huntsman Claus lives, he has our dogs. Eric readily assented, and they trotted up the gentle ascent, turned into a side path, and dismounted before a small cottage. Dogs of various kinds came round them and jumped upon Roland; Puck also seemed to have friends; he played with a brown badger-dog. An old man came out of the house and touched his cap with a military salute. He wore the short, light-gray cotton jacket which is the easy and comfortable everyday dress of the country people along the Rhine, and he was smoking a clay pipe, on which a sort of Ascension of Napoleon was painted in glaring colors. The tone and manner with which Roland presented his new friend to the keeper, showed that he knew how to take an imperious tone toward his inferiors. "Off with your cap," said he to the keeper; "only think, the captain knew by their whimper how old and of what breed Nora's puppies were, before he had seen them." "Yes, one can do that," replied the keeper in a very loud voice," one can do that. Dogs have their own peculiar whine and bark, according as they belong to a knowing or a stupid race; and stupid people, too, cry and complain quite differently from smart ones." He cast a pleased glance upon Eric, and held his pipe in his hand for some time. "You are right," said Eric. I see you have had much experience and reflection." May be so," answered the keeper. 66 He led the way into his house, and when Eric asked what saint it was whose picture hung on the wall, he replied, laughing,— 66 That is my only saint, it is Saint Rochus of the mountain yonder, and I like him because he has a dog with him.” There were many bird-cages in the room, and such a twittering and confused singing, that one could hardly hear himself speak. The old man was very happy in explaining to Eric how he taught birds that lived on beetles and caterpillars to eat seeds, and how he got maggots and weevils also, and he complained of Roland's want of interest in the feathered tribe. "No, I don't like birds," the boy declared. "And I know why," said Eric. "Do you? why then?" "You have no pleasure in the free-flying creatures which you cannot make your own, and you don't like them imprisoned either. You like dogs because they are free and yet cling to us." Envy and jealousy," said Eric, "are striking characteristics of dogs. As soon as a man caresses one, all the rest want to share the favor." "There's one that doesn't trouble himself about it," said the trainer, laughing. In the corner lay a small brown dog, that only blinked at them occasionally. Eric remarked that it must be a fox-hound, to judge from its appearance. 66 66 Right, he understands dogs!" cried the keeper, turning to Roland. • You are right! I got that fellow out of a fox-hole, and he is and always will be an unfaithful and ungrateful beast, who is not to be trusted; do what you will for him, he is never thankful nor affectionate." The dog in the corner just opened his eyes and shut them again, as if he didn't disturb himself about the talk of men. Roland showed Eric his ferrets, which seemed to know him as he took them out of the cage. He pointed out a bright yellow one, as an especially cunning, tough rascal; he had given him the name of Buchanan. The name of the other he would not tell; it was really Knapf, but now he only said that he called him Master of Arts, because he always considered so long before he went into a hole, and moved his lips as if he were delivering a lecture. They went into the garden, and the keeper showed Eric his bee-hives. Turning to Roland, he said, "Yes, Roland, your father's flowers are good for my bees, if the poor little creatures didn't have to fly so far down to reach your garden. I let my cattle feed in other men's pastures, and the world hasn't yet got so far that rich men can forbid poor men's bees to suck honey from their flowers." A sharp glance shot from his eyes as he said this, which expressed the whole rankling hostility of the poor towards the rich. The keeper complained that Sonnenkamp cherished so many nightingales, which certainly sang beautifully, but robbed the bees of their honey, and even ate the bees with the honey. The nightingale, which men prize so highly, is a cruel murderer of bees. "Yes," answered Eric, "the nightingales do not know that the bees give honey, and we cannot blame the birds for considering them as plagues for whose destruction men will be grateful. However, they do not eat them altogether for our sakes but their | have only one syllable; the letter a can be own." called aloud very easily." The keeper looked first at Eric, then at Roland, and nodded as if saying, "Yes, yes, that's quite another thing. Roland now asked how far Griffin had been broken in. The reply was, that he would now run at the man, but he was still too wild, and his leap not quite regular, but he was beginning to seize hold. Roland desired to see him do it; but the daylaborer who allowed himself to be experimented upon in that way was not at home. Roland said that the dwarf was at home, and he would be ready to do it. He himself went after the dwarf. After Roland had gone, the keeper, Claus, hastily grasped Eric's hand, saying, "I will help you to catch him, and I can give the fellow slick into your hand." Eric gazed in utter astonishment at the old man, who proceeded to inform him that he understood very well what he had come for, and whoever knew how could make out of Roland a proper man. He signified by a very sly wink that Eric would some day be exceedingly grateful to him, if he should help him out. Before Eric could make any reply, Roland came back with the dwarf, who allowed a pillow to be fastened over his shoulders, and stationed