l him in his influence over Roland. The
huntsman took, in very good part, Eric's expressions of friendliness,
but he remained silent. When Roland came back, Eric asked him nothing
about his excursion to the woods, and told him nothing about the dwarf.
It was Roland's place to ask him, but the boy said nothing, and they
both rode back in silence.

Eric immediately caused himself to be announced to Herr Sonnenkamp, and
informed him that he now felt compelled to assume a definite relation
with Roland.

"You find Roland, then, an excellent youth?"

"He has great boldness, determination, and--I know that a father can
only hear it with unwilling ears, but after your searching inquiries
yesterday, I may be permitted to hope that you are sufficiently free
to--"

"Certainly, certainly; only speak out."

"I find a degree of hard-heartedness, and a want of sympathy with the
purely human, surprising at such an age;" and Eric related how Roland
had deported himself in regard to the dwarf.

A peculiar smile darted over Sonnenkamp's features, as he asked,--

"And do you feel confident that you can make a corrupted nature noble?"

"Pardon me, I said nothing about a corrupted nature; I should say,
rather, that Roland is just now changing his voice, in a spiritual
sense, and one cannot judge what tone it will take; but so much the
more necessity is there for care in the kind of influence exerted."

"And what is your opinion of Roland's talents?"

"I think that he is not superior to the average. He has a good natural
understanding, and a quick comprehension, but persistency,--_that_ is
indeed very questionable, and I have already observed that he goes
along well enough a certain distance, then comes to a standstill, and
will pursue the thought no farther. I am not yet very clear in regard
to this mental characteristic; if it cannot be changed for the better,
I should fear that Roland would be unhappy, for he would experience no
abiding satisfaction, nor would he feel the delight, nor the
obligation, of perseverance. Yet this is, perhaps, drawing too fine a
thread."

"No, no, you are right. I place no reliance upon my son's stability of
character; he only lives from hand to mouth. It is a bore to him to do
anything of which he cannot see the direct result.

"That is the way with children. But such children never make sterling
men; therefore I wanted Roland to love plants, as he would then be
obliged to learn that there was s