Page:Forget Me Not (1824).djvu/361

students with the prediction levelled against him by Nietzky, and thought to make amends for his weakness by giving full scope to his satirical humour. In short, he regarded the affair with perfect indifference; and if he still sometimes called it to mind, it was only for the purpose of bestowing a smile of compassion on it and Nietzky.

He had now been three years at the university, when he received orders from his father to leave Halle. His aunt, who was not young, had lingered sixteen years in a consumption. It was evident, from the rapid decline of her strength, that her dissolution was fast approaching; and scarcely could joy for the return of her beloved nephew prolong her life for a few days. She died shortly after T.'s return home. When he strove to get rid of the thoughts and conclusions which naturally resulted from these events, the efforts which he made only served to increase his anxiety.

Nietzky's prediction began to be fulfilled, and the mind of the young man became more and more convinced of its probability, though he always deduced these occurrences from natural causes. The inactive life which he led at home began to be irksome to him. Several of his townsmen and fellow-students successively obtained appointments; and the ambition natural to his age stirred more and more powerfully