alling of life the entire manhood may be
maintained and called forth into action.

"I am the child of a perfectly happy marriage, and you know what that
means. I shared, from my third year, the education of the Prince
Leonhard. There was a perpetual opposition between us, the reason of
which I did not discover until later, when an open breach occurred. I
then saw for the first time, that a sort of dissimulation, which does
not agree with good comradeship, had made me outwardly deferential, and
inwardly uneasy and irritated. Perhaps nothing is more opposed to the
very nature of a child than a perpetual deference and compliant
acquiescence.

"I entered the military school, where I received marked respect,
because I had been the comrade of the prince. My father was there
my special instructor, and there I lived two years with your
brother-in-law. I was not distinguished as a scholar.

"One of the happiest days of my life was the one on which I wore my
epaulets for the first time; and though the day on which I laid aside
my uniform was not less happy, I am not yet free from inconsistency. I
cannot to this day, see a battery of artillery pass by without feeling
my heart beat quicker.

"I travel backwards and forwards, and I pray you to excuse disconnected
narration. I have, to-day, been through such a various experience; but
I will now endeavor to tell my story more directly and concisely.

"Soon after I became lieutenant, my parents removed to the university
city; I was how left alone. I was, for a whole year, contented with
myself and happy, like every one around me. I can remember now the very
hour of a beautiful autumn afternoon,--I still see the tree, and hear
the magpie in its branches,--when I suddenly reined in my horse, and
something within me asked, 'What art thou doing in the world? training
thyself and thy recruits to kill thy fellow-men in the most scientific
manner?'"

"Allow me to ask one question," Clodwig mildly interrupted. "Did the
military school never seem to you a school of men, and part of your
profession?"

Eric was confused, and replied in the negative; then collecting his
thoughts, he resumed: "I sought to drive away oppressive thoughts, but
they would not leave me. I had fallen out with myself and my
occupation. I cannot tell you how useless to myself and to the world I
seemed to be,--all was empty, bare, desolate. There were days when I
was ashamed of my dress, that I, a sound; strong man