Paul stood behind the bench and did not know what to do. For the first time since he was grown up he happened to find himself in strange society. His glance met Elsbeth’s, who, resting her head on her hand, looked round at him. “I suppose you won’t say ‘How do you do’ to me at all?” she added, mischievously. The familiar “_Du_” gave him courage. He stretched his hand out to her, and asked how she had fared during all this long time. A shade of sadness flitted across her face. “Not well,” she said, softly; “but more of that later on when we are alone.” She made room at her side, and said, “Come.” And as he sat down near her his elbow touched her neck. Then a thrill went through his body, such as he had never felt in all his life. Leo Heller shook hands with him across the table, and said, laughing, “To our good friendship, you pattern boy, you!” “I am, unfortunately, not worthy to be taken for a pattern boy,” he answered, innocently. “Then be glad; I am not one, either. Nothing is more disgusting to me than such a pattern boy.” “Why, then, did you call me so?” Leo looked at him quite surprised. “Oh, you seem to take everything literally,” he said. “Pardon me, I am so little accustomed to joking,” he replied, and a blush of shame rose to his face. In turning towards Elsbeth he saw that she was gazing at him with a strangely earnest, searching look. Then a sudden feeling of bliss rose in his soul. He felt here was one who did not think him stupid or ridiculous, who understood his nature and the laws according to which it manifested itself. While the three were silent his father, at the other end of the table, continued to expound the plans of his company to Mr. Douglas. “And if you trust me, sir--but no, you need not even do that--I mean to say, if you will not frivolously forfeit your own chance--one must never stand in the way of one’s chance, sir--if you have only just a little spirit of enterprise--oh, then, yes, then, you know, there are hundreds and thousands to be earned; the moor is inexhaustible--why let others grow rich in your stead, sir? On through darkness to light; that’s my device. I will strive and fight to the last breath; it is not my own interest which is at stake. It seems to me to be a question for the welfare of humanity. The aim is to win this barren soil for cultivation, to give new life-blood to this whole district, to change the poverty of this country into prosperity--to be a benefactor to humanity, sir.” And in this tone he swaggered on. Then suddenly he came quite close to Douglas, as if he wanted to put a pistol to his head, crying, “Then will you take shares in it sir?” Douglas caught a glance from his wife, who quietly pointed towards Frau Elsbeth, and made him a beseeching sign; then he said, half amused, half angry, “I don’t mind.”