“When I came out into the street, I knew not which way to turn. I dreaded the very sight of a comrade, lest he should ask me about our meeting, what pocket-money he had given me, and how soon I should be an officer. It was only when I saw Adolf coming towards me that I remembered all about my debt to him, of which I had not spoken one word to my uncle. I ought to have told him so, frankly. Yes, Nelly, I can hear the murmured displeasure with which you read my confession, 'that I could n't do it.' I was unequal to the effort, and could not bring myself to destroy that whole fabric of fictitious interest in which I had wrapped myself. What would Adolf have thought of me when I said, I have neither wealth nor station nor prospect,--as humble a soldier as the sentry you see yonder? What would become of that romance of life in which we have so often spent hours revelling in a brilliant future, every incident of which grew up in our united fancies, and seemed to assume reality as we discussed it? Where----oh, Nelly! to you I must reveal all----every weakness, every littleness of my nature--where would be the homage of respect the poor Bursche was wont to show the nephew of a field-marshal? No, it was above my strength; and so I took his arm, and talked away heedlessly about our meeting, avoiding, where I could, all mention of my uncle, and but jocularly affecting to think him an original, whose strange, old-fashioned manners almost concealed the strong traits of family affection. “'What of thy promotion, Frank?' asked Adolf. “'It will come in its own good time/ said I, carelessly. 'Nothing causes more dissatisfaction than the rapid advancement of cadets of noble family.' “'But they could make thee a corporal, at least?' “I laughed scornfully at the remark, and merely said, 'They may skip over the whole sous-officier grade, and only remember me when I'm to be made a lieutenant/ “'Thou hast grown haughtier, Frank,' said he, half reproachfully, 'since thy meeting with the “Feld.” Mayhap in a day or two thou wilt not like to be seen in company with a “Wander-Bursche”?'