. Both bands struck up, "Hail to the Chief,"
and all was rejoicing. Happiest of the whole company, perhaps, was
Sonnenkamp, who had been presented to the Prince and received a few
commonplace words from him. Though the words were nothing, the world
had seen the Prince speak with him and give him a friendly greeting.

They drove back to the capital in a high state of delight. The colored
lamps kept shining and the music sounding.

The next morning it was announced in the papers:--

"Yesterday evening the cuirassiers of the guard celebrated their annual
festival on Rudolph's Hill. His Highness, Prince Leonhard, graced the
entertainment with his presence. Among the guests was Herr Sonnenkamp,
of Villa Eden, with his highly-respected family."

CHAPTER IV.

THE PLACE IS TAKEN.

While the Sonnenkamp family was at the capital, Eric rode to
Wolfsgarten. He had fought down every traitorous, unholy thought within
him, or rather had prevented such from rising, and thought only of the
obligation that rested on him to show his appreciation of the noble
friendship which Bella had certainly manifested towards him, by
speaking to her of the excellence and truly admirable elevation of her
husband's character. That was his sole purpose, and with a clear and
happy spirit he rode on his way.

He found Clodwig alone, Bella having driven out to make a visit.
Clodwig was glad to have Eric for once all to himself; in former visits
he had too often had to amuse himself with the boy, while Eric walked
with Bella. Clodwig told of the son of a friend of his, the Russian
Ambassador at Naples, who had come to pursue under his guidance the
study of husbandry in Germany. The fact of the abolition of serfdom by
the Emperor of Russia was producing a great moral and economic effect.
The landowners would have to increase their own resources, as well as
those of the soil; from mere landowners they must become husbandmen.
The young Prince, like most other princes, had been a little wild in
Paris, but there were the germs of good in him, and a power of will
which encouraged the most favorable hopes. A sort of sacred zeal for
self-sacrifice and devotion to the lower classes was not uncommon among
the Russians, and often took such strong possession of the gay and
dissipated as to recall the conversion of those saints we are told of,
who, from the wildest debauchees, have suddenly been made