ease of the princess who had not been able to laugh must
be celebrated with a dance, and Lina was so self-denying as to be
willing herself to play. When Pranken now came up to Manna and
jestingly invited her to dance, Lina jumped up from the piano.

"No, that won't do! The knight of philosophy gone to grass; he who
freed the princess, he must come first."

Lina would not have it otherwise. Manna had first to dance with Eric,
and the Aunt was obliging enough to play for them, so that Lina could
dance too. With a very roguish, saucy courtesy, she challenged Herr von
Pranken, who took her arm without any hesitation, and danced with her
behind Eric and Manna.

"I can't realize that I am dancing," said Manna, as she floated rather
than danced round the great hall.

"Nor can I," replied Eric.

Manna broke the pause which ensued, by saying:--

"Lina sets us all crazy."

Pranken now came and asked her to dance; she was still somewhat out of
breath. He held her hand until he began to whirl with her in the dance.
Roland was delighted that Lina was free, and the Aunt must still keep
playing for him to dance with Lina, as he was unwilling to stop.

Sonnenkamp was quite happy as he stood there in the music-saloon; and
he said to the Professorin that this was all so pleasant, and he had
never thought that he should see his children dancing in this hall. He
had sent to Frau Ceres, who would like to be a looker on, too. She
came, and Pranken and Manna must dance again in her presence.

Sonnenkamp praised the happy suggestion of his wife, that she should
give a grand ball in honor of Manna; but Manna decidedly opposed this,
and the wise Lina, happy in her triumph, begged the parents in a low
tone not to urge Manna any further to-day, and she would bring
everything about in good season.

After tea, Lina wanted to have another dance; she would like to keep up
all night, and that Sonnenkamp should telegraph to the garrison to have
the military band sent by an extra train.

She was to-day so full of buoyant sprightliness, and so overflowing
with cheerfulness, that even Eric, who had heretofore regarded her with
indifference, approached her in a very friendly mood.

"Yes," she said, "do you remember that time? Would you have believed
that you should ever have danced with your winged apparition? Isn't she
a heavenly creature? Ah, and if you ever know her as she used to be, so
full of glee! Ah, I am delighted to think that you wi