"Pranken and Manna are one," answered his mother, "she is his betrothed. But take comfort; look back over the past year, and you will see that you have developed in your pupil a character which nothing can undermine."
This thought finally enabled Eric to rise above all his depression, and when he left his mother's house he had spirit enough to exclaim:—
"Look at Eric, old Father Rhine; he is become an independent man, and can live upon his interest till he is seventy-seven years old!"
He met Roland and the Major returning from their round of visits. It was not for nothing that the Major carried always two watches about with him, one of which he called his galloper because it was always fast; the only difficulty was, he could never tell whether he had put the galloper in his right or left pocket; however, he was on hand again punctually at dinner-time.
Roland sat at the richly furnished table, but tasted scarcely a morsel.
"I am so full," he said to Eric, "so full of the great happiness I have given to-day. And you—are you not happy too?"
Eric could truly say he was.
There was some discussion as to who should propose the customary toast for Roland; whether it was for Eric or Pranken to do.
Both at length urged the duty upon the Major, who rose and said,—
"Gentlemen and ladies!"