Sister Benigna! what had she recollected?—­that but a single day perhaps was hers to live, and here were all these children!  As she turned with ardent zeal to her work—­which indeed had not failed of accustomed conduct so far as routine went—­tell me what do you find in those lovely eyes if not the heavenliest assurances?  Let who will call the scene of this life’s operations a vale of tears, a world of misery, a prison-house of the spirit, here is one who asks for herself nothing of honors or riches or pleasures, and who can bless the Lord God for the glory of the earth he has created, and for those everlasting purposes of his which mortals can but trust in, and which are past finding out.  Children, let us do our best to-day, and wait until to-morrow for to-morrow’s gifts.  This exhortation was in the eyes, mien, conduct of the teacher, and so she led them on until, when they came to practice their hymns for the festival, every little heart and voice was in tune, and she praised them with voice so cheerful, how should they guess that it had ever been choked by anguish or had ever fainted in despair?

O young eyes saddening over what is to you a painful, insoluble problem! yet a little while and you shall see the mists of morning breaking everywhere, and the great conquering sun will enfold you too in its warm embrace:  the humble laurels of the mountain’s side, even as the great pines and cedars of the mountain’s crest, have but to receive and use what the sterile rock and the blinding cloud, the wintry tempest and the rain and the summer’s heat bestow, and lo! the heights are alive with glory.  But it is not in a day.

CHAPTER IX.

WILL THE ARCHITECT HAVE EMPLOYMENT?

On entering the factory, Leonhard met Loretz near the door talking with Albert Spener.  When he saw Leonhard, Loretz said, “I was just saying to Mr. Spener that I expected you, sir, and how he might recognize you; but you shall speak for yourself.  If you will spend a little time looking about, I shall be back soon:  perhaps Mr. Spener—­”

“Mr. Leonhard Marten, I believe,” said Mr. Albert Spener with a little exaggeration of his natural stiffness.  Perhaps he did not suspect that all the morning he had been manifesting considerable loftiness toward Loretz, and that he spoke in a way that made Leonhard feel that his departure from Spenersberg would probably take place within something less than twenty-four hours.

Yet within half an hour the young men were walking up and down the factory, examining machinery and work, and talking as freely as if they had known each other six months.  They were not in everything as unlike as they were in person.  Spener was a tall, spare man, who conveyed an impression of mental strength and physical activity.  He could turn his hand to anything, and attempt anything that was to be done by skillful handicraft; and whether he could