yesterday she had opposed her niece's wish to remain in the world less
strongly than before; nay, on parting with her she had clasped her in her
arms and, as it were, restored her freedom by admitting that various
paths led to the kingdom of heaven.

This was balm to the convalescent's wounds; for he cherished no wish more
ardent than to accompany his master to the marriage altar, where Eva
would give her hand to Heinz Schorlin as her faithful husband, and the
abbess's last visit seemed to favour this desire. Besides, he who had
gazed at life with open eyes had never yet beheld a brave young warrior,
soon after reaping well-earned renown, yearn for the monk's cowl. Doubt,
suffering, and a miraculous escape from terrible peril had inspired the
joyous-hearted Heinz with the desire to renounce the world. Now,
perhaps, Heaven itself was showing him that he had not received the boon
of life to bury himself in a monastery, but to be blessed with the
fairest and noblest of gifts, the love of a woman who, in his opinion,
had not her equal beneath the wide vault of the azure sky.

Countess Cordula was not suited for his master. During the long hours
that he lay quietly on his pallet a hundred reasons strengthened this
opinion. The man for whom he had steadfastly endured such severe agony,
and was suffering still, was worthy of a more beautiful, devout, and calm
companion-nay, the very loveliest and best--and that, in his eyes, was
the girl for whom Heinz had felt so overmastering a passion just before
his luckless winnings at the gaming table. This potent fire of love
might doubtless be smothered with sand and ashes, but never extinguished.

Such were Biberli's thoughts as he recalled the events of the previous
day. He had found Eva less equable in her tender management than usual.
Some anxiety concerning something apart from her patients seemed to