s we like together?"

"Yes," answered Sonnenkamp. It seemed hard for him to consent, but he
felt that he must.

CHAPTER III.

A NEIGHBOR SECURED.

Pranken came the next day, and when he met the widow of the Professor,
summoned to his aid his most polished manner; she gave him to
understand at once, that she regarded him as a son of the house. She
did this with so much delicacy and such a charming tact, that Pranken
was extremely delighted.

When she thanked him for having been the means of obtaining such a
position for Eric, he declined receiving any thanks for what he had
done, as it was only a trifling amount toward the payment of his debt
to the late Professor, to whom he owed all the culture he possessed.

He said this with a tone that entirely won the Widow's heart; she could
make allowance for the exaggeration of politeness, but she felt there
was a basis of sincerity, inasmuch as no one, unless he were utterly
abandoned, could have come within the sphere of her husband's voice and
eye, without receiving therefrom a good influence for life.

Pranken spoke of his brother-in-law and his sister, and how much Eric
was liked and loved at Wolfsgarten; and he conveyed in a happy turn,
how much he expected the lady's presence would effect in composing and
calming the recently excited and disturbed state of his sister. He
hinted at this very guardedly, representing only how difficult a task
it is to live with an elderly man, even a very noble one, and how in
some unexpected way the apparent harmony might be disturbed.

She understood more than Pranken imagined, and she was very glad to
find the young man disposed, in the retirement of country life, to a
deeper consideration of the influence of one human being upon another.

Pranken could not refrain from disclosing something of his religious
transformation, but he did it as an act of special confidence. There
was suddenly presented to him the vision of this lady near Manna, who
would lay open to her her whole soul, and would be assured that he
acknowledged his inward change to the whole world; and it just occurred
to him now, that the Superior had spoken in high praise of this lady in
Manna's presence. A smile came upon his lips, for he thought how
excellent a use could be made of her in diverting Manna from her
childish intention of taking the veil, although it was in every way to
be deplored that t