very tenderly and well, in my place? Thou canst not understand what
my love has been; part of it, I know, has been foolishness--and that
which thou wilt give her, if it be strong and steadfast, will be far
better than ever was mine. For it is the way of life"--and here the
voice of Andreas trembled and fell a little--"that for young hearts love
also must be young."

"With God's help, dear father, I will be true and good to her," Ludwig
answered, speaking with a stout heartiness that gave the ring of truth
to his words; "and I will care well for her and for thee too."

"For me it will not be long," Andreas answered; "but give the care which
thou wouldst have given to me to these my birds."

"Do not make us sad to-day, dear father, by such gloomy words," said
Roschen, as she put her arms around his neck. "To-day a beautiful time
of happiness has begun for us."

"Truly a beautiful time of happiness has begun," Andreas answered; "and
I thank God that I have seen its beginning--for when grief comes to
thee, and grief must come to us all, my daughter, thou hast now a strong
young heart to stay and comfort thee. Yes, this is truly the beginning
of a happy time." It was with a very tender smile that Andreas spoke
these cheery words; and he added, cheerily: "Now go out into the Square,
my children, and say to each other the words which I know are in your
hearts. I will be glad in your happiness as I sit here among my birds."

And so Andreas, for the second time in his life, was left alone with his
birds.

As he sat there, desolate, he buried his face in his hands, and between
his thin fingers there was a glistening of tears. It was so hard to
bear! They might have waited just a little while, he thought; it would
not have been very long. For he forgot, and perhaps it would be unfair
to blame him for forgetting, his own desire that before that little time
should pass his Roschen should have assured to her the good care-taker
whom she surely would need when the season of sorrow came. A little
thrill of pain, a premonition of which he knew the meaning, ran through
him.

Then it was that the Kronprinz began to sing. The notes at first were
low and liquid, and they fell soothingly upon the ears, and so into
the heart of this poor Andreas; and as they rose higher and fuller and
clearer, light began to show for him where only darkness had been. The
other birds, fired to emulation by these mellow warblings, joined in a
sweet cho