The father and the son withdrew, and Sonnenkamp praised Roland for
having brought down the bird so promptly and boldly.

Eric went back to his mother, who must also have been awakened by the
shot, and he found her still awake; she too had feared that it had been
some suicidal shot.

The whole house was in a commotion, and it was some time before it
could be restored to quiet.

In his pride at having shot the owl, Roland forgot everything else, and
went contentedly to bed and to sleep.

But above in the castle, and below in Sonnenkamp's work-room, lights
burned late. Eric sat gazing at the flame, and strange forms moved
confusedly through his mind. There was Shakespeare's play, there were
all the people who had listened to it; but more than all he tried to
enter into Roland's mind; and it seemed a fortunate thing to him, that
the boy's love of sport had driven away all wondering speculation from
his mind. Action, action alone makes free. Where is it, the great
all-liberating power? It does not show itself. Independent of our will,
and of reflection, there is a great power in the Past and in the view
of God working in it, which alone can bring forth the deed. The deed is
not ours, but to be armed and ready is in our power.

At last Eric found rest.

Sonnenkamp paced up and down his great room like a prisoner. The lion's
skin with the stuffed head lay upon the floor, and the eyes stared at
him, till he covered the head with a part of the skin. He asked himself
again and again what he ought to do. This Herr Eric was teaching his
son to oppose him, and the Mother, who was always regaling them with
sayings of her husband, preserved in spirit, forever calling up, as
Pranken says, her husband's wandering ghost, the departed Professor
Hamlet--no, she was a noble woman.

But why had he taken upon his shoulders this beggarly family, so puffed
up with their own ideas? He could not shake them off, without
attracting attention. No, he would make use of them, and then throw
them away.

At last, a happy resolution quieted him. We must have new surroundings,
new diversions; and then, straight to the goal! The day after to-morrow
will be New Year's day. On New Year's day we will go to the capital.
With this thought Sonnenkamp also found rest at last.

CHAPTER X.

PLAYING COURT.

The first thing in the morning, Roland wanted to carry the owl, which
lay fro