they drove by the small vine-covered house. Roland
pointed out the house to Eric with glistening eyes, but uttered no
word. They drove into the grounds of Villa Eden, where the air was
laden with the fragrance of roses, for all the roses in Sonnenkamp's
garden were in fresh bloom.

"We have it," cried the architect from the castle to the Major, as he
was getting out.

"Have what?"

"We have found the castle-spring."

"And we have _him_," cried the Major, pointing to Eric.

And from this day, the Major began many of his stories with the
words,--

"At the time I rode with Herr Sonnenkamp in the extra train."

BOOK V.

CHAPTER I.

HIGH ABOVE.

The rosebuds in the garden had opened in the spring night, and rare
flowers blossomed out in the soul of the youth.

With transcendent delight, Roland welcomed his recovered teacher to the
house. He went in high spirits to his mother's room, but she was so
exhausted that he could not see her. He forgot Fraeulein Perini's
distant reserve towards him, and announced to her jubilantly, that Eric
was there, and would now remain; she was just to say so to his mother.

"And have you no inquiries to make about the Chevalier?"

"No: I know that he is gone; he was not with me even when he was here.
Ah, forgive me, I don't know what I am saying! O, why does not the
whole world rejoice!"

Roland's rejoicing received the first check when Fraeulein Perini said,
that no one could estimate correctly the inconsolable distress which
his mother had suffered from his flight.

The boy stood still, but he felt assured that now all would go well;
that everybody must now be well and strong.

He came across Joseph in the court, and joyfully informed him that he
now was acquainted with his native city; he nodded to all the servants,
he greeted the horses, the trees, the dogs; all must know and rejoice
in the fact that Eric was here. The servants looked at Roland in
astonishment, and Bertram, the coachman, drew his long beard through
the fingers of both hands, and said,--

"The young master has got, during these two days, a man's voice."

Joseph smilingly added:--

"Yes, indeed, a single day at the University has made him a different
being. And what a being!"

In fact, Roland was wholly different. He returned to his home as from a
voyage; yes, even as from another world: he cou