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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20746-8.txt b/20746-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..39c795e --- /dev/null +++ b/20746-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16366 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Home, by Fredrika Bremer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Home + +Author: Fredrika Bremer + +Translator: Mary Howitt + +Release Date: March 5, 2007 [EBook #20746] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOME *** + + + + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +FREDRIKA BREMER'S WORKS. + +THE HOME + +OR, LIFE IN SWEDEN. + + + TRANSLATED + BY MARY HOWITT. + + LONDON: + HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. + 1853. + + + + +C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE. + + + + +THE HOME: + +OR, LIFE IN SWEDEN. + +PART I. + +CHAPTER I. + +MORNING DISPUTE AND EVENING CONTENTION. + + +"My sweet friend," said Judge Frank, in a tone of vexation, "it is not +worth while reading aloud to you if you keep yawning incessantly, and +looking about, first to the right and then to the left;" and with these +words he laid down a treatise of Jeremy Bentham, which he had been +reading, and rose from his seat. + +"Ah, forgive me, dear friend!" returned his wife, "but really these good +things are all somewhat indigestible, and I was thinking about----Come +here, dear Brigitta!" said Mrs. Elise Frank, beckoning an old servant to +her, to whom she then spoke in an under tone. + +Whilst this was going on, the Judge, a handsome strong-built man of +probably forty, walked up and down the room, and then suddenly pausing +as if in consideration, before one of the walls, he exclaimed to his +wife, who by this time had finished her conversation with the old +servant, "See, love, now if we were to have a door opened here--and it +could very easily be done, for it is only a lath-and-plaster wall--we +could then get so conveniently into our bedroom, without first going +through the sitting-room and the nursery--it would indeed be capital!" + +"But then, where could the sofa stand?" answered Elise, with some +anxiety. + +"The sofa?" returned her husband; "oh, the sofa could be wheeled a +little aside; there is more than room enough for it." + +"But, my best friend," replied she, "there would come a very dangerous +draft from the door to every one who sat in the corner." + +"Ah! always difficulties and impediments!" said the husband. "But cannot +you see, yourself, what a great advantage it would be if there were a +door here?" + +"No, candidly speaking," said she, "I think it is better as it is." + +"Yes, that is always the way with ladies," returned he; "they will have +nothing touched, nothing done, nothing changed, even to obtain +improvement and convenience; everything is good and excellent as it is, +till somebody makes the alteration for them, and then they can see at +once how much better it is; and then they exclaim, 'Ah, see now that is +charming!' Ladies, without doubt, belong to the stand-still party!" + +"And the gentlemen," added she, "belong to the movement party; at least +wherever building and molestation-making comes across them!" + +The conversation, which had hitherto appeared perfectly +good-humoured, seemed to assume a tone of bitterness from that word +"molestation-making;" and in return the voice of the Judge was somewhat +austere, as he replied to her taunt against the gentlemen. "Yes," said +he, "they are not afraid of a little trouble whenever a great advantage +is to be obtained. But----are we to have no breakfast to-day? It is +twenty-two minutes after nine! It really is shocking, dear Elise, that +you cannot teach your maids punctuality! There is nothing more +intolerable than to lose one's time in waiting; nothing more useless; +nothing more insupportable; nothing which more easily might be +prevented, if people would only resolutely set about it! Life is really +too short for one to be able to waste half of it in waiting! +Five-and-twenty minutes after nine! and the children--are they not ready +too? Dear Elise----" + +"I'll go and see after them," said she; and went out quickly. + +It was Sunday. The June sun shone into a large cheerful room, and upon a +snow-white damask tablecloth, which in soft silken folds was spread over +a long table, on which a handsome coffee-service was set out with +considerable elegance. The disturbed countenance with which the Judge +had approached the breakfast-table, cleared itself instantly as a +person, whom young ladies would unquestionably have called "horribly +ugly," but whom no reflective physiognomist could have observed without +interest, entered the room. This person was tall, extremely thin, and +somewhat inclining to the left side; the complexion was dark, and the +somewhat noble features wore a melancholy expression, which but seldom +gave place to a smile of unusual beauty. The forehead elevated itself, +with its deep lines, above the large brown extraordinary eyes, and above +this a wood of black-brown hair erected itself, under whose thick stiff +curls people said a multitude of ill-humours and paradoxes housed +themselves; so also, indeed, might they in all those deep furrows with +which his countenance was lined, not one of which certainly was without +its own signification. Still, there was not a sharp angle of that face; +there was nothing, either in word or voice, of the Assessor, Jeremias +Munter, however severe they might seem to be, which at the same time did +not conceal an expression of the deepest goodness of heart, and which +stamped itself upon his whole being, in the same way as the sap clothes +with green foliage the stiff resisting branches of the knotted oak. + +"Good day, brother!" exclaimed the Judge, cordially offering him his +hand, "how are you?" + +"Bad!" answered the melancholy man; "how can it be otherwise? What +weather we have! As cold as January! And what people we have in the +world too: it is both a sin and shame! I am so angry to-day that----Have +you read that malicious article against you in the----paper?" + +"No, I don't take in that paper; but I have heard speak of the article," +said Judge Frank. "It is directed against my writing on the condition of +the poor in the province, is it not?" + +"Yes; or more properly no," replied the Assessor, "for the extraordinary +fact is, that it contains nothing about that affair. It is against +yourself that it is aimed--the lowest insinuations, the coarsest abuse!" + +"So I have heard," said the Judge; "and on that very account I do not +trouble myself to read it." + +"Have you heard who has written it?" asked the visitor. + +"No," returned the other; "nor do I wish to know." + +"But you should do so," argued the Assessor; "people ought to know who +are their enemies. It is Mr. N. I should like to give the fellow three +emetics, that he might know the taste of his own gall!" + +"What!" exclaimed Judge Frank, at once interested in the Assessor's +news--"N., who lives nearly opposite to us, and who has so lately +received from the Cape his child, the poor little motherless girl?" + +"The very same!" returned he; "but you must read this piece, if it be +only to give a relish to your coffee. See here; I have brought it with +me. I have learned that it would be sent to your wife to-day. Yes, +indeed, what pretty fellows there are in the world! But where is your +wife to-day? Ah! here she comes! Good morning, my lady Elise. So +charming in the early morning; but so pale! Eh, eh, eh; this is not as +it should be! What is it that I say and preach continually? Exercise, +fresh air--else nothing in the world avails anything. But who listens to +one's preaching? No--adieu my friends! Ah! where is my snuff-box? Under +the newspapers? The abominable newspapers; they must lay their hands on +everything; one can't keep even one's snuff-box in peace for them! +Adieu, Mrs. Elise! Adieu, Frank. Nay, see how he sits there and reads +coarse abuse of himself, just as if it mattered nothing to him. Now he +laughs into the bargain. Enjoy your breakfasts, my friends!" + +"Will you not enjoy it with us?" asked the friendly voice of Mrs. Frank; +"we can offer you to-day quite fresh home-baked bread." + +"No, I thank you," said the Assessor; "I am no friend to such home-made +things; good for nothing, however much they may be bragged of. +Home-baked, home-brewed, home-made. Heaven help us! It all sounds very +fine, but it's good for nothing." + +"Try if to-day it really be good for nothing," urged she. "There, we +have now Madame Folette on the table; you must, at least, have a cup of +coffee from her." + +"What do you mean?" asked the surprised Assessor; "what is it? What +horrid Madame is it that is to give me a cup of coffee? I never could +bear old women; and if they are now to come upon the coffee-table----" + +"The round coffee-pot there," said Mrs. Frank, good-humouredly, "is +Madame Folette. Could you not bear that?" + +"But why call it so?" asked he. "What foolery is that?" + +"It is a fancy of the children," returned she. "An honest old woman of +this name, whom I once treated to a cup of coffee, exclaimed, at the +first sight of her favourite beverage, 'When I see a coffee-pot, it is +all the same to me as if I saw an angel from heaven!' The children heard +this, and insisted upon it that there was a great resemblance in figure +between Madame Folette and this coffee-pot; and so ever since it has +borne her name. The children are very fond of her, because she gives +them every Sunday morning their coffee." + +"What business have children with coffee?" asked the Assessor. "Cannot +they be thin enough without it; and are they to be burnt up before their +time? There's Petrea, is she not lanky enough? I never was very fond of +her; and now, if she is to grow up into a coffee wife, why--" + +"But, dear Munter," said Mrs. Frank, "you are not in a good humour +to-day." + +"Good humour!" replied he: "no, Mrs. Elise, I am not in a good humour; I +don't know what there is in the world to make people good-humoured. +There now, your chair has torn a hole in my coat-lap! Is that pleasant? +That's home-made too! But now I'll go; that is, if your doors--are they +home-made too?--will let me pass." + +"But will you not come back, and dine with us?" asked she. + +"No, I thank you," replied he; "I am invited elsewhere; and that in this +house, too." + +"To Mrs. Chamberlain W----?" asked Mrs. Frank. + +"No, indeed!" answered the Assessor: "I cannot bear that woman. She +lectures me incessantly. Lectures me! I have a great wish to lecture +her, I have! And then, her blessed dog--Pyrrhus or Pirre; I had a great +mind to kill it. And then, she is so thin. I cannot bear thin people; +least of all, thin old women." + +"No?" said Mrs. Frank. "Don't you know, then, what rumour says of you +and poor old Miss Rask?" + +"That common person!" exclaimed Jeremias. "Well, and what says malice of +me and poor old Miss Rask?" + +"That, not many days since," said Mrs. Frank, "you met this old lady on +your stairs as she was going up to her own room; and that she was +sighing, because of the long flight of stairs and her weak chest. Now +malice says, that, with the utmost politeness, you offered her your arm, +and conducted her up the stairs with the greatest possible care; nor +left her, till she had reached her own door; and further, after all, +that you sent her a pound of cough lozenges; and----" + +"And do you believe," interrupted the Assessor, "that I did that for her +own sake? No, I thank you! I did it that the poor old skeleton might not +fall down dead upon my steps, and I be obliged to climb over her ugly +corpse. From no other cause in this world did I drag her up the stairs. +Yes, yes, that was it! I dine to-day with Miss Berndes. She is always a +very sensible person; and her little Miss Laura is very pretty. See, +here have we now all the herd of children! Your most devoted servant, +Sister Louise! So, indeed, little Miss Eva! she is not afraid of the +ugly old fellow, she--God bless her! there's some sugar-candy for her! +And the little one! it looks just like a little angel. Do I make her +cry? Then I must away; for I cannot endure children's crying. Oh, for +heaven's sake! It may make a part of the charm of home: that I can +believe;--perhaps it is home-music! Home-baked, home-made, +home-music----hu!" + +The Assessor sprang through the door; the Judge laughed; and the little +one became silent at the sight of a kringla,[1] through which the +beautiful eye of her brother Henrik spied at her as through an +eye-glass; whilst the other children came bounding to the +breakfast-table. + +"Nay, nay, nay, my little angels, keep yourselves a little quiet," said +the mother. "Wait a moment, dear Petrea; patience is a virtue. Eva dear, +don't behave in that way; you don't see me do so." + +Thus gently moralised the mother; whilst, with the help of her eldest +daughter, the little prudent Louise, she cared for the other children. +The father went from one to another full of delight, patted their little +heads, and pulled them gently by the hair. + +"I ought, yesterday, to have cut all your hair," said he. "Eva has quite +a wig; one can hardly see her face for it. Give your papa a kiss, my +little girl! I'll take your wig from you early to-morrow morning." + +"And mine too, and mine too, papa!" exclaimed the others. + +"Yes, yes," answered the father, "I'll shear every one of you." + +All laughed but the little one; which, half frightened, hid its +sunny-haired little head on the mother's bosom: the father raised it +gently, and kissed, first it, and then the mother. + +"Now put sugar in papa's cup," said she to the little one; "look! he +holds it to you." + +The little one smiled, put sugar in the cup, and Madame Folette began +her joyful circuit. + +But we will now leave Madame Folette, home-baked bread, the family +breakfast, and the morning sun, and seat ourselves at the evening lamp, +by the light of which Elise is writing. + + +TO CECILIA. + +I must give you portraits of all my little flock of children; who now, +having enjoyed their evening meal, are laid to rest upon their soft +pillows. Ah! if I had only a really good portrait--I mean a painted +one--of my Henrik, my first-born, my summer child, as I call +him--because he was born on a Midsummer-day, in the summer hours both of +my life and my fortune; but only the pencil of a Correggio could +represent those beautiful, kind, blue eyes, those golden locks, that +loving mouth, and that countenance all so perfectly pure and beautiful! +Goodness and joyfulness beam out from his whole being; even although his +buoyant animal life, which seldom allows his arms or legs to be quiet, +often expresses itself in not the most graceful manner. My +eleven-years-old boy is, alas! very--his father says--very unmanageable. +Still, notwithstanding all this wildness, he is possessed of a deep and +restless fund of sentiment, which makes me often tremble for his future +happiness. God defend my darling, my summer child, my only son! Oh, how +dear he is to me! Ernst warns me often of too partial an affection for +this child; and on that very account will I now pass on from portrait +No. 1 to + +No. 2.--Behold then the little Queen-bee, our eldest daughter, just +turned ten years; and you will see a grave, fair girl, not handsome, but +with a round, sensible face; from which I hope, by degrees, to remove a +certain ill-tempered expression. She is uncommonly industrious, silent +and orderly, and kind towards her younger sisters, although very much +disposed to lecture them; nor will she allow any opportunity to pass in +which her importance as "eldest sister" is not observed; on which +account the little ones give her the titles of "Your Majesty" and "Mrs. +Judge." The little Louise appears to me one of those who will always be +still and sure; and who, on this account, will go fortunately though the +world. + +No. 3.--People say that my little nine-years-old Eva will be very like +her mother. I hope it will prove a really splendid fac-simile. See, +then, a little, soft, round-about figure, which, amid laughter and +merriment, rolls hither and thither lightly and nimbly, with an +ever-varying physiognomy, which is rather plain than handsome, although +lit up by a pair of beautiful, kind, dark-blue eyes. Quickly moved to +sorrow, quickly excited to joy; good-hearted, flattering, +confection-loving, pleased with new and handsome clothes, and with dolls +and play; greatly beloved too by brothers and sisters, as well as by all +the servants; the best friend and playfellow, too, of her brother. Such +is little Eva. + +No. 4.--Nos. 3 and 4 ought not properly to come together. Poor Leonore +had a sickly childhood, and this rather, I believe, than nature, has +given to her an unsteady and violent temper, and has unhappily sown the +seeds of envy towards her more fortunate sisters. She is not deficient +in deep feeling, but the understanding is sluggish, and it is extremely +difficult for her to learn anything. All this promises no pleasure; +rather the very opposite. The expression of her mouth, even in the +uncomfortable time of teething, seemed to speak, "Let me be quiet!" It +is hardly possible that she can be other than plain, but, with God's +help, I hope to make her good and happy. + +"My beloved, plain child!" say I sometimes to her as I clasp her +tenderly in my arms, for I would willingly reconcile her early to her +fate. + +No. 5.--But whatever will fate do with the nose of my Petrea? This nose +is at present the most remarkable thing about her little person; and if +it were not so large, she really would be a pretty child. We hope, +however, that it will moderate itself in her growth. + +Petrea is a little lively girl, with a turn for almost everything, +whether good or bad; curious and restless is she, and beyond measure +full of failings; she has a dangerous desire to make herself observed, +and to excite an interest. Her activity shows itself in destructiveness; +yet she is good-hearted and most generous. In every kind of foolery she +is a most willing ally with Henrik and Eva, whenever they will grant her +so much favour; and if these three be heard whispering together, one may +be quite sure that some roguery or other is on foot. There exists +already, however, so much unquiet in her, that I fear her whole life +will be such; but I will early teach her to turn herself to that which +can change unrest into rest. + +No. 6.--And now to the pet child of the house--to the youngest, the +loveliest, the so-called "little one"--to her who with her white hands +puts the sugar into her father's and mother's cup--the coffee without +that would not taste good--to her whose little bed is not yet removed +from the chamber of the parents, and who, every morning, creeping out of +her own bed, lays her bright curly little head on her father's shoulder +and sleeps again. + +Could you only see the little two-years-old Gabriele, with her large, +serious brown eyes; her refined, somewhat pale, but indescribably lovely +countenance; her bewitching little gestures; you would be just as much +taken with her as the rest are,--you would find it difficult, as we all +do, not to spoil her. She is a quiet little child, but very unlike her +eldest sister. A predominating characteristic of Gabriele is love of the +beautiful; she shows a decided aversion to what is ugly and +inconvenient, and as decided a love for what is attractive. A most +winning little gentility in appearance and manners, has occasioned the +brother and sisters to call her in sport "the little young lady," or +"the little princess." Henrik is really in love with his little sister, +kisses her small white hands with devotion, and in return she loves him +with her whole heart. Towards the others she is very often somewhat +ungracious; and our good friend the Assessor calls her frequently "the +little gracious one," and frequently also "the little ungracious one," +but then he has for her especially so many names; my wish is that in the +end she may deserve the surname of "the amiable." + +Peace be with my young ones! There is not one of them which is not +possessed of the material of peculiar virtue and excellence, and yet not +also at the same time of the seed of some dangerous vice, which may ruin +the good growth of God in them. May the endeavours both of their father +and me be blessed in training these plants of heaven aright! But ah! the +education of children is no easy thing, and all the many works on that +subject which I have studied appear to me, whether the fault be in me +or in them I cannot tell, but small helps. Ah! I often find no other +means than to clasp the child tenderly in my arms, and to weep bitterly +over it, or else to kiss it in the fulness of my joy; and it often has +appeared to me that such moments are not without their influence. + +I endeavour as much as possible not to scold. I know how perpetually +scolding crushes the free spirit and the innocent joyousness of +childhood; and I sincerely believe that if one will only sedulously +cultivate what is good in character, and make in all instances what is +good visible and attractive, the bad will by degrees fall away of +itself. + +I sing a great deal to my children. They are brought up with songs; for +I wished early, as it were, to bathe their souls in harmony. Several of +them, especially my first-born and Eva, are regular little enthusiasts +in music; and every evening, as soon as twilight comes on, the children +throng about me, and then I sit down to the piano, and either accompany +myself, or play to little songs which they themselves sing. It is my +Henrik's reward, when he has been very good for the whole day, that I +should sit by his bed, and sing to him till he sleeps. He says that he +then has such beautiful dreams. We often sit and talk for an hour +instead, and I delight myself sincerely in his active and pure soul. +When he lays out his great plans for his future life, he ends +thus:--"And when I am grown up a man, and have my own house, then, +mother, thou shalt come and live with me, and I will keep so many maids +to wait on thee, and thou shalt have so many flowers, and everything +that thou art fond of, and shalt live just like a queen; only of an +evening, when I go to bed, thou shalt sit beside me and sing me to +sleep; wilt thou not?" Often too, when in the midst of his plans for the +future and my songs, he has dropped asleep, I remain sitting still by +the bed with my heart full to overflowing with joy and pride in this +angel. Ernst declares that I spoil him. Ah, perhaps I do, but +nevertheless it is a fact that I earnestly endeavour not to do so. After +all, I can say of every one of my children what a friend of mine said of +hers, that they are tolerably good; that is to say, they are not good +enough for heaven. + +This evening I am alone. Ernst is away at the District-Governor's. It +is my birthday to-day; but I have told no one, because I wished rather +to celebrate it in a quiet communion with my own thoughts. + +How at this moment the long past years come in review before me! I see +myself once more in the house of my parents: in that good, joyful, +beloved home! I see myself once more by thy side, my beloved and only +sister, in that large, magnificent house, surrounded by meadows and +villages. How we looked down upon them from high windows, and yet +rejoiced that the sun streamed into the most lowly huts just as +pleasantly as into our large saloons--everything seemed to us so well +arranged. + +Life then, Cecilia, was joyful and free from care. How we sate and wept +over "Des Voeux Téméraires," and over "Feodor and Maria,"--such were +our cares then. Our life was made up of song, and dance, and merriment, +with our so many cheerful neighbours; with the most accomplished of whom +we got up enthusiasms for music and literature. We considered ourselves +to be virtuous, because we loved those who loved us, and because we gave +of our superfluity to those who needed it. Friendship was our passion. +We were ready to die for friendship, but towards love we had hearts of +stone. How we jested over our lovers, and thought what fun it would be +to act the parts of austere romance-heroines! How unmerciful we were, +and--how easily our lovers consoled themselves! Then Ernst Frank came on +a visit to us. The rumour of a learned and strong-minded man preceded +him, and fixed our regards upon him, because women, whether +well-informed or not themselves, are attracted by such men. Do you not +remember how much he occupied our minds? how his noble person, his calm, +self-assured demeanour, his frank, decided, yet always polite behaviour +charmed us at first, and the awed us? + +One could say of him, that morally as well as physically he stood +firmly. His deep mourning dress, together with an expression of quiet +manly grief, which at times shaded his countenance, combined to make him +interesting to us; nevertheless, you thought that he looked too stern, +and I very soon lost in his presence my accustomed gaiety. Whenever his +dark grave eyes were fixed upon me, I was conscious that they possessed +a half-bewitching, half-oppressive power over me; I felt myself happy +because of it, yet at the same time filled with anxiety; my very action +was constrained, my hands became cold and did everything blunderingly, +nor ever did I speak so stupidly as when I observed that he listened. +Aunt Lisette gave me one day this maxim: "My dear, remember what I now +tell thee: if a man thinks that thou art a fool, it does not injure thee +the least in his opinion; but if he once thinks that thou considerest +him a fool, then art thou lost for ever with him!" With the last it may +be just as it will--I have heard a clever young man declare that it +would operate upon him like salt on fire--however, this is certain, that +the first part of Aunt Lisette's maxim is correct, since my stupidity in +Ernst's presence did not injure me at all in his opinion, and when he +was kind and gentle, how inexpressibly agreeable he was! + +His influence over me became greater each succeeding day: I seemed to +live continually under his eyes; when they beamed on me in kindness, it +was as if a spring breeze passed through my soul; and if his glance was +graver than common, I became still, and out of spirits. It seemed to me +at times--and it is so even to this very day--that if this clear and +wonderfully penetrating glance were only once, and with its full power, +riveted upon me, my very heart would cease to beat. Yet after all, I am +not sure whether I loved him. I hardly think I did; for when he was +absent I then seemed to breathe so freely, yet at the same time, I would +have saved his life by the sacrifice of my own. + +In several respects we had no sympathies in common. He had no taste for +music, which I loved passionately; and in reading too our feelings were +so different. He yawned over my favourite romances, nay he even +sometimes would laugh when I was at the point of bursting into tears; I, +on the contrary, yawned over his useful and learned books, and found +them more tedious than I could express. The world of imagination in +which my thoughts delighted to exercise themselves, he valued not in the +least, whilst the burdensome actuality which he always was seeking for +in life, had no charm for me. Nevertheless there were many points in +which we accorded--these especially were questions of morals--and +whenever this was the case, it afforded both of us great pleasure. + +And now came the time, Cecilia, in which you left me; when our fates +separated themselves, although our hearts did not. + +One day there were many strangers with us; and in the afternoon I played +at shuttlecock with young cousin Emil, to whom we were so kind, and who +deserved our kindness so well. How it happened I cannot tell, but before +long Ernst took his place, and was my partner in the game. He looked +unusually animated, and I felt myself more at ease with him than common. +He threw the shuttlecock excellently, and with a firm hand, but always +let it fly a little way beyond me, so that I was obliged to step back a +few paces each time to catch it, and thus unconsciously to myself was I +driven, in the merry sport, through a long suite of rooms, till we came +at last to one where we were quite alone, and a long way from the +company. All at once then Ernst left off his play, and a change was +visible in his whole countenance. I augured something amiss, and would +gladly have sprung far, far away, but I felt powerless; and then Ernst +spoke so from his heart, so fervently, and with such deep tenderness, +that he took my heart at once to himself. I laid my hand, although +tremblingly, in his, and, almost without knowing what I did, consented +to go through life by his side. + +I had just then passed my nineteenth year; and my beloved parents +sanctioned the union of their daughter with a man so respectable and so +universally esteemed, and one, moreover, whom everybody prophesied would +one day rise to the highest eminences of the state--and Ernst, whose +nature it was to accomplish everything rapidly which he undertook, +managed it so that in a very short time our marriage was celebrated. + +At the same time some members of my family thought that by this union I +had descended a step. I thought not; on the contrary, the very reverse. +I was of high birth, had several not undistinguished family connexions, +and was brought up in a brilliant circle, in all the superficial +accomplishments of the day, amid superfluity and thoughtlessness. He was +a man who had shaped out his own course in life, who, by his own honest +endeavours, and through many self-denials, had raised his father's house +from its depressed condition, and had made the future prospects of his +mother and sister comfortable and secure: he was a man self-dependent, +upright, and good--yes, GOOD, and that I discover more and more the +deeper knowledge I obtain of his true character, even though the outward +manner may be somewhat severe--in truth, I feel myself very inferior +beside him. + +The first year of our marriage we passed, at their desire, in the house +of my parents; and if I could only have been less conscious of his +superiority, and could only have been more certain that he was satisfied +with me, nothing would have been wanting to my happiness. Everybody +waited upon me; and perhaps it was on this account that Ernst, in +comparison, seemed somewhat cold; I was the petted child of my too kind +parents; I was thankless and peevish, and ah, some little of this still +remains! Nevertheless, it was during this very time that, under the +influence of my husband, the true beauty and reality of life became more +and more perceptible to my soul. Married life and family ties, one's +country and the world, revealed their true relationships, and their holy +signification to my mind. Ernst was my teacher; I looked up to him with +love, but not without fear. + +Many were the projects which we formed in these summer days, and which +floated brightly before my romantic fancy. Among these was a journey on +foot through the beautiful country west of Sweden, and this was one of +the favourite schemes of my Ernst. His mother--from whom our little +Petrea has derived her somewhat singular name--was of Norway, and many a +beloved thought of her seemed to have interwoven itself with the valleys +and mountains, which, as in a wonderfully-beautiful fairy tale, she had +described to him in the stories she told. All these recollections are a +sort of romantic region in Ernst's soul, and thither he betakes himself +whenever he would refresh his spirit, or lay out something delightful +for the future. "Next year," he would then exclaim, "will we take a +journey!" And then we laid out together our route on the map, and I +determined on the dress which I would wear as his travelling-companion +when we would go and visit "that sea-engarlanded Norway." Ah! there soon +came for me other journeys. + +It was during these days also that my first-born saw the light; my +beautiful boy! who so fettered both my love and my thoughts that Ernst +grew almost jealous. How often did I steal out of bed at night in order +to watch him while he slept! He was a lively, restless child, and it +therefore was a peculiar pleasure for me to see him at rest; besides +which, he was so angelically lovely in sleep! I could have spent whole +nights bending over his cradle. + +So far, Cecilia, all went with us as in the romances with which we in +our youth nourished heart and soul. But far other times came. In the +first place, the sad change in the circumstances of my parents, which +operated so severely on our position in life; and then for me so many +children--cares without end, grief and sickness! My body and mind must +both have given way under their burden, had Ernst not been the man he +is. + +It suited his character to struggle against the stream; it was a sort of +pleasure to him to combat with it, to meet difficulties, and to overcome +them. With each succeeding year he imposed more business upon himself, +and by degrees, through the most resolute industry, he was enabled to +bring back prosperity to his house. And then how unwearingly kind he was +to me! How tenderly sustaining in those very moments, when without him I +must have found myself so utterly miserable! How many a sleepless night +has he passed on my account! How often has he soothed to sleep a sickly +child in his arms! And then, too, every child which came, as it were +only to multiply his cares, and increase the necessity for his labour, +was to him a delight--was received as a gift of God's mercy--and its +birth made a festival in the house. How my heart has thanked him, and +how has his strength and assurance nerved me! + +When little Gabriele was born I was very near death; and it is my firm +belief that, without Ernst's care for me, I must then have parted from +my little ones. During the time of great weakness which succeeded this, +my foot scarcely ever touched the ground. I was carried by Ernst himself +wherever I would. He was unwearied in goodness and patience towards the +sick mother. Should she not now, that she is again in health, dedicate +her life to him? Ah, yes, that should she, and that will she! Alas, were +but my ability as strong as my will! + +Do you know one thing, Cecilia, which often occasions me great trouble? +It is that I am not a clever housewife; that I can neither take pleasure +in all the little cares and details which the well-being of a house +really requires, nor that I have memory for these things; more +especially is the daily caring for dinner irksome to me. I myself have +but little appetite; and it is so unpleasing to me to go to sleep at +night, and to get up in the morning with my head full of schemes for +cooking. By this means, it happens that sometimes my husband's domestic +comforts are not such as he has a right to demand. Hitherto my weak +health, the necessary care of the children, and our rather narrow +circumstances, have furnished me with sufficient excuses; but these now +will avail me no longer; my health is again established, and our greater +prosperity furnishes the means for better household management. + +On this account, I now exert myself to perform all my duties well; but, +ah! how pleasant it will be when the little Louise is sufficiently grown +up, that I may lay part of the housekeeping burdens on her shoulders. I +fancy to myself that she will have peculiar pleasure in all these +things. + +I am to-day two-and-thirty years old. It seems to me that I have entered +a new period of my life: my youth lies behind me, I am advanced into +middle age, and I well know what both this and my husband have a right +to demand from me. May a new and stronger being awake in me! May God +support me, and Ernst be gentle towards his erring wife! + +Ernst should have married a more energetic woman. My nervous weakness +makes my temper irritable, and I am so easily annoyed. His activity of +mind often disturbs me more than it is reasonable or right that it +should; for instance, I get regularly into a state of excitement, if he +only steadfastly fixes his eyes on a wall, or on any other object. I +immediately begin to fancy that we are going instantly to have a new +door opened, or some other change brought about. And oh! I have such a +great necessity for rest and quiet! + +One change which is about to take place in our house I cannot anticipate +without uneasiness. It is the arrival of a candidate of Philosophy, +Jacob Jacobi, as tutor for my children. He will this summer take my wild +boy under his charge, and instruct the sisters in writing, drawing, and +arithmetic; and in the autumn conduct my first-born from the maternal +home to a great educational institution. I dread this new member in our +domestic circle; he may, if he be not amiable, so easily prove so +annoying; yet, if he be amiable and good, he will be so heartily welcome +to me, especially as assistant in the wearisome writing lessons, with +their eternal "Henrik, sit still!"--"Hold the pen properly, +Louise!"--"Look at the copy, Leonore!"--"Don't forget the points and +strokes, Eva!"--"Little Petrea, don't wipe out the letters with your +nose!" Besides this, my first-born begins to have less and less esteem +for my Latin knowledge; and Ernst is sadly discontented with his wild +pranks. Jacobi will give him instruction, together with Nils Gabriel, +the son of the District-Governor, Stjernhök, a most industrious and +remarkably sensible boy, from whose influence on my Henrik I hope for +much good. + +The Candidate is warmly recommended to us by a friend of my husband, the +excellent Bishop B.; yet, notwithstanding this, his actions at the +University did not particularly redound to his honour. Through credulity +and folly he has run through a nice little property which had been left +him by three old aunts, who had brought him up and spoiled him into the +bargain. Indeed, his career has hitherto not been quite a correct one. +Bishop B. conceals nothing of all this, but says that he is much +attached to the young man; praises his heart, and his excellent gifts as +a preceptor, and prays us to receive him cordially, with all parental +tenderness, into our family. We shall soon see whether he be deserving +of such hearty sympathy. For my part, I must confess that my motherly +tenderness for him is as yet fast asleep. + +Yet, after all, this inmate does not terrify me half as much as a visit +with which I am shortly threatened. Of course you have heard of the lady +of the late Colonel S., the beautiful Emilie, my husband's "old flame," +as I call her, out of a little malice for all the vexation her +perfections, which are so very opposite to mine, have occasioned me. She +has been now for several years a widow, has lived long abroad, and now +will pay us a visit on her return to her native land. Ernst and she have +always kept up the most friendly understanding with each other, although +she refused his hand; and it is a noble characteristic of my Ernst, and +one which, in his sex, is not often found, that this rejection did not +make him indifferent to the person who gave it. On the contrary, he +professes the most warm admiration of this Emilie, and has not ceased to +correspond with her; and I, for I read all their letters, cannot but +confess her extraordinary knowledge and acuteness. But to know all this +near is what I would indeed be very gladly excused, since I cannot help +thinking that my husband's "old flame" has something of cold-heartedness +in her, and my heart has no great inclination to become warm towards +her. + +It strikes ten o'clock. Ernst will not come home before twelve. I shall +leave you now, Cecilia, that----shall I confess my secret to you? You +know that one of my greatest pleasures is the reading of a good novel, +but this pleasure I have almost entirely renounced, because whenever I +have a really interesting one in my hand, I find the most cruel +difficulty in laying it down before I reach the last page. That, +however, does not answer in my case; and since the time when through the +reading of Madame De Stael's Corinne, two dinners, one great wash, and +seventeen lesser domestic affairs all came to a stand-still, and my +domestic peace nearly suffered shipwreck, I have made a resolution to +give up all novel-reading, at least for the present. But still it is so +necessary for me to have some literary relaxation of the kind, that +since I read no more novels, I have myself--begun to write one. Yes, +Cecilia, my youthful habits will not leave me, even in the midst of the +employments and prosaic cares of every-day life; and the flowers which +in the morning-tide cast their fragrance so sweetly around me, will yet +once more bloom for me in remembrance, and encircle my drooping head +with a refreshing garland. The joyful days which I passed by your side; +the impressions and the agreeable scenes--now they seem doubly so--which +made our youth so beautiful, so lively, and so fresh,--all these I will +work out into one significant picture, before the regular flight of +years has made them perish from my soul. This employment enlivens and +strengthens me; and if, in an evening, my nervous toothache, which is +the certain result of over-exertion or of vexation, comes on, there is +nothing which will dissipate it like the going on with my little +romance. For this very reason, therefore, because this evening my old +enemy has plagued me more than common, I have recourse to my innocent +opiate. + +But Ernst shall not find me awake when he returns: this I have promised +him. Good night, sweet Cecilia! + +We will now, in this place, give a little description of the +letter-writer--of the mother of Henrik, Louise, Eva, Leonore, Petrea, +and Gabriele. + +Beautiful she certainly was not, but nature had given to her a noble +growth, which was still as fine and delicate as that of a young girl. +The features were not regular, but the mouth was fresh and bewitching, +the lips of a lovely bright red, the complexion fair, and the clear blue +eyes soft and kind. All her actions were graceful: she had beautiful +hands--which is something particularly lovely in a lady--yet she was not +solicitous to keep them always in view, and this beautified them still +more. She dressed with much taste, almost always in light colours; this +and the soft rose scent which she loved, and which always accompanied +her, lent to her whole being a something especially mild and agreeable. +One might compare her to moonlight; she moved softly, and her voice was +low and sweet, which, as Shakspeare says, is "an excellent thing in +woman." Seeing her, as one often might do, reclining on a soft couch, +playing with a flower or caressing a child, one could scarcely fancy her +the superintendent of a large household, with all its appertaining +work-people and servants; and beyond this, as the instructor of many +children: yet love and sense of duty had led her to the performance of +all this, had reconciled her to that which her natural inclinations were +so averse to; nay, by degrees indeed, had made these very cares dear to +her--whatever concerned the children lay near to her heart, whilst +order, pleasantness, and peace, regulated the house. The contents of the +linen-press were dear to her; a snow-white tablecloth was her delight; +grey linen, dust, and flies, were hated by her, as far as she could hate +anything. + +But let us now proceed with our historical sketches. + +We left Elise at her manuscript, by which she became soon so deeply +occupied that the clock struck twelve unperceived by her; nor was she +aware of the flight of time till a sudden terror thrilled her as she +heard her husband return. To throw her manuscript into her drawer, and +quickly undress, had been an easy thing for her, and she was about to do +so, when the thought occurred, "I have never hitherto kept my +proceedings secret from Ernst, and to-day I will not begin to do so;" +and she remained at her writing-table till he entered the room. + +"What! yet up, and writing?" said he, with a displeased glance. "Is it +thus you keep your promise, Elise?" + +"Pardon me, Ernst," said she; "I had forgotten myself." + +"And for what?" asked he. "What are you writing? No, let me see! What! a +novel, as I live! Now, what use is this?" + +"What use is it?" returned Elise. "Ah, to give me pleasure." + +"But people should have sense and reason in their pleasures," said the +Judge. "Now it gives me no pleasure at all that you should sit up at +night ruining your eyes on account of a miserable novel;--if there were +a fire here I would burn the rubbish!" + +"It would be a great deal better," returned Elise, mildly, "if you went +to bed and said your prayers piously, rather than thought about such an +_auto-da-fé_. How have you amused yourself at the Governor's?" + +"You want now to be mixing the cards," said he. "Look at me, Elise; you +are pale; your pulse is excited! Say my prayers, indeed! I have a great +mind to give you a lecture, that I have! Is it reasonable--is it +prudent--to sit up at night and become pale and sleepless, in order to +write what is good for nothing? It really makes me quite angry that you +can be so foolish, so childish! It certainly is worth while your going +to baths, sending to the east and to the west to consult physicians, and +giving oneself all kind of trouble to regain your health, when you go +and do every possible thing you can in the world to destroy it!" + +"Do not be angry, Ernst," besought Elise; "do not look so stern on me +to-night, Ernst; no, not to-night." + +"Yes, indeed!" replied he, but in a tone which had become at once +milder, "because it is two-and-thirty years to-day since you came into +the world, do you think that you have a right to be absolutely +childish?" + +"Put that down to my account," said Elise, smiling, yet with a tear in +her eye. + +"Put it down! put it down!" repeated the Judge. "Yes, I suppose so. +People go on putting down neck or nothing till it's a pretty fool's +business. I should like to pack all novels and novel-writers out of the +world together! The world never will be wise till that is done; nor will +you either. In the mean time, however, it is as well that I have found +you awake, else I must have woke you to prove that you cannot conceal +from me, not even for once, how old you are. Here then is the punishment +for your bad intention." + +"Ah! Walter Scott's romances!" exclaimed Elise, receiving a set of +volumes from her husband; "and such a magnificent edition! Thanks! +thanks! you good, best Ernst! But you are a beautiful lawgiver; you +promote the very things which you condemn!" + +"Promise me, only," returned he, "not to spend the night in reading or +writing novels. Think only how precious your health is to so many of us! +Do you think I should be so provoked, if you were less dear to me? Do +you comprehend that? In a few years, Elise," added he, "when the +children are older, and you are stronger, we will turn a summer to +really good account, and take our Norwegian journey. You shall breathe +the fresh mountain air, and see the beautiful valleys and the sea, and +that will do you much more good than all the mineral waters in the +world. But come now, let us go and see the children; we will not wake +them, however, although I have brought with me some confectionery from +the lady hostess, which I can lay on their pillows. There is a rennet +for you." + +The married pair went into the children's room, where the faithful old +Fin-woman, Brigitta, lay and guarded, like the dragon, her treasures. +The children slept as children sleep. The father stroked the beautiful +curling hair of the boy, but impressed a kiss on the rosy cheek of each +girl. After this the parents returned to their own chamber. Elise lay +down to rest; her husband sate down to his desk, but so as to shade the +light from his wife. The low sounds of a pen moving on paper came to her +ear as if in sleep. As the clock struck two she awoke, and he was still +writing. + +Few men required and allowed themselves so little rest as Ernst Frank. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] A kind of fine curled cake. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE CANDIDATE. + + +It was in the twilight. The children were playing at "lĺna eld"[2] in +the great hall, swarming about in holes and corners, when the sudden +stopping of a travelling carriage before the door operated upon the wild +little flock much as a stream of cold water on a swarm of Lees. The +Queen-bee of the children-swarm, the wise little Louise, sate herself +down at the window, and four other little heads clustered themselves +about her, fervent and inquisitive, and almost pushing her away in their +impatient zeal to get a peep at the arrival. + +It was a gentleman who stepped lightly out of that travelling carriage, +but whether young or old, the children could not see; this, however, +they saw, that their father came quickly to the door, shook the +traveller by the hand, and conducted him into the house; whilst a very +small portmanteau was carried after him. Seeing this, the little swarm +hastened to their mother; to whom they gave, in all possible degrees of +tone, from a low whisper to a loud annunciation, the information that +for certain "the tutor was come." + +Elise, who had company with her, calmed with a "yes, yes!" and "so, +indeed!" the excited state of the children. The Queen-bee composed +herself quickly; and with mildly silencing looks seemed to observe that +she had somewhat forgotten her own dignity, and seated herself quietly +and becomingly among the "grown people," as one of them, whilst the +other children gathered themselves in a little group in one corner of +the room, whispering and wondering; and whoever had looked at them might +have seen many a time Petrea's nose peering forth from the little group. + +Judge Frank sent to announce to his wife the arrival of the expected +guest, who would be introduced to her as soon as he had completed his +toilet. Presently afterwards another messenger came, desiring +curling-irons for the Candidate. + +"It is a blessed long toilet!" thought Elise, many a time during a full +hour which elapsed in waiting; and it must be confessed that her nose +more than once during the hour took the same direction as Petrea's. + +At last the steps of two gentlemen were heard on the hall floor, and +there advanced through the parlour door a well-shod foot and a handsome +leg, belonging to a well-formed though somewhat compressed figure, which +carried gracefully a twenty-year-old head, of a jovial, comely +appearance, with the hair dressed after the newest mode. It was the +Candidate. He cast a glance first at his foot, and then at the lady of +the house, whom he approached with the most unconstrained +self-possession, exhibiting the while a row of dazzlingly white teeth. +Odour of _eau de Portugal_ diffused itself though the room. + +The Judge, who followed, and whose bearing and simple demeanour +contrasted with those of the new guest, introduced the Candidate Jacobi. +Various unimportant polite speeches were made by everybody, and then +they all took their seats. The children then came forward, and made +their bows and curtseys. Henrik eyed his future preceptor with a joyous, +confiding glance; the Queen-bee curtseyed very becomingly, and then made +several steps backward as the young man seemed inclined to take the +great liberty of kissing her; whilst Petrea turned up her nose with an +inquisitive saucy air. The Candidate took the kindest notice of them +all; shook all of them by the hand; inquired all their names; looked at +himself in the glass, and arranged his curls. + +"Whom have we here?" thought Elise, with secret anxiety. "He is a fop--a +perfect fop! How in all the world could Bishop B. select him as teacher +for my poor little children? He will think much more of looking at +himself in the glass than of looking after them. The fine breast-pin +that he is wearing is of false stones. He laughs to show his white +teeth. An actual fop--a fool, perhaps! There, now, he looks at himself +again in the glass!" + +Elise sought to catch her husband's eye, but he evidently avoided +meeting hers; yet something of discontent, and something of trouble too, +showed itself in his manner. The Candidate, on the contrary, appeared +not in the slightest degree troubled, but reclined perfectly at his ease +in an armchair, and cast searching glances on three ladies, who +evidently were strangers in the company. The eldest of these, who kept +on sewing incessantly, appeared to be upwards of forty, and was +distinguished by a remarkably quiet, bright, and friendly aspect. Judge +Frank and she talked much together. The other two appeared neither of +them to have attained her twentieth year: the one was pale and fair; the +other a pretty brunette; both of them were agreeable, and looked good +and happy. These ladies were introduced to Jacobi as Miss Evelina +Berndes and her adopted daughters, Laura and Karin. Laura had always one +of the children on her knee, and it was upon her that his eyes were most +particularly fixed. It was indeed a very pretty picture, which was +formed by Laura, with the lovely little Gabriele on her knee, decorated +with the flowers, bracelets, necklace, in short, with all the pretty +things that just before had ornamented herself. + +The conversation soon became general, and was remarkably easy, and the +Candidate had an opportunity of taking his part well and interestingly +in it whilst speaking of certain distinguished men in the University +from which he was just come. Elise mentioned one celebrated man whom she +had a great desire to see, upon which Jacobi said he had lately made a +little sketch of him, which, on her expressing a wish to see, he +hastened to fetch. + +He returned with a portfolio containing many drawings and pictures; +partly portraits, and partly landscapes, from his own pencil; they were +not deficient in talent, and afforded pleasure. First one portrait was +recognised and then another, and at last the Candidate himself. The +children were quite enchanted, and thronged with enthusiasm round the +table. The Candidate placed some of them on his knee, and seemed +particularly observant of their pleasure, and it was not long, +therefore, before they appeared entirely to forget that he was only a +new acquaintance--all at least excepting Louise, who held herself rather +_fičre_, and "the baby," which was quite ungracious towards him. + +Above all the pictures which the portfolio contained, were the children +most affected and enchanted by one in sepia, which represented a girl +kneeling before a rose-bush, from which she was gathering roses, whilst +a lyre lay against a gravestone near her. + +"Oh, how sweet! how divinely beautiful!" exclaimed they. Petrea seemed +as if she actually could not remove her eyes from the charming picture, +which the Candidate himself also seemed to regard with a fatherly +affection, and which was the crown of his little collection. + +It was the custom at the Franks, that every evening, as soon as the +clock had struck eight, the little herd of children, conducted by the +Queen-bee, withdrew to their bed-chamber, which had once occasioned the +wakeful Petrea to say that night was the worst thing God had ever made: +for which remark she received a reproving glance from the Queen-bee, +accompanied by the maxim, "that people should not talk in that way." + +In order, however, to celebrate the present day, which was a remarkable +one, the children were permitted to take supper with their parents, and +even to sit up as late as they did. The prospect of this indulgence, the +Candidate, the pictures, all combined to elevate the spirits of the +children in no ordinary degree; so much so indeed that Petrea had the +boldness, whilst they were regaling on roast chicken, to propose to the +Candidate that the picture of the girl and the rose-bush should be put +up for a prize on the breaking of a merrythought between them; +promising, that if she had the good fortune to win it, she would give as +a recompense a picture of her own composition, which should represent +some scene in a temple. The Queen-bee appeared scandalised at her +sister's proposal, and shook her little wise head at her. + +The mother also violently opposed Petrea's proposition; and she, poor +girl, became scarlet, and deeply abashed, before the reproving glances +which were cast upon her; yet the Candidate was good-natured enough, +after the first astonishment was over, to yield in the most cheerful +manner to Petrea's proposal, and zealously to declare that the affair +should be managed just as she would. He accordingly set himself, with an +appearance of great accuracy and solemnity, to measure the length of +both limbs of the merrythought, and then counted three; the mother all +this time hoping within herself that he would so manage it that he +himself should retain the head--but no! the head remained in Petrea's +hand, and she uttered a loud cry of joy. After supper, the parents again +opposed what had taken place; but the Candidate was so cheerful and so +determined that it should remain as it was settled already, that Petrea, +the happiest of mortals, ventured to carry out the girl and rose-bush; +yet, she did not miss a motherly warning by the way, which mingled some +tears with her joy. The Candidate had, in the mean time, on account of +his kindness towards the children, and his good-nature towards Petrea, +made a favourable impression on the parents. + +"Who knows," said Elise to her husband, "but that he may turn out very +well. He has, probably, his faults, but he has his good qualities too; +there is something really very agreeable in his voice and countenance; +but he must leave off that habit of looking at himself so continually in +the glass." + +"I feel assured that he must have worth," said the Judge, "from the +recommendation of my friend B. This vanity, and these foppish habits of +his, we shall soon know how to get rid of; the man himself is +unquestionably good; and, dear Elise, be kind to him, and manage so that +he shall feel at home with us." + +The children also, in their place of rest, made their observations on +the Candidate. + +"I think he is much handsomer than my father," said little Petrea. + +"I think," said the Queen-bee, in a tone of correction, "that nobody can +be more perfect than my father." + +"That is true, excepting mamma," exclaimed Eva, out of her little bed. + +"Ah," said Petrea, "I like him so much; he has given me that lovely +picture. Do you know what I shall call that girl? I shall call her Rosa; +and I'll tell you a long story about her. There was once upon a +time----" + +All the sisters listened eagerly, for Petrea could relate better and +prettier stories than any of them. It was therefore said among +themselves that Petrea was very clever; but as the Queen-bee was +desirous that Petrea should not build much on this opinion, she now +listened to her history without bestowing upon it one token of applause, +although it was found to be sufficiently interesting to keep the whole +little auditorium awake till midnight. + +"What will become of my preserves?" thought Elise, one day as she +remarked the quantity which vanished from the plate of the Candidate; +but when that same evening she saw the little Gabriele merrily, and +without reproof, pulling about his curls; when she saw him join the +children at their play, and make every game which they played +instructive to them; when she saw him armed with a great paper weapon, +which he called his sword, and deal about blows to those who counted +false, thereby exciting greater activity of mind as well as more mirth, +she thought to herself, "he may eat just as much preserves as he likes; +I will take care that he never goes short of them." + +If, however, the Candidate rose higher in the regards of one party, +there still was another with which his actions did not place him in the +best point of view. Brigitta, to whom the care of some few things in the +house was confided, began to look troubled, and out of sorts. For +several days, whatever her cause of annoyance might be, she preserved +silence, till one evening, when expanding the nostrils of her little +snubby nose, she thus addressed her mistress: + +"The gracious lady must be so good as to give out to the cook just twice +as much coffee as usual; because if things are to go on in this way, we +cannot do with less. He, the master there, empties the little coffee-pot +himself every morning! Never, in all my life, have I seen such a +coffee-bibber!" + +The following evening came a new announcement of trouble. + +"Now it is not alone a coffee-bibber," said poor Brigitta, with a gloomy +countenance and wide-staring eyes, "but a calf it is, and a devourer of +rusks! What do you think, gracious lady, but the rusk-basket, which I +filled only yesterday, is to-day as good as empty--only two rusks and +two or three crumbs remaining! Then for cream! Why every morning he +empties the jug!" + +"Ah, it is very good," said Elise, mildly, yet evasively, "that he +enjoys things so much." + +"And only look, in heaven's name!" lamented poor Brigitta another day, +"he is also quite a sugar-rat! Why, dear, gracious lady, he must put in +at least twenty pieces of sugar into one cup of coffee, or he never +could empty a sugar-basin as he does! I must beg you to give mo the key +of the chest, that I may fill it again. God grant that all this may have +a good ending!" + +Brigitta could venture to say much, for she had grown old in the house; +had carried Elise as a child in her arms; and from affection to her, had +followed her when she left her father's house: besides this, she was a +most excellent guardian for the children; but as now these complaints of +hers were too frequently repeated, Elise said to her seriously: "Dear +Brigitta, let him eat and drink as much as he likes, without any +observation: I would willingly allow him a pound of sugar and coffee a +day, if he only became, as I hope he may, a good friend and preceptor +for the children." + +Brigitta walked away quite provoked, and grumbling to herself: "Well, +well!" said she, "old Brita can be silent, yes, that she can;--well, +well! we shall see what will be the end of it. Sugar and rusks he eats, +and salt-fish he can't eat!--well, well!" + +All this time Jacobi was passing his days in peace, little dreaming of +the clouds which were gathering over his head, or of his appellations of +coffee-bibber, calf, rusk-devourer, and sugar-rat; and with each +succeeding day it became more evident that Elise's hopes of him were +well grounded. He developed more and more a good and amiable +disposition, and the most remarkable talents as teacher. The children +became attached to him with the most intense affection; nor did their +obedience and reverence for him as preceptor prevent them, in their +freer hours, from playing him all kind of little pranks. Petrea was +especially rich in such inventions; and he was too kind, too much +delighted with their pleasure, not willingly to assist, or even at times +allow himself to be the butt of their jokes. + +Breakfast, which for the elder members of the family was commonly served +at eleven o'clock, furnished the children with an excellent opportunity +for their amusement. The Candidate was particularly fond of eggs, and +therefore, when under a bulky-looking napkin he expected to find some, +and laid hasty hands on it, he not unfrequently discovered, instead of +eggs, balls of worsted, playing-balls, and other such indigestible +articles; on which discovery of his, a stifled laughter would commonly +be heard at the door, and a cluster of children's heads be visible, +which he in pretended anger assailed with the false eggs, and which +quickly withdrew amid peals of laughter. Often too, when, according to +old Swedish usage, he would take a glass of spirits, he found pure water +instead of Cognac in his mouth; and the little advocates of temperance +were always near enough to enjoy his astonishment, although sufficiently +distant, also, that not one drop of the shower which was then sent at +them should reach them, though it made them leap high enough for +delight. And really it was wonderful how often these little surprises +could be repeated, and how the Candidate let himself so constantly be +surprised. But he was too much occupied by his own thoughts (the +thoughts of course of a student of philosophy!) in order to be on his +guard against the tricks of these young merry-andrews. One day---- + +But before we proceed further we must observe, that although the +toilette of the Candidate seemed externally to be always so well +supplied, yet still it was, in fact, in but a very indifferent +condition. No wonder, therefore, was it, that though his hat outwardly +was always well brushed, and was apparently in good order, yet that it +had within a sadly tattered lining. + +One day, therefore, as the Candidate had laid his hat in a corner of the +room, and was sitting near the sofa in a very earnest conversation, +Henrik, Petrea, and Eva gathered themselves about that symbol of freedom +with the most suspicious airs and gestures of conspiracy. Nobody paid +any attention to them, when after awhile the Candidate rose to leave the +room, and going through the door would have put on his hat--but, behold, +a very singular revolution had taken place within it, and a mass of tin +soldiers, stones, matches, and heaven knows what besides, came rattling +down upon his head; and even one little chimney-sweeper fell astride on +his nose. Nothing could compare with the immeasurable delight of the +children at the astonishment of the Candidate, and the comic grimaces +and head-shakings with which he received this their not very polite +jest. + +No wonder was it, therefore, that the children loved the Candidate so +well. + +The little Queen-bee, however, who more and more began to reckon herself +as one of the grown people, and only very rarely took part in the +conspiracies against the Candidate, shook her head at this prank of her +brother and sisters, and looked out a new piece of dark silk from her +drawer (Louise was a hoarder by nature), possessed herself secretly of +the Candidate's hat, and with some little help from her mother, had then +her secret pleasure also, and could laugh in her own sleeve at his +amazement when he discovered a bran new lining in his hat. + +"Our little Queen-bee is a sensible little girl," said the Judge, +well-pleased, to his wife, who had made him a third in this plot; and +after that day she was called both by father and mother "our sensible +little Queen-bee." + +Scarcely had Jacobi been three weeks in the family of the Franks, +before Elise felt herself disposed to give him a new title, that of +Disputer-General, so great was the ability he discovered to dispute on +every subject, from human free-will to rules for cookery; nay, even for +the eating of eggs. + +On this subject Elise wrote thus to her sister Cecilia:--"But however +polite and agreeable the Candidate may be generally, still he is just as +wearisome and obstinate in disputation; and as there is nobody in the +house that makes any pretension to rival him in certain subtleties of +argument, he is in great danger of considering himself a miracle of +metaphysical light, which he is not, I am persuaded, by any means, since +he has much more skill in rending down than in building up, in +perplexing than in making clear. Ernst is no friend of metaphysical +hair-splitting, and when Jacobi begins to doubt the most perceptible and +most certain things--'what is perceptible, what is certain?' the +Candidate will inquire--he grows impatient, shrugs his shoulders, goes +to his writing-table, and leaves me to combat it out, although, for my +part, I would gladly have nothing to do with it. Should I, however, for +awhile carry on the contest boldly, the scholar then will overwhelm me +with learned words and arguments, and then I too flee, and leave him +_maître du champ de bataille_. He believes then that I am convinced, at +least of his power, which yet, however, is not the case; and if fortune +do not bestow upon me a powerful ally against him, he may imagine so. +Nevertheless, I am not without some curiosity to hear a system which he +has promised to explain to me this evening, and according to which +everything in the world ought to be so good and consistent. These +subjects have always an interest for me, and remind me of the time when +you and I, Cecilia, like two butterflies, went fluttering over the +earth, pausing about its flowers, and building up for ourselves pretty +theories on the origin of life and all things. Since then I had almost +forgotten them. Think only if the mythology of our youth should present +itself again in the system of the Candidate!" + +Here Elise was interrupted by the entrance of the troop of children. + +"Might we borrow Gabriele?" "Mother, lend us Gabriele!" besought several +coaxing little voices. + +"Gabriele, wilt thou not come and play with us? Oh, yes, certainly thou +wilt!" and with these words Petrea held up a gingerbread heart, winch +so operated on the heart of the little one, that she yielded to the +wishes of brother and sisters. + +"Ah, but you must take great care of her, my little angel!" said the +mother; "Louise, dear, take her under your charge; look after her, and +see that no harm befal her!" + +"Yes, of course," said Louise, with a consequential countenance; and the +jubilant children carried off the borrowed treasure, and quickly was +their sport in full operation in the hall. + +Elise took her work, and the Candidate, with a look of great importance, +seated himself before her, in order to initiate her into the mysteries +of his system. Just, however, at the moment when he had opened his mouth +to begin, after having hemmed a few times, a shrill little barking, and +the words "your most devoted servant," were heard at the door, and a +person entered curtseying with an air of conscious worth, said with a +little poodle in her arms--a person with whom we will have the honour to +commence a new chapter. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] Borrowing fire; a Swedish child's play. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE CHAMBERLAIN'S LADY. + + +Where is there not _haute volée_? Above the heavenly hosts are outspread +the wings of cherubim and seraphim; and in the poultry-yards of earth +the geese exalt their wings high over the other lesser feathered +creatures. It belongs to the ordination of the world. + +The Chamberlain's lady, Gunilla W., belonged incontestibly to the +highest _haute volée_ in the excellent city of X., where we have had the +honour of making the acquaintance of the family of the Franks. She was +the sister of Governor Stjernhök, and inhabited the third story of the +house of which the Franks inhabited the second, and Evelina Berndes the +first. + +This lady had spent her youth at court, and passed many a day of +wearisome constraint, and many a night in making those clothes which +were to conceal from the world how poor Miss Gunilla was; yet neither +night nor day did she complain either of constraint or of poverty, for +she possessed under a plain exterior a strong and quiet spirit. + +An old aunt used to preach to her thus: "Eat, that thou mayst grow fat; +if thou art fat, thou wilt grow handsome; and if thou art handsome, thou +wilt get married." + +Miss Gunilla, who never ate much, and who did not eat one mouthful more +for this warning, grew neither fat nor handsome; yet on account of her +excellent disposition she was beloved by every one, and especially by a +young rich Chamberlain of the court, who, through his own good qualities +and excellent heart, won her affections, and thus Miss Gunilla became +Mistress. After this, in the circle of her friends she was accustomed to +be called Mrs. Gunilla; which freedom we also shall sometimes take with +her here. + +Shortly after her marriage, and in consequence of cold, her husband +became a sad invalid. For thirty years she lived separated from the +world, a faithful and lonely attendant of the sick man; and what she +bore and what she endured the world knew not, for she endured all in +silence. For several years her husband could not bear the light; she +learned, therefore, to work in darkness, and thus made a large +embroidered carpet. "Into this carpet," said she, as she once spoke +accidentally of herself, "have I worked many tears." + +One of the many hypochondriacal fancies of her husband was, that he was +about to fall into a yawning abyss, and only could believe himself safe +so long as he held the hand of his wife. Thus for one month after +another she sate by his couch. + +At length the grave opened for him; and thanking his wife for the +happiness he had enjoyed in the house of sickness on earth, he sank to +rest, in full belief of a land of restoration beyond. When he was gone, +it seemed to her as if she were as useless in the world as an old +almanack; but here also again her soul raised itself under its burden, +and she regulated her life with peace and decision. In course of years +she grew more cheerful, and the originality of her talents and +disposition which nature had given to her, and which, in her solitude, +had undisturbedly followed their own bent, brought a freshness with them +into social life, into which she entered at first rather from resolution +than from feeling at ease in it. + +"The Lord ordains all things for the best;" that had always been, and +still remained, the firm anchorage of her soul. But it was not this +alone which gave to her the peace and gentleness which announced +themselves in her voice, and diffused a true grace over her aged and +not handsome countenance; they had yet another foundation: for even as +the sunken sun throws the loveliest light upon the earth which it has +left, so does the holy memory of a beloved but departed human being on +the remaining solitary friend. Mrs. Gunilla herself lived in such a +remembrance: she knew it not, but after the death of her husband the +dark pictures of his suffering vanished more and more, and his own form, +purified by patience and suffering, rose continually higher in its noble +glorification; it beamed into her soul, and her soul became brightened +thereby. Seldom mentioned she the name of her husband; but when she did +so, it was like a breath of summer air in voice and countenance. + +She collected good people about her, and loved to promote their +happiness; and whenever there was a young couple whose narrow +circumstances, or whose fears for the future, filled them with anxiety, +or a young but indigent man who was about to fall into debt and +difficulty, Mrs. Gunilla was ever at hand, although in most cases behind +others. She had nevertheless her faults; and these, as we proceed, we +shall become acquainted with. + +We now hastily sketch her portrait the size of life. Age between fifty +and sixty; figure tall, stiff, well-made, not too thin--beside Jeremias +Muntor she might be called stout--complexion, pale yellow; the nose and +chin coming together, the mouth fallen in; the eyes grey and small, +forehead smooth, and agreeably shaded by silver hair; the hands still +handsome, and between the thumb and delicate tip of the forefinger a +pinch of snuff, which was commonly held in certain perspective towards +the nose, whilst with an elbow resting on the arm of sofa or easy-chair +she gave little lectures, or read aloud, for it was one of her +weaknesses to suppose that she knew everything. + +During her long hermit-life she had been accustomed wholly to neglect +her toilet, and this neglect she found it difficult afterwards to +overcome; and her old silk gown, from which the wadding peeped out from +many a hole, especially at the elbows; her often-mended collar, and her +drooping cap, the ribbons of which were flecked with many a stain of +snuff, were always a trouble to Elise's love of order and purity. +Notwithstanding all this, there was a certain air about Mrs. Gunilla +which carried off all; and with her character, rank, property, and +consideration, she was _haute volée_, spite of torn gown and +snuff-beflecked ribbons, and had great influence among the best society +of the city. + +She considered herself somewhat related to Elise, was very fond of her, +and used very often to impart to her opinions on education (N. B.--Mrs. +Gunilla never had children), on which account many people in the city +accused Elise of weakness towards the _haute volée_, and the +postmistress Bask and the general-shopkeeper Suur considered it quite as +much a crime as a failing. + +There was in Mrs. Gunilla's voice, manners, and bearing, a something +very imposing; her curtsey was usually very stately and low, and this +brings us again to her entrance into Elise's room. Elise, the moment she +entered, quickly rose and welcomed her, introducing Jacobi at the same +time. + +At the first glance Jacobi uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise, +approached her with an appearance of the greatest cordiality, seized her +hand, which he kissed reverentially, and felicitated himself on the +happiness of seeing her again. + +The little eyes of the Chamberlain's lady twinkled, and she exclaimed, +"Oh, heavens! my heart's dearest! Nay, that is very pleasant! He, he, +he, he!" + +"How!" exclaimed Elise, in astonishment, "Mr. Jacobi, do you +know----Aunt W., do you know Mr. Jacobi?" + +The Candidate appeared about to give an explanation of the acquaintance, +but this Mrs. Gunilla, with a faint crimson overspreading the pale +yellow cheek, and a twitch of the eyebrow, prevented, and with a quick +voice she said, "We once lived in the same house." + +She then desired that the conversation which her entrance had +interrupted, and which appeared to have been very important, might +proceed. "At least," added she, with a penetrating glance on Elise and +the Candidate, "if I should not disturb you." + +"Certainly not!" + +The Candidate needed only the sixteenth of a hint to rush armed with +full fervour into the mysteries of his system. Mrs. Gunilla took up a +packet of old gold thread, which she set herself to unravel, whilst the +Candidate coughed and prepared himself. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +MONADS AND NOMADS. + + +"All beings," commenced the Candidate, "have, as their most intrinsic +foundation and substance, a simple unity, a soul, a--in one word, a +monad." + +"A--a what?" asked the Chamberlain's lady, fixing her eyes upon him. + +"A monad, or a simple unity," continued he. "The monads have a common +resemblance in substance one with another; but in respect of qualities, +of power, and size, they are substantially unlike. There are the monads +of people; there are human monads, animal monads, vegetable monads; in +short, the world is full of monads--they compose the world----" + +"Heart's dearest!" interrupted the old lady, in a tone of displeasure, +"I don't understand one word of all this! What stuff it is! What are +monads?--fill the world, do they?--I see no monads!" + +"But you see me, dear lady," said Jacobi, "and yourself. You are +yourself a monad." + +"I a monad!" exclaimed she, in disgust. + +"Yes, certainly," replied he, "your Honour, just the same as any other +living creature----" + +"But," interrupted she, "I must tell you, dear friend, that I am neither +a monad nor a creature, but a human being--a sinful human being it is +true--but one that God, in any case, created in his own image." + +"Yes, certainly, certainly," acceded the Candidate. "I acknowledge a +principal monad, from which all other monads emanate----" + +"What!" exclaimed she, "is our Lord God to be a monad also?" + +"He may be so designated," said the Candidate, "on account of oneness, +and also to preserve uniformity as to name. For the rest, I believe that +the monads, from the beginning, are gifted with a self-sustaining +strength, through which they are generated into the corporeal world; +that is to say, take a bodily shape, live, act, nay even strive--that is +to say, would remove themselves from one body into another without the +immediate influence of the Principal Monad. The monads are in perpetual +motion--perpetual change, and always place and arrange themselves +according to their power and will. If, now, we regard the world from +this point of view, it presents itself to us in the clearest and most +excellent manner. In all spheres of life we see how the principal monad +assembles all the subject monads around itself as organs and members. +Thus are nations and states, arts and sciences, fashioned; thus every +man creates his own world, and governs it according to his ability; for +there is no such thing as free-will, as people commonly imagine, but the +monad in man directs what he shall become, and what in regard to----" + +"That I don't believe," interrupted Mrs. Gunilla; "since, if my soul, or +monad, as you would call it, had guided me according to its pleasure, it +would have led me to do many wicked things; and if our Lord God had not +chastised me, and in his mercy directed me to something that was +good--be so good as to let alone my cotton-balls--it would have gone mad +enough with my nomadic soul--that I can tell you." + +"But, your Honour," said Jacobi, "I don't deny at all the influence of a +principal monad; on the contrary, I acknowledge that; and it is +precisely this influence upon your monad which----" + +"And I assert," exclaimed she, warming, and again interrupting him, +"that we should do nothing that was right if you could establish your +nomadic government, instead of the government of our Lord God. What good +could I get from your nomads?" + +"Monads," said the Candidate, correcting her. + +"And supposing your monads," continued Mrs. Gunilla, "do keep in such +perpetual movement, and do arrange themselves so properly, what good +will that do me in moments of temptation and need? It is far wiser and +better that I say and believe that our Lord God will guide us according +to his wisdom and good, than if I should believe that a heap of your +nomads----" + +"Monads, monads!" exclaimed the Candidate. + +"Monads or nomads," answered angrily Mrs. Gunilla, "it is all one--be so +good as to let my cotton alone, I want it myself--your nomads may be as +magnificent and as mighty as they please, and they may govern +themselves, and may live and strive according to their own wisdom; yet I +cannot see how the world, for all that, can be in the least the more +regular, or even one little grain the more pleasant, to look at. And why +are things so bad here? Why, precisely for this very reason, because you +good people fancy yourselves such powerful monads, and think so much of +your own strength, without being willing to know that you are altogether +poor sinners, who ought to beseech our Lord God to govern their poor +nomadic souls, in order that they might become a little better. It is +precisely such nomadic notions as these that we have to thank for all +kind of rapscallion pranks, for all uproars and broken windows. If you +had only less of nomads, and more of sensible men in you, one should +live in better peace on the earth." + +The Candidate was quite confounded; he had never been used to argument +like this, and stared at Mrs. Gunilla with open mouth; whilst little +Pyrrhus, excited by the warmth of his mistress, leapt upon the table, +and barking shrilly seemed disposed to spring at the Candidate's nose. +All this appeared so comic, that Elise could no longer keep back the +merriment which she had felt during the former part of the dispute, and +Jacobi himself accompanied her hearty laugh. Mrs. Gunilla, however, +looked very bitter; and the Candidate, nothing daunted, began again. + +"But, in the name of all the world," said he, "your Honour will not +understand me: we speak only of a mode of observing the world--a mode by +which its phenomena can be clearly expounded. Monadology, rightly +understood, does not oppose the ideas of the Christian religion, as I +will demonstrate immediately. Objective revelation proves to us exactly +that the subject-objective and object-subjective, which----" + +"Ah!" said Mrs. Gunilla, throwing herself back, "talk what nonsense you +will for me, I know what I know. Nomads may be just what they please for +me: but I call a man, a man; I call a cat, a cat, and a flower, a +flower; and our Lord God remains to me our Lord God, and no nomad!" + +"Monad, monad!" cried the Candidate, in a sort of half-comic despair; +"and as for that word, philosophy has as good a right as any other +science to make use of certain words to express certain ideas." + +During the last several minutes suspicious movements had been heard at +the parlour door, the cause of which now became evident; the children +had stolen in behind the Candidate, and now cast beseeching glances +towards their mother that she should let all go on unobserved. Petrea +and Eva stole in first, carrying between them a heavy pincushion, +weighted with lead, five pounds in weight at least. The Candidate was +standing; and at the very moment when he was doing his best to defend +the rights of philosophy, the leaden cushion was dropped down into his +coat-pocket. A motion backwards was perceptible through his whole body, +and his coat was tightly pulled down behind. A powerful twitching showed +itself at the corners of his mouth, and a certain stammering might be +noticed in his speech, although he stood perfectly still, and appeared +to observe nothing; while the little rascals, who had expected a +terrible explosion from their well-laid train, stole off to a distance; +but oh, wonder! the Candidate stood stock-still, and seemed not at all +aware that anything was going on in his coat-laps. + +All this while, however, there was in him such a powerful inclination to +laugh that he hastened to relate an anecdote which should give him the +opportunity of doing so. And whether it was the nomads of Mrs. Gunilla +which diverted him from his system, or the visit of the little herd of +nomads to his pockets, true it is there was an end of his philosophy for +that evening. Beyond this, he appeared now to wish by cheerful discourse +to entertain Mrs. Gunilla, in which he perfectly succeeded; and so mild +and indulgent was he towards her, that Elise began to question with +herself whether Mrs. Gunilla's mode of argument were not the best and +the most successful. + +The children stood not far off, and observed all the actions of Jacobi. +"If he goes out, he will feel the cushion," said they. "He will fetch a +book! Now he comes--ah!" + +The Candidate really went out for a book from his room, but he stepped +with the most stoical repose, though with a miserably backward-pulled +coat, through the astonished troop of children, and left the room. + +When he returned, the coat sate quite correctly; the cushion evidently +was not there. The astonishment of the children rose to the highest +pitch, and there was no end to their conjectures. The Queen-bee imagined +that there must be a hole in his pocket, through which the pincushion +had fallen on the stairs. Petrea, in whose suggestion the joke +originated, was quite dismayed about the fate of the cushion. + +Never once did it enter into the innocent heads of the children that the +Candidate had done all this in order to turn their intended surprise on +him into a surprise on themselves. + +"How came you to be acquainted with Mrs. Gunilla W.?" asked Elise from +Jacobi when the lady was gone. + +"When I was studying in----," replied he, "I routed a small room on the +ground-floor of the same house where she lived. As I at that time was in +very narrow circumstances, I had my dinner from an eating-house near, +where all was supplied at the lowest price; but it often was so +intolerably bad, that I was obliged to send it back untasted, and +endeavour, by a walk in the fresh air instead, to appease my hunger. I +had lived thus for some time, and was, as may be imagined, become meagre +enough, when Mrs. W., with whom I was not personally acquainted, +proposed to me, through her housekeeper, that she should provide me with +a dinner at the same low charge as the eating-house. I was astonished, +but extremely delighted, and thankfully accepted the proposal. I soon +discovered, however, that she wished in this way to become my benefactor +without its appearing so, and without my thanks being necessary. From +this day I lived in actual plenty. But her goodness did not end here. +During a severely cold winter, in which I went out in a very thin +great-coat, I received quite unexpectedly one trimmed with fur. From +whom it came I could not for some time discover, till chance gave me a +clue which led me to the Chamberlain's lady. But could I thank her for +it? No; she became regularly angry and scolded me if I spoke of the +gratitude which I felt and always shall feel for her kindness." + +Tears filled the eyes of Jacobi as he told this, and both Elise's eyes +and those of her husband beamed with delight at this relation. + +"It is," said Judge Prank, "a proof how much goodness there is in the +world, although at a superficial glance one is so disposed to doubt it. +That which is bad usually noises itself abroad, is echoed back from +side to side, and newspapers and social circles find so much to say +about it; whilst that which is good likes best to go--like +sunshine--quietly through the world." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +DISAGREEABLE NEWS. + + +The "skirmish"--as Mrs. Gunilla called the little strift she had with +the Candidate, about monads and nomads--appeared to have displeased +neither of them, but rather, on the contrary, to have excited in them a +desire for others of the same kind; and as Elise, who had no great +inclination to spend her evenings alone with him, used frequently to +invite Mrs. Gunilla to drink tea with them, it was not long before she +and the Candidate were again in full disputation together. If the +Assessor happened also to come in, there was a terrible noise. The +Candidate screamed, and leapt about almost beside himself, but was +fairly out-talked, because his voice was weak, and because Mrs. Gunilla +and the Assessor, who between them two selves never were agreed, leagued +themselves nevertheless against him. Jacobi, notwithstanding this, had +often the right side of an argument, and bore his overthrow with the +best temper in the world. Perhaps he might have lost his courage, +however, as well as his voice in this unequal contest--he himself +declared he should--had he not suddenly abandoned the field. He vanished +almost entirely from the little evening circle. + +"What has become of our Candidate?" sometimes asked Mrs. Gunilla. "I +shall be much surprised if his monad or nomad has not carried him off to +the land of the nomads! He, he, he, he!" + +Judge Frank and wife also began to question with some anxiety, "What has +become of our Candidate?" + +Our Candidate belonged to that class of persons who easily win many +friends. His cheerful easy temper, his talents, and good social +qualifications, made him much beloved and sought after, especially in +smaller circles. It was here, therefore, as it had been in the +University--he was drawn into a jovial little company of good fellows, +where, in a variety of ways, they could amuse themselves, and where the +cheerful spirit and talents of Jacobi were highly prized. He allowed +himself, partly out of good-nature and partly out of his own folly, to +be led on by them, and to take part in a variety of pranks, which, +through the influence of some members of the Club, went on from little +to more, and our Candidate found himself, before he was aware of what he +was about, drawn into a regular carouse--all which operated most +disadvantageously upon his affairs--kept him out late at night, and only +permitted him to rise late in the morning, and then with headache and +disinclination to business. + +There was, of course, no lack of good friends to bring these tidings to +Judge Frank. He was angry, and Elise was seriously distressed, for she +had begun to like Jacobi, and had hoped for so much from his connexion +with the children. + +"It won't do, it won't do," grumbled Judge Frank. "There shall very soon +be an end to this! A pretty story indeed! I shall tell him--I, if +he----But, my sweet friend, you yourself are to blame in this affair; +you should concern yourself a little about him; you are so _fičre_ and +distant to him; and what amusement do you provide for him here of an +evening? The little quarrels between Mrs. Gunilla and Munter cannot be +particularly amusing to him, especially when he is always out-talked by +them. It would be a thousand times better for the young man if you would +allow him to read aloud to you; yes, if it were romances, or whatever in +the world you would. You should stimulate his talent for music; it would +give yourself pleasure, and between whiles you could talk a little sound +reason with him, instead of disputing about things which neither he nor +you understand! If you had only begun in that way at first, he would +perhaps never have been such a swashbuckler as he is, and now to get +order and good manners back into the house one must have scenes. I'll +not allow such goings on!--he shall hear about it to-morrow morning! +I'll give that pretty youth something which he shall remember!" + +"Ah!" said Elise, "don't be too severe, Ernst! Jacobi is good; and if +you talk seriously yet kindly to him, I am persuaded it will have the +best effect." + +Judge Frank made no reply, but walked up and down the room in very ill +humour. + +"Would you like to hear some news of your neighbour the +pasquinade-writer?" asked Assessor Munter, who just then entered with a +dark countenance. "He is sick, sick to death of a galloping +consumption--he will not write any more pasquinades." + +"Who looks after his little girl?" asked Elise; "I see her sometimes +running about the street like a wild cat." + +"Yes, there's a pretty prospect for her," snorted out the Assessor. +"There is a person in the house--a person they call her, she ought to be +called reptile, or rather devil--who is said to look after the +housekeeping, but robs him, and ruins that child. Would you believe it? +she and two tall churls of sons that she has about her amuse themselves +with terrifying that little girl by dressing themselves up whimsically, +and acting the goblins in the twilight. It is more than a miracle if +they do not drive her mad!" + +"Poor wretch!" exclaimed Judge Frank, in rage and abhorrence. "Good +heavens! how much destruction of character there is, how much crime, +which the arm of the law cannot reach! And that child's father, can he +bear that it is so treated?" + +"He is wholly governed by that creature--that woman," said Munter; +"besides, sick in bed as he now is, he knows but little of what goes on +in the house." + +"And if he die," asked the Judge, "is there nobody who will look after +that girl? Has he a relation or friend?" + +"Nobody in this world," returned Jeremias. "I have inquired +particularly. The bird in the wood is not more defenceless than that +child. Poverty there will be in the house; and what little there is, +that monster of a housekeeper will soon run through." + +"What can one do?" asked the Judge, in real anxiety. "Do you know +anything, Munter, that one could do?" + +"Nothing as yet," returned he; "at present things must take their own +course. I counsel nobody to interfere; for he is possessed of the woman, +and she is possessed of the devil: and as for the girl, he will have her +constantly with him, and lets her give way to all her petulances. But +this cannot long endure. In a month, perhaps, he will be dead; and he +who sees the falling sparrow will, without doubt, take care of the poor +child. At present nobody can save her from the hands of these harpies. +Now, good night! But I could not help coming to tell you this little +history, because it lay burning at my heart; and people have the very +polite custom of throwing their burdens upon others, in order to lighten +themselves. Adieu!" + +The Judge was very much disturbed this evening. "What he had just heard +weighed heavily on his heart. + +"It is singular," said he, "how often Mr. N.'s course and mine have +clashed. He has really talent, but bad moral character; on that account +I have opposed his endeavours to get into office, and thus operated +against his success. It was natural that he should become my enemy, and +I never troubled myself about it! but now I wish--the unhappy man, how +miserably he lies there! and that poor, poor child! Ström," said he, +calling to his servant, "is the Candidate at home? No? and it is nearly +eleven! The thousand! To-morrow he shall find out where he is at home!