"And yet your father knew my first name, Paul, although I only told him of my family name."
"I cannot understand it!" Hilda said, dejectedly.
"A riddle indeed. But time will surely bring its solution, and of one thing I am sure: that I have never given your father any reason to be angry with me."
"Most certainly not; and I entreat you not to be vexed with papa for his unkind reception; the next time you come he will be kinder."
"May I come again? Will you allow me?"
"Assuredly; Cousin Leo will be delighted to see you often at the castle."
"And the lovely fairy?"
"Will never be an evil fairy for you. Adieu, and come soon."
She nodded smiling, and hurried back to the castle much lighter of heart than she had been a few minutes before.
While Hilda was acting as guide to his friend, Leo had remained in the castle garden with his uncle. The strange scene of which he had been a witness had made a disagreeable impression upon him also. While it lasted he had observed his uncle narrowly, the profound horror he had testified at sight of Delmar, a horror increased by hearing his name, and the effort it had cost him to regain his composure. At last the morbid interest with which the old man watched Paul while he was present, and with which he followed his retreating figure until it disappeared behind the wall of the courtyard, vanished. For the first time Herr von Heydeck seemed to breathe freely, although his mind was apparently still occupied with Paul alone; he did not turn to welcome the nephew who had come upon his pressing invitation to visit him from distant Germany; he did not ask after the brother whom he had not seen for thirty years; his first words were of Paul.