ly return that day. His mother had gone to the
grave of a son, of whose death this was the anniversary. The maid went
out to light the lamp, and Roland was alone in the room where the
twilight shadows gathered; he sat in the corner of a sofa, weary, and
his mind full of varied thoughts.

Wonderful! there are so many human dwellings in the world, one can
enter them, and all at once one is seated in a strange house.

Outside, in accordance with an old custom, there sounded from the tower
a choral, played by trumpets. Roland dreamed of the outer world, no
longer conscious where he was, but remembering only that he had once
travelled through many countries and towns, and that everywhere in the
houses lived men, who led their own lives, of which other people knew
nothing.

Eric's mother entered. She stopped at the door, as Roland rose,
saying,--

"Good-evening, mother."

Stretching out her arms, the mother cried,--

"In Heaven's name, Hermann--thou?"

"My name is not Hermann. I am Roland."

The mother approached him trembling; just then the aunt came in with a
light, and all was explained. Roland said that he had followed Eric,
because he wished never to leave him. The mother kissed him, weeping
and sobbing.

Steps were heard on the stairs, and Eric entered. Roland had no
strength to rise from his seat as Eric exclaimed,--

"You--here!"

Roland could hardly utter the words to explain what he had done. He
stared wildly at Eric, who stood before him like a stranger, without
even holding out his hand. As soon as Roland had finished speaking,
Eric said sternly,--

"If you were my son, I would punish you severely for your self-will,
and the anxiety you have caused your family."

"You may punish me, I will not stir. No one in the world could punish
me like you; you do not punish like----"

The beating of his heart prevented his finishing what he was about to
say, and perhaps also an aversion to complaining of his father
restrained him. He had forgotten till now what had last incited him to
run away, and only remembered the longing for Eric; now he looked
around him, as if he saw his father's upraised hand in the air.

The mother took him again into her arms, saying,--

"Your willingness to bear punishment atones for and washes out
everything."

"Stay here with my mother," said Eric, sternly; "I will come back
directly." He hurried out, and sent a telegram to Herr Sonnenkamp, with
the inquiry whether he woul