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HERO-DEEDS. + + +On the following morning, as Judge Frank drew aside his window-curtains, +the sun--the sun, so powerful in its beams and its silence--shone into +his chamber, lighting it with its glorious splendour. Those sunbeams +went directly to his heart. + +"Dear Elise," said he, when his wife was awake, "I have a great deal to +do to-day. Perhaps it would be better if you would speak with Jacobi, +and give him his lecture. Ladies, in such circumstances, have more +influence on men than we men can have. Besides this, what can be bent +must not be broken. I--in short, I fancy you will manage the affair +best. It is so beautiful to-day! Could you not take the children a long +walk? It would do both them and you good, and upon the way you would +have an excellent opportunity for an explanation. Should this be of no +avail, then I will--but I would gladly avoid being angry with him; one +has things enough to vex one without that." + +The Judge was not the only person in the house whom the sun inspired +with thoughts of rambling. The Candidate had promised the children on +some "very fine day" to take them to a wood, where there were plenty of +hazel-bushes, and where they would gather a rich harvest of nuts. +Children have an incomparable memory for all such promises; and the +little Franks thought that no day could by any possibility be more +beautiful or more suitable for a great expedition than the present, and +therefore, as soon as they discovered that the Candidate and their +parents thought the same, their joy rose actually as high as the roof. +Brigitta had not hands enough for Petrea and Eva, so did they skip about +when she wished to dress them. + +Immediately after noon the procession set forth; Henrik and the +Queen-bee marched first, next came Eva and Leonore, between whom was +Petrea, each one carrying a little basket containing a piece of cake, as +provision for their journey. Behind the column of children came the +mother, and near her the Candidate, drawing a little wicker-carriage, in +which sate little Gabriele, looking gravely about with her large brown +eyes. + +"Little Africa"--so the children called their little dark-eyed neighbour +from the Cape--stood at her door as the little Franks tripped forth from +theirs. Petrea, with an irresistible desire to make her acquaintance, +rushed across the street and offered her the piece of cake which she had +in her basket. The little wild creature snatched the piece of cake with +violence, showed her row of white teeth, and vanished in the doorway, +whilst Elise seized Petrea's hand, in order to keep her restless spirit +in check. + +As soon as they had passed the gate of the city the children were +permitted full freedom, and they were not much more composed in their +demeanour than a set of young calves turned out for the first time into +a green meadow. We must even acknowledge that the little Queen-bee fell +into a few excesses, such as jumping over ditches where they were the +broadest, and clapping her hands and shouting to frighten away +phlegmatical crows. It was not long, however, before she gave up these +outbreaks, and turned her mind to a much sedater course; and then, +whenever a stiff-necked millifolium or gaudy hip came in her way, she +carefully broke it off, and preserved it in her apron, for the use of +the family. Henrik ran back every now and then to the wicker-carriage, +in order to kiss "the baby," and give her the very least flowers he +could find. Petrea often stumbled and fell, but always sprang up +quickly, and then unaffrightedly continued her leaping and springing. + +The Candidate also, full of joyous animal spirits, began to sing aloud, +in a fine tenor voice, the song, "Seats of the Vikings! Groves old and +hoary," in which the children soon joined their descant, whilst they +marched in time to the song. Elise, who gave herself up to the full +enjoyment of the beautiful day and the universal delight, had neither +inclination nor wish to interrupt this by any disagreeable explanation; +she thought to herself that she would defer it a while. + +"Nay, only look, only look, sisters! Henrik, come here!" exclaimed +little Petrea, beckoning with the hand, leaping, and almost out of +herself for delight, whilst she looked through the trellis-work of a +tall handsome gate into pleasure-grounds which were laid out in the +old-fashioned manner, and ornamented with clipped trees. Many little +heads soon looked with great curiosity through the trellis-gate; they +seemed to see Paradise within it; and then up came the Candidate, not +like a threatening cherub with a flaming sword, but a good angel, who +opened the door of this paradise to the enraptured children. This +surprise had been prepared for them by Elise and the Candidate, who had +obtained permission from the Dowager Countess S * * * to take the +children on their way to the nut-wood through her park. + +Here the children found endless subject for admiration and inquiry, nor +could either the Candidate or their mother answer all their questions. +Before long the hearts of the children were moved at sight of a little +leaden Cupid, who stood weeping near a dry fountain. + +"Why does he cry?" asked they. + +"Probably because the water is all gone," answered the Candidate, +smiling. + +Presently again they were enchanted by sight of a Chinese temple, which +to their fancy contained all the magnificence in the world--instead of, +as was the case, a quantity of fowls; then they were filled with +astonishment at trees in the form of pyramids--they never had seen +anything so wonderful, so beautiful! But the most wonderful thing was +yet to come. + +They reached a gloomy part of the grounds. Melancholy sounds, +incoherent, yet pleasurable, became audible, accompanied by an +uninterrupted splashing of water. The children walked slower and closer +together, in a state of excited expectation, and a kind of shuddering +curiosity. The melancholy tones and the falling water became more and +more distinct, as they found themselves inclosed in a thick fir-wood; +presently, however, an opening to the right showed itself, and then +thickly wreathed with a wild growth of plants and heavily-leaved trees, +the vault of a grotto revealed itself, within which, and in the +distance, stood a large white figure, with aged head, long beard, +crooked back, and goat's legs. To his lips he held a pandean pipe, from +which the extraordinary sounds appeared to proceed. Little waterfalls +leapt here and there from the rocks around, and then collected +themselves at the foot of the statue in a large basin, in which the +figure seemed, with a dreamy countenance, to contemplate himself and the +leaf-garlanded entrance of the grotto. + +The Candidate informed them that this was the Wood-god Pan; but what +further information he gave respecting the faith of the ancients in this +deity of nature was listened to by nobody but the Queen-bee, who, +however, shook her wise head over the want of wisdom in the Grecians who +could believe on such a god; and by Elise, who loved to discover in the +belief of antiquity a God of nature, which makes itself felt also in our +days, but in a truer and, as we think, a diviner sense. + +The exhibition in the grotto had produced its effect upon all the +spectators, great as well as small; but the brain of the little Petrea +seemed quite intoxicated, not to say crazed by it. The Wood-god, with +his music, his half-animal, half-human figure, although only of gypsum, +and, as the Candidate declared, the offspring only of a dim fancy, as +well as that it was without life or actuality, still remained to her +imagination a living existence, as real as wonderful. She could see +nothing, think of nothing, but the Wood-god; and the foreboding of a new +and wonderful world filled her soul with a delicious terror. + +In the mean time the Candidate conducted Elise, by a path which wound +among alders and birches, up the mountain in which the grotto was. When +they reached the top, all was sunny and cheerful; and behold upon a +mound was set out, so pleasantly in the sunshine, a little collation of +berries and fruit. It was the Candidate, who had great pleasure in being +the kind-hearted host on such occasions, who had provided this little +surprise for Elise and the children; and never, indeed, was a surprise +more welcome or more joyous. It is the most thankful thing in the world +to give pleasure to children; and, moreover, the goodwill of the mother +is always obtained thereby. + +The Candidate spread his cloak upon a green slope under a hedge of +roses, on which Elise's favourite flowers were still blooming, as a seat +for herself and "the baby," which now, lifted out of the +wicker-carriage, had its green silk bonnet taken off, and its golden +locks bathed in sunshine. He chose out the best fruit for her and her +mother; and then seating himself on the grass near her, played with her, +and drove away the flies from her and her mother with a spray of roses, +whilst the other children ran about at a distance, enjoying with all the +zest of childhood, gooseberries and freedom. The trees soughed in the +soft south wind, whilst the melodious sighs of the Wood-god, and the +splash of the water, mingled gently with the whispering leaves. It was a +delicious time, and its soft influence stole into the soul of Elise. The +sun, the scent of the roses, the song of the wood and of the water, and +the Syrinx, the beautiful scene before her, the happy children--all +these called up suddenly into her breast that summer of the heart, in +which all sentiments, all thoughts, are like beautiful flowers, and +which makes life seem so light and so lovely: she conceived a friendship +for that young man who had occasioned it, and whose good heart beamed +forth from his eyes, which at one moment were fixed on the blue heavens, +and then on her own soft blue eyes, with an expression of devotion and a +certain pure earnestness, which she had never observed in him before. +Elise felt that she could now undertake the explanation with him; she +felt that she could talk with him openly and warmly as a sister, and +that the truth would flow from her lips, without wounding him or giving +him pain. + +Scarcely, however, had she with cordial, though with tremulous voice, +began to speak, when an uneasy movement among the children interrupted +her. Some looked in the hedges, some ran about under the trees, and the +name "Petrea! Petrea!" was repeated in every variety of tone. The mother +looked uneasily around, and the Candidate sprang up to see what was +amiss. It was nothing uncommon for Petrea to separate herself from the +rest of the children, and occupied by her own little thoughts, to lag +behind; on that account, therefore, nobody had at first troubled +themselves because she was not with them at the collation, for they +said, "she will soon come." Afterwards, Elise and the Candidate were too +much occupied by their own thoughts; and the children said as usual, +"she'll soon come." But when she did not come, they began to seek for +her, and Elise and the Candidate came to their assistance. They ran back +to the grotto; they sought and called, but all in vain--Petrea was +nowhere to be found! and uneasiness very soon changed itself into actual +anxiety. + +We will now ourselves go in quest of Petrea. So enchanted was she with +the Wood-god and his music, that no sooner had she, with the others, +begun to climb the hill, than she turned back to the grotto, and there, +transported by its wonderful world, she was suddenly possessed by a +desire to acquaint her father and Brigitta, with her having seen the +Wood-god. Resolve and action are much more one with children than with +women. To be the first who should carry to the father the important +tidings, "Father, I have seen the Wood-god!" was a temptation too strong +for Petrea's ambition and craving for sympathy. + +She had heard them say that they should rest on the hill; and as her +organ of locality was as feeble as her imagination was powerful, she +never doubted for a moment of being able to run home and back before +they were aware even of her absence. As for the rest, to confess the +truth, she thought nothing at all about it; but with a loudly-beating +heart, and the words, "Oh, father! we have seen the Wood-god!" on her +lips, she made a spring, and rushed forward on the wings of fancy as +fast as her little legs would carry her in a direction exactly the +opposite of that which led homeward, and which at the same time removed +her from the grotto; never thinking, the poor Petrea! that in this world +there are many ways. Before long, however, she found it necessary to +stand still, in order to rest herself: it was all so beautiful around +her; delicious odours breathed from the wild flowers; the birds sang; +the heaven was cloudless; and here, where no Cupids nor Chinese temples +dazzled her thoughts, the very remembrance of the god Pan vanished from +her soul, and instead of it a thought, or more properly speaking a +sentiment, took possession of it--a holy and beautiful sentiment, which +the mother had early instilled into the hearts of her children. Petrea +saw herself solitary, yet at the same time she felt that she was not so; +in the deliciousness of the air, in the beauty of nature, she perceived +the presence of a good spirit, which she had been taught to call Father; +and filled, as her heart seemed to be, by a sense of his goodness and +affection, which appeared never to have been so sensibly impressed upon +her mind as then, her heart felt as if it must dissolve itself in love +and happiness. She sank down on the grass, and seemed to be on the way +to heaven. But, ah! the way thither is not so easy; and these heavenly +foretastes remain only a short time in the souls of children, as well as +of grown people. + +That which brought Petrea from her heavenly journey back to the earth +again was a squirrel, which sprang directly across her path, and sent +her forth immediately in chase of it. To catch such game, and to carry +it home, would be indeed in the highest degree a memorable action. "What +would Henrik and my sisters say? What would all the city say? Perhaps it +will get into the newspapers!--perhaps the king may get to hear of +it!"--thought Petrea, whilst, out of herself with ambition and +earnestness, she pursued the little squirrel over stock and stone. + +Her frock was torn; her hands and feet were bruised; but that was a mere +nothing! She felt it not, more particularly--oh, height of felicity!--as +she fell down, and at that same moment grasped in her trembling hands +her little prey. Petrea cried for delight, and shouted to her mother and +sisters, who--could not hear her. + +"Oh, thou little most loveable creature!" said Petrea, endeavouring at +the same time to kiss her little captive, in return for which that most +loveable little creature bit her by the chin. Surprised, and sorely +smarting from the pain, Petrea began to cry; yet for all that would not +let go the squirrel, although the blood flowed from the wound. Petrea +ran forward, wondering that she never came to the great trellis-gate, +through which she knew she must pass in order to reach home. Whilst she +thus wondered with herself, and ran, and struggled with her little +untractable prisoner, she saw a gentleman coming towards her. It never +once occurred to her that this could be any other than her father, and +almost transported for joy, she exclaimed, "Father, I have seen the +Wood-god!" + +Greatly astonished to hear himself thus parentally addressed, the young +man looked up from the book in which he read, gazed at Petrea, smiled, +and replied, "Nay, my child, he is gone in that direction," pointing +with his finger towards that quarter whence Petrea had come. Imagining +at once that he meant the Candidate, Petrea replied with anxiety and a +quick foreboding that she was on a wrong track, "Oh, no, it is not he!" +and then turned suddenly back again. + +She abandoned now all thoughts of running home, and was only desirous of +finding those whom she had so thoughtlessly left. She ran back, +therefore, with all her speed, the way she had come, till she reached +where two roads branched off, and there unfortunately taking the wrong +one, came into a wild region, where she soon perceived how entirely +confused she had become. She no longer knew which way to go, and in +despair threw herself into the grass and wept. All her ambition was +gone; she let the squirrel run away, and gave herself up to her own +comfortless feelings. She thought now of the uneasiness and anxiety of +her mother, and wept all the more at the thought of her own folly. But, +however, consoling thoughts, before long, chased away these desponding +ones. She dried her eyes with her dress--she had lost her +pocket-handkerchief--and looking around her she saw a quantity of fine +raspberries growing in a cleft of the hill. "Raspberries!" exclaimed +she, "my mother's favourite berries!" And now we may see our little +Petrea scrambling up the cliff with all her might, in order to gather +the lovely fruit. She thought that with a bouquet of raspberries in her +hand, she could throw herself at the feet of her mother, and pray for +forgiveness. So thought she, and tore up the raspberry bushes, and new +courage and new hope revived the while in her breast. If, thought she, +she clambered only a little way higher, could she not discover where +her home was? should she not see her mother, father, sisters, nay, the +whole world? Certainly. What a bright idea it was! + +With one hand full of raspberries, the other assisted her to climb; but, +ah! first one foot slipped on the dry smooth grass, and then the other. +The left hand could no longer sustain the whole weight of her body; the +right hand would not let go the raspberries. A moment of anguish, a +violent effort, and then Petrea rolled down the cliff into a thicket of +bushes and nettles, where for the present we will leave her, in order to +look after the others. + +The anxiety of the mother is not to be described, as after a whole hour +spent with Jacobi and Henrik (the little Queen-bee watched over the +other children near Pan's grotto), in seeking and calling for Petrea, +all was in vain. There were many ponds in the park, and they could not +conceal from themselves that it was possible she might have fallen into +one. It was a most horrible idea for Elise, and sent an anguish like +death into her heart, as she thought of returning in the evening to her +husband with one child missing, and that one of his favourites--missing +through her own negligence. Death itself seemed to her preferable. + +Breathless, and pale as a corpse, she wandered about, and more than once +was near sinking to the earth. In vain the Candidate besought her to +spare herself; to keep herself quiet, and leave all to him. In vain! She +heard him not; and restless and unhappy, she sought the child herself. +Jacobi was afraid to leave her long alone, and kept wandering near her; +whilst Henrik ran into other parts of the park, seeking about and +calling. + +It was full two hours of fruitless search after the lost one, when the +Candidate had again joined the despairing mother, that at the very same +moment their glances both fell suddenly on the same object--it was +Petrea! She lay in a thicket at the foot of the hill; drops of blood +were visible on her face and dress, and a horrible necklace--a yellow +spangled snake!--glittered in the sun around her neck. She lay +motionless, and appeared as if sleeping. The mother uttered a faint cry +of terror, and would have thrown herself upon her, had not the Candidate +withheld her. + +"For heaven's sake," said he, fervently, and pale as death, "be still; +nothing perhaps is amiss; but it is the poisonous snake of our +woods--the aspic! An incautious movement, and both you and Petrea may be +lost! No, you must not; your life is too precious--but I--promise me to +be still, and----" + +Elise was scarcely conscious of what she did. "Away! away!" she said, +and strove to put Jacobi aside with her weak hands; she herself would +have gone, but her knees supported her no longer--she staggered, and +fell to the ground. + +In that same moment the Candidate was beside Petrea, and seizing the +snake by the neck with as much boldness as dexterity, he slung it to a +distance. By this motion awakened, Petrea shuddered, opened her +sleep-drunken eyes, and looking around her, exclaimed, "Ah, ah, father! +I have seen the Wood-god!" + +"God bless thee and thy Wood-god!" cried the delighted Candidate, +rejoicing over this indisputable token of life and health; and then +clasping her to his breast he bore her to her mother. But the mother +neither heard nor saw anything; she lay in a deep swoon, and was first +recalled to consciousness by Henrik's kisses and tears. For a while she +looked about her with anguishful and bewildered looks. + +"Is she dead?" whispered she. + +"No, no! she lives--she is unhurt!" returned Jacobi, who had thrown +himself on his knees beside her; whilst the little Petrea, kneeling +likewise, and holding forth the bunch of raspberries, sobbed aloud, and +besought her, "Forgive! oh, mamma, forgive me!" + +Light returned to the eyes of the mother; she started up, and, with a +cry of inexpressible joy, clasped the recovered child to her breast. + +"God be praised and blessed!" cried she, raising her folded hands to +heaven; and then silently giving her hand to Jacobi, she looked at him +with tears, which expressed what was beyond the power of words. + +"Thank God! thank God!" said Jacobi, with deep emotion, pressing Elise's +hand to his lips and to his breast. He felt himself happy beyond words. + +They now hastened to remove from the dangerous neighbourhood of the +snake, after Jacobi and Henrik had given up, at the desire of the +mother, the probably ineffectual design of seeking out the poisonous but +blameless animal, and killing it on the spot. + +All this time the little Queen-bee had sate alone by the grotto, +endeavouring to comfort her sisters, whilst she herself wept bitter +tears over Petrea, whom she never expected to see again: on that very +account her joy was all the greater and louder, when she saw her carried +in the arms of the Candidate; and no sooner did she learn from her +mother how he had rescued her from the fangs of death, than she threw +her arms round his neck in inexpressible gratitude. All this Petrea +heard and saw with the astonishment and curiosity of one who meets with +something unheard of; and then, thus seeing the distress which her +inconsiderateness had occasioned, she herself melted into such +despairing tears, that her mother was obliged to console and cheer her. +Of her fall into the thicket Petrea knew no more than that her head had +felt confused, that she could not get up again, had slept, and then +dreamed of the Wood-god. + +In the mean time it had become so late, that the harvest of nuts was not +to be thought of, and as much on the mother's as on Petrea's account, it +was necessary to hasten home. The other children probably would have +grieved more over the unfortunate pleasure journey, had they not felt an +extraordinary desire to relate at home the remarkable occurrences of the +day. New difficulties arose on the return. Petrea--who, besides that she +was weary, was bruised and sadly dirtied by her fall--could not walk, +and therefore it was determined that she must ride in the little +carriage, while the Candidate carried Gabriele. When, however, the +little one saw that Jacobi was without gloves, she would neither allow +him to carry her nor to take hold of her, and set up the most pitiable +cry. Spite of her crying, however, he took up the "little mother," as he +called her; and what neither his nor the mother's persuasion could +effect, was brought about by Henrik's leaps and springs, and +caresses--she was diverted: the tears remained standing half-way down +her cheeks, in the dimples which were suddenly made by her hearty +laughter. + +Petrea, after the paroxysm of sorrow and penitence was in measure +abated, began to think herself and her adventures particularly +interesting, and sate in her little carriage a very important personage, +surrounded by her sisters, who could not sufficiently listen to her +relation, and who emulated each other in drawing the little equipage. +As for Jacobi, he drew the carriage; he carried the baby, which soon +fell asleep on his shoulder; he sang songs; told stories, in order to +entertain Elise, who remained a long time pale and depressed, from the +danger which had threatened her, and the anxiety which she had endured. + +At length they reached home. They poured forth their adventures: +Brigitta shed tears over her "Little angel-sweet Mamselle Petrea;" and +the father, from the impulse of his feelings, pressed Jacobi to his +heart. + +After Petrea's scratches and bruises had been washed with Riga-balsam, +the mother permitted the children to have a supper of pancakes and +raspberry-cream, in order to console them for the unfortunate +expedition. Hereupon the children danced for joy about the table; and +Petrea, who, on account of her misfortunes, received a Benjamin's +portion, regarded it as certain that they always eat such cream in +heaven, wherefore she proposed that it should be called "Angels' food." +This proposition met with the highest approbation, and from this day +"Angels' food" became a well-known dish in the Frank family. + +Yet Petrea wept some bitter tears on the breast of her father over the +gentle admonition she received from him; but spite of tears, she soon +slept sweetly in his arms. + +And the lecture of the Candidate? + +"Stay at home with us this evening," said Elise to him, with a kind, +beseeching glance. + +The Candidate stayed with them. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BREAKERS. + + +"Stay at home with us this evening," prayed Elise the next day, and for +several other days, and the Candidate stayed. + +Never before had he seen Elise so kind, so cordial towards him; never +before had she shown him so much attention as now; and this attention, +this cordiality from a lady who, in her intercourse with men, was +generally only polite and indifferent, flattered his vanity, at the same +time that it penetrated his good heart. All occasion for explanation +and lectures vanished, for the Candidate had entirely renounced his +dissipated friends and companions, and now nobody could talk more +edifying than he on the subject. He agreed so cordially with Elise, that +the fleeting champagne of the orgies foamed only for the moment, leaving +nothing but emptiness and flatness behind. "For once, nay, for a few +times," he was of opinion, "such excesses might be harmless, perhaps +even refreshing; but often repeated--ah! that would be prejudicial, and +demoralising in the highest degree!" + +All this seemed to the little Queen-bee, who had heard it, remarkably +well expressed. + +Nobody seemed now better pleased at home than Jacobi; he felt himself so +well in the regular course of life which he led, and there seemed so +much that was genuine and fresh in the occupations and pleasures of +those quiet days at home. + +In the mean time, the fresh life of the Candidate began to develop its +weak side. Gratitude had, in the first instance, warmed Elise's heart +towards him, and then his own real amiability made it so easy to gratify +the wish of her husband respecting her behaviour towards him, and thus +it soon happened that her intercourse with Jacobi enlivened her own +existence. In many respects their tastes were similar, especially in +their love of music and polite literature, whilst his youthful +enthusiasm gave to their common occupations a higher life and interest. +Discussion lost all character of dispute, and became merely an agreeable +interchange of thought: it was no longer now of any importance to him to +be always right; there was a peculiar kind of pleasure in giving up his +opinion to hers. He knew more out of books than she did, but she knew +more of life--the mother of books, than he; and on this account she, on +her part, proceeded as the older and guiding friend. He felt himself +happy from the influence and gentle guidance of an agreeable woman, and +became more and more devoted to her from his soul. + +Still there was a quietness and a charm about this connexion that made +him never forbode danger in it. He loved to be treated as a child by +Elise, and he gave, therefore, free play to his naturally +unsophisticated feelings. Her gentle reproofs were a sort of luxury to +him; he had a delight in sinning, in order to deserve them; and then, +whilst listening to them, how gladly would he have pressed her dress, +or her white and beautiful hand to his lips; there was even a sort of +painfully agreeable sensation to him in his not daring to do so. +Whenever she approached, and he heard her light footsteps, or when he +perceived the soft rose-odour which always accompanied her, it seemed to +become infinitely warm around his heart. But that which, above all the +rest, was the strongest bond between Jacobi and Elise, was her +sufferings. Whenever nervous pain, or domestic unpleasantness, depressed +her spirits; when she bore the not unfrequent ill-humour of her husband +with patience, the heart of Jacobi melted in tenderness towards her, and +he did all that lay in his power to amuse and divert her thoughts, and +even to anticipate her slightest wishes. She could not be insensible to +all this--perhaps also it flattered her vanity to observe the power she +had over this young man--perhaps even she might willingly deceive +herself as to the nature of his sentiments, because she would not +disturb the connexion which lent a sweet charm to her life. + +"He loves the children and their mother," said she; "he is their friend +and mine! May he only continue such!" + +And certain it is that the children had never been better conducted, +never had learned better, never been happier, than they were now, whilst +Jacobi himself developed a more and more happy ability to teach and +guide. + +Adverse fate barricades the shore which the vessel is on the point of +approaching, by dangerous breakers, and interrupts the bond between the +dearest friends, which is just about to be cemented eternally. It was +this fate which, at the very time when Jacobi was exhibiting his +character in the fairest point of view, occasioned the Judge to exhibit +the darker side of his. + +Judge Frank belonged to that class of persons who are always in the best +humour the more they have to do, and the more active is the life they +lead. And just now there had occurred a pause in an undertaking for the +country's good, which lay much at the Judge's heart; and delay, +occasioned by a number of little circumstances which he willingly would, +but could not, dissipate, put him into an ill humour. At home he was +often exacting and quarrelsome, particularly towards his wife; thus +placing himself, beside the kind and cheerful Jacobi, in a very +disadvantageous light. He felt this, and was displeased with himself, +and displeased with his wife too, because she seemed to pay but little +regard to his grumbling; occupying herself instead by her +singing-practice with Jacobi. This very singing-practice, too, of which +he himself had been the occasion, began to appear to him too much of a +thing. He seemed to think scolding more agreeable for the ear; in fact, +he was in that edifying state of mind which excites and angers itself +about that which a few good words alone would easily put an end to. + +The reading, likewise, which at first he had so zealously recommended, +became now to him another cause of vexation. Precisely at this very time +he wished to have more of the society of his wife of an evening, and +wished her to take more interest in his undertakings and his annoyances; +but whenever he came into the parlour he found them reading, or occupied +by music; and if these ceased at his entrance, there was still an +evident damp on the spirits of all--the entertainment could not proceed; +and if, on the contrary, he said, "Go on with your music (or reading), +go on," and they did so, he was still dissatisfied; and if he did not +very soon return to his own room, he walked up and down like a +snowstorm. + +It was precisely this fate, of which we have just now spoken, which +managed it so, that one evening as Judge Frank, the prey of ill humour, +was walking up and down the room, a letter was put into his hand, at +sight of which he burst into an exclamation of joyful surprise. "Nay, +that is indeed delightful," said he, in a very cheerful voice, as soon +as he had read the letter. "Elise! Mrs. S----, Emelie, is here. She is +only just this evening arrived; I must hasten to her directly. Sweet +Elise, will you not come with me? It would be polite." + +"Oh, it is so late!" said Elise, much less pleased than her husband; +"and I fancy it rains. Cannot you go alone to-night? to-morrow morning I +will----" + +"Well, well, then," said the Judge, suddenly breaking off; and somewhat +offended at her refusal, hastening away. + +It was rather late when he returned from his visit, but he was in high +spirits. "She is a most interesting lady," said he; "my best Elise, it +certainly would give you great pleasure to know her intimately." + +"Ah! I question that," thought Elise. + +"She talks," continued he, "of locating herself here in the city. I hope +we shall decide her to do so." + +"I hope not," thought Elise. + +"We will do all that we possibly can," said he, "to make her residence +here agreeable. I have invited her to dinner to-morrow." + +"To-morrow!" exclaimed Elise, half terrified. + +"Yes, to-morrow," answered her husband, peremptorily. "I told her that +to-morrow morning you would pay her a visit, but she insists on first +coming to you. You need not trouble yourself much about the dinner +to-morrow. Emelie will not expect much from an improvised dinner. At all +events, it may be just as good as there is any need for, if people will +only give themselves a little trouble. I hope Emelie will often come and +take up with our simple way of living." + +Elise went to rest that night with a depressed heart, and with an +indefinite but most unpleasant feeling, thought of the next day's +dinner, and then dreamed that her husband's "old flame" had set the +house on fire, and robbed the whole family of its shelter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE IMPROVISED DINNER. + + +You housewives who know the important meaning of a roast, who know the +difficulties which sometimes overwhelm you, especially when you must +improvise a dinner; you who know that notwithstanding all inspiration, +both of understanding and inclination--yet inspiration is necessary to +all improvisation--one cannot inspire either chickens or heath-cocks to +come flying into the important dish, when the crust is ready to put on +it;--you housewives who have spent many a long morning in thoughts of +cookery and in anguish, without daring to pray the Lord for help, +although continually tempted to do so; you can sympathise in Elise's +troubles, as she, on the morning of this important dinner, saw the +finger of the clock approach twelve without having been able to +improvise a roast. + +It is true that an improvised dinner might do without a roast: this we +grant as a general law; but in the case of this particular dinner, we +deny it altogether, in proof of which we might easily give the +arrangement of the whole dinner, did we not flatter ourselves that we +are believed on our bare word. Beyond this, the Judge was a declared +lover of a roast, and of all kinds of animal food, which circumstance +increased still more Elise's difficulty; and as if to make difficulty +still greater, Elise, on this very day, was remarkably in want of +assistants, for her husband had sent out, on his own business, those +servants who, on extraordinary occasions, Elise found very good help. +The cook, too, was confused to-day in a remarkable manner; the children +were in a fermentation; Eva and Leonore quarrelled; Petrea tore a hole +in her new frock; Henrik broke a water-bottle and six glasses; the baby +cried and screamed for nothing; the clock was on the stroke of twelve, +and no roast would come! + +Elise was just on the point of falling into despair over roasts, cooks, +the dinner, the child, nay, over the whole world, when the door opened, +and the words, "your most devoted servant," were spoken out shrilly and +joyously, and the widow of the Court Chamberlain--to Elise she seemed an +angel of light from heaven--stood in the room, with her beaming friendly +countenance, took out of her monstrous reticule one chicken after +another, and laid them upon the table, fixing her eye on Elise, and +making with each one a little curtsey to her, upon which she laughed +heartily. Enraptured by the sight, Elise embraced first the lady +Chamberlain, then the chickens, with which she hastily sprang into the +kitchen, and returning, poured forth her thanks and all her cares to +this friend in need. + +"Well, well, patience!" exhorted Mrs. Gunilla, kindly and full of +cordial sympathy, and somewhat touched by Elise's communication. +"Best-beloved, one should not take it so much to heart--such troubles as +these soon pass away--yes, indeed, they soon pass. Now listen, and I'll +tell you something, 'when need is greatest, help is nearest.' Yes, yes, +remember that! As for the chickens, I saw them in a peasant's cart, as I +crossed the market, and as I knew what was going on here, I lost no time +in buying them and bringing them, under my cloak, and I have nearly run +myself out of breath, in my haste. He, he, he! And so now I must go, +for the dear lady must dress herself nicely, and so must I too. Adieu, +dear Elise; I wish you the happiness of getting both the dinner and the +young folks in order. He, he, he!" + +Gunilla went, dinner-time came, and with it the guests and the Judge, +who had spent the whole morning in the business of his own office, out +of the house. + +Emelie, the Colonel's widow, was elegant in the highest degree; looked +handsome, and distinguished, and almost outdid herself in politeness; +but still Elise, spite even of herself, felt stiff and stupid by the +side of her husband's "old flame." Beyond this, she had now a great +distraction. + +"Oh, that the chickens may be nicely done!" was the incessant +master-thought of Elise's soul; and it prevailed over the Pope, the +Church of St. Peter's, Thorwaldsen and Pasta, and over every subject on +which they talked. + +The hour of dinner was come, and yet the dinner kept the company +waiting. The Judge, who expected from everybody else the punctuality +which he himself practised, began to suffer from what Elise called his +"dinner-fever," and threw uneasy glances first at the dining-room door, +and then at his wife, whose situation, it must be confessed, was not a +very enviable one. She endeavoured to look quite calm, but often +whispered something to the little Louise, which sent her very +importantly in and out of the room. Elise's entertainment, both that +part which was audible, and that which was inaudible, was probably at +the moment carried on something after the following fashion: + +"It must be inexpressibly pleasant to know," (ah, how unbearably long it +is!) "it must be very interesting." (I wish Ernst would fire again on +his "old flame," and forget dinner.) "Yes, indeed, that was very +remarkable." (Now are those chickens not roasted!) "Poor Spain!" (Now, +thank goodness, dinner is ready at last--if the chickens are only well +done!) + +And now to dinner! A word which brightens all countenances, and enlivens +all tempers. Elise began to esteem the Colonel's widow very highly, +because she kept up such a lively conversation, and she hoped this would +divert attention from any of the dishes which were not particularly +successful. The Judge was a polite and agreeable host, and he was +particularly fond of dinner-time, when he would willingly have made all +men partakers of his good appetite, good humour, and even of his good +eating--N. B. if this really was good--but if the contrary happened to +be the case, his temper could not well sustain it. + +During the dinner Elise saw now and then little clouds come over her +husband's brow, but he himself appeared anxious to disperse them, and +all went on tolerably till the chickens came. As the Judge, who adhered +to all old customs, was cutting them up, he evidently found them tough, +whereupon a glance was sent across the table to his wife which went to +her heart like the stab of a knife; but no sooner was the first pang +over than this reproachful glance aroused a degree of indignation in her +which determined her to steel herself against a misfortune which in no +case was her fault; she, therefore, grew quite lively and talkative, and +never once turned her eyes to her husband, who, angry and silent, sate +there with a very hot brow, and the knife sticking still in the fowls. + +But, after all, she felt as if she could again breathe freely when the +dinner was over, and on that very account longed just to speak one word +of reconciliation with her husband; but he now seemed to have only eyes +and ears for Emelie; nor was it long before the two fell into a lively +and most interesting conversation, which certainly would have given +Elise pleasure, and in which she might have taken part, had not a +feeling of depression stolen over her, as she fancied she perceived a +something cold and depreciating in the manners of her husband towards +her. She grew stiller and paler; all gathered themselves round the +brilliant Emelie; even the children seemed enchanted by her. Henrik +presented her with a beautiful flower, which he had obtained from Louise +by flattery. Petrea seemed to have got up a passion for her father's +"old flame," took a footstool and sat near her, and kissed her hand as +soon as she could possess herself of it. + +The lady devoted herself exclusively to her old worshipper, cast the +beams of her beautiful eyes upon him, and smiled bewitchingly. + +"This is a great delight!" thought Elise, as she wiped away a traitorous +tear; "but I will keep a good face on it!" + +The Candidate, who perceived all this, quickly withdrew from the lady's +enchanted circle, in which he also had been involved, and taking "the +baby" on his knee, began to relate a story which was calculated as much +to interest the mother as the child. The children were soon around him: +Petrea herself forsook her new flame to listen, and even Elise for the +moment was so amused by it that she forgot everything else. That was +precisely what Jacobi wanted, but it was not that which pleased the +Judge. He rose for a moment, in order to hear what it was which had so +riveted the attention of his wife. + +"I cannot conceive," said he to her in a half-whisper, "how you can take +delight in such absurdity; nor do I think it good for the children that +they should be crammed with such nonsense!" + +At length Emelie rose to take her leave, overwhelming Elise with a flood +of polite speeches, which she was obliged to answer as well as she +could, and the Judge, who had promised to show her the lions of the +place, accompanied her; on which the rest of the guests dispersed +themselves. The elder children accompanied the Candidate to the +school-room to spend an hour in drawing; the younger went to play; +Petrea wished to borrow Gabriele, who at the sight of a gingerbread +heart could not resist, and as a reward received a bit of it; Elise +retired to her own chamber. + +Poor Elise! she dared not at this moment descend into her own heart; she +felt a necessity to abstain from thought--a necessity entirely to forget +herself and the troubling impressions with which to-day had overwhelmed +her soul. A full hour was before her, an hour of undisturbed repose, and +she hastened to her manuscript, in order to busy herself with those rich +moments of life which her pen could call up at pleasure, and to forget +the poor and weary present--in one word, to lose the lesser in the +higher reality. The sense of suffering, of which the little annoyances +of life gave her experience, made her alive to the sweet impressions of +that beauty and that harmonious state of existence which was so dear to +her soul. + +She wrote and wrote and wrote, her heart was warm, her eyes filled with +tears, the words glowed upon her page, life became bright, the moments +flew. An hour and a half passed. Her husband's tea-time came; he had +such delight in coming home at this hour to find his wife and his +children all assembled round the tea-table in the family room. It very +rarely happened that Elise had not all in readiness for him; but now the +striking of seven o'clock roused her suddenly from her writing; she laid +down her pen, and was in the act of rising when her husband entered. + +A strong expression of displeasure diffused itself over his countenance +as he saw her occupation. + +"You gave us to-day a very bad dinner, Elise," said he, going up to her +and speaking with severity; "but when this novel-writing occupies so +much of your time, it is no wonder that you neglect your domestic +duties; you get to care really just as little about these, as you +trouble yourself about my wishes." + +It would have been easy for Elise to excuse herself, and make all right +and straight; but the severe tone in which her husband spoke, and his +scornful glance, wounded her deeply. "You must have patience with me, +Ernst," said she, not without pride and some degree of vexation; "I am +not accustomed to renounce all innocent pleasures; my education, my +earlier connexions, have not prepared me for this." + +This was like pricking the Judge in the eye, and with more bitterness +and severity than usual he replied: + +"You should have thought about that before you gave me your hand; before +you had descended into so humble and care-full a circle. It is too late +now. Now I will----" but he did not finish his sentence, for he himself +perceived a storm rising within him, before which he yielded. He went to +the door, opened it, and said in a calm voice, yet still with an +agitated tone and glance, "I would just tell you that I have taken +tickets for the concert to-morrow, if you would wish to go. I hoped to +have found you at the tea-table; but I see that is not at all thought +of--it is just as desolate and deserted there as if the plague were in +the house. Don't give yourself any trouble, I shall drink my tea at the +club!" and thus saying he banged the door and went away. + +Elise seated herself--she really could not stand--and hid her face in +her trembling hands. "Good heavens! is it come to this? Ernst, Ernst! +What words! what looks! And I, wretched being, what have I said?" + +Such were Elise's broken and only half-defined thoughts, whilst tears +streamed down her cheeks. + +"Words, words, words!" says Hamlet, disparagingly. But God preserve us +from the destructive power of words! There are words which can separate +hearts sooner than sharp swords--there are words whose sting can remain +in the heart through a whole life! + +Elise wept long and violently; her whole soul was in excitement. + +In moments of violent struggle, bad and good spirits are at hand; they +surrounded Elise and spoke to her thus: + +Bad Spirits.--"Think on that which thou hast given up! think on thy own +merits! Recollect the many little acts of injustice which thou hast had +to bear, the bitter moments which the severity of thy husband has +occasioned thee! Why shouldst thou humbly crawl in the dust? Raise +thyself, depressed one! raise thyself, offended wife! think of thy own +worth, of thy own rights! Do not allow thyself to be subjected; show +some character. Requite that which thou hast endured. Thou also canst +annoy; thou also canst punish! Take refuge in thy nerves, in unkindness; +make use of thy power, and enjoy the pleasure of revenge!" + +Good Spirits.--"Think on thy wants, on thy faults! Recollect all the +patience, all the kindness, all the tenderness which has been shown +thee! Think on the many beautiful moments! Think on thy husband's worth, +on his beautiful noble qualities! Think also on life, how short it is; +how much unavoidable bitterness it possesses; how much which it is easy +either to bear or to chase away; and think on the all-rectifying power +of affection. Tremble before the chains of selfish feeling; free thyself +from them by a new sacrifice of love, and purify the heaven of home. +Ascending clouds can easily expand into a destructive tempest, or can +disperse and leave not a trace in the air. Oh, chase them hence with the +powerful breath of love!" + +The happiness of a long life depends, not unfrequently, upon which of +these invisible counsellors in such moments we give ear to. On this it +depends whether the gates of heaven or of hell shall be opened upon +earth to men. Elise listened to the good counsellors; she conversed long +with them, and the more pure recollections they sent into her soul the +lighter it became therein. The light of love was kindled in her, and in +its light she became clear-sighted in many directions. She saw now what +it was right for her to do respecting her novel, and this revelation +warmed her heart. She knew also that this was the only one she should +ever write, and that her husband should never again miss her from the +tea-table, and therefore be obliged to drink his tea at the club (but he +should be reconciled sometime with the sinner--the novel); and she +would, moreover, prepare a dinner for the Colonel's widow, which should +compensate for the unlucky one of this day; and--"Would that Ernst would +but come home soon," thought she, "I would endeavour to banish all his +displeasure, and make all right between us." + +It was the bathing-day of the children, and the message that the hour of +bathing was come interrupted Elise's solitude. She ordered Brigitta to +commence her preparations, and when she had somewhat composed herself, +and washed away the traces of her tears with rose-water, she herself +went down into the chamber. + +"God be praised for water!" thought Elise, at the first view of the +scene which presented itself. The soft glowing young forms in the clear +warm water, the glimmering of the open fire, the splashing and +jubileering of the children in their unspeakable comfort, their innocent +sport one with another in the peaceful little lake of the bath, in which +they had no fear of raising stormy waves; nay, even Brigitta's happy +face, under her white cap, her lively activity, amid the continual +phrases of "best-beloved," "little alabaster arm," "alabaster foot," +"lily-of-the-valley bosom," and such like, whilst over the +lily-of-the-valley bosom, and the alabaster arm, she spread soap-foam +scarcely less white, or wrapped them in snowy cloths, out of which +nothing but little lively, glowing, merry faces peeped and played with +one another at bo-peep--all this united to present a picture full of +life and pleasure. + +Elise, however, could not fully enjoy it; the thought of what had just +occurred, longings for reconciliation with her husband, fear that he +might remain long, that he might return too much displeased for her +easily to make all straight again--these thoughts occupied her mind; yet +still she could not help smiling as Gabriele, who had sunk down into the +bath alone, exclaimed, almost beside herself for fright, "I am drowning! +I am drowning!" In order to re-assure her, her mother stretched out her +white hands to her, and under their protection she laughed and splashed +about like a little fish in water. + +A shower of flowers streamed suddenly over both mother and child, and +Gabriele screamed aloud for joy, and stretched forth her little arms to +catch gilly-flowers, roses, and carnations, which fell upon and around +her. Elise turned herself round in surprise, and her surprise changed +itself into the most delightful sensation of joy, as the lips of her +husband were pressed to her forehead. + +"Ah, you!" exclaimed Elise, and threw her arms round his neck, and +caressingly stroked his cheek. + +"I shall get wet through with all this," said he, laughing, yet without +leaving the bath, nay, he even stooped down his head to little Gabriele, +kissed her, and allowed her to splash him with water. + +"Thank God! all is right again! and perhaps it will be best to take no +further notice of this unpleasant affair!" thought she, and prepared to +follow her husband into the parlour. + +The Judge had, probably, during his bad tea at the club, held with the +invisible speakers the same conversation, with some variations, as his +wife during his absence, the consequence whereof was his visit to the +bathing-room, and the shower of flowers from the nosegay he had brought +with him for her, and the kiss of reconciliation which effaced every +thoughtless and wounding word. He felt now quite pleased that everything +was as it should be, and that the gentle and yielding temper of his wife +would require nothing further. But, perhaps, on that very account, he +was dissatisfied with himself, her eyes red with weeping grieved him, +especially as they beamed so kindly upon him, he felt that he misused +the power which circumstances had given him over his wife; he felt that +he had behaved harshly to her, and therefore he had no peace with +himself, therefore he felt a necessity to pronounce one word--one word, +which it is so hard for the lips of a man to pronounce, yet, which Ernst +Frank was too manly, too firm to shrink from. + +When, therefore, his wife entered, he offered her his hand; "Forgive me, +Elise," said he, with the deepest feeling; "I have behaved severely, +nay, absurdly to-day!" + +"Oh, forgive me, Ernst!" said Elise, deeply affected, whilst she pressed +his hand to her heart and---- + +Accursed be all disturbers of peace in this world! Such a one entered at +that moment, and undid that which would otherwise have bound them so +closely to each other. It was a messenger from the Colonel's widow with +a note, together with a book for the Judge, and two little bottles of +select Eau de rose for Elise, "of which, I know," said the note, "she is +very fond." + +The Judge's cheek grew crimson as he read the note, which he did not +show to his wife. + +"An extremely polite and interesting person," said he; "I will +immediately answer it." + +"Ernst," said Elise, "should we not invite her to dinner to-morrow? I +thought of something very nice, which is sure to succeed; then we could +go altogether to the concert, and afterwards she might sup with us." + +"Now that is a good idea, and I thank you for it, my sweet Elise," said +he, extremely pleased. + +Yes, if the Colonel's widow had not been there--if the Candidate had not +been there--and if there had been no _if_ in the case, all might have +gone on quite smoothly. But it was quite otherwise. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ONE SWALLOW MAKES NO SUMMER. + + +Too many chaotic elements had collected together in the family of the +Franks for one sun-gleam to dissipate. Even the married pair did not +clearly understand their own actions. + +The Judge, truly, was too much enchanted by his former beloved one; and +the beautiful Emelie did all that was in her power to enslave again her +early adorer. + +Judge Frank, who would have been as cold and proud as possible, if he +had been assailed by coarse and direct flattery, was yet by no means +steeled against the refined and almost imperceptible flattery of Emelie, +who, with all her peculiar gifts of soul and understanding, made herself +subordinate to him, in order to be enlightened and instructed by him. + +"An extraordinarily amiable and interesting lady," thought he still with +greater animation, although he seldom asserted so much; and exactly in +the proportion in which he found Emelie interesting, it was natural that +he should find Elise less so, especially as he found in Emelie precisely +those very qualities, the want of which he had so much regretted in his +wife; namely, an interest in his activity as a citizen, and in general +for the objects connected with which he occupied himself in the +liveliest manner. + +Elise, on her part, was neither calm nor clear. The connexion between +her husband and Emelie was painful to her; and she felt a sort of +consolation from the devotion of Jacobi, even when it was beginning to +assume that passionate character which made her seriously uneasy. + +A letter, which she wrote to her sister about this time, exhibits her +state of feeling: + +"It is long since I wrote to you, Cecilia--I hardly know why; I hardly +know, indeed, my own feelings--all is so unquiet, so undefined. I wish +it were clear! + +"Do you know she is very lovely, this 'old flame' of my husband's, and +very brilliant. I fancy I am jealous of her. Last evening I went out to +a supper-party--the first for several years. I dressed myself with great +care, for I wished to please Ernst, and had flowers in my hair. I was +greatly satisfied with my appearance when I went. My husband was to come +later. I found Emelie already there; she was beautiful, and looked most +elegant. They placed me beside her; a looking-glass was before us, on +which I threw stolen glances, and saw opposite to me--a shadow! I +thought at first it was some illusion, and looked again: but again it +revealed unmercifully to me a pale ghost beside the beautiful and +dazzling Emelie. 'It is all over, irremediably over,' thought I, 'with +my youth and my bloom! But if my husband and children only can love me, +I can then resign youth and beauty.' + +"But again I felt compelled to look at the shadow in the glass, and grew +quite melancholy. Emelie also cast glances at the mirror, and drew +comparisons, but with feelings far different to mine. Then came Ernst, +and I saw that he too made comparisons between us. + +"He was, all this evening, very much occupied with Emelie. I felt unwell +and weak; I longed so to support myself on his arm; but he did not come +near me the whole time: perhaps he imagined I was out of +humour--perhaps I looked so. Ah! I returned home before supper, and he +remained. As I drove home through those deserted streets in the wretched +hackney-coach, a sense of misery came over my heart such as I cannot +describe; many a bitter thought was awakened within me, before which I +trembled. + +"At the door of my own home I met Jacobi; he had sate up for me, and +wished to tell me something amusing about my children. He seemed to have +foreboded my feelings this evening. My favourite fruit, which he had +provided for me, should have refreshed me. His friendship and his +devotion cheered me. There is something so beautiful in feeling oneself +beloved. + + * * * * * + +"Every new emotion, every new connexion, among men, has its danger, its +temptation; the most beautiful, the most noble, may have their dangerous +tendency. Oh! how is this to be prevented without a separation?--how is +the poison to be avoided without deadening the sting? Oh, Cecilia! at +this moment I need a friend; I need you, to whom I could turn, and from +whom, in these disquieting circumstances, I in my weakness could derive +light and strength. I am discontented with myself; I am discontented +with----Ah! he alone it is who, if he would, could make all right! + + * * * * * + +"Oh, Cecilia, this is a mist-enveloped hour of my life!--does it +announce day or night? My glance is dark; I see the path no longer! But +I will resign myself into the hand of Him who said, 'let there be +light.' + + * * * * * + +"All is now better and clearer! God be praised! In a few hours this day +will be over;--I long vehemently for it! + +"This evening we have a children's dance at our house. Emelie will be +here also. There is not a good understanding between us two. She is cold +to me, too witty, and too----, but I will do my best to be a good +hostess; and when the day is ended, I will sit and look at my beautiful +sleeping boy, and be happy in my children." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE END OF THE DAY. + + +Evening came, and with it lights and guests. A strong, self-sacrificing +amiability governed Elise's manner this evening. She was almost cordial +towards Emelie; cared for the comfort of every one, played the piano for +the children's dance, and appeared to exist only in order to serve +others. The beautiful Emelie, on the contrary, thought of herself; was +livelier and more brilliant than ever, and, as usual, assembled all the +gentlemen around her. The conversation was lively in this group; it +turned from politics to literature, and then dwelt awhile on +theatricals, in which Emelie, equally animated and sarcastic, +characterised the Scribe and Mellesville school as a dramatic +manufactory. + +"For the rest," added she, "the stage acts very prudently and sensibly +in letting the curtain fall the moment the hero and heroine approach the +altar; novels do the same, and that, also, with good reason, otherwise +nobody would be able to read them." + +"How so?" asked the Judge, with great earnestness. + +"Because," answered Emelie, "the illusion of life is extinguished on the +other side of this golden moment, and reality steps forward then in all +its heaviness and nakedness. Look at a young couple in the glowing +morning of their union, how warm love is then; how it penetrates and +beautifies everything; how it glows and speaks in glance and word, and +agreeable action; how its glory changes the whole of life into poetry! +'Thou, thou!' is the one thought of the young people then. But observe +the same couple a few years later--'I, I!' and 'my pleasure,' is the +phrase now. The adoring all-resigning lover is then become the exacting +married man, who will be waited on and obeyed. And the loving +all-sacrificing bride, she is become the unwieldy and care-burdened +housewife, who talks of nothing but trouble, bad saltings, and negligent +maid-servants. And what are _tęte-ŕ-tęte_ communications between these +two? 'How, my dear! is the butter really used up already? Why, I gave +you money only the other day for butter! You really must look better +after things, and see what the cook does with the butter; I will not +allow such extravagance in the house! Do you want something more?' 'Yes, +indeed, my love, I and the children must have new over-dresses. Little +Peter's coat is worn out, and little Paul has grown out of his; and my +old cloak cannot last to eternity!' People," continued the sarcastic +Emilie, "may thank their stars, too, if out of such interesting +communications as these no hateful quarrels arise; and if, in the happy +repose of their homes, harmless yawnings have only taken place of the +kisses which have left it. Contracted circumstances, meannesses, and +domestic trials, destroy the happiness of marriage, even as the worm +destroys the flower, bringing bitterness and sourness into the temper; +and though the married pair may continue to the very day of their death +to address each other as 'My sweet friend,' yet, very often, _in petto_, +it is 'My sour friend.' Yet, after all, this is nothing, in fact, but +what is perfectly natural; and, in this respect, marriage only follows +the eternal law of nature in all earthly existence. Every form of life +carries in itself decay and dissolution--a poisonous snake-king[3] gnaws +even at the root of the world's tree." + +Several of the listeners, and among them the Candidate, had laughed +loudly at Emelie's descriptions; but the Judge had not once moved his +lips, and replied, when she had done, with an earnestness that +confounded even her satire. + +"If all this were true, Emelie," said he, "then were life, even in the +best point of view, good for nothing; and with justice might it indeed +be called an illusion. But it is not so; and you have only described +marriage in its lowest, and not either in its best or its truest sense. +I do not deny the difficulties which exist in this as in every other +circumstance of life; but I am confident that they may and must be +overcome; and this will be done if the married pair bring only right +intentions into the house. Then want and care, disturbing, nay even +bitter hours, may come, but they will also go; and the bonds of love and +truth will be consolation, nay, even will give strength. You have +spoken, Emelie, of death and separation as the end of the drama of life; +you have forgotten the awaking again, and the second youth, of which +the ancient northern Vala sings. Married life, like all life, has such a +second youth; yes, indeed, a progressive one, because it has its +foundation in the life which is eternal; and every contest won, every +danger passed through, every pain endured, change themselves into +blessings on home and on the married pair, who have thus obtained better +knowledge, and who are thus more closely united." + +He spoke with unusual warmth, and not without emotion, and his +expressive glance sought and dwelt upon his wife, who had approached +unobserved, and who had listened to Emelie's bitter satire with stinging +pain, because she knew that there was a degree of truth in it. + +But as her husband spoke, she felt that he perceived the full truth, and +her heart beat freer and stronger, and all at once a clearness was in +her soul. With her head bent forward, she gazed on him with a glance +full of tenderness and confidence, forgetting herself, and listening +with fervour to every word which he uttered. In this very moment their +eyes met, and there was much, inexpressibly much, in their glance; a +clear crimson of delight flushed her cheek, and made her beautiful. The +gentle happiness which now animated her being, together with her lovely +figure, her graceful movements, and the purity of her brow, made her far +more fascinating than her lovely rival. Her husband followed her with +his eyes, as kindly and attentively she busied herself among her guests, +or with the little Gabriele in her arms mingled in the children's dance, +for which Evelina's foster-daughters were playing a four-handed piece. +He had suddenly cooled towards his "old flame," nor was he at all warmed +again by the sharp tone with which the little caressing Petrea was +reproved for being too obtrusive. + +"Our little Louise in time will dance very well," remarked the Judge to +his wife, as he noticed with great pleasure the little _brisées_ and +_chassées_ of his daughter whom the twelve-years-old Nils Gabriel +Stjernhök twirled round, and with whom he conversed with great gravity, +and a certain knightly politeness. + +In the mean time Mrs. Gunilla was instructing Emelie on the manners and +character of the French; and Emelie, whose countenance since the +discussion of the marriage question had worn a bitter expression, +endeavoured with a tolerably sharp tone to make her superior +information felt, and in return was mown down, as it were, at one stroke +by Mrs. Gunilla, who--had never been in France. + +The Candidate followed Elise everywhere with glances of devotion, and +appeared this evening perfectly enchanted by her amiability. + +"Fie, for shame!--to take all the confections to yourself!" moralised +the little Queen-bee to the little S----ne,--a fat, quiet boy, who took +the confections and the reproof with the same stoical indifference. +Louise cast a look of high indignation upon him, and then gave her share +of sweetmeats to a little girl, who complained that she had had none. + +Supper came, and Emelie, whose eyes flashed unusual fire, seemed to wish +fervently to win back that regard which she, perhaps, feared to have +lost already, and with her playful and witty conversation electrified +the whole company. Jacobi, who was excited in no ordinary manner, drank +one glass of wine after another, talked and laughed very loud, and +looked between whiles upon Elise with glances which expressed his +sentiments in no doubtful manner. These glances were not the first of +the kind which the quick eye of Elise's rival observed. + +"That young man," said she, in a low but significant whisper to the +Judge, and with a glance on Jacobi, "seems to be very charming; he has +really remarkably attractive talents--is he nearly related to Elise?" + +"No," returned he, looking at her rather surprised; "but he has been for +nearly three months a member of our family." + +"Indeed!" said she, in a significant and grave manner; "I should have +thought--but as for that," added she, in an apparently careless +tone--"Elise is really so kind and so amiable, that for him who is with +her daily, it must be very difficult not to love her." + +The Judge felt the sting of the viper, and with a glance which flashed a +noble indignation, he replied to his beautiful neighbour, "You are +right, Emelie; I know no woman who deserves more love or esteem than +she!" + +Emelie bit her lip and grew pale; and she would assuredly have grown yet +paler, could she only have understood the sentiment which she had +awakened in the breast of her former admirer. + +Ernst Frank had a keen sense of moral meanness, and when this displayed +itself no gifts of genius or of nature had power to conceal it. He +clearly understood her intentions, and despised her for them. In his +eyes, at this moment, she was hateful. In the mean time his composure +was destroyed. He looked on Jacobi, and observed his glances and his +feelings; he looked on Elise, and saw that she was uneasy, and avoided +his eye. + +A horrible spasmodic feeling thrilled through his soul; in order to +conceal what he felt he became more than usually animated, yet there was +a something hostile, a something sternly sarcastic in his words, which +still, on account of the general gaiety, remained unobserved by most. + +Never before was Assessor Munter so cheerful, so comically cross with +all mankind. Mrs. Gunilla and he shouted as if desperate against each +other. The company rose from the supper-table in full strife, and +adjourned to the dancing-room. + +"Music, in heaven's name! music!" exclaimed the Assessor with a gesture +of despair, and Elise and the Colonel's widow hastened to the piano. It +was a pleasant thought, after the screaming of that rough voice had been +heard, to play one of Blangini's beautiful night-pieces, which seem to +have been inspired by the Italian heaven, and which awaken in the soul +of the hearer a vision of those summer nights, with their flowery +meadows, of their love, of their music, and of all their unspeakable +delights. + +"_Un' eterna constanza in amor!_" were the words which, repeated several +times with the most bewitching modulations, concluded the song. + +"_Un' eterna constanza in amor!_" repeated the Candidate, softly and +passionately pressing his hand to his heart, as he followed Elise to a +window, whither she had gone to gather a rose for her rival. As Elise's +hand touched the rose, the lips of Jacobi touched her hand. + +Emelie sang another song, which delighted the company extremely; but +Ernst Frank stood silent and gloomy the while. Words had been spoken +this evening which aroused his slumbering perception; and with the look +he cast upon Jacobi and his wife, he felt as if the earth were trembling +under his feet. He saw that which passed at the window, and gasped for +breath. A tempest was aroused in his breast; and at the same moment +turning his eyes, he encountered, those of another person, which were +riveted upon him with a questioning, penetrating expression. They were +those of the Assessor. Such a glance as that from any other person had +been poison to the mind of Frank, but from Jeremias Munter it operated +quite otherwise; and as shortly afterwards he saw his friend writing +something on a strip of paper, he went to him, and looking over his +shoulder, read these words: + +"Why regardest thou the mote in thy brother's eye, yet seest not the +beam in thine own eye?" + +"Is this meant for me?" asked he, in a low but excited voice. + +"Yes," was the direct reply. + +The Judge took the paper, and concealed it in his breast. + +He was pale and silent, and began to examine himself. The company broke +up; he had promised Emelie to accompany her home; but now, while she, +full of animation, jested with several gentlemen, and while her servant +drew on her fur-shoes, he stood silent and cold beside his "old flame" +as a pillar of ice. Mrs. Gunilla and the Assessor quarrelled till the +last moment. Whilst all this was going on, Elise went quietly to Jacobi, +who stood somewhat apart, and said to him in a low voice, "I wish to +speak with you, and will wait for you in the parlour, when they are all +gone." Jacobi bowed; a burning crimson flashed to his cheek; the Judge +threw a penetrating glance upon them, and passed his hand over his pale +countenance. + +"It gives me great pleasure," cried Mrs. Gunilla, speaking shrilly and +_staccato_--"it gives me great pleasure to see my fellow-creatures, and +it gives me great pleasure if they will see me. If they are not always +agreeable, why I am not always agreeable myself! Heart's-dearest! in +this world one must have patience one with another, and not be +everlastingly requiring and demanding from others. Heaven help me! I am +satisfied with the world, and with my own fellow-creatures, as our Lord +has been pleased to make them. I cannot endure that people should be +perpetually blaming, and criticising, and mocking, and making sour faces +at everything, and saying 'I will not have this!' and 'I will not have +that!' and 'I will not have it so! It is folly; it is unbearable; it is +wearisome; it is stupid!' precisely as if they themselves only were +endurable, agreeable, and clever! No, I have learned better manners than +that. It is true that I have no genius, nor learning, nor talents, as so +many people in our day lay claim to, but I have learned to govern +myself!" + +During this moral lecture, and endeavouring all the time to overpower +it, the Assessor exclaimed, "And can you derive the least pleasure from +your blessed social life? No, that you cannot! What is social life, but +a strift to get into the world in order to discover that the world is +unbearable? but a scheming and labouring to get invited, to be offended +and put out of sorts if not invited; and if invited, then to complain of +weariness and vexation, and thus utter their lamentations. Thus people +bring a mass of folks together, and wish them--at Jericho! and all this +strift only to get poorer, more out of humour, more out of health; in +one word, to obtain the perfectly false position, _vis-ŕ-vis_, of +happiness! See there! Adieu, adieu! When the ladies take leave, they +never have done." + +"There is not one single word of truth in all that you have said," was +the last but laughing salutation of Mrs. Gunilla to the Assessor, as, +accompanied by the Candidate, she left the door. The Judge, too, was +gone; and Elise, left alone, betook herself to the parlour. + +Suddenly quick steps were heard behind her--she thought "Jacobi"--turned +round, and saw her husband; but never before had she seen him looking as +then; there was an excitement, an agitation, in his countenance that +terrified her. He threw his arm violently round her waist, riveted his +eyes upon her with a glance that seemed as if it would penetrate into +her inmost soul. + +"Ernst, Ernst, be calm!" whispered she, deeply moved by his state of +mind, the cause of which she imagined. He seized her hand and pressed it +to his forehead--it was damp and cold; the next moment he was gone. + +We will now return to the Candidate. + +Wine and love, and excited expectation, had so inflamed the imagination +of the young man, that he hardly knew what he did--whether he walked, or +whether he flew; and more than once, in descending the stairs, had he +nearly precipitated Mrs. Gunilla, who exclaimed with kindness, but some +little astonishment, "The Cross preserve me! I cannot imagine, +heart's-dearest, how either you or I go to-night! I think we are all +about to--see, now again, all's going mad.--No, I thank you, I'll take +care of my nose, crooked as it is. I think I can go safer by myself. I +can hold by----" + +"A thousand thousand times pardon," interrupted the Candidate, whilst he +pressed Mrs. Gunilla's arm tightly; "it is all my fault. But now we will +go safely and magnificently; I was a little dizzy!" + +"Dizzy!" repeated she. "Heart's-dearest, we should take care on that +very account; one should take care of one's head as well as one's heart; +one should take care of that, or it may go still more awry than it now +is with us! He, he, he, he--but listen to me, my friend," said Mrs. +Gunilla, suddenly becoming very grave: "I will tell you one thing, and +that is----" + +"Your most gracious Honour, pardon me," interrupted he, "but I think--I +feel rather unwell--I--there, now we are at your door! Pardon me!" and +the Candidate tumbled up-stairs again. + +In the hall of the Franks' dwelling he drew breath. The thought of the +mysterious meeting with Elise filled him at the same time with joy and +uneasiness. He could not collect his bewildered thoughts, and with a +wildly-beating heart went into the room where Elise awaited him. + +As soon as he saw her white lovely figure standing in the magical +lamplight his soul became intoxicated, and he was just about to throw +himself at her feet, when Elise, hastily, and with dignity, drew back a +few paces. + +"Listen to me, Jacobi," said she, with trembling but earnest voice. + +"Listen to you!" said he, passionately--"oh, that I might listen to you +for ever!--oh, that I----" + +"Silence!" interrupted Elise, with a severity very unusual to her; "not +one word more of this kind, or our conversation is at an end, and we are +separated for ever!" + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed Jacobi, "what have----" + +"I beseech you, listen to me!" continued Elise; "tell me, Jacobi, have I +given you occasion to think thus lightly of me?" + +Jacobi started. "What a question!" said he, stammering, and pale. + +"Nevertheless," continued Elise, with emotion, "I must have done so; +your behaviour to me this evening has proved it. Could you think, +Jacobi, that I, a wife, the mother of many children, could permit the +sentiment which you have been so thoughtless as to avow this evening? +Could you imagine that it would not occasion me great uneasiness and +pain? Indeed, it is so, Jacobi; I fear that you have gone sadly wrong; +and if I myself, through any want of circumspection in my conduct, have +assisted thereto, may God forgive me! You have punished me for it, +Jacobi--have punished me for the regard I have felt for you and shown to +you; and if I now must break a connexion which I hoped would gladden my +life, it is your own fault. Only one more such glance--one more such +declaration, as you have made this evening, and you must remove from +this house." + +The crimson of shame and indignation burned on Jacobi's cheek. "In +truth," said he, "I have not deserved such severity." + +"Ah! examine yourself, Jacobi," said she, "and you will judge yourself +more severely than I have done. You say that you love me, Jacobi, and +you do not dread to destroy the peace and happiness of my life. Already, +perhaps, are poisonous tongues in activity against me. I have seen this +evening glances directed upon me and upon you, which were not mild; and +thoughts and feelings are awakened in my husband's soul, which never +ought to have been awakened there. You have disturbed the peace of a +house, into which you were received with friendship and confidence. But +I know," continued she, mildly, "that you have not intended anything +criminal!--no bad intentions have guided your behaviour; folly only has +led you to treat so lightly that relationship which is the holiest on +earth. You have not reflected on your life, on your duty, and your +situation, in this family, with seriousness." + +Jacobi covered his face with his hands, and a strong emotion agitated +him. + +"And seriousness," again began Elise, with warmth and deep +earnestness--"seriousness! how it clothes--how it dignifies the +man!--Jacobi, the saviour of my child--my young friend! I would not have +spoken thus to you if I had not had great faith on your better--your +nobler self;--if I had not hoped to have won a friend in you--a friend +for my whole life, for myself and my Ernst. Oh, Jacobi, listen to my +prayer!--you are thrown among people who are willing from their very +hearts to be your friends! Act so that we may love and highly esteem +you; and do not change into grief that hearty goodwill which we both +feel for you! Combat against, nay, banish from your heart, every foolish +sentiment which you, for a moment, have cherished for me. Consider me as +a sister, as a mother! Yes," continued she, pausing over this word, and +half prophetically, "perhaps you may even yet call me mother; and if you +will show me love and faith, Jacobi, as you have said, I will accept +it--from my son! Oh, Jacobi! if you would deserve my blessing, and my +eternal gratitude, be a faithful friend, a good instructor of my boy--my +Henrik! Your talents as a teacher are of no common kind. Your heart is +good--your understanding is capable of the noblest cultivation--your +path is open before you to all that which makes man most estimable and +most amiable. Oh, turn not away from it, Jacobi--tread this path with +seriousness----" + +"Say not another word!" exclaimed Jacobi. "Oh, I see all! forgive me, +angelic Elise! I will do all, everything, in order to deserve hereafter +your esteem and your friendship. You have penetrated my heart--you have +changed it. I shall become a better man. But tell me that you forgive +me--that you can be my friend, and that you will!" + +Jacobi, in the height of his excitement, had thrown himself on his knee +before her; Elise also was deeply affected; tears streamed from her +eyes, whilst she extended her hand to him, and bending over him said, +from the very depths of her heart, "Your friend, for ever!" + +Calmly, and with cheerful countenances, both raised themselves; but an +involuntary shudder passed through both as they saw the Judge standing +in the room, with a pale and stern countenance. + +Jacobi went towards him: "Judge Frank," said he, with a firm but humble +voice, "you behold here a----" + +"Silence, Jacobi!" interrupted Elise, quickly; "you need not blush on +account of your bended knee, nor is any explanation needful. It is not, +is it, Ernst?" continued she, with the undaunted freshness of innocence: +"you desire no explanation; you believe me when I say that Jacobi now, +more than ever, deserves your friendship. A bond is formed between us +three, which, as I hope before God, nothing will disturb, and no +poisonous tongues censure. You believe me, Ernst?" + +"Yes," said he, giving her his hand; "if I could not, then----" he did +not finish his sentence, but fixed his eyes with a stern expression +immovably on her. "I will speak with you," said he, after a moment, and +in a calmer voice. "Good night, Mr. Jacobi." + +Jacobi bowed, withdrew a few steps, and then returned. "Judge Frank," +said he, in a voice which showed the excitement of his feelings, "give +me your hand; I will deserve your friendship." + +The outstretched hand was grasped firmly and powerfully, and Jacobi left +the room in haste. + +"Come here, Elise," said the Judge, with warmth, leading his wife to the +sofa, and enclosing her in his arms. "Speak to me! Tell me, has anything +in my behaviour of late turned your heart from me!" + +Elise's head sunk upon the breast of her husband, and she was silent. +"Ah, Ernst!" said she at length, with a painful sigh, "I also am +dissatisfied with myself. But, oh!" added she more cheerfully, "when I +lean myself on you thus, when I hear your heart beating, and know what +is within that heart, then, Ernst, I feel how I love you--how I believe +on you! Then I reproach myself with being so weak, so unthankful, so +ready to take offence, then--oh, Ernst! love me! Look on me always as +now, then life will be bright to me; then shall I have strength to +overcome all--even my own weakness; then I shall feel that only a cloud, +only a shadow of mist, and no reality can come between us. But now all +is vanished. Now I can lay open to you all the innermost loopholes of my +heart--can tell you all my weaknesses----" + +"Be still, be still now," said the Judge, with a bright and affectionate +look, and laying his hand on her mouth. "I have more failings than you; +but I am awake now. Weep not, Elise; let me kiss away your tears! Do you +not feel, as I do now, that all is right? Do we not believe in the +Eternal Good, and do we not believe in each other? Let us forgive and +forget, and have peace together. Hereafter, when the error of this time +has in some measure passed from our remembrance, we will talk it over, +and wonder how it ever came between us. Now, all is so bright between +us, and we both of us see our way clearly. Our errors will serve us for +warnings. Wherefore do we live in the world, unless to become better? +Look at me, Elise. Are you friendly towards me? Can you have confidence +in me?" + +"I can! I have!" said she; "there is not a grain of dust any longer +between us." + +"Then we are one!" said he, with a joyful voice. "Let us, then, in God's +name, go thus together through life. What He has united, let no man, no +accident, nothing in this world, separate!" + +Night came; but light had arisen in the breast both of husband and wife. + + * * * * * + +The furrow of disunion bears commonly thorns and thistles, but it may +likewise bear seed for the granary of heaven. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] According to the Northern mythology, Nidhögg, the snake-king, lives +in Niflhem, the nether world. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +JACOBI. + + +When Jacobi entered his room, he found a letter lying on the table near +his bed. He recognised the handwriting as that of Judge Frank, and +quickly opened it. A bank-note of considerable value fell out; and the +letter contained the following words: + + "You are indebted to several persons in the city, Jacobi, with + whom I wish, for your own sake, that you should have as little to + do as possible. Within, you will find the means of satisfying + their demands. Receive it as from a paternal friend, who sincerely + wishes you to regard him as such, and who embraces with pleasure + an opportunity of making an acknowledgment to the friend and + instructor of his children. To the preserver of my child I shall + always remain indebted; but should you desire anything, or need + anything, do not apply to any other than + + "Your friend, E. Frank." + +"He! and he, too!" exclaimed Jacobi, deeply agitated. "Oh, the kind, +noble, excellent man! And I--I shall, I will become worthy of him! From +this day I am a new man!" + +He pressed the letter to his breast, and looked up to the star-lighted +heaven with silent but fervent vows. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TIME GOES. + + +Life has its moments of strength and bloom; its bright moments of +inspiration, in which the human artist (the painter of earthly life) +seizes on, and utters the supremely pure, the supremely beautiful, the +divine. If, in such moments, everything in human life were executed; if +then sacrifices were made, work accomplished, victories won, there would +be but little difficulty in life. But the difficult part is to preserve, +through a long course of years, the flame which has been kindled by +inspiration! to preserve it while the storms come and go, while the +everlasting dust-rain of the moments falls and falls; to preserve it +still and uniform, amidst the uniform changing of uniform days and +nights. To do this, strength from above is required; repeated draughts +from the fountain of inspiration; both for the great and the small--for +all labourers on earth. + +It was the good fortune of Ernst and Elise that they knew this; and knew +also how to avail themselves of it. On this account they succeeded more +and more in conquering their natural failings; on this account they came +nearer to each other by every little step, which in itself is so +unobservable, but which yet, at the same time, twines so firmly and +lovingly together the human heart and life, and which may be contained +in the rubric--_regard for mutual inclinations, interest for mutual +interests_. + +Through this new-born intimacy of heart, this strengthening and pure +affection, Elise assumed a secure and noble standing with regard to +Jacobi. Her heart was vanquished by no weakness, even when she saw +suffering expressed in his youthful countenance; nay, she remained firm, +even when she saw that his health was giving way, and only besought her +husband to name an earlier day for his and Henrik's departure. This was +also her husband's wish. Like a good angel, at once gentle, yet strong, +he stood at this time by her side. No wonder was it, therefore, that, +with his support, Elise went forward successfully; no wonder was it, +therefore, that from the firm conduct of her husband, and from the +contemplation of the good understanding which existed between the +married pair, the whispered blame, which had already begun to get +abroad at their expense, died of itself, like a flame wanting +nourishment. + +Of Judge Frank's "old flame," which Elise had feared so much, we must +relate how that she found herself so wounded, and so cooled likewise, by +the ice-cold behaviour of her former adorer, that she quickly left the +town, which was too monotonous for her, and abandoned all thoughts of +settling there. + +"Life there would be too uniform for me, would possess too little +interest," said she, yawning, to the Judge, who was warmly counselling +her return either to France or Italy. + +"In our good North," added he, "we must find that which can give +interest and enjoyment to life in ourselves and our own means,--from our +families, from our own breasts." + +"She is, nevertheless, extremely beautiful and interesting," said Elise, +with a kindly feeling towards her when she was gone. The Judge made no +reply; he never was heard to speak again of his former beloved one. + +Days went by. The Judge had much to do. Elise occupied herself with her +little girls, and the Candidate with Henrik and his own studies. + +The children grew like asparagus in June, and the father rejoiced over +them. "The Queen-bee will grow over all our heads," prophesied he many a +time; and when he heard Eva playing "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre," on +the piano, his musical sense awoke, and he said, "what a deal of feeling +there is already in her music!--is there not, Elise?" + +The evenings, on which all the members of the family assembled, assumed +constantly a livelier and more comfortable character for every one; +often they played and danced with the children. + +The children! What a world of pleasure and pain do they not bring with +them into a house! Of a truth all is not of as rosy a hue as their +cheeks. Elise discovered that in her children which was not always +exactly good. "Do not to others what thou wouldst not that they should +do to thee." "People should think of what they do." "Patience is a good +root." "You do not see that your father and mother do so; look at me, +and do as I do." These standing and going speeches, which have travelled +through the world from the time when "Adam delved and Eve span," down to +the present day, and which to the very end of time will be ever in +use--together with assurances to the children, whenever they were +punished, or when they must learn their lessons yet more--that all this +was done for their benefit, and that the time would come when they would +be thankful for it--which the children very seldom, if ever +believed--this citizen-of-the-world, patriarchal household-fare, which +was dealt out in the family of the Franks, as in every other worthy +family, did not always produce its proper effect. + +Perhaps Elise troubled herself too much sometimes about the perpetual +recurrence of the same fault in her children--perhaps she calculated too +little on the invisible but sun-like and powerful influence of paternal +love on the little human-plants. True it is that she often was in great +anxiety on their account, and that the development and future prospects +of her daughters awoke in her soul much disquiet and trouble. + +One day, when such thoughts had troubled her more than usual, she felt +the necessity of a prudent, and, in this respect, experienced female +friend, to whom she could open her mind. + +"Ernst," said she, as her husband prepared himself to go out immediately +after dinner, "I shall go below for a few minutes to Evelina, but I will +be back again by the time you return." + +"Don't trouble yourself about that, dear Elise," said he; "remain as +long as you like; I'll fetch you. Take my arm, and let us go down +together, that I may see exactly where you go, and whence I must fetch +you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A LITTLE EDUCATION AND COFFEE COMMITTEE. + + +As Elise entered Evelina's room, Pyrrhus sprang, barking, towards her, +and wagging his tail. Mrs. Gunilla was there, and she and the hostess +emulated each other in welcoming their friend. + +"Nay! best-beloved, that is charming!" exclaimed Mrs. Gunilla, embracing +Elise cordially. "Now, how does the little lady?--somewhat +pale?--somewhat out of spirits, I fancy? I will tell confidentially that +I know we shall presently get some magnificent coffee, which will cheer +up little Elise." + +Evelina took Elise's hand, and looked kindly and sympathising at her +with her calm sensible eyes. Pyrrhus touched her foot gently with his +nose, in order to call her attention, and then seated himself on his +hind legs before her, began growling, in order to express his sympathy +also. Elise laughed, and she and Mrs. Gunilla vied with each other in +caressing the little animal. + +"Ah, let me sit down here and chat with you, where everything seems so +kind," said Elise, in reply to Evelina's glance, which spoke such a kind +"How do you do?" "Here all is so quiet and so comfortable. I do not know +how you manage, Evelina, but it seems to me as if the air in your room +were clearer than elsewhere; whenever I come to you it seems to me as if +I entered a little temple of peace." + +"Yes, and so it seems to me," said Mrs. Gunilla, cordially. + +"Yes, thank God," said Evelina, smiling gratefully, and with tears in +her eyes; "here is peace!" + +"And at our little lady's, the young folks raise dust sometimes in the +temper, as well as in the rooms. Is it not so?" said Mrs. Gunilla, with +facetiousness. "Well, well," added she, by way of consolation, +"everything has its time, all dust will in time lay itself, only have +patience." + +"Ah, teach me that best thing, Aunt," said Elise, "for I am come here +precisely with the hope of gaining some wisdom--I need it so much. But +where are your daughters to-day, Evelina?" + +"They are gone to-day to one of their friends," replied she, "to a +little festival, which they have long anticipated with pleasure; and I +also expect to have my share, from their relation of it to me." + +"Ah! teach me, Evelina," said Elise, "how I can make my daughters as +amiable, as good, and as happy, as your Laura and Karin. I confess that +it is the anxiety for the bringing up of my daughters which ever makes +me uneasy, and which lies so heavy on my heart this very day. I distrust +my own ability--my own artistical skill, rightly to form their +minds--rightly to unfold them." + +"Ah, education, education!" said Mrs. Gunilla, angrily; "people are +everlastingly crying out now for education. One never can hear anything +now but about education. In my youth I never heard talk and outcry for +education, and yet, thank God, a man was a man in those days for all +that. I confess that when I first heard this talk of education, I +supposed that there would be two sorts, as of everything in the world. I +thought so! But now, ever since _le tiers état_ have pushed themselves +so much forward, have made so much of themselves, and have esteemed +themselves as something exclusive in the world with their education--now +the whole world cries out, 'educate! educate!' Yes, indeed, they even +tell us now that we should educate the maid-servants. I pray God to +dispense with my living in the time when maid-servants are educated; I +should have to wait myself on them, instead of their waiting on me. Yes, +yes! things are going on towards that point at a pretty rate, that I can +promise you! Already they read Frithiof and Axel; and before one is +aware, one shall hear them talk of 'husband and wife,' and 'wife and +husband;' and that they fancy themselves 'to be vines, which must wither +if they are not supported;' and 'sacrifices,' and other such affecting +things, until they become quite incapable of cleaning a room, or +scouring a kettle. Yes, indeed, there would be pretty management in the +world with all their education! It is a frenzy, a madness, with this +education! It is horrible!" + +The longer Mrs. Gunilla talked on this subject, the more she excited +herself. + +Elise and Evelina laughed heartily, and then declared that they +themselves, as belonging to the _tiers état_, must take education, nay, +even the education of maid-servants, under their protection. + +"Ah," said Mrs. Gunilla, impatiently, "you make all so artistical and +entangled with your education; and you cram the heads of children full +of such a many things, that they never get them quite straight all the +days of their life. In my youth, people learned to speak 'the language,' +as the French was then called, just sufficient to explain a motto; +enough of drawing to copy a pattern, and music enough to play a _contre +danse_ if it were wanted; but they did not learn, as now, to gabble +about everything in the world; but they learned to think, and if they +knew less of art and splendour, why, they had the art to direct +themselves, and to leave the world in peace!" + +"But, your best Honour," said Evelina, "education in its true meaning, +as it is understood in our time, teaches us to take a clearer view of +ourselves and of the world at large, so that we may more correctly +understand our own allotted station, estimate more properly that of +others, and, in consequence, that every one may be fitted for his own +station, and contented therewith." + +"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Gunilla, "all that may be very good, but----" But +just then the coffee came in, with biscuits and gingerbread, which made +an important diversion in the entertainment, which now took a livelier +character. Mrs. Gunilla imparted to Elise, with jesting seriousness, a +variety of good counsel on the education of her children. She sent for +and recommended particularly a certain _Orbis Pictus_, which she herself +had studied when a child, and which began with the words, "Come here, +boy, and learn wisdom from my mouth," and in which one could see clearly +how the soul was fashioned, and how it looked. It looked like a pancake +spread out on a table round and smooth, with all the five senses +properly numbered. Mrs. Gunilla assured Elise, that if her children paid +attention to this picture, it would certainly develop and fashion their +ideas of the human soul. Furthermore, she proposed the same educational +course as had been used with such distinguished success upon her +deceased father and his brother, when they went to school, and which +consisted in every boy being combed with a fine comb every Saturday, and +well whipped, whilst an ounce of English salt was allowed per boy, in +order to drive the bad spirits out of him. Beyond this, they had, too, +on the same day, a diet of bread and beer, in which was a dumpling +called "Grammatica," so that the boys might be strengthened for the +learning of the following week. + +During the merriment which these anecdotes occasioned, the Judge came +in: delighted with the merriment, and delighted with his wife, he seated +himself beside her, quite covetous of an hour's gossip with the ladies. +Mrs. Gunilla served him up the human soul in the _Orbis Pictus_, and +Elise instigated her still further to the relation of the purification +of the boys. The Judge laughed at both from the bottom of his heart, and +then the conversation turned again on the hard and disputable ground of +education; all conceding, by general consent, the insufficiency of rules +and methods to make it available. + +Evelina laid great stress on the self-instruction of the teacher. "In +the degree," said she, "in which man developes in himself goodness, +wisdom, and ability, he succeeds commonly in calling out these in +children." + +All the little committee, without exception, gave their most lively +approval; and Elise felt herself quite refreshed, quite strengthened by +the words which showed her so clearly the path to her great object. She +turned now, therefore, the conversation to Evelina's own history and +development. It was well known that her path through life had been an +unusual one, and one of independence, and Elise wished now to know how +she had attained to that serenity and refreshing quiet which +characterised her whole being. Evelina blushed, and wished to turn the +conversation from herself--a subject which she least of all would speak +about, and that probably because she was in harmony with herself--but as +the Judge with his earnest cordiality united in the wish of his wife and +Mrs. Gunilla, that Evelina would relate to them some passages in the +history of her life, she acceded, remarking only that what she had to +relate was in no way extraordinary; and then, after she had bethought +herself for a moment, she began, addressing herself more especially to +Elise, and in the mean time Mrs. Gunilla hastily jotted down the +narrative, which we will here designate + + +EVELINA'S HISTORY. + +Have you ever been conscious, while listening to a beautiful piece of +music, of a deep necessity, an indescribable longing, to find in your +own soul, in your own life, a harmony like that which you perceived in +the tune?