himself at the garden-fence, holding fast by the palings with both hands. A large Newfoundland dog was let out of a kennel, and sprang about awkwardly in all directions, but at a whistle from the keeper stationed himself behind him. The keeper now called out, "Griffin! catch him! At him!" With a bound the dog leaped through the garden at the dwarf standing by the fence, jumped upon him, bit into the pillow, tugged at him until he fell over, and then placed his right fore-foot upon his breast, looking back at his master. Bravo! bravo! You see he is a real devil!" "You are right!" exclaimed Roland. "Devil! that's just the name-Devil he shall be called. Now they will be afraid of me all over the neighborhood." Eric was shocked at this insolent bravado as well as at the off-hand application of the idea. He appealed to the trainer whether a dog's name ought to be changed who had already cut all his teeth. Certainly not," asserted the man; "a dog whose name is changed don't know when he is called." "And besides," added Eric, "it is wholly wrong to give a dog such a name. A dog's name ought to have an a in it, and 66 You are a great scholar; I never heard of the like before; you know everything;" the keeper went on in high commendation, winking at the same time merrily, and with half-sidelong glances. Devil-for Roland persisted in giving the dog this name would not come away from the dwarf, prostrate on the ground, although both Roland and the trainer called to him repeatedly. That was not a part of his lesson. He held on until the trainer showed his whip. Roland gave the dwarf a piece of money, for which he was very abjectly grateful, and only wished that he might be thrown down in that way three times every day by the dog. Eric looked on meditatively. How was this rich youth to be made to learn to love, labor for, and influence the world which so laid itself at his feet? When the two left the cottage, the keeper escorted them a part of the way, followed by a whole pack of dogs. They led their horses by the bridle, and the ranger, keeping exclusively by the side of Eric, madę an ostentatious display of his whole stock of wisdom concerning the training of dogs. The keeper considered himself infinitely clever, and all learned men stupid. 66 He seemed also to wish, in a sly way, to instruct Eric, when he said to him that as soon as a dog can stand without stumbling over his own legs, a beginning could be made. And it was an all-important thing not to say much to a dog, but to use short, simple words, such as go!" "come!" "here!" but never any long speeches; and one must not make much of him, but leave him to himself for whole days; and if he wished to make friends, not to mind it, for if one gives too much attention to a dog he becomes troublesome; and any one whom a dog is to respect must not be found wanting at the hunt, especially when the dog is taken out for the first time; if one has shot any game that the dog can fetch, he will be faithful and true, but if one misses, he acquires no respect and.never gains over the dog. 66 Do you know Herr Knopf?" the keeper asked abruptly. Eric answered in the negative. Eric looked at the man in astonishment; | son of the Professor of Anatomy's servant, there was in him an inexplicable bitterness, and he mentioned, with perceptible emoand this man was the boy's friend. He re- tions of gratitude, that Eric's father had turned to their former topic, and the keeper given him a French Grammar, out of which chuckled when he said that beasts acquire he had learned by heart French phrases, something of the understanding of the men in his spare moments at the Academic bilthey are with. liard-saloon, where he had been an attendant. He had there laid the foundation of his present prosperity, and he expressed his satisfaction at being able to thank the son of his benefactor. The keeper was very merry, and when they were about to separate, on reaching the level ground, he took Roland aside, and said to him: account. "Thou blustering fellow! all thy ramrod priests and school-masters have been of no That would be the man! Thy father ought to buy such a man as that, and then something might be made of thee. But all your money can't get him!" The keeper said this ostensibly to Roland alone, but Eric was also to hear it, for he must know that he ought to be grateful to the keeper. Joseph helped Eric in his arrangements, and gave him information concerning the habits of the household; according to these, the next thing to be done was, that each one, before dinner, which was regarded as a sort of festive occasion, should repair in full dress to the pleasure-ground in summer, and in spring to Nice, - as that part of the covered walk on the terrace was called which had the best exposure to the sun. Eric laid aside his uniform; he entered the covered walk, and there found Pranken Just as they mounted, the keeper said further, "Do you know that your father is buy-and Fräulein Perini promenading up and ing up the whole mountain? Cursed accumulation! Your father is buying the whole Pfaffen-street." At the same time, pointing to the far extending wide-spread Rhineland, he said, "In a hundred years, not one handbreadth of all those vineyards will belong to those who rake and dig there. Must that be? Can that be allowed?" A brisk trot carried them back to the villa; Eric had made up his mind; at the very moment when Eric had said to himself, "It is your duty not to abandon the boy," he saw in the garden, near the small vine-embowered house, a female form which vanished round the corner. Had he really seen his mother, or had she been only present to his imagination? Quicker than one can compute, the