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"And it is difficult to find the way out now, for all the doors are locked," laughed another loudly. "Let us take our simple pleasures as they come," cried a third. "Bruder Harris will understand how we appreciate the honour of this last visit of his." They made a dozen excuses.
He glanced up and saw the face of the Bruder watching him with a smile of patient indulgence. "Your memories possess you," he observed gently, and the stern look passed into something almost pitying. "You are right," returned the man of silk, "they do. This was the most wonderful period of my whole life in a sense. At the time I hated it " He hesitated, not wishing to hurt the Brother's feelings.
Bruder learned from the oft-repeated words, "Cruel, cruel Christine!" the nature of the wound that had nearly destroyed his life. Mr. Ludolph was late in reaching his home on the evening after Dennis was taken sick. Christine sat in the dusk on the ivy-shaded piazza, awaiting him. He said, abruptly, "What have you been doing to Fleet, over here?"
To gain time was now the great desideratum. The picture having been replaced upon the wall, Mr. Bruder held the lamp so as to throw upon it as good a light as possible. Dennis folded his arms calmly and commenced its study.
They were so exactly alike. "If Bruder Meyer has not put his Amati to bed, I will accompany him," said the musician suggestively, looking across at a man whom Harris had not yet noticed, and who, he now saw, was the very image of a former master of that name.
Then he found his tongue and tried to speak. "But what have I to do with this Bruder Asm Asmo ?" he stammered, a desperate rush of words crowding vainly behind the halting tongue. The name refused to pass his lips. He could not pronounce it as they did. He could not pronounce it at all.
A train leaves now in an hour, and by morning I can be at home." "I scarcely think it prudent," began the doctor. "Oh, certainly not to-night," said Mr. Ludolph, also. "Pardon me, I must go at once," interrupted Dennis, briefly and so decidedly that the gentlemen looked at each other and said no more. "Mr. Bruder," he continued, "I must be indebted to you for a real proof of your friendship.
He could not see her face, but his heart sank within him, for he thought that to her it would seem quixotic and become another barrier between them; but he answered, firmly: "Yes, till God, who has imposed the burden, removes it, and enables me to place them among friends in a good home. Mrs. Bruder, before she died, wrote to her family in Germany, telling her whole story.
Bruder, you say I have done you a favor." "Gott knows you haf." "I want you to do me one in return. I want you to let me be your friend," said Dennis, holding out his hand. The man trembled, hesitated; at last he said, brokenly, "I am not fit to touch your hand." "Mr. Bruder," said Dennis, gently, "I hope that I am a Christian." "Still more, den, I am unfit efer to be in your presence."
He treated poor Bruder as a gentleman, and he, having really been one, was naturally inclined to return like courtesy. Therefore he said, "Oh, certainly, since you vish to see him. I suppose I might as vell sell him to you as any von else." Mr. Bruder was a man of violent impulses, and his mad excitement was fast leaving him under Dennis's cool, business-like manner.
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