He had many things to rejoice over besides his own prosperity.  His daughter was in all respects a perfect being, to his thinking.  For six years now she had been under the instruction of Sister Benigna, not only in music, but in all things that Sister Benigna, a well-instructed woman, could teach.  She sang, as Leonhard Marten would have told you, “divinely,” she was beautiful to look upon, and Albert Spener desired to marry her.

Surely the Lord had blessed him, and remembered no more those years of wanderings when, alienated from the brethren, he sought out his own ways and came close upon destruction.  What should he return to the beneficent Giver for all these benefits?

Poor Loretz!  In his prosperity he thought that he should never be moved, but he would not basely use that conviction and forget the source of all his satisfaction.  He remembered that it was when he repented of his misdeeds that Spener came to him and drew him from the pit.  He could never look upon Albert as other than a divine agent; and when Spener joined himself to the Moravians, led partly by his admiration of them, partly by religious impulse, and partly because of his conviction that to be wholly successful he and his people must form a unit, his joy was complete.

The proposal for Elise’s hand had an effect upon her father which any one who knew him well might have looked for and directed.  The pride of his life was satisfied.  He remembered that he and his Anna, in seeking to know the will of the Lord in respect to their marriage, had been answered favorably by the lot.  He desired the signal demonstration of heavenly will in regard to the nuptials proposed.  Not a shadow of a doubt visited his mind as to the result, and the influence of his faith upon Spener was such that he acquiesced in the measure, though not without remonstrance and misgiving and mental reservation.

To find his way up into the region of faith, and quiet himself there when the result of the seeking was known, was almost impossible for Loretz.  He could fear the Judge who had decreed, but could he trust in Him?  He began to grope back among his follies of the past, seeking a crime he had not repented, as the cause of this domestic calamity.  But ah! to reap such a harvest as this for any youthful folly!  Poor soul! little he knew of vengeance and retribution.  He was at his wit’s end, incapable alike of advancing, retreating or of peaceful surrender.

It was pleasant to him to think, in the night-watches, of the young man who occupied the room next to his.  He did not see—­at least had not yet seen—­in Leonhard a messenger sent to the house, as did his wife; but the presence of the young stranger spoke favorable things in his behalf; and then, as there was really nothing to be done about this decision, anything that gave a diversion to sombre thoughts was welcome.  Sister Benigna had spoken very kindly to Leonhard in the evening, and he had pointed out a place in one of Elise’s solos where by taking a higher key in a single passage a marvelous effect could be produced.  That showed knowledge; and he said that he had taught music.  Perhaps he would like to remain until after the congregation festival had taken place.