r was not only willing, but expressly desired that Bella and
Clodwig should return directly to Wolfsgarten. Sonnenkamp raised
various objections, wishing to keep his noble guests with him, and
saying with great hospitality,--

"Consider my house exactly as if it were your own."

"Will you permit Herr Dournay to accompany us?" asked Clodwig.

Sonnenkamp started as he answered quickly,--

"I have no permission to give the captain, but if you are determined to
go, I would ask him as a favor to accompany you, with a promise of
returning to us."

"You will go with us also?" begged Bella of the physician, who
assented.

So the four drove off through the mild spring night; little was said,
though once Clodwig seized Eric's hand, with the words, "You are very
strong."

Eric and the doctor spent the night at Wolfsgarten. In the early
morning, the physician prepared for departure while Eric was still
sleeping soundly; he woke him and said,--

"Doctor, remain here to-day, but no longer."

Eric stared at him.

"Did you understand me?"

"Yes."

"Now, good-bye."

Again Eric spent a whole day at Wolfsgarten. Clodwig was as cheerful
and serene as ever; Bella's bearing toward Eric was shy, almost timid.

In the evening Sonnenkamp and Roland rode over, and Eric returned with
them to Villa Eden. Sonnenkamp was in very good spirits, and the blood
mounted to Eric's face as he said, looking sharply at him,--

"Countess Bella will make a beautiful widow."

On the evening of the following day the physician appeared again at
Villa Eden; he had been at Wolfsgarten and brought a good report. He
took Eric aside, and said,--

"You have confided to me that you neither expect, nor will accept in a
personal interview, a decisive answer from Herr Sonnenkamp. I approve
of that; it can be much better settled by letter. You will see more
clearly, away from him, and so will he. So I advise you to leave the
house; every hour that you remain is your ruin."

"My ruin?" Eric was startled.

The physician said, smiling,--

"Yes, my dear friend, this forced exhibition of yourself, which has now
lasted almost a week, is injuring you."

He continued, after a pause,--

"No man can be on parade for a week without receiving some harm. You
must go away, or you will become an actor, or a preacher, or both
together. You repeat what you have learned, and repeat it with the
conscious purpose of producing a given effect. Therefore away with you