head. But
there is one thing which can save me."

"What is that?"

"It is yourself. To show you what greatness is, to see you great--for
that I would still gladly live and fight. If there is such a thing as
admiration, as bowing before what is noble, before a world-subduing
genius, I"--

He made a motion, a step forward. Bella regained composure, and said
quietly,--

"Be seated."

A singular expression passed over his face at the words; but he seated
himself, and continued,--

"Countess, I know not what plans you may have--yet no: I think I do
know your present plans. Do not interrupt me; let me speak. If I have
been mistaken in you, then is my whole life, then are all my thoughts,
my efforts, my conflicts, nothing but madness, and the pathetic
declaimers of lofty phrases are in the right. Countess Bella, you once
said a noble thing to me: 'A resolute nature knows no family, must have
no family.' That is my guiding star. I have no longer a family; I am
nothing in the world but myself; and you--you should be nothing but
yourself. You have never been yourself till now; but now you ought, you
can, you must be."

"I will. You are a wonderful man; you clear away all the rubbish that
clogs my being. Speak further; what do you bring?"

"I bring nothing but myself, Countess; I have put away from me all the
ties of this world; I say this to you, to none but you. This very day I
depart for the New World. Yes, there is a new world yonder!"

Sonnenkamp suddenly rose, and seized her hand.

"Countess, you are a great woman: yours is a nature born to rule. Come
with me, you have the courage for it. There is a throne to be
established in the New World; and upon this throne will I set you as
queen. Come!"

There was a tone of authority, of command, in Sonnenkamp's voice, as he
grasped her by the hand. She rose; her lips trembled, her eyes
sparkled.

"I thank you," she said. "You are great, and you fancy greatness in me.
That is it. I thank you. O my friend, we are weak, pitiful creatures.
Too late, too late! Why does such a call come too late? Ten years ago,
I should have had the strength for it; then it would have tempted
me; I would have risked every thing then, and taken the chance of
shame and death; any thing had been better than this maimed, idle,
good-for-nothing, musty, relic-hunting, sickly, sanctimonious--no, I
did not mean to say that--and yet--I thank you. You pay me a higher
honor than was ever paid me be