e this no longer. She
wrapped her veil around her and hurried down the Burgweg to beg Frau
Belier to accompany her. Perhaps she might meet the artist there, who
would request his brother to tell her in the presence of Frau Belier
what he had to say? But on inquiring at the gable-house by the market,
she was told that Frau Belier had crossed the bridge to buy flowers at
a gardener's. She might meet her on the way? She crossed the river now
no longer offering any opposition to her fate. Opposite the bridge
stood a chapel. How willingly would Lydia have knelt in prayer to ask
for inspiration, but the Calvinists had closed it, and whosoever was
found praying here, outside the hours appointed for public worship was
liable to be prosecuted for idolatry. If she could but have prayed, she
would have commended her father to the care of God and then returned
homewards, but the door was closed. She remained in her uncertain fear.
"I must save my father, and him also must I save, yes him, him
especially." She would tell him, how wrong it was to try and appear
what he in reality was not, and how happy he would feel when casting
aside this false mode of life. She imagined to herself, that she had
much to say to him, for his own sake. Behind the chapel lay a seldom
trodden path leading up to the woods through the vineyards, and thus
unnoticed by taking a few side-paths she could reach the spot appointed
by the Magister, The bells of the Heiligengeist tolled for evening
prayer as she reached a secluded meadow in the woods. Peacefully among
high beech trees lay the silent hill, the valley of the Neckar which
wound its silvery way between the blue mountains could be seen to a
great distance. Whilst the tolling of the bell was re-echoing from
afar, a child's prayer came uppermost to her mind. "Dear Christian what
means this evening bell. The purpose of thy life and number of thy
years doth it tell." But she must now hurry, the sun was already
dipping behind the hills. The higher she climbed, the wider was the
view over the range of the hills and mountains of the Odenwald, and of
the plain now gilded by the rays of a setting sun. Partridges disturbed
by the unwonted step flew deep into the thicket. The younger pine trees
surrounded the more aged like loving children. Then came a number of
clearings. Solitude and rest reigned around the lofty oaks, strewn
about the high hill. Here and there a jay hopped across the path, now
and then she hear