"I am very glad, my son; that's noble, that's grand. You are real young America It's right! fine! splendid!"
They were struck with fresh amazement. This sudden change of mood in Sonnenkamp took all present by surprise. But he went on in a mild tone,—
"I am glad that you were not to be frightened. You have good pluck—it's all right. Now tell me where you found out about Parker?"
Roland gave a true account of matters, except that he said nothing about Parker's name having been mentioned by the Professorin when they were making their calls in the town.
"Why didn't you speak of it to me?" asked his father.
"I can keep a secret," replied Roland. "You've tested me yourself on that score."
"That's true, my son; you have justified my confidence."
"We ought to have gone home a long time ago," said the Major, and this was the signal for the company to break up.
The Major had never felt his heart beat so violently, never when stationed on some exposed outpost, never even in battle, as during the reading; and yet it beat worse, after the conversation had taken so threatening a turn.
He kept shaking his big head, and stretching out with his hands in the air deprecatingly and beseechingly, as if he would say,—