hing but this
love had taken him to Master Martin's house in Nuernberg, and, by the
painter's contest, he had meant nothing but his own and Friedrich's
rivalry as regarded Rosa. Friedrich listened once more to what Reinhold
had then said; that "to strive towards the same goal, bravely and
openly, was true friendship, and must truly, in the depths of their
hearts, rather unite than separate real friends; for nobleness or
littleness never can find place in hearts which are true."

"Yes, friend of my heart!" Friedrich cried aloud, "to thee will I turn
without reserve. Thou thyself shalt tell me if all hope is over for
me."

It was broad day when Friedrich knocked at Reinhold's door. As all was
silent within, he opened it--it was not fastened, as it generally
was--and entered. When he did so, he stood transfixed like a statue;
for there stood, on an easel before him, a full-length portrait of
Rosa, in all the pride of her beauty, lighted up by the rays of the
rising sun. The mahl-stick on the table, where it had been thrown
down--the colours still wet--showed that the portrait had just been
worked upon.

"Rosa! Rosa! oh, Father of Heaven!" Friedrich cried. Reinhold tapped
him on the shoulder, and asked him, with a smile, what he thought of
the picture. Friedrich pressed him to his heart saying:

"Ah, glorious fellow! mighty artist!--it is all clear to me now. You
have gained the prize for which I--wretch that I am! was bold enough to
try. What am I, compared to you; what is _my_ art, to _yours_? Alas! I
had great ideas in my mind, too! Don't laugh me altogether to scorn,
dear Reinhold. I thought w hat a glorious thing it would be to make a
mould model of Rosa's beautiful form in the finest silver. But that, of
course, would be mere child's play. But as for _you_!--how she smiles
on one, in all the pride of her loveliness!--Ah, Reinhold! happiest of
men! what you said long ago has now come true. We have striven for the
prize. You have won it. You could not _but_ win. But I am still yours,
with all my soul! I must get away; I could not bear to stay here. I
should die if I saw Rosa again. Forgive me this, my dear, dear,
glorious friend! This very day--this very moment--I must away into the
wide world, whithersoever my love-sorrow--my inconsolable misery--may
drive me." With which he would have left the room; but Reinhold held
him fast, saying gently:

"You shall not go, because things may possibly turn out far otherwise