g.

Suddenly Frau Ceres uttered a piercing cry. Down the broad path towards
them came the black man Adams, with Roland on one arm, and Manna on the
other.

"You are changed into a negro! Who did that to you? Henry! Fie, Henry!
Take off the black skin!" With piercing cries, she threw herself upon
Adams, and tore the clothes from his body; then sank lifeless on the
ground before him. They were just bearing her into the house, when
Doctor Richard and the Professorin arrived.

Frau Ceres never woke.

Her body was laid in the great music room; and the flowers that
Sonnenkamp had so tenderly cared for were set about his wife's corpse.
Here in the music room, where the young people had so often sung and
danced--would there ever be dancing and music here again?

The friends came, and kissed and embraced Roland; Lina also appeared,
and embraced Manna in silence. By a pressure of the hand, a silent
embrace, each one expressed to the mourners his sympathy, his desire to
help them.

Pranken appeared also among the mourners, and, with Fraeulein Perini,
knelt beside the body.

After a blessing had been pronounced in the church, the funeral-train
moved towards the burial-ground.

The members of the music-club had been gathered together by Knopf and
Fassbender, and sang at the open grave. Roland stood leaning on Eric,
while the Mother and aunt Claudine supported Manna.

Eric's thoughts reverted to that day in spring when he had sat over his
wine with Pranken, and had looked out at the churchyard where the
nightingale was singing. Who could have foretold then that he would be
standing here a mourner at the grave of the mother of his betrothed,
and of his pupil?

The music ceased, and the Priest advanced to the edge of the grave.
There was a hush for a while over the whole assembly. The chattering of
the magpies, and the screaming of the nut-peckers, was heard in the
trees.

After repeating a prayer in a low tone, the Priest raised his voice,
and cried,--

"Thou poor rich child from the New World! Now thou art in the new world
indeed. Thou hast gone hence with thy sins unforgiven, in delusion, in
frenzy. Thou hast left thy children behind to atone, to suffer, to
sacrifice, for thee. They will do it: they must do it. Children, God is
your father; the church is your mother. Hearken unto me. Here we stand
beside an open grave. Ye can live without us, without the church; but,
when ye come to die, ye must call upon us: and, t