here's something walking, I think--I think--no, I am not mistaken,
it's our friend Knopf!"

It was no other than Knopf. He was going along quietly in the dark,
quizzing himself sorely why it was he did not understand the world; it
really ought to explain itself to him, for he held the world so dear.
Why is it so reserved and full of secresy? What would now become of
Roland? And amongst the rest entered a lighter and more trifling
sorrow, that the Major had utterly forgotten him. Knopf did not think
ill of him for it, not in the least; for Heaven knows that in such
confusion one had his head full enough; who can think of everything? He
confessed modestly to himself that he, of course, could not have been
of any assistance whatever, he was so awkward; there was Herr Dournay,
and Pranken--he knew nothing at all about Prince Valerian. Thus he was
trudging along in the dark, and questioning himself in every way, and
then looking up at the stars.

"Herr Knopf! Herr Knopf! Herr Magister!" was shouted out by different
voices. Knopf stopped. Roland sprang quickly off his horse, embraced
the old teacher, and exclaimed:--

"Ah, forgive me for what I have done to you; I've been wanting to say
it to you--long ago----" At the words, "long ago," Roland's voice
trembled violently.

"You have already, and it has been forgiven for a long time; but how
does it happen that you are here?"

Everything was soon explained. Knopf rested his hand on Roland's
shoulder all the while, as if he could lend him some of his strength;
and he pressed back the spectacles very close to his eyes, when he
heard and saw how the youth was beginning to bear up manfully under the
terrible event. He pressed Eric's hand as if he would say:--

You can be happy, you have imparted to the boy genuine strength.

When at last they were bidding good-bye, Roland begged Knopf to ride
home on the pony. Knopf assured him repeatedly that it was a pleasure
to him to roam about in the dark on foot; Roland asserted that Puck was
a right gentle beast, so tractable, so easy and intelligent; and he
said to the little horse:--

"I want you to be good now, and make up for all the trouble I gave to
my old teacher; do be well-behaved."

Knopf continued to object, and at last he brought out, in a plaintive
tone, that he had no straps to his pants. Everybody laughed, and Roland
in the midst of his sorrow laughed too. Knopf was extremely happy to
find that Roland could laugh, a