ins
glow, and seem transfigured with its misty beams. They immediately set
out towards home.

The whole day seemed a perfect series of fantastic forms. Roland was
continually giving expression to his astonishment at the versatility of
the Countess; but Sonnenkamp offered his hand to the Mother, saying,--

"If agreeable to you, we will to-morrow pay a visit to my daughter."

The Mother nodded assent. Sonnenkamp was highly pleased; he had perfect
confidence in the nobleness of her motives, and, for awhile, he himself
experienced a like elevation. It is such a fine thing, and people are
so happy in taking up with things of that sort, and it always pays
well, at any rate, in making one feel comfortably.

But very soon the consciousness of his own triumphant power came
uppermost; the world subserves his plans, and it is his chief delight
to make people his tools and playthings, and balance himself on their
shoulders. And it exactly suited his purpose that Clodwig and the
Professorin adopted his own secret plan; they must now feel grateful to
him for carrying out their desires, at the very time they were of
service to him, and were helping him to bring to a successful issue his
main design. He saw in this a confirmation of his claim to be a being
of a higher species, one who disposes as he will of others, and at the
same time makes them feel under obligation to him.

On the evening of his return, Sonnenkamp ordered the gardener to place
the next day Manna's favorite flower, the mignonette, in every part of
her room.

CHAPTER II.

AN ISLAND PLOUGHED UP.

Humility, respect, and helpful kindness were manifest in Sonnenkamp's
whole demeanor, as he extended his hand to the Professorin on her
getting out of the carriage; as he conducted her to the steamboat; as
he looked out for a seat protected from the draught and giving an
uninterrupted prospect; as he supplied all her wants and asked if there
was any thing he could do for her.

The Professorin was startled when she perceived that she had forgotten
a book which she had laid upon the table, intending to take it with
her, but had left it there. She evaded Sonnenkamp's question what was
the name of the book, for she could well imagine, that the writings of
the man she held in such high veneration would not be agreeable to
Sonnenkamp. She said in a joking way that she had lived so long in the
society of the le