--if so, you have then an idea of the suffering and the release +of my soul. I was yet a little child when, for the first time, I was +seized upon by this longing, without at that time comprehending it. +There was a little concert in the house of my parents; the harp, piano, +horn, and clarionette, were played by four distinguished artists. In one +part of the symphony the instruments united in an indescribably sweet +and joyous melody, in the feeling of which my childish soul was seized +upon by a strong delight, and at the same time by a deep melancholy. It +seemed to me as if I had then an understanding of heaven, and I burst +into tears. Ah! the meaning of these I have learned since then. Many +such, and many far more painful, tears of longing, have fallen upon the +dark web of my life. + +To what shall I compare the picture of my youthful years? All that it, +and many other such family pictures exhibit, is unclear, indefinite, in +one word, blotted as it were in the formation. It resembled a dull +autumn sky, with its grey, shapeless, intermingling cloud-masses; full +of those features without precision, of those contours without meaning, +of those shadows without depth, of those lights without clearness, which +so essentially distinguish the work of a bungler from that of a true +master. + +My family belonged to the middle class, and we were especially well +content to belong to this noble class; and as we lived from our rents, +and had no rank in the state, we called ourselves, not without some +self-satisfaction, people of condition. We exhibited a certain genteel +indifference towards the _haute volée_ in the citizen society, not only +in words but sometimes also in action; yet, nevertheless, in secret we +were extremely wounded or flattered by all those who came in contact +with us from this circle; and not unfrequently too the family +conversation turned, quite accidentally as it were, on the subject of +its being ennobled on the plea of the important service which our father +could render to the state in the House of Knights; and in the hearts of +us young girls it excited a great pleasure when we were addressed as "my +lady." Beyond this agitation of the question nothing came. + +The daughters of the house were taught that all pomp and pleasure of +this world was only vanity, that nothing was important and worth +striving after but virtue and inward worth; yet for all this, it so +happened that their most lively interest and endeavours, and the warmest +wishes of the hearts of all, were directed to wealth, rank, and worldly +fortune of every kind. The daughters were taught that in all things the +will of God must alone direct them; yet in every instance they were +guided by the fear of man. They were taught that beauty was nothing, and +of no value; yet they were often compelled to feel, and that painfully, +in the paternal house, that they wore not handsome. They were allowed to +cultivate some talents, and acquire some knowledge, but God forbid that +they should ever become learned women; on which account they learned +nothing thoroughly, though in many instances they pretended to +knowledge, without possessing anything of its spirit, its nourishing +strength, or its pure esteem-inspiring earnestness. But above all +things they learned, and this only more and more profoundly the more +their years increased, that marriage was the goal of their being; and in +consequence (though this was never definitely inculcated in words, but +by a secret, indescribable influence), to esteem the favour of men as +the highest happiness, denying all the time that they thought so. + +We were three sisters. As children, it was deeply impressed upon us that +we must love one another; but in consequence of partiality on the side +of our teachers, in consequence of praise and blame, rewards and +punishments, which magnified little trifles into importance, envy and +bitterness were early sown among the sisters. It was said of my eldest +sister and myself, that we were greatly attached to each other; that we +could not live asunder. We were cited as examples of sisterly love; and +from constantly hearing this, we at last came to believe it. We were +compared to the carriage-horses of the family; and we were in the habit, +almost of our own accord, of seating ourselves every day after dinner on +each side of our good father, who caressed us, and called us his +carriage-horses. Yet, in fact, we did not pull together. My sister was +more richly endowed by nature than I, and won favour more easily. Never +did I envy a human being as I envied her, until in later years, and +under altered circumstances, I learned to love her rightly, and to +rejoice over her advantages. + +We were not very rich, and we cast a philosophically compassionate +glance upon all who were richer than we, who lived in a more liberal +manner, had more splendid equipages, or who dressed themselves more +elegantly. "What folly--what pitiable vanity!" said we: "poor people, +who know nothing better!" We never thought that our philosophy was +somewhat akin to the fox and the grapes. + +If we looked in this manner upon the advantages of the great, we +despised still more the pleasures of the crowd. (We ought to be so +all-sufficient for ourselves. Ah, alas!) And if ever a theatrical piece +was much talked of and visited, we had a kind of pride in saying, with +perfect indifference, that we never had seen it; and whenever there was +a popular festival, and the crowd went towards Haga or the Park, it was +quite as certain that our calesche--if it went out at all--would drive +on the road to Sabbatsberg, or in some other direction equally deserted +at the time; for all which, we prided ourselves on our philosophy. Yet +with all this in our hearts we really never were happy. + +The daughters came out into society. The parents wished to see them +loved and wooed; the daughters wished it no less--but they were not +handsome--were dressed without any pretension. The parents saw very +little company; and the daughters remained sitting at balls, and were +nearly unobserved at suppers. Yet from year to year they slid on with +the stream. + +The daughters approached to ripened youth. The parents evidently wished +them married; they wished it likewise, which was only natural, +especially as at home they were not happy; and it must be confessed that +neither did they themselves do much to make it pleasant there. They were +peevish and discontented--no one knew exactly what to do or what she +wanted; they groped about as if in a mist. + +It is customary to hear unmarried ladies say that they are satisfied +with their condition, and do not desire to change it. In this pretension +there lies more truth than people in general believe, particularly when +the lively feelings of early youth are past. I have often found it so; +and above all, wherever the woman, either in one way or another, has +created for herself an independent sphere of action, or has found in a +comfortable home that freedom, and has enjoyed that pure happiness of +life, which true friendship, true education, can give. + +A young lady of my acquaintance made what was with justice called a +great match, although love played but a subordinate part. As some one +felicitated her on her happiness, she replied, quite calmly, "Oh, yes! +it is very excellent to possess something of one's own." People smiled +at her for her thus lightly esteeming what was universally regarded so +great a good fortune; but her simple words, nevertheless, contain a +great and universal truth. It is this "one's own," in the world, and in +his sphere of action, which every man unavoidably requires if he would +develop his own being, and win for himself independence and happiness, +self-esteem, and the esteem of others. Even the nun has her own cell, +where she can prepare herself in peace for heaven, and in which she +possesses her true home. But in social life, the unmarried woman has +often not even a little cell which she can call her own; she goes like a +cloud of mist through life, and finds firm footing nowhere. Hence, +therefore, are there often marriages the genuine children of necessity, +which ought never to have taken place, and that deep longing after the +deep quiet of the grave, which is experienced by so many. But there is +no necessity for this, and in times, in which the middle classes are so +much more enlightened, it becomes still less so; we need, indeed, only +contemplate the masses of people who strive for a subsistence, the +crowds of neglected and uncared-for children that grow up in the world, +in order to see that whatever is one-sided in the view of the +destination of woman vanishes more and more, and opens to her a freer +sphere of action. + +But I return to the _pros_ and _cons_ of my own life, one feature of +which I must particularly mention. If young ladies of our acquaintance +connected themselves by marriage with men who were rather above than +below them in property or station, we considered it, without exception, +reasonable and estimable. But if a man, whose connexions and prospects +were similar to our own, looked round him for a wife in our house, we +considered it great audacity, and treated it accordingly. We were +secretly looking out for genteeler and richer individuals, who again, on +their part, were looking out for genteeler and richer individuals than +we.--N. B. This _looking-out_ in the great world is a very useful thing, +both for gentlemen and ladies, although anybody who would be _naďve_ +enough to acknowledge as much, would not be greatly in favour either +with those who looked-out or those who did not. + +In the mean time, a spirit was developed within me, which full of living +energy woke to the sense of its nonentity--to a sense of the enslaving +contradictions in which it moved, and to the most vehement desire to +free itself from them. As yet, however, I did not understand what I was +to do with my restless spirit. By contemplation, however, of noble works +of art, it appeared to me frequently that the enigma of my inner self +became clear to me. When I observed the antique vestal, so calm, so +assured, and yet so gentle--when I saw how she stood, self-possessed, +firm, and serene--I had a foretaste of the life which I needed, and +sought after, both outwardly and inwardly, and I wept tears of +melancholy longing. + +Tortured by the distorted circumstances (many of which I have not +mentioned) under which I moved in my own family connexion, I began, as +years advanced, to come in contact with the world in a manner which, for +a temper like mine, was particularly dangerous. + +We have heard of the daughters of the Husgafvel family, who grew old +yawning over the spinning-wheel and the weaving-stool; but, better so to +grow old, yes, better a thousand times to grow grey over the +spinning-wheel and the ashes of the cooking-stove, than with artificial +flowers--oh, how artificial!--in the hair, on the benches of the +ball-room, or the seat of the supper-room, smiling over the world, which +smiles over us no longer. This was the case with me. + +There are mild, unpretending beings, who bow themselves quietly under +the yoke which they cannot break; move, year after year, through the +social circle, without any other object than to fill a place there--to +ornament or to disfigure a wall. Peace to such patient souls! There, +too, are joyous, fresh, ever youthful natures, who, even to old age, and +under all circumstances, bring with them cheerfulness and new life into +every circle in which they move. These belong to social life, and are +its blessings. Many persons--and it is beautiful that it should be +so--are of this description. I, however, belonged neither to the joyous +and enlivening, nor yet to the patient and unpretending. On this account +I began to shun social life, which occasioned in me, still more and +more, a moral weariness; yet, nevertheless, I was driven into it, to +avoid the disquiet and discomfort which I experienced at home. I was a +labourer who concealed his desire for labour, who had buried his talent +in the earth, as was the hereditary custom of the circle in which I +lived. + +The flower yields odour and delight to man, it nourishes the insect with +its sweetness; the dewdrop gives strength to the leaf on which it falls. +In the relationships in which I lived, I was less than the flower or the +dewdrop; a being endowed with power and with an immortal soul! But I +awoke at the right time to a consciousness of my position. I say at the +right time, because there may be a time when it is too late. There is a +time when, under the weight of long wearisome years, the human soul has +become inflexible, and has no longer the power to raise itself from the +slough into which it has sunk. + +I felt how I was deteriorating; I felt clearly how the unemployed and +uninterested life which I led, nourished day after day new weeds in the +waste field of my soul. Curiosity, a desire for gossip, an inclination +to malice and scandal, and an increasing irritability of temper, began +to get possession of a mind which nature had endowed with too great a +desire for action for it blamelessly to vegetate through a passive life +as so many can. Ah! if people live without an object, they stand as it +were on the outside of active life, which gives strength to the inward +occupation, even if no noble endeavour or sweet friendship give that +claim to daily life which makes it occasionally, at least, a joy to +live; disquiet rages fiercely and tumultuously in the human breast, +undermining health, temper, goodness, nay, even the quiet of conscience, +and conjuring up all the spirits of darkness: so does the corroding rust +eat into the steel-plate and deface its clear mirror with a tracery of +disordered caricatures. + +I once read these words of that many-sided thinker, Steffen:--"He who +has no employment to which he gives himself with true earnestness, which +he does not love as much as himself and all men, has not discovered the +true ground on which Christianity even here brings forth fruit. Such an +occupation becomes a quiet and consecrated temple in all hours of +affliction, into which the Saviour pours out his blessing; it unites us +with all other men, so that we can sympathise in their feelings, and +makes our actions and our wills administer to their wants; it teaches us +rightly to weigh our own circumscribed condition and the worth of +others. It is the true, firm, and fruit-bearing ground of real +Christianity." + +These words came like a breath of air on glowing sparks. A light was +kindled in my soul, and I knew now what I wanted, and what I ought to +do. After I had well considered all this with myself, I spoke with my +parents, and opened my whole heart to them. They were surprised, opposed +me, and besought me to think better of it. I had foreseen this; but as I +adhered firmly and decidedly to my wishes and my prayers, they surprised +me by their kindness. + +I was very fond of children; my plan was, therefore, to begin +housekeeping for myself, and to undertake some work or occupation which +should, by degrees, enable me to take two or three children, for whom I +would provide, whom I would educate, and altogether adopt as my own. I +was well persuaded that I needed many of the qualifications which make a +good teacher; but I hoped that that new fountain of activity would, as +it were, give to my whole being a new birth. My goodwill, my affection +for children would, I believed, be helpful to make me a good guide to +them; and thus, though I could not become a wife, I might yet enjoy the +blessing of a mother. + +"And why could you not--why could you not?" interrupted Elise. + +"People say," returned Evelina, smiling, "that you had to make your +selection of a husband from many adorers; you cannot then understand a +case in which there should not even be one choice. But truly, indeed, +that was my case. But do not look at me so amazed--don't look at me as +if I were guilty of high treason. The truth is, sweet Elise, that I +never had an opportunity to say either yes or no to a lover. With my +sisters, who were much more agreeable and much more attractive than I, +it was otherwise." + +But now I must return to that moment of my life when I released myself +from every-day paths--but, thank God! not with violence, not amid +discontent; but with the blessing of those who had given me life, for +which I now, for the first time, blessed them. + +Touched by my steadfastness of purpose, and by the true goodwill which +they had perceived in me, my parents determined--God reward them for +it!--to bestow upon my desired domestic establishment the sum of money +which they had put aside for my dowry, in case I married. Indeed, their +and my sisters' kindness made them find pleasure in arranging all for me +in the best and most comfortable manner; and when I left the paternal +roof for my own new home, it was with tears of real pain. Yet I had too +clearly studied my own character and position to be undecided. + +It was a day in April, my thirtieth birthday, when, accompanied by my +own family, I went to take possession of my new, small, but pretty +dwelling. Two young father-and-motherless girls, not quite without +means, followed me to my new habitation. They were to become my +children, I their mother. + +I never shall forget the first morning of my waking in my new abode. At +this very moment it is as if I saw how the day dawned in the chamber; +how all the objects gradually assumed, as it seemed to me, an +unaccustomed definiteness. From the near church ascended the morning +hymn with its pleasant serious melody, which attuned the soul to +harmonious peace. I rose early; I had to care for house and children. +All was cheerful and festival-like in my soul; a sweet emotion +penetrated me like the enlivening breeze of spring. Also without spring +breathed. I saw the snow melt from the roofs, and fall down in +glittering drops, yet never had I seen the morning light in them so +clear as now. I saw the sparrows on the edge of the chimneys twittering +to greet the morning sun. I saw without, people going joyfully about +their employments: I saw the milk-woman going from door to door, and she +seemed to me more cheerful than any milk-woman I had ever seen before; +and the milk seemed to me whiter and more nutritious than common. It +seemed to me as if I now saw the world for the first time. I fancied +even myself to be altered as I looked in the glass; my eyes appeared to +me larger; my whole appearance to have become better, and more +important. In the chamber near me the children awoke--the little +immortals whom I was to conduct to eternal life. Yes, indeed, this was a +beautiful morning! In it the world first beamed upon me, and at the same +time my own inner world, and I became of worth and consequence in my own +estimation. + +The active yet quiet life which I led from this time forth, suited me +perfectly well. From this time I became more thoroughly in harmony with +myself, and altogether happier. The day was often wearisome, but then +the evening rest was the sweeter, and the thought that I had passed a +useful day refreshed my soul. The children gave me many cares, many +troubles; but they gave likewise an interest to my life, and happiness +to my heart, and all the while, in pleasure and want, in joy and sorrow, +they became dearer and dearer to me. I cannot imagine that children can +be dearer to their own mother than Laura and Karin are to me. + +In this new position I also became a better daughter, a more tender +sister than I had hitherto been; and I could now cheer the old age of my +parents far more than if I had remained an inactive and superfluous +person in their house. Now for the first time I had advantage of all +that was good in my education. Amid lively activity, and with a distinct +object in life, and in affectionate relationships, that which was vain +and false fell gradually away from my disposition; and the knowledge +which I had obtained, the truths which I had known, were productive in +heart and deed since I had, so to say, struck root in life. + + * * * * * + +Evelina ceased. All had heard her with sympathy, but no one more than +Ernst Frank. A new picture of life was opened to his view, and the +truest sympathy expressed itself on his manly features. He suffered by +this picture of so contracted a world, in so oppressive and gloomy a +condition, and his thoughts already busied themselves with plans for +breaking open doors, for opening windows in these premises, to free this +oppressed and captive life. + +"Ah, yes!" said Mrs. Gunilla, with a gentle sigh, "everybody here in +this world has their difficult path, but if every one walks in the fear +and admonition of the Lord, all arrive in the end at their home. Our +Lord God helps us all!" And Mrs. Gunilla took a large pinch of snuff. + +"Don't forget the _Orbis Pictus_," exclaimed she to Elise, who with her +husband was preparing to go; "don't forget it, and let the children be +educated from it, that they may observe how the soul looks. He, he, he, +he!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE ORPHAN. + + +The day was declining, and Ernst and Elise sate in one of the parlour +windows. Mutual communications received with mutual sympathy, had made +them have joy in each other--had let them feel at peace with life. They +were now silent; but a presentiment that for the future they should be +ever happier with each other, like a harmonious tone, responded in their +hearts, and brightened their countenances. In the mean time, the shadows +of evening began to grow broader, and a soft rain pattered on the +window. The sonorous voice of the Candidate, as he told stories to the +children, interrupted occasionally by their questions and exclamations, +was heard in the saloon. A feeling of home-peace came over the heart of +the father; he took the hand of his wife affectionately between his, and +looked joyfully into her gentle countenance, whilst she was projecting +little domestic arrangements. In the midst of this sense of happiness a +cloud suddenly passed over the countenance of the Judge, and tears +filled his eyes. + +"What is it, Ernst?--what is amiss, Ernst?" asked his wife tenderly, +whilst she wiped away the tears with her hand. "Nothing," said he, "but +that I feel how happy we are. I see you, I hear our children without +there, and I cannot but think on that unfortunate child opposite, which +will be ruined in that wretched home." + +"Ah, yes!" sighed Elise; "God help all unfortunate little ones on the +earth!" + +Both cast their eyes involuntarily towards the nearest window of the +before-mentioned house. Something was moving before the window; a female +figure mounted on the window ledge, a dark child's head peeped out from +between her feet, was kicked away, and a large white cloth, which was +quickly unrolled, hid all within. + +"He is dead!" said both husband and wife, looking at each other. + +The Judge sent over to inquire how it was; the messenger returned with +the tidings that Mr. N. had been dead some hours. + +Lights were now kindled behind the blind, and people appeared to be busy +within the chamber. The Judge walked up and down his room, evidently +much affected. "The poor child!--the poor little girl! what will become +of her? Poor child!" were his broken exclamations. + +Elise read the soul of her husband. She had now for some time, in +consequence of a wish which she had perceived in his heart, accustomed +herself to a thought, which yet at this moment her lips seemed unwilling +to express: "Ernst," at length, suppressing a sigh, she began, "the pot +which boils for six little mouths will boil also for seven." + +"Do you think so?" asked he, with pleasure, and with beaming eyes. He +embraced his wife tenderly, placed her beside him, and inquired--"Have +you proved your own strength? The heaviest part of this adoption would +rest upon you. Yet if you feel that you have courage to undertake it, +you would fulfil the wish of my heart." + +"Ernst," said she, repressing a tear, "my strength is small, and nobody +knows that better than you do; but my will is good;--I will undertake +the trouble--you will support me?" + +"Yes, we will help one another," said he, rising up joyfully. "Thank +you, Elise--thank you, my sweet friend," continued he, kissing her hand +affectionately. "Shall I go to fetch the child immediately?--but perhaps +it will not come with me." + +"Shall I go with you?" + +"You!" said he; "but it gets dark--it rains." + +"We can take an umbrella," replied she; "and besides that, I will put on +a wrapping cloak, and will soon be ready." + +Elise went to dress herself, and her husband went to help her, put on +her cloak for her, and paid her a thousand little affectionate +attentions. + +After Elise had given sundry orders to Brigitta, she and her husband +betook themselves to the house, whilst the children set their little +heads together full of curiosity and wonder. + +The two crossed the street in wind and rain; and after they had ascended +the dark staircase, they arrived at the room which Mr. N. had inhabited. +The door stood half open; a small candle, just on the point of going +out, burned within, spreading an uncertain and tremulous light over +everything. No living creature was visible within the room, which had a +desolate, and, as one might say, stripped appearance, so naked did it +seem. The dead man lay neglected on his bed, near to which was no trace +of anything which might have mitigated the last struggle. A cloth +covered his face. Ernst Frank went towards the bed, and softly raising +the cloth, observed for a moment silently the terrible spectacle, felt +the pulse of the deceased, and then covering again the face, returned +silently, with a pale countenance, to his wife. + +"Where can we find the child?" said she, hastily. They looked +searchingly around; a black shadow, in a human form, seemed to move +itself in one corner of the room. It was the orphan who sate there, like +a bird of night, pressing herself close to the wall. Elise approached +her, and would have taken her in her arms, when the child suddenly +raised her hand, and gave her a fierce blow. Elise drew back astonished, +and then, after a moment, approached again the half-savage girl with +friendly words; again she made a threatening demonstration, but her +hands were suddenly grasped by a strong manly hand, and a look so +serious and determined was riveted upon her, that she trembled before +it, and resigned herself to the power of the stronger. + +The Judge lifted her up, and set her on his knee, whilst she trembled +violently. + +"Do not be afraid of us," said Elise, caressingly; "we are your good +friends. If you will come with me this evening to my little children, +you shall have sweet milk and wheaten bread with them, and then sleep in +a nice little bed with a rose-coloured coverlet." + +The white milk, the rose-coloured coverlet, and Elise's gentle voice, +seemed to influence the child's mind. + +"I would willingly go with you," said she, "but what will my father say +when he wakes?" + +"He will be pleased," said Elise, wrapping a warm shawl about the +shoulders of the child. + +At that moment a sound was heard on the stairs; little Sara uttered a +faint cry of terror, and began to tremble anew. Mr. N.'s housekeeper +entered, accompanied by two boys. The Judge announced to her his +determination to take the little Sara, as well as the effects of her +deceased father, under his care. At mention of the last word, the woman +began to fume and swear, and the Judge was obliged to compel her to +silence by severe threats. He then sent one of the boys for the +proprietor of the house, and after he had in his presence taken all +measures for the security of the effects of the deceased, he took the +little Sara in his arms, wrapped her in his cloak, and, accompanied by +his wife, went out. + +All this time an indescribable curiosity reigned among the little +Franks. Their mother had said, in going out, that perhaps, on her +return, she should bring them another sister. It is impossible to say +the excitement this occasioned, and what was conjectured and counselled +by them. The Candidate could not satisfy all the questions which were +let loose upon him. In order, therefore, somewhat to allay their +fermentation, he sent them to hop through the room like crows, placing +himself at the head of the train. A flock of real crows could not have +fluttered away with greater speed than did they as the saloon door +opened and the father and mother entered. Petrea appeared curious in +the highest degree, as her father, opening his wide cloak, softly set +down something which, at the first moment, Petrea, with terror, took for +a chimney-sweeper; but which, on closer inspection, seemed to be a very +nice thin girl of about nine years old, with black hair, dark +complexion, and a pair of uncommonly large black eyes, which looked +almost threateningly on the white and bright-haired little ones which +surrounded her. + +"There, you have another sister," said the father, leading the children +towards each other;--"Sara, these are your sisters--love one another, +and be kind to one another, my children." + +The children looked at each other, somewhat surprised; but as Henrik and +Louise took the little stranger by the hand, they soon all emulated each +other in bidding her welcome. + +Supper was served up for the children, more lights were brought in, and +the scene was lively. Everything was sacrificed to the new comer. Louise +brought out for her two pieces of confectionery above a year old, and a +box in which they might be preserved yet longer. + +Henrik presented her with a red trumpet, conferring gratuitous +instruction on the art of blowing it. + +Eva gave her her doll Josephine in its new gauze dress. + +Leonore lighted her green and red wax tapers before the dark-eyed Sara. + +Petrea--ah, Petrea!--would so willingly give something with her whole +heart. She rummaged through all the places where she kept anything, but +they concealed only the fragments of unlucky things; here a doll without +arms; here a table with only three legs; here two halves of a sugar-pig; +here a dog without head and tail. All Petrea's playthings, in +consequence of experiments which she was in the habit of making on them, +were fallen into the condition of that which had been--and even that +gingerbread-heart with which she had been accustomed to decoy Gabriele, +had, precisely on this very day, in an unlucky moment of curiosity, gone +down Petrea's throat. Petrea really possessed nothing which was fit to +make a gift of. She acknowledged this with a sigh; her heart was tilled +with sadness, and tears were just beginning to run down her cheeks, when +she was consoled by a sudden idea--The Girl and the Rose-bush! That +jewel she still possessed; it hung still, undestroyed, framed and behind +glass, over her bed, and fastened by a bow of blue ribbon. Petrea +hesitated only a moment; in the next she had clambered up to her little +bed, taken down the picture, and hastened now with beaming eyes and +glowing cheeks to the others, in order to give away the very loveliest +thing she had, and to declare solemnly that now "Sara was the possessor +of the Girl and the Rose-bush." + +The little African appeared very indifferent about the sacrifice which +the little European had made to her. She received it, it is true, but +she soon laid it down again without caring any more about it, which +occasioned Louise to propose that she should keep it for her. + +In the midst of these little occurrences the Assessor came in. He looked +with an inquisitive glance round the room, showed his white teeth, and +said to himself, "Yes, it's all right; it is what I expected. So, +indeed," added he aloud, in his angry manner, whilst he cordially shook +the hand of his friend, "I see you thought you had not children enough +of your own in the house, but you must drag in those of other people! +How many do you mean to burden yourselves with? Will there not be +another to-morrow? Were you not satisfied with a whole half-dozen girls +of your own? And what will become of them? One shall presently not be +able to get into the house for children! I suppose that you have such a +superfluity of money and property, that you must go and squander it on +others! Nay! good luck to you!--good luck to you!" + +The Judge and his wife replied only by smiles to the grumbling of their +friend, and by the request that he would spend the evening with them. +But he said he had not time; and then, after he had laid large pears, +which he took from his pocket, under the napkins on the children's +plates, he went out. + +Every one of those pears had its own distinctive sign: round Sara's was +a gold-coloured ribbon; and upon her plate, under the pear, was found a +bank-note of considerable value. It was his gift to the fatherless, yet +he never would acknowledge it. That was his way. + +As the mother took Sara by the hand, in order to conduct her to rest, +Petrea had the indescribable delight of seeing that, from all the little +presents which had been made to her, she only took with her the girl and +the rose-bush, which she appeared to regard with pleasure. + +Sara was seized with violent grief in the comfortable bedroom; tears +streamed with wonderful violence from her eyes, and she called loudly +for her father. Elise held her quietly in her arms, and let her weep out +her grief on her bosom, and then gently undressing her, and laying the +weary child in bed, had the pleasure of feeling how affectionately she +clasped her arms around her neck. + +The girl and the rose-bush hung over her bed, but still there seemed to +be no rest on the snow-white couch for the "little African." Her dark +eyes glanced wildly about the room, and her hands grasped convulsively +Elise's white dress. + +"Don't go," whispered she, "or else they will come and murder me." + +Elise took the child's hands in hers, and repeated a simple and pious +little prayer, which she had taught to all her own children. Sara said +the words after her; and though it was only mechanically, she seemed to +become calmer, though shudderings still shook her frame, and she hold +fast by Elise's dress. Elise seated herself by her, and at the request +of the other children, "Mother, sing the song of the Dove--oh, the song +of the Dove!" she sang, with a pleasant low voice, that little song +which she herself had made for her children: + + There sitteth a dove so white and fair, + All on the lily-spray, + And she listeneth how, to Jesus Christ, + The little children pray. + + Lightly she spreads her friendly wings, + And to heaven's gate hath sped, + And unto the Father in heaven she bears + The prayers which the children said. + + And back she comes from heaven's gate, + And brings--that dove so mild-- + From the Father in heaven, who hears her speak, + A blessing for every child. + + Then, children, lift up a pious prayer, + It hears whatever you say, + That heavenly dove, so white and fair, + That sits on the lily-spray. + +During this song, the dove of peace descended on the soul of the child. +Pleasant images passed before her mind: the girl and the rose-bush and +the singing Elise were the same person--the rose diffused pleasant +odour; and whilst the long dark lashes approached her cheek yet nearer +and nearer, it seemed to her as if a white lovely singing-bird spread +out his wings caressingly and purifyingly over her breast. By degrees +the little hand opened itself, and let go the dress which it had +grasped, the tearful eyes closed, and the sweetness of repose came over +the fatherless and the motherless. + +Elise raised herself gently, and went to the beds of the other children. +The dove on the lily-spray sent sleep also to them; and after the mother +had pressed her lips to their cheeks, had spoken with Brigitta about the +new comer, and had received from the child-loving, good-natured old +woman, the most satisfactory promises, she hastened back to her husband. + +He listened with curiosity to what she had to relate of Sara. This new +member of the family, this increase of his cares, seemed to have +expanded and animated his soul. His eyes beamed with a gentle emotion as +he spoke of the future prospects of the children. Evelina's history, +which was still fresh in his and Elise's mind, seemed to spur him on to +call forth for his family quite another picture of life. + +"We will bring up our children," said he warmly, "not for ourselves, but +for themselves. We will seek for their good, for their happiness; we +will rightly consider what may conduce to this, as much for one child as +for another; we will endeavour to win and to maintain their full +confidence; and should there, dear Elise, be any harshness or severity +in me, which would repel the children from me, you must assist me; let +their secret desires and cares come to me through you!" + +"Yes! where else could they go?" returned she, with the deepest feeling; +"you are my support, my best strength in life! Without you how weak +should I be!" + +"And without you," said he, "my strength would become sternness. Nature +gave me a despotic disposition. I have had, and have still, many times +the greatest difficulty to control it; but with God's help I shall +succeed! My Elise, we will improve ever. On the children's account, in +order to make them happy, we will endeavour to ennoble our own nature." + +"Yes, that we will, Ernst!" said she; "and may the peace in the house +make betimes the spirit of peace familiar to their bosoms!" + +"We will make them happy," began the father again, with yet increasing +warmth; "with God's help, not one of them shall wander through life +unhappy and infirm of spirit. My little girls! you shall not grow up +like half-formed human beings; no illusions shall blind your eyes to +what are the true riches of life; no noble desires shall you experience +unsatisfied. Ah, life is rich enough to satisfy all the birds under +heaven, and no one need be neglected on earth! Your innocent life shall +not fail of strength and joy; you shall live to know the actuality of +life, and that will bring a blessing on every day, interest on every +moment, and importance on every occupation. It will give you repose and +independence in sorrow and in joy, in life and in death!" + +Whilst Elise listened to these words, she felt as if a refreshing breeze +passed through her soul. Nothing more seemed to her difficult. All the +troubles of life seemed light, on account of the bright end to be +attained. And then, as she thought on the manly warm heart which lived +so entirely for her good and the children's, she felt a proud joy that +she could look up to her husband; and at the same time a sense of +humility slid into her heart, she bowed herself over his hand, and +kissed it fervently. + +This did not please the Judge, because, like every other decided and +powerful man, it gratified him rather to pay homage to woman than, at +least by outward bearing, to receive homage from her. He therefore +withdrew his hand with some displeasure. + +"Why may I not kiss your hand," inquired Elise, "if it give me +pleasure?" + +"Because it gives me no pleasure, and you must not do it again." + +"Well, well, dear friend, you need not forbid it so sternly. Perhaps I +shall never again have the desire to do it." + +"All the better," said he. + +"Perhaps not!" returned Elise. "But let us now go to rest." + + + + +PART II. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE NEW HOUSE. + + +"Farewell, oh house of my childhood! Farewell, you walls, insensible +witnesses of my first tears, my first smiles, and my first false steps +on the slippery path of life--of my first acquaintance with water-gruel +and A B C! Thou corner, in which I stood with lessons difficult to be +learned; and thou, in which I in vain endeavoured to tame the most +thankless of all created things, a fly and a caterpillar!--you floors, +which have sustained me sporting and quarrelling with my beloved brother +and sisters!--you papers, which I have torn in my search after imagined +treasures;--you, the theatre of my battles with carafts and +drinking-glasses--of my heroic actions in manifold ways, I bid you a +long farewell, and go to live in new scenes of action--to have new +adventures and new fate!" + +Thus spake Petrea Frank, whilst, with dignified gestures, she took a +tragic-comic farewell of the home which she and her family were now +about to leave. + +It was a rainy day, in the middle of April. A black silk cloak, called +merrily the "Court-preacher," a piece of property held in common by the +Frank family, and a large red umbrella, called likewise the +"Family-roof," which was common property too, were on this day seen in +active promenade on the streets of the city of X----. What all this +passing to and fro denoted might probably be conjectured if one had seen +them accompanied by a tall, fair, blue-eyed maid-servant, and a little +brown, active, servant-man, carrying bandboxes, baskets, packages, etc., +etc. + +Towards twilight might have been seen, likewise, the tall thin figure of +Jeremias Munter, holding the "family-roof" over the heads of himself and +Petrea Frank. Petrea seemed to be carrying something under her cloak, +laughed and talked, and she and the Assessor seemed to be very much +pleased with each other. Alas! this satisfaction did not endure long; +on the steps of the front-door Petrea accidentally trod on the dangling +lace of her boot, made a false step, and fell. A large paper case of +confectionery suddenly proceeded from under the "court-preacher," and +almond-wreaths, "brown sugar-candy, and iced fruits rolled in all +directions. Even amid the shock and the confusion of the first moment it +was with difficulty that Petrea restrained a loud laugh from bursting +forth when she saw the amazement of the Assessor, and the leaps which he +made, as he saw the confections hopping down the steps towards the +gutter. It was the Assessor's own tribute to the festival of the day +which was thus unluckily dispersed abroad. + +"Yes, indeed, if there were no ladies," said the Assessor, vexed, "one +should be able to accomplish something in this world. But now they must +be coming and helping, and on that account things always go topsy-turvy. +'Let me only do it--let me only manage it,' say they; and they manage +and make it, so that----'Did one ever see anything so foolish!--To fall +over your foot-lace!'--but women have order in nothing; and yet people +set up such to govern kingdoms!--To govern kingdoms!!! I would ask +nothing more from them than that they should govern their feet, and keep +their boot and shoe strings tied. But from the queen down to the +charwoman, there is not a woman in this world who knows how to fasten +her boot-lace!" + +Such was the philippic of Jeremias Munter, as he came into the room with +Petrea, and saw, after the great shipwreck, that which remained of the +confectionery. Petrea's excuses, and her prayers for forgiveness, could +not soften his anger. True it is, that an unfortunate disposition to +laugh, which overcame her, gave to all her professions of distress a +very doubtful appearance. Her distress, however, for all that, was real; +and when Eva came, and said, with a beseeching, flattering voice, "Dear +uncle, do not be angry any longer; poor Petrea is really quite cast +down--besides which she really has hurt her knee," the good man replied +with a very different voice: + +"But has she, indeed? But why are people so clumsy--so given to tripping +and stumbling, that one----" + +"One can get some more confections at any time," said Eva. + +"Can one!" exclaimed Jeremias; "do they grow on trees, then? How? Shall +one then throw away one's money for confectionery, in order to see it +lie about the streets? Pretty management that would be, methinks!" + +"Yet just say one kind word to Petrea," besought Eva. + +"A kind word!" repeated Jeremias: "I would just tell her that another +time she should be so good as to fasten her shoestrings. Nay, I will go +now after some more confectionery; but only on your account, little Miss +Eva. Yes, yes; say I--I will now go: I can dance also, if it be +for----But how it rains! lend me the 'family-roof,' and the cloak there +I need also. Give it here handsomely! Well then, what is there to gape +at? How! will the people gape at me?--all very good; if it gives them +any pleasure, they may laugh at me, I shall not find myself any the +worse for it. Health and comfort are above all things, and one dress is +just as good as another." + +The young girls laughed, and threw the "court-preacher," which hardly +reached to his knees, over the shoulders of the Assessor; and thus +apparelled he went forth with long strides. + +The family had this day removed into a new house. Judge Frank had bought +it, together with a small garden, for the lifetime of himself and his +wife, and for the last two years he had been pulling down, building up, +repairing, and arranging: some doors he had built up, others he had +opened, till all was as convenient and as comfortable as he wished. His +wife, in full confidence, had left all to his good judgment, well +pleased for her own part to be spared the noise of bricklayers and +carpenters, which she escaped not without difficulty; to be spared from +going among shavings and under scaffoldings, and from clambering over +troughs full of mortar, etc. Papers for the walls and other ornamental +things had been left to the choice of herself and her daughters. + +And now he went, full of pleasure, with his wife's arm in his, from one +story to another, and from one room into another, greatly pleased with +the convenient, spacious, and cheerful-looking habitation, and yet even +more so with his wife's lively gratification in all his work. And thus +she was obliged to promenade through the whole house, from the cellar up +to the roof; into the mangling-room, the wood-chamber, etc. + +We will not weary the reader by following them in this promenade, but +merely make him acquainted with some of the rooms in which he will often +meet the family. We merely pass through the saloon and best parlour; +they were handsome, but resembled all such apartments; but the room +which the Judge had arranged with the most especial love, which was +designed for daily use, and as the daily assembling place of the family, +and which deserves our most intimate acquaintance, was the library, so +called. It was a large, very lively room, with three windows on one side +looking into a spacious market-place. Louise rejoiced especially over +this, for thus they could look out of the windows on market-days, and +see at once what they wished to buy; directly opposite lay the church, +with its beautiful churchyard well planted with trees; these objects +pleased Elise greatly. The side of the room opposite to the windows was +entirely covered with books; the shelves consisted of several divisions, +each one of which contained the literature of a different country. In +niches between the several divisions stood, on simple but tasteful +pedestals, busts of distinguished men, great for their heroic and +peaceful actions--standing there, said the Judge, not because they +separated the different nations of the earth, but because they united +them. Ernst Frank's library was truly a select one; it had been the +pleasure of his life, and still it was his delight to be increasing his +collection of book's. Now, for the first time, they were collected and +arranged all in one place. He rejoiced over these treasures, and +besought his daughters freely to make use of them (on this one express +condition, that every book should be restored again to its right place). +To Louise was consigned the office of librarian; to Petrea that of +amanuensis. Both mother and daughters were delighted with this room, and +began to consider where the work-table, the flower-table, and the +bird-cage should stand, and when all were arranged, they were found to +suit their places admirably. Against one of the short walls stood the +green sofa, the appointed place for the mother; and against the opposite +one the piano, and the harp, which was Sara's favourite instrument, +together with a guitar, whose strings were touched by Eva, as she sang +"Mamma mia." + +An agreeable surprise awaited Elise as she was led through a curtained +door which conducted from the library into a sort of boudoir, whose one +window had the same prospect as the library--this was solely and +entirely her own consecrated room. She saw with emotion that the +tasteful furniture of the room was the work of her daughters; her +writing-table stood by the window; several beautiful pictures and a +quantity of very pretty china adorned the room. Elise saw, with thankful +delight, that all her favourite tastes, and all her little fancies, had +been studied and gratified both by husband and children. + +A small curtained door, likewise, on the other side, conducted Elise +into her sleeping-room; and her husband made her observe how smoothly +these doors turned on their hinges, and how easily she, from either +side, could lock herself in and remain in quiet. + +After this room, nothing gave Elise greater delight than the +arrangements for bathing, which the Judge had made particularly +convenient and comfortable; and he now turned the white taps with +remarkable pleasure, to exhibit how freely the warm water came out of +this, and the cold--no, out of this came the warm water, and out of the +other the cold. The cheerfulness and comfort of the whole arrangement +were intended to give to the bathing-day--which was almost as +religiously observed in this family as the Sunday--a double charm. In a +room adjoining that which was appropriated to dressing, the old cleanly +Brigitta had already her fixed residence. Here was she and the great +linen-press to grow old together. Here ticked her clock, and purred her +cat; here blossomed her geraniums and balsams, with the Bible and +Prayer-book lying between them. + +The three light and pleasant rooms intended for the daughters lay in the +story above, and were simply but prettily furnished. + +"Here they will feel themselves quite at home," said the father, as he +looked round with beaming eyes; "don't you think so, Elise? We will make +home so pleasant to our children that they shall not wish to leave it +without a really important and deserving cause. No disquiet, no +discontent with home and the world within it, shall drive them from the +paternal roof. Here they can have leisure and quiet, and be often alone, +which is a good thing. Such moments are needed by every one in order to +strengthen and collect themselves, and are good for young girls as well +as for any one else." + +The mother gave her applause fully and cordially; but immediately +afterwards she was a little absent, for she had something of importance +to say to her eldest daughter; and as at that very moment Louise came +in, an animated conversation commenced between them, of which the +following reached the father's ear: + +"And after them, pancakes; and, my good girl, take care that six of them +are excellently thick and savoury; you know, indeed, how Henrik likes +them." + +"And should we not," suggested Louise, "have whipped cream and raspberry +jam with the pancakes?" + +"Yes, with pleasure," returned the mother,--"Jacobi would unquestionably +recommend that." + +Louise blushed, and the Judge besought with animation that there might +be something a little more substantial than "angels' food" for supper, +which was promised him. + +The Assessor shook out the "family-roof" in the hall in indignation. +"The most miserable roof in all Christendom," said he; "it defends +neither from wind nor rain, and is as heavy as the ark! and----" + +But at the very moment when he was shaking and scolding his worst, he +perceived a sound----exclamations and welcomes, in every possible +variety of joyous and cordial tones. The "court-preacher" was thrown +head and shoulders over the "family-roof," and with great leaps hastened +Jeremias forward to shake hands with the son and the friend of the +house, who were just now returned home from the University. + +Tokens of condolement mingled themselves with welcomes and +felicitations. + +"How wet, and pale, and cold you are!" + +"Oh, we have had a magnificent shower!" said Henrik, shaking himself, +and casting a side glance on Jacobi, who looked both downcast and +doleful in his wet apparel. "Such weather as this is quite an affair of +my own. In wind and rain one becomes so--I don't know rightly how--do +you, _mon cher_?" + +"A jelly, a perfect jelly!" said Jacobi, in a mournful voice; "how can +one be otherwise, knocked about in the most infamous of peasant-cars, +and storm, and pouring rain, so that one is perfectly battered and +melted! Hu, hu, u, u, u, uh!" + +"Oh, according to my opinion," said Henrik, laughing heartily at the +gestures of his travelling companion, "it is a hardening sort of +weather; there is a proud exalting feeling in it, sitting there quite +calm under the raging of the elements; especially when one looks down +from one's elevation on other fellow-mortals, who go lamenting, and full +of anxiety, under their umbrellas. Thus one sits on one's car as on a +throne; nay, indeed, one gets quite a flattering idea of oneself, as if +one were a little, tiny philosopher. Apropos! I bethink myself now, as +if we had seen, as we came this way, a philosopher in a lady's cloak +walking hither. But, how are you all, sweet, sweet sisters? How long it +is since I saw you!" and he pressed their hands between his cold and wet +ones. + +This scene, which took place in twilight, was quickly brought to an end +by the ladies resolutely driving the gentlemen out to their own chamber +to change their clothes. Jacobi, it is true, on his own account, did not +require much driving, and Louise found Henrik's philosophy on this +occasion not so fully adopted. Louise had already taken care that a good +blazing fire should welcome the travellers in their chamber. + +In the mean time, the ladies quartered themselves in the library; lights +were kindled, the table spread; the Judge helped all, and was highly +delighted if people only called to him. The Assessor looked enraptured, +as Eva arranged his confections on little plates. Petrea did not venture +to look at them, much less to touch them. + +"By Jove, my dear girls, how comfortable it is here!" exclaimed the +Judge in the joy of his heart, as he saw the library thus peopled, and +in its for-the-future every-day state. "Are you comfortable there, on +the sofa, Elise? Let me get you a footstool. No; sit still, my friend! +what are men for in the world?" + +The Candidate--we beg his pardon, the Master of Arts, Jacobi--appeared +no longer to be the same person who had an hour before stood there in +his wet dress, as he made his appearance, handsomely apparelled, with +his young friend, before the ladies, and his countenance actually beamed +with delight at the joyful scene which he there witnessed. + +People now examined one another nearer. They discovered that Henrik had +become considerably paler as well as thinner, which Henrik received as a +compliment to his studies. Jacobi wished also a compliment on his +studies, but it was unanimously refused to him on account of his +blooming appearance. He protested that he was flushed with the weather, +but that availed nothing. Louise thought privately to herself that +Jacobi had decidedly gained in manly bearing; that he had a simpler and +more vigorous demeanour; he was become, she thought, a little more like +her father. Her father was Louise's ideal of manly perfection. + +Little Gabriele blushed deeply, and half hid herself behind her mother, +as her brother addressed her. + +"How is your highness, my most gracious Princess Turandotte!" said he; +"has your highness no little riddle at hand with which to confuse weak +heads?" + +Her little highness looked in the highest degree confused, and tried to +withdraw the hand which her brother kissed again and again. Gabriele was +quite bashful before the tall student. + +Henrik had a little _tęte-ŕ-tęte_ with every sister, but it was somewhat +short and cold with Sara; after which he seated himself by his mother, +took her hand in his, and a lively and general conversation began, +whilst Eva handed about the confectionery. + +"But what is amiss now?" asked Henrik, suddenly. "Why have the sisters +all left us to take council together there, with such important +judge-like faces? Is the nation in danger? May not I go, in order to +save the native land?--If one could only first of all have eaten one's +supper in peace," added he, speaking aside, after the manner of the +stage. + +But it was precisely about the supper that they were talking. There was +a great danger that the pancakes would not succeed; and Louise could not +prevent Henrik and Jacobi running down into the kitchen, where, to the +greatest amusement of the young ladies, and to the tragi-comic despair +of the cook, they acted their parts as cooks so ridiculously that Louise +was obliged at length, with an imposing air, to put an end to the +laughter, to the joking, and to the burnt pancakes, in order that she +herself might put her hand to the work. Under her eye all went well; the +pancakes turned out excellently. Jacobi besought one from her own hand, +as wages for his work; graciously obtained it, and then swallowed the +hot gift with such rapture that it certainly must have burnt him +inwardly, had it not been for another species of warmth (which we +consider very probable)--a certain well-known spiritual fire, which +counteracted the material burning, and made it harmless. Have we not +here, in all simplicity, suggested something of a homoeopathic nature? + +But we will leave the kitchen, that we may seat ourselves with the +family at the supper-table, where the mother's savoury, white pancakes, +and the thick ones for Henrik, were found to be most excellent, and +where the "angels' food" was devoured with the greatest earthly +enjoyment. + +After this, they drank the health of the travellers, and sang a merry +little song, made by Petrea. The father was quite pleased with his +Petrea, who, quite electrified, sang too with all her might, although +not with a most harmonious voice, which, however, did not annoy her +father's somewhat unmusical ear. + +"She sings louder than they all," said he to his wife, who was +considerably less charmed than he with Petrea's musical accompaniment. + +Although every one in the company had had an exciting and fatiguing day, +the young people began immediately after supper, as if according to a +natural law, to arrange themselves for the dance. + +Jacobi, who appeared to be captivated by Sara's appearance, led her in +the magic circle of the waltz. + +"Our sensible little Queen-bee," a rather broad-set, but very well-grown +blonde of eighteen, distinguished herself in the dance by her beautiful +steps, and her pleasing though rather too grave carriage. Everybody, +however, looked with greater admiration on Eva, because she danced with +heart and soul. Gabriele, with her golden curls, flew round like a +butterfly. But who did not dance this evening?--Everybody was actually +enthusiastic--for all were infected with the joyous animal spirits of +Henrik. Even Jeremias Munter, to the amazement of everybody, led Eva, +with most remarkable skill, through the Polska,[4] the most artificial +and perplexing of dances. + +It was only at midnight that the dance was discontinued, at the +suggestion of Elise. But before they separated, the Judge begged his +wife to sing the well-known little song--"The First Evening in the New +House." She sang it in her simple, soul-touching manner, and the joy +full of peace which this song breathed penetrated every heart; even the +grave countenance of the Judge gleamed with an affectionate emotion. A +quiet glory appeared to rest on the family, and beautified all +countenances; for it is given to song, like the sun, to throw its +glorifying light upon all human circumstances, and to lend them beauty, +at least for a moment. "The spinner," and "the aged man by the +road-side," are led by song into the kingdom of beauty, even as they are +by the Gospel into the kingdom of heaven. + +On taking leave for the night, all agreed upon a rendezvous the next +morning after breakfast in the orchard, in order to see what was to be +made of it. + +The father conducted the daughters up into their chambers. He wanted to +see yet once more how they looked, and inquired from them again and +again--"Are you satisfied, my girls? Do they please you? Would you wish +anything besides? If you wish anything, speak out right Swedishly." + +As now his daughters, assuring him of their contentment, gratefully and +affectionately hung about him, there was not a happier man on the face +of the earth than Judge Frank. + +The mother, on her part, had taken her first-born with her into her +little boudoir. She had as yet not been able to speak one word to him +alone. Now she questioned him on everything, small and great, which +concerned him, and how freely and entirely he opened his whole heart to +her! + +They talked of the circumstances of the family; of the purchase of this +new property; of the debt which they had thereby contracted; of the +means through which, by degrees, it would be paid off, and of the +necessity there was for greater economy on all sides. They talked, too, +of the daughters of the house. + +"Louise is superb," said Henrik, "but her complexion is rather muddy; +could she not use some kind of wash for it? She would be so much +handsomer if she had a fresher complexion; and then she looks, the least +in the world, cathedral-like. What a solemn air she had to-night, as +Jacobi made some polite speech to her! Do you know, mother, I think the +sisters sit too much; it is in that way that people get such grave +cathedral-like looks. We must make them take more exercise; we must find +out some lively exhilarative exercise for them. And Eva! how she is +grown, and how kind and happy she looks! It is a real delight to see +her--one can actually fall in love with her! But what in all the world +is to be done with Petrea's nose? It does, indeed, get so large and +long, that I cannot tell what is to be done! It is a pity, though, for +she is so good-hearted and merry. And Leonore! How sickly and unhappy +she looks at times! We must endeavour to cheer her up." + +"Yes, that we will," said the mother; "if she were but healthy, we could +soon manage that; but how does little Gabriele please you?" + +"Ah! she is very lovely, with her high-bred little airs--quite +fascinating," said Henrik. + +"And Sara!" asked she. + +"Yes," said he, "she is lovely--very lovely, I think; but still there is +something, at least to my taste, very unpleasant in her. She is not like +my sisters; there is something about her so cold, so almost repulsive." + +"Yes," said the mother, sighing; "there is at times something very +extraordinary about her, more particularly of late. I fear that a +certain person has too great, and that not a happy, influence over her. +But Sara is a richly gifted and truly interesting girl, out of whom +something very good may be made, if--if----She gives us, indeed, anxiety +at times, for we are as much attached to her as if she were our own +child. She has a most extraordinary talent for music--you must hear her. +There really is much that is very distinguished and truly amiable in +her; you will see it, as you remain so much longer time with us." + +"Yes, thank God!" said Henrik, "I can now reckon on that, on remaining +some months at home." + +The conversation now turned on Henrik's future prospects. His father +wished him to devote himself to mining, and with this end in view he had +studied, but he felt ever, more and more, a growing inclination to +another profession, and this had become a ground of dissatisfaction in +the family. The mother now besought her first-born to prove himself +carefully and seriously before he deserted the path to which his father +was attached, and which Henrik himself had selected in common council +with his father. Henrik promised this solemnly. His soul was warm and +noble. His young heart possessed every fine sentiment, a pure enthusiasm +for virtue and for his country, a glowing desire to live for them, this +belonged to his heart in the richest measure. The wish to be useful to +the community generally, united itself with all his views of +self-advantage, and he only saw his own prosperity in connexion with +that of his family. These thoughts and sentiments poured themselves +forth in that sweet confidential hour freely and fully to his +mother--the happy mother, whose heart beat with joy and with proudest +hope of her first-born, the favourite of her soul, her summer child! + +"And when I have made my own way in the world," added Henrik, joyfully +kissing the hand of his mother, "and have a house of my own, then, +mother, you shall come to me, and live with me, will you not?" + +"And what would your father say to that?" said she, in a tone like his +own. + +"Oh! he has all the sisters who can keep house for him," said Henrik, +"and----" + +"Do you intend to sit up here the whole night?" asked a voice at the +door. It was the voice of the Judge, and both mother and son rose up as +if they had been caught in the fact of conspiracy. The conspiracy, +however, was immediately imparted to the Judge, whereupon he declared +that all this would lead to such fearful consequences that they had +better say no more about it. + +Both mother and son laughed, and said "Good night" to each other. But as +Henrik conveyed the hand of his mother towards his lips, he fell into a +sort of ecstasy over it. + +"Heavens! what a white hand! and what small fingers! nay, how can people +have such small fingers?" And with a sort of comic devotion he kissed +the little finger of that beautiful hand. + +"I see I must carry you off forcibly, if I would have you to myself," +said the Judge merrily, and taking his wife's arm in his, led her out. + +But her thoughts still hovered around her first-born, her handsome and +richly endowed son. She uttered a glowing prayer for his perfecting in +all good, whilst all were sleeping sweetly the first night in the new +house. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] A wild and animated Swedish national dance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MORROW. + + +How pleasant it must have been to the family the next morning to +assemble round the amply-supplied breakfast-table in a handsome and +spacious drawing-room. But drawing-room, and breakfast-table, and all +outward comforts, signify nothing, if the inward are wanting; if +affectionate dispositions and kind looks do not make the room bright, +and the breakfast well-flavoured. But nothing was wanting on this +morning to the family of the Franks--not even the sun. It shone in +brightly to illumine the bright scene. + +Henrik made a speech to Madame Folette, in testimony of his love and +reverence for her, and of his joy on meeting her again in so good a +state of preservation. + +Louise, with the help of Eva, served tea and coffee, bread and butter, +etc., taking particular care that everybody had just what they liked +best. The basket which held sugar-biscuits was constantly in the +neighbourhood of Jacobi. + +"How glorious this is!" exclaimed Henrik, rubbing his hands, and casting +a glance of pleasure around on his parents and sisters, "it is quite +paradisiacal! What does your Majesty desire? Ah, your most devoted +servant! Coffee, if I might ask it, excellent Madame Folette!" + +"After breakfast," said the mother, "I have something for you to guess." + +"Something to guess?" said Henrik, "what can it be? Tell me, what is it +like, sweet mamma? what name does it bear?" + +"A wedding," replied she. + +"A wedding? A most interesting novelty! I cannot swallow another morsel +till I have made it out! Jacobi, my best fellow, can I possess myself of +a biscuit? A wedding! Do I know the parties?" + +"Perfectly well." + +"It cannot possibly be our excellent Uncle Munter, himself?" suggested +he. "He seems to me very odd, and, as it were, a little touched in the +heart." + +"Oh, no, no! He'll not marry." + +"He is already so horribly old," said Eva. + +"Old!" exclaimed the Judge. "He is something above forty, I fancy; you +don't call that so horribly old, my little Eva. But it is true he has +always had an old look." + +"Guess better," said the mother. + +"I have it! I have it!" said Petrea, blushing. "It is Laura! Aunt +Evelina's Laura!" + +"Ah, light breaks in," said Henrik; "and the bridegroom is Major Arvid +G. Is it not?" + +"Precisely," said his mother. "Laura makes a very good match. Major G. +is a very good-looking, excellent young man; and beyond this, has a good +property. He has persuaded Evelina to remove with Karin to his beautiful +seat at Axelholm, and to consider Laura's and his home as theirs for the +future. Eva dear, set the ham before Henrik. What do you want, my angel +Gabriele? Another rusk? Heavens! how quick you are! Leonore, may I give +you some more bread and butter, my child? No?" + +"But I hope," exclaimed Henrik, "that we shall be invited to the +wedding. Evelina, who is such a sensible woman, must have the good sense +to invite us. Most gracious sister Queen-bee, these rolls--very +nourishing and estimable rolls--were they baked before or after the +Flood?" + +"After," replied Louise, a little piqued, yet with a smile. + +"Oh! I humble myself in the dust," said he. "I pray your Majesty most +graciously to pardon me--[_aside_--but after all they taste remarkably +either of the ark or of a cupboard]. But what in all the world sort of +breakfast are you making, Petrea? Nay, dear sister, such, a superfluity +in eating never can prosper. I pray you do not eat yourself ill!" + +Petrea, who had her curious fancies, or as Louise called them, +her "raptures," had now for some time had the fancy to take only a +glass of cold water and a piece of dry bread for her breakfast. On +account of this abstinence, Henrik now jested, and Petrea answered +him quite gaily; Louise, on the contrary, took up the matter quite +seriously, and thought--as many others did--that this whim of Petrea's +had a distant relationship to folly; and folly, Louise--the sensible +Louise--considered the most horrible of horrors; Louise, who was so very +sensible! + +"Now, really, you must not sit gossiping any longer!" exclaimed the +father, when he saw their mouths only put in motion by conversation, +"else I must go away and leave you; and I should very much like to go +into the garden with you first." + +A general rising followed these words, and all betook themselves to the +garden, with the exception of Leonore, who was unwell, and the little +Gabriele, who had to be careful on account of the damp. + +In the mean time the garden had its own extraordinary circumstances, and +all here did not go on in the usual mode; for although the place was yet +not laid out, and the April snow covered the earth, and still hung in +great masses on the low fruit-trees, which were the only wealth of the +garden, yet these, not at all according to the commonly established laws +of nature, were covered with fruit the most beautiful; rennets and +oranges clustered the twigs, and shone in the sun. Exclamations were +uttered in every variety of tone; and although both Jacobi and Henrik +protested that they could not discover any way of accounting for this +supernatural phenomenon, still they did not escape the suspicion of +being instrumental in the witchcraft, spite of all the means they used +to establish their innocence. The opinion, however, was universally +adopted, that good and not bad elves had been thus busily at work; and +the fruit, therefore, was gathered without fear of bad consequences, and +laid in baskets. The elves were praised both in prose and verse; and +there never was a merrier harvest-feast. + +The Judge had some trouble to get anybody to listen to all his plans of +lilac-hedges, strawberry-beds, of his arbour, and his garden-house. The +narrow space, however, in which he had to work troubled him. + +"If one could only get possession of the piece of land beyond this!" +said he, striking with his stick upon the tall red-boarded fence which +bounded one side of the garden. "Look here, Elise, peep through that +gap; what a magnificent site it is for building--it extends down to the +river!--what a magnificent promenade it would make, properly laid out +and planted! It might be a real treasure to the whole city, which needs +a regular walk in its neighbourhood; and now it lies there desolate, and +useful to nobody, but only for a few cows, because the proprietor does +not know how to make use of it; and our good men of the city have not +public spirit enough to purchase it out of the common fund for the +general good. If I were but rich enough to buy the place, it should soon +have a different appearance, and instead of cows human beings should be +walking there; these boards should be torn down, and our garden should +be united to the great promenade. What a situation it would be!" + +"Would not beehives answer very well here?" asked our sensible +Queen-bee; "the sun strikes directly on these boards." + +"You are perfectly right, Louise," said her father, well pleased; "that +is a good thought; this is an excellent place for beehives: to-morrow +I'll see about some. Two or three we must have, and that directly, that +the bees may have the advantage of the apple and cherry bloom. Thus we +can see them working altogether, and learn wisdom from them, and watch +how they collect honey for us. That will be a pleasure--don't you think +so, Elise?" + +Elise rejoiced sincerely over the bees, and over the garden. It would +give her great pleasure to lay it out. She would set Provence-roses as +soon as possible; and forcing houses also should be erected. Eva thought +she should give herself up to gardening. + +But it was necessary to leave for the present the future home of +radishes and roses, because it was wet and uncomfortable out of doors. + +Gabriele made large eyes when she saw the basketful of fruit which had +been gathered in the garden. But the little Princess Turandotte could +not unravel the riddle respecting them, as Henrik presented it to her. + +The forenoon was spent in clearing away, and in arranging things in the +house. Sara alone took no part in it, but took lessons on the harp from +a distinguished young musician of the name of Schwartz, who had come a +stranger to the city. She sate the whole morning at her music, which she +loved passionately; in the mean time, Petrea had promised to enact the +part of lady's-maid to her, and to put all her clothes and things in +order. + +Henrik sate perfectly happy in his sisters' rooms, and nearly killed +himself with laughing while he watched in part their clearing away and +bustling about, and in part taking a share in all. The quantities of +bundles of pieces, old bonnets, cloaks, dresses, etc., which were here +in motion, and played their parts, formed a singular contrast to his +student-world, in which such a thing as a piece of printed cotton or a +pin might be reckoned quite a curiosity. Then the seriousness with which +all these things were treated, and the jokes and merriment which arose +out of all this seriousness, were for him most delicious things. + +Nothing, however, amused him more than Louise and all her "properties," +as well as the great care which, with a half-comic, half-grave +earnestness, she took of them; but he declared solemnly that he would +disclaim all relationship with her if ever he should see her wearing a +certain pale green shawl, called jokingly "spinage," and a pale grey +dress, with the surname of "water-gruel." None of the sisters had so +many possessions as Louise, and none treated them with so much +importance; for she had in the highest degree that kind of passion which +we will call property-passion. Her bandboxes and bundles burst +themselves out of the space in which she wished to stow them, and came +tumbling down upon her head. She accused Henrik of being guilty of these +accidents; and certain it is that he helped her, not without some +mischievous pleasure, to put them up again in their places. + +Louise was well known in the family for her love of what was old; the +more shabby a dress was, the more distinguished she seemed to think it; +and the more faded a shawl, the more, according to her, it resembled a +Cashmere. This affection for old things extended itself sometimes to +cakes, biscuits, creams, etc., which often occasioned Henrik to inquire +whether an article of a doubtful date had its origin before or after the +Flood. We will here add to the description of Louise a few touches, +which may make the reader more fully acquainted with her character. + +Pure was she both in Heart and intention, with great love of truth, and +a high moral sense, although too much given to lecturing, and sometimes +a little wanting in charity towards erring fellow-mortals. She had much +of her father's understanding and prudence, but came, of course, far +short of him in knowledge of mankind and in experience, although now, in +her eighteenth year, she considered herself to have a perfect knowledge +of mankind. The moral worth of her soul mirrored itself in her exterior, +which, without her being handsome, pleased, and inspired a degree of +confidence in her, because good sense expressed itself in her calm +glance, and her whole demeanour was that of a decided and well-balanced +character. A certain comic humour in her would often dissolve her solemn +mien and important looks into the most hearty laughter; and when Louise +laughed, she bore a charming resemblance to her mother, for she +possessed Elise's beautiful mouth and teeth. + +She was as industrious as an ant, and in the highest degree helpful to +those who were deserving of help, but less merciful than Lafontaine's +ants were to thoughtless crickets and their fellows. Louise had three +hobby-horses, although she never would confess that she had a single +one. The first was to work tapestry; the second, to read sermons; and +the third, to play Patience, and more especially Postillion. A fourth +had of late began to discover itself, and that was for medicine--for the +discovering and administering of useful family medicines; nay, she had +herself decocted a certain elixir from nine bitter herbs, which Henrik +declared would be very serviceable in sending people to the other world. +Louise was no way disturbed by all this, for she did not allow herself +to be annoyed by remarks. + +She prized, enjoyed, and sought, above all things, after "the right;" +but she also set a high value on "respectability" and "property," and +seemed to think that these were hers of course. She had the excellent +peculiarity of never undertaking anything that she could not creditably +get through with; but she had a great opinion of her own ability, in +which her family participated, although they sometimes attempted to set +her down. In the mean time she was in many instances the adviser and +support of the family; and she had a real genius for the mighty +department of housekeeping. + +The parents called her, with a certain satisfaction--the father with a +secret pride--"our eldest daughter." The sisters styled her rather +waggishly "our eldest sister," and sometimes simply "our eldest;" and +"our eldest" knew exceedingly well how to regard her own dignity in +respect to rank and priority. Beyond this, she had a high idea of the +value of woman. + +Louise had an album, in which all her friends and acquaintance had +written down their thoughts or those of others. It was remarkable what a +mass of morality this book contained. + +We fear that our readers may be somewhat weary of hearing the names of +Sara, Louise, Eva, Leonore, Petrea, Gabriele, repeated so often one +after another, and we are very sorry that we find it unavoidable yet +once more to present the whole array in connexion with Louise. But we +will see what little variety we can make by taking them at hap-hazard, +and therefore now steps forward + + +PETREA. + +We are all of us somewhat related to chaos; Petrea was very closely so. +Momentary bursts of light and long periods of confusion alternated in +her. There was a great dissimilarity between Louise and Petrea. While +Louise required six drawers and more to contain her possessions, there +needed scarcely half a one for the whole wardrobe of Petrea; and this +said wardrobe too was always in such an ill-conditioned case, that it +was, according to Louise, quite lamentable, and she not unfrequently +lent a helping hand to its repair. Petrea tore her things, and gave away +without bounds or discrimination, and was well known in the sisterly +circle for the bad state of her affairs. Petrea had no turn for +accumulation; on the contrary, she had truly, although Louise would not +allow it, a certain turn for art. + +She was always occupied by creations of one kind or another, either +musical, or architectural, or poetical. But all her creations contained +something of that which is usually called trash. At twelve years old she +wrote her first romance: "Annette and Belis loved each other tenderly; +they experienced adversity in their love; were at last, however, united, +and lived henceforth in a charming cottage, surrounded with hedges of +roses, and had eight children in one year," which we may call a very +honourable beginning. A year afterwards she began a tragedy, which was +to be called "Gustavus Adolphus and Ebba Brahe," and which opened with +these verses spoken by one Delagardie: + + Now from Germania's coast returned, + I see again the much-loved strand; + From war I come, without a wound, + Once more into my native land. + Say, Bannér say, what woe has caused these tears, + Am I not true to thee, or is it idle hope alone that will befool my years? + +Whether no sheet of paper was broad enough to contain the lengthened +lines, or any other cause interfered to prevent the completion of the +piece, we know not; but certain it is that it was soon laid aside. +Neither did a piece of a jocular nature, which was intended to emulate +the fascinating muse of Madame Lenngren,[5] advance much further--the +beginning was thus: + + Within the lordly castle Elfvakolastie, + Which lay, in sooth, somewhere in Sverge,[6] + There lived of yore the lovely Melanie, + The only daughter of Count Stjerneberge. + +At the present time Petrea was engaged on a poem, the title of which, +written in large letters, ran thus--"The Creation of the World!" + +The Creation of the World began thus: + + CHAOS. + + Once in the depths etern of darkness lying, + This mighty world + Waited expectantly the moments flying + When light should be unfurled. + The world was nothing then, which now is given + To crowds of busy men; + And all our beautiful star-spangled heaven + Was desolate darkness then; + Yet He was there, who before time existed, + Who will endure for ever. + +The creation of the world ceased with this faint glimmering of light, +and was probably destined under Petrea's hand never to be brought forth +from chaos. Petrea had an especially great inclination for great +undertakings, and the misfortune to fail in them. This want of success +always wounded her deeply, but in the next moment the impulse of an +irresistibly vigorous temperament raised her above misfortune in some +new attempt. The blood rushed up to her young head, and filled it with a +mass of half-formed thoughts, fancies, and ideas; her mind and her +character were full of disquiet. At times joyous and wild beyond bounds, +she became on the other hand wretched and dispirited without reason. +Poor Petrea! She was wanting in every kind of self-regulation and +ballast, even outwardly; she walked ill--she stood ill--she curtseyed +ill--sate ill--and dressed ill; and occasioned, in consequence, much +pain to her mother, who felt so acutely whatever was unpleasing; and +this also was very painful to Petrea, who had a warm heart, and who +worshipped her mother. + +Petrea also cherished the warmest affection and admiration for Sara, but +her manner even of evidencing her affection was commonly so entirely +without tact, as rather to displease than please the object of it. The +consciousness of this fact embittered much of Petrea's life; but it +conducted her by degrees to a love in which tact and address are of no +consequence, and which is never unreturned. + +Sometimes Petrea was seized with a strong consciousness of the +chaoticness of her state; but then, again, at other times she would have +a presentiment that all this would clear itself away, and then that +something which was quite out of the common way would come forth; and +then she was accustomed to say, half in jest and half in earnest, to her +sisters, "You'll see what I shall turn out sometime!" But in what this +extraordinary turning out should consist nobody knew, and least of all +poor Petrea herself. She glanced full of desire towards many suns, and +was first attracted by one and then by another. + +Louise had for Petrea's prophesyings great contempt, but the little +Gabriele believed in them all. She delighted herself, moreover, so +heartily in all that her sister began, that Petrea sacrificed to her her +most beautiful gold-paper temple; her original picture of shepherdesses +and altars; and her island of bliss in the middle of peaceful waters, +and in the bay of which lay a little fleet of nut-shells, with rigging +of silk, and laden with sugar-work, and from the motion of which, and +the planting of its wonderful flowers, and glorious fruit-bearing trees, +Petrea's heart had first had a foretaste of bliss. + +Petrea's appearance imaged her soul;--for this too was very variable; +this too had its "raptures;" and here too at times also a glimmering +light would break through the chaos. If the complexion were muddled, and +the nose red and swollen, she had a most ordinary appearance; but in +cooler moments, and when the rose-hue confined itself merely to the +cheeks, she was extremely good-looking; and sometimes too, and that even +in her ugly moments, there would be a gleam in her eye, and an +expression in her countenance, which had occasioned Henrik to declare +that "Petrea was after all handsome!" + +To a chaotic mind, the desire for controversy is in-born; it is the +conflict of the elements with each other. There was no subject upon +which Petrea had not her conjectures, and nothing upon which she was not +endeavouring to get a clear idea; on this account she discussed all +things, and disputed with every one with whom she came in contact; +reasoned, or more properly made confusion, on politics, literature, +human free-will, the fine arts, or anything else; all which was very +unpleasant to the tranquil spirit of her mother, and which, in connexion +with want of tact, especially in her zeal to be useful, made poor Petrea +the laughing-stock of every one; a bitter punishment this, on earth, +although before the final judgment-seat of very little, or of no +consequence at all. + + +LEONORE. + +Spite of the mother's embraces, and the appellation, "thou beloved, +plain child!" the knowledge by degrees had come painfully to Leonore +that she was ugly, and that she was possessed of no charm--of no fine +endowment whatever; she could not help observing what little means she +had of giving pleasure to others, or of exciting interest; she saw very +plainly how she was set behind her more gifted sisters by the +acquaintance and friends of the family; this, together with feeble +health, and the discomfort which her own existence occasioned to her, +put her in a discordant state with life and mankind. She was prone to +think everything troublesome and difficult; she fell easily into a state +of opposition to her sisters, and her naturally quick temper led her +often into contentions which were not without their bitterness. All this +made poor Leonore feel herself very unhappy. + +But none, no! none, suffer in vain, however for a while it may appear +so. Suffering is the plough which turns up the field of the soul, into +whose deep furrows the all-wise Husbandman scatters his heavenly seed; +and in Leonore, also, it already began to sprout, although, as yet, only +under the earth. She was not aware of it herself yet; but all that she +experienced in life, together with the spirit which prevailed in her +family, had already awakened the beauty of her soul. She was possessed +of deep feeling, and the consciousness of her many wants made her, by +degrees, the most unpretending and humble of human beings; and these are +virtues which, in private life, cannot be exceeded. If you come near a +person of this character, the influence on you is as if you came out of +the sun's heat into refreshing shadow: a soft coolness is wafted over +your soul, which refreshes and tranquillises you at the same time. + +In the period at which we have now to meet Leonore, she had just +recovered from the scarlet fever, which had left behind it such an +obstinate and oppressive headache as compelled her almost constantly to +remain in her own room; and although her parents and her sisters visited +her there, it afforded her but little pleasure, for as yet she had not +learned how, by goodness and inward kindness, to make herself agreeable +to others. + +But, poor Leonore! when I see thee sitting there in deep thought, thy +weak head supported by thy hand, sunk in sorrowful reflections, I am +ready to lay thy head on my bosom, and to whisper a prophesying in thy +ear--but this may as well remain to a future time. We leave thee now, +but will return another time to thy silent chamber. + +And now step forth, thou, the joy and ornament of home, the beautiful + + +EVA! + +Eva was called in the family, "our rose," "our beauty." There are many +in the world like Eva, and it is well that it is so; they are of a +pleasing kind. It is delightful to look upon these blooming young girls, +with smiles on their lips, and goodness and joy of life beaming from +their beautiful eyes. All wish them so well, and they wish so well to +all; everything good in life seems as if it came from themselves. They +have favourable gales in life--it was so with Eva. Even her weakness, a +desire to please, which easily went too far, and an instability of +character which was very dangerous to her, exhibited themselves only on +their pleasing side, within the circle of her family and of her +acquaintance, and helped to make her more beloved. + +Eva, although perhaps, strictly speaking, not beautiful, was yet +bloomingly lovely. Her eyes were not large, but were of the most +exquisite form, and of the clearest dark blue colour, and their glance +from under their long black lashes was at once modest, lively, and +amiable. The silky chestnut brown hair was parted over a not lofty but +classically-formed brow. Her skin was white, fine, and transparent, and +the mouth and teeth perfectly beautiful; add to all this, Eva had the +fine figure of her mother, with her light and graceful action. Excellent +health, the happiest temper, and a naturally well-tuned soul, gave a +beautiful and harmonious expression to her whole being. Whatever she +did, she did well, and with grace; and whatever she wore became her; it +was a kind of proverb in the family, that if Eva were to put a black cat +on her head it would be becoming. + +A similarity in understanding and talent, as well as companionship +together, had made Louise and Eva hitherto "_les inseparables_," both at +home and abroad; of late, however, without separating herself from +Louise, Eva had been drawn, as it were, by a secret power to Leonore. +Louise, with all her possessions, was so sufficient for herself. Leonore +was so solitary, so mournful, up there, that the good heart of Eva was +tenderly drawn towards her. + +But it seems to us as if Gabriele looks rather poutingly, because she +has been so long, as it were, pushed aside. _We_ will therefore hastily +turn to + + +THE LITTLE LADY. + +It did not please "our little lady" to be neglected at all. Gabriele +was, in truth, a spoiled child, and often made "_la pluie_" and the +"_beau temps_" in the house. She was defended from cold, and wind, and +rain, and vexation, and faddled with and indulged in all possible ways, +and praised and petted as if for the best behaviour, if she were only +gracious enough to take a cup of bouillon, or the wing of a chicken for +dinner. She herself is still like the chicken under the mother's wing; +yet she will sometimes creep from under, and attempt little flights on +her own account. Then she is charming and merry, makes enigmas and +charades, which she gives mostly to her mother and Petrea to guess. It +gives her particular pain to be treated as a little girl; and nothing +worse can happen to her than for the elder sisters to say, "Go out just +for a little while, Gabriele, dear!" in order that they may then impart +to each other some important affair, or read together some heart-rending +novel. She will willingly be wooed and have homage paid to her; and the +Assessor is always out of favour with her, because he jokes with her, +and calls her "little Miss Curlypate," and other such ugly names. + +Learning and masters are no affairs of hers. She loves a certain "_far +niente_," and on account of delicate health her tastes are indulged. Her +greatest delight is in dancing, and in the dance she is captivating. In +opposition to Petrea, she has a perfect horror of all great +undertakings; and in opposition to Louise, a great disinclination to +sermons, be they by word of mouth or printed. The sun, the warm wind, +flowers, but above all, beloved and amiable human beings, make Gabriele +feel most the goodness of the Creator, and awaken her heart to worship. + +She has a peculiar horror of death, and will neither hear it, nor indeed +anything else dark or sorrowful, spoken of; and, happily for Gabriele, +true parental love has a strong resemblance to the Midsummer sun of the +North, which shines as well by night as by day. + +If we turn from the bright-haired Gabriele to Sara, to "that Africa," as +the Assessor called her, we go from day to night. Sara was like a +beautiful dark cloud in the house--like a winter night with its bright +stars, attractive, yet at the same time repulsive. To us, nevertheless, +she will become clear, since we possess the key to her soul, and can +observe it in the following + + +NOTICES FROM SARA'S JOURNAL. + +"Yesterday evening Macbeth was read aloud; they all trembled before Lady +Macbeth: I was silent, for she pleased me. There was power in the +woman." + +"Life! what is life? When the tempest journeys through space on strong +free pinions, it sings to me a song which finds an echo in my soul. When +the thunder rolls, when the lightning flames, then I divine something of +life in its strength and greatness. But this tame every-day life--little +virtues, little faults, little cares, little joys, little +endeavours--this contracts and stifles my spirit. Oh, thou flame which +consumest me in the silent night, what wilt thou? There are moments in +which thou illuminest, but eternities in which thou tormentest and +burnest me!" + +"This narrow sphere satisfies _them_; they find interest in a thousand +trifles; they are able to exert themselves in order to obtain little +enjoyments for each other. Well for them! I was made for something +different." + +"Why should I obey? Why should I submit my inclination--my will, to +gratify others?--Why? Ah, freedom--freedom!" + +"I have obtained 'Volney's Ruins' from S----. I conceal the book from +these pious fearful people, who tremble at shadows; but +to-night!--to-night!--when their eyes are closed in sleep, mine shall +wake and read it. The frontispiece to this book gives me extraordinary +pleasure. A wreck combats with stormy waves; the moon goes down amid +black clouds; on the shore, among the ruins of a temple, sits a +Mussulman--a beautiful and thoughtful figure--and surveys the scene. I +likewise observe it, and an agreeable shudder passes through me. A vast +ruin is better and far more beautiful than a small and an empty +happiness." + +"The book pleases me. It expresses what has long lain silent in me. It +gives clear light to my dark anticipations. Ah! what a day dawns upon +me! A dazzling light that clears away all misty illusions, but my eyes +are strong enough to bear it! Let the net of prejudice, let the +miserable bond of custom be rent asunder, let the fettering supports +fall! My own strength is sufficient for me." + +"Why am I a woman? As a man my life and my conduct would have been clear +and easy; as a woman, I must bow myself in order to clear myself. +Miserable dependence! Miserable lot of woman!" + +"I do not love S----, but he makes a certain impression upon me. The +dark strength in his eye pleases me, the reckless strong will that will +bow itself only to me; and when he takes the harp in his arms, with what +powerful strength he compels it to express all that which the heart has +dreamt and dreams. Then he grasps the strings of my heart--then I +acknowledge in him my master; but never, he shall never govern me. + +"His spirit is not powerful enough for that. He never can be other to me +than as a means to my end. Nor will I herein deceive him. I am too proud +for a hypocrite. I know well whom I could love. I know well the man who +could be the aim of my ambition." + +"Nature never created me for this narrow sphere--for this narrow +foot-track through life. S---- shows me another, which captivates my +mind; I feel that I am created for it. + +"I have observed myself in the glass, and it tells me, as well as the +glance of mankind, that I am handsome. My growth is strong, and accords +with the character of my countenance. I cannot doubt the assurance of +S----. My person, in connexion with the powers of my mind, and my +talent, will ensure me a brilliant future." + +"What purpose would it serve to create illusions? Away with all +illusions! I stand upon a higher point than those around me--than they +who consider themselves entitled to censure my faults, to exalt +themselves in secret above me, perhaps because they have taken me out of +compassion. Taken me out of compassion! Subjecting, humiliating thought! + +"Yet, at the same time, they are good; yes, angelically good to me. I +wish they were less so!" + +"To-night, now for the second time in my life, I have had the same +extraordinary dream. It appeared to me that I was in my chamber, and saw +in heaven vast masses of black cloud above my head driving towards the +horizon, accompanied with a strong rushing sound in the air. + +"'Save thyself, Sara!' cried the voices of my sisters; 'come, come with +us!' But I felt in my limbs that peculiar sluggishness which one +perceives in dreams when one wishes to hasten. My chamber-window flew +open before the tempest, and impelled by a strong curiosity I looked +out. The sun stood opposite to me, pale, watery, without beams; but the +whole firmament around me seemed to burn; a glow of fire passed over all +things. Before me stood a tall aspen, whose leaves trembled and +crackled, whilst sparks of fire darted forth from them. Upon one twig of +the tree sate a huge black bird, looking on me with a fiery glance, and +singing hoarsely and tunelessly, while the tempest and flame rioted +around him. I heard the voices of my adopted mother and sisters +anxiously calling on me from a distance ever further and further +removed. + +"I leaned myself out of the window to hear what the black bird with the +wonderful voice sang. I no longer had any fear. I awoke; but the dream +has a charm for me." + +"The black bird sings to me, out of my dream. My adopted mother has wept +to-day on my account. I am sorry for it, but----it is best that I go. +They do not love me here--they cannot do it. They do not need me, nor I +them any longer. It is best that we separate." + +Thus Sara. + +We will now cast a glance on the parents themselves, who were not +greatly altered, excepting that Elise's whole appearance exhibited much +more health and strength than formerly. The energetic countenance of the +Judge had more wrinkles, but it had, besides, an expression of much +greater gentleness. A slight, but perhaps not wholly unpardonable, +weakness might be observed in him. He was completely captivated with his +daughters. God bless the good father! