s mother. He had never yet seen her ill; now she lay
exhausted on the sofa, and was delighted at his returning so
immediately upon the reception of her letter. Eric knew nothing of any
letter, and heard now, also for the first time, that Sonnenkamp had
sent a messenger, to whom his mother had also given a letter.

His mother, who was feverish, said that she felt as if a severe
sickness was threatening her; it seemed to her as if the house in which
she was, was floating on the waves nearer and nearer to the sea; she
had to force herself to keep awake, for as soon as she closed her eyes,
this sensation returned to her more frightful than ever. She sat up and
said:--

"Now you have come back, everything will be well once more. I felt
timid alone here in this perverse world."

Eric felt that it was impossible to tell his mother anything of what he
had learned at Weidmann's.

His mother complained:--

"Ah, I wish it may not be with you as it is with me; the older I
become, the more mysterious and complicated are many things to me. You
men are fortunate; individual things do not vex you so much, because
you can see a united whole."

As the mother gazed confusedly about her she looked upon her son, and
her eye sank; she would willingly have imparted her trouble to him; but
why burden him when he could do no good? She kept it to herself.

Eric told her of the interesting life he had seen at Mattenheim, and
how fortunate he had been in gaining there a fatherly friend. In the
way in which he described the energetic activity of the family, it
seemed as if he were bringing a fresh breeze into the room; and the
mother said:--

"Yes, we forget in our troubles that there are still beautiful,
harmonious existences in the world for a maiden like Manna." And just
as she mentioned her name, a messenger from Manna came with the
request, that the Professorin would come to her.

Eric wanted to say to the messenger in reply, that his mother was
unwell, and to ask Fraeulein Manna therefore to have the goodness to
come to her; but his mother sat erect, and said:--

"No, she requires my assistance; I must be well, and I am well. It is
best that my duty saves me from yielding to this weakness."

She got up quickly, and said to the messenger:--

"I will come."

She dressed hurriedly, and went with her son to the villa.

CHAPTER IX.

HERO ROLAND'S MOTTO.

The Profe