over him and pressed his hand to his lips with a
cry of delight. "Heaven be praised; my dear prince, you have awaked to
commence a new life! You now belong to the virtuous and honorable, whom
the Invisible Fathers bless!"

"Is it true, Bischofswerder," said the prince, languidly, "that I have
sworn to renounce Wilhelmine Enke, and never to love her more?"

"You have sworn it by all that is holy, and all in heaven and on earth
have heard your oath, and there is joy thereat."

The prince turned his head, that Bischofswerder might not see the tears
streaming down his cheeks.

CHAPTER XXXIII. THE RETURN HOME.

The beautiful house which Herr Ebenstreit von Leuthen possessed upon the
finest street in Berlin, "Unter den Linden," had been newly arranged and
splendidly ornamented since his marriage and elevation to a title, and
now awaited his arrival. For many weeks mechanics and artists had
been busily employed; and the good housekeeper, old Trude, saw with
bewildering astonishment the daily increasing splendor of gilded
furniture, costly mirrors and chandeliers, soft carpets, tapestries, and
gold-embroidered curtains, exquisite paintings and statuary, which
the possessor had forwarded from Italy, and many other objects of art
standing upon gilt and marble tables.

Every thing was completed. The bustle of the busy workmen had ceased,
and Trude slowly wandered through the solitary rooms, examining every
article. Her face bespoke dissatisfaction, and a smile of contempt was
visible there.

"Miserable trash, for which they have sold my poor child!" murmured the
old woman. "For these worthless, glittering toys have they ruined the
happiness of the dear innocent heart, and on them the guilt will fall if
her soul is lost! I remark how she is changed in her letters since her
shameful, mercenary marriage. She writes of nothing but the arrangement
of her house, and speaks as if the beauty and costliness of things were
only to be thought of, and there is not even a confidential, heart-felt
word for her old Trude. It would seem as if she had forgotten all former
objects of interest. Oh, what trouble and sorrows the rich have! That
good-for-nothing money hardens their hearts and makes them evil and
selfish."

The loud ringing of a bell sounded through the solitary drawing-rooms.

"That is, undoubtedly, the general's wife," said Trude, shaking her
head. "She rings as if she would announce the king, with her nose turned
u