weeks in Germany,
and do you therefore think yourself competent to speak a lasting
judgement on our land? Look only at our schools, how the young people
grow up Catechism in hand, know the words of Scripture, learn reading,
writing, and the ten commandments. Look into the homes of our citizens.
If we can once succeed in introducing in every house the Holy
Scriptures, the German translation by Martin Luther, so that every man
at any hour can take up the word of God, then are your sensuous means
not necessary. Perhaps you find this proceeding coarse and plain, but
that our people light no candles to the Virgin so that their children
may regain their health, but rather seek a physician, that they do not
go halves in matters of stealing and robbery with images of the Saints,
arises from the fact, that they are edified by the word of God, which
tells them what God wills, not by images, lights and music, when every
man thinks of the desire of his heart, the one of the good and
beautiful, the other of murder and thieving."

The calm man was beginning to work himself into a state of excitement
when luckily Lydia came up. She appeared disturbed and her eyes shone
feverishly bright. She listened to the conversation in silence, but
heard the Artist rather with her eyes than with her ears.

"How like him, he is," she thought.

"And what do you say?" now asked Felix politely.

"That the one does not exclude the other. God's word remains throughout
eternity, and when men are thoroughly imbued with it, then perhaps can
they return again to images, lights, and organs."

"Thoroughly a woman's decision," said Felix laughing, "or shall I
rather say: a judgement of Solomon?"

"No, Sir painter. The wise Solomon was a man, and therefore said,
_either_, _or_, and ordered the child to be cut in two parts, the Queen
of Sheba would have said: you shall both have the child and in this way
does the world go on best."

"See how wise the maidens in the Palatinate are," rejoined Erast
smiling, stretching out his hand to wish Felix farewell. Klytia felt
very pleased at having given so good an answer and singing gleefully
sprang up the steps to the portal of the Castle.

CHAPTER X.

Master Paolo had indeed noticed his beloved pupil attending the evening
service, and though the experienced orator had in no way broken down
but let his pulpit eloquence roll on in the usual track, nevertheless
his thoughts