Knopf stood looking after Eric for a long time, until he was hidden by a bend of the mountain, and his puffed lips addressed words in a low tone to him, after he had disappeared.
On the way home, Eric was surprised that he thought less about Roland, than he did about Manna, who was to arrive this evening.
Laughable old stories, how the tutor fell in love with the daughter of the house, and was expelled by the hard-hearted, rich father, and here he stands before the house all lighted up, he hears music; above, the lovely one celebrates her marriage with a very noble coxcomb, and a pistol-shot—no; it would be more practical to find some better situation.
Eric had humor enough to dismiss every such fancy; he would remain distant, composed, and respectful towards the daughter of the house.
When he rode up to the villa, the carriages had already arrived, and Eric received from Herr Sonnenkamp a reproof for his want of friendliness in not remaining at home, or taking note of the hour of their arrival.
After the conversation that he had had with Knopf, the feeling of being in service seemed to him now very strange; or was this reception intended to give him a hint of how he was to conduct himself towards Manna?
Eric made no reply to the reprimand, for such it was. He came to Roland, who warmly embraced him and cried,—
"Ah! with you only is it well, all the rest are—"
"Say nothing about the rest," interrupted Eric.
But he could not restrain Roland from relating the disappointment of all, that Manna did not return with them.