not tell why he was. The Doctor counselled Eric to
take shares in the new mine; and keep his knowledge as a jewel for
himself.

They had discovered a new stratum of manganese in the soil of
Mattenheim; his son-in-law had been to see him, and had said a great
deal to him about the favorable impression Eric had left behind him in
the family there.

The Doctor took Eric back to the villa with him, and just as they were
entering the courtyard there came a telegram to Eric. It was from Herr
Sonnenkamp, and contained a request that he would let Frau Ceres know
that at that very moment he was on his way to court.

The Doctor undertook the responsibility of holding back this news from
Frau Ceres; she was near enough to delirium without that; he had
ordered her a sleeping potion.

At table appeared Fraeulein Perini, Manna, and Eric. After the first
course, Fraeulein Perini was called to Frau Ceres, and did not come
back.

Manna and Eric were left alone.

"You were also in the church to-day," said Manna.

"Yes."

"I must beg your forgiveness, I have done you wrong."

"Done me wrong?"

"Yes, I thought you were without religion."

"So I am, according to strict opinions."

Manna said nothing; she laid the bit she was just raising to her mouth
down again on her plate. Both sat silent, opposite each other, for a
long while; each was seeking after a safe topic of conversation.

"You had a younger brother whom you have lost? I heard you speaking of
him to-day," began Manna, blushing up to her temples.

"Yes, he was of the age of Roland, and this very day I have been
wondering why I could not be as much to my dear brother as I have been
to our Roland."

"Do not say _have been_; you are still, and will remain so to him.
Roland repeated to me, an expression of yours: 'Friends who can forsake
one another were never friends.'"

"Certainly, but what comfort is that thought, if one no longer breaks
the daily bread of life with another? I have known, however, that this
separation must occur, I have recognized it as necessary; and still,
for the first time, I see how almost constantly, for a long while, I
have thought of nothing, felt nothing, experienced nothing, but that I
forthwith connected Roland with it,--living only for him. Now the whole
bent of my thoughts must be changed, a new object found, for the old
chain is crushed, severed, cast off, and I feel so homeless and
forlorn."

"I understand that perfectly," sai