s wealth
and the late recognition of his own poverty had thrown a dark veil over
all surrounding objects.

He collected himself, for he heard his mother and aunt returning.

His mother was heartily glad to see her son, but Eric was deeply
troubled when she told him that she should have thought it quite right
if he had accepted the situation with Sonnenkamp without reference to
her, because, in their present position, it seemed double good fortune.

Eric saw that his mother, whom nothing had ever been able to bend, was
now not only bent, but broken, and while he looked into her sorrowful
face, he bitterly felt that his scruples and his sacrifice appeared
superfluous.

His mother, repressing her own feelings, had written to the widowed
princess, whose maid of honor she had been, giving an account of her
situation. She had poured out her whole heart to the noble lady, and
spoken of the great good fortune of the princess in being able to
render essential help to her, who had never asked any favor; she
requested a limited sum of money in order not to be obliged to sell the
library of her husband, which was a sacred family possession, and had
great value for her son. Tears came into her own eyes, as she read over
the letter she had written. And now the mother handed to her son the
reply of the dowager princess. She had answered through her secretary
in well-expressed, sympathetic, and gracious terms. A small sum of
money was enclosed, not half enough for the object in view.

The mother had had the desire to return this small sum, with the shrewd
reply that, perhaps, the subordinate employed had not enclosed the full
amount determined on by the princess; but she did not do it; one must
not offend these high personages; one must even return humble thanks,
in order not to forfeit their unsubstantial good-will.

Eric promised to have the library secured within a week.

He went immediately to his chamber, and wrote a letter to Count
Wolfsgarten. He stated in plain words his state of mind at reaching his
paternal home, in what condition he had found it and his mother, and
finally he quoted to Clodwig his declaration,--

"I feel so much a friend to you, that I can allow myself to be placed
under obligation by you."

Eric had written that he should feel no change towards Wolfsgarten,
even if he refused his request. But feeling that this was not true, he
tore up the letter and wrote another, leaving out this assurance. It
w