Freedom is the best thing in life--including the freedom to do stupid things." "Perhaps he knows of some cave where he is going to turn hermit," said one of the group.
"Or he has a little business appointment, and we should be in the way," said another.
They laughed, and the Rhinelander went on: "Well! moon away here, and we will travel on.

But before all things be true to yourself.

Don't forget that the whole world is as much a phantom as the brown Black Forest maiden.

And now farewell; and think a great deal about us phantom people, who will always keep up the ghost of a friendship for you." The young man whom he addressed shook him and the others by the hand, and they all lifted their caps with a loud "hurrah," and struck out vigorously on the road.

The sentiment of the farewell, and the tender speeches, had been disposed of in the inn, so they now parted gayly, in youth's happy fullness of life and hope for the future, and without any of that secret melancholy which Time the immeasurable distils into every parting.