The Mother wanted to go straightforward to the goal she had in view, but many obstacles interposed. First came a very pressing invitation from Clodwig, for the Mother and the whole of Sonnenkamp's family to celebrate Goethe's birth-day at Wolfsgarten.
The invitation was accepted; but Frau Ceres and Fräulein Perini remained at home.
They drove to Wolfsgarten. Eric did not say it in so many words, but his eyes expressed how much he felt protected and supported by the Mother's presence, in entering the house of his friend; she seemed a living testimony that he crossed the threshold with a pure heart and a pure eye. Yet he could not suppress all anxiety in regard to his first meeting with Bella. She came with the Aunt, as far as the wood, to meet them.
Bella embraced the Mother, and again thanked her for having subjected herself to the self-denial of letting Aunt Claudine remain with her. Extending her hand to Eric, she said, with a sort of chilled look:—
"You were his first thought to-day, my young friend."
She said nothing further, and did not mention her husband's name.
Rain began to fall before they reached Wolfsgarten, and it did not cease during the whole day, so that they were confined in doors.
Clodwig was remarkably cheerful and happy, and the day passed off with a joyousness that is possible only to persons in entire leisure, and perhaps only on the banks of the Rhine.
Roland was the happiest of all; he seemed to be the life and connecting link of the company, looking up at every one, as if he would ask:—
"Why are you not as glad as I am?"