ed my calculation for an entire
life. I could not make her understand about that of which the
continuation begins only to-day. Still, all the more reason for
hastening. A half hour is necessary to tell another all about it, half
an hour in a carriage: they will remain here meanwhile. We shall fly to
Topandy at Lankadomb: by evening we shall have finished all, and
to-morrow we shall be here again, like two flying madmen, who are
striving to see which can carry the other off more rapidly towards the
goal--where happiness awaits him. I shall drive the horses to Lankadomb,
you can drive them back."

"Poor horses!"

Desiderius did not dare to go himself with these glad tidings to his
mother. He entrusted Fanny to prepare her for them--perhaps so much
delight would have killed her.

They told her Lorand had official business which called him to Lankadomb
for one day; and they started together with Topandy.

Topandy was let into the secret, and considered it his duty to go with
Lorand--he might be required to give the bride away.

The world around Lorand had changed--at least so he thought, but the
change in reality was within him.

He was indeed born again: he had become quite a different man from the
Lorand of yesterday. The noisy good-humor of yesterday badly concealed
the resolve that despised death, just as the dreaminess of to-day openly
betrayed the happiness that filled his heart.

The whole way Desiderius could scarcely get one word from him, but he
might easily read in his face all upon which he was meditating: and if
he did utter once or twice encomiums on the beautiful May fields,
Desiderius could see that his heart too felt spring within it.

How beautiful it was to live again, to be happy and gay, to have hopes,
expect good in the future, to love and be proud in one's love, to go
with head erect, to be all in all to someone!

At noon they arrived at Lankadomb.

Czipra ran out to meet them and clapped her hands.

"You were driven away; how did you get back so soon? Well no one
expected you to dinner."

Lorand was the first to leap off the cart, and tenderly offered his hand
to the girl.

"We have arrived, my dear Czipra. Even if you did not expect us to
dinner, you can give us some of your own."

"Oh, no," said the girl in a whisper, blushing at the same time, "I have
been accustomed to eat at the servant's table, when you were not at
home, and you have brought a guest too. Who is that gentleman?