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] Anna Lenngren, a distinguished Swedish poetess, admired especially +for her Idyls. She died in 1817. + +[6] Sweden. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE OBJECT. + + +We must now say how the family grouped themselves in the new house. +Since the arrival of Henrik and Jacobi, the liveliness of the family had +visibly increased, Henrik zealously followed up his purpose of making +his sisters take more active exercise, and Jacobi assisted him with his +whole heart. Long walks were arranged, but, to Henrik's annoyance, it +seldom was possible to induce Louise to take exercise of that kind +which, according to his opinion, she needed so much. Louise had always +such a vast deal to do at home; Sara lived only for her harp and her +singing; Leonore was not strong enough; and for Gabriele, it was +generally either too cold, or too dirty, or too windy, or she was not in +the humour to walk. Eva, on the contrary, was always in the humour, and +Petrea had always the desire to speed away. It was Henrik's greatest +pleasure to give one of his sisters his arm, especially when they were +well and handsomely dressed. + +At seven o'clock in the evening all the members of the family assembled +themselves in the library, where the tea-table was prepared, at which +Louise presided. The evenings were uncommonly cheerful, particularly +when the family were alone. Between tea and supper they either talked, +or read aloud, or had music; after supper they mostly danced, and then +Louise exercised herself with remarkable grace. Sometimes they had +charades or social games. Henrik and Petrea had always some new flash of +merriment or other. It was the greatest delight of the Judge to see all +his children around him, especially in an evening, and to see them happy +too. The door of his study, which adjoined the library, always stood +open, in an evening, and, whether he read or wrote there, he still was +conscious of all that went forward among them. Sometimes he would come +out and take part in their entertainment, or would sit on the green sofa +beside his wife, and watch the dance, rejoicing himself over his +daughters, and sometimes was even taken out into the dance, where he was +in much request. + +The young people remarked, that whatever might for the time occupy +Jacobi, he was somewhat absent and incomprehensible; he sighed +frequently, and seemed rather to enjoy quiet conversation with the +ladies than charades and other amusements. It was discovered, between +Henrik and Petrea, that these fits of absence, and these sighs, must +have an object; but it was a long time, that is to say, three or four +days, before they could decide who it really was. + +"It cannot be our mamma," said Petrea, "because she is married; and +besides this, she is so much older than any of us, although, prettier +than all of us together; and though Master Jacobi has such pleasure in +talking with her, and conducts himself towards her as if he were her +son, still it cannot be she. Do you know, Henrik, I fancy Sara is the +object--he looks at her so much; or perhaps Eva, for he is always so +lively with her; and I heard him say yesterday to Uncle Munter, that she +was so uncommonly charming. But it is rather improper that he should +pass 'our eldest' so!" + +Henrik was greatly amused by Petrea's difficulty and conjectures, for he +had his own peculiar notions about the object, and by degrees Petrea +herself began to have a clearer foreknowledge, and to think that +perhaps, after all, the true object might be no other than "our eldest" +herself. After this insight into things, which Petrea was not slow in +circulating among her sisters, Louise was called, in their jocular +phraseology, "the object." All this while, however, "the object" +herself appeared to pay very little attention to the speculations which +had thus reference to herself. Louise was at the present time greatly +occupied by setting up a piece of weaving, and had in consequence, +greatly to Henrik's horror, brought again into use the dress surnamed +"water-gruel." She had absolutely a sort of rage to wear out her old +clothes--and as it happened, moreover, that the piece of weaving was of +a pattern which was much perplexed and difficult to arrange, she assumed +almost constantly the "cathedral demeanour," which occasioned her to +look all the less attractive. But so it happened, Jacobi looked a great +deal at Sara, joked with Eva, and remained sitting beside Louise, as if +he found by her side only true happiness and satisfaction. + +In vain did Petrea draw him into all kind of controversial subjects, in +order to make him, during the contest, somewhat forgetful of "the +object." He did not become abstracted; and it was particularly +observable that the Master had much less desire for disputation than the +Candidate had had; and when Mrs. Gunilla took the field against him more +than once with a whole host of monads and nomads, he only laughed. Now, +indeed, Jacobi had a favourite topic of conversation, and that was his +Excellency O----. The distinguished personal qualities of his +Excellency, his noble character, his goodness, his spirit, his +commanding carriage, his imposing exterior, could not be sufficiently +celebrated and exalted by Jacobi; nay, even his broad lion-like +forehead, his strong glance, and his beautiful patrician hands, were +many a time described. + +Jacobi had for some time been attached to his Excellency as his +secretary, and he had now the hope of his assistance in his future +prospects. In the mean time his Excellency had shown him the greatest +kindness; had given him many opportunities of increasing his knowledge, +and had offered to take him with him on a journey to foreign countries; +besides all which, he had himself practised him in French. In one word, +Excellency O---- was the most excellent excellency in all the world, an +actual excellentissimus. Jacobi was devoted to him heart and soul, was +rich in anecdotes about Excellency O----, and in anecdotes which he had +heard of his Excellency. + +Louise, more than any member of the family, had the property of being a +good listener, and therefore she heard more than any one else of his +Excellency O----, but yet not alone of him; Jacobi had always a +something to relate to her, a something on which he wanted her +consideration, and if Louise were not too much occupied with her +thoughts about the weaving, he was always quite sure, not only of her +sincere sympathy, but of her most deliberate judgment, as well on moral +questions as on questions of economical arrangement, dress, plans for +the future, and so forth. He himself imparted to her good advice--which, +however, was not often followed--for playing Postillion. He drew +patterns for her embroidery, and read aloud to her gladly, and that +novels in preference to sermons. + +But he was not long permitted to sit in peace by her side, for very soon +the seat on the other side of her was occupied by a person whom we will +call "the Landed-proprietor," from the circumstance of his most eminent +distinction being the possession of an estate in the neighbourhood of +the town. + +The Landed-proprietor appeared to the Candidate--we will for the future +adhere to this our old appellation, for, in a certain sense, in this +world, all men are Candidates--quite disposed to make a quarrel about +the place he was inclined to take. + +Beside his large estate, the Landed-proprietor was possessed of a large +portly body, round cheeks, plump from excess of health, a pair of large +grey eyes remarkable for their unmeaning expression, a little ruddy +mouth, which, preferred eating rather than speaking, which laughed +without meaning, and which now directed to Cousin Louise--he considered +himself related to her father--sundry speeches which we will string +together in our next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +STRANGE QUESTIONS. + + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of fish? for example, bream?" asked the +Landed-proprietor one evening as he seated himself beside Louise, who +was industriously working a landscape in her embroidery-frame. + +"Oh, yes! bream is good fish," replied she, very phlegmatically, and +without looking up from her work. + +"Oh, with red-wine sauce," said the Landed-proprietor, "delicate! I +have magnificent fishing on my estate at Oestanvik. Big fellows of +bream! I catch them myself." + +"Who is that great fish there?" asked Jacobi from Henrik, with an +impatient sneer, "and what matters it to him whether your sister Louise +likes bream or not?" + +"Because in that case she might like him, _mon cher_," replied Henrik; +"a most respectable and substantial fellow is my Cousin Thure of +Oestanvik. I advise you to cultivate his acquaintance. Well, now, +Gabriele dear, what wants your highness?--Yes, what is it?--I shall lose +my head about the riddle.--Mamma dear, come and help your stupid son!" + +"No, no, mamma knows it already! Mamma must not tell," exclaimed +Gabriele, terrified. + +"What king do you set up above all other kings, Master Jacobi?" for the +second time asked Petrea, who this evening had a sort of question mania. + +"Charles the Thirteenth," replied he, and listened to Louise's answer to +the Landed-proprietor. + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of birds?" asked the Landed-proprietor. + +"Oh, yes, particularly of fieldfares," answered Louise. + +"Nay, that's capital!" said the Landed-proprietor. "There are +innumerable fieldfares on my estate of Oestanvik. I often go out myself +with my gun and shoot them for my dinner; piff-paff! with two shots I +have killed a whole dishful!" + +"Don't you imagine, Master Jacobi, that the people before the Flood were +much wickeder than those of our time?" asked Petrea, who wished to +occupy the Candidate, nothing deterred by his evident abstraction, and +whom nobody had asked if she liked fieldfares. + +"Oh, much--much better," answered Jacobi. + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of roast hare?" asked the +Landed-proprietor. + +"Master Jacobi, are you fond of roast hare?" whispered Petrea, +waggishly, to the Candidate. + +"Bravo, Petrea!" whispered her brother to her. + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of cold meat?" asked the Landed-proprietor, +as he handed Louise to the supper-table. + +"Should you like to be a landed-proprietor?" whispered Henrik to her as +she left it. + +Louise answered exactly as a cathedral would have answered--looked very +solemn, and was silent. + +Petrea, like something let quite loose, after supper would not let +anybody remain quiet who by any possibility could be made to answer her. +"Is reason sufficient for mankind?" asked she. "What is the foundation +of morals? What is the proper meaning of revelation? Why is the nation +always so badly off? Why must there be rich and poor?" etc., etc. + +"Dear Petrea," said Louise, "what can be the use of asking such +questions?" + +It was an evening for questions; there was not even an end to them when +people separated for the night. + +"Do you not think," asked the Judge from his wife when they were alone +together, "that our little Petrea begins to be quite disagreeable with +her perpetual questions and disputations? She leaves nobody at peace, +and is at times in a sort of unceasing disquiet. She will, some time or +other, make herself quite ridiculous if she goes on so." + +"Yes," replied Elise, "_if_ she goes on so; but I think she will not. I +have observed Petrea narrowly for some time, and do you know I fancy +there is something out of the common way in that young girl." + +"Yes, yes," said he, "in the common way she certainly is not; the +merriment and the everlasting joviality which she occasions, and the +comical devices that she has----" + +"Yes," replied the mother, "do they not indicate a decided turn for art? +And then she has a remarkable thirst for knowledge. Every morning she is +up between three and four, in order to read or write, or to work at her +Creation. It is, in fact, quite uncommon; and may not this unrest, this +zeal to question and dispute, arise from a sort of intellectual hunger? +Ah! from such hunger, which many a woman for want of fitting aliment +suffers through the whole of her life! From such an emptiness of the +soul proceed unrest, discontentedness, nay, innumerable faults!" + +"I believe you are right, Elise," said her husband; "and no condition in +life is more melancholy, particularly in advanced years. But this shall +not be the lot of my Petrea--that we will prevent. What do you think now +would be good for her?" + +"I fancy," said Elise, "that a course of serious and well-directed +study would assist in regulating her mind. She is too much left to +herself, with her disarranged bent--with her enthusiasm and her +attempts. I myself have too little knowledge to instruct her, you have +too little time, and there is no one here who would undertake the +guidance of her young unsettled mind. I am sometimes extremely grieved +about her; for her sisters do not understand the workings of her mind, +which I must confess sometimes give me pain. I wish I were better able +to help her. Petrea requires a ground on which to take her stand--as yet +she has none; her thoughts require some firm holding-place; from the +want of this comes her unrest. She is like a flower without roots, which +is driven about by wind and wave." + +"She shall be firmly rooted; she shall find firm ground to stand upon, +if such is to be found in the world!" said the Judge, with a grave yet +beaming eye, and striking his hand at the same time with such violence +on a volume of West-Gotha law, that it fell to the ground. "We will +think about it," continued he; "Petrea is yet too young for one to say +with certainty what is her decided bent; but we will strengthen her +powers! she shall no longer know hunger of any kind, so long as I live +and can get my own bread. You know my friend, the excellent Bishop +B----. Perhaps we can at first confide Petrea to his guidance. After a +few years we shall see----as yet she is only a child. But don't you +think we might speak with Jacobi, whether he could not read with her and +talk with her--apropos! how is it with Jacobi? I fancy he begins to +think about Louise." + +"Yes, yes, you are not wrong," said Elise; "and our Cousin Thure of +Oestanvik--have you remarked nothing there?" + +"Yes, I did remark something," replied he. "The thousand! What stupid +questions were those that he put to her! 'Does Cousin like this?' or, +'Does Cousin like that?' But I don't like that! not I! Louise is not yet +grown up, and already shall people come and ask her, does Cousin like? +Nay, perhaps, after all it means nothing; that would please me best. +What a pity it is, however, that our Cousin Thure is not more of a man! +A most beautiful estate he has, and so near us." + +"Yes, a pity," said Elise; "because such as he is now, I am quite +convinced Louise would find it impossible to endure him." + +"You do not think she would like Jacobi?" asked the father. + +"To tell the truth," returned she, "I think it probable she might." + +"Nay," said he, "that would be very unpleasant, and very imprudent: I am +very fond of Jacobi, but he has nothing, and he is nothing." + +"But, my love," reasoned his wife, "he may become something, and he may +get something. I confess, dear Ernst, that he would suit Louise better +for a husband than almost any one else, and I would willingly call him +son." + +"Would you, Elise!" exclaimed the Judge, "then I suppose I must prepare +myself to do the same. You have had most trouble, most labour, with the +children, and you have, therefore, most to say in their affairs." + +"You are so good, Ernst," said Elise. + +"Say reasonable--nothing more than reasonable," said he; "beyond this I +have the belief that our thoughts and our inclinations do not differ +much. I confess that I consider Louise as a great treasure, and I know +nobody whom, of my own will, I would confer her upon; still, if Jacobi +obtains her affections, I could not find in my heart to oppose a union +between them, although, on account of his uncertain prospects, it would +make me anxious. I am much attached to Jacobi, and on Henrik's account +we have much to thank him for. His excellent heart, his honesty, his +good qualities, will make him as good a citizen as husband and father, +and he belongs at the same time to that class of persons with whom it is +most pleasant to have daily intercourse. But, God forbid! I am talking +just as if I wished the union, and I am a long way from that yet. I +would much rather keep my daughters with me as long as they could feel +themselves happy with me; but when girls grow up, one cannot reckon on +peace. I wish all wooers and question-askers at Jericho! Now, we could +live here as in a kingdom of heaven, since we have got all into such +nice order--some little improvements, it is true, I could yet make, +though things are well enough, if we could be at peace. I have been +thinking that we could so easily make a wardrobe. See on this side, in +the wall; don't you think that if we here opened----Heavens! are you +already asleep, my dear?" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN INVITATION. + + +About this time the sisters of the house began to dream a great deal +about conflagrations, and there was no end of the meanings of dreams, +hints, little jokes, and communications among the sisters, none of whom +dreamt more animated or more significant dreams than Petrea. Gabriele, +who, in her innocence, did not dream at all, wondered what all this +extraordinary talk about conflagration meant; but she could not learn +much, for as often as she desired to have her part in the mysteries, it +was said, "Go out for a little while, Gabriele dear." + +One evening Sara, Louise, Eva, and Petrea were sitting together at a +little table, where they were deep in the discussion of something which +seemed to possess extraordinary interest for them, when Gabriele came +and asked just for a little place at the table for herself and her +books; but it was impossible, there was no room for the little one. +Almost at the same moment Jacobi and Henrik came up; they too sought for +room at the circle of young ladies, and now see! there was excellent +room for them both, whereupon Gabriele stuck her little head between +Louise and Petrea, and prayed her sisters to solve the following riddle: + +"What is that at which six places may be found, but not five?" + +The sisters laughed; Louise kissed the little refined moralist; and +Petrea left the table, the gentlemen, and a political discussion, which +she had begun with Henrik, in order to sit on one side and relate to +Gabriele the Travels of Thiodolf, which was one of the greatest +enjoyments of our little lady. + +"Apropos!" cried Henrik, "will there not be a wedding celebrated the day +after to-morrow, to which we ought naturally to be invited.--N. B. +According to my reckoning, Aunt Evelina has far less genius than I gave +her credit for, if----" + +"Aunt Evelina stands here now ready, if possible, to vindicate her +genius," said a friendly voice, and to the amazement of all Aunt Evelina +stood in the middle of the room. + +After the first salutations and questions, Evelina presented an +invitation, not as Henrik expected for the marriage, but for the +entertainment after the marriage.[7] + +Laura's marriage with Major G. was to be celebrated in the quietest +manner, at her adopted mother's house, and only in the presence of a few +relations. But the mother of the bridegroom, one of those joyous persons +who in a remarkable manner lightens the world of its cares--and for +which the world thanks them so little--one of those who, if possible, +would entertain and make glad all mankind, and whom mankind on that +account very willingly slanders;--she, the stout and cordial widow of a +Councillor of War, was determined to celebrate the marriage of her only +and beloved son in a festive and cheerful manner, and to make the whole +country partakers of the joy which she herself felt. + +The great marriage-festival was to last eight days, and already the +great doors of Axelholm were standing wide open to receive a +considerable party of the notables of the place. The bride and +bridegroom were to invite their respective friends and acquaintances, +and commissioned now by the bride and her future mother-in-law, Evelina +brought a written invitation from her; she came now to beseech the +family--the whole family, Jacobi included, to honour the festivity with +their presence; above all things, desiring that _all_ the daughters +might come--every one of them was wanted for one thing or another. They +reckoned on Petrea, she said, who had a great turn for theatricals, to +take a character in a play which was to be acted; and the others were +wanted for dancing and for _tableaux vivants_. Gabriele must allow +herself to be made an angel of--and naturally they hoped, that out of +all this the young people would find amusement. + +They wished and prayed that the whole family would establish themselves +at Axelholm, where everything was prepared for them during the whole +time of the festival, and, if possible, longer, which would contribute +so much to their friends' satisfaction there. + +Pitt, Fox, Thiers, Lafitte, Platen, Anckarsvärd, nay, one may even +assert that all the orators in the world never made speeches which were +considered more beautiful by their hearers, nor which were received with +warmer or more universal enthusiasm than this little oration of Aunt +Evelina. Henrik threw himself on his knee before the excellent, eloquent +Aunt; Eva clapped her hands, and embraced her; Petrea cried aloud in a +fit of rapture, and in leaping up threw down a work-table on Louise; +Jacobi made an _entrechat_, freed Louise from the work-table, and +engaged her for the first _anglaise_ of the first ball. + +The Judge, glad from his heart that his children should have so much +enjoyment, was obliged, for his part, to give up the joyful festivity. +Business! Judge Frank had seldom time for anything but business! yet he +would manage it so that at least he would take them there, and on the +following day he would return. Elise sent back her compliments, but +could not take more than two, or at most three, of her daughters with +her; Evelina, however, overruled this, as did also her husband, who +insisted that they _all_ should go. + +"Perhaps," said he, "they may never have such another opportunity to +enjoy themselves." + +Seldom, indeed, does it happen that people beg and pray and counsel a +mother to take all her six daughters with her. Long may such counsellors +live! But then it must be acknowledged, that the daughters of the Franks +were universally beloved on account of their kind, agreeable manners, +and their many good qualities. + +Elise must promise to take them all with her--Sara, Louise, Eva, +Leon----no! It is true Leonore could not go with her; the poor Leonore +must remain at home, on account of indisposition; and very soon, +therefore, Eva and Petrea emulated each other as to which should remain +with her. Leonore declared coldly and peevishly that nobody should stay +at home on her account; she needed nobody; she would much rather be +alone; the sisters might all go, without hesitation; there was no fear +of her not living through it! Poor Leonore had become changed by her +sickness and her sedentary life;--her better self had become hidden +under a cloud of vexation and ill-humour, which chilled the kindliness +and friendliness that people otherwise would have shown to her. + +In the mean time there was a stir among the young people of the family; +for much had to be bought, much to be made, and much to be put in order, +that they might be able to make an honourable appearance at the marriage +festival. What a review was there then of dresses, flowers, ribbons, +gloves, etc.! what counsel-takings and projects regarding the new +purchases! what calculations, so that the present of money which the +good father had, all unsolicited, made to each daughter might not be +exceeded. Louise was invaluable to everybody; she had counsel and +contrivance for everybody; besides all this, she was unwearied in +shopping, and never disheartened in buying. She made very few +compliments--would let them in a shop open all they had, if she wanted +only an ell of cloth; and would go to twelve places in order to get a +piece of ribbon cheaper or of better quality--she paid great regard to +_quality_. According to her own opinion, as well as that of her family, +she was an excellent hand at getting good bargains; that is, for +obtaining good wares at unheard-of low prices. With all this our Louise +was held in great consideration in all the shops of the city, and was +served with the greatest zeal and respect; whilst, on the contrary, +Petrea, who never bargained about anything, and always took that which +was first offered to her, at all events when she was alone, was not +esteemed in the least, and always obtained bad, and at the same time +dear goods. True it is that Petrea went a-shopping as little as +possible; whilst Louise, on the contrary, who took the difficult part of +commissioner for all her friends and acquaintance, was about as much at +home in a shop as in her own wardrobe. + +It was unanimously decided that Sara, Louise, and Eva should all wear +the same dress on the evening of the great ball at Axelholm, which would +be given on the day they arrived there; namely, that they should wear +white muslin dresses, with pale pink sashes, and roses in their hair. +Petrea was enraptured by this project, and did not doubt but that her +sisters would be universally known by the appellation of "the three +Graces." For her own part, she would willingly have been called Venus, +but, alas! that was not to be thought of. She studied her face in all +the glasses in the house--"It is not so very bad-looking," thought she, +"if the nose were only different." Petrea was to appear at the ball in +sky-blue; and "the little lady" was quite enraptured by the +rose-coloured gauze dress which her mother was making for her. + +The toilet occupied every one, body and soul. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] Hemkommeöl, literally, coming-home-ale. The names of many of the +domestic festivities of Sweden remind us very much of those of our own +old festivities; as church-ales, christening-ales, etc.: thus, barnsöl, +the christening-feast; graföl, burial-feast; arföl, the feast given by +the heir on descent of property, etc.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CONFUSION. + + +A fine mizzling rain fell without; and Jacobi, with secret horror, +beheld Louise equipped in the "court-preacher," which became her so ill, +ready to go out with Eva, under shelter of the "family-roof," in order +to make good bargains. In the mean time Sara took her music lesson with +Schwartz, but had promised Petrea to go out with her in the afternoon, +in order to make good bargains likewise. + +"Henrik!" said Jacobi to his young friend, "I fancy that we too are +going out on a 'good bargain' expedition. I want a pair of gloves, +and----" + +"And perhaps we shall meet the sisters in the shop," said Henrik, +waggishly. + +"Quite right," returned Jacobi, smiling; "but, Henrik, cannot you tell +your sister Louise that she should not wear that horrible black cloak? I +declare she does not look as----indeed she does not look well in it." + +"Don't you think that I have told her so already?" replied Henrik. "I +have preached so long against the 'court-preacher,' that he ought long +ago to have been banished from respectable society; but it is all to no +purpose. He has worked himself so completely into the good graces of our +gracious oldest, that depend upon it, my brother, we must endure him all +our lives long. And what think you? I almost fancy our Cousin of +Oestanvik likes him!" + +"Nay," said Jacobi, "one can very well see that that creature has a +wretched taste--a true Hottentot taste!" + +"And is that the reason," remarked Henrik, "that he likes Louise?" + +"Hum!" said Jacobi. + +At dinner-time the bargaining young ladies came back, attended by the +bargaining gentlemen, who had, after all, gone about peacefully with the +"court-preacher." Louise was quite full of glory; never in her whole +life before had she made more lucky bargains. + +"Look, sisters," said she, "this muslin for a crown-banco[8] the ell! Is +it not a charming colour? I have saved in it alone twelve shillings.[9] +And see these ribbons which I have got for four-and-twenty shillings the +ell--thirty were asked. Are they not beautiful?--will they not look +magnificently?--is it not a real discovery?--did you ever hear of +anything like it? Sara, if you will go to the same shop as I do, you +will get all at the same price. I have made that agreement for you at +three places: at Bergvall's, and at Ĺström's, and Madame Florea's for +the flowers." + +Sara thanked her, but said she had altered her plans; she did not intend +to have the same dress as Louise and Eva, but another, which pleased her +better. + +The sisters were astonished, and rather vexed; Louise quite offended. +Had they not already agreed about it? What was to become of the Three +Graces? + +Sara answered, that the third Grace might be whoever she would, but for +her part she should not have that honour. + +The sisters thought her very ungracious. + +Eva ran up to Leonore in order to show her her purchases. + +"Look at this rose, Leonore," said she, "is it not very pretty? just as +if it were natural! And these ribbons!" + +"Yes, yes," said Leonore, with a depressed voice, regarding these +ornaments with a gloomy look; and then pushing them from her so hastily +that they fell on the floor, burst into tears. Eva was quite concerned; +a book had fallen on her beautiful rose and had crushed it. For one +moment Eva shed tears over her flower, the next over her sister. + +"Why have you done so, Leonore?" said she; "you must be very ill, or are +you displeased with me?" + +"No, no!" said poor Leonore; "forgive me, and leave me." + +"Why?" asked Eva. "Ah, do not weep--do not distress yourself. It was +quite thoughtless of me to come here and----But I will bid farewell to +all the magnificence; I will not go to the ball; I will stop at home +with you, only tell me that you love me, and that you would like me to +do so. Just say so--say so!" + +"No, no!" said Leonore, passionately, and turning away from the +affectionate comforter; "I do not like it! You teaze me, all of you, +with this talk of stopping at home on my account. I know very well that +I am not such as any one would wish to please--I am neither merry nor +good. Go, Eva, to those who are merry, and follow them. Leave me, leave +me in peace, that is all that I desire." + +Eva retired weeping, and with the crushed rose in her hand. + +In the afternoon, when Petrea was ready to go out on the promised +expedition, she found Sara also was in an ill-humour. She would go, but +only on Petrea's account; she had no intention of buying anything; she +had not money enough wherewith to make purchases; she would not go to +the festival; she could not have any pleasure if she did; nothing in the +world gave one any pleasure when one had not things exactly to one's own +wishes. + +Petrea was quite confounded by this sudden change, and sought in all +possible ways to discover the cause of it. + +"But why," asked she, with tears in her eyes, "will you not go with us?" + +"Because I will not go," answered Sara, "if I cannot go with honour, and +in my own way! I will not be mixed up in a mass of every-day mediocre +people! It is in my power to become distinguished and uncommon. That is +now, for once, my humour. I will not live to be trammelled. I would +rather not live at all!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Petrea, who now comprehended what was working in Sara, +whilst her eyes flashed with sudden joy--"ah, is it nothing more than +that? Dear Sara, take all that I possess; take it, I beseech you! Do you +not believe that it gives me a thousand times the pleasure if I see you +happy and beautiful, than if I possessed the most glorious things in the +world? Take it, best, dearest Sara! I pray you, on my knees, to take it, +and then if there be enough you can buy what you like and go with +us--else the whole splendour will be good for nothing!" + +"Ah, Petrea, and you?" asked Sara. + +"Ah," said Petrea, "I'll just furbish up my gauze dress, and keep a +little money for some ribbon, and then all is done; and as for the rest, +it does not matter how I look. Be only contented, Sara, and do as I bid +you." + +"But ought I? Can I?" asked Sara. "Ah, no, Petrea, I could not do it! +Your little all! And then it would not be sufficient." + +"Ah, yes," said Petrea, "make it sufficient. We can go to Louise's +shops, and one gets everything so cheap there. I shall never be happy +again if you do not do as I pray you. See now, you are my good, dear +Sara! Thank you, thank you! Ah, now am I so light at heart! Now I need +not trouble myself about the blessed toilet. And that is a great gain +for me!" + +The bird that sits on the swinging bough is not lighter of mood than +Petrea was as she went out with Sara, who was far less cheerful, but who +still had never been more friendly towards Petrea. + +It went thus with Petrea's purchase of ribbon:--In passing a +gingerbread-booth she saw a little chimney-sweeper, who was casting the +most loving glances on some purple-red apples, and Petrea, with the +money in her hand, could not resist the desire of making him a present +of them, and felt more than rewarded as she saw the boy's white teeth +shining forth from their black neighbourhood, first in smiles at her, +and then as they attacked the juicy fruit. Her own mouth watered at it, +and as she now cast her eyes round the booth, and saw such beautiful +bergamotte-pears--the favourite fruit of her mother--and such +magnificent oranges, that would please Leonore so much!--the result was, +that Petrea's reticule was filled with fruit, and the ribbon--for that +there was not now money enough. + +"But," consoled herself Petrea, "Louise has such a deal of old +ribbon--she can very well lend me some." Petrea thought like all bad +managers. + +When Sara and Petrea returned from the shopping expedition, Louise saw +directly that the things which Sara had bought must far have exceeded +her means; and besides this, Louise justly thought that they were +unseemly for a young girl of her station. She saw without saying one +word the white silk; the blue gauze for the tunic; the beautiful white +and yellow asters for the hair, and the other ornaments which Sara, not +without vanity, displayed. + +"And what have you bought, Petrea?" now asked Louise; "let us see your +bargains." + +Petrea replied, with a blush, that she--had bought nothing yet. + +Not long afterwards Petrea came to Louise, and besought her, with a +certain bashfulness, to lend her some ribbon. + +"Good Petrea," said Louise, displeased, "I want my ribbons myself, and +you have had money just as well as I or any of the others, to buy what +you may want." + +Petrea was silent, and tears were in her eyes. + +"I did not think, Louise," said Sara, hotly, "that you would have been +so covetous as to refuse Petrea some old ribbons which you are certain +not to want yourself." + +"And I, Sara," returned Louise in the same tone, "I could not have +believed that you would have so abused Petrea's good-nature and weakness +towards you as to take from her her little share, just to indulge your +own vanity! It appears to me especially blameworthy, as it has led to +expenses which far exceed the means of our parents." + +"Sara did not desire anything from me," said Petrea, with warmth; "I +insisted upon it; I compelled her." + +"And above all, Sara," continued Louise, with stern seriousness, "I must +tell you that the dress you have chosen appears to me neither modest nor +becoming. I am quite persuaded that Schwartz has induced you to deviate +from our first project; and I must tell you, dear Sara, that were I in +your place I would not allow such a person to have such an influence +with me; nor is this the only instance in which your behaviour to him +has not appeared to me what it ought to be, not such as becomes the +dignity of a woman, or what I should wish in a sister _of mine_. I am +very sorry to say this." + +"Oh, you are quite too good!" returned Sara, throwing back her head, and +with a scornful smile; "but don't trouble yourself, Louise, for I assure +you that it gives me very little concern what pleases you or what does +not." + +"So much the worse for you, Sara," said Louise, "that you concern +yourself so little for those who are your true friends. I, besides, am +not the only one whom your behaviour to Schwartz displeases. Eva----" + +"Yes, Sara," interrupted Eva, blushing, "I think too that you do not +conduct yourself towards him as is becoming, for----" + +"Sisters," said Sara, with warmth and pride, "you cannot judge of what +is seemly for me. You have no right to censure my conduct, and I will +not endure----" + +"I think, too," said Petrea, warmly, "that if our mother has said +nothing, nobody else has any right----" + +"Silence, dear Petrea," said Louise; "you are silly and blind to----" + +At this moment of disunion and confusion, when all the sisters were +beginning to speak at once, and that with the tongues of indignation and +reproof, a deep and mournful sigh was suddenly heard, which silenced +all, and turned every eye to the door of the little boudoir. The mother +stood there, with her hands clasped against her breast, pale, and with +an expression of pain on her countenance, which sent a quick pang of +conscience through the hearts of the daughters. As all remained silent, +she came softly forward, and said, with a voice of emotion: + +"Why? ah, why, my dear girls, is all this? No! Now, no explanations; +there is error and blame on one side, perhaps also on more. But why this +bitterness, this incautious outbreak of injurious words? Ah, you know +not what you are doing! You know not what a hell sisters can make for +one another, if they cherish such tempers. You know not how bitterness +and harshness may grow among you to a dreadful habit; how you may become +tormenting spirits to each other, and embitter each others' lives. And +it could be so different! Sisters might be like good angels the one to +the other, and make the paternal home like a heaven upon earth! I have +seen both the one and the other in families: a greater contrast is not +to be found on earth. Ah, think, think only that every day, nay, every +hour, you are working to shape the future. Reflect that you may gladden +and beautify your lives, or embitter them, according as you now act. My +dear girls, bethink you that it is in your power to make your parents, +your family, yourselves, either very happy or very unhappy!" + +The daughters were silent, and were penetrated by the deep emotion which +expressed itself in the words of their mother, in her pale countenance, +and in her tearful looks. They felt strongly the truth of all that she +had said. With a torrent of tears, Petrea ran out of the room; Sara +followed her silently; Eva threw herself caressingly on her mother's +neck; but Louise said: + +"I have only spoken the truth to Sara. It is not my fault if it be +unpleasant for her to hear it." + +"Ah, Louise!" returned her mother, "this is constantly said in the +world, and yet so much division and hatred prevail between those who say +it. It is the blind belief in our own faultlessness, it is the hard and +assuming spirit of correction, which excite the temper, and make the +truth unproductive of good. Why should we present truth in a disfiguring +dress, when she is in herself so pure and beautiful? I know, my dear +girl, that you only wish to do that which is right and good, and whoever +aims rightly at that object will not fail of the means also." + +"Must I then dissimulate?" asked Louise. "Must I conceal my thoughts, +and be silent respecting that which I think wrong? That may indeed be +prudent, but it certainly is not Christian." + +"Become Christian in temper, my child," said the mother, "and you will +easily discover the means of doing what is right in a proper and +effectual manner. You will learn to speak the truth without wounding; a +truly pure, truly affectionate spirit wounds no one, not even in +trifles. For that reason, one need not to be silent when one should +speak, but----" + +"'_C'est le ton qui fait la chanson!_' Is it not so? he, he, he!" +interposed the shrill voice of Mrs. Gunilla, who had come in unobserved, +and who thus put an end to the discourse. Soon afterwards the Assessor +made his appearance, and they two fell into conversation, though not, as +commonly, into strife with each other. Mrs. Gunilla lamented to him +respecting Pyrrhus; she was quite in trouble about the little animal, +which had now for some time had a pain in the foot, which it always lay +and licked, and which, spite of that and of other means, got rather +worse than better. She did not know what she was to do with the little +favourite. The Assessor besought her, in the kindest manner, to allow +him to undertake his treatment. He said he had always been much more +successful in curing dogs than men, and that dogs were far more +agreeable, and far nicer patients than their masters. Mrs. Gunilla +thanked him much, and was heartily glad of his offer, and the following +morning, she said, Pyrrhus should be conveyed to him. + +The family assembled themselves for tea, and the quick eyes of Mrs. +Gunilla soon discovered that all was not quite as it should be. + +"Listen, now," said she, "my little Elise. I know that there will be +festivities, and balls, and banquets, given there at----_chose_! what do +they call it? and of course the young people here should all be at them +and figure a little. If there be any little embarrassments about the +toilet in which I can help, tell me candidly. Good heavens! one can +imagine that easily. Young girls!--a rosette is wanted here, and a +rosette is wanted there, and one thing and another--heart's-dearest! it +is so natural. I know it all so well. Now tell me----" + +Elise thanked her cordially, but must decline this offer; her daughters, +she said, must learn betimes to moderate their desires to their means. + +"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Gunilla, "but I must tell you, my dear friend, +there is no rule without its exception, and if any trifles are wanted, +so--think on me." + +Mrs. Gunilla was to-day in such a happy humour; she looked like somebody +who was determined to make some fellow-creature happy. The Assessor +could not get into dispute with her. She rejoiced herself in the +country, to which she should soon remove; in the spring which was at +hand, and in the greenness which was approaching. The Assessor rejoiced +himself not at all. "What had one to rejoice about in such a hateful +spring? It was quite impossible to live in such a climate, and it must +be the will of our Lord God that man should not live, or he would not +have sent such springs. How could people plant potatoes in ice? and how +otherwise could they be planted at all this year? And if people could +get no potatoes, they must die of hunger, which was then perhaps the +best part of the history of life." + +On her side, Mrs. Gunilla bethought herself that she would willingly +live. "Our Lord God," she said, "would take care that people had +potatoes!" and then she looked with an expression of cordial sympathy on +the troubled and distressed countenances of the young girls. + +"When Eva, dear, is as old as I," said she, patting her gently on her +white neck, "she will know nothing more of all that which so distresses +her now." + +"Ah! to be sixty years old!" exclaimed Eva, smiling, though with a tear +in her eye. + +"You'll get well on to sixty--well on; he, he, he, he!" said Mrs. +Gunilla, consolingly. "Heart's-dearest! it goes before one thinks of it! +But only be merry and cheerful. Amuse yourselves at----_chose_! what do +you call it? and then come and tell me all about it. Do that nicely, and +then I shall get my share of the fun though I am not there. That comes +of the so-to-be envied sixty years, Eva, dear! he, he, he, he!" + +The sun set bright and glorious. Mrs. Gunilla went to the window, and +sent a little greeting towards the sun, whose beams, glancing through +the trees of the opposite churchyard, seemed to salute her in return. + +"It looks as if one should have a fine day to-morrow," said Mrs. Gunilla +to herself, gently, and looking very happy. + +People place youth and age opposite to each other, as the light and +shade in the day of life. But has not every day, every age, its own +youth--its own new attractive life, if one only sets about rightly to +enjoy them? Yes, the aged man, who has collected together pure +recollections for his evening companions, is many degrees happier than +the youth who, with a restless heart, stands only at the beginning of +his journey. No passions disturb the coffee-cup of the other--no +restless endeavours disturb the cheerful gossip of the evening twilight; +all the little comforts of life are then so thoroughly enjoyed; and we +can then, with more confidence, cast all our cares and anxieties on God. +We have then proved Him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] Crown-banco, equal to one shilling and sixpence English money. + +[9] A shilling Swedish is equal to about one farthing English. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +DISENTANGLING. + + +"There are certainly too many bitter almonds in this almond-mass; +nothing tastes good to me this afternoon," said Elise, who set down a +glass of almond-milk, and sighed--but not for the almond-milk. + +"Be pleased with us, dear mother," whispered Eva, tenderly; "we are all +friends again!" + +The mother saw it in their beautiful beaming eyes; she read it in +Louise's quiet glance as she turned round from the table, where she was +helping Sara with her tunic, and looked at her mother. Elise nodded +joyfully both to her and Eva, and drank to them the glass of +almond-milk, which now appeared to have become suddenly sweet, so +pleased did she look as she again set down the glass. + +"Mamma, dear," said Gabriele, "we must certainly do something towards +poor Petrea's toilet, otherwise she will not be presentable." + +But Louise took Petrea's gauze-dress secretly in hand, and sate up over +it till midnight, and adorned it so with her own ribbons and lace that +it was more presentable than it had ever been before. + +Petrea kissed her skilful hands for all that they had done. Eva--yet we +will, for the present, keep silent on her arrangements. + +But dost thou know, oh, reader!--yes, certainly thou dost!--the zephyrs +which call forth spring in the land of the soul--which call forth +flowers, and make the air pure and delicious? Certainly thou knowest +them--the little easy, quiet, unpretending, almost invisible, and yet +powerful--in one word, human kindnesses. + +Since these have taken up their abode in the Franks' family we see +nothing that can prevent a general joyful party of pleasure. But +yes!--it is true-- + + +PETREA'S NOSE! + +This was, as we have often remarked, large and somewhat clumsy. Petrea +had great desire to unform it, particularly for the approaching +festivities. + +"What _have_ you done to your nose? What is amiss with your nose?" were +the questions which assailed Petrea on all sides, as she came down to +breakfast on the morning of the journey. + +Half laughing and half crying, Petrea related how she had made use of +some innocent machinery during the night, by which she had hoped +somewhat to alter the form of this offending feature, the consequence of +which had unfortunately been the fixing a fiery red saddle across it, +and a considerable swelling beside. + +"Don't cry, my dear girl," said her mother, bathing it with +oatmeal-water, "it will only inflame your nose the more." + +"Ah," burst forth poor Petrea, "anybody is really unfortunate who has +such a nose as mine! What in the world can they do with it? They must go +into a convent." + +"It is very much better," said the mother, "to do as one of my friends +did, who had a very large nose, much larger than yours, Petrea." + +"Ah, what did she do?" asked Petrea, eagerly. + +"She made herself so beloved, that her nose was beloved too," said her +mother. "Her friends declared that they saw nothing so gladly as her +nose as it came in at the door, and that without it she would have been +nothing." + +Petrea laughed, and looked quite cheerful. "Ah," said she, "if my nose +can but be beloved, I shall be quite reconciled to it." + +"You must endeavour to grow above it!" said the good, prudent mother, +jestingly, but significantly. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DAY OF THE JOURNEY. + + +On the morning of the important day all was in lively motion. The +Assessor sent Eva a large bouquet of most remarkably beautiful natural +flowers, which she immediately divided among her sisters. The Judge +himself, in a frenzy of activity, packed the things of his wife and +daughters, and protested that nobody could do it better than he, and +that nobody could make so many things go into one box as he could. The +last was willingly conceded to him, but a little demur arose as to the +excellency of the packing. The ladies asserted that he rumpled their +dresses; the Judge asserted that there was no danger on that account, +that everything would be found remarkably smooth, and stood zealous and +warm in his shirt-sleeves beside the travelling-case, grumbling a little +at every fresh dress that was handed to him, and then exclaiming +immediately afterwards, "Have you more yet, girls? I have more room. Do +give me more! See now! that? and that? and that? and----now, in the name +of all weathers, is there no end of your articles? Give them here, my +girls! Let that alone, child! I shall soon lay it straight! What? +rumple them, shall I? Well, they can be unrumpled again, that's all! Are +there no smoothing-irons in the world? What? so, so, my girls! Have you +any more? I can yet put something more in." + +They were to set off immediately after dinner, in order to be at +Axelholm, which lay about two miles[10] from the city, ready for the ball +in the evening. By dinner-time all boxes were packed, and all tempers +cleared, more especially that of the Judge, who was so contented with +his morning's work that he almost imparted his delight to those who at +first were not altogether satisfied with it. + +Petrea ate nothing but a pancake, with a little snow milk to it, in +order that she might dance all the lighter. + +"Above all things, my friends," prayed the Judge, "be precise, and be +ready at half-past three; the carriages come then to the door, do not +let me have to wait for you." + +Precisely at half-past three the Judge went to the doors of his wife and +daughters. + +"Mamma! girls! it is time to go!" said he. "The clock has struck +half-past three! The carriages are here!" + +"Directly, directly!" was answered from all sides. The Judge waited; he +knew from experience what this "directly" meant. + +In the fever of his punctuality his blood began to boil, and he walked +up and down the hall with great steps, talking with himself: "It is +shocking, though," argued he, "that they never are ready! but I won't be +angry! Even if they make me angry, I will not spoil their pleasure. But +patience is necessary, more than Job had!" + +Whilst he was thus moralising with himself, he heard the voice of his +wife saying, with decision, in the library, "Come now, dear girls! In +heaven's name, don't keep the father waiting! I know, indeed, how it +annoys him----!" + +"But he said nothing the day before yesterday," Petrea's voice was heard +to return, "though he had then to wait for us. (I can't think what I +have done with my gloves!)" + +"And precisely on that account he shall not wait a moment longer for +us," said the mother; "and never again, if I can help it; so, if you are +not ready girls, I shall run away without you!" + +The mother ran, and all the daughters ran merrily after her. + +The father remarked with pleasure, that love has a far more effectual +power than fear, and all were soon seated in the carriage. + +We will allow them to roll away, and will now pay a little visit to + + +LEONORE'S CHAMBER. + +Leonore sate solitary. She supported her sick head on her hand. She had +impelled herself to answer kindly the leave-taking kiss of her mother +and sisters; she had seen how they sought to repress their joy before +her; and she had particularly remarked a sort of half-concealed roguish +joy in the glance which was exchanged between Eva and her mother, which +had pained her. She had heard their happy voices on the stairs, and then +the driving away of the carriages. Now they were gone; now all was still +and desolate in the house, and large tears traced their way down +Leonore's cheeks. She seemed to herself so forlorn, so uncared for, so +solitary in the world! + +At that moment the door was softly opened, a smiling face looked in, and +a light fascinating figure sprang forward through the chamber towards +her, kissed her, laughed, and glanced with roguish and ardent affection +into her astonished face. + +"Eva!" exclaimed Leonore, scarcely trusting her eyes; "Eva, are you +here? How! whither came you? Are you not gone with the others?" + +"No, as you see," returned Eva, embracing her, laughing, and looking +quite happy; "I am here, and mean to stay here." + +"But why? What is the meaning of it?" asked Leonore. + +"Because I would much rather remain here with you than go anywhere +else," said Eva. "I have bid Axelholm with all its splendours good day." + +"Ah! why have you done so? I would much rather you had not!" said +Leonore. + +"See you! I knew that," returned her sister, "and therefore I put on a +travelling dress, like the rest, and took leave of you with them. I +wanted to take you by surprise, you see. You are not angry with me, are +you? You must now be contented with it--you can't get rid of me! Look a +little happy on me, Leonore!" + +"I cannot Eva," said Leonore, "because you have robbed yourself of a +great pleasure on my account, and I know that it must have been +difficult for you. I know that I am neither agreeable nor pleasing, and +that you cannot love me, nor yet have pleasure with me, and on that +account I cannot have pleasure in your sacrifice. It becomes you to be +with the joyful and the happy. Ah! that you had but gone with them!" + +"Do not talk so, unless you would make me weep," said Eva; "you do not +know how the thought of giving up all these festivities in order to +remain alone with you has given me pleasure for many days, and this +precisely because I love you, Leonore! yes, because I feel that I could +love you better than all the rest! Nay, do not shake your head--it is +so. One cannot help one's feelings." + +"But why should you love me?" argued the poor girl; "I am, indeed, so +little amiable, nobody can endure me, nobody has pleasure in me; I would +willingly die. Ah! I often think it would be so beautiful to die!" + +"How can you talk so, Leonore?" said her sister; "it is not right! Would +you wish such horrible grief to papa and mamma, and me, and all of us?" + +"Ah!" said Leonore, "you and the sisters would soon comfort yourselves. +Mamma does not love me as much as any of you others; nor papa either. +Ottil R. said the other day that everybody talked of it--that I was +beloved neither by father nor mother." + +"Fie!" exclaimed Eva, "that was wicked and unjust of Ottil. I am quite +certain that our parents love us all alike. Have you ever observed that +they unjustly make any difference between us?" + +"That I never have," said Leonore; "they are too good and perfect for +that. But, do you think I have not observed with how different an +expression my father regards me to that with which he looks on you or +Louise? Do you think that I do not feel how cold, and at times +constrained, is the kiss which my mother gives me, to the two, the +three, yes, the many, which, out of the fulness of her heart, she gives +to you or to Gabriele? But I do not complain of injustice. I see very +well that it cannot be otherwise. Nature has made me so disagreeable, +that it is not possible people can bear me. Ah! fortunate indeed are +they who possess an agreeable exterior! They win the good-will of people +if they only show themselves. It is so easy for them to be amiable, and +to be beloved! But difficult, very difficult is it for those who are +ill-favoured as I!" + +"But, dear Leonore, I assure you, you are unjust towards yourself. Your +figure, for example, is very good; your eyes have something so +expressive, something at the same time so soft and so earnest; your hair +is fine, and is of a beautiful brown;--it would become you so if it were +better dressed; but wait awhile, when you are better I will help you to +do it, and then you shall see." + +"And my mouth," said poor Leonore, "that goes from ear to ear, and my +nose is so flat and so long--how can you mend that?" + +"Your mouth?" replied Eva, "why yes, it is a little large; but your +teeth are regular, and with a little more care, would be quite white. +And your nose?--let me see--yes, if there were a little elevation, a +little ridge in it, it would be quite good, too! Let me see, I really +believe it begins to elevate itself!--yes, actually, I see plainly +enough the beginning of a ridge! and do you know, if it come, and when +you are well, and have naturally a fresh colour, I think that you will +be really pretty!" + +"Ah! if I can ever believe that!" said Leonore, sighing, at the same +time that an involuntary smile lit up her countenance. + +"And even if you are not so very lovely," continued Eva, "you know that +yet you can be infinitely agreeable; you have something peculiarly so in +your demeanour. I heard papa say so this very day to mamma." + +"Did he really say so?" said Leonore, her countenance growing brighter +and brighter. + +"Yes, indeed he did!" replied her sister. "But, ah! Leonore, after all, +what is beauty? It fades away, and at last is laid in the black earth, +and becomes dust; and even whilst it is blooming, it is not +all-sufficient to make us either beloved or happy! It certainly has not +an intrinsic value." + +Never was the power of beauty depreciated by more beautiful lips! +Leonore looked at her and sighed. + +"No, Leonore," continued she, "do not trouble yourself to be beautiful. +This, it is true, may at times be very pleasant, but it certainly is not +necessary to make us either beloved or happy. I am convinced that if you +were not in the least prettier than you are, yet that you might if you +would, in your own peculiar way, be as much in favour and as much +beloved as the prettiest girls in the world." + +"Ah!" said Leonore, "if I were only beloved by my nearest connexions! +What a divine thing it must be to be beloved by one's own family!" + +"But that you can be--that you will be, if you only will! Ah! if you +only were always as you are sometimes--and you are more and more so--and +I love you more and more--infinitely I love you!" + +"Oh, beloved Eva," said Leonore, deeply affected, whilst she leaned +herself quietly on her sister, "I have very little deserved this from +you; but, for the future, I will be different--I will be such as you +would have me. I will endeavour to be good and amiable." + +"And then you will be so lovely, so beloved, and so happy!" said Eva, +"that it would be a real delight. But now you must come down into +Louise's and my room. There is something there for you; you must change +the air a little. Come, come!" + +"Ah, how charming!" was Leonore's exclamation as she entered Eva's +chamber; and in fact nothing could be imagined more charming than that +little abode of peace, adorned as it now was by the coquetry of +affection. The most delicious odour of fruit and flowers filled the air, +and the sun threw his friendly beams on a table near the sofa, on which +a basket filled with beautiful fruit stood enticingly in the midst of +many pretty and tastefully arranged trifles. + +"Here, dear Leonore," said Eva, "you will remain during this time. It +will do you good to leave your room a little. And look, they have all +left you an offering! This gothic church of bronze is from Jacobi. It is +a lamp! do you see? Light comes through the church window;--how +beautiful! We will light it this evening. And this fruit here--do you +see the beautiful grapes? All these are a plot between Henrik and +Petrea. The copperplate engravings are from my father; Louise has worked +you the slippers; and the little lady, she----" + +Leonore clasped her hands. "Is it possible," said she, "that you all +have thought so much about me! How good you are--ah, too good!" + +"Nay, do not weep, sweet Leonore," said Eva; "you should not weep, you +should be joyful. But the best part of the entertainment remains yet +behind. Do you see this new novel of Miss Edgeworth's? Mamma has given +us this, for us to read together. I will read to you aloud till +midnight, if you will. A delicate little supper has been prepared for us +by Louise, and we shall sup up here. We'll have a banquet in our own +way. Take now one of those big grapes which grow two on one stem, and I +will take the other. The king's health! Oh, glorious!" + +Whilst the two sisters are banqueting at their own innocent feast, we +will see how it goes on in the great company at + + +AXELHOLM. + +Things are not carried on in so enviably easy and unconstrained a manner +at every ball as at that of the citizens in the good little city of +* * * ping, where one saw the baker's wife and the confectioner's wife +waltzing together, but altogether in a wrong fashion, to which the rest +only said, "It does not signify, if they only go on!" Oh, no! such +simplicity as that is very rarely met with, and least of all among those +of whom we write. + +At Axelholm, as at other great balls, the rocky shores of +conventionality made it impossible to move without a thousand +ceremonies, proprieties, dubiosities, formalities, and all the rest, +which, taken together, make up a vast sum of difficulties. The great +ball at Axelholm was not without pretension, and on that account not +without its stiff difficulties. Among these may be reckoned that several +of the young gentlemen considered themselves too old, or too----to dance +at all, and that, in consequence, many of the dance-loving ladies could +not dance at all either, because, on account of the threatening +eye-glasses of the gentlemen, they had not courage to dance with one +another. Nevertheless the scene looked like one of pure delight. The +great saloon so splendidly lighted, and a vast assembly collected there! + +It is now the moment just before the dancing begins; the gentlemen stand +in a great group in the middle of the room, spreading themselves out in +direct or wavy lines towards the circle of ladies. These sit, like +flowers in the garden beds, on the benches round the room, mostly in +bashful stillness; whilst a few, in the consciousness of zephyr-like +lightness, float about the room like butterflies. All look happy; all +talk one with another, with all that animation, that reciprocal +good-will, which the sight of so much beauty, united to the +consciousness that they themselves are wearing their best looks, as well +as the expectation of pleasure, infuses. + +Now the music begins to sound; now young hearts beat with more or less +disquiet; now go the engaged ones, amid the jostlings of the servants, +who are perpetually soliciting the young ladies to partake of the now +disdained tea. There one saw several young girls numerously surrounded, +who were studying the promised dances which were inscribed on the ivory +of their fans, declining fervent solicitations for the third, fourth, +fifth--nay, even up to the twelfth dance; but, fascinatingly-gracious, +promising themselves for the thirteenth, which perhaps may never be +danced; whilst others in their neighbourhood sit quiet and undisturbed, +waiting for the first invitation, in order thereto to say a willing and +thankful yes. Among the many-surrounded and the much-solicited, we may +see Sara and even Louise. With these emulated the three Misses +Aftonstjerna--Isabella, Stella, and Aurora--who stood constantly round +the chair of the Countess Solenstrĺle, which was placed before the great +mirror at the far end of the saloon. Among those who sat expectantly, in +the most beautiful repose, we shall discover our Petrea, who +nevertheless, with her bandeau of pearls in her hair, and a certain +bloom of innocence and goodness in her youthful countenance, looked +uncommonly well. Her heart beat with an indescribable desire to be +engaged. + +"Ah!" sighed she, as she saw two most elegant young men, the two +brothers B----, walking round the circle of ladies, with their +eye-glasses in their hands. Their eye-glasses rested for a moment on +Petrea; the one whispered something in the ear of the other; both +smiled, and went on. Petrea felt humiliated, she knew not why. + +"Now!" thought she, as Lieutenant S---- approached her quickly. But +Lieutenant S---- came to engage Miss T----, and Petrea remained sitting. +The music played the liveliest _anglaise_, and Petrea's feet were all in +agitation to be moving. + +"Ah!" thought she, "if I were but a man I would engage Petrea." + +The _anglaise_ streamed past Petrea's nose. + +"Where is Eva?" asked Jeremias Munter, in a hasty and displeased tone, +from Louise, in the pause between the _anglaise_ and the waltz. + +"She has remained at home with Leonore," said Louise; "she was +determined upon it." + +"How stupid!" exclaimed he; "why did I come here then." + +"Nay, that I really cannot tell!" returned Louise, smiling. + +"Not!" retorted the Assessor. "Now then I will tell you, sister Louise, +I came here entirely to see Eva dance--solely and altogether on that +account, and for nothing else. What a stupid affair it was that she +should stop at home! You had a great deal better, all the rest of you, +have stopped at home together; you yourself, dear sister, reckoned into +the bargain! Petrea, there! what has she to do here? She was always a +vexation to me, but now I cannot endure her, since she has not +understanding enough to stay at home in Eva's place; and this little +curly-pate, which must dance with grown people just as if she were a +regular person; could not she find a piece of sugar to keep her at home, +instead of coming here to be in a flurry! You are all wearisome +together; and such entertainments as these are the most horrible things +I know." + +Louise floated away in the waltz with Jacobi, laughing over this sally; +and the Countess Solenstrĺle, the sun of the ball, said as she passed +her chair, "Charmant, charmant!" + +Besides this couple, who distinguished themselves by their easy +harmonious motion, there was another, which whirled past in wild +circles, and drew all eyes upon them likewise: this was Sara and the +boisterous Schwartz. Her truly beaming beauty, her dress, her haughty +bearing, her flashing eyes, called forth a universal ah! of astonishment +and admiration. Petrea forgot that she was sitting while she looked upon +her. She thought that she had never seen anything so transporting as +Sara in the whirl of the dance. But the Countess Solenstrĺle, as she +sate in her chair, said of this couple--nothing; nay, people even +imagined that they read an expression of displeasure in her countenance. +The Misses Aftonstjerna sailed round with much dignity. + +"My dear girl," said Elise kindly, but seriously, to Sara after the +waltz, "you must not dance thus; your chest will not allow it. How warm +you are! You really burn!" + +"It is my climate," answered Sara; "it agrees with me excellently." + +"I beseech you sit this dance. It is positively injurious to you to heat +yourself thus," said Elise. + +"This dance?" returned Sara; "impossible! I am engaged for it to Colonel +H----." + +"Then, do not dance the next," besought Elise; "if you would do me a +pleasure, do not dance it with Schwartz. He dances in such a wild manner +as is prejudicial to the health; besides which, it is hardly becoming." + +"It gives me pleasure to dance with him," answered Sara, both with pride +and insolence, as she withdrew; and the mother, wounded and displeased, +returned to her seat. + +The Countess Solenstrĺle lavished compliments on Elise on account of her +children. "They are positively the ornament of the room," said +she;--"_charmant!_ and your son a most prepossessing young man--so +handsome and _comme il faut_! A charming ball!" + +Isabella Aftonstjerna threw beaming glances on the handsome Henrik. + +"What madness this dancing is!" said Mr. Munter, as with a strong +expression of weariness and melancholy he seated himself beside Evelina. +"_Nay_, look how they hop about and exert themselves, as if without this +they could not get thin enough; then, good heavens! how difficult it +seems, and how ugly it is! As if this could give them any pleasure! For +some of them it seems as if it were day-labour, and as if it were a +frenzy to others; and for a third, a kind of affectation; nay, I must go +my ways, for I shall become mad or splenetic if I look any longer on +this super-extra folly!" + +"If Eva Frank were dancing too, you would not think it so," said +Evelina, with a well-bred smile. + +"Eva!" repeated he, whilst a light seemed to diffuse itself over his +countenance, and his eyes suddenly beamed with pleasure--"Eva! no! I +believe so too. To see her dance is to see living harmony. Ah! it +enlivens my mind if I only see her figure, her gait, her slightest +movement; and then to know that all this harmony, all this beauty, is +not mere paint--not mere outside; but that it is the true expression of +the soul! I find myself actually better when I am near her; and I have +often a real desire to thank her for the sentiments which she instils +into me. In fact, she is my benefactress; and I can assure you that it +reconciles me to mankind and to myself, that I can feel thus to a +fellow-creature. I cannot describe how agreeable it is, because commonly +there is so much to vex oneself about in this so-called masterpiece of +the Creator!" + +"But, best friend," said Evelina, "why are you so vexed? Most people +have still----" + +"Ah, don't go and make yourself an _ange de clémence_ for mankind," said +he, "in order to exalt secretly yourself over me, otherwise I shall be +vexed with you; and you belong to the class that I can best endure. Why +do I vex myself? What a stupid question! Why are people stupid and +wearisome, and yet make themselves important with their stupidity? And +wherefore am I myself such a melancholy personage, worse than anybody +else, and should have withal such a pair of quick eyes, as if only on +purpose to see the infirmities and perversions of the world? There may, +however, in my case be sufficient reason for all this. When one has had +the fancy to come into the world against all order and Christian usage; +has seen neither father nor mother beside one's cradle; heard nothing, +seen nothing, learned nothing, which is in the least either beautiful or +instructive--one has not entered upon life very merrily. And then, after +all, to be called Munter![11] Good heavens! Munter! Had I been called +Blannius, or Skarnius, or Brummerius, or Grubblerius, or Rhabarberius, +there might have been some sense in the joke; but Munter! I ask you now, +is it not enough to make a man splenetic and melancholy all the days of +his life? And then, to have been born into the world with a continual +cold, and since then never to have been able to look up to heaven +without sneezing--do you find that merry or edifying. Well, and then! +after I had worked my way successfully through the schools, the dust of +books, and the hall of anatomy, and had come to hate them all +thoroughly, and to love that which was beautiful in nature and in art, +am I to thank my stars that I must win my daily bread by studying and +caring for all that is miserable and revolting in the world, and hourly +to go about among jaundice, and colic, and disease of the lungs? On this +account I never can be anything but a melancholy creature! Yes, indeed, +if there were not the lilies on the earth, the stars in heaven, and +beyond all these some one Being who must be glorious--and were there not +among mankind the human-rose Eva--the beautiful, fascinating Eva, +then----" + +He paused; a tear stood in his eye; but the expression of his +countenance soon was changed when he perceived no less than five young +girls--they danced now the "free choice"--and among them the three +enchanting Miss Aftonstjernas, who, all locked together, came dancing +towards him with a roguish expression. He cast towards them the very +grimmest of his glances, rose up suddenly, and hastened away. + +Sara danced the second waltz with Schwartz, yet wilder than the first. +Elise turned her eyes away from her with inward displeasure; but +Petrea's heart beat with secret desire for a dance as wild, and she +followed their whirlings with sparkling eyes. + +"Oh," thought she, "if one could only fly through life in a joyful whirl +like that!" + +It was the sixth dance, and Petrea was sitting yet. She felt her nose +red and swollen. "See now!" thought she, "farewell to all hopes of +dancing! It must be that I am ugly, and nobody will look at me!" At the +same moment she was aware of the eye of her mother fixed upon her with a +certain expression of discomfort, and that glance was to her like a stab +at the heart; but the next moment her heart raised itself in opposition +to that depressing feeling which seemed about to overcome her. "It is +unpleasant," thought she, "but it cannot be altered, and it is no fault +of mine! And as nobody will give me any pleasure, I will even find some +for myself." + +Scarcely had Petrea made this determination, than she felt herself quite +cheered; a spring of independence and freedom bubbled up within her; she +felt as if she were able even to take down the chandelier from the +ceiling, and all the more so when she saw so many life-enjoying people +skipping around her. + +At this moment an old gentleman rose up from a bench opposite Petrea, +with a tea-cup in his hand. In a mania of officiousness she rushed +forward in order to assist him in setting it aside. He drew himself +back, and held the cup firmly, whilst Petrea, with the most firm and +unwearying "Permit me, sir," seemed determined to take it. The strife +about the cup continued amid the unending bows of the gentleman, and the +equally unending curtseys of Petrea, until a passing waltzing couple +gave a jostle, without the least ceremony whatever to the +compliment-makers, which occasioned a shake of the tea-cup, and revealed +to Petrea the last thing in the world which she had imagined, that the +cup was not empty! Shocked and embarrassed, she let go her hold, and +allowed the old gentleman, with what remained of his cup of tea, to go +and find out for himself a securer place. Petrea seated herself, she +hardly knew how, on a bench near an elderly lady, who looked at her very +good-naturedly, and who helped very kindly to wipe off the ablution of +tea which she had received. Petrea felt herself quite confidential with +this excellent person, and inquired from her what was her opinion of +Swedenborg, beginning also to give her own thoughts on spectral visions, +ghosts, etc. The lady looked at her, as if she thought she might be a +little deranged, and then hastened to change her place. + +A stout military gentleman sat himself down ponderously, with a deep +sigh, on the seat which the old lady had left, as if he were saying to +himself, "Ah, thank God! here I can sit in peace!" But, no! he had not +sate there three minutes and a half when he found himself called upon by +Petrea to avow his political faith, and invited by her to unite in the +wish of speedy war with Russia. Lieutenant-Colonel Uh----turned rather a +deaf ear to the battery by which his neighbour assailed him, but for all +that he probably felt it not the less heavy, because after several +little sham coughs he rose up, and left our Petrea alone with her +warlike thoughts. + +She also rose, from the necessity she felt of looking elsewhere for more +sympathy and interest. + +"In heaven's name, dear Petrea, keep your seat!" whispered Louise, who +encountered her on her search for adventures. + +Petrea now cast her eyes on a young girl who seemed to have had no +better dancing fortune than herself, but who seemed to bear it much +worse, appeared weary of sitting, and could hardly refrain from tears. +Petrea, in whose disposition it lay to impart to others whatever she +herself possessed--sometimes overlooking the trifling fact that what she +possessed was very little desired by others--and feeling herself now in +possession of a considerable degree of prowess, wished to impart some of +the same to her companion in misfortune, and seated herself by her for +that purpose. + +"I know not a soul here, and I find it so horribly wearisome," was the +unasked outpouring of soul which greeted Petrea, and which went directly +to her sympathising heart. + +Petrea named every person she knew in the company to the young +unfortunate, and then, in order to escape from the weight of the +present, began to unfold great plans and undertakings for the future. +She endeavoured to induce her new acquaintance to give her her _parole +d'honneur_ that she would sometime conduct a social theatre with her, +which would assist greatly to make social life more interesting; and +further than that, that they should establish together a society of +Sisters of Charity in Sweden, and make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; +furthermore, that they would write novels together; and that on the +following day, or more properly in the night, they would rise at +half-past two o'clock, and climb to the top of a high mountain in order +to see the sun rise; and finally, after all these, and sundry other +propositions, Petrea suggested to her new acquaintance a thee-and-thou +friendship between them! But, ah! neither Petrea's great prowess, nor +her great plans; neither the social theatre, nor the pilgrimage to +Jerusalem, least of all the thee-and-thou friendship, availed anything +towards enlivening the churlish young girl. Petrea saw plainly that an +invitation to dance would avail more than all her propositions, so, +sighing deeply because she was not a man to offer so great a pleasure, +she rose up, and left the object of her vain endeavours. + +She looked round for a new subject, and her eye fell on the Countess +Solenstrĺle. Petrea was dazzled, and became possessed of the frenzied +desire to become acquainted with her, to be noticed by her; in short, in +some kind of way to approach the sun of the ball, fancying thereby that +a little glory would be reflected upon herself. But how was she to +manage it? If the Countess would but let fall her handkerchief, or her +fan, she might dart forward and pick it up, and then deliver it to her +with a compliment in verse. Petrea, hereupon, began to improvise to +herself; there was something, of course, about the sun in it. +Undoubtedly this would delight the Countess, and give occasion to more +acquaintance, and perhaps--but, ah! she dropped neither handkerchief nor +fan, and no opportunity seemed likely to occur in which she could make +use of her poem with effect. In the mean time she felt drawn as by a +secret influence (like the planet to the sun) ever nearer and nearer to +the queen of the saloon. The Aftonstjernas were now standing, beaming +around her, bending their white and pearl-ornamented necks to listen to +her jesting observations, and between whiles replying with smiles to the +politeness and solicitations of elegant gentlemen. It looked magnificent +and beautiful, and Petrea sighed from the ardent longing to ascend to +the _haute volée_. + +At this moment Jacobi, quite warm, came hastening towards her to engage +her for the following quadrille. + +Petrea joyfully thanked him; but suddenly reddening to the resemblance +of a peony with her mania of participation, she added, "Might I accept +your invitation for another person? Do me the great pleasure to ask that +young girl that sits there in the window at our left." + +"But why?" asked Jacobi; "why will not you?" + +"I earnestly beseech you to do it!" said Petrea. "It would give me +greater pleasure to see her dancing than if I danced myself." + +Jacobi made some friendly objections, but did in the end as she +requested. + +It was a great pleasure to Petrea to perceive the influence of this +engagement on her young friend. But Fate and the Candidate seemed +determined to make Petrea dance this quadrille; and a young officer +presented himself before her in splendid uniform, with dark eyes, dark +hair, large dark moustache, martial size, and very martial mien. Petrea +had no occasion, and no disposition either, to return anything but a +"yes" to this son of Mars. In fact, she never expected to receive a more +honourable invitation; and a few minutes later she found herself +standing close beside the chair of the Countess Solenstrĺle, dancing in +the same quadrille with the Aftonstjernas, and _vis-ŕ-vis_ with the +Candidate. Petrea felt herself highly exalted, and would have been +perfectly prosperous had it not been for her restless demon, which +incessantly spurred her with the desire of coming in closer contact with +the beautiful, magnificent lady to whom she stood so near. To tread upon +her foot or her dress, might, it is true, have furnished an easy +occasion for many fine and reverential excuses; but, at the same time, +this would be neither polite nor agreeable. To fall in some kind of way +before her feet, and then, when graciously raised by the Countess, to +thank her in a verse, in which the _sun_ played a conspicuous part, +would have been incontestibly better; but now--Petrea must dance on! + +Was it that our Petrea really was so addled (if people will graciously +allow us such an expression) that she had no right power over her limbs, +or did it happen from want of ballast, in consequence of the slender +dinner she had eaten, or was it the result of her usual distraction--we +know not; but this much is certain, that she in _chassée_-ing on the +right hand, on which she had to pass her _vis-ŕ-vis_, made an error, and +came directly up to him. He withdrew to the other side, but Petrea was +already there: and as the Candidate again withdrew to the right, there +was she again; and amid all this _chassée_-ing her feet got so entangled +with his, that as he made a despairing attempt to pass her, it so +happened that both fell down in the middle of the quadrille! + +When Petrea, with tears in her eyes, again stood upright, she saw before +her the eye-glass gentlemen, the two brothers B., who were nearly dying +with laughter. A hasty glance convinced Petrea that her mother saw +nothing of it; and a second glance, that she had _now_ attracted the +attention of the Countess Solenstrĺle, who was smiling behind her fan. +The first observation consoled her for the last; and she fervently +assured Jacobi, who was heartily distressed on her account, that she had +not hurt herself; that it signified nothing; that it was her fault, +etc., etc.; cast a tranquil glance on the yet laughing gentlemen, and +_chasséed_ boldly back again. But what, however, made the deepest +impression on Petrea, was the conduct of her partner, and his suddenly +altered behaviour. He brought the continued and unbecoming merriment of +the brothers B. to an end by one determined glance; and he who hitherto +had been parsimonious of words, and who had only answered all her +attempts at being entertaining by a yes or a no, now became quite +conversable, polite, and agreeable, and endeavoured in every possible +way to divert her attention from the unpleasant accident which had just +occurred, engaging her moreover for the _anglaise_ after supper. + +Petrea understood his kindness; tears came into her eyes, and her heart +beat for joy at the thought of hastening to her mother after the +quadrille, and saying, "Mamma, I am engaged for the _anglaise_ after +supper." + +But no thought, no feeling, could remain in tranquillity with the poor +little "Chaos;" so many others came rushing in, that the first were +quite effaced. Her first impression of the kindness of Lieutenant Y. +was, "how good he is!" the second was, "perhaps he may endure me!" And +hereupon a flood of imagined courtesy and courtship poured in, which +almost turned her head. But she would not marry, heaven forbid! yet +still it would be a divine thing to have a lover, and to be oneself "an +object" of passion, like Sara and Louise. Perhaps the young Lieutenant +Y. might be related to the Countess Solenstrĺle, and, oh heavens! how +well it would sound when it was said, "A nephew of the Countess +Solenstrĺle is a passionate admirer of Petrea Frank!" What a coming +forth that would be! A less thing than that might make one dizzy. Petrea +was highly excited by these imaginings, and was suddenly changed by them +into an actual coquette, who set herself at work by all possible means +to enslave "her object;" in which a little, and for the moment very +white, hand (for even hands have their moments), figuring about the +head, played a conspicuous part. Petrea's amazing animation and +talkativeness directed the eye-glass of her mother--for her mother was +somewhat short-sighted--often in this direction, and called forth +glances besides from Louise, which positively would have operated with a +very subduing effect, had not Petrea been too much excited to remark +them. The observations and smiles of her neighbours Petrea mistook for +tokens of applause; but she deceived herself, for they only amused +themselves with the little coquetting, but not very dangerous lady. +Lieutenant Y., nevertheless, seemed to find pleasure in her liveliness, +for when the quadrille was ended, he continued a dispute which had +commenced during it, and for this purpose conducted her into one of the +little side rooms, which strengthened her in the idea of having made a +conquest. Isabella Aftonstjerna was singing there a little French song, +the refrain of which was-- + + Hommage ŕ la plus belle, + Honneur au plus vaillant! + +The world was all brightness to Petrea: the song carried her back to the +beautiful days of knighthood: Lieutenant Y. appeared to her as the ideal +of knightly honour, and the glass opposite showed her own face and nose +in such an advantageous light, that she, meeting herself there all +beaming with joy, fancied herself almost handsome. A beautiful rose-tree +was blossoming in the window, and Petrea, breaking off a flower, +presented it to the Lieutenant, with the words-- + + Honneur au plus vaillant. + +Petrea thought that this was remarkably striking and apropos, and +secretly expected that her knight would lay the myrtle-spray with which +he was playing at her feet, adding very appropriately-- + + Hommage ŕ la plus belle. + +"Most humble thanks!" said Lieutenant Y., taking the rose with +misfortune-promising indifference. But Fate delivered Petrea from the +unpleasantness of waiting in vain for a politeness she desired, for +suddenly there arose a disturbance in the ball-room, and voices were +heard which said, "She is fainting! Gracious heaven! Sara!" + +Myrtle-spray, knight, conquest, all vanished now from Petrea's mind, and +with a cry of horror she rushed from Lieutenant Y. into the ball-room at +the very moment when Sara was carried out fainting. The violent dancing +had produced dizziness; but taken into a cool room, and sprinkled with +eau de Cologne and water, she soon recovered, and complained only of +horrible headache. This was a common ailment of Sara's, but was quickly +removed when a certain remedy was at hand. + +"My drops!" prayed Sara, in a faint voice. + +"Where? where?" asked Petrea, with a feeling as if she would run to +China. + +"In the little box in our chamber," said Sara. + +Quick as thought sped the kind Petrea across the court to the east wing. +She sought through the chamber where their things were, but the box was +not to be found. It must have been left in the carriage. But where was +the carriage? It was locked up in the coach-house. And where was the key +of the coach-house? + +Great was Petrea's fatigue before she obtained this; before she reached +the coach-house; and then before, with a lantern in her hand, she had +found the missing box. Great also, on the other hand, was her joy, as +breathless, but triumphant, she hastened up to Sara with the little +bottle of medicine in her hand, and for reward she received the not less +agreeable commission of dropping out sixty drops for Sara. Scarcely, +however, was the medicine swallowed, when Sara exclaimed with violence: + +"You have killed me, Petrea! You have given me poison! It is +unquestionably Louise's elixir!" + +It was so! The wrong bottle had been brought, and great was the +perplexity. + +"You do everything so left-handedly, Petrea!" exclaimed Sara, in +ill-humour; "you are like the ass in the fable, that would break the +head of his friend in driving away a fly!" + +These were hard words for poor Petrea, who was just about to run off +again in order to redeem her error. This, added to other agitation of +mind, brought tears to her eyes, and blood to her head. Her nose began +violently to bleed. Louise, excited against Sara by her severity to +Petrea, and some little also by her calling her elixir poison, threw +upon her a look of great displeasure, and devoted herself to the weeping +and bleeding Petrea. + +Whether it was the spirit of anger that dispersed Sara's headache, or +actually Louise's elixir (Louise was firmly persuaded that it was the +latter), we know not; but certain it was that Sara very soon recovered +and returned to the company, without saying one consoling word to +Petrea. + +Petrea was in no condition to appear at the supper-table, and Louise +kindly remained with her. Aunt Evelina, Laura, Karin, and even the lady +of the War-Councillor herself, brought them delicacies. Amid so much +kindness, Petrea could not do otherwise than become again tranquil and +lively. She should, she thought, after all, dance the _anglaise_ after +supper with "le plus vaillant," as she called the Lieutenant, who had +truly captivated her evidently not steeled heart. + +The _anglaise_ had already begun as the sisters entered the ball-room. +The Candidate hastened to meet them quite in an uneasy state of mind; he +had engaged Louise for this dance, and they now stood up together in the +crowd of dancers. Petrea expected, likewise, that "le plus vaillant" +would rush up to her and seize her hand; but as she cast a hasty glance +around, she perceived him, not rushing towards her, but dancing with +Sara, who was looking more beautiful and brilliant than ever. The rose +which Petrea had given him--faithless knight!--together with the +myrtle-sprig on which she had speculated, were both of them placed in +Sara's bosom. The eyes of "le plus vaillaut" were incessantly riveted +upon "la plus belle," as Sara was then unanimously declared to be. The +glory of the Aftonstjernas paled in the night, as they were too much +heated by dancing, but Sara's star burned brighter and brighter. She was +introduced to the Countess Solenstrĺle, who paid her charming +compliments, and called her "la reine du bal," at which the +Aftonstjernas looked displeased. + +"Thousand devils, how handsome she is!" exclaimed the old gentleman who +had striven with Petrea about the tea-cup, and who now, without being +aware of it, trod upon her foot as he thrust himself before her to get a +better view of "la reine du bal." + +Overlooked, humiliated, silent, and dejected, Petrea withdrew into +another room. The scenes of the evening passed in review before her +soul, and appeared now quite in an altered light. The mirror which a few +hours before had flattered her with the notion that she might be called +_la plus belle_, now showed her her face red and unsightly; she thought +herself the most ridiculous and unfortunate of human beings. She felt at +this moment a kind of hostility against herself. She thought on +something which she was preparing for Sara, and which was to be an +agreeable surprise to her, and which was to be made known to her in a +few days--she thought of this, and in that moment of trouble the thought +of it, like a sunbeam on dark clouds, brightened the night in her soul. +The thought of gratifying one, who on this evening had so deeply +wounded her, gave a mild and beneficial turn to her mind. + +After supper, a balcony in the saloon adjoining the ball-room was +opened, in order somewhat to cool the heated atmosphere of the room. + +Two persons, a lady and gentleman, stepped into the balcony; a light +white shawl was thrown over the lady's shoulders; stars garlanded her +dark hair; stars flashed in her black eyes, which glanced fiercely +around into free space. + +There lay over the landscape the deliciously mysterious half-darkness of +a May-night, a magical veil which half hides and half reveals its +beauty, and which calls forth mysterious forebodings. A mighty and +entrancing revelation of the gloriousness of life seemed to sing in the +wind, which passed tranquilly murmuring through space, shone in the +stars, and wandered high above earth. + +"Ah, life! life!" exclaimed she, and stretched forth her arms towards +space, as if she would embrace it. + +"Enchanting girl!" said he, while he seized her hand, "my life belongs +to you!" + +"Conduct me forth into free, fresh life," said she, without withdrawing +her hand, and looking haughtily at him all the while, "and my hand +belongs to you! But remember you this, that I will be free--free as the +wind which now kisses your forehead, and lifts those topmost branches of +the tree! I love freedom, power, and honour! Conduct me to these, help +me to obtain these, and my gratitude will secure to you my love; will +fetter me to you with stronger bonds than those of ceremony and +prejudice, to which I only submit out of regard to those who otherwise +would weep over me, and whom I would not willingly distress more than +there is need for. It shall not bind us more than we ourselves wish. +Freedom shall be the knitting and the loosening of our bond!" + +"Beautiful woman!" answered he, "raised above the hypocrisy of +weakness--above the darkness of prejudice--I admire you and obey you! +Only to such a woman can my will submit! My beautiful scholar is become +my teacher! Well, then, let the hand of the priest unite us; my hand +shall conduct you up to that brilliant throne which your beauty and your +talents deserve! I will only elevate you in order, as now, to fall +before your feet the most devoted of your servants!" + +He dropped upon one knee before her; and she, bending herself towards +him, let her lips touch his forehead. He threw his arms round her, and +held her for one moment bent towards him. A supercilious, scornful +expression, unobserved by her, played upon his lips. + +"Release me, Hermann! some one comes," said she; he did so, and as she +raised her proud neck against his will, a dark flash of indignation +burned in her eyes. + +They withdrew, and another couple stepped out into the balcony. + +He. Wait, let me wrap my cloak better round you; the wind is cool. + +She. Ah, how beautiful to feel how it wraps us both! Do you see how we +are here standing between heaven and earth, separated from all the +world? + +He. I do not see it--I see my lovely world in my arms! I have you, +Laura! Laura, tell me, are you happy? + +She. Ah, no! + +He. How? + +She. Ah, I am not happy because I am too happy! I fancy I never can have +deserved this happiness. I cannot conceive how it came to my share. Ah, +Arvid! to live thus with you, with my mother, my sister, all that I most +love--and then to be yours ever, ever! + +He. Say eternally, my Laura! Our union belongs as much to heaven as to +earth, here as there; to all eternity I am yours, and you are mine! + +She. Hush, my Arvid! I hear my mother's voice--she calls me. Let us go +to her. + +They returned into the room, and presently another couple stepped on the +balcony. + +He. Cousin Louise, do you like evening air? Cousin Louise, I fancy, is +rather romantic. Cousin, do you like the stars? I am a great friend of +the stars too; I think on what the poet sings: + + ----silently as Egypt's priests + They move. + +Look, Cousin Louise, towards the corner, in the west there lies +Oestanvik. If it would give you any pleasure to make a little tour +there, I would beg that I might drive you there in my new landau. I +really think, Cousin Louise, that Oestanvik would please you: the +peaches and the vines are just now in full bloom; it is a beautiful +sight. + +A deep sigh is heard. + +She. Who sighs so? + +A Voice. Somebody who is poor, and who now, for the first time, envies +the rich. + +He. Oh rich! rich! God forbid! rich I am not exactly. One has one's +competency, thank God! One has wherewith to live. I can honestly +maintain myself and a family. I sow two hundred bushels of wheat; and +what do you think, Cousin Louise--but where is Cousin Louise? + +A Voice. It seemed to her, no doubt, as if a cold wind came over here +from Oestanvik. + +At the moment when the gentlemen returned to the room, a girl came into +the balcony. She was alone. The misfortunes of the evening depressed her +heart, and were felt to be so much more humiliating because they were of +such a mean kind. Some burning tears stole quickly and silently over her +cheeks. The evening wind kissed them gently away. She looked up to +heaven; never had it seemed to her so high and glorious. Her soul raised +itself, mounted even higher than her glance, up to the mighty friend of +human hearts; and He gave to hers a presentiment that a time would come, +when, in his love, she would be reconciled to and forget all adversities +of earth. + + * * * * * + +The days at Axelholm wore on merrily amid ever-varying delights. Petrea +wrote long letters, in prose and in verse, to her sisters at home, and +imparted to them all that occurred here. Her own misfortunes, which she +even exaggerated, she described in such a comic manner that those very +things which were at first distressing to her, were made a spring of +hearty merriment both to herself and to her family. + +She received one day a letter from her father, which contained the +following words: + + "My good Child, + + "Your letters, my dear child, give me and your sisters great + pleasure; not merely on account of the lively things which they + contain, but more especially on account of your way of bearing + that which is anything but lively. Continue to do thus, my child, + and you--my heart rejoices in the thought--will advance on the way + to wisdom and happiness, and you will have joyfully to acknowledge + the blessed truth which the history of great things, as well as of + small, establishes, that there is nothing evil which may not be + made conducive to good; and thus our own errors may be made steps + on our way to improvement. + + "Greet your sisters cordially from their and your tenderly devoted + + "Father." + +Petrea kissed these lines with tears of grateful joy. She wore them for +several days near her heart; she preserved them through her whole life +as one of the endeared means by which she had gone happily through the +chromatic scale of existence. + +Louise was joked much about Cousin Thure; Cousin Thure was joked much +about Louise; it pleased him very much to be joked about her, to be told +that Oestanvik wanted a mistress, that he himself wanted a pretty wife, +and that without doubt Louise Frank was one of the most sensible as well +as one of the prettiest girls in the country; and more than this, was +besides of such a respectable family! The Landed-proprietor received +already felicitations on his betrothal. + +What the bride-elect, however, thought on the matter was more difficult +to fathom. She was certainly always polite to Cousin Thure; still this +politeness seemed expressive rather of indifference than friendship; and +she declined, with a decision amazing to many people, his pressing and +often repeated solicitations to make an excursion to Oestanvik in his +new landau, drawn by what he styled "his foxes--his four horses in one +rein." Many people asserted that the agreeable and cordial Jacobi was +much nearer to Louise's heart than the rich Landed-proprietor! but even +towards Jacobi her conduct was so equal, so tranquil, so unconstrained, +that nobody could exactly tell how it might be. Nobody knew so well as +we do, that Louise considered it consistent with the dignity of woman to +show only perfect indifference to the attentions or _doux-propos_ of +men, until they had been openly and fully declared. Louise despised +coquetry so far as to dread anything which bordered on the very limits +of it. Her young female friends joked with her upon her strict notions +on this head, and fancied that she would remain unmarried. + +"That may be," said Louise, calmly. + +They told her one day of a gentleman who said "I will not stand up +before any girl who is not some little of a coquette." + +"Then he may remain sitting," answered Louise, with much dignity. + +Louise's views of the dignity of woman, her grave and decided +principles, and her manner of expressing them, amused her young friends, +whilst at the same time they inspired for her a true esteem, and gave +occasion for many little contentions and discussions, in which Louise +intrepidly, though not without some little warmth, maintained the rights +of the cause. These contentions, however, which began in merriment, did +not always terminate so. + +A young and rather coquettish lady was one day wounded by the severity +with which Louise spoke of the coquetry of her sex, and particularly of +married ladies, and in revenge she used an expression which excited +Louise's astonishment and anger. An explanation followed between the +two, the result of which was not only their perfect estrangement, but an +altered state of mind in Louise which she in vain endeavoured to +conceal. + +During the first days of her stay at Axelholm she had been uncommonly +joyous and lively; now she was quiet, thoughtful, often absent, and +towards the Candidate, as it seemed, less friendly than formerly, whilst +she lent a more willing ear to the Landed-proprietor, although she still +resolutely withstood his proposal of a drive to Oestanvik. + +On the evening of the day after this explanation, Elise was engaged in a +lively conversation with Jacobi on the balcony. + +"And if," said he, "I endeavour to win her heart, would her +parents--would her mother see it without displeasure? Ah, speak candidly +with me; the well-being of my life depends upon it." + +"You have my accordance, my good wishes, Jacobi," returned Elise. "I say +to you what I have already said to my husband, that I should willingly +call you son." