d been produced upon Roland and
Eric.

Eric had to acknowledge that Professor Einsiedel's warnings had been
just. In this life of dissipation, of constant devotion to others, his
own self was getting lost. He wished now to hedge in a certain
enclosure about himself that he could devote to study, and in which he
could build up his own life anew. He set Roland solitary tasks, and in
reply to his questions often gave evasive and unsatisfactory answers,
telling him that he wanted to leave him to work out as many questions
as he could by himself.

Roland for the first time felt deserted by Eric, and at a time, too,
when he needed him more than ever. The idle life at the Baths, the
excitement, the gaieties, the constant intercourse with men and women
who openly expressed their admiration for him, all this left in his
heart, as soon as the first feeling of delight in getting home had
passed away, a void, a restless craving, which made the quiet of the
house, the regular routine of study, an intolerable burden to him. He
wanted to be away among people again, among his comrades.

The Cadet told him that he had been made an ensign, and should soon
make him a visit, with some of his comrades.

Roland kept impatiently looking out for some diversion, some
excitement. A remark of the long lieutenant, that he ought no longer to
be under the rule of a tutor, rose to his mind, and made him fret under
his want of freedom.

In this frame of mind he sought his father, and asked if the title of
nobility had not been received yet. Sonnenkamp comforted him as well as
he could from day to day, but, happening to tell him once that Eric
knew of what was in anticipation, Roland was filled with anger. Why had
Eric never said a word to him about it?

Eric's mother became conscious of the change in Roland long before Eric
himself did, but he perceived it at last, and laid aside his own work.
But his efforts to regain his old influence over his pupil seemed for a
time quite fruitless. An unexpected event was to come to his
assistance.

The Major came one day with a request, that Sonnenkamp would allow the
Free Masons to have an entertainment in the newly finished armory of
the castle, as Herr Weidmann was desirous of having the fete come off
there. Sonnenkamp's first impulse was to consent, feeling some surprise
at the extraordinary coincidence that should lead Weidmann to enter
into communication with him just at this time. Unwilling to app