r great forcing-houses.

Turning the conversation, Fraeulein Milch said to Eric that it was the
chief misfortune of Roland, the poor rich boy, that he had no real
satisfaction.

"No real satisfaction?" laughed the Major; "just listen to that!"

"Yes," asserted Fraeulein Milch, the ribbons and bows on her cap nodding
assentingly as she spoke, "he has merely pleasure and amusements that
money can buy, but they are not genuine; and any one who only drives
through the world for pleasure, with nothing to do in it, seeks
satisfaction in vain."

A gleam of pleasure from Eric's eyes rested on the good Fraeulein, and
at that moment a secret bond of union, a sense of mutual understanding,
was formed between them.

Accompanied by both as far as the garden-gate, Eric left the house.
When the door was opened, a brown and white spaniel jumped upon the
Major.

"Halloo!" cried the Major, in a tone of mingled scolding and caress,
"where have you been again, you disorderly vagabond, who can tell
where? and here we've had a visitor; old as you are, you will never
learn good behavior and regular habits. Shame on you--shame!"

So spoke the Major to his dog Laadi, well-known in all the country
round; he kept a female dog, because the village dogs never fought with
her.

As the Major left the garden with Eric, he said,--

"Look at these two posts, these closely-trimmed ash-trees. Several
years ago I noticed that the one at the left got its leaves ten or
eleven days before the one at the right. Now, once the frost came
unexpectedly, and the leaves withered on the left-hand one, and it
drooped all summer; since then it has been prudent, and lets the other
get its leaves first, and then itself leaves out. Doesn't it seem as if
trees had understanding? Yes, dear comrade, everything is better
arranged in the world than we understand, and, look you, though I have
a pension and nothing to do, I have so many things to keep in sight,
that the day is often too short. Now, good-by, and remember that you
can always feel at home with us."

And as Eric shook hands, he added:--

"I thank you, for now I have another man to hold dear, and that's the
best thing in the world to keep one young and sound."

Eric had gone several steps, when the Major called to him to stop, and
coming up to him, said:--

"Yes, as to Herr Sonnenkamp--do not be led astray, comrade. Men of the
world either make an idol of a successful man, or they abuse him. Herr
So