en something might be made of thee. But all your
money can't get him!"

The screamer said this ostensibly to Roland alone, but Eric was also to
hear it, for he must know that he ought to be grateful to him.

Just as they mounted, the huntsman said further,--

"Do you know that your father is buying up the whole mountain? Cursed
accumulation! Your father is buying the whole Pfaffen-street." At the
same time, pointing to the far extending wide-spread Rhineland, he
said,--

"In a hundred years, not one handbreadth of all those vineyards will
belong to those who rake and dig there. Must that be? Can that be
allowed?"

A brisk trot carried them back to the villa; Eric had made up his
mind; at the very moment when Eric had said to himself, "It is your
duty not to abandon the boy," he saw in the garden, near the small
vine-embowered house, a female form which vanished round the corner.

Had he really seen his mother, or had she been only present to his
imagination?

Quicker than one can compute, the idea was formed in his mind, that
here his mother and his aunt were to dwell; this house with its little
garden, its dwarf-trees, and its beautiful prospect was made ready for
her.

"Did you see a woman there in the garden?" he asked Roland.

"Yes, it was Fraeulein Milch.

"Who is Fraeulein Milch?"

"The Major's housekeeper."

CHAPTER VI.

THE BREAD OF SERVICE AND THE BLESSING OF THE HUGUENOT.

When Eric and Roland returned from their ride, they learned that Herr
von Pranken had arrived. Eric's portmanteau had also been carried to
his room. The valet, Joseph, introduced himself as the son of the
Professor of Anatomy's servant, and he mentioned, with perceptible
emotions of gratitude, that Eric's father had given him a French
Grammar, out of which he had learned by heart French phrases, in his
spare moments at the Academic billiard-saloon, where he had been an
attendant. He had there laid the foundation of his present prosperity,
and he expressed his satisfaction at being able to thank the son of his
benefactor.

Joseph helped Eric in his arrangements, and gave him information
concerning the habits of the household; according to these, the next
thing to be done was, that each one, before dinner, which was regarded
as a sort of festive occasion, should repair in full dress to the
pleasure-ground in summer, and in spring to Nice,--as that part of the
covered walk on t