ppy because he has got
everything. Yes, just so! It's a world turned upside down."

She assured the Professorin that she would take none of the gold of the
slave-trader, if she could help herself in any other way.

And out of this gold my son is to enrich himself, said the Professorin,
to herself, sitting there alone soon afterwards, as the bells were
ringing. She sat quiet for a long time. Then Eric came in and said:

"Ah mother, another dreadful thing has happened!"

"Something new? Still another dreadful thing? What has happened?"

"He was bold and defiant; he went to church with Pranken."

"Who did?"

"Herr Sonnenkamp. And when he came out of the church, there stood all
the people in a row, looking at him. He went up to a poor man and
handed him a gold piece; the poor man took the money, and then threw it
away, exclaiming: 'I will have nothing from you!' And they all cried
out: 'We want nothing more from you! Take yourself out of the country.'
Sonnenkamp went away, the piece of gold is still lying there before the
church door, and no one will pick it up. O mother, the people are great
and horrible at the same time."

"Did you see it too? Where did you hear about it? Were you too at the
church?"

"No; Manna and Roland told me, and now they are sitting in the garden
together, and weeping. I have hastened to you, for you only can help
us. Comfort them, strengthen them."

"I have done all I can," said the Mother; "I am too weak, and I am
afraid I shall be ill."

Eric called his aunt to remain with his mother, and returned to Roland
and Manna.

The Doctor was sent for that very afternoon. The Professorin was sick.

CHAPTER XV.

A WHOLESOME ILLNESS.

She whom all depended upon, to whom every one repaired, sure of care
and assistance,--she was now unexpectedly in want of assistance
herself, and was in a dangerous condition. The remarkable events and
vicissitudes some had begun to overcome by means of their youthful
strength, by stern defiance, and others by indifference; the
Professorin alone felt a constant gnawing at her heart day and night.

Eric had remarked several days before, although he ascribed it to the
sudden shock she had received, that his mother, when he was walking
before her hand in hand with Manna, took everything cordially and
kindly, but still dully, and as if weighed down by some feeling of
depression. His mother was in