At Komptendorf, and almost everywhere in the country, there was scarcely any one except Conservatives.  Herr von Berndt had driven into the city to the election.  Pastor Albin, the clergyman of his village, voted for the Liberal candidate.  When the pastor asked the former, who was just getting into his carriage, to take him home, the usually courteous, obliging gentleman, who was driving, exclaimed, “If you don’t vote with me you don’t ride with me,” and, touching the spirited bays, dashed off, leaving the pastor behind.

Dr. Boltze was a “Liberal,” and had to endure many a rebuff because his views were known to the ministry.  Our religious instruction might serve as a mirror of the opinions which were pleasing to the minister.  It had made the man who imparted it superintendent when comparatively young.  The term “mob marriage” for “civil marriage” originated with him, and it ought certainly to be inscribed in the Golden Book above.

He was a fiery zealot, who sought to induce us to share his wrath and scorn when he condemned Bauer, David Strauss, and Lessing.

When discussing the facts of ecclesiastical history, he understood how to rouse us to the utmost, for he was a talented man and a clever speaker, but no word of appeal to the heart, no exhortation to love and peace, ever crossed his lips.

The vacations were the only time which I spent with my mother.  I ceased to think of her in everything I did, as was the case in Keilhau.  But after I had been with her for a while, the charm of her personality again mastered my soul, her love rekindled mine, and I longed to open my whole heart to her and tell her everything which interested me.  She was the only person to whom I read my Poem of the World, as far as it was completed.  She listened with joyful astonishment, and praised several passages which she thought beautiful.  Then she warned me not to devote too much time to such things at present, but kissed and petted me in a way too charming to describe.  During the next few days her eyes rested on me with an expression I had always longed to see.  I felt that she regarded me as a man, and she afterwards confessed how great her hopes were at that time, especially as Professor Tzschirner had encouraged her to cherish them.

CHAPTER XIX.

A romance which really happened.

After returning to Kottbus from the Christmas vacation I plunged headlong into work, and as I exerted all my powers I made rapid progress.

Thus January passed away, and I was so industrious that I often studied until long after midnight.  I had not even gone to the theatre, though I had heard that the Von Hoxar Company was unusually good.  The leading lady, especially, was described as a miracle of beauty and remarkably talented.  This excited my curiosity, and when a school-mate who had made the stage manager’s acquaintance told us that he would be glad to have us appear at the next performance of The Robbers, I of course promised to be present.