lips of head-master Philibert Rhenfried: so far my good name helped me, and I troubled myself no farther with any needless inquiries. So at all events, my poor Agnes has not been the occasion of adding the sin of lying to the account of her aged father’s soul. I have brought up her little girl to the best of my knowledge of what is good and right, and so by Heaven’s mercy she has gone on improving, doubtless under its wise dispensations, to the fulfilment of God’s purposes here below.”
Nordenholm here pressed the old man’s hand; and leaning down his head, wept bitterly. After a long sad pause he then said: “Alas, my good master, I see how much you suffer, but your sufferings are not barbed with the stings of guilt; therefore do you bear them freely and boldly. But woe alas! I feel no sweet confidence in the same freedom. I have my misgivings, though I have nothing dreadful to reproach myself with. There is something weighs at my heart, which seems to grow heavier and heavier as the night proceeds.
“The cause of this first arose on occasion of the fore-mentioned festival, when I was young and happy, alas, doubly happy, for I then flattered myself with delightful hopes of winning your daughter’s love;—and came along with other students to enjoy ourselves here.
“After our rounds, we held jubilee in a grand decorated hall, where we were joined by a mask array-
