freshes
every bud. In the distance rolled a railway train. The nightingales
sang loudly, then suddenly ceased as if overpowered by sleep.

In nebulous forms, familiar and strange figures gathered around Eric.
How much he had experienced in this one day, though he had not yet
crossed the threshold of the house where perhaps his future lot was
cast! He had reviewed his past life, and had found a home of which he
had not dreamed yesterday. Ah, how great and rich is the world, and
true comrades live in it waiting only for our summons and the greeting
of friendly eyes!

All the fulness of life in the immortality of nature and the human
spirit flooded Eric's being. He felt a blessed elation; he had given up
his life, it was taken from him; he was freed from self, and lived and
soared in the infinite.

The moon rose over the mountains, a whispering thrill rustled through
the wood, the nightingale sang loud again, the mists rose from the
valley and vanished, and one broad beam glittered on a glass dome in
the distance. There lay Villa Eden.

Only after a vigorous resistance Eric finally yielded to weariness and
closed the window. A black trunk marked with the crest of Prince
Leonhard first attracted his notice, and he smiled to see how Clodwig
had shown his household in what honor he held his guest; this room had
been occupied by the Prince a few days before. Eric then gazed long on
a bust of Medusa, fascinated by the grand, powerful, beautiful face; on
the head with its wildly disordered locks were two wide-spread wings;
below the heavy frowning brow gleamed the great death-dealing eyes; the
mouth was haughtily curved, and on the lips lay scornful, defiant
words; under the chin two snakes were knotted together like a kerchief.
The aspect of the head was at once repulsive and fascinating.

Opposite the Medusa stood a cast of the Victory of Rauch, that
wonderful countenance recalling the face of Queen Louisa, the noble
head with its garland of oak-leaves not raised, but bent as if in
thought and self-control. A strange pair were those two busts! but
there was no more time to dwell upon them. Eric was overcome by sleep,
but woke again after a few hours, when day had scarcely dawned.

There are hours and days of joyous and buoyant feeling, as if we had
found the key to all hearts; as if we held in our hands the magic wand
which reveals all living springs, and brings us near to every soul as
to a friend and a brother. The