made upon them to go, in imagination, with the physician to
the bedside of a moaning patient, and to the lamenting relatives, had
also interrupted the pleasant mood with which they had seated
themselves in good cheer at the table.

Eric, who might well consider that the visit of Clodwig and Bella was
meant for him, felt under a double obligation to entertain the guests
as well as he could, and bring the company at table into a congenial
mood. But while he was yet in search of some thoughts to direct the
general conversation, the Major stole a march upon him.

He smiled beforehand very pleasantly, for he had something to tell, and
now was the aptest time.

"Herr Sonnenkamp," he began, and his face again became blood-red, for
he had to speak in the presence of many persons,--

"Herr Sonnenkamp, it is said in the newspaper that you are soon to
receive a great number of visitors."

"I? In the newspaper?"

"Yes. It is not said in so many words, but I infer so. It is said
there, that an emigration is now taking place from America, on account
of the high cost of living there; many families are coming from the New
World to Europe, because they can live with us at more reasonable
prices, and in a pleasanter way."

The Major congratulated himself, that he had pushed forward into the
gap something very agreeable and very suitable. He drank off, at one
draught, with great gusto, a glass of his favorite Burgundy.

Sonnenkamp remarked in a careless way, that probably a prejudice would
be created against Americans, like that which existed against English
travellers.

No one again took up the conversation; they would gladly have heard
Clodwig talk, but he was constrained from the feeling that he had
intruded into a strange house, had there sat down as a guest, and yet
all the time, he was intending to commit a theft. This made him ill at
ease and reserved.

Eric took a different view of his deportment. He gave a fortunate turn
to the conversation, referring to Goethe's poem which extolled America
because it had no ruined castles, and passing on to the favorite
pursuits of Clodwig and of Sonnenkamp, and indeed drawing a parallel
between a fondness for antiquity and for the rearing of plants. Eric
was very animated and communicative, introducing matters which, he knew
would awaken interest, and yet in the very midst of his talk there was
an accompanying feeling of self-reproach. Until now, throughout his
whole life, he had