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Jacobi, deeply moved, and falling on one knee, whilst he +pressed her hand to his lips--"oh that my whole life might evidence to +you my gratitude and my love--!" + +At this very moment, Louise, who had been seeking her mother, approached +the balcony; she saw Jacobi's action, and heard his words: she withdrew +quickly, as if she had been stung by a snake. + +From this time a great change was more and more perceptible in her. +Still, reserved, and very pale, she moved about like one in a dream, +amid the lively circles of Axelholm, and agreed willingly to the +proposition which her mother, who was uneasy on her account, made of +their stay being shortened. Jacobi, as much astonished as distressed by +the sudden unfriendliness of Louise towards him, began to think that the +place must in some kind of way be bewitched, and desired more than +anybody else to get away from it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] A mile Swedish is equal to six English miles. + +[11] Merry, in Swedish. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE RETURN HOME. + + +What was it that Jacobi and Henrik had so much to arrange together +before their departure from Axelholm, and even whilst they were there? +Petrea's curiosity was terribly excited, but she could not come at any +clue by which to satisfy it. Some kind of plot which concerned the +family, seemed to be in agitation. + +Henrik and his friend had long intended to give a little entertainment +to the family, and the opportunity to do so now seemed favourable, as +well as also to combine it with an agreeable surprise; the scene of +which should be a pretty and good Inn, half way between Axelholm and the +city. Here, on their return, they would halt under pretence of some +repair being necessary to one of the carriages, and the ladies should be +persuaded to enter the house, where, in the mean time, all should be +prepared. + +The two friends had greatly delighted themselves over this scheme, and +in order to obtain for Louise her favourite luxury of ices, Jacobi had +drained his already reduced purse. + +In going to Axelholm the family had so divided themselves that Louise +with Petrea went in what is called a Medewi-carriage, the Judge's own +equipage, which was driven by Jacobi, with whom Henrik sate on the +driving-box, whilst the mother and the other daughters went in a covered +hired carriage, driven by the Judge himself. On the return, the same +arrangement was to be observed, with the difference of Jacobi driving +the large carriage, and Henrik driving his sisters. + +The mother, and even the young gentlemen, declared with becoming +discretion that they would not confide the reins to less skilful hands, +because the road was rough and hilly, and moreover bad from rain. +Notwithstanding all this, however, Jacobi intrigued so that, contrary to +the established arrangement, he mounted the coach-box of the young +ladies, and Henrik that of his mother. But the Candidate had not much +pleasure from so doing, since "the object" was no longer such as she was +during the drive thither. At that time she was more cheerful than +common; rejoiced so heartily over the spring air, over the song of the +lark; over fields, and cows, and cottages, and over everything that she +saw, communicating all her delight to Jacobi, who sate all the way on +the driving-box with his face turned towards the carriage (Henrik +solemnly advised him to fix himself in this reversed position), and +their blue eyes then rested on each other with a spring of pure +devotion. Now, everything was otherwise: "the object" appeared to give +attention to nothing. She leaned back in the carriage with her veil over +her face, and a cathedral is far more conversable than she; for it +speaks through the tongue in its tower, but Louise's tongue was +perfectly dumb, and Petrea's, which once never ceased, enlivened her +not. In vain Jacobi sought to catch Louise's eye. She avoided him, and +he was quite cast down. + +After having been many times most properly jogged and shaken, they +arrived fortunately at the wayside inn; yet no! not so fortunately +either, one of the carriage-wheels was discovered to be somewhat broken: +it was not dangerously so, oh no, heaven forbid that! but it must of +necessity be mended before they could proceed further. Henrik prayed his +mother and sisters while this was doing to alight and enter the inn, the +host and hostess of which now stood at the door, and with bows and +curtseys besought the travellers to enter. The host came himself and +opened the carriage-doors. Elise was startled, and uttered an +exclamation of surprise;--the host really and truly must be her husband; +and the hostess, the very prettiest hostess in the world, was bodily her +daughter Eva! The travelling daughters, too, were as much astonished, +made all kinds of exclamations, and recognised in host and hostess +father and sister. But neither host nor hostess were confounded, nor +allowed themselves to be confused by the confusion of the travellers; +they knew themselves too well who they were, and knew, too, how to +conduct themselves in their office. They led their guests, with many +apologies and politenesses, up to two large and handsome rooms, and here +the host, quite in despair, began to bustle about, and to summon both +maid and waiter. At last the waiter came in his blue apron. A new +miracle! He was a living image of the Candidate! And now came the maid. +A new amazement! A handsomer person, or one that more nearly resembled +Henrik it would have been impossible to find! But she went about +clumsily, and had nearly fallen down, stumbling first with this, and +then with that. The host scolded her vehemently on account of her +clumsiness, and scolded the waiter also till he made them both cry, at +least so it seemed; whereupon he chased them both out with the order to +return instantly with refreshments. The host, now again in brilliant, +excellent, polite humour, let fly with his own hand the corks of two +champagne bottles, poured out, and drank with the ladies. After they had +refreshed themselves with all kinds of delicious eating, amid the most +lively conversation, some person, who called himself Noah's grandson, +was announced, requesting permission to exhibit to the company various +strange animals and other beautiful curiosities, which had been found in +the ark. The grandson of Noah was called in by a great majority of +voices, and a face presented itself at the door which, with the +exception of a certain grey beard, bore a great resemblance to Jeremias +Munter. His menagerie, and his cabinet of art, were set out in another +room, into which the company were conducted; and there many +strangely-formed creatures were exhibited, and little scenes +represented, to which Noah's grandson gave explanations and made +speeches which were almost as humorous and witty (to be quite so was +impossible) as those of Japhet, in that wonderful and exquisite book, +"Noah's Ark."[12] Two other grandsons of Noah, who bore no resemblance to +any acquaintance of the family, assisted at this exhibition, at the end +of which Noah's learned grandson gave to each of the spectators a little +souvenir from the contents of the ark, and that with so much tact, that +every one received precisely the thing which gave him pleasure. Louise, +moreover, received a remarkable sermon, which was preached by Father +Noah himself on the first Sunday of his abode in the ark. But near the +title-page of this same sermon she found a piece of poetry which +evidently bore a later date. Louise did not, however, read it then, but +blushing very deeply, put it carefully by. + +The whole affair might have been as merry as it was droll, had not +Louise--herself the most important person in the entertainment--been in +no state of mind to enjoy it. But although she used her utmost endeavour +to take part in all the diversion, and to appear cheerful, she became +every moment more depressed; and when at last the ices came, and the +waiter, with the utmost cordiality beaming from his eyes, urged her to +take a vanilla-ice, she was only just able to taste it, upon which she +set it down, rushed out of the room, and burst into a convulsive fit of +weeping. This was a thing so unusual with Louise, that it occasioned a +general perplexity. Host, hostess, maid, waiter, Noah's grandson, all +threw off their characters; and all illusion, as well as all reality of +festivity, were at an end. It is true that Louise composed herself +speedily, besought pardon, and assigned as the cause of her emotion +sudden spasm in the chest. Elise and Eva, and more particularly Petrea, +endeavoured, on account of Henrik and Jacobi, to jest back again the +former merriment, but it would not come, and nothing more could succeed. +Everybody, but more especially Jacobi, were out of tune, and they now +began to speak of returning home. + +But now all at once the heavy trampling of horses, and a bustle at the +inn door was heard, and at the same moment a splendid landau, drawn by +four prancing bays, drew up before it. It was the Landed-proprietor, +who, unacquainted with returning there after a short absence, and who +had drawn up at this inn for a moment's breathing-time for his horses, +and to order for himself a glass of the beer for which the place was +renowned. The company which he here so unexpectedly encountered +occasioned an alteration in his first plan. He determined to accompany +the family to the city, and besought his aunt and cousins to make use of +his landau. It would certainly please them so much; it went with such +unexampled ease; was so comfortable that one could sleep therein with +perfect convenience even on the heaviest roads, etc., etc. Elise, who +really had suffered from the merciless shaking of the hired carriage, +was inclined to accept the offer; and as it immediately began to rain, +and as the Judge preferred the carriage to the chaise in which he had +driven with Eva, the affair was quickly arranged. Elise and some of the +daughters were to go in the landau, which was turned in the mean time +into a coach; and the Judge and the rest of the company were to divide +themselves among the other carriages. As these were ready to receive the +company, Jacobi drove his Medewi-carriage close on the landau of the +Landed-proprietor, who looked more than once with a dark countenance to +see whether any profane or injurious contact had taken place between the +great and the little carriage. + +Jacobi's heart beat violently as Louise came out on the steps of the inn +door. The Landed-proprietor stood on one side offering her his hand, and +Jacobi on the other offering his also, to conduct her to her former +seat. She appeared faint, and moved slowly. She hesitated for one +moment, and then gave, with downcast eyes, her hand to the +Landed-proprietor, who assisted her triumphantly into the carriage to +her mother, and mounting the box himself, away the next moment dashed +the landau with its four prancing bays. Jacobi laid his hand on his +heart, a choking sensation seemed to deprive him of breath, and with +tears in his eyes he watched the handsome departing carriage. He was +roused out of his painful observations by the voice of Petrea, who +jestingly announced to him that the enviable happiness awaited him of +driving herself and the Assessor in the Medewi-carriage. He took his +former seat in silence; his heart was full of disquiet; and +intentionally he remained far behind the others, in order that he might +not have the least glimpse of the landau. + +Scarcely had the Medewi-carriage again made acquaintance with the ruts +of the road, than a violent shock brought off one of the fore wheels, +and the Candidate, Petrea, and the Assessor, were tumbled one over the +other into the mud. Quickly, however, they were all three once again on +their feet; Petrea laughing, and the Assessor scolding and fuming. When +Jacobi had discovered that all which had life was unhurt, he looked +lightly on the affair, and began to think how best it might be remedied. +A short council was held in the rain, and it was concluded that Jacobi +should remain with the carriage till some one came to his assistance, +and that in the mean time Petrea and the Assessor should make the best +of their way on foot towards the city, and send, as soon as possible, +some people to his help. A labourer, who came by immediately afterwards, +promised to do the same, and Petrea and Assessor Munter, who, however, +was anything but consistent with his name, began their walk through rain +and mud. All this while, however, Petrea became more joyful and happy: +firstly, all this was an adventure for her; secondly, she never before +had been out in such weather; thirdly, she felt herself so light and +unencumbered as she scarcely ever had done before; and because she +looked upon her clothes as given up to fate--to a power against which +none other on earth could contend, she walked on in joy of heart, +splashing through the puddles, and feeling with great delight how the +rain penetrated her dress, and seeing how the colour was washed away +both from shawl and bonnet. She held her nose high in the air, in order +to enjoy the glorious rain. + +Petrea had in all this a resemblance to her brother, and flattered +herself also that she might have some resemblance to Diogenes; and as +her inclination lay towards extremes, she would very willingly be +Diogenes, since she could not, as she very well knew, be Alexander. Now +she perceived that in reality she needed very little of outward comforts +to make her happy; she felt herself in her adverse circumstances so free +and rich; she had become on thee-and-thou terms with the rain-drops, +with the wind, with the shrubs and grass, with all nature in short; she +had not here the mishaps and the humiliations to fear which annoyed her +so often in company. If the magpies laughed at her, she laughed at them +in return. Long life to freedom! + +With all these feelings, Petrea got into such excessively high spirits, +that she infected therewith her companions in misfortune; or, according +to her vocabulary, good fortune. But now, however, came on a horrible +tempest, with hail, whose great stones made themselves _thou_ to such a +degree with Petrea's nose as astonished and almost offended her. The +Assessor looked out for shelter; and Petrea, quite charmed that she was +nearly blown away, followed him along a narrow footpath that led into +the wood, onward in the direction of a smoke, which, driven towards them +by the storm, seemed to announce that a hospitable hut was at hand where +they might obtain shelter from the tempest. Whilst they were wandering +about to discover this, Petrea's fancy, more unrestrained than the +storm, busied itself with unbounded creations of robbers' castles, wise +hermits, hidden treasures, and other splendours, to which the smoke was +to conduct her. But ah! they were altogether built up of smoke, since it +arose from no other than a charcoal-burner's kiln, and Petrea had not +the smallest desire to make a nearer acquaintance with the hidden +divinity of which this smoke was the evidence. The small hut of the +charcoal-burner, in the form of a sugar-loaf, stood not far from the +kiln, the unbolted door of which was opened by the Assessor. No hermit, +nor even robber, had his abode therein; the hut was empty, but clean and +compact, and it was with no little pleasure that the Assessor took +possession of it, and seated himself with Petrea on the only bench which +it possessed. Petrea sighed. What a miserable metamorphosis of her +glorious castle in the air! + +The prospect which the open door of the hut presented, and which had no +interest for Petrea, appeared, on the contrary, captivating to her +companion. He was there deep in the wood, in a solitude wild, but still +of an elevating character. The hut stood in an open space, but round +about it various species of pine-trees stood boldly grouped, and bowed +themselves not before the storm which howled in their tops. Several lay +fallen on the ground, but evidently from age; grass and flowers grew on +the earth, which these patriarchs of the wood had torn up with their +powerful roots. Among others, two tall pine-trees stood together: the +one was decayed, and seemed about to separate itself from its root; but +the other, young, green, and strong, had so entwined it in its +branches, that it stood upright, mingling its withered arms with the +verdure of the other, and yielding not, although shook by the tempest. +The expressive glance of the Assessor rested long on these trees; his +eyes filled with tears; his peculiar, beautiful, but melancholy smile +played about his lips, and kindly sentiments seemed to fill his breast. +He spoke to Petrea of a people of antiquity who dwelt in deserts; he +spoke of the pure condition of the Essenes, a morning dawn of +Christendom, and his words ran thus: + +"A thirst after holiness drove men and women out of the tumult of the +world, out of great cities, into desert places, in order that they might +dedicate themselves to a pure and perfect life. There they built for +themselves huts, and formed a state, whose law was labour and devotion +to God. No earthly possession was enjoyed merely on account of pleasure, +but only as the means of a higher life. They strove after purity in soul +and body; tranquillity and seriousness characterised their demeanour. +They assembled together at sunrise, and lifted up hymns and prayers to +the Supreme Being. Seventeen hours of each day were devoted to labour, +study, and contemplation. Their wants were few, and therefore life was +easy. Their discourse was elevated, and was occupied by subjects of the +sublime learning which belonged to their sect. They believed on one +Eternal God, whose existence was light and purity. They sought to +approach him by purity of heart and action, by renunciation of the +pleasures of the world, and by humility of heart and mind to understand +the works of the allwise Creator. They believed in quiet abodes on the +other side of the desert pilgrimage, where clear waters ran and soft +winds blew, where spring and peace had their home; there they hoped to +arrive at the end of their journey through life." + +There is no want of rays of light on earth; they penetrate its misty +atmosphere in manifold directions, although human perception is not as +much aware of them at one time as at another. The words of the Assessor +made at this moment an indescribable impression on Petrea. She wept from +the sweet emotion excited by the description of a condition which was so +perfect, and of endeavours which were so holy. It appeared to her as if +she knew her own vocation, her own path through life; one which would +release her soul from all trifles, all vanities, all disquiets, and +which would speed her on to light and peace. Whilst these thoughts, or +rather sentiments, swelled in her breast, she looked through her tears +on her companion, as he sate there with his expressive countenance and +his large beautiful eyes fixed on the scene before him, and she saw in +him, not Jeremias Munter, but a wise hermit, with a soul full of sublime +and holy knowledge. She longed to throw herself at his feet, and beseech +his blessing; to propose to him that he should remain in this solitude, +in this hut, with her; that he should teach her wisdom; and she would +wait upon him as a daughter, or as a servant, would rise with him and +pray at sunrise, and do in all things like the Essenes. Thus would they +die to the world, and live only for heaven. + +Overpowered by her excited feelings, surrendered to the transports of +the moment, and nearly choked with tears, Petrea sank on the breast of +Jeremias, stammering forth her undefined wishes. + +If a millstone had fallen round his neck, our good Assessor could not +have been more confounded than he was at that moment. Deeply sunk in his +own thoughts, he had quite forgotten that Petrea was there, till +reminded of her presence in this unexpected manner. But he was a man, +nevertheless, who could easily understand the excitement of mind in a +young girl, and with a pure fervour of eye, whilst a good-humoured +satire played about his mouth, he endeavoured to tranquillise her +over-wrought feelings. Beautiful, then, was the discourse he held with +her on all that which calms and sanctifies life; on all that on which +man may found his abode whether in the desert or in the human crowd. He +spoke words then which Petrea never forgot, and which often, in a future +day, broke the chaotic state of her soul like beams of pure light. + +In the mean time the tempest had dispersed itself, and the Assessor +began to think of a return; for Petrea thought nothing about it, but +would willingly have seen herself compelled to pass the night in the +gloomy wood. But now the thought of relating her adventures at home +attracted her, and before she got out of the wood these adventures were +increased, since fate presented her with the good fortune of assisting, +with the help of her companion, an old woman, who had fallen with her +bundle of sticks, upon her legs again, and of carrying the said bundle +to her cottage, and of lighting her fire for her; with releasing two +sparrows which a boy had made captive; and, last of all, with releasing +the Assessor himself from a thorn-bush, which, as it appeared, would +have held him with such force as vexed even himself. Petrea's hands bled +in consequence of this operation, but that only made her the livelier. + +When they came out of the wood, the rain had ceased altogether, the wind +had abated, and the setting sun illumined the heavens, and diffused over +the landscape a peculiar and beautiful radiance. The countenance of +Jeremias Munter was cheerful; he listened to the ascending song of the +lark, and said, "That is beautiful!" He looked upon the rain-drops which +hung on the young grass, and saw how heaven reflected itself in them, +and smiled, and said, "That is pure indeed!" Petrea gave to little +children that she met with all her savings from the feast at Axelholm, +and would willingly also have given them some of her clothes, had she +not had the fear of Louise and her mother before her eyes. She wished in +her bravery for more adventures, and more particularly for a longer way +than it at this time appeared to be; she thought she arrived at home too +soon; but the Assessor thought not, neither did the rest of the party, +who were beginning to be very uneasy on account of their long absence. +In the mean time Petrea and her companion had become very good friends +on the walk; Petrea was complimented for her courage, and Henrik +pathetically declaimed in her praise-- + + Not every one such height as Xenophon can gain, + As scholar and as hero, a laurel-wreath obtain; + +and they laughed. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] half-dramatic poem, remarkable for its wit and humour, from the pen +of the Swedish poet Fahlcrantz. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FIRESIDE SCENES. + + +"From home may be good, but at home is best!" said Elise from the bottom +of her heart, as she was once more in her own house, and beside her own +husband. + +The young people said nothing in opposition to this sentiment as they +returned to their comfortable every-day life, which they now enlivened +with recollections and relations out of the lately-past time. They hoped +that Louise would become pleasant and contented with her calm activity +in the house and family as formerly, but it was not so; a gnawing pain +seemed to consume her; she became perceptibly thinner; her good humour +had vanished, and her eyes were often red with weeping. In vain her +parents and sisters endeavoured, with the tenderest anxiety, to fathom +the occasion of the change; she would confess it to no one. That the +root of her grief lay at her heart she would not deny, but she appeared +determined to conceal it from the eye of day. Jacobi also began to look +pale and thin, since he lamented deeply her state of feeling, and her +altered behaviour, especially towards himself, which led him to the +belief that he unconsciously had wounded her, or in some other way that +he was the cause of her displeasure; and never had he felt more than now +what a high value he set upon her, nor how much he loved her. This +tension of mind, and his anxiety to approach Louise, and bring back a +friendly understanding between them, occasioned various little scenes, +which we will here describe. + + +FIRST SCENE. + +Louise sits by the window at her embroidery-frame: Jacobi seats himself +opposite to her. + +Jacobi (sighing). Ah, Mamselle Louise! + +Louise looks at her shepherdess, and works on in silence. + +Jacobi. Everything in the world has appeared to me for some time +wearisome and oppressive. + +Louise works on, and is silent. + +Jacobi. And you could so easily make all so different. Ah, Louise! only +one kind word, one friendly glance!--Cannot you bestow one friendly +glance on him who would gladly give everything to see you happy? +[_Aside._ She blushes--she seems moved--she is going to speak! Ah, what +will she say to me!] + +Louise. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten +stitches to the nose--the pattern is here not very distinct. + +Jacobi. You will not hear me, will not understand me; you play with my +distress! Ah, Louise! + +Louise. I want some more wool;--I have left it in my room. [She goes.] + + +SECOND SCENE. + +The family is assembled in the library; tea is just finished. Louise, at +Petrea's and Gabriele's urgent request, has laid out the cards on a +little table to tell them their fortunes. The Candidate seats himself +near them, and appears determined to amuse himself with them, and to be +lively; but "the object" assumes all the more her "cathedral air." The +Landed-proprietor steps in, bows, snorts, and kisses the hand of the +"gracious aunt." + +Landed-proprietor. Very cold this evening; I fancy we shall have frost. + +Elise. It is a gloomy spring. We have lately read a most affecting +account of the famine in the northern provinces. It is the misfortune of +these late springs. + +Landed-proprietor. Oh, yes, the famine up there. No, we'll talk of +something else--that's too gloomy. I've had my peas covered with straw. +Cousin Louise, are you fond of playing Patience? I am very fond of it +too; it is so composing. At my seat at Oestanvik I have little, little +patience-cards. I fancy really that they would please my cousin. + +The Landed-proprietor seats himself on the other side of Louise: the +Candidate gives some extraordinary shrugs. + +Louise. This is not patience, but a little witchcraft, by which I read +Fate. Shall I prophesy to you, Cousin Thure? + +Landed-proprietor. Oh, yes! prophesy something to me. Nothing +disagreeable! If I hear anything disagreeable in an evening, I always +have bad dreams at night. Prophesy me prettily--a little wife--a wife as +lovely and as amiable as Cousin Louise. + +The Candidate (with a look as if he would send the Landed-proprietor +head-over-heels to Oestanvik). I don't know whether Mamselle Louise +likes flattery. + +Landed-proprietor (who seems as if he neither heard nor saw his rival). +Cousin Louise, are you fond of blue? + +Louise. Blue? That is truly a lovely colour; but yet I prefer green. + +Landed-proprietor.. Nay, that is good! that is excellent! At Oestanvik +my dressing-room furniture is blue, beautiful light blue silk damask; +but in my sleeping-room I have green moreen. I fancy really, Cousin +Louise, that---- + +The Candidate coughs, and then rushes out of the room. Louise looks +after him, sighs, and then examines the cards, in which she finds so +many misfortunes for Cousin Thure that he is quite terrified: the peas +frosted, conflagration in the dressing-room, and last of all a +rejection! The Landed-proprietor declares, notwithstanding, that he +finds nothing of this unpleasant. The sisters smile, and make remarks. + + +THIRD SCENE. + +The family assembled after supper: + +The Assessor puts the question--What is the bitterest affliction? + +Jacobi. Unreturned love. + +Petrea. Not to know what one shall be. + +Eva. To have offended some one that one loves beyond reconciliation. + +The Mother. I am of Eva's opinion; I think nothing can be more painful. + +Louise. Ah! there is yet something more painful than that--something +more bitter--and that is to lose one's faith in those whom one has +loved; to doubt--(Louise's lip trembles, she can say no more, becomes +pale, rises, and goes out quickly; a general sensation ensues). + +The Father. What is amiss with Louise? Elise, we must know what it is! +She should, she must tell us! I cannot bear any longer to see her thus; +and I will go this moment and speak with her, if you will not rather do +it. But you must not be satisfied till you know her very inmost +feelings. The most horrible thing, I think, is mystery and vapours! + +The Mother. I will go directly to her. I have now an idea what it is, +dearest Ernst; and if I am somewhat long with her, let the others go to +bed; I shall then find you alone. [She goes out.] + + +FOURTH SCENE. + +_The Mother and Daughter._ + +The daughter on her knees, her face buried in her hands; the mother +goes softly up to her and throws her arms around her. + +Mother. Louise, my good girl, what is amiss with you? I have never seen +you thus before. You must tell me what is at your heart--you must! + +Louise. I cannot! I ought not! + +Mother. You can! you ought! Will you make me, will you make all of us +wretched by going on in this way? Ah, Louise, do not let false shame, or +false tenderness mislead you. Tell me, do you break any oath, or violate +any sacred duty, by confessing what it is which depresses you? + +Louise. No oath; no sacred duty--and yet----yet---- + +Mother. Then speak, in heaven's name, my child! Unquestionably some +unfounded suspicion is the cause of your present state. What do the +words mean with which you left us this evening? You weep! Louise, I +pray, I beseech of you, if you love me, conceal nothing from me! Who is +it that you love, yet can no more have faith in--no longer highly +esteem? Answer me--is it your mother? + +Louise. My mother! my mother! Ah, while you look on me thus I feel a +pain, and yet a confidence! Ah, my God! all may be an error--a miserable +slander, and I----Well then, it shall out--that secret which has gnawed +my heart, and which I conceived it my duty to conceal! But forgive me, +my mother, if I grieve you; forgive me if my words disturb your peace; +forgive me, if in my weakness, if in my doubt I have done you injustice, +and remove the grief which has poisoned my life! Ah, do you see, mother, +it was mine, it was my sisters' happiness, to consider you so +spotless--so angelically pure! It was my pride that you were so, and +that you were my mother! And now---- + +Mother. And now, Louise? + +Louise. And now it has been whispered to me----Oh, I cannot speak the +words! + +Mother. Speak them--I demand it! I desire it from you! We both stand +before the Judgment-seat of God! + +Louise. I have been led to believe that even my mother was not +blameless--that she---- + +Mother. Go on, Louise! + +Louise. That she and Jacobi loved one another--that evil tongues had not +blamed them without cause, and that still--I despised these words, I +despised the person who spoke them! I endeavoured to chase these +thoughts as criminal from my soul. On this account it happened that I +went one day to find you--and I found Jacobi on his knee before you--I +heard him speaking of his love. Now you know all, my mother! + +Mother. And what is your belief in all this? + +Louise. Ah, I know not what I ought to believe! But since that moment +there has been no peace in my soul, and I have fancied that it never +would return--that I should never lose the doubt which I could make +known to no one. + +Mother. Let peace return to your soul, my child! Good God! how +unfortunate I should be at this moment if my conscience were not pure! +But, thank heaven, my child, your mother has no such fault to reproach +herself with; and Jacobi deserves your utmost esteem, your utmost +regard. I will entirely and freely confess to you the entire truth of +that which has made you so uneasy. For one moment, when Jacobi first +came to us, a warmer sentiment towards me awoke in his young, +thoughtless heart, and in part it was returned by me. But you will not +condemn me on account of an involuntary feeling which your father looked +on with pardoning eyes. In a blessed hour we opened to each other our +hearts, and it was his love, his strength and gentleness, which gave me +power to overcome my weakness. Jacobi, at the same moment, woke to a +consciousness of his error, struggled against it, and overcame it. We +separated soon after, and it was our mutual wish not to meet again for +several years. In the mean time Henrik was committed to his care, and +Jacobi has been for him an exemplary friend and instructor. Three years +later, when I again met him, I extended my hand to him as a sister; and +he----yes, my dear girl! and I err greatly if he did not then begin in +his heart to love me as a mother. But that which then had its beginning, +has since then had its completion--it was in the character of a son that +you saw him kneel to me; thanking me that I would favour his love to my +daughter--to my Louise, who, therefore, has so unnecessarily conjured up +a spectre to terrify herself and us all. + +In the latter part of this conversation the mother spoke in a quiet +jesting tone, which, perhaps, did more even than her simple explanation +to reassure the heart of her daughter. She pressed her hands on her +heart, and looked thankfully up to heaven. + +"And if," continued her mother, "you yet entertain any doubt, talk with +your father, talk with Jacobi, and their words will strengthen mine. But +I see you need it not--your heart, my child, is again at peace!" + +"Ah, thank God! thank God!" exclaimed Louise, sinking on her knees +before her mother, and covering her hands and even her dress with +kisses. "Oh, that I dared look up again to you, my mother! Oh, can you +forgive my being so weak: my being so easy of belief? Never, never shall +I forgive myself!" + +Louise was out of herself, her whole frame trembled violently; she had +never before been in a state of such agitation. Her mother was obliged +to apply remedies both for mind and body, tender words and soothing +drops--to tranquillise her excited state. She besought her therefore to +go to rest, seated herself beside her bed, took her hands in hers, and +then attempted to divert her mind from the past scene, endeavouring with +the utmost delicacy to turn her mind on the Candidate and on the +Landed-proprietor as lovers. But Louise had only one thought, one +sentiment--the happy release from her doubt, and thankfulness for it. +When her mother saw that she was calmer, she embraced her, "And now go +to sleep, my dear girl," said she; "I must now leave you, in order to +hasten to one who waits impatiently for me, and that is your father. He +has been extremely uneasy on your account, and I can now make him easy +by candidly communicating all that has passed between us. For the rest I +can assure you that you have said nothing that can make us uneasy. That +I was calumniated by one person, and am so still, he knows as well as I +do. He has assisted me to bear it calmly, he is truly so superior, so +excellent! Ah, Louise, it is a great blessing when husband and wife, +parents and children, cherish an entire confidence in each other! It is +so beautiful, so glorious, to be able to say everything to each other in +love!" + + +FIFTH SCENE. + +The garden. It is morning! the larks sing, the jonquils fill the air +with odour; the bird's cherry-tree waves in the morning breeze; the +cherry blossoms open themselves to the bees which hum about in their +bosom. The sun shines on all its children. + +Louise is walking in the middle alley, Father Noah's sermon in her hand, +but with her eyes fixed on the little poem appended to it, which by no +means had anything to do with Father Noah. The Candidate comes towards +her from a cross walk, with a gloomy air, and with a black pansy in his +hand. + +The two meet, and salute each other silently. + +Jacobi. Might I speak one moment with you? I will not detain you long. + +Louise bows her head, is silent, and blushes. + +Jacobi. In an hour's time I shall take my departure, but I must beseech +of you to answer me one question before I say farewell to you! + +Louise. You going! Where? Why? + +Jacobi. Where, is indifferent to me, so that I leave this place; why, +because I cannot bear the unkindness of one person who is dear to me, +and who, I once thought, cherished a friendship for me! For fourteen +days you have behaved in such a way to me as has embittered my life; and +why? Have I been so unfortunate as to offend you, or to excite your +displeasure? Why then delay explaining the cause to me? Is it right to +sentence any one unheard, and that one a friend--a friend from +childhood? Is it right--pardon me, Louise--is it Christian, to be so +severe, so immovable? In the sermons which you are so fond of rending, +do you find nothing said of kindness and reconciliation! + +Jacobi spoke with a fervour, and with such an almost severe seriousness, +as was quite foreign to his gentle and cheerful spirit. + +"I have done wrong," replied Louise, with a deep emotion, "very wrong, +but I have been misled; at some future time, perhaps, I may tell you +how. Since last evening, I know how deceived I have been, how I have +deceived myself; and now God be thanked and praised, I know that nobody +is to blame in this affair but myself. I have much, very much, to +reproach myself with, on account of my reserve towards my own family, +and towards you also. Forgive me, best Jacobi," continued she, offering +her hand with almost humility; "forgive me, I have been very unkind to +you; but believe me," added she, "neither have I been happy either!" + +"Thanks! thanks, Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, grasping her hand, and +pressing it to his breast and to his lips; "oh, how happy this kindness +makes me! Now I can breathe again! Now I can leave you with a cheerful +heart!" + +"But why will you leave us?" asked she, in a half-discontented tone. + +"Because," answered Jacobi, "it would not give me pleasure to witness a +betrothal which will soon be celebrated; because, from your late +behaviour, I must be convinced you cannot entertain any warmer +sentiments towards me." + +"If that were the case," replied she, in the same tone as before, "I +should not have been depressed so long." + +"How!" exclaimed Jacobi, joyfully. "Ah, Louise, what words! what bold +hopes may they not excite! Might I mention them to you? might I venture +to say to you what I some time have thought, and still now think?" + +Louise was silent, and Jacobi continued: + +"I have thought," said he, "that the humble, unprovided-for Jacobi could +offer you a better fortune than your rich neighbour of Oestanvik. I have +hoped that my love, the true dedication of my whole life, might make you +happy; that a smaller portion of worldly wealth might satisfy you, if it +were offered you by a man who know deeply your worth, and who desired +nothing better than to be ennobled by your hand. Oh, if this beloved +hand would guide me through life, how bright, how peaceful would not +life be! I should fear neither adversity nor temptation! and how should +I not endeavour to be grateful to Providence for his goodness to me! Ah, +Louise! it is thus that I have thought, and fancied, and dreamed! Oh, +tell me, was it only a dream, or may not the dream become a reality?" + +Louise did not withdraw the hand which he had taken, but looked upon the +speaker with infinite kindness. + +"One word," besought Jacobi, "only one word! Might I say _my_ Louise? +Louise--mine?" + +"Speak with my parents," said Louise, deeply blushing, and turning aside +her head. + +"My Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, and, intoxicated with tenderness and joy, +pressed her to his heart. + +"Think of my parents," said Louise, gently pushing him back; "without +their consent I will make no promise. Their answer shall decide me." + +"We will hasten together, my Louise," said he, "and desire their +blessing." + +"Go alone, dear Jacobi," said Louise. "I do not feel myself calm enough, +nor strong enough. I will wait your return here." + + * * * * * + +With this fifth scene we conjecture that the little drama has arrived at +the desired conclusion, and therefore we add no further scene to that +which naturally follows. + +As the Candidate hastened with lover's speed to Louise's parents he +struck hard against somebody in the doorway, who was coming out. The two +opponents stepped back each a few paces, and the Candidate and the +Landed-proprietor stared in astonishment on each other. + +"Pardon me," said the Candidate, and was advancing; but the +Landed-proprietor held him back, whilst he inquired with great +earnestness, and with a self-satisfied smile, "Hear you, my friend: can +you tell me whether Cousin Louise is in the garden? I came this moment +from her parents, and would now speak with her. Can you tell me where +she is?" + +"I--I don't know!" said Jacobi, releasing himself, and hastening with a +secret anxiety of mind up to her parents. + +In the mean time the Landed-proprietor had caught a glimpse of "Cousin +Louise's" person in the garden, and hastened up to her. + +It was, in fact, no surprise to Louise, when, after all the preliminary +questions, "Cousin, do you like fish? do you like birds?" there came at +last the principal question, "Cousin, do you like me?" + +To this question, it is true, she gave a somewhat less blunt, but +nevertheless a decided negative reply, although it was gilded over with +"esteem and friendship." + +The Candidate, on his side, in the fulness and warmth of his heart, laid +open to Louise's parents his love, his wishes, and his hopes. It is true +that Jacobi was now without any office, as well as without any property; +but he had many expectations, and amid these, like a sun and a support, +his Excellency O----. The Judge was himself no friend to such supports, +and Elise did not approve of long engagements: but then both of them +loved Jacobi; both of them wished, above all things, the true happiness +and well-being of their daughter; and so it happened that, after much +counsel, and after Louise had been questioned by her parents, and they +found that she had sincerely the same wishes as Jacobi, and that she +believed she should be happy with him, and after Jacobi had combated +with great fervency and effect every postponement of the +betrothal--that, after all this had been brought to a fortunate issue, +he received a formal yes, and he and Louise, on the afternoon of the +same day, whose morning sun had seen their explanation, were betrothed. + +Jacobi was beyond description happy; Louise tranquil but gentle. Henrik +declared that her Majesty appeared too merciful. Perhaps all this +proceeded from her thoughts being already occupied with the increasing +and arranging of Jacobi's wardrobe. She began already to think about +putting in hand a fine piece of linen-weaving. She actually had +consented to the quick betrothal, principally, as she herself confessed +to Eva, "in order to have him better under her hands." + +Good reader--and if thou art a Candidate, good Candidate--pardon "our +eldest" if she gave her consent somewhat in mercy. We can assure thee, +that our Jacobi was no worse off on that account; so he himself seemed +to think, and his joy and cordiality seemed to have great influence in +banishing "the cathedral" out of Louise's demeanour. + +This view of the connexion, and the hearty joy which Louise's brother +and sisters expressed over this betrothal, and which proved how beloved +Jacobi was by them all, smoothed the wrinkles from the brow of the +Judge, and let Elise's heart feel the sweetest satisfaction. Henrik, +especially, declared loudly his delight in having his beloved friend and +instructor for a brother-in-law--an actual brother. + +"And now listen, brother-in-law," said he, fixing his large eyes on +Louise; "assume your rights as master of the house properly, brother +dear; and don't let the slippers be master of the house. If you marry a +queen, you must be king, you understand that very well, and must take +care of your majesty; and if she look like a cathedral, why then do you +look like the last judgment, and thunder accordingly! You laugh; but +you must not receive my advice so lightly, but lay it seriously to +heart, and----but, dear friend, shall we not have a little bowl this +evening? shall we not, mamma dear? Yes, certainly we will! I shall have +the honour of mixing it myself. Shall we not drink the health of your +majesties? I shall mix a bowl--sugar and oranges!--a bowl! a bowl!" + +With this exclamation Henrik rushed with outstretched arms to the door, +which at that moment opened, and he embraced the worthy Mrs. Gunilla. + +"He! thou--good heaven! Best-beloved!" exclaimed she, "he, he, he, he! +what is up here? He never thought, did he, that he should take the old +woman in his arms! he, he, he, he!" + +Henrik excused himself in the most reverential and cordial manner, +explained the cause of his ecstasy, and introduced to her the +newly-betrothed. Mrs. Gunilla at first was astonished, and then affected +to tears. She embraced Elise, and then Louise, and Jacobi also. "God +bless you!" said she, with all her beautiful quiet cordiality, and then, +somewhat pale, seated herself silently on the sofa, and seemed to be +thinking sorrowfully how often anxious, dispiriting days succeed the +cheerful morning of a betrothal. Whether it was from these thoughts, or +that Mrs. Gunilla really felt herself unwell, we know not, but she +became paler and paler. Gabriele went out to fetch her a glass of water, +and as she opened the door ran against the Assessor, who was just then +entering. + +With a little cry of surprise she recovered from this unexpected shock. +He looked at her with an astonished countenance, and the next moment was +surrounded by the other young people. + +"Now, see, see! what is all this?" exclaimed he; "why do you overwhelm +me thus? Cannot one move any longer in peace? I am not going to dance, +Monsieur Henricus! Do not split my ears, Miss Petrea! What? betrothed! +What? Who? Our eldest? Body and bones! let me sit down and take a pinch +of snuff. Our eldest betrothed! that is dreadful! Usch!--usch! that is +quite frightful! uh, uh, uh, uh! that is actually horrible! Hu, u, u, +hu!" + +The Assessor took snuff, and blew his nose for a good while, during +which the family, who knew his way so well, laughed heartily, with the +exception of Louise, who reddened, and was almost angry at his +exclamations, especially at that of horrible. + +"Nay," said he, rising up and restoring the snuff-box again to his +pocket, "one must be contented with what cannot be helped. What is +written is written. And, as the Scripture says, blessed are they who +increase and multiply the incorrigible human race, so, in heaven's name, +good luck to you! Good luck and blessing, dear human beings!" And thus +saying, he heartily shook the hands of Jacobi and Louise, who returned +his hand-pressure with kindness, although not quite satisfied with the +form of his good wishes. + +"Never in all my life," said Henrik, "did I hear a less cheerful +congratulation. Mrs. Gunilla and good Uncle Munter to-day might be in +melancholy humour: but now they are sitting down by each other, and we +may hope that after they have had a comfortable quarrel together, they +will cheer up a little." + +But no; no quarrel ensued this evening between the two. The Assessor had +tidings to announce to her which appeared difficult for him to +communicate, and which filled her eyes with tears--Pyrrhus was dead! + +"He was yesterday quite well," said the Assessor, "and licked my hand as +I bade him good night. To-day he took his morning coffee with a good +appetite, and then lay down on his cushion to sleep. As I returned home, +well pleased to think of playing with my little comrade, he lay dead on +his cushion!" + +Mrs. Gunilla and he talked for a long time about the little favourite, +and appeared in consequence to become very good friends. + +Jeremias Munter was this evening in a more censorious humour than +common. His eyes rested with a sad expression on the newly betrothed. + +"Yes," said he, as if speaking to himself, "if one had only confidence +in oneself; if one was only clear as to one's own motives--then one +might have some ground to hope that one could make another happy, and +could be happy with them." + +"One must know oneself thus well, so far," said Louise, not without a +degree of confidence, "that one can be certain of doing so, before one +would voluntarily unite one's fate with that of another." + +"_Thus well!_" returned he, warmly. "Yes, prosit! Who knows thus well? +You do not, dear sister, that I can assure you. Ah!" continued he, with +bitter melancholy, "one may be horribly deceived in oneself, and by +oneself, in this life. There is no one in this world who, if he rightly +understand himself, has not to deplore some infidelity to his +friend--his love--his better self! The self-love, the miserable egotism +of human nature, where is there a corner that it does not slide into? +The wretched little _I_, how it thrusts itself forward! how thoughts of +self, designs for self, blot actions which otherwise might be called +good!" + +"Do you then acknowledge no virtue? Is there, then, no magnanimity, no +excellence, which you can admire?" asked some one. "Does not history +show us----" + +"History!" interrupted he, "don't speak of history--don't bring it +forward! No, if I am to believe in virtue, it is such as history cannot +meddle with or understand; it is only in that which plays no great part +in the world, which never, never could have been applauded by it, and +which is not acted publicly. Of this kind it is possible that something +entirely beautiful, something perfectly pure and holy, might be found. I +will believe in it, although I do not discover it in myself. I have +examined my own soul, and can find nothing pure in it; but that it _may_ +be found in others, I believe. My heart swells with the thought that +there may exist perfectly pure and unselfish virtue. Good heaven, how +beautiful it is! And wherever such a soul may be found in the world, be +it in palace or in hut, in gold or in rags, in man or in woman, which, +shunning the praise of the world, fearing the flattery of its own heart, +fulfils unobserved and with honest zeal its duties, however difficult +they may be, and which labours and prays in secrecy and stillness--such +a being I admire and love, and set high above all the Cćsars and Ciceros +of the world!" + +During this speech the Judge, who had silently risen from his seat, +approached his wife, laid his hand gently on her shoulder, and looked +round upon his children with glistening eyes. + +"Our time," continued the Assessor, with what was an extraordinary +enthusiasm for him, "understands but very little this greatness. It +praises itself loudly, and on that account it is the less worthy of +praise. Everybody will be remarkable, or at least will appear so. +Everybody steps forward and shouts I! I! Women even do not any longer +understand the nobility of their incognito; they also come forth into +notoriety, and shout out their _I!_ Scarcely anybody will say, from the +feeling of their own hearts, _Thou!_--and yet it is this same _Thou_ +which occasions man to forget that selfish _I_, and in which lies his +purest part; his best happiness! To be sure it may seem grand, it may be +quite ecstatic, even if it be only for a moment, to fill the world with +one's name; but as, in long-past times, millions and millions of men +united themselves to build a temple to the Supreme, and then themselves +sank silently, namelessly, to the dust, having only inscribed His name +and His glory; certainly that was greater, that was far worthier!" + +"You talk like King Solomon himself, Uncle Munter!" exclaimed Petrea, +quite enraptured. "Ah, you must be an author: you must write a book +of----" + +"Write!" interrupted he, "on what account should I write? Only to +increase the miserable vanity of men? Write!--Bah!" + +"Every age has its wise men to build up temples," said Henrik, with a +beautiful expression of countenance. + +"No!" continued the Assessor, with evident abhorrence, "I will not +write! but I will live! I have dreamed sometimes that I could live----" + +He ceased; a singular emotion was expressed in his countenance; he +arose, and took up a book, into which he looked without reading, and +soon after stepped quietly out of the house. + +The entertainment in the family this evening was, spite of all that had +gone before, very lively; and the result, which was expressed in jesting +earnestness, was, that every one, in the spirit which the Assessor had +praised, should secretly labour at the temple-building, every one with +his own work-tool, and according to his own strength. + +The Judge walked up and down in the room, and took only occasional part +in the entertainment, although he listened to all, and smiled +applaudingly. It seemed as if the Assessor's words had excited a +melancholy feeling in him, and he spoke warmly in praise of his friend. + +"There does not exist a purer human soul than his," said he, "and he +has thereby operated very beneficially on me. Many men desire as much +good, and do it also; but few have to the same extent as he the pure +mind, the perfectly noble motive." + +"Ah! if one could only make him happier, only make him more satisfied +with life!" said Eva. + +"Will you undertake the commission?" whispered Petrea, waggishly. + +Rather too audible a kiss suddenly turned all eyes on the Candidate and +Louise; the latter of whom was punishing her lover for his daring by a +highly ungracious and indignant glance, which Henrik declared quite +pulverised him. As they, however, all separated for the night, the +Candidate besought and was permitted, in mercy, a little kiss, as a +token of reconciliation and forgiveness of his offence regarding the +great one. + +"My dear girl," said the mother to Louise as the two met, impelled by a +mutual desire to converse together that same night in her boudoir, "how +came Jacobi's wooing about so suddenly? I could not have believed that +it would have been so quickly decided. I am perfectly astonished even +yet that you should be betrothed." + +"So am I," replied Louise; "I can hardly conceive how it has happened. +We met one another this morning in the garden; Jacobi was gloomy, and +out of spirits, and had made up his mind to leave us because he fancied +I was about to be betrothed to Cousin Thure. I then besought him to +forgive my late unkindness, and gave him some little idea of my +friendliness towards him; whereupon he spoke to me of his own feelings +and wishes so beautifully, so warmly, and then--then I hardly know how +it was myself, he called me _his_ Louise, and I--told him to go and +speak with my parents." + +"And in the mean time," said the mother, "your parents sent another +wooer to their daughter, in order for him to receive from her a yes or +no. Poor Cousin Thure! He seemed to have such certain hope. But I trust +he may soon console himself! But do you know, Louise, of late I have +fancied that Oestanvik and all its splendour might be a little +captivating to you! And now do you really feel that you have had no loss +in rejecting so rich a worldly settlement?" + +"Loss!" repeated Louise, "no, not now, certainly; and yet I should say +wrong if I denied that it has had temptations for me; and for that +reason I never would go to Oestanvik, because I knew how improper it +would be if I allowed it to influence me, whilst I never could endure +such a person as Cousin Thure; and, besides that, I liked Jacobi so +much, and had done so for many years! Once, however, the temptation was +very powerful, and that was on our return from Axelholm. As I rode along +in Cousin Thure's easy landau, it seemed to me that it must be very +agreeable to travel through life so comfortably and pleasantly. But at +that time I was very unhappy in myself; life had lost its best worth for +me; my faith in all that I loved most was poisoned! Ah! there arose in +me then such a fearful doubt in all that was good in the world, and I +believed for one moment that it would be best to sleep out life, and +therefore the easy rocking of the landau seemed so excellent. But now, +now is this heavy dream vanished! now life is again bright, and I +clearly see my own way through, it. Now I trouble myself no more about a +landau than I do about a wheelbarrow; nay, I would much rather now that +my whole life should be a working day, for which I could thank God! It +is a delight to work for those whom one highly esteems and loves; and I +desire nothing higher than to be able to live and work for my own +family, and for him who is to-day become my promised husband before +God!" + +"God will bless you, my good, pure-hearted girl!" said the mother, +embracing her, and sweet affectionate tears were shed in the still +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +YET MORE WOOING. + + +Early on the following morning Eva received a nosegay of beautiful +moss-roses, among which was a letter to herself; she tore it open, and +red the following words: + + "I have dreamed that I could live; and truly a life more beautiful + and more perfect than any romance makes one dream of. Little Miss + Eva, whom I have so often carried in my arms--good young girl, + whom I would so willingly sustain on my breast through, life, thou + must hear what I have dreamed, what I sometimes still dream. + + "I dreamed that I was a rough, unsightly rock, repulsive and + unfruitful. But a heart beat in the rock--a chained heart. It beat + against the walls of its prison till it bled, because it longed to + be abroad in the sunshine, but it could not break its bonds. I + could not free myself from myself. The rock wept because it was so + hard, because it was a prison for its own life. There came a + maiden, a light gentle angel, wandering through the wood, and laid + her warm lily-white hand on the rock, and pressed her pure lips + upon it, breathing a magical word of freedom. The rocky wall + opened itself, and the heart, the poor captive heart, saw the + light! The young girl went into the chamber of the heart, and + called it her home; and suddenly beautiful roses, which diffused + odours around, sprang forth from that happy heart towards its + liberator, whilst the chambers of the heart vaulted itself high + above her into a temple for her, clothing its walls with fresh + foliage and with precious stones, upon which the sunbeams played. + + "I awoke from a sense of happiness that was too great to be borne + on earth; I awoke, and ah! the roses were vanished, the lovely + girl was vanished, and I was once again the hard, unsightly, and + joyless rock. But do you see, young maiden, the idea will not + leave me, that those roses which I saw in my dream are hidden in + me; that they may yet bloom, yet rejoice and make happy. The idea + will remain with me that this reserved, melancholy heart might yet + expand itself by an affectionate touch; that there are precious + stones within it, which would beam brightly for those who called + them forth into light. + + "Good young maiden, will you not venture on the attempt? Will you + not lay your warm hand on the rock? Will you not breathe softly + upon it? Oh, certainly, certainly under your touch it would + soften--it would bring forth roses for you--it would exalt itself + into a temple for you, a temple full of hymns of thanksgiving, + full of love! + + "I know that I am old, old before my time; that I am ugly and + disagreeable, unpleasant, and perhaps ridiculous; but I do not + think that nature intended me to be so. I have gone through life + in such infinite solitude; neither father nor mother, brother nor + sister, have followed my path; no sunshine fell upon my childhood + or my youth; I have wandered solitarily through life, combating + with difficulties. Once I bound myself to a friend--he deserted + me, and thence grew the rock about my heart; thence became my + demeanour severe, unattractive, and rough. Is it to remain so + always? Will my life never bloom upon earth? Will no breath of + heaven call forth my roses? + + "Do you fear my melancholy temperament? Oh, you have not seen how + a glance, a word of yours chases every cloud from my brow; not + because you are beautiful, but because you are good and pure. Will + you teach me to be good? I will learn willingly from you! From you + I would learn to love mankind, and to find more good in the world + than I have hitherto done. I will live for you, if not for the + world. By my wish the world should know nothing of me till the + cross upon my grave told 'here rests----' + + "Oh, it is beautiful to live nameless under the poisoned glance of + the world; poisoned, whether it praise or blame; beautiful, not to + be polluted by its observation, but more beautiful to be + intimately known to one--to possess one gentle and honest friend, + and that one a wife! Beautiful to be able to look into her pure + soul as in a mirror, and to be aware there of every blot on one's + own soul, and to be able thus to purify it against the day of the + great trial. + + "But I speak only of myself and my own happiness. Ah, the + egotist--the cursed egotist! Can I make you happy also, Eva? Is it + not audacity in me to desire--ah, Eva, I love you inexpressibly! + + "I leave the egotist in your hand: do with him what you will, he + will still remain + + "Yours." + +This letter made Eva very anxious and uneasy. She would so willingly +have said yes, and made so good a man happy, but then so many voices +within her said no! + +She spoke with her parents, with her brother and sisters. "He is so +good, so excellent!" said she. "Ah, if I could but properly love him! +But I cannot--and then he is so old; and I have no desire to marry; I am +so happy in my own home." + +"And do not leave it!" was the unanimous chorus of all the family. The +father, indeed, was actually desperate with all this courtship; and the +mother thought it quite absurd that her blooming Eva and Jeremias Munter +should go together. No one voice spoke for the Assessor but the little +Petrea's, and a silent sigh in Eva's own bosom. The result of all this +consideration was, that Eva wrote with tearful eyes the following answer +to her lover: + + "My best, my truly good Friend! + + "Ah! do not be angry with me that I cannot become for you that + which you wish. I shall certainly not marry. I am too happy in my + own home for that. Ah! this to be sure is egotistical, but I + cannot do otherwise. Forgive me! I am so very much, so heartily + attached to you; and I should never be happy again if you love not + hitherto as formerly + + "Your little "Eva." + +In the evening Eva received a beautiful and costly work-box, with the +following lines: + + "Yes, yes, I can very well believe that the rough rock would be + appalling. You will not venture to lay your delicate white hand + upon it, little Miss Eva; will not trouble yourself to breathe + warmth upon my poor roses! Let them then remain in their grave! + + "I shall now make a journey, nor see you again for a year and a + day. But, good heavens! as you have given me a basket,[13] you + shall receive in return a little box. I bought it for my--bride, + Eva! Yet now, after all, Eva shall have it; shall keep it for my + sake. She may return it when I cease to be + + "Her true and devoted Friend." + +"Do you think she is sorry for what she has done?" asked the Judge +anxiously from his wife, as he saw Eva's hot tears falling on the +work-box;--"but it cannot be helped. She marry! and that too with +Munter! She is indeed nothing but a child! But that is just the way; +when one has educated one's daughters, and taught them something of good +manners, just when one has begun to have real pleasure in them, that one +must lose them--must let them go to China if the lover chance to be a +Chinese! It is intolerable! It is abominable! I would not wish my worst +enemy the pain of having grown-up daughters. Is not Schwartz already +beginning to draw a circle about Sara? Good gracious! if we should yet +have the plague of another lover!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] To say that "a gentleman has received a basket," is the same as +saying he is a rejected lover.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MORE COURTSHIP STILL. + + +Judge Frank had, unknown to himself, spoken a striking word. It was true +that Schwartz had drawn ever narrower and darker circles around Sara, +and at the very time when she would appear free from his influence her +temper became more uncertain and suspicious. The mother, uneasy about +this connexion, no longer allowed her to be alone with him during the +music lesson, and this watchfulness excited Sara's pride, as well as the +grave yet gentle remonstrances which were made on account of her +behaviour were received with much impatience and disregard. The Judge +was the only person before whom Sara did not exhibit the dark side of +her character. His glance, his presence, seemed to exercise a certain +power over her; besides which, she was, perhaps, more beloved by him +than by all the other members of the family, with the exception of +Petrea. + +One evening, Sara sate silent by one of the windows in the library, +supporting her beautiful head on her hand. Petrea sate at her feet on a +low stool; she also was silent, but every now and then looked up to Sara +with a tender troubled expression, whilst Sara sometimes looked down +towards her thoughtfully, and almost gloomily. + +"Petrea," said she, quickly, "what would you say if I should leave you +suddenly to go into the wide world, and should never return?" + +"What should I say?" answered Petrea, with a violent gush of tears: "ah, +I should say nothing at all, but should lie down and die of grief!" + +"Do you really love me then so, Petrea?" asked she. + +"Do I love you!" returned Petrea; "ah, Sara, if you go away, take me +with you as maid, as servant--I will do everything for you!" + +"Good Petrea!" whispered Sara, laying her arm round her neck, and +kissing her weeping eyes, "continue to love Sara, but do not follow +her!" + +"It seems terribly sultry to me this evening!" said Henrik, wearily: "we +cannot manage any family assembling to-night; not a bit of music; not a +bit of entertainment. The air seems as if an earthquake were at hand. I +fancy that Africa sends us something of a tempest. Petrea is weeping +like the cataract of Trollhätten; and there go the people in +twos-and-twos and weep, and set themselves in corners and whisper and +mutter, and kiss one another, from my God-fearing parents down to my +silly little sisters! The King and Queen, they go and seat themselves +just has it happens, on living or dead things; they had nearly seated +themselves on me as I sate unoffensively on the sofa; but I made a turn +about _tout d'un coup_.--Betrothed! horribly wearisome folks! Are they +not, Gabriele? They cannot see, they cannot hear; they could not speak, +I fancy, but with one another!" + +A light was burning in Sara's chamber far into the night. She was busied +for a long time with her journal; she wrote with a flying but unsteady +hand. + +"So, to-morrow; to-morrow all will be said, and I----shall be bound. + +"I know that is but of little importance, and yet I have such a horror +of it! Oh, the power of custom and of form. + +"I know very well whom I could love; there is a purity in his glance, a +powerful purity which penetrates me. But how would he look on me if he +saw---- + +"I must go! I have no choice left! S. has me in his net--the money which +I have borrowed from him binds me so fast!--for I cannot bear that they +should know it, and despise me. I know that they would impoverish +themselves in order to release me, but I will not so humiliate myself. + +"And why do I speak of release? I go hence to a life of freedom and +honour. I bow myself under the yoke but for a moment, only in order to +exalt myself the more proudly. Now there is no more time to tremble and +to waver--away with these tears! And thou, Volney, proud, strong +thinker, stand by me! Teach me, when all others turn away, how I may +rely on my own strength!" + +Sara now exchanged the pen for the book, and the hour of midnight struck +before she closed it, and arose tranquil and cold in order to seek the +quiet of sleep. + + * * * * * + +The earthquake of which Henrik had spoken came the next day, the signal +of which was a letter from Schwartz to the Judge, in which he solicited +the hand of Sara. His only wealth was his profession; but with this +alone he was convinced that his wife would want nothing: he was just +about to undertake a journey through Europe, and wished to be +accompanied by Sara, of whose consent and acquiescence he was quite +sure. + +A certain degree of self-appreciation in a man was not at any time +displeasing to Judge Frank, but this letter breathed a supercilious +assurance, a professional arrogance, which were extremely repugnant to +him. Besides this, he was wounded by the tone of pretension in which +Schwartz spoke of one who was as dear to him as his own daughter; and +the thought of her being united to a man of Schwartz's character was +intolerable to him. He was almost persuaded that Sara did not love him, +and burned with impatience to repel his pretensions, and to remove him +at the same time from his house. + +Elise agreed perfectly in the opinion of her husband, but was less +confident than he regarding Sara's state of feeling with respect to the +affair. She was summoned to their presence. The Judge handed to her +Schwartz's letter, and awaited impatiently her remarks upon it. Her +colour paled before the grave and searching glance which was riveted +upon her, but she declared herself quite willing to accept Schwartz's +proposal. + +Astonishment and vexation painted themselves on the countenance of her +adopted father. + +"Ah, Sara," said the mother, after a short silence, "have you well +considered this? Do you think that Schwartz is a man who can make a wife +happy?" + +"He can make me happy," returned Sara; "happy according to my own mind." + +"You can never, never," said the mother, "enjoy domestic happiness with +him!" + +"He loves me," returned Sara, "and he can give me a happiness which I +never enjoyed here. I lost early both father and mother, and in the home +into which I was received out of charity, all became colder and colder +towards me!" + +"Ah, do not think so, Sara!" said the mother. "But even if this were +the case, may not some little of it be your own fault? Do you really do +anything to make yourself beloved? Do you strive against that which +makes you less amiable?" + +"I can renounce such love," said Sara, "as will not love me with my +faults. Nature gave me strong feelings and inclinations, and I cannot +bring them into subjection." + +"You will not, Sara," was the reply. + +"I cannot! and it may be that I will not," said she, "submit myself to +the subjugation and taming which has been allotted as the share of the +woman. Why should I? I feel strength in myself to break up a new path +for myself. I will lead a fresh and an independent life! I will live a +bright artiste-life, free from the trammels and the Lilliputian +considerations of domestic life. I will be free! I will not, as now, be +watched and suspected, and be under a state of espionage! I will be free +from the displeasure and blame which now dog my footsteps! This +treatment it is, mother, which has determined my resolution." + +"If," answered the mother, in a tremulous voice, and deeply affected by +Sara's words and tone, "I have erred towards you--and I may have done +so--I know well that it has not been from temper, or out of want of +tenderness towards you. I have spoken to and warned you from the best +conviction; I have sincerely endeavoured and desired that which is best +for you, and this you will some time or other come to see even better +than now.[14] You will perhaps come to see that it would have been good +for you if you had lent a more willing ear to my maternal counsellings; +will perhaps come to deplore that you rewarded the love I cherished for +you with reproaches and bitterness!" + +"Then let me go!" said Sara, with gentler voice; "we do not accord well +together. I embitter your life, and you make--perhaps you cannot make +mine happy. Let me go with him who will love me with all my faults, who +can and will open a freer scope to my powers and talents than I have +hitherto had." + +"Ah, Sara," returned Elise, "will you obtain in this freer field a +better happiness than can be afforded you by a domestic circle, by the +tenderness of true friends, and a happy domestic life?" + +"Are you then so happy, my mother?" interrupted Sara with an ironical +smile, and a searching glance; "are you then so happy in this circle, +and this domestic life, which you praise so highly, that you thus repeat +what has been said on the subject from the beginning of the world. Those +perpetual cares in which you have passed your days, those trifling cares +and thoughts for every-day necessities, which are so opposite to your +own nature, are they then so pleasant, so captivating? Have you not +renounced many of your beautiful gifts--your pleasure in literature and +music--nay, in short, what is the most lovely part of life, in order to +bury yourself in concealment and oblivion, and there, like the silkworm, +to spin your own sepulchre of the threads which another will wind off? +You bow your own will continually before that of another; your innocent +pleasures you sacrifice daily either to him or to others: are you so +very happy amid all these renunciations?" + +The Judge rose up passionately; went several times up and down the room, +and placed himself at last directly opposite to Sara, leaning his back +to the stove, and listening attentively for the answer of his wife. + +"Yes, Sara, I am happy!" answered she, with an energy very unusual in +her; "yes, I am happy! Whenever I make any sacrifice, I receive a rich +return. And if there be moments when I feel painfully any renunciation +which I have made, there are others, and far more of them, in which I +congratulate myself on all that I have won. I am become improved through +the husband whom God has given to me; through my children, through my +duties, through the desires and the wants which I have overcome at his +side--yes, Sara, above all things, through him, his affection, his +excellence, am I improved, and feel myself happier every day. Love, +Sara, love changes sacrifice into pleasure, and makes renunciation +sweet! I thank God for my lot, and only wish that I were worthier of +it!" + +"It may be!" said Sara, proudly; "every one has his own sphere. But the +tame happiness of the dove suits not the eagle!" + +"Sara!" exclaimed the Judge, in a tone of severe displeasure. + +The mother, unable longer to repress the outbreak of excited feeling, +left the room with her handkerchief to her eyes. + +"For shame, Sara," said the Judge with severe gravity, and standing +before her with a reproving glance, "for shame! this arrogance goes too +far!" + +She trembled now before his eye as she had done once before; a +remembrance from the days of her childhood awoke within her; her eyelids +sunk, and a burning crimson covered her face. + +"You have forgotten yourself," continued he, calmly, but severely, "and +in your childish haughtiness have only shown how far you are below that +worth and excellence which you cannot understand, and which, in your +present state of mind, you never can emulate. Your own calm judgment +will make the sharpest reproaches on this last scene, and will, nay, +must lead you to throw yourself at the feet of your mother. All, +however, that I now ask from you is, that you think over your intentions +rationally. How is it possible, Sara, that you overlook your own +inconsistency? You argue zealously against domestic life--against the +duties of marriage, and yet, at the same time, wilfully determine to tie +those bonds with a man who will make them actual fetters for you." + +"He will not fetter me," returned she; "he has promised it--he has sworn +it! I shall not subject myself to him as a wife, but I shall stand at +his side as an equal, as an artiste, and step with him into a world +beautiful and rich in honours, which he will open to me." + +"Ah, mere talk!" exclaimed the Judge. "Folly, folly! How can you be so +foolish, and believe in such false show? The state gives your husband a +power over you which he will not fail to abuse--that I can promise you +from what I know of his character, and from what I now discover of +yours. No woman can withdraw from a connexion of this kind unpunished, +more especially under the circumstances in which you are placed. Sara, +you do not love the man to whom you are about to unite yourself, and it +is impossible that you can love him. No true esteem, no pure regard +binds you to him." + +"He loves me," answered Sara, with trembling lips; "I admire his power +and artistical genius;--he will conduct me to independence and honour! +It is no fault of mine that the lot of woman is so contracted and +miserable--that she must bind herself in order to become free!" + +"Only as a means?" asked he; "the holiest tie on earth only as a means, +and for what? For a pitiable and ephemeral chase after happiness, which +you call honour and freedom. Poor, deceived Sara! Are you so misled, so +turned aside from the right? Is it possible that the miserable book of a +writer, as full of pretension as weak and superficial, has been able +thus to misguide you?" and with these words he took Volney's Ruins out +of his pocket, and threw it upon the table. + +Sara started and reddened. "Ah," said she, "this is only another +instance of espionage over me." + +"Not so," replied the Judge, calmly. "I was this day in your room; you +had left the book lying on the table, and I took it, in order that I +might speak with you about it, and prevent Petrea's young steps from +treading this path of error without a guide." + +"People may think what they please," said Sara, "of the influence of the +book, but I conceive that author deserves least of all the epithet +weak." + +"When you have followed his counsel," returned he, "and resemble the +wreck which the waves have thrown up here, then you may judge of the +strength and skill of the steersman! My child, do not follow him. A more +mature, a more logical power of mind, will teach you how little he knows +of the ocean of life, of its breakers and its depths--how little he +understands the true compass." + +"Ah!" said Sara, "these storms, these dangers, nay, even shipwreck +itself, appear to me preferable to the still, windless water which the +so-much-be-praised haven of domestic life represents. You speak, my +father, of chimeras; but tell me, is not the so-lauded happiness of +domestic life more a chimera than any other? When the saloon is set in +order, one does not see the broom and the dusting-brush that have been +at work in it, and the million grains of dust which have filled the air; +one forgets that they have ever been there. So it is with domestic and +family life; one persists wilfully in only seeing its beautiful moments, +and in passing over, in not noticing at all, what are less beautiful, or +indeed are 'repulsive.'" + +"All depends upon which are the predominant," replied he, half smiling +at Sara's simile. "Thus, then, if it be more frequently disorderly than +orderly, if the air be more frequently filled with dust than it is pure +and fresh, then the devil may dwell there, but not I! I know very well +that there are homes enough on earth where there are dust-filled rooms, +but that must be the fault of the inhabitants. On them alone depends the +condition of the house; from those which may not unjustly be called +ante-rooms of hell, to those again which, spite of their earthly +imperfections, spite of many a visitation of duster and dusting-brush, +yet may deserve the names of courts of heaven. And where, Sara, where in +this world will you find an existence free from earthly dust? And is +that of which you complain so bitterly anything else than the earthly +husk which encloses every mortal existence of man as well as of +woman?--it is the soil in which the plant must grow; it is the chrysalis +in which the larva becomes ripe for its change of life! Can you actually +be blind to that higher and nobler life which never developes itself +more beautifully than in a peaceful home? Can you deny that it is in the +sphere of family and friendship where man lives most perfectly and best, +as citizen of an earthly and of a heavenly kingdom? Can you deny how +great and noble is the efficacy of woman in private life, be she married +or single, if she only endeavour----" + +"Ah," said Sara, interrupting him, "the sphere of private life is too +narrow for me. I require a larger one, in order to breathe freely and +freshly." + +"In pure affection," replied the Judge, "in friendship, and in the +exercise of kindness, there is large and fresh breathing space; the air +of eternity plays through it. In intellectual development--and the very +highest may be arrived at in private life--the whole world opens itself +to the eye of man, and infinite treasures are offered to his soul, more, +far more, than he can ever appropriate to himself!" + +"But the artist," argued Sara--"the artist cannot form himself at +home--he must try himself on the great theatre of the world. Is his bent +only a chimera, my father? And are those distinguished persons who +present the highest pleasures to the world through their talents; to +whom the many look up with admiration and homage; around whom the great, +and the beautiful, and the agreeable collect themselves, are they +fools?--are they blind hunters after happiness? Ah, what lot can well be +more glorious than theirs! Oh, my father, I am young; I feel a power in +myself which is not a common one--my heart throbs for a freer and more +beautiful life! Desire not that I should constrain my own nature: desire +not that I should compress my beautiful talents into a sphere which has +no charms for me!" + +"I do not depreciate, certainly, the profession of the artist," replied +the Judge, "nor the value of his agency: in its best meaning, his is as +noble as any; but is it this pure bent, this noble view of it, which +impels you, which animates you? Sara, examine your own heart; it is +vanity and selfish ambition which impel you. It is the arrogance of your +eighteen years, and some degree of talent, which make you overlook all +that is good in your present lot, which make you disdain to mature +yourself nobly and independently in the domestic circle. It is a deep +mistake, which will now lead you to an act blamable in the eyes of God +and man, and which blinds you to the dark side of the life which you +covet. Nevertheless, there is none darker, none in which the changes of +fortune are more dependent on miserable accidents. An accident may +deprive you of your beauty, or your voice, and with these you lose the +favour of the world in which you have placed your happiness. Besides +this, you will not always continue at eighteen, Sara: by the time you +are thirty all your glory will be past, and then--then what will you +have collected for the remaining half of life? You will have rioted for +a short time in order then to starve; since, so surely as I stand here, +with this haughty and vain disposition, and with the husband whom you +will have chosen, you will come to want; and, too late, you will look +back in your misery, full of remorse, to the virtue and to the true life +which you have renounced." + +Sara was silent; she was shaken by the words and by the countenance of +her adopted father. + +"And how perfectly different it might be!" continued he, with warmth; +"how beautiful, how full of blessing might not your life and your +talents be! Sara! I have loved you, and love you still, like my own +daughter--will you not listen to me as to a father? Answer me--have you +had to give up anything in this house, which, with any show of reason, +you might demand? and have we spared any possible care for your +education or your accomplishments?" + +"No," replied Sara, sighing; "all have been kind, very kind to me." + +"Well, then," exclaimed the Judge, with increasing warmth and +cordiality, "depend upon your mother and me, that you will have no cause +of complaint. I am not without property and connexions. I will spare no +means of cultivating your talents, and then if your turn for art is a +true one, when it has been cultivated to its utmost it shall not be +concealed from a world which can enjoy and reward it. But remain under +our protection, and do not cast yourself, inexperienced as you are, on a +world which will only lead you more astray. Do not, in order to win an +ideal liberty, give your hand to a man inferior to you in +accomplishments; to a man whom you do not love, and whom, morally +speaking, you cannot esteem. Descend into your own heart, and see its +error while there is yet time to retrieve it, before you are crushed by +your own folly. Do not fly from affectionate, careful friends--do not +fly from the paternal roof in blind impatience of disagreeables, to +remove which depends perhaps only on yourself! Sara, my child! I have +not taken you under my roof in order to let you become the victim of +ruin and misfortune! Pause, Sara, and reflect, I pray you, I conjure +you! make not yourself wretched! When I took you from the death-bed of +your father, I threw my arms around _you_ to shield you from the winds +of autumn--I clasp them once again around you, in order to shield you +from far more dangerous winds--Sara, my child, fly not from this house!" + +Sara trembled; she was violently agitated, and leaned her head with +indescribable emotion against her adopted father, who clasped her +tenderly to his bosom. + +It is not difficult to say whether they were good or bad angels who +triumphed in Sara, as she, after a moment of violent inward struggle, +pushed from her the paternal friend, and said, with averted countenance, +"It is in vain; my determination is taken. I shall become the wife of +Schwartz, and go where my fate leads me!" + +The Judge started up, stamped on the floor, and pale with anger, +exclaimed, with flashing eyes, "Obdurate one! since neither love nor +prayers have power over you, you must listen to another mode of speech! +I have the right of a guardian over you, and I forbid this unholy +marriage! I forbid you to leave my house! You hear me, and you shall +obey!" + +Sara stood up as pale as death, and with an insolent expression riveted +her large eyes upon him, whilst he, too, fixed his upon her with all the +force of his peculiar earnestness and decision. It seemed as if each +would look the other through--as if each in this contest would measure +his strength against the other. + +Suddenly her arms were flung wildly round his neck, a burning kiss was +pressed upon his lips, and the next moment she was out of the room. + +Elise sate in her boudoir. She still wept bitter tears. It was twilight, +and her knees were suddenly embraced, and her hands and her dress were +covered with kisses and with tears. When she put forth her hands to +raise the one who embraced her, she had vanished. "Sara, Sara! where are +you?" exclaimed she, full of anxiety. + +Petrea came down from her chamber; she met some one, who embraced her, +pressed her lips to her forehead, and whispered, "Forget me!" + +"Sara, Sara! where are you going?" exclaimed she, terrified, and running +after her to the house door. + +"Where is Sara?" inquired the Judge, violently, above in the chambers of +his daughters. "Where is Sara?" inquired he, below in the library. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Petrea, who now rushed in weeping, "she is this moment +gone out--out into the street; she almost ran. She forbade me to follow +her. Ah, she certainly never will come back again!" + +"The devil!" said the Judge, hastening from the room, and taking up his +hat, went out. Far off in the street he saw a female figure, which, with +only a handkerchief thrown over her head and shoulders, was hastening +onward, and who, spite of the twilight, he recognised to be Sara. He +hastened after her; she looked round, saw him, and fled. Certain now +that he was not mistaken, he followed, and was almost near enough to +take hold of her, when she suddenly turned aside, and rushed into a +house--it was that of Schwartz. He followed with the quickness of +lightning; followed her up the steps, and was just laying his hand on +her, when she vanished through a door. The next moment he too opened it, +and saw her--in the arms of Schwartz! + +The two stood together embracing, and evidently prepared to defy him. He +stood for some moments silent before them, regarding them with an +indescribable look of wrath, contempt, and sorrow. He looked upon the +pale breathless Sara, and covered his eyes with his hand; the next +moment, however, he seemed to collect himself, and with all the calm and +respect-commanding dignity of a parent, he grasped her hand, and said, +"You now follow me home. On Sunday the banns shall be proclaimed." + +Sara followed. She took his arm, and with a drooping head, and without a +word, accompanied him home. + +All there was disquiet and sorrow. But, notwithstanding the general +discontent with Sara and her marriage, there was not one of the family +who did not busy themselves earnestly in her outfit. Louise, who blamed +her more than all the rest, gave herself most trouble about it. + +Sara behaved as if she never observed how everybody was working for her, +and passed her time either over her harp, or solitary in her own room. +Any intercourse with the members of the family seemed to have become +painful to her, whilst Petrea's tenderness and tears were received with +indifference--nay, even with sternness. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] All mothers speak thus--but not all, nay, not many with the same +right as Elise. