"What! our Indian doctor? Fellow, you must be mistaken!" he shouted to the servant. But it was Ludwig Werner, who immediately appeared, and was welcomed with as much delight as amazement. "This is what I call a surprise," the Freiherr repeated, when Ludwig was at last seated beside him, and had been supplied by Aunt Thekla with coffee. "And now give an account of yourself. First, whence come you so early in the day?" "From Lindenbad. I have been spending the holidays with my people, and I came by the early train, because I must go back to Hanover to-day." "No, no!" cried the Freiherr. "Now I have you once more in my clutches, you shall not slip away in such a hurry." "Or if you must go to-day," said Johann Leopold, in his considerate way, "promise us at least that you will come back again here from Hanover." "Unfortunately, I cannot," Ludwig replied. "There is a scientific expedition fitting out,--this time for the West Ghauts. I have been asked to join it, and I must return to London to complete my preparations." "What! are you going to travel again?" asked Aunt Thekla. "Johann Leopold thought you would accept a professorship in Germany. We were all so glad." "Thank you for your kindness, Fräulein von Dönninghausen. I did think for a while of remaining at home, but I seem to be turning out an irreclaimable vagabond." Ludwig spoke in a quiet, cheerful tone, but neither Aunt Thekla nor Johann Leopold could avoid an impression that he was exercising a certain self-control, and they scrutinized him keenly. The Freiherr frowned: "I should be sorry for that! You are made of better stuff than goes to make up these new-fangled tramps. Stay here, young man! You'll find enough to do in Germany." "Hereafter--perhaps in a year I shall be at home again," Ludwig replied; and then his face grew dark, as, looking from one to another, he said, "I have something else to arrange before my departure, and it is for that I am come hither. I have seen Johanna----" The Freiherr interrupted him. "We never speak of her," he said, sternly. "Pardon me, Herr von Dönninghausen! As Johanna's brother, I have a right to demand, and to give, an explanation," Ludwig made reply, with quiet determination. "You appear to believe that Johanna belongs to the Batti circus." "We know she does," Johann Leopold replied. "The newspapers gave a detailed account of her joining it." "And upon such testimony you dropped Johanna, unquestioned and unheard?" Ludwig interposed, bitterly. "Do you suppose we could have had any effect upon her obstinacy?" cried the Freiherr. "'Tis in the blood, my young friend! An inherited predilection, for which, perhaps, she should not be blamed, but which separates her forever from us. She voluntarily left her home, her family, and her betrothed that she might exchange them for what the papers call the irresponsibility of an artistic career. She herself told me that she hoped to render herself independent by her talent. So, you see!"