ism, and also as a
gift of the highest grace."

Richard wrote in his diary:

"If Angela should be what the doctor considers her! According to my
notions, such a being exists only in the realm of the ideal. But if
Angela yet realizes this ideal? I must be certain. I will visit
Siegwart to-morrow."

CHAPTER IV.

THE BUREAUCRAT AND THE SWALLOWS.

Herr Frank returned to the city. Before he went he took advantage of
the absence of Richard, who had gone out about nine o'clock, to
converse with Klingenberg about matters of importance. They sat in the
doctor's studio, the window of which was open. Frank closed it before
he began the conversation.

"Dear friend, I must speak to you about a very distressing peculiarity
of my son. I do so because I know your influence over him, and I hope
much from it."

Klingenberg listened with surprise, for Herr Frank had begun in great
earnestness and seemed greatly depressed.

"On our journey from the city, I discovered in Richard, to my great
surprise, a deep-seated antipathy, almost an abhorrence of women. He is
determined never to marry. He considers marriage a misfortune, inasmuch
as it binds a man to the whims and caprices of a wife. If I had many
sons, Richard's idiosyncrasy would be of little consequence; but as he
is my only son and very stubborn in his preconceived opinions, you will
see how very distressing it must be to me."

"What is the cause of this antipathy of your son to women?"

Herr Frank related Richard's account of his meeting with Isabella and
his knowledge of the unhappy marriage of his friend Emil.

"Do you not think that experiences of this kind must repel a
noble-minded young man?" said the doctor.

"Admitted! But Isabella and Laura are exceptions, and exceptions by no
means justify my son's perverted judgment of women. I told him this.
But he still declared that Isabella and Laura were the rule and not the
exception; that the women of the present day follow a perverted taste;
and that the wearing of crinoline, a costume he detests, proves this."

"I know," said the doctor, "that Richard abominates crinoline. Last
year he expressed his opinion about it, and I had to agree with him."

"My God!" said the father, astonished, "you certainly would not
encourage my son in his perverted opinion?"

"No," returned the doctor quietly; "but you must not expect me to
condemn sound opinions. His judg