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +DEPARTURE. + + +Sara's joyless marriage was over; and the hour was come in which she was +to leave that home and family which had so affectionately received her, +and which now with solicitude and the tenderest care provided for her +wants in her new position. + +In the hour of separation, the crust of ice which had hitherto +surrounded her being broke, she sank, weeping violently, at the feet of +her foster-parents. + +The Judge was deeply affected. "You have had your own will, Sara," said +he, in a firm but mournful voice, "may you be happy! Some few warnings I +have given you, do not forget them; they are the last! If you should be +deceived in the hopes which now animate you--if you should be +unfortunate--unfortunate, or criminal, then remember--then remember, +Sara, that here you have father and mother, and sisters, who will +receive you with open arms; then remember that you have here family and +home!" + +He ceased: drew her a little aside, took her hand, and pressed a +bank-note in it. "Take this," said he, tenderly, "as a little help in +the hour of need. No, you must not refuse it from your foster-father. +Take it for his love's sake, you will some time need it!" + +It was with difficulty that the Judge had so far preserved his calmness; +he now pressed her violently to his breast; kissed her brow and lips, +whilst his tears flowed abundantly. The mother and sisters too +surrounded her weeping. At that moment the door opened, and Schwartz +entered. + +"The carriage waits," said he, with a dark glance on the mournful group. +Sara tore herself from the arms which would have held her fast, and +rushed out of the room. + +A few seconds more, and the travelling carriage rolled away. + +"She is lost!" exclaimed the Judge to his wife with bitter pain. "I feel +it in myself that she is lost! Her death would have been less painful to +me than this marriage." + +For many days he continued silent and melancholy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +LITTLE SCENES. + + +The past episode had gone through the house like a whirlwind. When it +was over, the heaven cleared itself anew, and they were able to confess +that a more joyful tranquillity had diffused itself over all. There was +no one who did not think of Sara with sympathy, who did not weep +sometimes at her violent separation from the family; but there was no +one, with the exception of the Judge and Petrea, who did not feel her +absence to be a secret relief; for one unquiet temper, and one full of +pretension, can disturb a whole household, and make the most exquisite +natural gifts of no account. + +The Judge missed a daughter from the beloved circle; missed that +beautiful, richly-endowed girl, and could not think of her future +prospects without bitter anxiety. Petrea wept the object of her youthful +admiration and homage, but consoled herself with the romantic plans she +formed for seeing her again, in all of which she gave to herself the +province of guardian angel, either as the queen of a desert island, or +as a warrior bleeding for her, or as a disguised person who unloosed +her bonds in the depths of a dungeon in order to put them on herself: in +short, in all possible ways in the world except the possible one. + +Sara wrote soon after her separation from her friends; she spoke of the +past with gratitude, and of the future with hope. The letter exhibited a +certain decision and calmness; a certain seriousness, which diffused +through the family a satisfactory ease of mind with regard to her future +fate. Elise was ever inclined to hope for the best, and young people are +always optimists: the Judge said nothing which might disturb the peace +of his family, whilst Louise alone shook her head and sighed. + +After the many disturbing circumstances which had lately occurred in the +family, all seemed now to long after repose, and the ability to enjoy a +quieter domestic life. Occupations of all kinds--those simple but +cheerful daughters of well-regulated life, went on cheerfully and +comfortably under the eye of Louise. There was no want in the house of +joyful hours, sunshine of every kind, and entertainment full of +interest. The newspapers which the Judge took in, and which kept the +family _au courant_ of the questions of the day, furnished materials for +much development of mind, for much conversation and much thought, +especially among the young people. The father had great pleasure in +hearing thus their interchange of opinion, although he himself seldom +mingled in their discussions, with the exception of now and then a +guiding word. + +"I fancy all is going on quite right," said he, joyfully, to his wife +one day. "The children live gaily at home, and are preparing themselves +for life. Indeed, if they only once open their eyes and ears, they will +find subjects enough on which to use them; and will be astonished at all +that life will present them with. It is well when home furnishes +nourishment for mind as well as heart and body. I rejoice too, +extremely, over our new house. Every land, every climate, has its own +advantages as well as its own difficulties, and the economy of life must +be skilfully adjusted if it is to be maintained with honour and +advantage. Our country, which compels us to live so much in the house, +seems thereby to admonish us to a more concentrated, and at the same +time more quiet and domestic life, on which account we need, above all +things, comfortable houses, which are able to advance and advantage +soul as well as body. Thank God! I fancy ours is pretty good for that +purpose, and in time may yet be better; the children too look happy; +Gabriele grows now every day, and Louise has grown over all our heads!" + +The young people were very much occupied with plans for the future. Eva +and Leonore built all their castles in the air together. A great +intimacy had grown up between these two sisters since they were alone +during the absence of the others at Axelholm. One might say, that ever +since that evening, when they sate together eating grapes and reading a +novel, the seed of friendship which had long been sprouting in their +hearts, shot forth thence its young leaves. Their castles in the air +were no common castles of romance; they had for their foundation the +prosaic but beautiful thought of gaining for themselves an independent +livelihood in the future--for the parents had early taught their +daughters to direct their minds to this object--and hence beautiful +establishments were founded, partly for friendship and partly for +humanity: for young girls are always great philanthropists. + +Jacobi also had many schemes for the future of himself and his wife, and +Louise many schemes how to realise them. In the mean time there were +many processes about kisses. Louise wished to establish a law that not +more than three a day should be allowed, against which Jacobi protested +both by word and deed, on which occasions Gabriele always ran away +hastily and indignantly. + +Petrea read English with Louise, arranged little festivities for her and +the family; wept every evening over Sara, and beat her brains every +morning over "the Creation of the World," whilst the good parents +watched ever observantly over them all. + +No one, however, enjoyed the present circumstances of the family so much +as Henrik. After he had succeeded in inducing his sisters to use more +lively exercise and exhilaration, he devoted himself more exclusively to +his favourite studies, history and philosophy. Often he took his book +and wandered with it whole days in the country, but every evening at +seven he punctually joined the family circle, and was there the merriest +of the merry. + +"We live now right happily," said he one evening in confidential +discourse with his mother; "and I, for my part, never enjoyed life so +much. I feel now that my studies will really mend, and that something +can be made of me. And when I have studied for a whole day, and that not +fruitlessly either, and then come of an evening to you and my sisters, +and see all here so friendly, so bright and cheerful, life seems so +agreeable! I feel myself so happy, and almost wish it might always +remain as it is now." + +"Ah, yes!" answered the mother, "if we could always keep you with us, my +Henrik! But I know that won't do; you must soon leave us again; and +then, when you have finished your studies, you must have your own +house." + +"And then, mother, you shall come to me!" This had been years before, +and still was Henrik's favourite theme, and the mother listened +willingly to it. + +Several poems which Henrik wrote about this time seemed to indicate the +most decided poetical talent, and gave his mother and sisters the +greatest delight, whilst they excited, at the same time, great attention +among the friends of the family. The Judge alone looked on gloomily. + +"You will spoil him," exclaimed he one evening to his wife and +daughters, "if you make him fancy that he is something extraordinary, +before he is in anything out of the common way. I confess that his +poetising is very much against my wish. When one is a man, one should +have something much more important to do than to sigh, and sing about +this and that future life. If he were likely to be a Thorild,[15] or any +other of our greatest poets----but I see no signs of that! and this +poetasterism, this literary idleness, which perpetually either lifts +young people above the clouds, or places them under the earth, so that +for pure cloud and dust they are unable to see the good noble gifts of +actual life--I would the devil had it! The direction which Henrik is now +taking grieves me seriously. I had rejoiced myself so in the thought of +his being a first-rate miner; in his being instrumental in turning to +good account our mines, our woods and streams, those noblest foundations +of Sweden's wealth, and to which it was worth while devoting a good +head; and now, instead of that, he hangs his on one side; sits with a +pen in his hand, and rhymes 'face' and 'grace,' 'heart' and 'smart!' It +is quite contrary to my feelings! I wish Stjernhök would come here soon. +Now there's a fellow! he will turn out something first-rate! I wish he +were coming soon; perhaps he might influence Henrik, and induce him to +give up this verse-making, which, perhaps, at bottom, is only vanity." + +Elise and the daughters were silent. For a considerable time now, Elise +had accustomed herself to silence when her husband grumbled. But +often--whenever it was necessary--she would return to the subject of his +discontent at a time when he was calm, and then, talk it over with him; +and this line of tactics succeeded admirably. She made use of them on +the present occasion. + +"Ernst," said she to him in the evening, "it grieves me that you are so +displeased with Henrik's poetical bent. Ah! it has delighted me so much, +precisely because I fancied that it is real, and that in this case it +may be as useful as any other can be. Still I never will encourage +anything in him which is opposed to your wishes." + +"My dear Elise," returned he mildly, "manage this affair according to +your own convictions and conscience. It is very probable that you are +right, and that I am wrong. All that I beseech of you is, that you watch +over yourself, in order that affection to your first-born may not +mislead you to mistake for excellence that which is only mediocre, and +his little attempts for masterpieces. Henrik may be, if he can, a +distinguished poet and literary man; but he must not as yet imagine +himself anything; above all things, he must not suppose it possible to +be a distinguished man in any profession without preparing himself by +serious labour, and without first of all becoming a thinking being. If +he were this, I promise you that I should rejoice over my son, let him +be what profession he would--a worker in thought or a worker in +mountains. And for this very reason one must be careful not to value too +highly these poetical blossoms. If vanity remains in him he never will +covet serious renown in anything." + +"You are right, Ernst," said his wife, with all the cordiality of inward +conviction. + + * * * * * + +Henrik also longed earnestly for Stjernhök's arrival. He wished to show +him his work; he longed to measure his new historical and philosophical +knowledge against that of his friend; he longed, in one word, to be +esteemed by him; for Henrik's gentle and affectionate nature had always +felt itself powerfully attracted by the energetic and, as one may say, +metallic nature of the other, and ever since the years of their boyhood +had the esteem and friendship of Stjernhök been the goal of Henrik's +endeavours, and of his warm, although till now unattainable, wishes. +Stjernhök had hitherto always behaved towards Henrik with a certain +friendly indifference, never as a companion and friend. + +Stjernhök came. He was received by the whole family with the greatest +cordiality, but by no one with a warmer heart than Henrik. + +There was even externally the greatest dissimilarity between these two +young men. Henrik was remarkable for extraordinary, almost feminine +beauty; his figure was noble but slender, and his glance glowing though +somewhat dreamy. Stjernhök, some years Henrik's senior, had become early +a man. All with him was muscular, firm, and powerful; his countenance +was intelligent without being handsome, and a star as it were gleamed in +his clear, decided eye; such a star as is often prophetic of fate, and +over whose path fortunate stars keep watch. + +Some days after Stjernhök's arrival Henrik became greatly changed. He +had become quiet, and there was an air of depression on his countenance. +Stjernhök now, as he had always done, did not appear unfriendly to +Henrik, but still paid but little attention to him. He occupied himself +very busily, partly with trying chemical experiments with Jacobi and the +ladies, and partly in the evening, and even into the night, in making +astronomical observations with his excellent telescope. One of the +beaming stars to which the observations of the young astronomer were +industriously directed was called afterwards in the family Stjernhök's +star. All gathered themselves around the interesting and well-informed +young man. The Judge took the greatest delight in his conversation, and +asserted before his family more than once his pleasure in him, and the +hopes which the nation itself might have of him. The young student of +Mining was a favourite with the Judge also because, besides his +extraordinary knowledge, he behaved always with the greatest respect +towards older and more experienced persons. + +"See, Henrik," said his father to him one day, after a conversation with +Stjernhök, "what _I_ call poetry, real poetry; it is this--to tame the +rivers, and to compel their wild falls to produce wealth and comfort, +whilst woods are felled on their banks and corn-fields cultivated; human +dwellings spring up, and cheerful activity and joyful voices enliven the +country. Look! that may be called a beautiful creation!" + +Henrik was silent. + +"But," said Gabriele, with all her natural refinement, "to be happy in +these homes, they must be able to read a pleasant book or to sing a +beautiful song, else their lives, spite of all their waterfalls, would +be very dry!" + +The Judge smiled, kissed his little daughter, and tears of delight +filled his eyes. + +Henrik, in the mean time, had gone into another room and seated himself +at a window. His mother followed him. + +"How do you feel, my Henrik?" said she affectionately, gently taking +away the hand which shaded his eyes. His hand was concealing his tears. +"My good, good youth!" exclaimed she, her eyes also overflowing with +tears, and throwing her arms around him. "Now see!" began she +consolingly, "you should not distress yourself when your father speaks +in a somewhat one-sided manner. You know perfectly well how infinitely +good and just he is, and that if he be only once convinced of the +genuineness of your poetic talent, he will be quite contented. He is +only now afraid of your stopping short in mediocrity. He would be +pleased and delighted if you obtained honour in your own peculiar way." + +"Ah!" said Henrik, "if I only knew whether or not I had a peculiar +way--a peculiar vocation. But since Stjernhök has been here, and I have +talked with him, everything, both externally and internally, seems +altered. I don't any longer understand myself. Stjernhök has shown me +how very little I know of that which I supposed myself to know a great +deal, and what bungling my work is! I see it now perfectly, and it +distresses me. How strong-minded and powerful Stjernhök is! I wish I +were able to resemble him! But it is impossible, I feel myself such a +mere nothing beside him! And yet, when I am alone, either with my books, +or out in the free air with the trees, the rocks, the waters, the winds +around me, and with heaven above, thoughts arise in me, feelings take +possession of me, nameless sweet feelings, and then expressions and +words speak in me which affect me deeply, and give me inexpressible +delight; then all that is great and good in humanity is so present with +me; then I have a foretaste of harmony in everything, of God in +everything; and it seems to me as if words thronged themselves to my +lips to sing forth the gloriousness of that which I perceive. In such +moments I feel something great within me, and I fancy that my songs +would find an echo in every heart. Yes, it is thus that I feel +sometimes; but when I see Stjernhök all is vanished, and I feel so +little, so poor, I am compelled to believe that I am a dreamer and a +fool!" + +"My good youth," said the mother, "you mistake yourself. Your gifts and +Stjernhök's are so dissimilar: but if you employ your talents with +sincerity and earnestness, they will in their turn bring forth fruit. I +confess to you, Henrik, that it was, and still is, one of my most lively +wishes that one of my children might become distinguished in the fields +of literature. Literature has furnished to me my most beautiful +enjoyments; and in my younger years I myself was not without my ambition +in this way. I see in you my own powers more richly blossoming. I myself +bloom forth in them, my Henrik, and in my hopes of you. Ah! might I live +to the day in which I saw you honoured by your native land; in which I +saw your father proud of his son, and I myself able to gladden my heart +with the fruit of your genius, your work--oh, then I would gladly die!" + +Enthusiastic fire flamed in Henrik's looks and on his cheeks, as whilst, +embracing his mother, he said, "No, you shall live, mother, to be +honoured on account of your son. He promises that you shall have joy in +him!" + +The sunbeam which just then streamed into the room fell upon Henrik's +beautiful hair, which shone like gold. The mother saw it--saw silently a +prophesying in it, and a sun-bright smile diffused itself over her +countenance. + + * * * * * + +Petrea read the "Magic King." She ought properly to have read it aloud +to the family circle in an evening, and then its dangerous magic would +have been decreased; but she read it beforehand, privately to herself +during the night, and it drew her into the bewildering magic circle. She +thought of nothing, dreamed of nothing, but wonderful adventure; +wonderfully beautiful ladies, and wonderfully brave heroes! She was +herself always one of them, worshipped or worshipping; now combating, +cross in hand, against witches and dragons; now wandering in dreamy +moonlight among lilies in the Lady Minnetrost's Castle. It seemed as if +the chaotic confusion of Petrea's brain had here taken shape and +stature, and she now took possession with redoubled force of the +phantasy world, which once before, under the guise of the Wood-god, had +carried away her childish mind and conducted her into false tracks; and +it was so even now; for while she moved night and day in a dream-world +in which she luxuriated to exultation, in magnificent and wonderful +scenes, in which she herself always played a part, she got on but +lamentably in real and every-day life. The head in which so many +splendid pictures and grand schemes were agitating, looked generally +something like a bundle of flax; she never noticed the holes and specks +in her dress, nor her ragged stockings and trodden-down shoes; she +forgot all her little, every-day business, and whatever she had in her +hand she either lost or dropped. + +She had, besides, a passion for cracking almonds. "A passion," Louise +said, "as expensive as it was noisy, and which never was stronger than +when she went about under the influence of the magic ring; and that +perpetual crack! crack! which was heard wherever she went, and the +almond shells on which people trod, or which hung to the sleeve of +whoever came to the window, were anything but agreeable." + +Whenever Petrea was deservedly reproved or admonished for these things, +she fell out of the clouds, or rather out of her heaven, down to the +earth, which seemed to her scarcely anything else than a heap of nettles +and brambles, and very gladly indeed would she have bought with ten +years of her life one year of the magic power of the "Magic Ring," +together with beauty, magic charms, power, and such-like things, which +she did not possess, except in her dreams. + +Petrea's life was a cleft between an ideal and a real world, of both of +which she knew nothing truly, and which, therefore, could not become +amalgamated in her soul. Rivers of tears flowed into the separating +gulf, without being able to fill it or to clear her vision, while she +now complained of circumstances, and now of her own self, as being the +cause of what she endured. + +It was at this time that, partly at the wish of the parents, and partly +also out of his own kind-heartedness, Jacobi began seriously to occupy +himself with Petrea; and he occupied her mind in such a manner as +strengthened and practised her thinking powers, whereby the fermentation +in her feelings and imagination was in some measure abated. All this was +indescribably beneficial to her, and it would have been still more so +had not the teacher been too----but we will leave the secret to future +years. + + * * * * * + +The Judge received one day a large letter from Stockholm, which, after +he had read, he silently laid before his wife. It came from the highest +quarter, contained most honourable and flattering praise of the services +of Judge Frank, of which the government had long been observant, and now +offered him elevation to the highest regal court of justice. + +When Elise had finished the letter she looked up inquiringly to her +husband, who stood beside her. "What think you of it, Ernst?" asked she, +with a constrained and uneasy glance. + +The Judge walked more quickly up and down the room, as was his custom +when anything excited him. "I cannot feel indifferent," said he; "I am +affected by this mark of confidence in my sovereign. I have long +expected this occurrence; but I feel, I see that I cannot leave my +present sphere of operation. My activity is suited to it; I know that I +am of service here, and the confidence of the Governor gives me +unrestrained power to work according to my ability and views. It is +possible that he, instead of me, may get the credit of the good which is +done in the province; but, in God's name, let it be so! I know that what +is good and beneficial is actually done, and that is enough; but there +is a great deal which is only begun which must be completed, and a great +deal, an infinite great deal, remains yet to be done. I cannot leave a +half-finished work--I cannot and I will not! One must complete one's +work, else it is good for nothing! And I know that here I am--but I am +talking only of myself. Tell me, Elise, what you wish--what you would +like." + +"Let us remain here!" said Elise, giving her hand to her husband, and +seating herself beside him. "I know that you would have no pleasure in a +higher rank, in a larger income, if you on that account must leave a +sphere where you feel yourself in your place, and where you can work +according to the desire of your own heart, and where you are surrounded +by persons who esteem and love you! No; let us remain here!" + +"But you, you Elise," said he; "speak of yourself, not of me." + +"Yes, you!" answered she, with the smile of a happy heart, "that is not +so easy to do--for you see all that belongs to the one is so interwoven +with what belongs to the other. But I will tell you something about +myself. I looked at myself this morning in the glass--no satirical +looks, my love!--and it seemed to me as if I appeared strong and +healthy. I thought of you, thought how good and kind you were, and how, +whilst I had walked by your side, I had been strengthened both in body +and mind; how I must still love you more and more, and how we had become +happier and happier together. I thought of your activity, so rich in +blessing both for home and for the general good; thought on the +children, how healthy and good they are, and how their characters have +unfolded so happily under our hands. I thought of our new house which +you have built so comfortable and convenient for us all, and just then +the sun shone cheerfully into my little, beloved boudoir, and I felt +myself so fortunate in my lot! I thanked God both for it and for you! I +would willingly live and die in this sphere--in this house. Let us then +remain here." + +"God bless you for these words, Elise!" said he. "But the children--the +children! Our decision will influence their future; we must also hear +what they have to say; we must lay the matter before them: not that I +fear their having, if they were aware of our mode of reasoning, any wish +different to ours, but at all events they must have a voice in the +business. Come, Elise! I shall have no rest till it is all talked over +and decided." + + * * * * * + +When the Judge laid the affair before the family council, it occasioned +a great surprise; on which a general silence ensued, and attractive +visions began to swarm before the eyes of the young people, not exactly +of the highest Court of Judicature, but of the seat of the same--of the +Capital. Louise looked almost like a Counsellor of Justice herself. But +when her father had made known his and his wife's feelings on the +subject, he read in their tearful eyes gratitude for the confidence he +had placed in them, and the most entire acquiescence with his will. + +No one spoke, however, till "the little one"--the father had not said to +her, "Go out for awhile, Gabriele dear;" "Let her stop with us," he +said, on the contrary, "she is a prudent little girl!"--no, none spoke +till Gabriele threw her arms about her mother's neck, and exclaimed, +"Ah, don't let us go away from here--here we are so happy!" + +This exclamation was echoed by all. + +"Well, then, here we remain, in God's name!" said the Judge, rising up +and extending his arms, with tears in his eyes, towards the beloved +circle. "Here we remain, children! But this shall not prevent your +seeing Stockholm, and enjoying its pleasures and beauties! I thank God, +my children, that you are happy here; it makes me so, too. Do you +understand that?" + + * * * * * + +On this day, for the first time after a long interval, Leonore dined +with the family. Everybody rejoiced on that account; and as her +countenance had a brighter and more kindly expression than common, +everybody thought her pretty. Eva, who had directed and assisted her +toilet, rejoiced over her from the bottom of her heart. + +"Don't you see, Leonore," said she, pointing up to heaven, where light +blue openings were visible between clouds, which for the greater part of +the day had poured down rain--"don't you see it is clearing up, Leonore? +and then we will go out together, and gather flowers and fruit." And as +she said this her blue eyes beamed with kindness and the enjoyment of +life. + + * * * * * + +"What, in all the world, are these doing here?" asked Henrik, as he saw +his mother's shoes standing in the window in the pale sunshine; "they +ought to be warmed, I fancy, and the sun has no desire to come out and +do his duty. No, in this case, I shall undertake to be sun!" + +"That you are to me, my summer-child!" said the mother, smiling +affectionately as she saw Henrik had placed her shoes under his +waistcoat, to warm them on his breast. + + * * * * * + +"My sweet Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, "you can't think what lovely +weather it is! Should we not take a little walk? You come with us? You +look most charming--but, in heaven's name, not in the Court-preacher!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] Thomas Thorild, born 1759, died 1808, an eminent Swedish poet. + + + + +PART III. + +CHAPTER I. + +LEONORE TO EVA. + + +"And so you are coming home? Coming really home soon, sweet Eva? Ah! I +am so happy, so joyful on that account, and yet a little anxious: but +don't mind that; come, only come, and all will be right! When I can only +look into your eyes, I feel that all will be clear. Your good +eyes!--Gabriele and I call them 'our blue ones'--how long it is that I +have not seen you--two long years! I cannot conceive, dear Eva, how I +have lived so long without you; but then it is true that we have not +been in reality separated. I have accompanied you into the great world; +I have been with you to balls and concerts; I have enjoyed with you your +pleasures and the homage which has been paid to you. Ah! what joy for me +that I have learned to love you! Since then I have lived twofold, and +felt myself so rich in you! And now you are coming back; and then, shall +we be as happy as before? + +"Forgive, forgive this note of interrogation! But sometimes a disquiet +comes over me. You speak so much of the great world, of joys and +enjoyments, which--it is not in home to afford you. And your grand new +acquaintance--ah, Eva! let them be ever so agreeable and interesting, +they would not love you as we do, as I do! And then this Major R----! I +am afraid of him, Eva. It appears to me the most natural thing in the +world that he should love you, but--ah, Eva! it grieves me that you +should feel such affection for him. My dear, good Eva, attach yourself +not too closely to him before--but I distress you, and that I will not. +Come, only come to us; we have so much to talk to you about, so much to +hear from you, so much to say to you! + +"I fancy you will find the house yet more agreeable than formerly; we +have added many little decorations to it. You will again take breakfast +with us--that comfortable meal, and my best-beloved time; and tea with +us--your favourite hour, in which we were assembled for a merry evening, +and were often quite wild. This morning I took out your breakfast-cup, +and kissed that part of the edge on which the gold was worn off. + +"We will again read books together, and think about and talk about them +together. We will again go out together and enjoy all the freshness and +quiet of the woods. And would it not be a blessed thing to wander thus +calmly through life, endeavouring to improve ourselves, and to make all +those around us happier; to admire the works of God, and humbly to thank +Him for all that he has given to us and others? Should we not then have +lived and flourished enough on earth? Truly I know that a life quiet as +this might not satisfy every one; neither can it accord with all seasons +of life. Storms will come;--even I have had my time of unrest, of +suffering, and of combat. But, thank God! that is now past, and the +sensibility which destroyed my peace is now become as a light to my +path; it has extended my world; it has made me better: and now that I no +longer covet to enjoy the greater and stronger pleasures of life, I +learn now, each passing day, to prize yet higher the treasures which +surround me in this quiet every-day life. Oh, no one can be happy on +earth till he has learned the worth of little things, and to attend to +them! When once he has learned this, he may make each day not only +happy, but find in it cause of thankfulness. But he must have +peace--peace both within himself and without himself; for peace is the +sun in which every dewdrop of life glitters! + +"Would that I could but call back peace into a heart which--but I must +prepare you for a change, for a great void in the house. You will not +find Petrea here. You know the state of things which so much distressed +me for some time. It would not do to let it go on any longer either for +Louise or Jacobi's sake, or yet for her own, and therefore Petrea must +go, otherwise they all would have become unhappy. She herself saw it; +and as we had tidings of Jacobi's speedy arrival here, she opened her +heart to her parents. It was noble and right of her, and they were as +good and prudent as ever; and now our father has gone with her to his +friend Bishop B. May God preserve her, and give her peace! I shed many +tears over her; but I hope all may turn out well. Her lively heart has a +fresh-flowing fountain of health in it; and certainly her residence in +the country, which she likes so much, new circumstances, new +interests---- + +"I was interrupted: Jacobi is come! It is a good thing that Petrea is +now whiling away her time in the shades of Furudal; good for her poor +heart, and good too for the betrothed pair, who otherwise could not have +ventured to have been happy in her presence. But now they are entirely +so. + +"Now, after six years' long waiting, sighing, and hoping, Jacobi sees +himself approaching the goal of his wishes--marriage and a parsonage! +And the person who helps him to all this, to say nothing of his own +individual deserts, is his beloved patron the excellent Excellency +O----. Through his influence two important landed-proprietors in the +parish of Great T. have been induced to give their votes to Jacobi, who, +though yet young, has been proposed; and thus he will receive one of the +largest and most beautiful livings in the bishopric, and Louise will +become a greatly honoured pastor's wife--'provost's wife' she herself +says prophetically. + +"The only _but_ in this happiness is, that it will remove Jacobi and +Louise so far from us. Their highest wish had been to obtain the rural +appointment near this city; and thus we might in that case have +maintained our family unbroken, even though Louise had left her home; +but--'but,' says our good, sensible 'eldest,' with a sigh, 'all things +cannot be perfect here on earth.' + +"The day of nomination falls early in the spring; and Jacobi, who must +enter upon his office immediately after his appointment, wishes to +celebrate his marriage at Whitsuntide, in order that he may conduct his +young wife into his shepherd's hut along flower-bestrewn paths, and by +the song of the lark. Mrs. Gunilla jestingly beseeches of him not to +become too nomadic: however, this is certain, that no living being has +more interest about cows and calves, sheep and poultry, than Louise. + +"The future married couple are getting their whole household in order +beforehand; and Gabriele heartily amuses herself with such fragments of +their entertaining conversation as reach her ear, while they sit on the +sofa in the library talking of love and economy. But it is not talking +_alone_ that they do, for Jacobi's heart is full of warm human love; and +our father has not the less imparted to all his children somewhat of his +love for the general good, although Gabriele maintains that her portion +thereof is as yet very small. + +"It gives one great pleasure to see the betrothed go out to make +purchases, and then to see them return so cordially well pleased with +all they have bought. Louise discovers something so unsurpassably +excellent in everything with which she furnishes herself, whether it be +an earthen or a silver vessel. When I look at these two, like a pair of +birds carrying together straws to their nest, and twittering over them, +I cannot help thinking that it must be a greater piece of good fortune +to come to the possession of a humbly supplied habitation which one has +furnished oneself, than to that of a great and rich one for which other +people have cared. One is, in the first place, so well acquainted with, +so on thee-and-thou terms with one's things; and certainly nobody in +this world can be more so than Louise with hers. + +"We are all of us now working most actively for the wedding, but still +our father does not look with altogether friendly eyes on an occasion +which will withdraw a daughter from his beloved circle. He would so +gladly keep us all with him, for which I rejoice and am grateful. +Apropos! we have a scheme for him which will make him happy in his old +age, and our mother also. You remember the great piece of building-land +overgrown with bushes, which the people had not understanding enough +either to build upon or to give up to us, this we intend--but we will +talk about it mouth to mouth. Petrea has infected us all, even 'our +eldest,' with her desire for great undertakings; and then--truly it is a +joy to be able to labour for the happiness of those who have laboured +for us so affectionately and unweariedly. + +"Now something about friends and acquaintance. + +"All friends and acquaintance ask much after you. Uncle Jeremias +wrangles because you do not come, all the time he breakfasts with us +(generally on Wednesday and Saturday mornings), and while he abuses our +rusks, but notwithstanding devours a great quantity of them. For some +time he has appeared to me to have become more amiable than formerly; +his temper is milder, his heart always was mild. He is the friend and +physician of all the poor. A short time ago he bought a little villa, a +mile distant from the city; it is to be the comfort of his age, and is +to be called 'The Old Man's Rose,'--does not that sound comfortable? + +"Annette P. is very unhappy with her coarse sister-in-law. She does not +complain; but look, complexion, nay, even her whole being, indicate the +deepest discontent with life; we must attract her to us, and endeavour +to make her happier. + +"Here comes Gabriele, and insists upon it that I should leave some room +for her scrawl. A bold request! But then who says no to her? Not I, and +therefore I must make a short ending. + +"If a certain Baron Rutger L. be introduced to you when you return, do +not imagine that he is deranged, although he sometimes seems as if he +were so. He is the son of one of my father's friends; and as he is to be +educated by my father for a civil post, he is boarded in our family. He +is a kind of '_diamant brute_,' and requires polishing in more senses +than one; in the mean time I fancy his wild temper is in a fair way of +being tamed. One word from our mother makes impression upon him; and he +is actually more regardful of the ungracious demeanour of our little +lady, than of the moral preaching of our eldest. He is just nineteen. +Old Brigitta is quite afraid of him, and will hardly trust herself to +pass him lest he should leap over her. Oh, how happy she, like everybody +else, will be to see you back again! She fears lest you should get +married, and stop in 'the hole,' as she calls Stockholm. + +"Henrik will remain with us over Christmas, but you must come and help +to enliven him; he is not so joyous as formerly. I fancy that the +misunderstanding between him and Stjernhök distresses him. Ah! why would +not these two understand one another! For the rest, many things are now +at stake for Henrik; God grant that all may go well, both on his account +and mamma's! + +"We shall not see Petrea again till after Louise's marriage. When shall +we all be again all together at home? Sara! ah? it is now above four +years since we heard anything of her, and all inquiry and search after +her has been in vain. Perhaps she lives no longer! I have wept many +tears over her; oh! if she should return! I feel that we should be +happier together than formerly; there was much that was good and noble +in her, but she was misled--I hear my mother's light steps, and that +predicts that she has something good for me---- + +"Ah, yes! she has! she has a letter from you, my Eva! You cannot fix the +day of your return, and that is very sad--but you come soon! You love +Stockholm; so do I also; I could embrace Stockholm for that reason. + +"I am now at the very edge of my paper. Gabriele has bespoken the other +side. I leave you now, in order to write to _her_ who left us with +tears, but who, as I cordially hope, will return to us with smiles." + + FROM GABRIELE. + + In the Morning. + + "I could not write last evening, and am now up before the sun in + order to tell you that nothing can console me for Petrea's + absence, excepting your return. We are all of us terribly longing + after 'our Rose.' I know very well who beside your own family + longs for this same thing. + + "I must tell you that a little friendship has been got up between + Uncle Jeremias and me. All this came about in the fields, for he + is never particularly polite within doors; whilst in a walk, the + beautiful side of his character always comes out. Petrea and I + have taken such long excursions with him, and then he was mild and + lively; then he botanised with us, told us of the natural families + in the vegetable kingdom, and related the particular life and + history of many plants. Do you know it is the most agreeable + thing in the world to know something of all this; one feels + oneself on such familiar terms with these vegetable families. Ah! + how often when I feel thus am I made aware how indescribably rich + and glorious life is, and I fancy that every one must live happily + on earth who has only eyes and sense awakened to all that is + glorious therein, and then I can sing like a bird for pure + life-enjoyment. In the mean time, Uncle Jeremias and I cultivate + flowers in the house quite enthusiastically, and intend at + Christmas to make presents of both red and white lilacs; but, + indeed, I have almost a mind to cry that the nose of my Petrea + cannot smell them. + + "But I must come to an end, for you must know that occasionally I + have undertaken to have a watchful eye over the breakfast-table, + and therefore I go now to look after it. Bergström has fortunately + done all this, so that I have nothing now to do; next I must go + and look after my moss-rose, and see whether a new bud has yet + made its appearance; then I shall go and see after mamma; one + glance must I give through the window to the leaves in the garden, + which nod a farewell to me before they fall from the twigs; and to + the sun also, which now rises bright and beaming, must I send a + glance--a beam from the sun of my eyes and out of the depth of my + thankful heart; and therefore that I may be able, for the best + well-being of the community, to attend to all these important + matters, I must say to you, farewell! to you who are so dear to + me." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +PETREA TO LEONORE. + + + From the Inn at D----. + + "It is evening, and my father is gone out in order to make + arrangements for our to-morrow's voyage. I am alone: the mist + rises thick without, before the dirty inn-windows; my eyes also + are misty; my heart is heavy and full, I must converse with you. + + "Oh, Leonore! the bitter step has thus been taken--I am separated + from my own family, from my own home; and not soon shall I see + again their mild glances, or hear your consoling voice! and all + this--because I have not deserved--because I have destroyed the + peace of my home! Yes, Leonore! in vain will you endeavour to + excuse me, and reconcile me with myself! I know that I am + criminal--that I have desired, that I have wished, at least, for a + moment--oh, I would now press the hem of Louise's garment to my + lips and exclaim 'Forgive, forgive! I have passed judgment on + myself--I have banished myself; I fly--fly in order no more to + disturb your happiness or his!' + + "I was a cloud in their heaven; what should the cloud do there? + May the wind disperse it! Oh, Leonore, it is an indescribably + bitter feeling for a heart which burns with gratitude to be able + to do nothing more for the object of its love than to keep itself + at a distance, to make itself into nothing! But rather + that--rather a million-times hide myself in the bosom of the + earth, than give sorrow either to him or to her! Truly, if thereby + I could win anything for them; if I could moulder to dust like a + grain of corn, and then shoot forth for them into plentiful + blessing--that would be sweet and precious, Leonore! People extol + all those who are able to die for love, for honour, for religion, + for high and noble ends, and wherefore? Because it is, indeed, a + mercy from God to be able so to die--it is life in death! + + "I know a life which is death--which, endured through long + clinging years, would be a burden to itself, and a joy to no one. + Oh, how bitter! Wherefore must the craving after happiness, after + enjoyment, burn like an eternal thirst in the human soul, if the + assuaging fountain, Tantalus like----? + + "Leonore, my eyes burn, my head aches, and my heart is wildly + tempested! I am not good--I am not submissive--my soul is a + chaos--a little earth on forehead and breast, that might be good + for me. + + + On board the Steam-boat. + + "Thanks, Leonore, thanks for your pillow; it has really been an + ear-comfort for me.[16] Yesterday I thought that I was in the + direct way to become ill. I shivered; I burned; my head ached + fearfully: I felt as if torn to pieces. But when I laid my head + upon your little pillow, when my ear rested upon the delicate + cover which you had ornamented with such exquisite needlework, + then it seemed to me as if your spirit whispered to me out of it; + a repose came over me; all that was bad vanished so quickly, so + wonderfully; I slept calmly; I was quite astonished when they woke + me in the morning to feel that, bodily, I was quite well, and + mentally like one cured. This has been done by your pillow, + Leonore. I kissed it and thanked you. + + "It is related in the Acts of the Apostles that they brought the + sick and laid them in the way on which the holy men went, that at + least their shadows might fall upon them, and make them sound. I + have faith in the power of such a remedy; yes, the good, the holy, + impart somewhat of their life, of their strength, to all that + belong to them: I have found that to-night. + + "We went on board. The 'Sea-Witch' thundered and flew over the + sea. I know that she conveyed me away from you all, and leaning + over the bulwarks I wept. I felt then a pair of arms tenderly and + gently surrounding me; they were my father's! He wrapped a warm + cloak around me, and leaning on his breast, I raised my head. The + morning was clear; white flame-like clouds chased by the morning + wind flew across the deep blue; the waves beat foaming against the + vessel; green meadows, autumnally beautiful parks, extended + themselves on either side of us; space opened itself. I stood with + my face turned towards the wind and space, let the sea-spray wet + my lips and my eyelids, a soft shudder passed through me, and I + felt that life was beautiful. Yes, in the morning hour, filled + with its beaming-light, in this pure fresh wind, I felt the evil + demons of my soul retreat, and disperse themselves like mist and + vapour. I drank in the morning winds; I opened my heart to life; I + might also have opened my arms to them, and at the same time to + all my beloved ones, that thus I might have expressed to them the + quiet prediction of my heart, that love to them will heal me, will + afford me strength some time or other to give them joy. + + + The second day on board. + + "I should like to know whether a deep heart-grief would resist the + influence of a long voyage. There is something wonderfully + strengthening, something renovating in this life, this voyaging, + this fresh wind. It chases the dust from the eyes of the soul; + one sees oneself and others more accurately, and gets removed from + one's old self. One journeys in order to stand upon a new shore, + and amid new connexions. One begins, as it were, anew. + + "We had a storm yesterday, and with the exception of my father, I + was the only passenger who remained well, and on this account I + could help the sufferers. It is true it was not without its + discomforts; it is true that I reeled about sometimes with a glass + of water, and sometimes with a glass of drops in the hand; but I + saw many a laughable scene; many an odd trait of human nature. I + laughed, made my own remarks, forgot myself, and became friendly + with all mankind. Certainly it would be a very good thing for me + to be maid-servant on board a steam-boat. + + "Towards evening, the storm, as well within as without the vessel, + abated itself. I sate solitary on dock till midnight. The waves + still foamed around the agreeably rocking vessel; the wind + whistled in the rigging; and the full moon, heralded by one bright + little star, rose from the sea, and diffused her mild wondrous + light over its dark expanse. It was infinitely glorious! Nameless + thoughts and feelings arose in me, full of love and melancholy, + and yet at the same time elevating and strengthening; a certain + longing after that for which I knew no name. I desired I knew not + what. + + "But I fear and know that which I do not desire. I fear the quiet + measured life into which I am about again to + enter--conventionalities, forms, social life, all this cramps my + soul together, and makes it inclined to excesses. Instead of + sitting in select society, and drinking tea in 'high life,' would + I rather roam about the world in Viking expeditions--rather eat + locusts with John the Baptist in the wilderness, and go hither and + thither in a garment of camel's hair; and after all, such apparel + as this must be very convenient in comparison with our patchwork + toilet. Manifold are the changing scenes of life, and how shall I + find my way, and where shall I find my place in the magic circle + of the world. Forgive me, Leonore, that I talk so much about + myself. Thou good one, thou hast spoiled me in this respect. + + "We reached Furudal to-day in the afternoon. + + + Furudal. + + "Here are we on land; I would that I were at sea! I come even now + from the sitting-room, and in the sitting-room I always suffer + shipwreck. An evil genius always makes me say or do something + there unbecoming. This evening I entangled the reel of the + Bishop's lady, and told a stupid anecdote about a relation of + hers. I wished to be witty, and I succeeded badly, as I always do. + + "They are very neat people here. The Bishop is a small pale man, + with something angelic in voice and expression, but--he will not + have much time to bestow on me; he lives in his books and his + official duties, and moreover he is almost always in the city; and + his lady, who remains here perpetually, has very delicate health; + but I will wait upon her, and read aloud to her, and that will + give me pleasure. I only hope she may endure me. + + "Both husband and wife were amiable towards my father's daughter, + but I very well believe that they did not find me very loveable. + Intolerably hot, too, was their blessed drawing-room, and I was + tanned with the wind, and as red as a peony. Such things as these + are enough to make one a little desperate; all these things are + trifles, yet they are nevertheless annoying; and then it is + depressing, everlastingly to displease exactly where one wishes + most to please! + + * * * * * + + "I have unpacked the trunk which you all so carefully packed for + me; and now new and newly-repaired articles of clothing flew into + my arms one after another. Oh, sisters! it was you who have thus + brought my toilet in order for the whole winter! How good you are! + I recognised Louise's hand again. Oh, I must weep, my beloved + ones!--my home! + + + Some days later. + + "The pine-trees rustle fresh and still. I have been + out;--mountains, woods, solitude with nature--glorious! + + "Oh, Leonore, I will begin a new life; I will die to my ancient + self, to vanity, to error, to self-love. Every flattering token of + remembrance--notes, keepsakes--be they from man or woman, I have + destroyed. I send you herewith a little sum of money, which I + received for ornaments and for some of my own manufactures, which + I sold. Buy something with it which will give pleasure to Louise + and Jacobi; but do not let them surmise, I earnestly beseech you, + that it comes from Petrea. If I could only sell myself for a + respectable price, and make them rich, then---- + + "I shall have a deal of time for myself here, and I know how I + shall employ it. I will go out a great deal. I will wander through + wood and field, in storm, snow, and every kind of weather, till I + am, at least, bodily weary. Perhaps then it may be calmer in the + soul! I desire no longer to be happy. What does it matter if one + is not happy, if one is only pure and good? Were the probation-day + of life only not so long! Leonore, my good angel, pray for me! + + "May all be happy! + + "Greet all tenderly from your + + "Petrea. + + "P. S.--My nose makes its compliments to Gabriele, and goes in the + accompanying picture to pay her a visit. She must not imagine that + I am cast down. I send also a little ballad or romance; the wood + sung it to me last evening, and every harmonious sound, which life + in my soul sings, must--go home! Oh, how I love you all!" + + * * * * * + +And now, whilst our Petrea appears in rural solitude to prepare herself +for a new life, whilst the snow fell upon the earth in order to prepare +it for now springs, we turn back to our well-known home in the town, and +describe the occurrences there. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] Poor Petrea makes a little pun here. The Swedish word örongodt +(pillow) meaning literally good for the ear.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A CONVERSATION. + + +Jacobi had left. October was come, with its storms and its long +twilight, which is so dark and heavy for all such as have it not cheered +by kindly glances and bright thoughts. + +One evening, as Henrik came down to tea, he was observed to look +uncommonly pale, and in answer to the inquiry of his sisters as to the +cause, he replied that he had headache, and added, half in jest, half in +earnest, that it would be very beautiful to be only once freed from this +heavy body--it was so sadly in one's way! + +"How you talk!" said Louise; "at all events, it is right to treat it +well and rationally; not to go sitting up all night and studying so that +one has headache all day!" + +"Thank your majesty most submissively for the moral!" said Henrik; "but +if my body will not serve my soul, but will subject it, I have a very +great desire to contend with it, and to quarrel with it!" + +"The butterfly becomes matured in the chrysalis," said Gabriele, smiling +sweetly, whilst she strewed rose-leaves upon some chrysalises which were +to sleep through the winter on her flower-stand. + +"Ah, yes," replied Henrik; "but how heavily does not the shell press +down upon the wings of the butterfly! The earthly chrysalis weighs upon +me! What would not the soul accomplish? how could it not live and enjoy, +were it not for this? In certain bright moments, what do we not feel and +think? what brilliancy in conception! what godlike warmth of feeling in +the heart!--one could press the whole world to one's bosom at such a +time, seeing, with a glance, through all, and penetrating all as with +fire. Oh, there is then an abundance, a clearness! Yes, if our Lord +himself came to me at such a moment, I should reach forth my hand to him +and say, 'Good day, brother!'" + +"Dear Henrik!" said Louise, somewhat startled, "now I think you do not +rightly know what you say." + +"Yes," continued he, without regarding the interruption, "so can one +feel, but only for a moment; in the next, the chrysalis closes heavily +again its earthly dust-mantle around our being, and we are stupified and +sleep, and sink deep below that which we so lately were. Then one sees +in books nothing but printed words, and in one's soul one finds neither +feeling nor thought, and towards man, for whom so shortly before the +very heart seemed to burn, one feels oneself stiff and disinclined. Ah, +it were enough to make one fall into despair!" + +"It would be far better," said Louise, "that such people went to sleep, +and then they would get rid of headache and heaviness." + +"But," said Henrik, smiling, "that is a sorrowful remedy according to my +notions. It is horrible to require so much sleep! How can any one who is +a seven-sleeper become great? 'Les hommes puissans veillent et veulent,' +says Balzac with reason; and because my miserable heavy nature requires +so much sleep, so certainly shall I never turn out great in any way. +Besides, this entrancement, this glorification produces such wakeful +moments in the soul, that one feels poor and stripped when they are +extinguished. Ah! I can very well comprehend how so many make use of +external excitement to recal or to prolong them, and that they endeavour +through the fire of wine to wake again the fire of the soul." + +"Then," said Louise, "you comprehend something which is very bad and +irrational. They are precisely such excitements as these that we have to +thank for there being so many miserable men, and so many drunkards in +Sweden, that one can scarcely venture to go out in the streets for +them!" + +"I do not defend it, dear Louise," said Henrik, gently smiling at the +zeal of his sister, "but I can understand it, and in certain cases I can +excuse it. Life is often felt to be so heavy, and the moments of +inspiration give a fulness to existence; they are like lightning flashes +out of the eternal life!" + +"And so they certainly are," said Leonore, who had listened attentively +to her brother, and whose mild eyes had become moist by his words; "and +life will certainly," continued she, "feel thus clear, thus full, when +we shall have become ever entirely freed from the chrysalis; not from +the bonds of the body only, but of the soul also. Perhaps these moments +are given to us here on earth to allure us up to the Father's house, and +to let us feel its air." + +"A beautiful thought, Leonore," said her brother. "Thus these gleams of +light are truly revelations of our inward, actual, here-yet-enslaved +life. Good God! how glorious that--But ah! the long, long moments of +darkness, what are they?" + +"Trials of patience, times of preparation," replied Leonore, tenderly +smiling. "Besides, the bright moments come again and gladden us with +their light, and that so much the more frequently the further one +advances in perfection. But one must, at the same time, learn to have +patience with oneself, Henrik, and here, in this life, to wait for +oneself." + +"You have spoken a true word, sister. I must kiss your hand for it," +said Henrik. "Ah, yes, if----" + +"Be now a little less sensible and ćsthetic," exclaimed "our eldest," +"and come here and drink a cup of tea! See here, Henrik, a cup of strong +warm tea, which will do your head good. But this evening and to-morrow +morning you must take a table-spoonful of my elixir!" + +"From that defend us all, ye good--_Vi ringrazia carissima sorella!_" +said Henrik. "But--but charming Gabriele! a drop of port wine in the tea +would make it more powerful, without turning me into one of those +miserable beings of whom Louise is so afraid! Thanks, sister dear! +_Fermez les yeux_, O Mahomet!" and with an obeisance before Louise, +Henrik conveyed the cup to his lips. + +Later in the evening Henrik stood in one of the library windows looking +out into the moonlight. Leonore went up to him and looked into his face +with that mild, humbly questioning glance to which the heart so +willingly opened itself, and which was peculiar to her. + +"You are so pale, Henrik," said she, disquieted. + +"It is extraordinary," said he, half laughing at himself; "do you see, +Leonore, how the tops of the fir-trees there in the churchyard bow +themselves in the wind and beckon? I cannot conceive why, but this +nodding and beckoning distresses me wonderfully; I feel it in my very +heart." + +"That comes naturally enough, Henrik," returned she, "because you are +not well. Shall we not go out a little? It is such lovely moonshine! The +fresh air will perhaps do you good." + +"Will you go with me, Leonore?" said he. "Yes, that is a good idea!" + +Gabriele found it, however, rather poor, and called her brother and +sister Samoyedes, Laplanders, Esquimaux, and such like, who would go +wandering about in the middle of a winter's night. Nevertheless these +two went forth jestingly and merrily arm in arm. + +"Is it not too windy for you?" asked Henrik, whilst he endeavoured +carefully to shield his sister from the wind. + +"The wind is not cold," replied Leonore, "and it is particularly +charming to me to walk by your side while it roars around us, and while +the snow-flakes dance about in the moonshine like little elves." + +"Nay, you feel then like me!" said Henrik; "with you, sisters, I am +ever calm and happy; but I don't know how it is, but now for some time +other people often plague and irritate me----" + +"Ah, Henrik," remarked Leonore, "is not that someway your own fault?" + +"Are you thinking of Stjernhök, Leonore?" asked he. + +"Yes." + +"So am I," continued he, "and perhaps you are right; yes, I will +willingly concede that I have often been unjust towards him, and +unreasonably violent, but he has excited me to it. Why has he made me so +often oppressively feel his superiority? so often taken away from me my +own joy in my own endeavours, and almost always treated me with coldness +and depreciation?" + +Leonore made no answer, the moonlight lit a quiet tear in her eye, and +Henrik continued with increasing violence: + +"I could have loved him so much! He had, through the originality of his +character, his strength, and his whole individuality, a great influence, +a great power over me; but he has misused it; he has treated me +severely, precisely in the instances in which I approached him nearest. +He has flung from him the devotion which I cherished for him. I will +tell you the whole truth, Leonore, and how this has happened between us. +You know that in the University, about three years ago, a sort of +literary society of young men gathered themselves about me. Perhaps they +esteemed my literary talents too highly, and might mislead me--I could +almost believe so myself, but I was the favourite of the day in the +circle in which my life moved; perhaps, on that account, I became +presumptuous; perhaps a tone of pretension betrayed itself in me, and a +false, one-sided direction was visible in the poems which I then +published: nevertheless, these poems made some little noise in the +world. Shortly, however, after their appearance a criticism on them came +out, which made a yet greater noise, on account of its power, its +severity, and also its satirical wit. Its acrimony spared neither my +work nor my character as a poet, and it produced almost universally a +re-action against me. It appeared to me severe and one-sided; and even +now, at this moment, it appears to me not otherwise, although I can now +see its justice much better than at the time. + +"The anonymous author of the critique upon me was Stjernhök, and he did +not in the slightest deny it. He considered it as being much less +directed against me personally, than against the increasing influence of +the party of which I was a sort of chief. Even before this I had begun +to withdraw myself from his power, which I always felt to be oppressive; +and this new blow did not, by any means, tend to reunite us. His severe +criticism had made me observant of my faults; but yet I do not know +whether it would have produced any other effect than pain, had I not at +this time returned home to you; and at home, through the beneficial +influence of my own family, a new strength and a purer direction had +been aroused in me. That was the time in which my father, with +indescribable goodness, and in complot with you all, sold the half of +his library to furnish me with the means of foreign travel. Yes, you +have called forth a new being in me; and all my poems, and all my +writings, are now designed to prove to you that I am not unworthy of +you. Ah, yes! I love you warmly and deeply--but it is all over with +Stjernhök; the love which I cherished for him has changed itself into +bitterness." + +"Ah, Henrik, Henrik, do not let it be so!" said Leonore. "Stjernhök is +indeed a noble, a good man, even if, at the same time, too severe. But +really he loves you as well as we, but you two will not understand one +another; and Henrik, the last time you were really unjust to him--you +seemed as if you could hardly bear him." + +"I hardly can, Leonore," said he. "It is a feeling stronger than myself. +I don't know what evil spirit it is which now, for some time, has set +itself firmly in my heart; but there it is steadfastly rooted; and if I +am aware only of Stjernhök's presence, it is as if a sharp sword passed +through me; before him my heart contracts itself; and if he only touch +me, I feel as if burning lead went through my veins." + +"Henrik! dearest Henrik!" exclaimed Leonore with pain, "it is really +terrible! Ah! make only the attempt with yourself; conquer your +feelings, and extend the hand of reconciliation to him." + +"It is too late for that, Leonore," said Henrik. "Yes, if it were +necessary for him, it would be easy; but what does he trouble himself +about me? He never loved me, never esteemed either my efforts or my +ability. And perhaps it may be with some justice that he does not think +so very highly of my talents. What have I done? And sometimes it seems +to me, even in the future, that I never shall do any thing great; that +my powers are limited, and that my spring-time is past. Stjernhök's, on +the contrary, is yet to come; he belongs to that class which mounts +slowly, but on that account all the more steadily. I see now, much +better than I did formerly, how far he stands beyond me, and how much +higher he will rise--and his knowledge is martyrdom to me." + +"But wherefore," pleaded Leonore, "these dark thoughts and feelings, +dear Henrik, when your future appears fuller of hope than ever before? +Your beautiful poetry; your prize essay, which is certain to bring you +honour; the prospect of an advantageous post, a sphere of action which +will be dear to you--all this, which in a few months will so animate +your heart--why has it at this time so lost its power over you?" + +"I cannot tell," replied he; "but for some time now I have been, and am +much changed; I have no faith in my good fortune; it seems to me as if +all my beautiful hopes will vanish like a dream." + +"And even if it were so," said Leonore questioningly, with humility and +tenderness, "could you not find happiness and peace at home; in the +occupation of your beloved studies; in the life with us, who love you +solely, and for your own sake?" + +Henrik pressed his sister's arm to his side, but answered nothing; and a +violent passing gust of wind compelled him to stand still for a moment. + +"Horrible weather!" said he, wrapping his cloak round his sister at the +same time. + +"But this is your favourite weather," remarked she jestingly. + +"_Was_, you should say," returned he; "now I do not like it, perhaps +because it produces a feeling in me which distresses me." With these +words he took his sister's hand and laid it on his heart. His heart beat +wildly and strongly; its beating was almost audible. + +"Heavens!" exclaimed Leonore, alarmed, "Henrik, what is this?--is it +often thus?" + +"Only occasionally;--I have had it now for some time," replied he; "but +don't be uneasy on this account; and, above all things, say nothing to +my mother or Gabriele about it. I have spoken with Munter on the +subject; he has prescribed for me, and does not think it of much +consequence. To-day I have had it without intermission, and perhaps I am +from that cause somewhat hypochondriacal. Forgive me, dear Leonore, that +I have teased you about it. I am much better and livelier now; this +little walk has done me good--if you only don't get cold, Leonore, or +you would certainly be punished, or at all events be threatened, with +Louise's elixir. But does there not drive a travelling carriage towards +our door, exactly as if it would stop there? Can it be Eva? The carriage +stops--it is certainly Eva!" + +"Eva! Eva!" exclaimed Leonore, with cordial delight; and both brother +and sister ran so quickly to the gate that she was received into their +arms as she dismounted from the carriage. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +EVA. + + +Among the agreeable circumstances which occur in a happy home may +certainly be reckoned the return to its bosom of one of its beloved +members. So returns the bee to the safe hive with her harvest of honey, +after her flight abroad over the meadows of the earth. How much is there +not mutually to relate, to hear, to see, and to enjoy! Every cloud in +the heaven of home vanishes then; all is sunshine and joy; and it must +be bad indeed if they do not find one another lovelier and improved, for +when everything goes on right here, every advancing footstep in life +must tend in a certain manner to improvement. + +Bright, indeed, did Eva's return make the hours of sunshine in the Frank +family! The mutual love which demonstrated itself in embraces, smiles, +tears, laughter, sweet words of greeting, and a thousand tokens of joy +and tenderness, made the first hours vanish in a lively intoxication, +and then, when all had become quieter and they looked nearer about them, +all looks and thoughts gathered themselves still about Eva with rapture; +her beauty seemed now in its full bloom, and a captivating life seemed +to prevail in her looks, in her behaviour, in her every motion, which +hitherto had not been seen. Her dress of the most modern fashion, a +certain development and style about her, a bewitching case of manner, +all evinced the elegant circles of the capital, and exerted their magic +over her friends, and charmed them all, but especially Gabriele, who +followed her beautiful sister with beaming looks. + +Bergström gave way to his feelings in the kitchen, and exclaimed, +"Mamselle Eva is quite divine!" Never had the blond Ulla so entirely +agreed with him before. + +Leonore was the only one who regarded Eva with a tender yet at the same +time troubled eye. She saw a something worldly in Eva's exterior and +demeanour, which was a presage to her that a great and not happy change +had taken place in her beloved sister. Nor was it long before Leonore's +foreboding proved itself to be right. Eva had not been many hours in the +house before it was plainly visible that domestic affairs had but little +interest for her, and that parents and family and friends were not to +her all that they had been before. + +Eva's soul was entirely occupied by one object, which laid claim to all +her thoughts and feelings, and this was Major R----. His handsome +person, his brilliant talents; his amiability, his love; the parties in +which she had met him, the balls in which she had danced with him; the +occasions on which they had played parts together--in short, all the +romantic unfoldings of their connexion, were the pictures which now +alone lived in her heart, and danced around her fancy, now heated by +worldly happiness. + +The grave expression of her father's countenance, as he heard her first +mention the Major, prevented her during this first evening from +repeating his name. + +But when afterwards she was alone with her sisters, when the sweet hour +of talk came, which between dear friends, on such occasions, generally +extends itself from night till morning, Eva gave free course to all with +which her soul was filled, and related to her sisters at large her +romance of the last year, in which several rival lovers figured, but of +which Major R---- was the hero. Nor was it without self-satisfaction +that Eva represented herself as the worshipped and conquering heroine +amid a crowd of rival ladies. Her soul was so occupied by all these +circumstances, her mind was so excited, that she did not observe the +embarrassment of her sisters during her relation; she saw neither their +disquiet, their constrained smiles, nor their occasionally depressed +looks. + +Nor was it till when, with eyes beaming with joy, she confided to them +that Major R---- would soon come to the city, where he had relatives; +that he would spend the Christmas with them, and then ask her hand from +her parents, that the veil fell from her eyes. Louise expressed herself +strongly against Major R----, wondered at her sister, and lamented that +she could endure such a man; it was not, she said, what she had expected +from her. Eva, very much wounded, defended the Major with warmth, and +talked of intolerance and prejudice. In consequence of this, Louise's +indignation was increased; Gabriele began to weep, and Louise bore her +company; she seemed to look upon Eva as on one lost. Leonore was calmer; +she spoke not one word which could wound her sister, but sighed deeply, +and looked with quiet grief upon the beloved but misguided sister; and +then seeing what a tragical turn the conversation was taking, said, with +all that expression of calm sincerity so peculiarly her own: + +"Do not let us this evening speak further on this subject; do not let us +disturb our joy. We have now Eva with us at home, and shall have time +enough to talk and to think--and then all will be cleared up. Is it not +quite for the best that we sleep on this affair? Eva must be weary after +her journey, and our 'blue-eyed one' must not weep on this first +evening." + +Leonore's advice was taken, and with a mutual "forgive," Louise, Eva, +and Gabriele embraced and separated for the night. Leonore was happy to +be alone with Eva, and listened undisturbedly through the whole night to +her relations. The good Leonore! + +Major Victor R. was universally known as one of those who make sport +with female hearts, and Judge Frank regarded sport of this kind with a +severity very uncommon among his sex, especially where, as was the case +in this instance, selfishness, and not thoughtlessness, led to it. The +Major, ten years before this time, had married a young and rich girl +connected with the Judge's family; and the only fault of the young wife, +then sixteen, had been that of loving her husband too tenderly--nay, +even in adoring one who repaid her love with relentless severity and +faithlessness, under which the poor Amelia drooped, and, in the second +year of her marriage, died; but not without having bequeathed to the +unworthy husband all the property over which she had any control. + +These were the very means by which R. now was enabled to pursue his +brilliant and reckless career. He always made his court to one of the +beauties of the day. He had been several times betrothed, but had broken +off the affair again without the smallest regard to the reputation or to +the feelings of the girl, upon whom by this means he had cast a +stain--nay, indeed, he secretly regarded it as an honour to himself to +make such victims, and to cause hearts to bleed for him--that cooled the +burning thirst of his self-love. + +The world did justice to his agreeable and splendid talents; but the +noble of his own sex, as well as of the other, esteemed him but very +lightly, inasmuch as they considered him a person without true worth. +The thoughts of a union between this man and his beloved daughter +occasioned a storm in the bosom of the Judge. + +Such was the information regarding the man whom she loved that met Eva +on her return home. Everybody was unanimously against him. What Eva +spoke in his excuse produced no effect; what she said of his true and +deep devotion to her, evidently nobody credited; and over her own love, +which had made the world so beautiful, which had produced the most +delicious feelings in her breast, and had opened to her a heaven of +happiness, people mourned and wept, and regarded it as a misfortune, +nay, even as a degradation. Wounded to the inmost of her soul, Eva drew +herself back, as it were, from her own family, and accused them to +herself of selfishness and unreasonableness. Louise, perhaps, deserved +somewhat of this reproach; but Leonore was pure, pure as the angels of +heaven; still Leonore mourned over Eva's love, and on that account Eva +closed her heart against her also. + +The variance, which in consequence of all this existed between Eva and +her family, became only yet greater when Major R. arrived, shortly after +her, at the city. He was a tall handsome man, of perhaps +five-and-thirty; of a haughty, but somewhat trifling exterior; his +countenance was gay and blooming, and his look clear and bold. Great +practice in the world, and an inimitable ease and confidence, gave to +his demeanour and conversation that irresistible power which these +qualities exercise so greatly in society. + +On his visit to the Franks, the Judge and he exchanged some glances, in +which both read that neither could endure the other. The Major, however, +let nothing of all this be seen; was perfectly candid and gay; and while +he directed his conversation especially to Elise, spoke scarcely one +word to Eva, though he looked much at her. After the first stiff +salutation, the Judge went again into his study, for the very appearance +of this man was painful to him. Leonore was polite, nay, almost friendly +to him, for she would willingly have loved one whom Eva loved. Assessor +Munter was present during this visit; but when he had seen, for a few +minutes, the glances which the Major cast upon Eva, and their magic +influence over her, and had observed and had read her whole heart in a +timid glance which she raised to her beloved, he withdrew silently and +hastily. + +The Major came but seldom to the house, for the eye of the Judge +appeared to have the power of keeping him at a distance; on the +contrary, he managed it so that he saw Eva almost daily out of the +house. He met her when she went out, and accompanied her home from +church. Invitations came; sledging-parties and balls were arranged; and +Eva, who formerly was so well pleased with home, who had often given up +the pleasures of the world for the domestic evening circle, Eva appeared +to find nothing now pleasing at home; appeared only to be able to live +in those circles and those pleasures in which Major R. shone, and where +she could see herself distinguished by him. Precisely, therefore, on +account of these rencontres of the two, the family went as little as +possible into society. Still, notwithstanding all this, Eva's wishes +upon the whole were favoured. Leonore accompanied her faithfully +wherever she wished. The Judge was gloomy and disturbed in temper; the +mother was mild and accommodating; and as to Eva, she was in a high +degree sensitive; whilst whatever concerned her love, or seemed to +oppose her wishes in the slightest degree, brought her to tears and +hysterical sobs, and her friends became ever more and more aware how +violent and exclusive her love was to Major R. The mere glimpse of him, +the sound of his steps, the tone of his voice, shook her whole frame. +All earlier affectionate relationships had lost their power over her +heart. + +It not unfrequently happens that people, whether it arises from physical +or moral causes, become wonderfully unlike themselves. Irritability, +violence, indiscretion, and unkindness, suddenly reveal themselves in a +hitherto gentle and amiable character, and, as if by a magic stroke, a +beautiful form has been transformed into a witch. It requires a great +deal, under such circumstances, to keep friends warm and unchanged. A +great demand of goodness, a great demand of clearness of vision, is made +from any one when, under these circumstances, he is required to remain +true in the same love, to persevere in the same faith, to wait patiently +for the time when the magic shall lose its power, when the changed one +shall come back again; and yet he, all the time, be able only to present +himself by quiet prayers, mild looks, and affectionate care! Probably +otherwise he never might have come back again. I say _great purity of +vision_, because the true friend never loses sight of the heavenly image +of his friend; but sees it through every veil of casualty, even when it +is concealed from all, nay, even from the faulty one's self! He has +faith in it; he loves it; he lives for it, and says, "Wait! have +patience! it will go over, and then he (or she) comes back again!" And +whoever has such a friend, comes back indeed! + +So stood the quiet, affectionate Leonore on the side of her altered +sister. + +All this time Henrik was beneficial to his whole family, and appeared to +have regained all his former amiable animation, in order therewith to +eradicate every disturbing sensation from the bosom of home. He +accompanied his family, more than he had ever done before, into society, +and had always a watchful eye on his sister and the Major. + +Before long the Major declared himself, and asked for Eva's hand. Her +parents had prepared themselves for this event, and had decided on their +line of conduct. They intended not to make their child unhappy by a +decided negative to the wishes of her heart; but they had determined to +demand a year of trial both from her and her lover, during which time +they should have no intercourse with each other, should exchange no +letters, and should consider themselves as free from every mutual +obligation; and that then again after this interval of time, if they +two, the Major and Eva, still wished it, the question of their union +might again he brought forward. This middle path had been proposed by +Elise, who, through a progressively inward, and more perfect fulfilment +of duties, had acquired an ever-increasing power over her husband, and +thus induced him to accede to it, at the same time that she endeavoured +to infuse into him the hope which she herself cherished, namely, either +that Eva, during the time of probation, would discover the unworthiness +of the Major, and won over by the wishes and the tenderness of her +family, would conquer her love, or, on the other hand, that the Major, +ennobled by love and constant to her, would become worthy of her. It was +one of the most favourite and cherished axioms of the Judge, that every +man had the power of improving himself, and he willingly conceded that +for this end there existed no more powerful means than a virtuous love. + +The Judge now talked energetically yet tenderly with his daughter; +explained clearly to her the terms of this connexion, without concealing +from her how bitter to him had been, and still was, the thought of this +union, and appealed to her own sense and reason whether too much had +been required in this prescribed time of trial. + +Eva shed many tears; but deeply affected by the goodness of her parents, +consented to their wishes, and promised, though not without pain, to +fulfil them. The Judge wrote to the Major, who had made his declaration +by letter, a candid and noble, but by no means sugared, answer; wherein +he required from him, as a man of honour, that he should by no means +whatever induce Eva to swerve from the promises which she had made to +her parents, and by this means disturb her hitherto so happy connexion +with her own family. This letter, which the father allowed his daughter +to read, and which occasioned her fresh tears, whilst she in vain +endeavoured to persuade him to remove expressions which she considered +too severe, but which he, on the contrary, considered too mild, was +despatched the same day, and all was again quieter. + +Probably Eva would strictly have adhered to the wishes of her parents, +which they endeavoured to make pleasant to her by much kindness, had not +a letter from the Major been conveyed to her on the next evening, which +quite excited and unhinged her again. He complained violently therein of +her father's unreasonableness, injustice, and tyranny; and spoke, in the +most passionate terms, of his love, of his unbounded sufferings, and of +his despair. The consequence of this letter was that Eva was ill--but +more so, however, in mind than body, and that she demanded to have an +interview with Assessor Munter. + +The friend and physician of the house came immediately to her. + +"Do you love me?" was Eva's first question when they were alone. + +"Do I love you, Eva?" answered he, and looked at her with an expression +of eye which must have moved any heart to tenderness that had been +otherwise occupied than hers was. + +"If you love me, if you desire that I should not be really ill," +continued Eva, speaking with quickness and great warmth, "you must +convey this letter to Major R----, and bring his answer back into my +hands. My father is set against him, everybody is set against him; +nobody knows him as well as I do! I am in a state of mind which will +drive me to despair, if you have not compassion on me! But you must be +my friend in secret.--You will not? If you love me you must take this +letter and----" + +"Desire all things from me, Eva," interrupted he, "but not this! and +precisely because you are so dear to me. This man in fact is not worthy +of you; he does not deserve----" + +"Not a word about him!" interrupted Eva, with warmth: "I know him better +than you all--_I_ alone know him; but you all are his enemies, and +enemies to my happiness. Once again I pray you--pray you with tears! Is +it then so much that I desire from you? My benefactor, my friend, will +you not grant this prayer of your Eva?" + +"Let me speak with your father," said he. + +"On this subject? No, no! impossible!" exclaimed she. + +"Then, Eva, I must refuse your prayer. It gives me more pain than I can +express to refuse you anything in this world; but I will not stain my +hand in this affair. I will not be a means of your unhappiness. +Farewell!" + +"Stop, stop," cried Eva, "and hear me! What is it that you fear for me?" + +"Everything from a man of R----'s character." + +"You mistake him, and you mistake me," returned she. + +"I know him, and I know you," said he, "and on that account I would +rather go into fire than convey letters between him and you. This is my +last word." + +"You will not!" exclaimed she; "then you love me not, and I have not a +friend in this world!" + +"Eva, Eva, do not say so! you sin against yourself. You know not--ask +everything from me--ask my life--ah, through you, life has already lost +its worth for me!--ask----" + +"Empty words!" interrupted Eva, and turned impatiently away. "I desire +nothing more from you, Assessor Munter! Pardon me that I have given you +so much trouble!" + +Munter looked at her for some moments in silence, laid his hand hastily +on his heart as if he had a violent pain there, and went out more bowed +than commonly. + +Not long after this, an unexpected ray of light gladdened the painful +condition of affairs between Eva and her family. She was calmer. The +Major removed from the city into the country, to pass the Christmas with +a relation of his there; and on the same day Eva came down into the +library at the customary hour of tea, after she had passed several days +in her own room. Every one received her with joy. Her father went +towards her with open arms, called her sweet names, placed her on the +sofa by her mother, and took her tea to her himself: a lover could not +have been more tender or more attentive to her. One might see that Eva +was not indifferent to these marks of affection, and that yet she did +not receive them altogether with joy. A burning red alternated with +paleness on her cheek, and at times it seemed that a tear, a repentant +tear, filled her eyes. + +From this time, however, the old state of feeling, and the old quiet, +returned in part to the bosom of the family. Nobody named the Major; and +as, when spring-time comes, the grass grows and the leaves burst forth, +although the heaven is yet dark, and many a northern blast yet lingers +in the air, so did affectionate feelings and joyful hours spring up +again in the family of the Franks, from the spontaneous vernal spirit +which reigned there. + +You might have seen the mother there, like the heart of the family, +taking part in all that went forward, making every one so cheerful and +comfortable, as she moved about here and there, so rich in grace and joy +and consolation! Wherever she came, there came with her a something +pleasant or animating, either in word or deed; and yet all this time she +was very far from being herself calm. Care for her daughter was +accompanied by anxiety on account of Henrik's prospects and happiness. +She understood, better than any one else, his feelings, his wishes, and +his thoughts; and on this account glances of friendly understanding were +often exchanged between them, and from this cause also was it that on +those days on which the post came in from Stockholm, she became paler +and paler the nearer post-time came--for it perhaps might bring with it +important news for Henrik. + +"My dear Elise," said the Judge, jesting affectionately, "to what +purpose is all this unquiet, this incomprehensible anxiety? I grant that +it would be a happiness to us all, and a piece of good luck, if Henrik +could obtain the solicited situation--but if he do not get it--well, +what then?--he can get another in a little while. He is yet a mere +youngster, and can very well wait for some years. And his poem--suppose +it should now and never more be regarded as a masterpiece, and should +not obtain the prize--now, in heaven's name! what does it matter? He +would perhaps, from the very circumstance of his having less fortune as +a poet, be only the more practical man, and I confess that would not +mortify me. And I shall wish both the poem and the appointment at the +place where pepper grows if you are to become pale and nervous on its +account! Promise me now next post-day to be reasonable, and not to look +like the waning moon, else I promise you that I shall be downright +angry, and will keep the whole post-bag to myself!" + +To his children the father spoke thus: "Have you really neither genius +nor spirit of invention enough to divert and occupy your mother on the +unfortunate post-day? Henrik, it depends upon you whether she be calm or +not; and if you do not convince her that, let your luck in the world be +whatever it may, you can bear it like a man, I must tell you that you +have not deserved all the tenderness which she has shown you!" + +Henrik coloured deeply, and the Judge continued: "And you, Gabriele! I +shall never call you my clever girl again, if you do not make a riddle +against the next post-day which shall so occupy your mother that she +shall forget all the rest!" + +The following post-day was an exceedingly merry one. Never before had +more interesting topics of conversation been brought forward by Henrik; +never before had the mother been so completely seduced into the +discussions of the young people. At the very moment when the post-hour +arrived she was deeply busied in solving a riddle, which Henrik and +Gabriele endeavoured to make only the more intricate by their fun and +jokes, whilst they were pretending to assist her in the discovery. + +The riddle ran as follows: + + Raging war and tumult + Am I never nigh; + And from rain and tempest + To far woods I fly. + In cold, worldly bosoms + My deep grave is made; + And from conflagration + Death has me affrayed. + No one e'er can find me + In the dungeon glooms; + I have no abiding, + Save where freedom blooms. + My morning sun ariseth, + Light o'er mind to fling; + O'er love's throbbing bosom + Rests my downy wing! + Like our Lord in heaven, + I am ever there + And like him of children + Have I daily care. + What though I may sever + From thee now and then, + I forget thee never---- + I come back again! + In the morning's brightness, + Dear one, if thou miss me, + With the sunset's crimson + Come I back and kiss thee! + +This riddle, which it must be confessed was by no means one of +Gabriele's best, gave rise to a fund of amusement, and occasioned the +maddest propositions on Henrik's part. The mother, however, did not +allow herself to be misled; but exclaimed, whilst she laughingly +endeavoured to overpower the voices of her joking children, + +"The riddle is----" + +What the riddle was, the reader may see by the title of our next +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HAPPINESS. + + +"Happiness!" repeated the Judge, as he entered the room at the same +moment, with letters and newspapers in his hand. + +"I fancy you have been busying yourselves here with prophesyings," said +he: "Gabriele, my child, you shall have your reward for it--read this +aloud to your mother!" laying a newspaper before her. + +Gabriele began to read--but threw the paper hastily down, gave a spring +for joy, clapped her hands, and exclaimed, + +"Henrik's poetry has won the highest prize!" + +"And here, Henrik," said the father, "are letters--you are nominated +to----" The voice of the Judge was drowned in the general outbreak of +joy. Henrik lay in the arms of his mother, surrounded by his sisters, +who, amid all their jubilation, had tearful eyes. + +The Judge walked up and down the room with long strides; at length he +paused before the happy group, and exclaimed, + +"Nay, only see! let me also have a little bit! Elise--my thanks to thee +that thou hast given him to me--and thou boy, come here--I must tell +thee----" but not one word could he tell him. + +The father, speechless from inward emotion, embraced his son, and +returned in the same manner the affectionate demonstrations of his +daughters. + +Many private letters from Stockholm contained flattering words and +joyful congratulations to the young poet. All Henrik's friends seemed to +accord in one song of triumph. + +There was almost too much happiness for one time. + +During the first moments of this news the joy was calm and mingled with +emotion; afterwards, however, it was lively, and shot forth like rockets +in a thousand directions. Every thing was in motion to celebrate the day +and its hero; and while the father of the family set about to mix a +bowl--for he would that the whole house should drink Henrik's +health--the others laid plans for a journey to Stockholm. The whole +family must be witnesses of Henrik's receiving the great gold +medal--they must be present on the day of his triumph. Eva recovered +almost her entire liveliness as she described a similar festival which +she had witnessed in the Swedish Academy. + +Henrik talked a deal about Stockholm; he longed to be able to show his +mother and sisters the beautiful capital. How they would be delighted +with the gallery of mineralogy--how they would be charmed with the +theatres! how they would see and hear the lovely Demoiselle Högquist and +the captivating Jenny Lind![17]--and then the castle!--the +promenades--the prospects--the churches--the beautiful statues in the +public places--Henrik would have been almost ready to have overthrown +some of them. Oh, there was so much that was beautiful and delightful to +see in Stockholm! + +The mother smiled in joy over----the occasion of the journey to +Stockholm; the father said "yes" to that and every thing; the +countenances of the young people beamed forth happiness; the bowl was +fragrant with good luck. + +The young Baron L., who liked Henrik extremely, and who liked still more +every lively excitement to every uproar, was possessed by a regular +frenzy to celebrate the day. He waltzed with everybody; Louise might not +sit still; "the little lady" must allow herself to be twirled about; but +the truth was that in her joy she was about as wild for dancing as he +was himself--the very Judge himself must waltz with him; and at last he +waltzed with chairs and tables, whilst the fire of the punch was not +very much calculated to abate his vivacious spirits. + +It was very hard for the Judge that he was compelled on this very day to +leave home, but pressing business obliged him to do so. He must make a +journey that same evening, which would detain him from home for three or +four days, and although he left his family in the full bloom of their +joy and prosperity, the short separation appeared to him more painful +than common. + +After he had taken his leave he returned--a circumstance very unusual +with him--to the room again; embraced his wife yet a second time, +flourished about with his daughters in his wolf's-skin cloak as if out +of liveliness, and then went out hastily, giving to the young Baron, +who, in his wild joy, had fallen upon his wolf's-skin like a dog, a +tolerably heavy cuff. A few minutes afterwards, as he cast from his +sledge a glance and a hand-greeting to his wife and daughters at the +library window, they saw with astonishment that his eyes were full of +tears. + +But the joy of the present, and the promises of the future, filled the +hearts of those who remained behind to overflowing, and the evening +passed amid gaiety and pleasure. + +Baron L. drank punch with the domestics till both he and they were quite +wrong in the head, and all Louise's good moral preaching was like so +many water-drops on the fire. Henrik was nobly gay, and the beaming +expression of his animated, beautiful head, reminded the beholder of an +Apollo. + +"Where now are all your gloomy forebodings?" whispered Leonore, tenderly +joyful; "you look to me as if you could even embrace Stjernhök." + +"The whole world!" returned Henrik, clasping his sister to his breast, +"I am so happy!" + +And yet there was one person in the house who was happier than Henrik, +and that was his mother. When she looked on the beautiful, glorified +countenance of her son, and thought of that which he was and on what he +would become; when she thought on the laurels which would engarland his +beloved head, on the future which awaited her favourite, her summer +child--Oh! then bloomed the high summer of maternal joy in her breast, +and she revelled in a nameless happiness--a happiness so great that she +was almost anxious, because it appeared to her too great to be borne on +earth! + +And yet for all that--and we say it with grateful joy--the earth can +bear a great degree of happiness; can bear it for long without its +either bringing with it a curse or a disappointment. It is in stillness +and in retirement where this good fortune blooms the best, and on that +account the world knows little of it, and has little faith in it. But, +thank God! it may be abundantly found in all times and in all countries; +and it is--we whisper this to the blessed ones in order that we may +rejoice with them--it is of extremely rare occurrence when it happens in +actual life, as, for the sake of effect, it happens in books, that a +strong current of happiness carries along with it unhappiness as in a +drag-rope. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] Emilie Högquist and Jenny Lind are two great ornaments of the +Stockholm theatre; the first an actress, the second a singer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +UNHAPPINESS. + + +Night succeeded the joyful evening, and the members of the Frank family +lay deep in the arms of sleep, when suddenly, at the hour of midnight, +they were awoke by the fearful cry of "Fire! fire!" + +The house was on fire, and smoke and flames met them at every turn; for +the conflagration spread with incredible speed. An inconceivable +confusion succeeded: one sought for another; one called on another; +mother and children, inmates and domestics! + +Only half-dressed, and without having saved the least thing, the +inhabitants of the house assembled themselves in the market-place, where +an innumerable crowd of people streamed together, and began to work the +fire-engines; whilst church bells tolled violently, and the alarm-drums +were beaten wildly and dully up and down the streets. Henrik dragged +with him the young Baron L----, who was speechless, and much injured by +the fire. + +The mother cast a wild searching look around among her children, and +suddenly exclaiming "Gabriele!" threw herself with a thrilling cry of +anguish into the burning house. A circle of people hastily surrounded +the daughters, in order to prevent their following her, and at the same +moment two men broke forth from them, and hastened with the speed of +lightning after her. The one was her beautiful, now more than ever +beautiful, son. The other resembled one of the Cyclops, as art has +represented them at work in their subterranean smithies, excepting that +he had two eyes, which in this moment flashed forth flames, as if +bidding defiance to those with which he was about to combat. Both +vanished amid the conflagration. + +A moment's silence ensued: the alarm-drum ceased to beat; the people +scarcely breathed; the daughters wrung their hands silently, and the +fire-bell called anxiously to the ineffectual engine-showers, for the +flames rose higher and higher. + +All at once a shout was sent from the mass of the people; all hearts +beat joyfully, for the mother was borne in the arms of her son from amid +the flames, which stretched forth their hissing tongues towards +her!