On the contrary, very serious; the sacred order of things, without
which neither society nor the state can exist, has a sure support in
the differences of rank being maintained, if each one shows his
particular class. Service--"

Eric closed the window softly; he deemed it unworthy to listen.

The nightingales sang outside in the thicket, and the frogs croaked in
the swamp.

"Each sings in its own way," said Eric to himself, as he thought of the
cheering words of his father, and the expression of the young baron.

CHAPTER III.

THE OLD UNDER A NEW FACE.

On the morning, Roland wanted to ride before doing any thing else; but
Eric, whose maxim was that the day could be consecrated only by taking
some good influence into the soul, made him read aloud the first
chapter of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. This was the dedicatory
act of their new occupation, and when they were called to breakfast,
both were very animated. They could take an equal satisfaction with
Fraeulein Perini, who returned from mass with Herr von Pranken.

Eric had not mistaken, Pranken was there. He greeted Eric with a sort
of studied respectfulness, but he fulfilled, after his way, the demands
of sincerity; whilst he, as a man who has nothing to conceal, openly
acknowledged that he had frequently thought it would be better that
Eric should not enter upon the position, with great decision, and in a
tone of satisfaction, he added to this, that there were mysterious
presentiments in the soul, which we must humbly acknowledge; and so
this self-willed act of Roland's was the finger of fate, which laid
upon Eric, as upon all the others, the duty of compliance.

Eric looked at Pranken in utter amazement. He had mistaken this man;
Pranken brought forward principles of conduct which he should never
have supposed, nor would now have attributed to him.

The breakfast passed off cheerfully; the amusement was at the Major's
expense, more indeed while absent, than while present. He had naturally
narrated to Pranken the terrors of the extra train, and Pranken knew
how to tell the story again very much to their entertainment; he could
imitate the Major's thick way of talking, and Fraeulein Milch was always
spoken of as Fraeulein Milch with the black eyes and the white cap.

After breakfast, Eric requested Herr Sonnenkamp that he and Roland
might, for the future, be excused from this breakfasting