r affairs and disturb our little circle? It was hard enough for
the lads to pledge themselves to do nothing more. Our little head boy
had prepared a speech, which would have borne witness that he had read
Thucydides to some purpose. And it seems as if I had never heard them
sing so before!"

Edwin's only reply was to press his friend's hands; he then accompanied
him into the street, where the last song was being sung. All present
bared their heads, when they saw him, and seemed to expect a speech.
But he only went up to the old music teacher, uttered a few cordial
words, shook hands with him, and then embraced the head boy. "We know
each other, my young friends," he said, "we will hold to each other in
future, and I shall ever treasure it as one of my greatest joys, that
you sang this particular song. I will tell you why another time. But
here are other friends I must thank. Dear Herr Wolfhart," he said,
addressing an old white-haired cabinet-maker, "you, too, have taken the
trouble to come here to do me honor, although as I know, you are not a
good walker. How shall I thank you for it--and you--and all of you!
Well, I think the charming singing of our gallant lads will repay you
for the trouble, better than I could do if I made a long speech. True,
I might say a great deal to you all, but the street is not a suitable
place for it, and we shall meet each other again at some more fitting
opportunity. For your confidence in me and belief in my honest
intentions, I thank you cordially; and now we will beg our singers to
rejoice our hearts with a few more songs."

While the singing began again, many pressed around Edwin to shake hands
with him and whisper how delighted they were to have this opportunity
of showing their esteem for him and how the thought of losing him had
alarmed them all. He accepted these proofs of friendship in his usual
straight forward manner, said very little in reply, and escaped the
most enthusiastic, as well as he could, by pretending to be completely
absorbed in the music. But at heart he was strangely agitated and
touched by this beautiful and affectionate ceremonial, and yet amid his
joy he was deeply saddened by the thought that he must witness it
without her, whose existence was most closely interwoven with his. He
became more and more absorbed in this grief, which made him insensible
to all that was passing around him. When the last notes had died in the
air, the dark crowd silently melted a