--and--now another shout of exultation! The modern Cyclop, in one +word the Assessor, stood in a window of the second story, and, amid the +whirlwind of smoke, was seen a white form, which he pressed to his +bosom. A ladder was quickly raised, and Jeremias Munter, blackened and +singed, but nevertheless happy, laid the fainting but unhurt Gabriele in +the arms of her mother and sisters. + +After this, he and Henrik returned to the burning house, from which they +were fortunate enough to save the desk containing the Judge's most +valuable papers. A few trifles, but of no great importance, were also +saved. But this was all. The house was of wood, and spite of every +effort to save it, was burned, burned, burned to the ground, but, as it +stood detached, without communicating the fire to any other. + +When Henrik, enfeebled with his exertions, returned to his family, he +found them all quartered in the small dwelling of the Assessor, which +also lay in the market-place; while Jeremias seemed suddenly to have +multiplied himself into ten persons, in order to provide his guests with +whatever they required. His old housekeeper, what with the fire, and +what with so many guests who were to be provided for in that +simply-supplied establishment, was almost crazed. But he had help at +hand for everybody: he prepared coffee, he made beds, and seemed +altogether to forget his own somewhat severe personal injuries by the +fire. He joked about himself and his affairs at the same time that he +wiped tears from his eyes, which he could not but shed over the +misfortunes of his friends. Affectionate and determined, he provided for +everything and for every one; whilst Louise and Leonore assisted him +with quiet resolution. + +"Wilt thou be reasonable, coffee-pot, and not boil over like a +simpleton, since thou hast to provide coffee for ladies!" said the +Assessor in jesting anger. "Here, Miss Leonore, are drops for the mother +and Eva. Sister Louise, be so good as to take my whole storeroom in +hand; and you, young sir," said he to Henrik, as he seized him suddenly +by the arm, and gazed sharply into his face, "come you with me, for I +must take you rather particularly in hand." + +There was indeed not a moment to lose; a violent effusion of blood from +the chest, placed the young man's life in momentary danger. Munter tore +off his coat, and opened a vein at the very moment in which he lost all +consciousness. + +"What a silly fellow!" said the Assessor, as Henrik breathed again, "how +can anybody be so silly when he is such--a clever fellow! Nay, now all +danger for the time is over. Death has been playing his jokes with us +to-night! Now, like polite knights, let us be again in attendance on the +ladies. Wait, I must just have a little water for my face, that I need +not look, any more than is necessary, like 'the Knight of the Rueful +Countenance!'" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE CONSEQUENCES. + + +The sun of the next morning shone brightly on the glistening +snow-covered roofs round the market-place, and dyed the smoke-clouds, +which rose slowly from the ruins of the burnt-down house, with the most +gorgeous tints of purple, gold, and sulphur-blue, whilst hundreds of +little sparrows raked and picked about in the ashy flakes which were +scattered over the snow in the market-place and churchyard, with +exulting twitterings. + +Mother and daughters looked with tearful eyes towards the smoking place +where had so lately stood their dearly beloved home; but yet no one gave +themselves up to sorrow. Eva alone wept much, but that from a cause of +grief concealed in her own heart. She knew that Major R. had passed the +night in the city, and yet for all that--she had not seen him! + +With the morning came much bustle, and a crowd of people into the +dwelling of the Assessor. Families came who offered to the roofless +household both shelter and entertainment; young girls came with their +clothes; servants came with theirs for the servants of the family; +elegant services and furniture were sent in; the baker left great +baskets full of bread; the brewer, beer; another sent wine, and so on. +It was a scene in social life of the most beautiful description, and +which showed how greatly esteemed and beloved the Franks were. + +Mrs. Gunilla came so good and zealous, ready to contend with anybody who +would contend with her, to convey her old friends in her carriage to the +dwelling which she had prepared for them in all haste. The Assessor did +not strive with her now, but saw in silence his guests depart, and with +a tear in his eye looked after the carriage which conveyed Eva away from +his house. It seemed now so dark and desolate to him. + +On the evening of this same day the father returned into his family +circle, and pressed them all to his breast with tears of joy. Yes, with +tears of joy, for all were left to him! + +A few days after this, he wrote thus to one of his friends: + +"Till now, till after this unfortunate occurrence, I knew not how much I +possessed in my wife and children; knew not that I had so many good +friends and neighbours. I thank God, who has given me such a wife, such +children, and such friends! These last have supplied, nay, over-supplied +all the necessities of my family. I shall begin in spring to rebuild my +house on the old foundation. + +"How the fire was occasioned I know not, and do not trouble myself to +discover. The misfortune has happened, and may serve as a warning for +the future, and that is enough. My house has not become impoverished in +love, even though it may be so in worldly goods, and that sustains and +heals all. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be +the name of the Lord!" + +Probably the Judge would listen to no conjectures respecting the origin +of the fire. We will venture, however, not the less on that account to +give our conjectures;--thus, it is very probable that the fire had its +origin in the chamber of the young Baron L., and that also he, in his +scarcely half sober state, might have been the occasion of it. Probably +he himself regarded the affair in this light; but this however is +certain, that this event, in connexion with the behaviour of the Franks +towards him, occasioned a great change in the temper and character of +this young man. His father came for him shortly after this, and took him +to consult a celebrated oculist in Copenhagen, in consequence of his +eyes having suffered severely in the fire. + +Our eyes will see him again, only at a much later period of our history. + +The daughters of the house busied themselves earnestly with the +already-spoken-of plans for discovering a means of independent +subsistence for themselves, that they might lighten the anxieties of +their parents in their present adverse circumstances, and that without +being burdensome to anybody else. Eva wished at first to accept an +invitation to a country-seat in the neighbourhood, not far from that +where Major R. was at present. Axelholm opened itself, heart, arms, +main-building and wings, for the members of the Frank family. There were +wanting no opportunities for colonisation; but the Judge besought his +children so earnestly to decline all these, and for the present to +remain altogether. + +"In a few months," said he, "perhaps in spring, you can do what you +like; but now--let us remain together. It is needful to me to have you +now all around me, in order to feel that I really possess you all. I +cannot bear the thoughts of losing any one of you at present." + +The thought of parting appeared likewise soon to weigh heavily upon him. +Henrik, since the night of the conflagration, had scarcely had a moment +free from suffering; a violent, incessant beating of the heart had +remained since then, and the pain of this was accompanied by dangerous +attacks of spasms, which, notwithstanding all remedies, appeared rather +to increase than otherwise. This disturbed the Judge so much the more, +as now, more than ever, he loved and valued his son. Since the night of +the fire it might be said that, for the first time, affection was warm +between father and son. + +The Mahomedan says beautifully, that when the angel of death approaches +man, the shadow of his wings falls upon him from a distance. From the +beginning of his illness Henrik's soul appeared to be darkened by +unfriendly shadows, and the first serious outbreak of disease revealed +itself in depression and gloom. Oh! it was not easy for the young man, +richly gifted as he was with whatever could beautify life on earth, +standing as he did at the commencement of a path where fresh laurels and +the roses of love beckoned to him, it was not easy to turn his glance +from a future like this, to listen to the words which night and day his +beating heart whispered to him--"Thou wilt descend to thy grave! nor +will I cease knocking till the door of the tomb opens to thee!" + +But to a mind like Henrik's the step from darkness to light was not +wide. There was that something in his soul which enables man to say to +the Lord of life and death-- + + The dreaded judgment-doom in thine own hand is writ,-- + We kiss it; bow our heads, and silently submit. + +Henrik had one day a long conversation with his skilful and anxious +physician Munter, who when he left him had tears in his eyes; but over +Henrik's countenance, on the contrary, when he returned to his family, +although he was paler than usual, was a peculiarly mild and solemn +repose, which seemed to diffuse itself through his whole being. From +this moment his temper of mind was changed. He was now mild and calm, +yet at the same time more joyous and amiable than ever. His eyes had an +indescribable clearness and beauty; the shadow had passed away from his +soul altogether. + +But deeper and deeper lay the shadow over one person, who from the +beginning of Henrik's illness was no longer like herself--and that was +Henrik's mother. It is true that she worked and spoke as formerly, but a +gnawing anguish lived in her; she appeared absent from the passing +business of life; and every occupation which had not reference, in some +way or other, to her son, was indifferent or painful to her. The +daughters kept carefully from her any thing which might be disturbing to +her. She devoted herself almost exclusively to her son; and many hours +full of rich enjoyment were spent by these two, who soon, perhaps--must +separate for so long! + +Every strong mental excitement was interdicted to Henrik; his very +illness would not admit of it. He must renounce his beloved studies: but +his living spirit, which could not sleep, refreshed itself at the +youthful fountains of art. He occupied himself much with the works of a +poet who, during his short life, had suffered much and sung much also, +and from amid whose crown of thorns the loveliest "Lilies of Sharon" had +blossomed. The works of Stagnelius[18] were his favourite reading. He +himself composed many songs, and his mother sang them to him during the +long winter evenings. According to his opinion, his mother sang better +than his sisters; and he rejoiced himself in the pure strength which +triumphantly exalted him in this poet above the anguish and fever of +life. + +It was observed that about this time he often turned the conversation, +in the presence of his mother, to the brighter side of death. It seemed +as if he wished to prepare her gradually for the possibly near +separation, and to deprive it beforehand of its bitterness. Elise had +formerly loved conversations of this kind; had loved whatever tended to +diffuse light over the darker scenes of life: but now she always grew +pale when the subject was introduced; uneasiness expressed itself in her +eyes, and she endeavoured, with a kind of terror, to put an end to it. + +One evening as the family, together with the Assessor, were assembled in +the confidential hour of twilight, they began to speak about dreams, and +about the nature of sleep. Henrik mentioned the ancient comparison of +sleep and death, which he said he considered less striking as regarded +its unconsciousness than in its resemblance in the awaking. + +"And in what do you especially consider this resemblance to consist?" +asked Leonore. + +"In the perfect retention and re-animation of consciousness, of memory, +of the whole condition of the soul," replied he, "which is experienced +in the morning after the dark night." + +"Good," said the Assessor, "and possible; but what can we _know_ about +it?" + +"All that revelation has made known to us," replied Henrik, with an +animated look: "do we really need any stronger light on this subject +than that afforded us by one of our own race, who was dead, and yet rose +again from the grave, and who exhibited himself after his sleep in the +dark dwelling with precisely the same dispositions, the same +friendships, and with the most perfect remembrance of the least as well +as the greatest events of his earthly existence? What a clear, what a +friendly light has not this circumstance diffused around the dark gates +of the tomb! It has united the two worlds! it has thrown a bridge over +the gloomy deep; it enables the drooping wanderer to approach it without +horror; it enables him to say to his friends on the evening of life, +'Good night!' with the same calmness with which he can speak those words +to them on the evening of the day." + +An arm was thrown convulsively round Henrik, and the voice of his mother +whispered, in a tone of despair, to him, "You must not leave us, Henrik! +you must not!" and with these words she sunk unconscious on his breast. + +From this evening Henrik never again introduced in the presence of his +mother a subject which was so painful to her. He sought rather to calm +and cheer her, and his sisters helped him truly in the same work. They +now had less desire than ever to leave home and to mingle in society +generally; yet notwithstanding they did so occasionally, because their +brother wished it, and it enabled them to have something to tell at +home, which could entertain and enliven both him and his mother. These +reports were generally made in Henrik's room, and how heartily did they +not laugh there! Ah! in a cordially united family, care can hardly take +firm footing there: if it come in for one moment, in the very next it +will be chased away! Eva appeared during this time to forget her own +trouble, that she also might be a flower in the garland of comfort and +tenderness which was bound around the favourite of the family; the Judge +too, tore himself more frequently than hitherto from his occupations, +and united himself to the family circle. + +A more attractive sick chamber than Henrik's can hardly be imagined. +That he himself felt. Enfeebled by the influence of disease, his +beautiful eyes often became filled with tears from slight causes, and he +would exclaim "I am happy--too happy! What a blessedness to be able to +live! That is happiness! that is the summer of the soul! Even now, amid +my sufferings, I feel myself made through you so rich, so happy!" and +then he would stretch forth his hand to those of his mother or his +sisters, and press them to his lips or his bosom. + +An interval of amendment occurred in Henrik's illness, and he suffered +much less. A sentiment of joy diffused itself through the house, and +Henrik himself appeared at times to entertain hopes of life. He could +now go out again and inhale the fresh winter air--his favourite air. The +Judge often accompanied him; it was then beautiful to see the powerful +vigorous father supporting with his arm the pale but handsome son, +whenever his steps became weary; to see him curbing his own peculiarly +hasty movements, and conducting him slowly homewards; it was beautiful +to see the expression in the countenance of each. + +People talk a great deal about the beauty of maternal love--paternal +love has perhaps something yet more beautiful and affecting in it; and +it is my opinion that he who has had the happiness of experiencing the +careful culture of a loving, yet at the same time upright father, can, +with fuller feeling and with more inward understanding than any other, +lift his heart to heaven in that universal prayer of the human race, +"Our Father which art in heaven!" + +Several weeks passed on. A lady, an intimate friend of the family, was +about this time undertaking a journey with her daughter to the city +where Petrea was visiting, and desired greatly to take Gabriele with +her, who was the dearest friend of the young Amalie. Gabriele would very +gladly have embraced this opportunity of visiting her beloved sister, +and of seeing at the same time something of the world, but now when +Henrik was ill, she could not think of it; she was quite resolved not to +separate herself from him. But Henrik was zealously bent upon Gabriele +making this journey, which would be so extremely agreeable to her. + +"Don't you see," said he, "that Gabriele sits here and makes herself +pale with looking at me? and that is so utterly unnecessary, especially +now I am so much better, and when I certainly in a little time shall be +quite well again. Journey, journey away, sweet Gabriele, I beseech you! +You shall cheer us in the mean time with your letters; and when at +Easter you return with Petrea, then--then you will no longer have an +ailing suffering brother; I will manage it so that I will be quite well +by that time!" + +She was talked to also on other sides, especially by the young, lively +Amalie, and at length Gabriele permitted herself to be persuaded. +Convinced that for the present all danger for her brother was over, she +commenced the journey with a jest on her lips, but with tears in her +eyes. + +It was the first flight of "our little lady" from home. + +Not a word was heard from Major R.; and although Eva continued reserved +towards her own family, she appeared to be so much calmer than formerly +that they all began to be easy on her account. The Judge, who, in +consequence of her behaviour evinced towards her a grateful tenderness, +endeavoured to gratify her slightest wishes, and gave his consent that +in the early commencement of spring she should go to M----s. He hoped +that by that time the Major would be far removed from the country; but +it was not long before a painful discovery was made. + + * * * * * + +On a dark evening at the beginning of March, two persons stood in deep +but low discourse under a tree in St. Mary's churchyard. + +"How childish you are, Eva!" said the one, "with your fears and your +doubts! and how pusillanimous is your love. If you would learn, lovely +angel! how true love speaks, listen to me:-- + + "Pourquoi fit on l'amour, si son pouvoir n'affronte, + Et la vie et la mort, et la haine et la honte! + Je ne demande, je ne veux pas savoir + Si rien a de ton coeur terni le pur miroir: + Je t'aime! tu le sais! Que l'importe tout le reste?" + +"Oh Victor," answered the trembling voice of Eva, "my fault is not the +having too little love for you. Ah, I feel indeed, and I evince it by my +conduct, that my love to you is greater than my love for father and +mother and sisters, more than for all the world! And yet I know that it +is wrong! my heart raises itself against me--but I cannot resist your +power." + +"On that account am I called Victor, my angel," said he; "heaven itself +has sanctioned my power. And _your_ Victor am I also, my sweet Eva; is +it not so?" + +"Ah! only too much so," sighed Eva. "But now, Victor, spare my weakness; +do not desire to see me again till I go in spring in a month's time to +M----s. Do not demand----" + +"Demand no such promises from Victor, Eva," said he; "he will not bind +himself so! but you--you must do what your Victor wills, else he cannot +believe that you love him. What--you will refuse to take a few steps in +order to gladden his eyes and his heart--in order to see and to hear +him--in truth you do not love him!" + +"Ah, I love you, I adore you," returned Eva; "I could endure anything on +your account--even the pangs of my own conscience; but my parents, my +brother and sisters! ah, you know not what it costs me to deceive them! +they are so good, so excellent; and I! Yet sometimes the love which I +have for them contends with the love which I have for you. Do not string +the bow too tightly, Victor! And now--farewell, beloved, farewell! In a +month's time you will see me, your Eva, again, in M----s." + +"Stop!" said he, "do you think you are to leave me in that way? Where is +my ring?" + +"On my heart," returned she, "day and night it rests there--farewell! +ah, let me go!" + +"Say once more that you love me above every thing in this world!" said +he, "that you belong only to me!" + +"Only to you! farewell!" and with these words Eva tore herself away from +him, and hastened with flying feet, like one terrified, across the +churchyard. The Major followed her slowly. A dark form stepped at that +moment hastily forward, as if it had arisen from one of the graves, and +met the Major face to face. It seemed to him as if a cold wind passed +through his heart, for the form tall and silent, and at that dark hour, +and in the churchyard, had something in it ominous and spectre-like, and +as it had evidently advanced to him with design, he paused suddenly, and +asked, sharply, "Who are you?" + +"Eva's father!" replied a suppressed but powerful voice, and by the +up-flaring light of a lamp which the wind drove towards them, the Major +saw the eyes of the Judge riveted upon him with a wrathful and +threatening expression. His heart sank for a moment; but in the next he +said, with all his accustomed haughty levity: + +"Now there is no necessity for me to watch longer after her;" and so +saying he turned hastily aside, and vanished in the darkness. + +The Judge followed his daughter without nearing her. When he came home, +such a deep and painful grief lay on his brow as had never been observed +there before. + +For the first time in his life the powerful head of the Judge seemed +actually bowed. + + * * * * * + +At this time Stjernhök came to the city quite unexpectedly. He had heard +of the misfortune which had befallen the Franks, as well as of the part +which Henrik acted on this occasion, and of the illness which was the +consequence of it, and he came now in order to see him before he +travelled abroad. This visit, which had occasioned Stjernhök to diverge +as much as sixty English miles out of his way, surprised and deeply +affected Henrik, who as he entered the room met him with the most candid +expression of cordial devotion. Stjernhök seized his outstretched hand, +and a sudden paleness overspread his manly countenance as he remarked +the change which a few weeks' illness had made in Henrik's appearance. + +"It is very kind of you to come to me--my thanks for it, Stjernhök!" +said Henrik from his heart; "otherwise," continued he, "you would +probably have seen me no more in this world; and I have wished so much +to say one word to you before we separated thus." + +Both were silent for some minutes. + +"What would you say to me, Henrik?" at length asked Stjernhök, whilst an +extraordinary emotion was depicted in his countenance. + +"I would thank you," returned Henrik, cordially, "thank you for your +severity towards me, and tell you how sincerely I now acknowledge it to +have been just, and wholesome for me also. I would thank you, because by +that means you have been a more real friend, and I am now perfectly +convinced how honestly and well you have acted towards me. This +impression, this remembrance of our acquaintance, is the only one which +I will take away with me when I leave this world. You have not been able +to love me, but that was my own fault. I have sorrowed over the +knowledge of that, but now I have submitted to it. In the mean time it +would be very pleasant to me to know that my faults--that my late +behaviour towards you, had not left behind it too repulsive an +impression; it would be very pleasant for me to believe that you were +able to think kindly of me when I am no more!" + +A deep crimson flamed on Stjernhök's countenance, and his eyes glistened +as he replied, "Henrik, I feel more than ever in this moment that I have +not shown justice towards you. Several later circumstances have opened +my eyes, and now--Henrik, can you give me your friendship! mine you have +for ever!" + +"Oh, this is a happy moment!" said Henrik, with increasing emotion; +"through my whole life I have longed for it, and now for the first time +it is given me--now when--but God be praised even for this!" + +"But why," said Stjernhök, warmly, "why speak so positively about your +death? I will hope and believe that your condition is not so dangerous. +Let me consult a celebrated foreign physician on your case--or better +still, make the journey with me, and put yourself under the care of Dr. +K----. He is celebrated for his treatment of diseases of the heart; let +me conduct you to him; certainly you can and will recover!" + +Henrik shook his head mournfully. "There lies his work," said he, +pointing to an open book in the window, "and from it I know all +concerning my own condition. Do you see, Nils Gabriel," continued he, +with a beautiful smile, as he placed his arm on the shoulder of his +friend, and pointed with his other towards heaven, gazing on him the +while with eyes which seemed larger than ever--for towards death the +eyes increase in size and brilliancy--"do you see," said he, "there +wanders your star. It ascends! for certain a bright path lies before +you; but when it beams upon your renown it will look down upon my grave! +I have no doubt whatever on this point. Some time ago this thought was +bitter to me; it is so now no more! When the knowledge depresses me that +I have accomplished so very little on earth, I will endeavour to console +myself with the conviction that you will be able to do so much more, and +that either in this world or the next I shall rejoice over your +usefulness and your happiness!" + +Stjernhök answered not a word; large tears rolled down his cheeks, and +he pressed Henrik warmly to his breast. + +On Henrik's account he endeavoured to give the conversation a calmer +turn, but the heart of his poor friend swelled high, and it was now too +full of life and feeling to find rest in anything but the communication +of these. + +The connexion between the two young men seemed now different to what it +had ever been before. It was Henrik who now led the conversation, and +Stjernhök who followed him, and listened to him with attention and the +most unequivocal sympathy, whilst the young man gave such free scope to +his thoughts and presentiments as he had never ventured to do before in +the presence of the severe critic. But the truth is, there belongs to a +dweller on the borders of the kingdom of death a peculiar rank, a +peculiar dignity, and man believes that the whispering of spirits from +the mysterious land reaches the ear which bows itself to them; on this +account the wise and the strong of earth listen silently like disciples, +and piously like little children, to the precepts which are breathed +forth from dying lips. + +The entrance of the Judge gave another turn to the conversation, which +Stjernhök soon led to Henrik's last works. He directed his discourse +principally to the Judge, and spoke of them with all the ability of a +real connoisseur, and with such entire and cordial praise as surprised +Henrik as much as it cheered him. + +It is a very great pleasure to hear oneself praised, and well praised +too, by a person whom one highly esteems, and particularly when, at the +same time, this person is commonly niggardly of his praise. Henrik +experienced at that moment this feeling in its highest degree; and this +pleasure was accompanied by the yet greater pleasure of seeing himself +understood, and in such a manner by Stjernhök as made himself more clear +to himself. In this moment he seemed, now for the first time, to +comprehend in a perfectly intelligible manner his own talents, and what +he wished to do, and what he was able to do. The fountain of life +swelled forth strongly in his breast. + +"You make me well again, Nils Gabriel!" exclaimed he; "you give me new +life. I will recover; recover in order again to live, in order to work +better and more confidently than I have hitherto done. As yet I have +done nothing; but now, now I could--I feel new life in me--I have never +yet felt myself so well as now! Certainly I shall now recover, or +indeed--is the best wine reserved for me till the last?" + +The evening sped on agreeably, and with animation in the family circle. +The blessed angels of heaven were not more beautiful or more joyous than +Henrik. He joked with his mother and sisters, nay, even with Stjernhök, +in the gayest manner, and was one of the liveliest who partook of the +citron-soufflé which Louise served up for supper, and which she herself +had helped to prepare, and of which she was not a little proud. Yes, +indeed, she was almost ready to believe that it was this which had given +new life to Henrik, and the power of which she considered to be +wonderfully operative. But ah!---- + +At the very moment when Henrik jested with Louise on this very subject, +he was seized by the most violent suffering. + +This suffering continued interruptedly for three days, and deprived the +sick young man of consciousness; whilst it seemed to be leading him +quickly to that bound which mercy has set to human sufferings. On the +second day after this paroxysm Henrik was seized with that desire for +change of resting-place which may be commonly regarded as the sign that +the soul is preparing for its great change of abode. The Judge himself +bore his son in his arms from room to room, and from bed to bed. No +sleep visited the eyes of his family during these terrible days; whilst +his mother, with eyes tearless and full of anguish riveted upon her son, +followed him from room to room, and from bed to bed; now hanging over +his pillow, now seated at the foot of his bed, and smiling tenderly upon +him when he appeared to know her, and articulating his name in a low and +almost inaudible voice. + +On the evening of the third day the poor youth regained his +consciousness. He recognised his family again, and spoke kindly to them. +He saw that they were pale and weary, and besought them incessantly to +go to rest. The Assessor, who was present, united earnestly in this +request, and assured them that, according to all appearances, Henrik +would now enjoy an easy sleep, and that he himself would watch by him +through the night. The father and daughters retired to rest; but when +they endeavoured to persuade the mother, she only waved with her hand, +whilst a mournful smile seemed to say, "It is of no use whatever to talk +to me about it." + +"I may remain with you, Henrik?" said she, beseechingly. + +He smiled, took her hand, and laid it on his breast; and in the same +moment closing his eyes, a calm refreshing sleep stole over him. The +Assessor sate silently beside them, and observed them both: it was not +long, however, before he was obliged to leave them, being summoned +suddenly to some one who was dangerously ill. He left them with the +promise to return in the course of the night. Munter was called in the +city the night-physician, because there was no one like him who appeared +earnestly willing to give his help by night as by day. + +The mother breathed deeply when she saw herself alone with her son. She +folded her hands, and raised her eyes to heaven with an expression which +through the whole of the foregoing days had been foreign to them. It was +no longer restless, almost murmuring anxiety; it was a mournful, yet at +the same time, deep, perfect, nay, almost loving resignation. She bent +over her son, and spoke in a low voice out of the depths of her +affectionate heart. + +"Go, my sweet boy, go! I will no longer hold thee back, since it is +painful to thee! May the deliverer come! Thy mother will no longer +contend with him to retain thee! May he come as a friendly angel and +make an end of thy sufferings! I--will then be satisfied! Go then, my +first-born, my summer-child; go, and if there may never more come a +summer to the heart of thy mother--still go! that thou mayst have rest! +Did I make thy cradle sweet, my child! so would I not embitter by my +lamentations thy death-bed! Blessed be thou! Blessed be He also who gave +thee to me, and who now takes thee from me to a better home! Some time, +my son, I shall come home to thee; go thou beforehand, my child! Thou +art weary, so weary! Thy last wandering was heavy to thee; now thou wilt +rest. Come thou good deliverer, come thou beloved death, and give rest +to his heart; but easily, easily. Let him not suffer more--let him not +endure more. Never did he give care to his parents----" + +At this moment Henrik opened his eyes, and fixed them calmly and full of +expression on his mother. + +"Thank God!" said he, "I feel no more pain." + +"Thanks and praise be given to God, my child!" said she. + +Mother and son looked on each other with deep and cheerful love! they +understood each other perfectly. + +"When I am no more," said he, with a faint and broken voice, "then--tell +it to Gabriele, prudently; she has such tender feelings--and she is not +strong. Do not tell it to her on a day--when it is cold and +dull--but--on a day--when the sun shines warm--when all things look +bright and kindly--then, then tell her--that I am gone away--and greet +her--and tell her from me--that it is not difficult--to die!--that there +is a sun on the other side----" + +He ceased, but with a loving smile on his lips, and his eyes closed +their lids as if from very weariness. + +Presently afterwards he spoke again, but in a very low voice. "Sing me +something, mother," said he, "I shall then sleep more calmly, 'They +knock! I come!'" + +These words were the beginning of a song which Henrik had himself +written, and set to music some time before, during a night of suffering. + +The genius of poetry seemed to have deserted him during the latter part +of his illness; this was painful to him; but his mind remained the same, +and the spirit of poetry lived still in the hymn which his mother now, +at his request, sang in a trembling voice: + + They knock! I come! yet ere on the way + To the night of the grave I am pressing, + Thou Angel of Death, give me yet one lay-- + One hymn of thanksgiving and blessing. + + Have thanks, O Father! in heaven high, + For thy gift, all gifts exceeding; + For life! and that grieved or glad I could fly + To thee, nor find thee unheeding. + + Oh thanks for life, and thanks too for death, + The bound of all trouble and sighing; + How bitter! yet sweet 't is to yield our breath + When thine is the heart of the dying! + + By our path of trial thou plantest still + Thy lilies of consolation; + But the loveliest of all--to do thy will-- + Be it done in resignation! + + Farewell, lovely earth, on whose bosom I lay; + Farewell, all ye dear ones, mourning; + Farewell, and forgive all the faults of my day: + My heart now in death is burning! + +"It is burning!" repeated Henrik in a voice of suffering. "It is +terrible! Mother! Mother!" said he, looking for her with a restless +glance. + +"Your mother is here!" said she, bending over him. + +"Ah! then all is right!" said he again, calmly. "Sing, my mother," added +he, again closing his eyes--"I am weary." + +She sang-- + + We part! but in parting our steps we bend + Alone towards that glorious morrow, + Where friend no more shall part from friend, + Where none knoweth heart-ache or sorrow! + + Farewell! all is dark to my failing sight, + Your loved forms from my faint gaze rending, + 'T is dark, but oh!--far beyond the night + I see light o'er the darkness ascending! + +"Oh! if you only knew how serene it is! It is divine!" said the dying +one, as he stretched forth his arms, and then dropped them again. + +A change passed over the countenance of the young man; death had touched +his heart gently, and its pulsations ceased. At the same moment a +wonderful inspiration animated the mother; her eyes beamed brightly, and +never before had her voice had so beautiful, so clear a tone as whilst +she sang + + Thou callest, O Father! with glad accord + I come!--Ye dear ones we sever!-- + Now the pang is past!--now behold I the Lord-- + Praise be thine, O Eternal, for ever! + +Judge Frank was awoke out of his uneasy sleep by the song, whose tone +seemed to have a something supernatural in it. A few moments passed +before he could convince himself that the voice which he heard was +really that of his wife. + +He hastened with indescribable anxiety to the sick room; Elise yet sang +the last verse as he entered, and casting his eyes on her countenance, +he exclaimed "My God!" and clasped his hands together. + +The song ceased: a dreadful consciousness thrust itself like a sword +through the heart of the mother. She saw before her the corpse of her +son, and with a faint cry of horror she sank, as if lifeless, upon the +bed of death. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[18] Eric Stagnelius, who was born in 1793, and died in 1823, would have +been, it is probable, had a longer life been granted to him, one of the +most distinguished poets of the age. His poems, epic, dramatic, and +lyric, fill three volumes. "Liljor i Saron"--Lilies of Sharon, is the +general title of his lyrics. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ELISE TO CECILIA. + + + _Two months later._ + +"When I last wrote to you, my Cecilia, it was winter. Winter, severe icy +winter, had also gathered itself about my heart--my life's joy was +wrapped in his winding-sheet, and it seemed to me as if no more spring +could bloom, no more life could exist; and that I should never again +have the heart to write a cheerful or hopeful word. And now--now it is +spring! The lark sings again the ascension-song of the earth; the May +sun diffuses his warming beams through my chamber, and the grass becomes +already green upon the grave of my first-born, my favourite! And I----Oh +Lord! thou who smitest, thou also healest, and I will praise thee! for +every affliction which thou sendest becomes good if it be only received +with patience. And if thou concealest thyself for a season--as it +appears to our weak vision--thou revealest thyself yet soon again, +kinder and more glorious than before! For a little while and we see thee +not, and again for a little while and we see thee, and our hearts +rejoice and drink strength and enjoyment out of the cup which thou, +Almighty One! fillest eternally. Yes, every thing in life becomes good, +if that life be only spent in God! + +"But in those dark wintry hours it was often gloomy and tumultuous +within me. Ah, Cecilia, I would not that he should die! He was my only +son, my first-born child. I suffered most at his birth; I sang most +beside his cradle; my heart leapt up first and highest with maternal joy +at his childish play. He was my summer child, born in the midsummer of +nature and of my life and my strength, and then--he was so full of life, +so beautiful and good! No, I would not that he should die, or that my +beautiful son should be laid in the black earth! And as the time drew +nearer and nearer, and I saw that it must be--then it was dark in me. +But the last night--Oh, it was a most wonderful night!--then it was +otherwise. Do you know, Cecilia, that I sung gaily, triumphantly, by the +death-bed of my first-born! Now I cannot comprehend it. But this +night--he had during the foregoing day suffered much, and his +sufferings had reconciled me to his death. They abated as death +approached, and he besought of me, as he had often done in the years of +his childhood, to sing him to sleep. I sang--I was able to sing. He +received pleasure from the song, which increased in power, and with a +heavenly smile, whilst heavenly pictures seemed to float before his +eyes, he said, 'Ah, it is divine!' and I sang better and ever clearer. I +saw his eyes change themselves, his breath become suspended, and I knew +that then was the moment of separation between soul and body--between me +and him! but I did not then feel it, and I sang on. It seemed to me as +if the song sustained the spirit and raised it to heaven. In that moment +I was happy; for even I, as well as he, was exalted above every earthly +pain. + +"The exclamation of my name awoke me from my blessed dream, and I saw +the dead body of my son--after this I saw nothing more. + +"There was a long, deep stupor. When I recovered consciousness, I felt a +heart beating against my temples. I raised my eyes and saw my husband; +my head was resting on his breast, and with the tenderest words he was +calling me back to life. My daughters stood around me weeping, and +kissing my hands and my clothes. I also wept, and then I felt better. It +was then morning, and the dawn came into my chamber. I threw my arms +around my husband's neck, and said, 'Ernst, love me! I will +endeavour----' + +"I could say no more, but he understood me, thanked me warmly, and +pressed me close to his bosom. + +"I did endeavour to be calm, and with God's help I succeeded. For +several hours of the day I lay still on my bed. Eva, whose voice is +remarkably sweet, read aloud to me. I arose for tea, and endeavoured to +be as usual; my husband and my daughters supported me, and all was peace +and love. + +"But when the day was ended, and Ernst and I were alone in our chamber, +a fear of the night, of bed, and a sleepless pillow, seized hold of me; +I, therefore, seated myself on the sofa, and prayed Ernst to read to me, +for I longed for the consolations of the Gospel. He seated himself by me +and read; but the words, although spoken by his manly, firm voice, +passed at this time impressionless over my inward sense. I understood +nothing, and all within me was dark and vacant. All at once some one +knocked softly at the door, and Ernst, not a little astonished, said, +'Come in;' the door was opened, and Eva entered. She was very pale, and +appeared excited; but yet at the same time firm and determined. She +approached us softly, and sinking down on her knees between us, took our +hands between hers. I would have raised her, but Ernst held me back, and +said, mildly but gravely, 'Let her alone!' + +"'My father, my mother!' said Eva, with tremulous voice, 'I have given +you uneasiness--pardon me! I have grieved you--I will not do it again. +Ah! I will not now lay a stone on your burden. See, how disobedient I +have been--this ring, and these letters, I have received against your +will and against my promises from Major R. I will now send them back. +See here! read what I have written to him. Our acquaintance is for ever +broken! Pardon me, that I have chosen these hours to busy you with my +affairs, but I feared my own weakness when the force of this hour shall +have passed. Oh, my parents! I feel, I know, that he is not worthy to be +your son! But I have been as it were bewitched--I have loved him beyond +measure;--ah, I love him still--nay, do not weep, mother! You shall +never again shed a tear of grief over me--you have wept already enough +on my account. Since Henrik's death every thing in me is changed. Fear +nothing more for me; I will conquer this, and will become your obedient, +your happy child. Only require not from me that I should give my hand to +another--never will I marry, never belong to another! But for you, my +parents, will I live; I will love you, and with you be happy! Here, my +father, take this, and send it back to him whom I will no more see! +And--Oh, love me! Love me!' + +"Tears bedewed the face which she bowed down to her father's knee. Never +had she looked so lovely, so attractive! Ernst was greatly affected; he +laid his hand as if in blessing upon her head, which he raised, and +said: + +"'When you were born, Eva, you lay long as if dead; in my arms you first +opened your eyes to the light, and I thanked God. But I thank him +manifold more for you in this moment, in which I see in you the joy and +blessing of our age--in which you have been able to combat with your own +heart, and to do that which is right! God bless you! God reward you!' + +"He held her for a long time to his bosom, and his tears wetted her +forehead. I also clasped her in my arms, and let her feel my love and my +gratitude, and then, with a look which beamed through tears, she left +us. + +"We called her 'our blessed child' at that time, for she had blessed us +with a great consolation. She had raised again our sunken hearts. + +"Ernst went to the window and looked silently into the star-lighted +night; I followed him, and my glance accompanied his, which in this +moment was so beautiful and bright, and laying his arm around me he +spoke thus, as if to himself: + +"'It is good! It is so intended--and that is the essential thing! He is +gone! What more? We must all go; all, sooner or later. He might not +perfect his work; but he stood ready, ready in will and ability when he +was called to the higher work-place! Lord and Master, thou hast taken +the disciple to thyself. Well for him that he was ready! That is the +most important for us all!' + +"Ernst's words and state of mind produced great effect upon me. Peace +returned to my spirit. In the stillness of the night I did not sleep, +but I rested on his bosom. It was calm around me and in me. And in the +secret of my soul I wished that it might ever remain so, that no more +day might dawn upon me, and no more sun shine upon my weary, painful +eyes. + +"How the days creep on! On occasions of great grief it always appears as +if time stood still. All things appear to stand still, or slowly and +painfully to roll on, in dark circles; but it is not so! Hours and days +go on in an interminable chain; they rise and sink like the waves of the +sea; and carry along with them the vessel of our life: carry it from the +islands of joy it is true, but carry it also away from the rocky shores +of grief. Hours came for me in which no consolation would appease my +heart, in which I in vain combated with myself, and said--'Now I will +read, and then pray, and then sleep!' But yet anguish would not leave +me, but followed me still, when I read; prevented me from prayer, and +chased away sleep; yes, many such hours have been, but they too are +gone; some such may perhaps come yet, but I know also that they too will +go. The tenderness of my husband and of my children--the peace of +home--the many pleasures within it--the relief of tears--the eternal +consolation of the Eternal Word--all these have refreshed and +strengthened my soul. It is now much, much better. And then--he died +pure and spotless, the youth with the clear glance and the warm heart! +He stood, as his father said, ready to go into the higher world. Oh! +more than ever have I acknowledged, in the midst of my deep pain, that +there is pain more bitter than this; for many a living son is a greater +grief to his mother than mine--the good one there, under the green +mound! + +"We have planted fir-trees and poplars around the grave, and often will +it be decorated with fresh flowers. No dark grief abides by the grave of +the friendly youth.--Henrik's sisters mourn for him deep and +still--perhaps Gabriele mourns him most of all. One sees it not by day, +for she is generally gay as formerly; a little song, a gay jest, a +little adornment of the house, all goes on just as before to enliven the +spirits of her parents. But in the night, when all rest in their beds, +she is heard weeping, often so painfully--it is a dew of love on the +grave of her brother; but then every morning is the eye again bright and +smiling. + +"On the first tidings of our loss Jacobi hastened to us. He took from +Ernst and me, in this time of heavy grief, all care upon himself, and +was to us as the tenderest of sons. Alas! he was obliged very soon to +leave us, but the occasion for this was the most joyful. He is about to +be nominated to the living of T----; and his promotion, which puts him +in the condition soon to marry, affords him also a respectable income, +and a sphere of action agreeable to his wishes and accordant with his +abilities, and altogether makes him unspeakably happy. Louise also looks +forward towards this union and establishment for life with quiet +satisfaction, and that, I believe, as much on account of her family as +for herself. + +"The family affection appears, through the late misfortune, to have +received a new accession: my daughters are more amiable than ever in +their quiet care to sweeten the lives of their parents. Mrs. Gunilla has +been like a mother to me and mine during this time; and many dear +evidences of sympathy, from several of the best and noblest in Sweden, +have been given to Henrik's parents;--the young poet's pure glory has +brightened their house of mourning. 'It is beautiful to have died as he +has died,' says our good Assessor, who does not very readily find any +thing beautiful in this world. + +"And I, Cecilia, should I shut my heart against so many occasions for +joy and gratitude, and sit with my sorrow in darkness? Oh no! I will +gladden the human circle in which I live; I will open my heart to the +gospel of life and of nature; I will seize hold on the moments, and the +good which they bring. No friendly glance, no spring-breeze, shall pass +over me unenjoyed or unacknowledged; out of every flower will I suck a +drop of honey, and out of every passing hour a drop of eternal life. + +"And then--I know it truly--be my life's day longer or shorter, bear it +a joyful or a gloomy colour, + + The day will never endure so long + But at length the evening cometh. + +The evening in which I may go home--home to my son, my summer-child! And +then--Oh then shall I perhaps acknowledge the truth of that prophetic +word which has so often animated my soul: 'For behold I create new +heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered nor come +into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create.' + +"I have wept much whilst I have written this, but my heart has peace. It +is now late. I will creep in to my Ernst, and I feel that I shall sleep +calmly by his side. + +"Good-night, my Cecilia." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +NEW ADVERSITIES. + + +It was afternoon. The sisters were busily quilting Louise's bridal +bed-cover; because at the end of May, as was determined in the family +council, that she was to be married. The coverlet was of green silk, and +a broad wreath of leafy oak branches formed its border. This pattern had +occasioned a great deal of care and deliberation; but now, also, what +joy did it not give rise to, and what ever-enduring admiration of the +tasteful, the distinguished, the indescribably good effect which it +produced, especially when seen from one side! Gabriele, to be sure, +would have made sundry little objections relative to the connexion of +the leaves, but Louise would not allow that there was any weight in +them: "The border," said she, "is altogether charming!" + +Gabriele had placed a full-blown monthly rose in the light locks of the +bride, and had arranged with peculiar grace, around the plaited hair at +the back of her head, the green rose-leaves like a garland. The effect +was lovely, as at this time the sun-light fell upon her head, and her +countenance had more than ordinary charm; the cheeks a high colour; the +eyes a clearer blue, as they were often raised from the green +rose-wreath and directed towards the window. Jacobi, the new pastor, was +expected that evening. + +Gabriele went up to her mother, and besought her to notice how well +Louise looked, and the rose, how becoming it was to her! The mother +kissed her, but forgot to notice Louise in looking at the lovely face of +"the little lady." + +The industrious up-and-down picking of the needles accompanied the +joyful conversation of the sisters. + +Now they talked about the management of the living; now about the +school; now about milk, and now about cheese. They settled about +household matters; about mealtimes; the arrangement of the table, and +such like. In many things Louise intended to follow the example of home; +in others, she should do differently. "People must advance with the +age." She intended that there should be great hospitality in the +parsonage-house--that was Jacobi's pleasure. Some one of her own family +she hoped to have always with her;--an especial wing should be built for +beloved guests. She would go every Sunday to church, to hear her husband +preach or sing the service. If the old wives came to the parsonage with +eggs, or other little presents, they should always be well entertained, +and encouraged to come again. All sick people should be regaled with +Louise's elixir, and all misdoers should be more or less reproved by +her. She would encourage all, to the very best of her power, to read, to +be industrious, to go to church, and to plant trees. Every Sunday +several worthy peasants should be invited with their wives to dine at +the parsonage. If the ladies of the Captain and the Steward came to +visit her, the coffee-pot should be immediately set on, and the +card-table prepared. Every young peasant girl should live in service a +whole year at the parsonage before she was married, in order to learn +how to work, and how to behave herself.--N. B. This would be wages +enough for her. At all marriages the Pastor and his wife would always be +present, the same at christenings; they would extend their hand in +sponsorship over the youth, that all might grow up in good-breeding and +the fear of God. At Midsummer and in harvest-time there should be a +dance, and great merry-making at the parsonage for the people--but +without brandy;--for the rest, nothing should be wanting: + + None she forgets, the mistress of the feast, + The beer flows free, the bunch of keys it jingles, + And, without pause, goes on the stormy dance! + +Work should be found for all beggars at the parsonage, and then food; +for lazy vagabonds a passing lecture, and then--march! And thus, by +degrees, would preparation be made for the Golden Age. + +Ah! Ruin to the golden plans and to the golden age which they planned! +Two letters which were delivered to Louise put a sudden end to them all! +One of the letters was from Jacobi, was very short, and said only that +the parsonage was quite gone from him; but that Louise would not blame +him on that account, as soon as she understood the whole affair. + + "I long for you inexpressibly," continued Jacobi, "but I must + postpone my arrival in X. in order to pay my respects to his + Excellency O----, who is detained in P. from an attack of gout, + which seized him on his journey from Copenhagen to Stockholm. But + by the 6th of May I hope certainly to be with you. I have new + plans, and I long to lay down all my feelings and all my thoughts + on your true breast. My Louise! I will no longer wait and seek. + Since fortune perpetually runs out of my way, I will now take a + leap and catch it, and in so doing trust in heaven, in you, and + lastly also--in myself. But you must give me your hand. If you + will do that, beloved, I shall soon be much happier than now, and + eternally, + + "Your tenderly devoted, "J. Jacobi." + +The other letter was from an unknown hand--evidently a woman's hand, and +was as follows: + +"Do not hate me, although I have stood in the way of your happiness. Do +not hate me--for I bless you and the noble man with whom you have united +your fate. He is my benefactor, and the benefactor of my husband and my +children. Oh, these children whose future he has made sure, they will +now call on heaven to give a double measure of happiness to him and you +for that which he has so nobly renounced. The object of my writing is to +obtain your forgiveness, and to pour forth the feelings of a grateful +heart to those who can best reward my benefactor. Will you be pleased on +this account to listen to the short, but uninteresting relation of a +condition, which, at the same time, is as common as it is mournful? + +"Perhaps Mr. Jacobi may at some time or other have mentioned my husband +to you. He was for several years Jacobi's teacher, and each was much +attached to the other. My husband held the office of schoolmaster in W., +with honour, for twenty years. His small income, misfortunes which befel +us, a quick succession of children, made our condition more oppressive +from year to year, and increased the debt which from the very time when +we settled down first we were obliged to incur. My husband sought after +a pastoral cure, but he could have recourse to none of those arts which +are now so almost universally helpful, and which often conduct the +hunter after fortune, and the mean-spirited, rather than the deserving, +to the gaol of their wishes; he was too simple for that, too modest, and +perhaps also too proud. + +"During the long course of years he had seen his just hopes deceived, +and from year to year the condition of his family become more and more +melancholy. Sickness had diminished his ability to work, and the fear of +not being able to pay his debts gnawed into his health, which was not +strong, and the prospect--of his nine unprovided-for children! I know I +should deeply affect your heart, if I were to paint to you the picture +of this family contending with want; but my tears would blot my writing. +Jacobi can do it--he has seen it, he has understood it; for this picture +which I have so carefully concealed from every other eye--this pale, +family misery I revealed to him, for I was in despair! + +"The name of my husband stood on the list of candidates for the living +of T----. He had three-fold the legally-demanded requisites of Jacobi, +and was, over and above, known and beloved by the parish; all the +peasants capable of voting, openly declared their intention of choosing +him. Two great landed proprietors, however, had the ultimate decision: +Count D., and Mr. B. the proprietor of the mines, could, if they two +were agreed, they two alone, elect the pastor. They also acknowledged +the esteem in which they held my husband, and declared themselves +willing to unite in the general choice. + +"For the first time in many years did we venture to look up to a +brighter future. Presently, however, we learnt that a powerful patron of +Mr. Jacobi had turned the whole scale in his favour, and that it would +be soon decided; the two great proprietors had promised their votes to +him, and our condition was more hopeless than ever. + +"The day of nomination approached. I did not venture to speak with my +strictly conscientious husband of the design which I cherished. I had +heard much said of Jacobi's excellent character; I was a distracted wife +and mother. I sought out Jacobi, and spoke to him out of the depths of +my heart, spoke to his sense of right--to his sense of honour; I showed +him how the affair stood for us before he disturbed it, by means which +could not be justly called honourable. I feared that my words were +bitter, but all the more angel-like was it in Jacobi to hear me with +calmness. I pictured to him our present condition; told him how he might +save us from misery, and besought him to do it. + +"My prayer at first was almost wild, and in the beginning Jacobi seemed +almost to think it so, but he heard me out; he let me conduct him to the +house of his former teacher, saw the consuming anxiety depicted on his +pale emaciated countenance; saw that I had exaggerated nothing; he wept, +pressed my hand with a word of consolation, and went out hastily. + +"The day of nomination came. Jacobi renounced all claims. My husband was +elected to the living in T----. Good God! how it sounded in our ears and +in our hearts! For a long time we could not believe it. After fifteen +years of deceived hopes we hardly dared to believe in such happiness. I +longed to embrace the knees of my benefactor, but he was already far +distant from us. A few friendly lines came from him, which reconciled my +husband to his happiness, and Jacobi's renunciation, and which made the +measure of his noble behaviour full. I have not yet been able to thank +him; but you, his amiable bride, say to him----" + +We omit the outpourings which closed this letter; they proceeded from a +warm, noble heart, overflowing with happiness and gratitude. + +The needles fell from the fingers of the sisters as the mother, at +Louise's request, read this letter aloud, and astonishment, sympathy, +and a kind of admiring pleasure might be read in their looks. They all +gazed one on the other with silent and tearful eyes. + +Gabriele was the first who broke silence: "So, then, we shall keep our +Louise with us yet longer," said she gaily, while she embraced her; and +all united cordially in the idea. + +"But," sighed Leonore, "it is rather a pity, on account of our wedding +and our parsonage; we had got all so beautifully arranged." + +Louise shed a few quiet tears, but evidently not merely over the +disappointed expectation. Later in the evening the mother talked with +her, and endeavoured to discover what were her feelings under these +adverse circumstances. + +Louise replied, with all her customary candour, that at first it had +fallen very heavily upon her. "I had now," continued she, "fixed my +thoughts so much on an early union with Jacobi; I saw so much in my new +condition which would be good and joyful for us all. But though this is +now--and perhaps for ever, at an end, yet I do not exactly know if I +wish it otherwise; Jacobi has behaved so right, so nobly right, I feel +that I now prize him higher, and love him more than ever!" + +It was difficult to the Judge not to be more cheerful than common this +evening. He was inexpressibly affectionate towards his eldest daughter; +he was charmed with the way in which she bore her fate, and it seemed to +him as if she had grown considerably. + +On the following day they quietly went on again with the quilting of the +bed-cover, whilst Gabriele read aloud; and thus "the childhood of Eric +Menved" diverted with its refreshing magic power all thoughts from the +parsonage and its lost paradise to the rich middle age of Denmark, and +to its young king Eric. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +NEW VIEWS AND NEW SCHEMES. + + +Jacobi was come: Gabriele complained jestingly to her mother, "that the +brother-in-law-elect had almost overturned her, the little +sister-in-law-elect, in order to fly to his Louise." + +Louise received Jacobi with more than customary cordiality; so did the +whole family. That which Jacobi had lost in worldly wealth he seemed to +have won in the esteem and love of his friends; and it was the secret +desire of all to indemnify him, as it were, for the loss of the +parsonage. Jacobi on this subject had also his own peculiar views; and +after he had refreshed himself both with the earthly and the "angels' +food," which Louise served up to him in abundance, and after he had had +a conference of probably three hours' length with her, the result of the +same was laid before the parents, who looked on the new views thus +opened to them not without surprise and disquiet. + +It was Jacobi's wish and intention now immediately to celebrate his +marriage with Louise, and afterwards to go to Stockholm, where he +thought of commencing a school for boys. To those who knew that all +Jacobi's savings amounted to a very inconsiderable capital; that his +yearly income was only fifty crowns; that he had displeased his only +influential patron; that his bride brought him no dowry; and thus, that +he had nothing on which to calculate excepting his own ability to +work--to all those then who knew thus much, this sudden establishment +had some resemblance to one of those romances with their "_diner de man +coeur, et souper de mon âme_," which is considered in our days to be +so infinitely insipid. + +But Jacobi, who had already arranged and well considered his plans, laid +them with decision and candour before the parents, and besought their +consent that he might as soon as possible be able to call Louise his +wife. Elise gasped for breath; the Judge made sundry objections, but for +every one of these Jacobi had a reasonable and well-devised refutation. + +"Are Jacobi's plans yours also, Louise?" asked the Judge, after a +momentary silence; "are you both agreed?" + +Louise and Jacobi extended a hand to each other; looked on each other, +and then on the father, with tearful, yet with calm and assured eyes. + +"You are no longer children," continued the father; "you know what you +are undertaking. But have you well considered?" + +Both assented that they had. Already, before there had been any +expectation of the living, they had thought on this plan. + +"It is a fatiguing life that you are stepping into," continued the +Judge, seriously, "and not the least so for you, Louise. The result of +your husband's undertaking will depend for the greatest part on you. +Will you joyfully, and without complaint, endure that which it will +bring with it; will you, from your heart, take part in his day's work?" + +"Yes, that I will!" replied Louise, with entire and hearty confidence. + +"And you, Jacobi," continued he, with unsteady voice, "will you be +father and mother and sisters to her? Will you promise me that she +neither now, nor in the future, so far as in you lies, shall miss the +paternal home?" + +"God help me! so certainly as I will exert myself to effect it, she +shall not!" answered Jacobi with emotion, and gave his hand to the +Judge. + +"Go then, children," exclaimed he, "and ask the blessing of your +mother--mine you shall have," and with tearful eyes he clasped them in +his arms. + +Elise followed the example of her husband. She felt now that Louise and +Jacobi's firm devotion to each other; their willingness to work; and +their characters, so excellent, and beyond this, so well suited to each +other, were more secure pledges of happiness than the greatest worldly +treasure. With respect to the time of the marriage, however, she made +serious objections. All that the parents could give to their daughter +was a tolerably handsome outfit; and this could not, by any possibility, +be so speedily prepared. Louise took her mother's view of the question, +and Jacobi saw himself, although reluctantly, compelled to agree that it +should remain as at first arranged, namely, for the second day in +Whitsuntide, which, in this year, fell at the end of May. + +After this the betrothed hastened to the sisters to communicate to them +the new views and schemes. There was many an "Oh!" and "Ah!" of +astonishment; many a cordial embrace; and then, of course, what industry +in the oak-leaf garland! + +But as the mother at the usual time came in, she saw plainly that "the +little lady" was somewhat impatient towards the brother-in-law-elect, +and but little edified by his plans. + +From that kind of sympathy which exists between minds, even when not a +single word is spoken, especially between persons who are dear to each +other, the dissatisfaction of Gabriele took possession also of the +mother, who began to discover that Jacobi's plans were more and more +idle and dangerous. Thus when Jacobi, not long afterwards, sought to +have a _tęte-ŕ-tęte_ with her, in order to talk about his and Louise's +plans, she could not help saying that the more she thought about the +undertaking the more foolish did it appear to be. + +To which Jacobi answered gaily, "Heaven is the guardian of all fools!" + +Elise recollected at that moment how it had fared with a person with +whom she was acquainted, who hoped for this guardianship in an +undertaking that in most respects resembled Jacobi's, yet nothing had +prevented all his affairs from going wrong altogether, and at length +ending in bankruptcy and misery. Elise related this to Jacobi. + +"Have you not read, mother," replied he, "a wise observation which +stands at the end of a certain medical work?" + +"No," said she; "what observation is it?" + +"That what cured the shoemaker killed the tailor," said Jacobi. + +Elise could not help laughing, and called him a conceited shoemaker. +Jacobi laughed too, kissed Elise's hand, and then hastened to mingle in +the group of young people, who assembled themselves round the tea-table +to see and to pass judgment on an extraordinary kind of tea-bread +wherewith Louise would welcome her bridegroom, and which, according to +her opinion, besides the freshest freshness, was possessed of many +wonderful qualities. + +Whilst at tea, the mother whispered slyly into Louise's ear as Jacobi +put sugar into his tea, "My dear child, there will be a deal of sugar +used in your house--your husband will not be frugal." + +Louise whispered back again, "But he will not grumble because too much +sugar is used in the house. So let him take it then, let him take it!" + +Both laughed. + +Later in the evening, as the mother saw Jacobi dance the gallopade with +Louise and Gabriele, whilst he made all happy with his joy, and his eyes +beamed with life and goodness, she thought to herself--even virtue has +her carelessness; and she was well satisfied with his plans. + +One day Jacobi related the particulars of his audience with his +Excellency O----, at P., to Louise and her mother; his relation was as +follows: + +"When I came up into the saloon the Bishop N. was coming backwards, with +low bows, out of the chamber of his Excellency. Within, a powerful voice +was heard speaking polite and jocular words, and immediately afterwards +his Excellency himself, with his foot wrapped in a woollen sock, +accompanied the Bishop out. The lofty figure, clothed now in a +dark-green morning coat, seemed to me more imposing than ever. He swung +a stick in his hand, upon which a grey parrot was sitting, which, while +it strove to maintain its balance, screamed with all its might after the +Bishop, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!' + +"The sunshine which was diffused over the expressive countenance of his +Excellency as he came out of his room, vanished the moment he saw me (I +had already informed him by letter of the use I had made of his +goodness), and a severe repulsive glance was the only greeting which I +received. When the Bishop at length, accompanied by the parting +salutations of the parrot, had left, his Excellency motioned the +servants out, and riveted upon me his strong, bright, grey eyes, and +with an actually oppressive look inquired short and sharp, 'What want +you, Sir?' + +"I had never seen him behave thus to me before, and whilst I endeavoured +to overcome a really choking sensation, I answered, 'I would thank your +Excellency for the goodness which--' + +"'Which you have thrown away as if it were a very trifle,' interrupted +his Excellency. 'You must have a confounded many livings at command, I +think. You can, perhaps, throw such away on all sides.' + +"He spoke these words in a hard, ironical tone. I conjured him to hear +me, and laid before him shortly, but with the utmost clearness, the +reasons which had compelled me to give up the good fortune which his +favour had procured for me. I concluded by saying, that the only +consolation which I had for my loss, and the danger of having displeased +my benefactor, was the feeling that I had done my duty, and acted +according to my conscience, and the persuasion that I had acted right. + +"'You have acted like a fool!' interrupted his Excellency, with +violence, 'like a regular bedlamite have you behaved yourself! Things +like this, Sir, may do in novels, but in actual life they serve to no +other purpose than to make their actors and all that belong to them +beggars. But you have unpardonably compromised me! The thousand! you +should have thought over all these things and these feelings before you +had obtained my recommendation! Can I know of all supplicants with +poverty, merits, and nine children? On your account in this business I +have written letters, given dinners, made fine speeches, paid +compliments, in order to silence other claimants. I obtained for you +that living, one of the best in the whole bishoprick, and now you have +given it away as if it were a----It is really too bad! Don't come any +more to me, and don't mix me up again in your concerns, that I say to +you! I shall for the future meddle in nothing of the kind. Don't you ask +me ever again for anything!' + +"I was wounded, but still more distressed than wounded, and said, 'The +only thing which I shall ask from you, and shall ask for till I obtain +it, is the forgiveness of your Excellency! My error in this affair was +great; but after I had seen it, there was nothing for me to do but to +retrieve it as well as lay in my power, and then to bear the +consequences, even though they be as bitter as I now find them. Never +again shall I make any claim to your goodness--you have already done +more than enough for me. My intention is now to try if I cannot maintain +myself by my own powers as teacher. I intend to establish a school for +boys in Stockholm, whither I shall travel as soon as----' + +"'Attempt, and travel, and do whatever you like!' interrupted his +Excellency, 'I don't trouble myself about it. I have occupied myself in +your affairs for the last time! If I were to get for you ten livings, +you would give all away the next moment to the first, best poor devil +that prayed you for them, with his full complement of wife and ten +children! + +"'Lundholm, wash me the glass! I never drink out of a glass from which a +Bishop has drunk!' + +"His Excellency had already turned his back upon me, and went again into +his chamber cursing his gout, without the slightest parting word to me. +The parrot, however, on the contrary, turned itself about on the stick, +and cried out with all its might, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!' + +"With this greeting, perhaps the last in the house of his Excellency, I +retired; but not without, I must confess, stopping a few moments on the +steps, and wetting the stones with my tears. It was not the loss of a +powerful patron which gave me so much pain, but--I had so admired this +man, I had loved him with such an actual devotion; I looked up to him as +to one of the noblest and most distinguished of men. He also seemed +really to like me--at least I thought so; and now all at once he was so +changed, so stern towards me, and as it seemed to me so unreasonable. It +actually gave me pain to find so little that was noble in him, so little +that was just! These were my feelings in those first bitter moments. +When I came to think over the whole event more calmly, I could almost +believe that he had received beforehand an unjust representation of the +whole affair, and that I encountered him while under its influence. Over +and above, he had reason to be dissatisfied with the whole thing, and +then just at that moment a fit of the gout seized him! I have written to +him from this place, and I feel it impossible to give up the hope of +seeing his sentiments mollified towards me." + +Louise, however, did not think so favourably of his sentiments; thought +Jacobi quite too indulgent, and was altogether irritated against his +Excellency. + +"It is quite the best not to trouble oneself about him," said she. + +Jacobi smiled. "His poor Excellency!" said he. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A RELAPSE. + + +Whilst May wrote its romance in leaves and life; whilst Jacobi and +Louise wrote many sweet chapters of theirs in kisses; whilst all the +house was in motion on account of the marriage, and joy and mirth sprang +up to life like butterflies in the spring sun, one glance was ever +darker, one cheek ever paler, and that was Eva's. + +People say commonly that love is a game for the man, and a +life's-business for the woman. If there be truth in this, it may arise +from this cause, that practical life makes commonly too great a demand +on the thoughts and activity of the man for him to have much time to +spend on love, whilst on the contrary the woman is too much occupied +with herself to have the power of withdrawing herself from the pangs of +love (may the Chamberlain's lady forgive us talking so much about man +and woman! It has not been our lot here in the world to scour either a +room or a kettle, though, to speak the truth, we do not consider +ourselves incapable of so doing). Eva found nothing in her peaceful home +which was powerful enough to abstract her from the thoughts and feelings +which for so long had been the dearest to her heart. The warm breezes of +spring, so full of love, fanned up that glimmering fire; so did also +that innocent life of the betrothed, so full of cordiality and +happiness; so did also a yet more poisonous wind. One piece of news +which this spring brought was the betrothal of Major R. with one of the +beauties of the capital, a former rival of Eva--news which caused a deep +wound to her heart. She wished to conceal, she wished to veil what was +yet remaining of a love which no one had favoured, and over which she +could not now do other than blush; she had determined never again to +burden and grieve her family with her weakness, her sorrows; she would +not disturb the peace, the cheerfulness, which now again began to reign +in the family after the misfortunes which had shaken it; but under the +endeavour to bear her burden alone, her not strong spirit gave way. She +withdrew more and more from the family circle; became ever more silent +and reserved; sought for solitude, and was unwilling to have her +solitude disturbed by any one. She even was reserved before Leonore; +although she, like a good angel, stood by her side, resting her soft +eyes upon her with a tender disquiet, endeavouring to remove from her +every annoyance, taking upon herself every painful occupation, and +evincing towards her all that anxious care which a mother shows to a +sick child. Eva permitted all this, and was daily more and more consumed +by her untold mental sufferings. The engrossing cares which at this time +occupied the family, prevented almost every one from paying attention to +Eva's state of mind, and thus she was often left to herself. + +For several of the last evenings Eva had gone down into her own chamber +directly after tea--for in their present dwelling some of the daughters +occupied the ground-floor--and on the plea of headache had excused +herself from again returning to her family during the evening. It was a +principle of the parents never to make use of any other means of +compulsion with their children, now that they were grown up, than love, +be it in great things or in small. But then love had a great power in +this family; and as the daughters knew that it was the highest delight +of their father to see them all round him in an evening, it became a +principle with them neither to let temper nor any other unnecessary +cause keep them away. As now, however, this was the third evening on +which Eva had been absent, the father became uneasy, and the mother went +down to her, whilst the rest of the family and some friends who were +with them were performing a little concert together. But Eva was not to +be found in her chamber, and the mother was hastening back again, full +of disquiet, when she met Ulla, who was going to make the beds. + +"Where is Eva?" asked she, with apparent indifference. + +Ulla started, was red and then pale, and answered hesitatingly, "She +is--gone out--I fancy." + +"Where is she gone?" asked Elise, suddenly uneasy. + +"I fancy--to the grave of the young master," returned Ulla. + +"To the grave?--so late! Has she gone there for several evenings?" +inquired the mother. + +"This is now the third evening," said Ulla: "ah, best gracious lady, it +goes really to my heart--it is not justly right there!" + +"What is not justly right, Ulla?" + +"That Mamselle Eva goes out to the grave so late, and does not come back +again till it has struck ten, and that she will be so much alone," +returned Ulla. "Yesterday Mamselle Leonore even cried, and begged of her +not to go, or to allow her to go with her. But Mamselle Eva would not +let her, but said she would not go, and that Mamselle Leonore should go +up-stairs, and leave her alone; but as soon as Mamselle Leonore had left +her she went out for all that, with only a thin kerchief over her head. +And this evening she is gone out also. Ah! it must be a great grief +which consumes her, for she gets paler every day!" + +Greatly disturbed by what she had heard, Elise hastened to seek her +husband. She found him deeply engaged over his books and papers, but he +left all the moment he saw the troubled countenance of his wife. She +related to him what she had heard from Ulla, and informed him that it +was her intention to go now immediately to the churchyard. + +"I will go with you," said the Judge, "only tell Louise to defer supper +for us till we come back; I fancy nobody will miss us, they are so +occupied by their music." + +No sooner said than done. The husband and wife went out together; it was +half-past nine in the middle of May, but the air was cold, and a damp +mist fell. + +"Good heavens!" said the Judge softly, "she'll get her death of cold if +she stops in the churchyard so late, and in air like this!" + +As they approached the churchyard, they saw that a female form passed +hastily through the gate. It was not Eva, for she sat on the grave of +her brother! she sat there immovably upon the earth, and resembled a +ghost. The churchyard was, with this exception, deserted. The figure +which had entered before them, softly approached the grave, and remained +standing at the distance of a few paces. + +"Eva!" said a beseeching mournful voice; it was Leonore. The parents +remained standing behind some thick-leaved fir-trees. On precisely the +same spot had the father stood once before, and listened to a +conversation of a very different kind. + +"Eva!" repeated Leonore, with an expression of the most heartfelt +tenderness. + +"What do you want with me, Leonore?" asked Eva impatiently, but without +moving. "I have already prayed you to let me alone." + +"Ah! I cannot leave you, dear Eva," replied her sister, "why do you sit +here on the ground, on this cold, wet evening? Oh, come home, come home +with me!" + +"Do you go home, Leonore! this air is not proper for you! Go home to the +happy, and be merry, with them," returned Eva. + +"Do you not remember," tenderly pleaded Leonore, "how I once, many years +ago, was sick both in body and mind? Do you know who it was then that +left the gay in order to comfort me? I prayed her to leave me--but she +went not from me--neither will I now go away from you." + +"Ah, go! leave me alone!" repeated Eva, "I stand now alone in the +world!" + +"Eva, you distress me!" said her sister, "you know that there is no one +in this world that I love like you: I mourned so much when you left us; +the house without you seemed empty, but I consoled myself with the +thought that Eva will soon come back again. You came, and I was so +joyful, for I believed that we should be so happy together. But I have +seen since then of how little consequence I am to you! still I love you +as much as ever, and if you think that I have not sympathised in your +sorrows, that I have not wept with you and for you, you do me certainly +injustice! Ah, Eva, many a night when you have believed perhaps that I +lay in sweet sleep, have I sat at your door, and listened how you wept, +and have wept for you, and prayed for you, but I did not dare to come in +to you because I imagined your heart to be closed to me!" And so saying, +Leonore wept bitterly. + +"You are right, Leonore," answered Eva, "much has become closed in me +which once was opened. This feeling, this love for him--oh, it has +swallowed up my whole soul! For some time I believed I should be able to +conquer it--but now I believe so no longer----" + +"Do you repent of your renunciation?" asked Leonore;--"it was so noble +of you! Would you yet be united to him!" + +"No! no! the time for that is gone by," said Eva. "I would rather die +than that; but you see, Leonore, I loved him so--I have tasted love, and +have felt how rapturous, how divine life might be!--Oh, Leonore, the +bright sun-warm summer-day is not more unlike this misty evening hour, +than the life which I lived for a season is unlike the future which now +lies before me!" + +"It seems so to you now, Eva--you think so now," answered her sister; +"but let a little time pass over, and you will see that it will be quite +otherwise; that the painful feelings will subside, and life will clear +up itself before you. Think only how it has already afforded you +pleasure to look up to heaven when the clouds separated themselves, and +you said, 'see how bright it will be! how beautiful the heaven is!' and +your blue eyes beamed with joy and peace, because it was so. Believe me, +Eva, the good time will come again, in which you will thus look up to +heaven, and feel thus joyful, and thus gay!" + +"Never!" exclaimed Eva, weeping; "oh, never will that time return! Then +I was innocent, and from that cause I saw heaven above me clear;--now so +much that is bad, so much that is impure has stained my soul--stains it +yet!--Oh, Leonore, if you only knew all that I have felt for some time +you would never love me again! Would you believe it that Louise's +innocent happiness has infused bitterness into my soul; that the gaiety +which has again began to exist in the family has made me feel +bitterness--bitterness towards my own family--my own beloved ones! Oh, I +could detest myself! I have chastised myself with the severest words--I +have prayed with bitter tears, and yet----" + +"Dear Eva, you must have patience with yourself," said Leonore, "you +will not----" + +"Ah! I am already weary of myself--of my life!" hastily interrupted Eva; +"I am like some one who has already travelled far, who is already spent, +but who must still go on, and can never come to his journey's end. It +seems to me as if I should be a burden to all who belong to me; and when +I have seen you all so happy, so gay one with another, I have felt my +heart and my head burn with bitterness; then have I been obliged to go +out--out into the cold evening dew, and I have longed to repose in the +earth upon which it fell--I have longed to be able to hide myself from +every one--deep, deep in the grave below!" + +"But from me," said Leonore, "you will not be able to hide yourself--nor +to go from me, since where you go there will I follow. Oh, what were +life to me if you were to leave it in despair! You would not go alone to +the grave, Eva! I would follow you there--and if you will not allow that +I sit by your side, I will seat myself on the churchyard wall, that the +same evening damps which penetrate you may penetrate me also; that the +same night wind which chills your bosom may chill mine; that I may be +laid by your side and in the same grave with you! And willingly would I +die for you, if--you will not live for me, and for the many who love you +so much! We will try all things to make you happier! God will help us; +and the day will come in which all the bitter things of this time will +seem like a dream, and when all the great and beautiful feelings, and +all the agreeable impressions of life will again revive in you. You will +again become innocent--nay, become more, because virtue is a higher, a +glorified innocence! Oh, Eva! if he whose dust reposes beneath us, if +his spirit invisibly float around us--if he who was better and purer +than all of us, could make his voice audible to us at this moment, he +would certainly join with me in the prayer--'Oh, Eva! live--live for +those who love thee! Mortal life, with all its anguish and its joy, is +soon past--and then it is so beautiful that our life should have caused +joy to one another on earth--it causes joy in heaven! The great +Comforter of all affliction will not turn from thee--only do not thou +turn from _Him!_ Have patience! tarry out thy time! Peace comes, comes +certainly----'" + +The words ceased; both sisters had clasped their arms around each other, +and mingled their tears. Eva's head rested on Leonore's shoulder as she, +after a long pause, spoke in a feeble voice: + +"Say no more, Leonore; I will do what you wish. Take me--make of me what +you will--I am too weak to sustain myself at this moment--support me--I +will go with you--you are my good angel!" + +Other guardian angels approached just then, and clasped the sisters in a +tender embrace. Conducted by them, Eva returned home. She was +altogether submissive and affectionate, and besought earnestly for +forgiveness from all. She was very much excited by the scenes which had +just occurred, drank a composing draught which her mother administered, +and then listened to Leonore, who read to her, as she lay in bed, till +she fell asleep. + +The Judge paced up and down his chamber uneasily that night, and spoke +thus to his wife, who lay in bed: + +"A journey to the baths, and that in company with you, would be quite +the best thing for her. But I don't know how I can now do without you; +and more than that, where the money is to come from! We have had great +losses, and see still great expenses before us: in the first place +Louise's marriage--and then, without a little money in hand, we cannot +let our girls go from home; and the rebuilding of our house. But we must +borrow more money--I see no other way. Eva must be saved; her mind must +be enlivened and her body strengthened, let it cost what it may. I must +see and borrow----" + +"It is not necessary, Ernst," said Elise; and the Judge, making a sudden +pause, gazed at her with astonishment; whilst she, half raising herself +in bed, looked at him with a countenance beaming with joy. "Come," +continued she, "and I will recall something to your memory which +occurred fifteen years ago." + +"What sort of a history can that be?" said he, smiling gaily, whilst he +seated himself on the bed, and took the hand which Elise extended to +him. + +"Five-and-twenty years ago," began she. + +"Five-and-twenty years!" interrupted he, "Heaven help me! you promised +to go no farther back than fifteen." + +"Patience, my love!--this is part the first of my story. Do you not +remember, then," said she, "how, five-and-twenty years ago, at the +commencement of our married life, you made plans for a journey into the +beautiful native land of your mother? I see now, Ernst, that you +remember it. And how we should wander there you planned, and enjoy our +freedom and God's lovely nature. You were so joyful in the prospect of +this; but then came adversity, and cares, and children, and never-ending +labour for you, so that our Norwegian journey retreated year by year +more into the background. Nevertheless, it remained like a point of +light to you in the future; but now, for some time, you seem to have +forgotten it; yes, for you have given up all your own pleasures in +labouring for your family; have forsaken all your own enjoyments, your +own plans, for your own sphere of activity and your home. But I have not +forgotten the Norwegian journey, and in fifteen years have obtained the +means of its accomplishment." + +"In fifteen years!--what do you mean?" asked he. + +"Now I am arrived," she answered, "at part the second of my history. Do +you still remember, Ernst, that fifteen years ago we were not so happy +as we are now? You have forgotten? Well, so much the better; I scarcely +remember it myself any more, for the expansive rind of love has grown +over the black scar. What I, however, know is, that at that time I was +not so properly at home in actual life, and did not rightly understand +all the good that it offered me, and that to console myself on that +account I wrote a romance. But now it happened that by reason of my +novel I neglected my duties to my lord and husband--for the gentlemen +are decidedly unskilled in serving themselves----" + +"Very polite!" interposed the Judge, smiling. + +"Be content!" continued she: "now it happened that one evening his tea +and my novel came into collision--a horrible history followed. But I +made a vow in my heart that one of these days the two rivals should +become reconciled. Now you see my manuscript--you had the goodness to +call it rubbish--I sent to a very enlightened man, to a man of +distinguished taste and judgment, and thus it befel, he found taste in +the rubbish; and, what say you to it? paid me a pretty little sum for +permission to bring it before the world. Do not look so grave, Ernst; I +have never again taken up the pen to write novels; my own family has +found me enough to do; and besides, I never again could wish to do +anything which was not pleasant to you. You have displaced all rivals, +do you see! But this one I decided should be the means of your taking +the Norwegian journey. The little sum of two hundred crowns banco which +it produced me have I placed in the savings' bank for this purpose; and +in fifteen years it has so much augmented itself, that it will perfectly +accomplish that object; and if ever the time for its employment will +come, it is now. The desire for travelling is gone from me--I covet now +only rest. But you and----" + +"And do you think," said the Judge, "that I shall take your----" + +"Oh, Ernst! why should you not?" exclaimed she; "if you could but know +what joy the thought of this has prepared for me! The money, which from +year to year increased, in order to give you pleasure, has been to me +like a treasure of hidden delight, which has many a time strengthened +and animated my soul! Make me only perfectly happy by allowing yourself +to have enjoyment from it. Take it, my Ernst, and make yourself pleasure +with it, this summer; I pray you to do so, on account of our children. +Take Eva with you, and if possible Leonore also. Nothing would refresh +Eva's soul more than such a journey with you and Leonore in a +magnificent and beautiful country. The money can be obtained in a +month's time, and a few months' leave of absence cannot possibly be +denied to one who has spent more than thirty years in incessant service +for the state; and when Louise and her husband have left us, and spring +and nature are in their very loveliest, then you shall set out: you +shall be refreshed after so many years of painful labour, and the +wounded heart of our sick child shall be healed." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +PLANS AND COUNTER PLANS. + + +Eva entered her father's study the next morning. He immediately left his +work, received her with the greatest tenderness, drew her to his side on +the sofa, and placing one arm round her waist, took her hand in his, and +inquired, with a searching glance, "Do you want anything from me, my +child? Can I do anything for you? Tell me!" + +Encouraged by his kindness, Eva described the state of her mind to her +father, and explained how she wished to commence a more active life in +order to overcome her weakness, and to regain strength and quiet. The +situation of teacher in a girl's school in the city was vacant, and she +wished immediately to take it, but only for the summer, during which +time she and Leonore would prepare themselves to open a school in +autumn. It was a plan of which they had long thought, and which would +afford them a useful and independent life. Eva besought the acquiescence +of her father to this proposition. + +"Leonore and I," continued she, "have this morning talked a deal on the +subject; we hope that with the counsel and countenance upon which we may +reckon, to be able to make it succeed. Ah, father! I am become quite +anxious about it on account of my own weakness. I must speedily resort +to external means, that I may overcome it. I will become active; I will +work; and whilst thus employed I shall forget the past and myself, and +only live for the happiness of those who love me, and to whom I have +caused so much trouble." + +"My child! my dear child, you are right; you do rightly!" said the +father, deeply affected, and clasping his daughter in his arms; "your +wish shall be granted, and whatever is in my power will I do to forward +your plans. What a many institutions for education will there not +proceed from our house! But there is no harm at all in that--there are +no more useful institutions on the face of the earth! One reservation, +however, I must make from your and Leonore's determination. You may +dedicate the autumn and the winter to your school--but the summer you +must devote to your father!--and Madame B. may find a teacher where she +can, only not from my family--for I am not now in a condition to furnish +her one." + +"Ah, father," said she, "every unemployed hour is a burden to me!" + +"We will bear the burden together, my child! Leonore, I, and you, in our +wanderings towards the west. In a few weeks I am thinking of undertaking +a journey, after which I have longed for these many years; I will visit +the beautiful native land of my mother. Will you, Eva, breathe this +fresh mountain air with me? I should have very little pleasure in the +journey alone, but in company with you and Leonore it will make me young +again! Our heads are become bowed, my child, but in God's beautiful +nature we will lift them up again! You will go with me--is it not so? +Good! Come then with me to your mother, for it is she alone who has +managed this journey!" + +With an arm round the waist of his daughter the Judge now went to his +wife; they found Leonore with her; nor was ever a quartet of Mozart's +more harmonious than that which was now performed among them. + +Eva was uncommonly animated all day, but in the evening she was in a +burning fever. A feeling of anxiety went through the whole family; they +feared that a new grave was about to be opened, and disquiet was painted +on all countenances. Eva demanded, with a fervour which was not without +its feverish excitement, that the Assessor should be fetched. He came +immediately. + +"Forgive me!" exclaimed Eva, extending her hand to him, "I have been so +ungrateful to you! But my heart was so disordered that it was quite +changed; but it will recover itself again. Leonore has given it health. +I am very ill now; my hands burn, my head aches! Give me my little +work-box--that I may hold it between my hands--that I may lean my head +upon it--else I shall be no better! You, my friend, will cure me that I +may again make my family happy!" + +The Assessor dried his tears. As Eva leaned her head on the work-box, +she talked earnestly, but not quite coherently of the plans for the +future. + +"Very good, very good," said the physician, interrupting her; "I too +will be of the establishment; I will give instruction in botany to the +whole swarm of girls, and between us we will drive them out into the +woods and into the fields, that we may see them learn all that is +beautiful in the world. But now, Eva, you must not talk any more--but +you must empty this glass." + +Eva took the composing draught willingly, and was soon calmer. She was +the most obedient and amiable of patients, and showed a confidence in +her old friend which penetrated his heart. He would have sate night and +day by her bed. + +Eva's sickness was a violent fever, which confined her to her bed for +nearly three weeks, and occasioned her family great uneasiness. This +sickness was, however, very beneficial for herself and for the health of +her mind; but still more beneficial was the infinite love with which she +saw herself encompassed on all sides. + +One day in the beginning of her convalescence, as she sate up and saw +herself surrounded by all the comforts which love and home could gather +about a beloved sufferer, she said to Leonore as she leaned upon her, +"Ah, who would not be willing to live when they see themselves so +beloved!" + +In the meantime Louise's wedding-day was approaching nearer. