ered
cushions, a pleasant conversation ensued. The Justice's wife had
adroitly made mention of her father, whom the Mother knew, and they
gradually established an agreeable intercourse, after the first awkward
preliminaries were all over. The Professorin knew how to draw Lina
out, and was greatly pleased with her bright description of the
convent-life. Lina was encouraged by this, so that she became more and
more animated and communicative, to her mother's great astonishment.

The Justice made his appearance. He had evidently swallowed down his
glass hastily, for nothing ought to be left unfinished. He shook the
hand of the Professorin longer and harder than was at all necessary,
and assured her humorously--humor seemed very odd on the little man's
grave face--of his magisterial protection. He then gave an account to
Eric and Roland of the Pole's having broken out of the House of
Correction, and of their having put up an advertisement for his
apprehension, but they would be glad never to see him again.

The Justice's wife and Lina put on their hats, and went with their
guests by a circuitous path along the Rhine to the house of the
School-director, not without some consciousness, perhaps, of the good
appearance they were making. Eric walked with the Justice's wife, the
Justice joined Roland, and Lina went with the Professorin.

Lina began of her own accord to talk of Manna, of her present
melancholy, and of her former liveliness; she had cherished the most
enthusiastic love towards her father, so that it seemed as if she could
not leave him for a single day; and Lina begged the Mother to use her
influence to have Manna return once more.

The Mother carefully refrained from making any inquiries, but it struck
her strangely that from these visits, made only out of politeness, a
new duty seemed to be unfolding before her.

If she had been able to imagine that she was only used by Sonnenkamp to
play into his own hands, she would have been still more astonished at
the various phases which one simple occurrence may assume.

They did not find the family of the School-director or of the Forester
at home; as they were returning in the carriage and driving by the
Doctor's house, his wife was standing in the doorway; she called to
them to stop.

She came out to them, and said that she had forgotten to remind the
Mother to call upon the Major and Fraeulein Milch to-day; the Major was
very good-natured, but he was very sensi