uneven meadow, extending down to the river,
into a fruit-garden that bears fruits of a size and beauty never before
seen in this region. He was rebuilding, too, the ruined castle there on
the height.

And what is the name of this man?

Sonnenkamp. Almost all his servants are foreigners; he visits only a
few persons in the vicinity, and seldom receives any one as a guest; no
one knows, indeed, who he is, or what he is. He has the finest horses,
but he, his wife, and a female companion drive and ride out together,
only at some convenient point to turn back again on the public highway.

On the morning that Eric rode to the villa, a large, thick carpet was
laid by servants in morning livery on the west side upon the extensive
gravelled square. A round table with green damask covering was placed
near a many-colored pyramid of fragrant flowers, and on the table was
afterwards set a large, ground crystal vase, with artistically arranged
flowers and bouquets, and plates for four persons.

A side-table was placed near a blossoming copse of laburnums and
variegated lilacs, and on it a large silver tea-urn with lighted lamp.
A thin vapor soon went up from the urn. Two great rocking-chairs were
put in suitable places near by.

A young man who stood aside, taking no part in the arrangement, looked
out upon the landscape, where one could enjoy a view extending over the
fruit-garden and the fountain, in whose basin two pairs of swans were
swimming, over the meadows; and now he turned away from the prospect,
inspected the preparations, and with the words, "All right," withdrew
with the servants. The tea-urn steamed, and the chairs and table seemed
to be awaiting the company.

A pert finch alighted upon the back of one of the rocking-chairs, and
whistled to his little mate in the trees: "that was a fine set-out, and
he would like, if he could, to do the same for his little ones."

The forward, impudent young father was, however, soon scared away, for
at the sound of approaching footsteps he started, and carelessly flew
directly over the hissing urn, whose vapor seemed to scald him, and to
change his course, so that he almost grazed the hat on the head of the
man who now came in.

The man limped a little with his right leg, but lie knew how to
disguise it so that this limping toned down the formidable impression
of his powerful, athletic frame.

He was a large, broad-shouldered man, in a well-fitted summer suit, and
a white ne