They returned to the villa in good spirits.
The first person they met in the courtyard was the Major. He looked somewhat out of humor, but his countenance lighted up when the Professorin said that she had intended to call upon him and Fräulein Milch to-day, and to get a cup of coffee, as she unfortunately could not fall into the ways of this part of the country, and drink wine every day.
The Major nodded; but he soon went off to send a child of the porter's to Fräulein Milch with the welcome message.
The Mother was very animated, and Eric expressed his joy that his mother experienced something of that exhilaration produced by a sight of the life of the people and the life of nature along the Rhine.
When Roland came to dinner, he said in a low tone to the Professorin:—
"I have looked into the Conversations-Lexicon, and to-day is Theodore Parker's birthday; to-day is the twenty-fourth of August."
The Mother whispered that it would be well for him to speak of it to no one but her.
CHAPTER XIII.
SOUR CREAM SWEETENED.
The Major had never been in better spirits at the table than to-day. He forgot to beckon to Joseph to fill up a second time his glass with the favorite Burgundy.