And now the white tower of the castle of R—— gleamed in the twilight, and on every side dear familiar objects greeted them. There the pine wood, and now over the forget-me-not brook under the hanging-boughs of the willows around the mill, and they were in the village. And what a joyful welcome awaited them here. “It is our dear pastor,” resounded from all sides, caps were waved, and hands thrust into the carriage windows. The pastor bowed right and left with emotion, but as the carriage drove by the church he uncovered his venerable head, and a grateful prayer gushed from his overflowing heart.
As they turned the corner, and the peaceful parsonage embowered in its magnificent trees stood before them, mother and children came hastening to meet them with cries of joy. “Children,” cried the pastor, “it has all gone!—you need no longer creep round so quietly, and try not to touch me. Come here! and pinch me, I am really well again, and we must thank the dear Lord and Theodora for it.”
“Oh dear sister! O father! mother! brother!” sounded on all sides, and there was no end to the joyful welcome. And the noise and glee all began anew when the trunks were unpacked, and the presents produced. And the questions and answers! Paul wished particularly to know how many lions and tigers his father had seen on the journey. Hermine, how the ladies in A—— were dressed, and the mother what they had for dinner. All were satisfied, and went happy to bed.
But the morning came, the day passed, and in the evening there wandered in the park unhappy love. But Theodora suffered no longer in secret, her mother’s heart and her father’s kind words offered healing to her wounded soul, although she felt that for her there was no happiness left. On the sixth day the post brought a letter for Theodora. She handed it tremblingly to her father, and sank upon a seat, while her father read aloud to her, as follows—
“Theodora, my Theodora, I am the happiest of mortals! Wherever I turn I see nothing but happiness and joy. The sky is clear and blue above me, and you love me and will always love me. You have repelled me, but indeed you knew me not. You have left my ring in the hands of vice, but how could you know it? Did I not myself doubt my own identity when I first saw him? Is not that vile fellow, Rodel, my perfect double? But all is right again, and I have your ring upon my finger. Hear how it all came about. The day after you left, I went to the promenade overwhelmed with agony at your departure, and your manner toward me. There I saw the detestable gambler, Rodel, and a ray of light from his finger caught my eye. I looked at it more attentively—it was the very ring that I had given you. I felt that I must instantly know how he came by it, and perhaps it would unravel the mystery.
“ ‘Sir,’ said I, turning to him, ‘you have a fine stone there.’
“ ‘Do you like it?’ said the fellow with assumed nonchalance, ‘ma foi, it does not look amiss, and from a fair one too.’
“ ‘I controlled myself, followed him to his room, and stepping up to him, said coldly and seriously—
“ ‘Mr. Rodel, be pleased to tell me upon this spot how you came by that ring.’
“ ‘En vérité mon enfant,’ laughed he, ‘you are very amusing, but I am not in a joking humor, what do you want of me?’