idea was formed in his mind, that here his mother and his aunt were to dwell; this house with its little garden, its dwarf-trees, and its beautiful prospect was made ready for her. "Did you see a woman there in the garden?" he asked Roland. down together. Pranken approached Eric with a bland smile that flickered upon his face, disappearing as quickly as it came. In the unconsciousness of his rank and his social position, he could afford a perfect courteousness of demeanor, in which even a certain degree of geniality might be observed. With a bow he again took a position by the side of Fräulein Perini, and continued his previous promenade and conversation with her. Eric stood apart, and the admonition that he, as one in service, must not be sensitive, struggled with his pride. But it might be regarded as very considerate in Pranken, that he did not ask how it fared with his application for the position of tutor. Roland now entered in full dress, and the boy was amazed to see Eric in citizen's clothes. Eric asked him, "Is your sister's name Manna ? " "Yes; Hermanna, in fact, but she is always called Manna. Have you ever heard of her?" Eric had not time to reply that he had heard that name frequently mentioned by Pranken and Fräulein Perini, for Sonnenkamp entered in a black dress-coat, white neck-tie, and irreproachable yellow gloves. He was very gracious to everybody, one might say appetizing in his manner, as if he would say, “I hope you will all enjoy your dinner." Never was Sonnenkamp in a more cheerful mood, never more buoyant, than during the quarter of an hour before dinner. WHEN Eric and Roland returned from their ride, they learned that Herr von Pranken had arrived. Eric's portmanteau They went into the dining-saloon, a cool, had also been carried to his room. The square, vaulted room, lighted from the valet, Joseph, introduced himself as the roof. ecdotes, which produced a movement of the muscles in the weary face of Frau Ceres, and frequently even a smile. The carved oak furniture here was very massive. A large side-board, set out with beautiful antique vessels and Venetian glasses, displayed the rich silver plate. The conversation was carried on in ItalThe whole neighborhood said that Herr ian, which Pranken spoke pretty well, but Sonnenkamp ate out of golden plates; but in which Eric was not fluent. For the this was a gossiping story. first time in his life Eric sat at a table They waited a few minutes in the dining-where he was obliged to keep as silent as room until the folding-doors opened, when the servants who were in waiting. two servants in the coffee-colored livery of the house stood like guards, one on each side, and Frau Ceres, like a princess, stepped between them. At the threshold she courtesied somewhat stiffly; and Pranken, coming forward, conducted her to the table. A servant was stationed near each person, and drew back the chair whilst. he took his seat; Fräulein Perini stood up behind her chair and leaned her arms upon the back, held the mother-of-pearl cross in her folded hands, said a prayer, made the sign of the cross, and sat down. Frau Ceres, during the dinner, retained her yellow gloves, scarcely tasting any food, and appearing as if she had come to the table merely not to derange the order of things. She declined every dish, until Herr Sonnenkamp said: "Do take something, dear child, do, I pray you." In his manner, in inaking this request, there was a double tone, hard to be distinguished separately. Sometimes it sounded like the call and signal of a tamer of wild beasts, who allowed some subdued animal to take the food lying before him; but again it sounded as when a father, fondly and coaxingly, beseeches his peevish child to eat something for his own good. Frau Ceres ate only a part of a bird, and some sweetmeats. Frau Ceres considered it her place not to leave the stranger wholly neglected, and therefore she asked him in English if his parents were still living. Assuming a patronising tone, Pranken went into an account of Eric's father and mother; he did it with marked friendliness of manner, and dealt with special emphasis upon the fact that Eric's mother belonged to the nobility. Are you a Frenchman, as your name indicates ?" Fräulein Perini inquired. Eric once more repeated that his ancestors had immigrated into Germany two hundred years before; that he felt himself to be purely a German, and rejoiced to be descended from the Huguenots. 66 Huguenots?-ah, yes! they sing that,' Frau Ceres said, taking a childish delight in this knowledge. Every one at the table was obliged to restrain himself from laughing aloud. 66 Why was the name Huguenots given to them?" asked Roland, and Eric replied, "Some people think that the name originated in the circumstance of their holding their secret religious assemblies at Tours, only by night, when the ghost of King Hugo appeared; but I am of the opinion of those who consider it a German word originally Eidgenosse, meaning associates, and changed by the French into Huguenot." Pranken nodded to Eric in a very friendly manner, as if he would give him a testimonial of his excellent qualifications as a tutor. "You take pride, then, in your descent from the Huguenots?" asked Sonnenkamp. "Pride is not precisely the word I should prefer," Eric answered. Pranken's demeanour at table was that of an honored guest, to whom was conceded the duty of paying particular attention to the hostess and conversing with her. He gave a humorous account of the horsemarket at Mannheim, from which he had returned to-day at an early hour, with his companion; he had bought for the fall- "But you know that the Puritans, who races a gray mare, which he