ning; he expressed himself
clumsily, but they understood his meaning, how horrible it was for them
to be murdering each other, while the heavens were speaking. The
Justice told of a young fellow who was about to take a false oath, and
had just raised up his hand, when a sudden thunder-clap caused him to
drop it, crying out, "I am guilty." The forester added laughing, that a
thunder storm was a very nice thing, as the wild game afterwards was
very abundant. The school-director gave an exceedingly graphic
description of the difficulty of keeping children in the school-room
occupied, as one could not continue the ordinary instruction, and yet
one did not know what should be done with them.

All eyes were turned upon Eric as if to inquire what he had to say, and
he remarked in an easy tone,--"What here possesses the soul as a raging
storm is down there, on the lower Rhine, and above there, in Alsace, a
distant heat lightning which cools off the excessive heat of the
daytime. People sit there enjoying themselves in gardens and balconies,
breathing in the pure air in quiet contemplation. I might say that
there are geographical boundaries and distinct zones of feeling."

Drawing out this idea at length, he was able to make them wholly
forget the present. The forester's wife, who had been sitting in the
dark in the adjoining room with her hand over her eyes, came into the
drawing-room at these words of Eric, which she must have heard, and
seemed relieved of all fear.

Eric spoke for a long time. Though his varied experience might have
taught him a different lesson, he still believed that people always
wished to get something in conversation, to gain clearer ideas, and not
merely to while away the time. Hence, when he conversed, he gave out
his whole soul, the very best he had, and did not fear that behind his
back they would call his animated utterances pertness and vanity. He
had a talent for society; even more than that, for he placed himself in
the position of him whom he addressed, and this one soon felt that Eric
saw farther than he himself did, and that he spoke not out of
presumption, but out of benevolence.

There is something really imposing in a man who clearly and fluently
expresses his ideas to other people; their own thought is brought to
light, and they are thankful for the boon. But most persons are imposed
upon by the "Sir Oracle" who gives them to understand, "I am speaking
of things which you do not and ca