"She has done so, excellently; I have the liveliest interest in them, and am truly grateful to your daughter." He looked at Rita with a lingering glance. She returned it. Their eyes met, and then she bowed silently and went into the music-room. Presently Schubert's "Wanderer," was heard, beautifully rendered. "And ever longing asketh where!" was the sad, melancholy refrain. "Ever where!" He shook his head as if to rid himself of a sad thought. * * * * * Dr. Weilen took leave, promising to come soon again. Both Mr. and Mrs. Benas had invited him to repeat his call. The other guests, who had gathered in the drawing-room, remained to chat a little more and enjoy a glass of Pilsener. "You may say what you will, Benas, it is more congenial when we are by ourselves," said Mr. Freudenthal. "You are too exclusive, Isi," said Mrs. Benas. "Surely I am the last who would plead for a mixed choir, since we have been plainly given to understand that our voices do not please; but there is nothing about Dr. Weilen that disturbs our company or seems strange. Even on the first evening he came, he struck the right note, and he seemed one of us. He really is at bottom. One cannot deny one's kin." "But it took a long time for him to remember," Mr. Friedheim said ironically. "Only until an opportune moment arrived. How should he have known that the names Lesser and Friedheim belonged to his family? He was still a boy when connections were broken off with his mother's family, and he has never had any occasion to resume the relation," added Mr. Benas. "Friedheim, he knows you through your commentary; Lesser, you, through your 'Order of Bankruptcy,' your names are well known to the lawyer; but that is no reason for him to have supposed you to be his Mishpocheh. It was very evident that he was pleased to discover the additional tie." He laughed jovially. "That's human nature, but the feeling of satisfaction when special honor comes to any member of the family, is particularly developed among us. Even he does not deny this, and why? Estrangement does not change one's inherited nature." "But habit and education do. Whoever alienates himself and cuts himself off, becomes an exile and a stranger," said Mr. Freudenthal. "Dr. Weilen is not a case in point. The manner of his coming here is, in fact, an argument against your thesis." "A mere mood, father, a romantic whim," Hugo said scornfully. "In such matters your opinion does not count, because your views blind you and make a fanatic of you." "After all, it is not a matter of great moment that he should have come here," said the Justizrat. "Years ago you might have said so, but not now. Whoever seeks us now and acknowledges us, belongs to us."