laves.

He woke suddenly, and stared as if bewildered. Where was he? What had
happened? He wrapped himself in his cloak again, and hid his face.

Pranken bent toward Roland, whispering to him:--

"I know how you are inwardly shattered, but there is one cure for you,
a grand act, the most sublime deed."

"What is it?"

"Speak lower, don't wake up your father. The one thing for you to
do,---it is grand,--the great and noble thing for you is to enter the
Papal army; this is the only thing to be done. This is the last, the
highest tower to be defended now, and if that falls, the atheists and
communists have won the day. I would do it myself, if----"

"Yes," interrupted Roland, "that would be the thing! We give away all
our property to the Holy Father, and he issues a bull in favor of the
abolition of slavery."

Sonnenkamp could not keep asleep any longer.

"That's right, my young fellow," he cried. "That's right! the Pope
ought to do it. But do you believe that he will do now for money--even
were it ten times as much--what he has not done of himself? The idea is
a grand one, Herr von Pranken, very grand and very--very shrewd."

There was a little raillery in this commendation, for he thought: You
want to get the whole inheritance, and hand over my son to the knife.

"But my dear, noble, high-aspiring young friend," was what he said
aloud, "honestly, do you believe that the Pope will do what our Roland
expects?"

"No."

They drove on in silence. They saw the Villa in the distance, and on
the tower the banner of the American Union was flying, together with
the green and yellow flag of the country.

When they came to the green cottage, Roland asked to got out of the
carriage, and permission was given.

Roland went into the garden, where a bright voice called to him:--

"Mutual congratulations! we congratulate you, and you should
congratulate us, too; we are betrothed."

Lina and the Architect were coming, holding each other's hand, through
the meadow from the Villa. Lina left her lover and came up to Roland,
saying:--

"We didn't want to wait until the dedication of the castle, we have our
celebration by ourselves. Oh, Roland, how beautiful and how happy
everything is in the world! But why don't you speak? Why do you make up
such a melancholy face?"

Roland could only wave her off, and hurried into the house. The
betrothed remained standing in the garden, sorely puzzled, when Lina
said:--

"Oh, Albert