to
visit Manna at the convent.

Eric was doubtful what he ought to do. If he were to forbid the boy's
informing him of what he heard, he would scare away his confidingness,
his perfect confidence; and yet it was disagreeable to himself to be
informed of things which might not be intended for him to hear. He
proposed to himself for the future, to request Sonnenkamp to say
nothing in the hearing of the boy which he ought not to know, Eric was
summoned once more to tea; Frau, Ceres did not make her appearance.

Eric was this evening perplexed, and lost the feeling of untroubled
security.

Should he tell Sonnenkamp that his wife had sent for him? But then he
must inform him of what she had revealed to him, though it was only
half uttered,--it was a warning, a speech wholly disjointed and
incoherent.

Eric also saw Roland looking at him as if beseeching. The boy felt that
some painful experience was going on in his new friend, which he would
gladly remove. And to Eric's affection there was superadded the feeling
of pity. Here was a manifestly distressing family relation under which
the boy must have suffered, and it was a fortunate thing that his
light, youthful spirits were untouched.

Eric was reminded continually of an experience of his in the house of
correction, The most hardened criminals had avowed always, with the
most triumphant mien, that it conferred the greatest satisfaction to
them to be able to conceal their deeds from the world; but the least
hardened disclosed, on the other hand, how glad they felt to be
punished; for the fear of discovery, and the consta