would be were exiled to the New World on account. happy to transfer to Herr Sonnenkamp. of their religious belief, were the parentAnd he soon took care to gain the good stock of that substantial, conscientious, and will of Frau Ceres. She had a special aver- courageous middle class; and that they carsion to the family of the wine-chevalier, ried with them and transplanted into their who were very reserved towards the Son-new homes, as the Greeks of old times into nenkamp household. He proceeded to re- Sicily and Italy, a complete civilization." late some ridiculous pretensions of the wine-chevalier, although he had been his own chosen companion. The manner in which Eric uttered this, touching upon a great historical series of events, suddenly gave to the conversation He had also great skill in imitating the at table a wholly new direction. peculiar manner of speaking of different were at once taken out of the light, brief persons, and in introducing facetious an-witticisms, and piquant personalities, into They an entirely different atmosphere. Roland felt this to some extent, looked proudly at Eric, and was glad that his voice and his thoughts so overmastered all. Sonnenkamp himself recognised here the serene presence of a higher nature, which always breathed in an elevated region; he could not help feeling a certain respect for the man, and at last put the question, "How do you associate the Pilgrim Fathers in America with the Huguenots? " "Let me briefly explain," answered Eric. "The new age has broken through the stringent lines of demarcation between different nationalities, as, for example, the Jews have become actual and constituent parts of the various peoples among whom they have been scattered. A haughty and tyrannical king drove the Huguenots out of France, and they became Germans. The emigrating Englishmen imprinted their culture upon America; the emigrating Huguenots, established among a people already civilized, were obliged to adopt the social cultus of their new fatherland. Permit me, Herr Sonnenkamp, to take you as an example." 66 "Me? what do you mean?" "You emigrated to America as a German, and the German immigrants in the New World become assimilated to their adopted home, and their children are completely American." Roland's eye glistened, but whether it was that Pranken felt himself cast in the shade by Eric, or that he endeavored to embarrass him as much as possible, he exclaimed, with an odd mingling of humor and pity, 66 It is very modest in you to place the Huguenots, who almost all belonged to the gentry, in the same category with the Jews." "I regard it as a matter of no consequence, "Eric replied, "whether my ancestors belonged to the gentry or not; they were engaged in the common occupations of business and trade, and my immediate ancestors were goldsmiths. The resemblance of the Jews with the Huguenots, however, I must maintain. Every community exiled on account of its religion, and scattered abroad, incurs thereby a double obligation: first, to keep in view, over and above all nationality, the oneness of humanity; and second, to contend against all fanaticism and all exclusiveness. There is no one religion in which alone salvation is to be found, and no one nationality comprising in itself all excellence." Pranken and Fräulein Perini looked at each other in astonishment. Frau Ceres was at a loss to comprehend what all this meant, and Sonnenkamp shook his head over this sermon-like style of his guest, who intermingled his world-wide historical views with the light table-talk; and yet he could not get rid of the impression that there was before him a nature that had its permanent abode in the region of pure thought. You must unfold that to me yet more definitely at some other time," he said, seeking to divert the conversation. And Roland said: "Louis the fourteenth, who exiled your ancestors, is he the one who destroyed the castles here on the Rhine?" "The same." It seemed difficult to draw the conversation away from a subject which made it drag heavily, but it was suddenly diverted, for just then a highly seasoned dish was brought in, of which Roland desired to eat. His father would not permit it. His mother, perceiving it, cried out in a shrill voice, "Do let him eat what he likes." A glance from Eric met Roland's eye, and the boy laid down the morsel that he was about putting into his mouth, saying, “I would rather not eat it." Sonnenkamp made a sign to the servant to re-fill Eric's. glass with Rauenthaler. This appeared to be his way of expressing his gratitude for the glance of Eric. No new topics for light conversation came up. Pranken was silent, and it was uncertain whether he had exhausted his material, or whether he wished to make Eric conscious by this reticence how pedantically and at the same time ostentatiously he had disturbed the cordial good feeling of the table. The cloth was removed. Fräulein Perini again repeated a prayer in a low tone, all stood motionless, and the servants having quickly drawn back the chairs, they repaired to the veranda, where coffee was served in very small cups. 66 Frau Ceres gave a biscuit to a snowwhite parrot, and the parrot called out, "God bless you, massa." Then she sank down into an easy-chair, and Pranken placed himself near her on a low taboret, sitting almost at her feet. Fräulein Perini selected a seat sufficiently near, if she wished to take part in the conversation, and yet far enough off to allow Pranken to speak with Frau Ceres alone. Sonnenkamp beckoned to Eric to go with him into the garden. Roland accompanied them without being asked. The servant came to inform them that the ranger Claus was with the young dogs, and |