taken to the parsonage; but she herself soon departed for
Italy, where she joined the young widow, the daughter of Herr von
Endlich.

Villa Eden stood now entirely at the disposal of Eric and Roland.

Once more, the Professorin became the one point of attraction; and all
assembled in her cottage. She had now a good helper in Professor
Einsiedel, who had obtained leave of absence, and promised to spend the
winter at the Villa.

After the shocks that Roland and Manna had experienced, their mourning
for their mother was almost a relief. That her death should have been
caused as it was by terror at the sight of Adams, by a diseased
imagination, and that the Priest at the grave had made his last,
desperate attempt upon them,--these things were almost a comfort to
them. Roland gratefully clasped his sister's hand as she said,--

"Let us not have any feeling of hatred or bitterness towards the negro
for having been the innocent cause of our mother's death."

"If there were only something else in prospect for you, if you could
only find such an active interest as I have at Mattenheim," said
Roland, in whose mind the idea became uppermost, that he must return to
Mattenheim. But with a sad smile, like a sunbeam breaking through heavy
clouds, he soon added,--

"I forgot: there is something else for you, and something so beautiful!
You will be Eric's wife."

Manna was silent.

"What are you reading so earnestly?" she asked Roland one day, after he
had been sitting for hours without looking up from his book. He showed
her what it was, a book treating of forests. That subject was the only
one which now fascinated him, he told her; and, as she spoke, it seemed
almost as if it must be Eric talking, so entirely had the boy entered
into the spirit of his teacher.

He felt refreshed by the study of this perpetual and permanent growth,
and the voluntary protection of it by men. With a real enthusiasm he
added,--

"I could not be interested in raising flowers, as my father was; but I
get from him the love with which I can devote myself to the trees and
woods."

CHAPTER VI.

THE VOLUNTEER.

In accordance with a wish of Weidmann's, Eric accompanied Roland and
Joseph to the city, in order to deposit the valuable papers in a place
of safety.

The first house they visited on arriving in the city was the Banker's,
which, situated in a garden outside the gates,