oth him and Eric, whom she always
called her brother in music.

There was a constant stream of jesting and laughter in the Villa and
park. One day Pranken induced his brother-in-law to go boating with
Lina and himself, while Bella remained at home to draw. He wanted to
take Roland also, wishing, with a certain recklessness, to leave the
other two alone together for once. But Roland would not leave Eric; he
even openly avoided Pranken's society.

Lina sang gaily as they sat together in the boat. Her love-songs were
given with a sweetness, an abandonment, that Pranken had never heard
from her before. Clodwig described her singing to his wife, on his
return, as being as simple and beautiful as a field flower.

Bella begged the Justice and his wife to let her take Lina back with
her to Wolfsgarten. The Justice's objections were overruled by his
wife, and Lina was full of delight at setting off with Bella and
Clodwig.

Pranken rode beside the carriage.

The quiet of this loneliness weighed heavily again upon Eric and
Roland, after the animated society of the last few days. Eric, beside,
was out of tune, weary and dull. He found it a burden to be obliged to
devote himself from morning to night to this boy, to have to watch his
undisciplined, and often capricious, fluctuations of mind. He longed
for the society of Clodwig; still more, though he hardly acknowledged
it to himself, for that of Bella. There had been a novelty, an
animation, an excitement, an atmosphere of graceful elegance, about the
rooms, which were now so desolate. Nevertheless, he resisted for
several days Roland's entreaties that they should make the promised
visit to Wolfsgarten. The house had been entrusted to his care, and he
refused to leave it, until Pranken, at length, offered to take all the
responsibility upon himself. There was a sting in his words, as he said
to Eric,--

"You were present at the musical festival, and left the house then in
charge of only the servants. Besides, as I say, I assume the entire
responsibility."

CHAPTER XX.

ENTERING INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

Beautiful it is in the valley, on the river's bank, where the waters
glide by so swiftly, yet so undisturbed; beautiful to see how they
glisten in the daylight, reflecting every passing change in the sky,
and bearing to and fro the hurrying boats; and again in the evening, to
hear the quiet murmur of the stream, a