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A SURPRISE. + + +Three days before the wedding a grand travelling-carriage drawn by four +horses rolled through the streets of the town of X----, and from the +prodigious clatter which it made drew all the inquisitive among the +inhabitants to their windows. + +"Did you see, dear sister," cried the general shopkeeper Madame Suur to +Madame Bask, the wife of the postmaster, "the grand travelling-carriage +that has just gone by? Did you see the sweet youth that sate on the left +and looked so genteel, with his snow-white neck and open shirt-collar? +Lawk! how he looked at me--so sweet as he was! How like a real prince he +looked!" + +"Dear sister!" answered the postmistress, "then you did not see the +gentleman who sate on the right? He was a grand gentleman, that I can +positively assert! He sate so stately leaning back in the carriage, and +so wrapped up in grand furs that one could not see the least bit of his +face. Positively he is a great somebody!" + +"I got a shimmer of the youth," said the grey-brown handed and +complexioned Annette P----, as she glanced up from her coarse sewing, +with such a look as probably a captive casts who has glanced out of his +prison into a freer and more beautiful state of existence; "he looked so +calm, with large blue eyes, out of the plate-glass windows of the +carriage! as pure and grave he looked as one of God's angels!" + +"Ay, we know to be sure how the angels look!" said the postmistress, +snubbingly, and with a severe glance at Annette; "but that's absolutely +all one! Yet I should like to know what grandees they are. I should not +be a bit surprised if it were his royal highness or gracious +crown-prince, who with his eldest son is travelling _incondito_ through +the country." + +"Dear sister says what is true," returned Madame Suur. "Yes, it must be +so! for he looked like a regular prince, the sweet youth, as he sate +there and glanced at me through the window; really, he smiled at me!" + +"Nay, my ladies, we've got some genteel strangers in the city!" +exclaimed Mr. Alderman Nyberg as he came into the room. + +"Have they stopped here?" cried both ladies at once. + +"My wife saw the carriage draw up and----" + +"Nay, heaven defend us! Mr. Alderman what are you thinking about that +you don't make a stir in the city and send a deputation to wait upon +them? For goodness sake let the city-council come together!" + +"How? What? Who?" asked the Alderman, opening wide his grey eyes like +some one just awoke out of sleep; "can it indeed----" + +"Yes, very likely his royal highness himself in his own proper +person--possibly his majesty!" + +"Gracious heavens!" said the Alderman, and looked as if the town-house +had fallen. + +"But speed off in all the world's name, and run and look about you, and +don't stand here staring like a dead figure!" exclaimed the +postmistress, quite hoarse, while she shook up and down her great mass +of humanity on the creaking sofa. "Dear sister, cannot you also get on +your legs a little, and Annette too, instead of sitting there +hum-drumming with her sewing, out of which nothing comes. Annette run +quick, and see what it is all about--but come back in an instant-minute +and tell me, poor soul, whom our Lord has smitten with calamity and +sickness--nay, nay, march pancake!" + +The Alderman ran; dear Sister Suur ran; Mamselle Annette ran; we ran +also, dear reader, in order to see a large-made gentleman somewhat in +years, and a youth of eleven, of slender figure and noble appearance, +dismount from the travelling carriage. It was his Excellency O---- and +his youngest son. + +They alighted and went into the house of the Franks. His Excellency +entered the drawing-room without suffering himself to be announced, and +introduced himself to Elise, who though surprised by the visit of the +unexpected stranger, received him with all her accustomed graceful +self-possession; lamenting the absence of her husband, and thinking to +herself that Jacobi had not in the least exceeded the truth in his +description of the person of his Excellency. + +His Excellency was now in the most brilliant of humours, and discovered, +as by sudden revelation, that he and Elise were related; called her "my +cousin" all the time, and said the handsomest things to her of her +family, of whom he had heard so much, but more especially of a certain +young man on whom he set the highest value. Further he said, that +however much he must rejoice in having made the personal acquaintance of +his cousin, still he must confess that his visit at this time had +particular reference to the young man of whom he had spoken; and with +this he inquired after Jacobi. + +Jacobi was sent for, and came quickly, but not without evident emotion +in his countenance. His Excellency O----approached him, extended his +hand cheerfully, and said, "I rejoice to see you; my cursed gout has not +quite left me; but I could not pass so near the city without going a +little out of my way in order to wish you happiness on your approaching +marriage, and also to mention an affair--but you must introduce me to +your bride." + +Jacobi did it with glowing eyes. His Excellency took Louise's hand, and +said, "I congratulate you on your happiness, on being about to have one +of the best and the most estimable of men for your husband!" And with +these words he riveted a friendly penetrating glance upon her, and then +kissed her hand. Louise blushed deeply, and looked happier than when she +agreed to her own proposition of not troubling herself about his +Excellency. + +Upon the other daughters also who were present, his keen eyes were fixed +with a look which seemed rather to search into soul than body, and +rested with evident satisfaction on the beautifully blushing Gabriele. + +"I also have had a daughter," said he, slowly, "an only one--but she was +taken from me!" + +A melancholy feeling seemed to have gained possession of him, but he +shook it quickly from him, stood up, and went to Jacobi, to whom he +talked in a loud and friendly voice. + +"My best Jacobi," said he, "you told me the last time we were together +that you thought of opening a school for boys in Stockholm. I am pleased +with it, for I have proved that your ability as teacher and guide of +youth is of no ordinary kind. I wish to introduce to you a pupil, my +little boy. You will confer upon me a real pleasure if you will be able +to receive him in two months, at which time I must undertake a journey +abroad, which perhaps may detain me long, and would wish to know that +during this my absence my son was in good hands. I wish that he should +remain under your care at least two or three years. You will easily feel +that I should not place in your hands him who is dearest to me in the +world, if I had not the most perfect confidence in you, and therefore I +give you no prescribed directions concerning him. And if prayers can +obtain motherly regard," continued he, turning to Louise, "I would +direct myself with them to you. Take good care of my boy--he has no +longer a mother!" + +Louise drew the boy hastily to her, embraced him, and kissed him with +warmth. A smile as of sunshine diffused itself over the countenance of +the father, and certainly no words which Louise could have spoken would +have satisfied him more than this silent but intelligent answer of the +heart. Jacobi stood there with tears in his eyes; he could not bring +forth many words, but his Excellency understood him, and shook him +cordially by the hand. + +"May we not have the horses taken out? Will not your Excellency have the +goodness to stay to dine with us?" were the beseeching questions which +were repeated around him. + +But however willing his Excellency would have been to do it, it was +impossible. He had promised to dine at Strö with Count Y----, eighteen +miles distant from the town. + +"But breakfast? a little breakfast at least? It should be served in a +moment. The young Count Axel would certainly be glad of a little +breakfast!" asserted Louise, with friendly confidence, who seemed +already to have taken under her protection the future pupil of her +husband. + +The young Count Axel did not say no; and the father, whose behaviour +became every moment more cordial and gay, said that a little breakfast +in such company would eat excellently. + +Bergström prepared with rapture and burning zeal the table for the lofty +guest, who in the mean time chatted with evident satisfaction with Elise +and Jacobi, directing often also his conversation to Louise as if +insensibly to test her; and from their inmost hearts did both mother and +bridegroom rejoice that with her calm understanding she could stand the +test so well. + +Gabriele entertained the young Count Axel in one of the windows by +listening to the repeater of his new gold watch, which set the grave and +naturally silent boy at liberty to lead the entertainment in another +way; and Gabriele, who entered into all his ideas, wondered very much +over the wonderful properties of the watch; and let it repeat over and +over again, whilst her lovely and lively smiles and her merry words +called forth more and more the confidence of the young Axel. + +Breakfast was ready; was brought in by the happy Bergström; was eaten +and praised by his Excellency, who was a connoisseur; a description of +the capitally preserved anchovies was particularly desired from Louise; +and then her health and that of her bridegroom was drunk in Madeira. + +Towards the conclusion of the breakfast the Judge came home. The trait +of independence, bordering on pride, which sometimes revealed itself in +Judge Frank's demeanour, and which perhaps was visible at the very time +of his respectful but simple greeting of his Excellency, called forth in +him also a momentary appearance of height. But this pride soon vanished +from both sides. These two men knew and valued each other mutually; and +it was not long before they were so deeply engrossed by conversation, +that his Excellency forgot his journey, not for one only, but for two +hours. + +"I lament over Strö and its dinner," said his Excellency, preparing to +take his departure; "how they must have waited there! But we could not +possibly help it." + +After his Excellency had departed, he left behind him a bright +impression on all the family of Franks, not one of whom did not feel +animated in a beneficial manner by his behaviour and his words. Jacobi +in his joy made a high _entre-chat_, and embracing Louise, said, "Now, +Louise, what say you to the man? And we have got a pupil that will draw +at least twenty after him!" + +Louise was perfectly reconciled to his Excellency. + +From this day forth Bergström began a new era; whatever happened in the +family was either before or after the visit of his Excellency. + + * * * * * + +"Ah, then, my goodness! that it should be Excellency O----!" said the +dear sister Bask to the dear sister Suur. + +"Yes, just think! That he should come solely, and for no other purpose, +than to visit the Franks, and breakfast there, and stop several hours +there! He is a cousin, of the Judge's lady." + +"Her cousin! Bah! no more her cousin than I am the king's cousin; +positively not!" + +"Yes, yes! or why else should he have called her 'my gracious cousin?' +And one must confess that there is something refined and genteel about +her--and such hands as she has have I never seen!" + +"Hum! There's no art in looking genteel and having beautiful hands, when +one goes about the house like a foolish thing, washing one's hands in +rose-water, and all the livelong day doing not one sensible act. That I +know well enough!" + +"Yes, yes! they who will be of any use in their house cannot keep such +hands, and sit the whole day and read romances! I should like to know +how it would have gone with the blessed Suur's baking business--to which +at last he added the grocery--if I had been a genteel lady! Not at all, +because I should not have done it. Sweet sister, know that I once had my +whims--yes, and a turn for scribbling and writing. Yes, so help me +heaven! if it had not been for my little bit of sound sense, which +showed me my folly in time, I might have become a regular learned lady, +another--what do you call her?--Madame de Staël! But when I married the +late Suur I determined to give up all that foolishness, and do honour to +the baking; and now I have quite let my little talent slip away from me, +so that it is as good as buried. But on that account I am, to be sure, +no fitting company for the Franks--think only!--and shall be only less +and less so, if they are always climbing higher and higher." + +"Let them climb as high as they will, I don't intend to make obeisances +before them, that I can promise them! that I absolutely will not! It +vexes me enough that Annette is so mad after them. Before one is aware +of it, they will be taking her away from me, skin and hair; and that's +my thanks for all I have lavished upon her! But I'll tell the gentry +that I'm positively determined to make no compliments to them or to +their Excellencies, and that one person is just as good as another! +Positively I'll tell them that!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE EVENING BEFORE THE WEDDING. + + +"God bless the little ones! But when one considers how little of a +rarity children are in this world, one has only to open one's mouth to +say so, and people are all up in arms and make such a stir and such an +ado about their little ones! Heart's-dearest! People may call them +angels as much as ever they will, but I would willingly have my knees +free from them! But worst of all is it with the first child in a family! +Oh, it is a happiness and a miracle, and cannot be enough overloaded +with caresses and presents from father and mother, and aunts and +cousins, and all the world. Does it scream and roar--then it is a +budding genius; is it silent--then it is a philosopher in its cradle; +and scarcely is it eight days old but it understands Swedish and almost +German also! And--it bites, the sweet angel!--it has got a tooth! It +bites properly. Ah, it is divine! Then comes the second child:--it is by +far less wonderful already; its cry and its teeth are not half so +extraordinary. The third comes;--it is all over with miracles now! the +aunts begin to shake their heads, and say, 'no lack of heirs in the +house! Nay, nay, may there be only enough to feed them all.' After this +comes a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth--yes, then people's wits are +set in full play! The parents resign themselves, but the friends defend +themselves! Heart's-dearest, what is to become of it? The house full of +children, there's soon a dozen of them! Poor Mrs. This and This--it +makes one quite weak both in body and mind only to think of it! Yes, +yes, my friends, people don't put these things down in romances, but it +goes on in this way in real life! Yes!" + +It was the Chamberlain's lady who preached this little sermon, in the +zeal of her spirit, to the young couple who the next day were to be man +and wife. She ate on this evening Whitsuntide-porridge[19] with the +Franks, and all the while gave sundry lessons for the future. Jacobi +laughed heartily over the history of the children, and endeavoured to +catch Louise's eye; but this was fixed upon the Postillion, which she +was arranging with a very important and grave aspect. The Judge and +Elise looked smilingly on each other, and extended to each other their +hands. + +The state of feeling in the family, for the rest of the evening, was +quite rose-coloured. Letters had been received from Petrea which gave +contentment to all her friends, and Eva sate in the family circle with +returning, although as yet pale roses on her cheeks. The Judge sate +between Eva and Leonore, laying out on the map the plan of the summer +tour. They would visit Thistedal, Ringerig, and Tellemark, and would go +through Trondhiem to Norland, where people go to salute the midnight +sun. + +Gabriele looked after her flowers, and watered the myrtle tree from +which next morning she would break off sprays wherewith to weave a crown +and garland for Louise. Jacobi sate near the mother, and seemed to have +much to say to her; what it was, however, nobody heard, but he often +conveyed her hand to his lips, and seemed as if he were thanking her for +his life's happiness. He looked gentle and happy. Every thing was +prepared for the morrow, so that this evening would be spent in quiet. + +According to Jacobi's wish the marriage was to take place in the church, +and after this they were all to dine _en famille_. In the evening, +however, a large company was to be assembled in the S. saloon, which +with its adjoining garden had been hired for the purpose. This was +according to the wish of the father, who desired that for the last time, +perhaps for many years, his daughter should collect around her all her +acquaintance and friends, and thus should show to them, at the same +time, welcome politeness. He himself, with the help of Jacobi and +Leonore, who was everybody's assistant, had taken upon himself the +arrangement of this evening's festival, that his wife might not be +fatigued and disturbed by it. + +At supper the betrothed sat side by side, and Jacobi behaved sometimes +as if he would purposely seize upon his bride's plate as well as his +own, which gave rise to many dignified looks, to settings-to-rights +again, and a deal of merriment besides. + +Later in the evening, when they all went to rest, Louise found her +toilet-table covered with presents from bridegroom, parents, sisters, +and friends. A great deal of work was from Petrea. These gifts awakened +in Louise mingled feelings of joy and pain, and as she hastened yet once +again to embrace the beloved ones from whom she was about so soon to +separate, many mutual tears were shed. But evening dew is prophetic of a +bright morrow--that was the case here. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] There is some new kind of porridge for almost every week in the +year in Sweden, with which the table is most religiously served.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE WEDDING-DAY. + + +The sun shone bright and warm on that morning of Whit-Monday. Flowers +and leaves glistened in the morning dew; the birds sang; the bells of +the city rang festively and gaily; the myrtle-crown was ready woven +early, and the mother and Leonore were present at the toilet of the +bride. They expected that Jacobi would make his appearance in the +highest state of elegance, and hoped that his appearance would not dim +that of the bride. Louise's sisters made her appearance on this occasion +of more importance than she herself did. Gabriele dressed her hair--she +possessed an actual talent for this art--half-blown rose-buds were +placed in the myrtle wreath; and what with one, and what with another +little innocent art of the toilet, a most happy effect was produced. +Louise looked particularly well in her simple, tasteful, bridal +dress--for the greatest part of the work of her own skilful hands--and +the content, and the beautiful repose which diffused itself over her +countenance, spread a glorification over all. + +"You look so pale to-day in your white dress, my little Eva," said +Leonore, as she helped her to dress--"you must have something pink on +your neck to brighten you up, else our bride will be anxious when she +sees you." + +"As you will, Leonore! I can put this handkerchief on, that it may give +a little reflected colour to my cheek. I will not distress any one." + + * * * * * + +When the festally-arrayed family assembled for breakfast they presented +a beautiful appearance. The family-father, however, looked more gloomy +than gay; and as Jacobi entered they saw, with astonishment, that his +toilet was considerably negligent. He had been out; his hair was in +disorder, and he evidently was in an excited state of mind; but he was +handsome for all that. He kissed his bride tenderly on hand and lips, +and gave her a nosegay of beautiful wild-flowers, and several splendidly +bound books,--the sermons of Franzén and Wallin, which gift was very +valuable, and was received by "our sensible" and sermon-loving Louise +with the greatest pleasure. + +After breakfast Jacobi hastened to arrange his toilet, and then they all +went to church. The weather was uncommonly beautiful, and crowds of +festally-dressed people thronged about, in part to hear the Provost, who +was to preach that day, but principally to see the bridal pair. + +It was an agreeable surprise to the family when at the entrance of the +churchyard many young girls began to strew flowers before the bridal +couple the whole way to the church-door. The church also was decorated +with flowers and foliage. + +When the Judge took the hand of his daughter in the church, she +perceived that his was cold, and that it trembled. She looked at him, +and read in his countenance the disquiet with which his soul laboured. + +"My father," said she to him, "I feel so calm, so happy!" + +"Then I am so too, my child," said he, pressing her hand; and after this +moment his demeanour was calm and decided as usual. + +Jacobi, both before and after the ceremony, was excited in the highest +degree; he wept much. Louise, on the contrary, was externally quite +calm. She looked rather pale, but her eyes were bright and almost +joyous; an altogether unusual contrast in a bridal pair. + +On their return from the church a little circumstance occurred which +gave pleasure to all, but more especially to the Judge. As they went +past the remains of the burnt-down house, they saw a great swarm of bees +suddenly mount up from the trees of the garden; it flew several times +round the market-place as if seeking for a habitation, and at last +turning back, struck directly down among the ruins of the former kitchen +fireplace; it seemed as if it had selected the hearth for its abiding +home. This was regarded as the happiest omen, and no sooner had the +Judge conducted his daughter home, than he returned in order to remove +his bees to a convenient resting-place; Gabriele following him with +Baron L----'s treatise on the management of bees in her hand. + +When Louise was again locked in the arms of her mother--the mother and +Eva had remained at home--she was seized by a slight trembling fit which +lasted several hours, but which was unobserved by all excepting her +mother; and through the whole of the day she continued graver than +common. Jacobi, on the contrary, after his fit of weeping was over, and +he had embraced everybody, and kissed his bride on lips, hair, hand, and +foot, was seized with a real desire of dancing with the whole world. He +was so wildly joyous and happy, and at the same time so amiable, that he +imparted his state of mind to everybody else. + +At half-past four in the afternoon they assembled themselves in the +S---- garden, where the time was passed in the most agreeable manner, +with music, walking about, entertainment, and eating of ices and fruit, +to which also the Almighty added the brightest heaven and the calmest +air. Later in the evening they danced in the great saloon; no lady could +sit still, and scarcely a gentleman stand; all must dance! We have +nothing more to say of the ball, but we must not pass over in silence +that which occurred afterwards. When the company wished to go across the +garden to the eating-room, they perceived that it had rained +considerably, and that it still dropped; this occasioned a great +commotion among the ladies, because all the wrapping shawls and cloaks +were on the other side; they had quite forgotten to bring them over in +the fine weather. But it was, according to popular belief in Sweden, +fortunate, and quite according to the order of things, that rain-drops +should fall on the crown of the bride; but at the same time it was also +against all sense of prudence and propriety that she should wet her +silken shoes. And then all the other ladies! They must have the wrapping +things fetched to this side! + +"I will provide for it!" exclaimed Jacobi, and with these words seized +his astonished bride in his arms and carried her across the garden. What +he whispered in her ear during this journey we know not, but thus far we +can say, that this action set Jacobi very high in the favour of the +ladies. + + * * * * * + +The new-married pair spent several days after the wedding under the +paternal roof, and joyful days they were, only rather too much given up +to dissipation, for all friends and acquaintance would see and entertain +the two young people. Mrs. Gunilla gave them a dinner, in which she +communicated to them that she should, at the same time with them, +journey to Stockholm, where important affairs would oblige her to stay a +considerable time. However much it grieved Elise to lose so excellent +and almost motherly a friend, she rejoiced very much over what Louise +and Jacobi would win thereby. Louise and Mrs. Gunilla, it is true, had +not perfectly harmonised together, because each would instruct the +other; but Jacobi and she agreed all the better, and she had already +invited the young people to dine with her as often as they would in +Stockholm. + +In the hour of parting she spoke thus to Elise and her husband with +tears in her eyes: "Who knows when we may meet again? The old woman is +in years--is not of much more use in the world--na, na! Our Lord will +care for her as he has hitherto done! And listen," continued she with an +arch, roguish air, "don't be uneasy on account of the young folks;--I +shall see that it all goes on right there. I invite myself as sponsor to +the first child. Perhaps we shall meet then! Yes, yes, I have a +presentiment that we shall see one another again in Stockholm! Nay! now +farewell, dear Elise! God bless you, my kind friends, and make all go +well with you! Think of the old woman sometimes! Adieu!" + + * * * * * + +After the trouble of the packing was over--we mean packing Louise's +things, of course--and the still sorrow of parting, quiet returned back +into the house, and was only agreeably interrupted by preparations for +the journey to the West. The Judge seemed at this time to be young +again, and an increased union of heart showed itself between him and his +wife. So wear away, sometimes, the most beautiful summer days, even +after the autumn has made advances into the year. From what cause is +this? God knows. + +The invisible genius of our history leads us at this moment far from the +home of peace to a distant shore, in order to give us a glimpse +into--the subject of our next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A SICK CHAMBER. + + +If the sun shine on the head of the crucified, if a bird lift up its +joyous song in presence of a broken heart, it seems to us cruel. But +beautiful is the unconscious irony of nature in comparison with that +which exists in human circumstances. We have here an example of this +before us. See these sparkling false diamonds, this red gauze finery, +these ruins of theatrical ornament. They seem to mock the misery of the +room about which they are strewn. In that wretched room is want of +light; want, not only of all the comforts of life, but also of its most +necessary things. And yet--where could they be more useful than here? + +Forlorn, upon a miserable bed lay a woman, who appeared to have seen +better days; still is she handsome, although passion and suffering seem +early to have wasted her yet young countenance. Fever burned on the +sunken cheek and in the dark eye, and her lips moved themselves wildly; +but no one was there to refresh with friendly hand the dry lips and the +hot brow; no cooling fever-draught stood near her bed. Two new-born +babes lay weeping near the mother. Uneasy phantoms seemed to agitate the +unhappy one: sometimes she raised herself in the bed with wild gestures, +but sunk back again powerless; whilst her pale, convulsed, and wandering +lips spoke from the depths of her torn heart the following incoherent +words: + +"It is a bitter, bitter path! but I must, must fly for help! My strength +is broken--I can do nothing--the children cry to be heard, hungry, +half-naked! Parents! sisters! help! + + * * * * * + +"It is night--the wind is cold--I freeze! The waves swell and +swell--they drive a wreck ashore--they strike on the rocks--ah! +wherefore did it not go down in the storm on the open sea? How dreadful +in full consciousness to be dashed to pieces! And thou, thou who art the +cause of all, thou sittest by and lookest coldly on me! Miserable +egotist! Dost thou bear a heart in thy breast? The temple is dashed to +pieces, and thou that has ruined it treadest upon its ruins! I knew not +how misfortune looked--I knew not what it really is! Misery! But thou +miserable one who---- + +"Hush! is it she? Is it my foster-mother who comes here so lightly, so +gently, so softly? It becomes bright! She will lay her warm hands on my +little children, and wrap them in the warm coverlet which she made for +me-- + + There sits a dove so fair and white + All on the lily spray. + +Is it she? No! it is the moon, which rises palely out of black clouds. +How coldly she looks on my misery! Away, away! + +"Sisters, I thirst! Will no one give me a drop of water? Have you all, +all left me? I thought I saw you again. It is so strange in my head. +Perhaps I shall become mad if I thirst much longer. It is dark--I am +afraid! I am afraid of the dark bird! If it come again it will begin to +rend my heart; but if I am ever again strong, fresh and strong, I will +kill it--with my own hands will I murder it! Day and night a wick burns +in my heart; its name is Hate, and the oil that supplies it is +bitterness! + +"When shall I be strong again? Do you see how he has misused me; has +fettered me to the sick-bed? Do you hear the children cry? the children +which, through the abuse of the father, have come into the world before +their time, and now will die? Give nourishment to the children, for the +mercy of God, sisters! Let me die, but help the children! Now they are +quiet! Thanks! thanks! Shall I die this morning? No, no, not yet! + + * * * * * + +"The gulf is so dark! Ah, what an abyss! + +"Again comes the black bird; I had fled from him, but he followed me, +tore off my wings, so that I can fly no longer! + + * * * * * + +"Help me up, I must dress myself! Here, with my handsome attire! haste! +To-night I must appear anew before the public, and be admired; must hear +the clapping of hands and bravos; must see garlands showered before my +feet! See you, sisters; it is so glorious! It is an hour of life! It is +a real burst of joy! See how I glitter--how I beam forth! Listen to the +tempest of applause! How it thunders! But wherefore is it now again so +still?--still and dark as the grave? It was a short joy! Cursed be he +who made it so short! + +"Do not look so sternly upon me, foster-father! Am I not already +sufficiently cast down! Your stern look penetrates me. Give me your +hand, that I may lay it on my burning brow. You turn from me! You go! +Oh! + + * * * * * + +"It is so desolate! The strand has such sharp stones! It is so dreadful +to be wounded against them! + +"I will not die! I am so young, have so much strength of life in my +soul! I will not yet go down into eternity! No! + + * * * * * + +"Who saves me? There come foaming waves!--or are they your white arms, +sisters, which you stretch out towards me? Is it you whom I see like +grey misty ghosts wandering on the corpse coast! Are you then dead? Do +you hear the noise? It is death--it is the black bird which comes!--now +I must fly--fly--fly--or die!" + + * * * * * + +With a violent effort the delirious woman rose from the bed--took a few +steps, and then fell down as if lifeless. Her head struck against the +bedstead, and a stream of blood gushed forth from her temples. + +At this moment a tall man habited in black entered the room softly; +light locks surrounded the noble but somewhat aged head; the mild, +serious expression of the countenance, and the affectionate look of the +blue eyes showed, still more than the dress, whose servant he was. A +lady, who was not handsome, but whose countenance bore the stamp of +beauty of the soul, like her husband's, followed him. With a look of the +deepest compassion this couple surveyed the room, and then drew near the +sick-bed. + +"Merciful heaven!" whispered they, "we are come too late! The children +are dead--and so is the mother!" + + * * * * * + +Let us now turn our eyes away from this dark picture that they may rest +upon a brighter one. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A LANDSCAPE. + + +On one of the heights of the Dofrine Mountains we see three +travellers--an elderly man and two young ladies. He seems neither afraid +of trouble for himself nor for them; he seems as if he were accustomed +to it and could play with it. But he does all so affectionately; he goes +before them so friendly and kind, reaches out his hand and encourages +them to yet another effort, and they would then enjoy the magnificent +view; they would then be able to rest, and obtain refreshment at the +"säter-hut"[20] above them! The daughters follow him smiling, and +overcome weakness and weariness for his sake! Now they are above on the +heights--and well are they rewarded for all the labour of climbing up +there! The earth lies below so rich, with its hills and valleys, dark +woods, fruitful plains--and there, in the far distance, sea and heaven +unite themselves in majestic repose! + +With an exclamation of rapture the father extended his arms towards the +magnificent prospect; and the mountain wind--not keen here, but mild +from the breath of spring, agreeably cooled the cheeks of the wanderers. + +The father went to the hut to obtain milk for himself and his daughters, +and in the mean time one of the daughters rested upon a moss-covered +stone and supported herself against a rock. Almond-scented linnea formed +a garland around her feet, and the joyous singing-birds ascended from +the valley. The sister, who stood near her and against whom she leaned +her lovely head whilst the wind played in her brown tresses, looked on +the comfortable dwellings which gleamed forth below from amid green +trees and beside clear waters, and her affectionate but unimpassioned +heart rejoiced itself over the scene, which seemed to say to her, "Here +may one live calmly and happily!" At that moment she heard her name +spoken by a loving voice; it was Eva's, who, while she pointed with hand +and eye towards heaven, where the clouds began to divide themselves, and +stripes of blue light gleamed forth like friendly eyes, "Seest thou, +Leonore," said she, gently smiling, "it will be bright!" + +"Will it be bright? Ah, thank God!" whispered Leonore in reply, with +eyes full of joyful tears, as she laid her cheek against the brow of her +sister. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[20] Säter-hütte among the mountains of Norway answer to the Senne of +the Swiss mountains. During the summer the inhabitants of many parts of +Norway withdraw from their villages to others, especially when situated +higher on the mountains, where they can fell wood and find better +pasturage for their cattle. They dwell with their herds in these säters, +which are generally abandoned in winter.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +UPS AND DOWNS. + + +When a new swarm is ready in a hive to attempt its own flight, warning +voices may be heard on still evenings in the little state, calling +forth, "Out! out!" + +People have interpreted it to be the old queen bee, which thus warns the +young ones forth into the world to fashion their own kingdom. I should +rather imagine it to be the young ones who in this manner sing forth +their longing. But let it be with them as it may, certain it is that in +the human hive, Home, a similar cry sometimes makes itself heard. Then +also there, when the young swarm is become strong with the honey and wax +of home, it finds the house too narrow and longs to get abroad. This is +common to all homes; but it is peculiar to the good and happy home, that +the same voice which exclaims, "Out! out!" exclaims afterwards yet more +animatedly, "In! in!" + +So was it in the home of the Franks. + +The period to which we must now cast our eyes conducts us several years +beyond the time when we saw father and daughters on the heights of the +Dofrine Mountains, and shows us our Petrea returned home after a long +absence. + +The mother, Petrea, and Gabriele, are deep in a conversation which +appears to interest them all three in a very lively manner, and the mild +voice of the mother is heard saying-- + +"You may freely decide for yourself, my good child, that you know +perfectly well; but as you describe Mr. M., and with the feelings, or +more properly speaking, the want of feeling you have for him, I can +never believe that you will be happy with him, and I cannot therefore +advise this marriage. See, here are some almonds in the shell, my dear +girl! We have not forgotten so soon your love for them--I set the basket +before you." + +"And the Countess Solenstrĺle," said the lively Gabriele, archly, "has +herself spoken for her nephew, and invited you to her house. Very polite +and handsome of her! And you, Petrea, no longer covet this exaltation?" + +"Ah, no, Gabriele!" answered Petrea, "this childish desire is long past; +it is another kind of exaltation than this, that I pine for." + +"And this is called?" asked Gabriele, with a light in her lovely eyes, +which showed her that she very well knew that, which however she had not +pronounced in words. + +"I do not know what I should call it; but there lives and moves here a +longing difficult to describe," said Petrea, laying her hand upon her +breast, and with eyes full of tears; "oh, if I could only rise upwards +to light--to a higher, freer life!" + +"You do not wish to die!" said Gabriele, warmly; "not that I now fear +death. Since Henrik has trod this path, I feel so entirely different to +what I used to do. Heaven is come quite near to the grave. To die is to +me to go to him, and to his home. But I am yet so happy to be living +here with my family, and you, my Petrea, must feel so too. Ah! life on +earth, with those that we love, may indeed be so beautiful!" + +"So I think, and so I feel, Gabriele," replied Petrea, "and more so than +ever when I am at home, and with my own family. On that account I will +gladly live on the earth, at least till I am more perfect. But I must +have a sense of this life having in it a certain activity, by which I +may arrive at the consciousness of that which lives within me--there +moves in me a fettered spirit, which longs after freedom!" + +"Extraordinary!" said Gabriele, half displeased, "how unlike people are +one to another. I, for my part, feel, not the least desire for activity. +I, unworthy mortal, would much rather do nothing." And so saying she +leaned her pretty head with half-shut eyes against her mother, who +looked on her with an expression that seemed to say, "live only; that is +enough for thee!" + +Petrea continued: "When I have read or heard of people who have lived +and laboured for some great object, for some development of human +nature, who have dedicated all their thoughts and powers to this +purpose, and have been able to suffer and to die for it; oh! then I have +wept for burning desire that it also might be granted to me to spend and +to sacrifice my life. I have looked around me, have listened after such +an occasion, have waited and called upon it; but ah! the world goes past +me on its own way--nobody and nothing has need of me." + +Petrea both wept and laughed as she spoke, and with smiles and tears +also did both Gabriele and the mother listen to her, and she continued-- + +"As there was now an opportunity for my marrying, I thought that here +was a sphere in which I might be active--But, ah! I feel clearly that it +is not the right one for me, neither is it the one for which I am +suitable--especially with a husband whose tastes and feelings are so +different to mine." + +"But, my good girl," said the mother, disconcerted, "how came it then, +that he could imagine you sympathised so well together; it seems from +his letter that he makes himself quite sure of your consent, and that +you are very well suited to each other." + +"Ah!" replied Petrea, blushing, and not without embarrassment, "there +are probably two causes for that, and it was partly his fault and partly +mine. In the country, where I met him, he was quite left to himself; +nobody troubled themselves about him; he had _ennui_, and for that +reason I began to find pleasure for him." + +"Very noble," said Gabriele, smiling. + +"Not quite so much so as you think," replied Petrea, again blushing, +"because--at first I wished really to find pleasure for _him_, and then +also a little for myself. Yes, the truth is this--that--I--had nothing +to do, and while I busied myself about Mr. M., I did not think it so +very much amiss to busy him a little about me; and for this reason I +entered into his amusements, which turned upon all sorts of petty +social tittle-tattle; for this reason I preserved apricots for him, I +told stories to him, and sang to him in an evening in the +twilight--'Welcome, O Moon!' and let him think if he would, that he was +the moon. Mother, Gabriele, forgive me, I know how little edification +there is in all this, it is quite too----but you cannot believe how +dangerous it is to be idle, when one has an active spirit within one, +and an object before one that----You laugh! God bless you for it! the +affair is not worth anything more, for it is anything but tragic--yet it +might become so, if on account of my sins I were to punish myself by +marrying Mr. M. I should be of no worth to him, excepting as housekeeper +and plaything, and this would not succeed in the long run; for the rest +he does not love me, cannot love me seriously, and would certainly +easily console himself for my refusal." + +"Then let him console himself, and do not think any further on the +affair," cried Gabriele, with animation. + +"I am of Gabriele's opinion," said the mother; "for to marry merely to +be married; merely to obtain a settlement, an establishment, and all +that, is wrong; and, moreover, with your family relationships, the most +unnecessary thing in the world. You know, my dear child, that we have +enough for ourselves and for you, and a sphere of action suitable for +you will present itself in time. Your father will soon return home, and +then we can talk with him on the subject. He will assist us directly in +the best way." + +"I had, indeed, presentiments," said Petrea, with a sigh, "and hopes, +and dreams, perhaps--of a way, of an activity, which would have made me +useful and happy according to my own abilities. I make now much humbler +demands on life than formerly; I have a much less opinion of myself than +I had--but, oh! if I might only ally myself, as the least atom of light, +to the beams which penetrate humanity at the same time that they animate +the soul of man, I would thank God and esteem myself happy! I have made +an attempt--you know, mother, and Gabriele--to express in a book +somewhat of that which has lived in me and which still lives; you know +that I have sent the manuscript to an enlightened printer for his +judgment, and also--if his judgment be favourable--that he should +publish it. If this should succeed, if a sphere of action should open +itself to me in this way, oh! then some time or other I might become a +more useful and happy being; should give pleasure to my connexions, +and----" + +Petrea was here interrupted by the arrival of a large packet directed to +herself. A shuddering apprehension went through her; her heart beat +violently as she broke the seal, and--recognised her own manuscripts. +The enlightened, intelligent printer sent them back to her, accompanied +by a little note, containing the pleasant tidings that he would not +offer the merest trifle for the book, neither could he undertake the +printing of it at his own cost. + +"Then this path is also closed against me!" said Petrea, bowing her head +to her hand that nobody might see how deeply she felt this. Thus then +she had deceived herself regarding her talents and her ability. But now +that this way also was closed against her--what should she undertake? +Marriage with Mr. M. began again to haunt her brain. She stumbled about +in the dark. + +Gabriele would not allow, however, that the path of literature was +closed against her; she was extremely excited against the printer. "He +was certainly," she said, "a man without any taste." + +"Ah!" said Petrea, readily smiling, "I also will gladly flatter myself +with that belief, and that if the book could only be printed, then we +soon--but that is not to be thought of!" + +Gabriele thought it was quite worth while to think about it, and did not +doubt but that means might be found, some time or other, to make the +gentleman printer make a long face about it. + +The mother agreed; spoke of the return of her husband, who, she said, +would set all right. "Keep only quietly with us, Petrea, calmly, and +don't be uneasy about the means for bringing out your book; they will be +found without difficulty, if we only give ourselves time." + +"And here," added Gabriele, "you shall have as much quiet as you desire. +If you would like to spend the whole day in reading and writing, I will +take care that nobody disturbs you. I will attend to all your friends +and acquaintance, if it be needful, to insure your quiet. I will only +come in to you to tell you when breakfast is ready and when dinner; and +on the post-day, I'll only come at the post-hour and knock at your +door, and take your letters and send them off. And in the evening, +then--then we may see you amongst us--you cannot believe how welcome you +will be! Ah! certainly you will feel yourself happy among those who love +you so much! And your book! we will send it out into the world, and it +too shall succeed one of these days!" + +Loving voices! domestic voices in happy families, what adversity, what +suffering is there which cannot be comforted by you! + +Petrea felt their healing balsam. She wept tears of love and gratitude. +An hour afterwards, much calmer in mind, she stood at the window, and +noticed the scene without. Christmas was at hand, and every thing was in +lively motion, in order to celebrate the beautiful festival joyously. +The shops were ornamented, and people made purchases. A little bird came +and sate on the window, looked up to Petrea, twittered joyfully, and +flew away. A lively sentiment passed through Petrea's heart. + +"Thou art happy, little bird," thought she; "so many beings are happy. +My mishap grieves no one, hurts no one. Wherefore, then, should it +depress me? The world is large, and its Creator rich and good. If this +path will not succeed for me, what then? I will find out another." + +In the evening she was cheerful with her family. But when night came, +and she was alone; when the external world presented no longer its +changing pictures; when loving, sweet voices no more allured her out of +herself,--then anguish and disquiet returned to her breast. In no +condition to sleep, and urged by irresistible curiosity, she sate +herself down sighingly to go through her unlucky manuscripts. She found +many pencil-marks, notes of interrogation, and traces of the thumb on +the margin, which plainly proved that the reader had gone through the +manuscript with a censorious hand, and had had satisfaction in passing +his judgment of "good for nothing!" + +Ah! Petrea had built so many plans for herself and her family upon this, +which was now good for nothing; had founded upon it so many hopes for +her ascent upwards. Was nothing now to come out of them all? + +Petrea read; she acknowledged the justice of many marginal remarks, but +she found, more and more, that the greater part of them had reference +to single expressions, and other trifles. Petrea read and read, and was +involuntarily captivated by that which she read. Her heart swelled, her +eyes glowed, and suddenly animated by that feeling which (we say it +_sans comparaison_) gave courage to Correggio, and which comforted +Galileo, she raised herself, and struck her hand upon the manuscript +with the exclamation, "It is good for something after all!" + +Animated to the depths of her heart, she ran to Gabriele, and laughing, +embraced her with the words, "You shall see that some fine day I'll +ascend upwards yet." + + + + +PART IV. + +CHAPTER I. + +PETREA TO IDA. + + +From my Hermitage in the Garret. + +"'Illusions! Illusions!' you cry over all joys, all faith, all love in +life. I shout back with all my might over your own words, 'Illusions! +Illusions!' All depends upon what we fix our faith and our affections. +Must the beauty of love and worth of life be at an end to woman when her +first spring, her bloom of love, her moments of romance are past? No, do +not believe that, Ida. Nothing in this world is such an illusion as this +belief. Life is rich; its tree blossoms eternally, because it is +nourished by immortal fountains. It bears dissimilar fruits, varies in +colour and glory, but all beautiful; let us undervalue none of them, for +all of them are capable of producing plants of eternal life. + +"Youthful love--the beaming passion-flower of earth! Who will belie its +captivating beauty, who will not thank the Creator that he gave it to +the children of earth? But ah! I will exclaim to all those who drink of +its nectar, and to those who must do without it--'There are flowers +which are as noble as this, and which are less in danger than it of +being paled by the frosts of the earth--flowers from whose chalices +also you may suck life from the life of the Eternal!' + +"Ah! if we only understood how near to us Providence has placed the +fountains of our happiness--if we had only understood this from the days +of our childhood upwards, acted upon it, and profited by it, our lives +would then seldom lead through dry wildernesses! Happy are those +children whose eyes are early opened by parents and home to the rich +activity of life. They will then experience what sweetness and joy and +peace can flow out of family relationships, out of the heartfelt union +between brothers and sisters, between parents and children: and they +will experience how these relations, carefully cherished in youth, will +become blessings for our maturer years. + +"You pray me to speak of my home and my family. But when I begin with +this subject, who can say, Ida, whether I shall know how to leave off! +This subject is so rich to me, so dear--and yet how weak will not my +description be, how lifeless in comparison with the reality! + +"The dwelling-house--which may be said to have the same relation to home +as the body has to the soul--arisen, now out of its ashes, stands on the +same place on which, twelve years ago, it was burnt down. I wish you had +been with me yesterday in the library at breakfast. It was Leonore's +birthday, and the family had occasioned her a surprise by a little gift +which was exactly according to her taste--ornament combined with +convenience. It was an insignificant gift--wherefore then did it give us +all so much pleasure? wherefore were there sweet tears in her pious +eyes, and in ours also? We were all so still, and yet we felt that we +were very happy--happy because we mutually loved one another, and +mutually pleased one another so much. The sun shone at that time into +the room--and see, Ida! this sunbeam which shines day by day into the +house is the best image of its state; it is that which chases hence all +darkness, and turns all shadows into the glorification of its light! + +"I will now, lively Ida, talk to you some little about the daughters of +the house, and in order that you may not find my picture too +sentimental, I will introduce first to you--'Honour to whom honour is +due!'-- + + 'OUR ELDEST,' + +well known for industry, morality, moral lecturing, cathedral airs, and +many good properties. She married eleven years ago upon a much smaller +than common capital of worldly wealth; but both she and her husband knew +how to turn their pound to account, and so, by degrees, their house, +under her careful hands, came to be what people call a well-to-do house. + +"Eight wild Jacobis during this time sprung up in the house without +bringing about any revolution in it, so good were the morals which they +drew in with the mother's milk. I call them the 'Berserkers,' because +when I last saw them they were perfect little monsters of strength and +swiftness, and because we shall rely upon their prowess to overturn +certain planks--of which more anon; on which account I will inspire them +and their mother beforehand with a certain old-gothic ambition. + +"So now! After the married couple had kept school eleven years--he +instructing the boys in history, Latin, and such like; and she washing, +combing, and moralising the same, and in fact, becoming a mother to many +a motherless boy, it pleased the mercy of the Almighty to call them--not +directly to heaven, but through his angel the Consistorium to the +pastoral care of the rural parish adjoining this town--the highest goal +of their wishes ever since they began to have wishes one with another. +Their approaching journey here has given rise to great pleasure--it is +hard to say in which of the two families the greatest. Thus, then, +Louise will become a pastor's wife--perhaps soon also an archdeacon's, +and then she arrives at the desired situation in which she can impart +moral lectures with power--of which sister Petrea might have the benefit +of a good part, and pay it back with interest. + +"But the moral lectures of our eldest have a much milder spirit than +formerly, which is owing to the influence of Jacobi; for it has occurred +in their case, as in the case of many another happily-married couple, +they have ennobled one another; and it is a common saying in our family, +that she without him would not have become what she now is, neither +would he have been without her what he now is. + +"The Rose of the Family, the daughter Eva, had once in her life a great +sorrow--a bitter conflict; but she came forth victorious. True it is +that an angel stood by her side and assisted her. Since then she has +lived for the joy of her family and her friends, beautiful, and amiable, +and happy, and has from time to time rejected lovers; but she may soon +be put out of the position to continue this course. I said that an angel +stood beside her in the bitter conflict. There was a time when this +angel was an ugly, uncomfortable girl, a trouble to herself, and +properly beloved by none. But there is no one in the family now who is +more beloved or more in favour than she is. Never, through the power of +God, did there take place a greater change than in her. Now it gives one +pleasure to look at her and to be near her. Her features, it is true, +have not improved themselves, nor has her complexion become particularly +red-and-white; but she has become lovely, lovely from the heartfelt +expression of affection and intelligence; beautiful from the quiet, +unpretending grace of her whole being. Her only pretension is that she +will serve all and help all; and thus has she attached every one, by +degrees, to her, and she is become the heart, the peace of the house; +and, for herself, she has struck deep root down into the family, and is +become happy through all these charms. She has attached herself, in the +closest manner, to her sister Eva, and these two could not live +separated from each other. + +"You know the undertaking which these two sisters, while yet young, +commenced together. You know also how well it succeeded; how it obtained +confidence and stability, and how it won universal respect for its +conductors, and how also, after a course of ten years--independent of +this institution--they had realised a moderate income; so that they can, +if they are so disposed, retire from it, and it will still continue to +prosper under the direction of Annette P., who was taken as assistant +from the beginning, and who in respect of character and ability has +proved herself a person of rare worth. The name of the sisters Frank +stood estimably at the head of this useful establishment; but it is a +question whether it would have prospered to such an extent, whether it +would have developed itself so beautifully and well without the +assistance of a person who, however, has carefully concealed his +activity from the eye of the public, and whose name, for that reason, +was never praised. Without Assessor Munter's unwearied care and +assistance--so say the sisters--the undertaking could never have gone +forward. What a wonderful affectionate constancy lies in the soul of +this man! He has been, and is still, the benefactor of our family; but +if you would see and hear him exasperated, tell him so, and see how he +quarrels with all thanks to himself. The whole city is now deploring +that it is about to lose him. He is going to reside on his estate in the +country, for it is impossible that he could sustain much longer the way +in which he is at present overworked both night and day. His health has +for some time evidently declined, and we rejoice that he can now take +some rest, by which he may regain new strength. We all love him from our +hearts; but one of us has set on foot a plot to oblige another of us +to--ally herself with him, and therefore our good Assessor is now +exposed to a secret proceeding, which--but I forget that I was to write +about the daughters of the family. + +"There is a peculiar little world in the house--a world into which +nothing bad can enter--where live flowers, birds, music, and Gabriele. +The morning would lose its sweetest charms, if during the same +Gabriele's birds and flowers did not play a part, and the evening +twilight would be duskier if it were not enlivened by Gabriele's guitar +and songs. Her flower-stand has extended itself by degrees into an +orangery--not large to be sure, but yet large enough to shelter a +beautiful vine, which is now covered with grapes, and many beautiful and +rare plants also, so as to present to the family a little Italy, where +they may enjoy all the charms of the south, in the midst of a northern +winter. A covered way leads from the dwelling-house down into the +orangery, and it is generally there that in winter they take their +afternoon coffee. The aviary is removed thither; and there upon a table +covered with a green cloth, lie works on botany, together with the +writings of the Swedish gardening society, which often contain such +interesting articles. There stand two comfortable armed chairs, on which +the most magnificent birds and flowers are worked, you can easily +imagine for whom. There my mother sits gladly, and reads or looks at her +'little lady' (she never grows out of this appellation) as she tends her +flowers in the sun, or plays with her tame birds. One may say, in fact, +that Gabriele strews the evening of her mother's days with flowers. + +"A man dear to the Swedish heart has said, 'that the grand natural +feature of northern life is a conquered winter,' and this applies +equally to life individually, to family life, and to that of human +nature. It so readily freezes and grows stiff, snow so readily falls +upon the heart; and winter makes his power felt as much within as +without the house. In order to keep it warm within, in order that life +may flourish and bloom, it is needful to preserve the holy fire +everburning. Love must not turn to ashes and die out; if it do, then all +is labour and heaviness, and one may as well do nothing but--sleep. But +if fire be borrowed from heaven, this will not happen; then will house +and heart be warm, and life bloom incessantly, and a thousand causes +will become rich sources of joy to all. If it be so within the +house--then may it snow without--then winter thou mayst do thy worst! + +"But I return to Gabriele, whose lively wit and joyous temper, united to +her affectionate and innocent heart, make her deservedly the favourite +of her parents, and the joy of every one. She asserts continually her +own good-for-nothingness, her uselessness, and incorrigible love to a +sweet '_far niente_;' but nobody is of her opinion in this respect, for +nobody can do without her, and one sees that when it is necessary, she +can be as decided and as able as any one need be. It is now some time +since Gabriele made any charades. I almost fancy that the cause of this +is a certain Baron L., who was suspected for a long time of having set +fire to a house, and who now is suspected of a design of setting fire to +a heart, and who, with certain words and glances, has put all sorts of +whims into her head--I will not say heart. + +"And so then we have nothing bad to say of 'this Petrea,' as one of the +friends of the house still calls her, but no longer in anger. This +Petrea has had all kind of botherations in the world: in the first place +with her own nose, with which she could not get into conceit, and then +with various other things, as well within her as without her, and for a +long time it seemed as if her own world would never come forth out of +chaos. + +"It has however. With eyes full of grateful tears I will dare to say +this, and some time I may perhaps more fully explain how this has been +done. And blessed be the home which has turned back her wandering steps, +has healed the wounds of her heart, and has offered her a peaceful +haven, an affectionate defence, where she has time to rest after the +storms, and to collect and to know herself. Without this home, without +this influence, Petrea certainly might have become a witch, and not, as +now, a tolerably reasonable person. + +"You know my present activity, which, whilst it conducts me deeper into +life, discovers to me more beauty, more poetry, than I had ever +conceived of it in the dreams of my youth. Not merely from this cause, +although greatly owing to it, a spring has began to blossom for me on +the other side of my thirty years, which, were it ever to wither, would +be from my own fault. And if even still a painful tear may be shed over +past errors or present faults; if the longing after what is yet +unattainably better, purer, and brighter, may occasion many a pang--what +matters it? What matter if the eye-water burn, so that the eye only +become clear; if heaven humiliate, so that it only draw us upwards? + +"One of Petrea's means of happiness is, to require very few of the +temporal things of earth. She regards such things as nearly related to +the family of illusions, and will, on that account, have as little as +possible to do with them. And thus has she also the means of obtaining +for herself many a hearty and enduring pleasure. I will not, however, be +answerable for her not very soon being taken by a frenzy of giving a +feast up in her garret, and thereby producing all kinds of illusions; +such, for example, as the eating little cakes, the favourite illusion of +my mother, and citron-soufflé, the almost perfect earthly felicity of +'our eldest,' in which a reconciliation skĺl with the frenzy-feast might +be proposed to her beloved 'eldest.' + +"Would you now make a _summa summarum_ of Petrea's state, it stands +thus: that which was a fountain of disquiet in her is now become a +fountain of quiet. She believes in the actuality of life, and in her own +part therein. She does not allow her peace to be disturbed by accidental +troubles, be they from within or from without; she calls them +mist-clouds, passing storms, after which the sun will come forth again. +And should her little garret tumble to pieces one of these days, she +would regard even that as a passing misfortune, and hold herself ready, +in all humility--to mount up yet a little higher. + +"But enough of Petrea and her future ascension. + +"Yet one daughter dwelt in the family, and her lovely image lives still +in the remembrance of all, but a mourning veil hangs over it; for she +left home, but not in peace. She was not happy, and for many years her +life is wrapped in darkness. People think that she is dead; her friends +have long believed so, and mourned her as such; but one among them +believes it not. _I_ do not believe that she is dead. I have a strong +presentiment that she will return; and it would gladden me to show her +how dear she is to me. I have built plans for her future with us, and I +expect her continually, or else a token where I may be able to find her; +and be it in Greenland or in Arabia Deserta whence her voice calls me, I +will find out a way to her. + +"I would that I could now describe to you the aged pair, to whom all in +the house look up with love and reverence, who soon will have been a +wedded couple forty years, and who appear no longer able to live the one +without the other--but my pen is too weak for that. I will only venture +upon a slight outline sketch. My father is nearly seventy years old--but +do you think he indulges himself with rest? He would be extremely +displeased if he were to sleep longer in a morning than usual: he rises +every morning at six, it being deeply impressed upon him to lose as +little of life as possible. It is unpleasant to him that his declining +sight compels him now to less activity. He likes that we should read +aloud to him in an evening, and that--romances. My mother smilingly +takes credit to herself for having seduced him to that kind of reading; +and he confesses, with smiles, that it is really useful for old people, +because it contributes to preserve the heart young. For the rest, he is +in all respects equally, perhaps more, good, more noble-hearted than +ever; and from that cause he is to us equally respect-inspiring and +dear. Oh, Ida, it is a happy feeling to be able intrinsically to honour +and love those who have given us life! + +"And now must I, with a bleeding heart, throw a mournful shadow over +the bright picture of the house, and that shadow comes at the same time +from a beautiful image--from my mother! I fear, I fear, that she is on +the way to leave us! Her strength has been declining for two years. She +has no decided malady, but she becomes visibly weaker and feebler, and +no remedy, as yet, has shown itself availing for her. They talk now of +the air of next spring--of Selzer-water, and a summer journey;--my +father would travel to the world's end with her--they hope with +certainty that she will recover; she hopes so herself, and says +smilingly yes, to the Selzer-water, and the journey, and all that we +propose; says she would gladly live with us, that she is happy with +us,--yet nevertheless there is a something about her, and even in her +smiles, that tells me that she herself does not cherish full faith in +the hope which she expresses. Ah! when I see daily her still paler +countenance; the unearthly expression in her gentle features--when I +perceive her ever slower gait, as she moves about, still arranging the +house and preparing little gratifications for her family; then comes the +thought to me that she perhaps will soon leave us, and it sometimes is +difficult to repress my tears. + +"But why should I thus despair? Why not hope like all the rest? Ah, I +will hope, and particularly for the sake of him who, without her, could +no more be joyful on earth. For the present she is stronger and livelier +than she has been for a long time. The arrival of Louise and her family +have contributed to this, as also another day of joy which is +approaching, and which has properly reference to my father. She goes +about now with such joy of heart, with the almanack in her hand, and +prepares everything, and thinks of everything for the joyful festival. +My father has long wished to possess a particular piece of building land +which adjoins our little garden, in order to lay it out for a great and +general advantage; but he has sacrificed so much for his children, that +he has nothing remaining wherewith to carry out his favourite plan. His +children in the mean time have, during the last twelve years, laid by a +sum together, and now have latterly borrowed together what was wanting +for the purchase of the land. On the father's seventieth birthday +therefore, with the joint help of the 'Berserkers,' will the wooden +fence be pulled down, and the genius of the new place, represented by +the graceful figure of Gabriele, will deliver over to him the +purchase-deed, which is made out in his name. How happy he will be! Oh, +it makes us all happy to think of it! How he will clear away, and dig, +and plant! and how it will gladden and refresh his old age. May he live +so long that the trees which he plants may shake their leafy branches +over his head, and may their rustling foretel to him the blessing, which +his posterity to the third and fourth generation will pronounce upon his +beneficent activity. + +"I would speak of the circle of friends which has ever enclosed our home +most cordially, of the new Governor Stejernhök and his wife, whom we +like so much, and whose removal here was particularly welcome to my +father, who almost sees a son in him. I would speak also of the servants +of the house, who are yet more friends than servants--but I fear +extending my letter to too great a length. + +"Perhaps you blame me secretly for painting my picture in colours too +uniformly bright, perhaps you will ask, 'Come there then not into this +house those little knocks, disturbances, rubs, overhastinesses, +stupidities, procrastinations, losses, and whatever those spiritual +mosquitoes may be called, which occasion by their stings irritation, +unquiet, and vexation, and whose visits the very happiest families +cannot avoid?' + +"Yes, certainly. They come, but they vanish as quickly as they come, and +never leave a poisonous sting behind, because a universal remedy is +employed against them, which is called 'Forgive, forget, amend!' and +which the earlier applied the better, and which makes also the visits of +these ugly fiends of rarer occurrence; they come, indeed, in pure and +mild atmospheres never properly forth. + +"Would you, dearest Ida, be convinced of the truth of the picture, come +here and see for yourself. We should all like it so much. Come, and let +our house provide for you the divertisement, perhaps also the rest which +is so needful to your heart. Come, and believe me, Ida, that when one +observes the world from somewhat of an elevation--as for instance, a +garret--one sees illusions like mist, passing over the earth, but above +it heaven vaulting itself in eternal brightness." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A MORNING HOUR + + +"Good morning!" said Jeremias Munter, as with his pockets full of books +he entered Petrea's garret, which was distinguished from all other rooms +merely by its perfect simplicity and its lack of all ornament. A glass +containing beautiful fresh flowers was its only luxury. + +"Oh, so heartily welcome!" exclaimed Petrea as she looked with beaming +eyes on her visitor and on his valuable appendages. + +"Yes, to-day," said he, "I am of opinion that I am welcome! Here's a +treat for Miss Petrea. See here, and see here!" + +So saying, the Assessor laid one book after another upon the table, +naming at the same time their contents. They belonged to that class of +books which open new worlds to the eye of reflecting minds. Petrea took +them up with a delight which can only be understood by such as have +sought and thirsted after the same fountains of joy, and who have found +them. The Assessor rejoiced quietly in her delight, as she looked +through the books and talked about them. + +"How good, how cordially good of you," said Petrea, "to think about me. +But you must see that I also have expected you to-day;" and with eyes +that beamed with the most heartfelt satisfaction she took out of a +cupboard two fine china-plates, on one of which lay cakes of light +wheaten bread, and on the other, piled up, the most magnificent grapes +reposing amid a garland of their own leaves, which were tastefully +arranged in various shades against the golden border of the plate. These +Petrea placed upon a little table in the window, so that the sun shone +upon them. + +The Assessor regarded them with the eye of a Dutch fruit painter, and +appeared to rejoice himself over a beautiful picture after his own +manner. + +"You must not only look at your breakfast, but you must eat it," said +the lively Petrea; "the bread is home-baked, and--Eva has arranged the +grapes on the plate and brought them up here." + +"Eva!" said he, "now, she could not know that I was coming here to-day?" + +"And precisely because she thought so as well as I, would she provide +your breakfast." With these words Petrea looked archly at the Assessor, +who did not conceal a pleasurable sensation--broke off a little grape, +seated himself, and--said nothing. + +Petrea turned herself to her books: "Oh," said she, "why is life so +short, when there is such an infinite deal to learn? Yet this is not +right, and it evidences ignorance to imagine the time of learning +limited; besides, this remark about the shortness of time and the length +of art proceeds from the heathen writer Hippocrates. But let us praise +God for the hope, for the certainty, that we may be scholars to all +eternity. Ah, Uncle Munter, I rejoice myself heartily over the +industrial spirit of our age! It will make it easy for the masses to +clothe and feed themselves, and then will they begin also to live for +mind. For true is that sentiment, which is about two thousand years old, +'When common needs are satisfied, man turns himself to that which is +more universal and exalted.' Thus when the great week of the world is +past, the Sabbath will commence, in which a people of quiet worshippers +will spread themselves over the earth, no more striving after decaying +treasures, but seeking after those which are eternal; a people whose +life will be to observe, to comprehend, and to adore, revering their +Creator in spirit and in truth. Then comes the day of which the angels +sung 'Peace on earth!'" + +"Peace on earth!" repeated Jeremias in a slow and melancholy voice, +"when comes it? It must first enter into the human heart; and there, +there live so many demons, so much disquiet and painful longing--but +what--what is amiss now?" + +"Ah, my God!" exclaimed Petrea wildly, "she lives! she lives!" + +"What her? who lives? No, really Petrea all is not right with you," said +the Assessor, rising. + +"See! see!" cried Petrea, trembling with emotion, and showing to the +Assessor a torn piece of paper, "see, this lay in the book!" + +"Well, what then? It is indeed torn from a sepia picture--a hand +strewing roses on a grave, I believe. Have I not seen this somewhere +already?" + +"Yes, certainly; yes, certainly! It is the girl by the rose-bush which +I, as a child, gave to Sara! Sara lives! see, here has she written!" + +The back of the picture seemed to have been scrawled over by a child's +hand; but in one vacant spot stood these words, in Sara's own remarkably +beautiful handwriting: + + No rose on Sara's grave! + Oh Petrea! if thou knew'st---- + +The sentence was unfinished, whilst several drops seemed to prove that +it had been closed by tears. + +"Extraordinary!" said the Assessor: "these books which I purchased +yesterday were bought in U. Could she be there? But----" + +"Certainly! certainly she is there," exclaimed Petrea, "look at the book +in which the picture lay--see, on the first page is the name, Sara +Schwartz--although it has been erased. Oh! certainly she is in U., or +there we can obtain intelligence of her! Oh, Sara, my poor Sara! She +lives, but perhaps in want, in sorrow! I will be with her to-day if she +be in U.!" + +"That Miss Petrea will hardly manage," said the Assessor, "unless she +can fly. It is one hundred and two (English) miles from here to U." + +"Alas, that my father should at this time be absent, should have the +carriage with him; otherwise he would have gone with me! But he has an +old chaise, I will take it----" + +"Very pretty, indeed," returned he, "for a lady to be travelling alone +in an old chaise, especially when the roads are spoiled with rain;--and +see what masses of clouds are coming up with the south wind--you'll have +soaking rain the whole day through in the chaise." + +"And if it rain pokers," interrupted Petrea, warmly, "I must go. Oh, +heavens! she was indeed my sister, she is so yet, and she shall not call +on me in vain! I will run down to my mother in this moment and----" +Petrea took her bonnet and cloak in her hand. + +"Calm yourself a little, Miss Petrea," he said; "I tell you, you could +not travel in this way. The chaise would not hold together. Alas, I have +tried it myself--you could not go in it!" + +"Now then," exclaimed Petrea determinately, "I will go; and if I cannot +go I'll creep--but go I will!" + +"Is that then your firm determination?" + +"My firm and my last." + +"Well, then, I must creep with you!" said the Assessor, smiling, "if it +be only to see how it goes with you. I'll go home now, but will be back +in an hour's time. Promise me only to have patience for so long, and not +without me to set off--creep off, I should say!" + +The Assessor vanished, and Petrea hastened down to her mother and +sisters. + +But before her communications and consultations were at an end, a light +travelling carriage drew up at the door. The Assessor alighted from it, +came in, and offered Petrea his arm. Soon again was he seated in the +carriage, Petrea by his side, and was protesting vehemently against the +bag of provisions, and the bottle of wine, which Leonore thrust in, +spite of his protestations, and so away they went. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ADVENTURES. + + +It was now the second time in their life that the Assessor and Petrea +were out together in such a manner, and now as before it seemed as if no +favourable star would light their journey, for scarcely had they set out +when it began to rain, and clouds as heavy and dark as lead gathered +together above their heads. It is rather depressing when in answer to +the inquiring glances which one casts upwards at the commencement of an +important journey, to be met by a heaven like this. Other omens also +little less fortunate added themselves; the horses pranced about as if +they were unwilling to go farther, and an owl took upon itself to attend +the carriage, set itself on the tree-branches and points of the palings +by the wayside, and then on the coming up of the carriage flew a little +farther, there to await its coming up at a little distance. + +As the travellers entered a wood, where on account of the deep road they +were compelled to travel slowly, they saw on the right hand a little +black-grey old woman step forth, as ugly, witch, and Kobold like in +appearance as an old woman ever can be. She stared at the travellers for +a moment, and then vanished among the trunks of the trees. + +The Assessor shuddered involuntarily at the sight of her, and remarked, +"What a difference is there between woman and woman--the loveliest upon +earth and the most horrible is yet--woman!" + +After he had seen the old witch he became almost gloomy. In the meantime +the owl vanished with her; perhaps, because "birds of a feather flock +together." + +Yet it may be that I am calumniating all this time the little old mother +in the most sinful manner; she may be the most good-tempered woman in +the world. It is well that our Lord understands us better than we do +ourselves. + +All this time Petrea sate silent, for however enlightened and +unprejudiced people may be, they never can perfectly free themselves +from the impression of certain circumstances, such as presentiments, +omens, apparitions, and forebodings, which, like owls on noiseless +wings, have flown through the world ever since the time of Adam, when +they first shouted their ominous "Too-who! too-whit!" People know that +Hobbes, who denied the resurrection in the warmest manner, never could +sleep in the neighbourhood of a room in which there had been a corpse. +Petrea, who had not the least resemblance in the world to Hobbes, was +not inclined to gainsay anything within the range of probability. Her +temperament naturally inclined her to superstition; and like most people +who sit still a great deal, she felt always at the commencement of a +journey a degree of disquiet as to how it would go on. But on this day, +under the leaden heaven, and the influence of discomforting forebodings, +this unquiet amounted to actual presentiment of evil; whether this had +reference to Sara or to herself she knew not; but she was disposed to +imagine the latter, and asked herself, as she often had done, whether +she were prepared for any occasion which might separate her for ever +from all those whom she loved on earth. By this means Petrea most +livingly discovered--discovered almost with horror, how strongly she +was fettered to her earthly existence, how dear life had become to her. + +All human souls have their heights, but then they have also their +morasses, their thickets, their pits (I will not speak of abysses, +because many souls are too shallow to have these). A frequent mounting +upwards, or a more constant abode upon these heights, is the stipulated +condition of man's proximity to heaven. Petrea's soul was an uneven +ground, as is the case with most people; but there existed in her +nature, as we have before seen, a most determined desire to ascend +upwards; and at this time, in which she found her affections too much +bound to earthly things, she strove earnestly to ascend up to one of +those heights where every limited attraction vanishes before more +extended views, and where every fettered affection will become free, and +will revive in what is loftier. The attempt succeeded--succeeded by +making her feel that whatever was most valuable in this life was +intimately connected with that life which only first begins when this +ends. Her lively imagination called forth, one after another, a great +variety of scenes of misfortune and death; and she felt that in the +moment before she resigned life, her heart would be able to raise itself +with the words, "God be praised in all eternity." + +With this feeling, and convinced by it that her present undertaking was +good and necessary, whatever its consequences might be, Petrea's heart +became light and free. She turned herself with lively words and looks to +her travelling companion, and drew him by degrees into a conversation +which was so interesting to them both, that they forgot weather and +ways, forebodings, evil omens, and preparations for death. The journey +prospered as well as any autumn journey could prosper. Not a trace of +danger met them by the way. The wind slumbered in the woods; and in the +public-houses they only heard one and another sleepy peasant open his +mouth with a "devil take me!" + +In the forenoon of the following day our travellers arrived happily at +U. Petrea scarcely allowed herself time to take any refreshments before +she commenced her inquiries. The result of all her and the Assessor's +labours we give shortly thus: + +It soon became beyond a doubt to them that Sara, together with a little +daughter, had been in the city, and had resided in the very inn in which +Petrea and the Assessor now were, although they travelled under a +foreign name. She was described as being in the highest degree weak and +sickly; and, as might be expected in her circumstances, it appeared that +she had besought the host to sell some books for her, which he had done. +One of these books it was which, with its forgotten mark, had fallen +into the hands of Petrea. Sara, on account of her debility, had been +compelled to remain several days in that place, but she had been gone +thence probably a week; and they saw by the Day-book[21] that it had been +her intention to proceed thence to an inn which lay on the road to +Petrea's native place; not, however, on the road by which they had +travelled to U., but upon one which was shorter, although much worse. + +Sara then also was on her way home--yes, perhaps might be there already! +This thought was an indescribable consolation for Petrea's heart, which +from the account she had received of Sara's condition, was anxious in +the highest degree. But when she thought on the long time which had +passed since Sara's journey from the city, she was filled with anxiety, +and feared that Sara might be ill upon the road. + +Willingly would Petrea have turned back again on the same evening to +seek out traces of Sara; but care for her old friend prevented her from +doing more than speaking of it. The Assessor, indeed, found himself +unwell, and required rest. The cold and wet weather had operated +prejudicially upon him, both mind and body. It was adopted as +unquestionable that they could not continue the journey till the +following morning. + +The Assessor had told Petrea that this was his birthday, and perhaps it +was this thought which caused him to be uncommonly melancholy the whole +day. Petrea, who was infinitely desirous of cheering him, hastened, +whilst he was gone out to seek an acquaintance, to prepare a little +festival for his return. + +With flowers and foliage which Petrea obtained, heaven knows how!--but +when people are resolutely bent on anything they find out the means to +do it--with these, then, with lights, a good fire, with a table covered +with his favourite dishes and such like, although in a somewhat +disagreeably public-house room, such a picture of comfort and +pleasantness was presented as the Assessor much loved. + +Fathers and mothers, and all the members of happy families, are +accustomed to birthday festivals, flower-garlands, and well-covered +tables; but nobody had celebrated the birthday of the Assessor during +his solitary wandering; he had not been indulged with those little +flower-surprises of life--if one may so call them; hence it happened +that he entered from the dark, wet street into this festal room with an +exclamation of astonishment and heartfelt pleasure. + +Petrea, on her part, was inexpressibly cordial, and was quite happy when +she saw the pains which she had taken to entertain her old friend +succeed so well. The two spent a pleasant evening together. They made +each other mutually acquainted with the evil omens and the impressions +which they had occasioned, and bantered one another a little thereon; +but decided positively that such fore-tokenings for the most +part--betoken nothing at all. + +As they separated for the night the Assessor pressed Petrea's hand with +the assurance that very rarely had a day given him such a joyous +evening. Grateful for these words, and grateful for the hope of soon +finding again the lost and wept friend of her youth, Petrea went to +rest, but the Assessor remained up late--midnight saw him still writing. + +Man and woman! There is a deal, especially in novels, said about man and +woman, as of separate beings. However that may be, human beings are they +both--and as human beings, as morally sentient and thinking creatures, +they influence one another for life. Their ways and means are different; +and it is this very difference which, by mutual benefits, and mutual +endeavours to sweeten life to one another, produces what is so beautiful +and so perfect. + +The clearest sun brightened the following morning; but the eyes of the +Assessor were troubled, as if he had enjoyed but little repose. Whilst +he and Petrea were breakfasting, he was called out to inspect something +relative to the carriage. + +Was it now the hereditary sin of mother Eve, or was it any other cause +which induced Petrea at this moment to approach the table on which the +Assessor's money lay, together with papers ready to be put into a +travelling writing-case. Enough! she did it--she did certainly what no +upright reader will pardon her for doing, quickly ran her eyes over one +of the papers which seemed just lately to have received from the pen +impressions of thought, and she took it. Shortly afterwards the Assessor +entered, and as it was somewhat late, he hastily put together his +papers, and they set off on their journey. + +The weather was glorious, and Petrea rejoiced like--nay, even more than +a child, over the objects which met her eyes, and which, after the rain, +stood in the bright sunshine, as if in the glory of a festive-day. The +world was to her now more than ever a magic ring; not the perplexing, +half-heathenish, but the purely Christian, in which everything, every +moment has its signification, even as every dewdrop receives its beaming +point of light from the splendour of the sun. Autumn was, above all, +Petrea's favourite season, and its abundance now made her soul overflow +with joyful thoughts. It is the time in which the earth gives a feast to +all her children, and joyous and changing scenes were represented by the +waysides. Here the corn-field raised to heaven its golden sheaves, and +the harvesters sang; there, around the purple berries of the +service-tree, circled beautiful flocks of the twittering silktails; +round the solitary huts, the flowering potato-fields told that the fruit +was ripe, and merry little barefooted children sprang into the wood to +gather bilberries. Petrea thanked heaven in her heart for all the +innocent joys of earth. She thought of her home, of her parents, of her +sisters, of Sara, who would soon again be one of their circle, and of +how she (Petrea) would cherish her, and care for her, and reconcile her +to life and to happiness. In the blessed, beautiful morning hour, all +thoughts clothed themselves in light. Petrea felt quite happy, and the +joke which she thought of playing on her friend the Assessor with the +stolen piece of paper, contributed not a little to screw up her life's +spirit to greater liveliness. "From the fulness of the heart the mouth +speaketh," and Petrea involuntarily influenced her travelling companion +so far that they both amused themselves with bombarding little children +on the waysides with apples and pears, whereby they were not at all +terrified. + +They had now taken the same road upon which Sara had travelled, and in +the first inn at which they stopped, their hopes were strengthened; for +Sara had been there, and had taken thence a horse to the next +public-house. All was on the way towards home. So continued it also at +the three following stations; but at the fifth, they suddenly lost all +traces of her. No one there had seen a traveller answering to her +description, nor was her name to be found in the Travellers' Day-book. +No! a great uneasiness for Petrea. After some deliberation, she and the +Assessor determined to return to the public-house whence they were just +come, in order to discover clearly in what direction Sara had gone +thence. + +In the mean time the evening had come on, and the sun was descending as +our friends were passing through one of the gloomiest woods in Sweden, +and one in such ill-report that not long ago a writer speaking of it, +said, "The forest shrouds memories as awful as itself, and monuments of +murder stand by the wayside. Probably the mantle of the mountains falls +not now in such thick folds as formerly, but yet there still are valleys +where the stroke of the axe has never yet been heard, and rocky ranges +which have never yet been smitten by the rays of the sun." + +"Here two men murdered the one the other," said the postilion with the +gayest air in the world, whilst the carriage stopped to give the horses +breath, on account of the heaviness of the road, and as he spoke he +pointed with his whip to a heap of twigs and pieces of wood which lay to +the left of the road, directly before the travellers, and which +presented a repulsive aspect. It is customary for every passer-by to +throw a stone or a piece of wood upon such a blood-stained spot, and +thus the monument of murder grows under the continued curse of society. +Thus it now stands there, hateful and repulsive amid the beautiful +fir-trees, and it seemed as if the earth had given forth the ugliest of +its mis-shaped boughs, and the most distorted of its twisted roots, +wherewith to build up the heap. From the very midst of this abomination, +however, a wild-rose had sprung forth and shot upwards its living twigs +from among the dry boughs, whilst, like fresh blood-drops above the +pile, shone its berries illuminated by the sun, which now in its descent +threw a path of light over the broad road. + +"When this wild-rose is full of flowers," said Jeremias, as he regarded +it with his expressive glance, "it must awaken the thought, that that +which the state condemns with justice, a Higher Power can cover with the +roses of his love." + +The sun withdrew his beams. The carriage set itself again in motion, but +at the very moment when the horses passed the heap, they shyed so +violently that the carriage was backed into a ditch and overturned. + +"Farewell life!" cried Petrea, internally; but before she herself knew +how, she was out of the carriage, and found herself standing not at all +the worse upon the soft heather. With the Assessor, however, it did not +fare so well; a severe blow on the right leg made it impossible for him +to support himself upon it without great suffering. His old servant, +who had acted as coachman on the journey, lay in a fainting fit at +a few paces from him, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head, +whilst the little post-boy stood by his horses and cried. Time and +situation were not the most agreeable. But Petrea felt herself after +the fright of the first moment perfectly calm and collected. By the +help of the rain-water, which was there in abundance, she brought the +fainting man back to consciousness, and bound up his head with her +pocket-handkerchief. She then helped him to sit up--to stand he was not +able from dizziness. Soon sate master and man by each other, with their +backs by a strong fir-tree, and looked sadly troubled; for although the +Assessor was far more concerned on account of his servant than himself, +and asserted that his own accident was a mere trifle, still he was quite +pale from the pain which it occasioned him. What was to be done? Could +the carriage have been raised out of the ditch and the two wounded men +put into it, Petrea would have placed herself on the coach-box and have +driven them as well as anybody; nothing could be easier, she thought; +but the accomplishing of the two first conditions was the difficulty, +and in the present circumstances an impossibility, for our poor Petrea's +arms and hands were not able to second her good-will and courage. The +post-boy said that at about three-quarters of a mile (English) there lay +a peasant's hut in the wood by the road side; but it was impossible to +induce him to run there, or under any condition to leave his horses. + +"Let us wait," said the Assessor, patiently and calmly, "probably +somebody will soon come by from whom we can beg assistance." They +waited, but nobody came, and every moment the shades became darker; it +seemed as if people avoided this horrible wood at this hour. + +Petrea, full of anxiety for her old friend, if he must remain much +longer on the damp ground, and in the increasing coolness of evening, +determined with herself what she would do. She wrapped up the Assessor +and his old servant in every article of clothing of which she could gain +possession, amongst which was her own cloak, rejoicing that this was +unobserved by her friend, and then said to him decidedly, "Now I go +myself to obtain help! I shall soon be back again!" And without +regarding the prohibitions, prayers, and threats, with which he +endeavoured to recal her, she ran quickly away in the direction of the +hut, as the post-boy had described it. She hastened forward with quick +steps, endeavouring to remove all thoughts of personal danger, and only +to strengthen herself by the hope of procuring speedy help for her +friend. + +The haste with which she went compelled her after some time to stand +still to recover breath. The quick motion which set her blood in rapid +circulation, the freshness of the air, the beautiful and magnificent +repose of the wood, diffused through her, almost in opposition to her +own will and heart, an irresistible feeling of satisfaction and +pleasure, which however quickly left her as she heard a something +crackling in the wood. The wind it could not be? perhaps it was an +animal! Petrea held her panting breath. It crackled; it +whispered;--there were people in the wood! However bold, or more +properly speaking, rash, Petrea might be at certain moments, her heart +now drew itself together, when she thought on her solitary, defenceless +situation, and on the scenes of horror for which this wood was so +fearfully renowned. Beyond this, she was now no longer in those years +when one stands in life on a flying foot, careless and presumptuous: +she had planted herself firmly in life; had her own quiet room; her +peaceful sphere of activity, which she now loved more than the most +brilliant adventures in the world! It was not therefore to be wondered +at, that she recoiled tremblingly from the unlovely and hateful which is +at home by the road sides. + +Petrea listened with a strongly beating heart; the rustling came nearer +and nearer; for one moment she thought of concealing herself on the +opposite side of the way, but in the next she boldly demanded "Who is +there?" + +All was still. Petrea strained her eyes to discover some one in the +direction of the sound, but in vain: the wood was thick, and it had +become quite dark. Once again, exclaimed Petrea, "If any one be there +let him come to the help of unfortunate travellers!" + +Even the heart of robbers, thought she, would be mollified by +confidence; and prayers for help might remove thoughts of murder. The +rustling in the wood began afresh, and now were heard the voices +of--children. An indescribable sensation of joy went through Petrea's +heart. A whole army, with Napoleon at their head, could not at this +moment have given that feeling of security and protection which came +from those children's voices; and soon came issuing from the wood two +little barefooted human creatures, a boy and a girl, who stared on +Petrea with astonishment. She quickly made herself acquainted with them, +and they promised to conduct her to the cottage, which lay at a little +distance. On their way they gave Petrea bilberries out of their full +birch-wood measure, and related to her that the reason of their being +out so late was, that they had been looking for the cow which was lost +in the wood; that they should have driven her home, but had not been +able to find her; which greatly troubled the little ten-years-old girl, +because, she said, the sick lady could not have any milk that evening. + +Whilst Petrea, led by her little guardian-angels, wandered through the +wood, we will make a little flight, and relate what had occurred there a +few days before. + +A few days before, a travelling-car drove along this road, in which sate +a lady and a little girl. As they came within sight of a small cottage, +which with its blossoming potato-field looked friendly in the wood, the +lady said to the peasant boy who drove, "I cannot go farther! Stop! I +must rest!" She dismounted, and crawled with his help to the cottage, +and besought the old woman, whom she found there, for a glass of water, +and permission to rest upon the bed for a moment. The voice which prayed +for this was almost inaudible, and the countenance deathly pale. The +little girl sobbed and cried bitterly. Scarcely had the poor invalid +laid herself upon the humble and hardly clean bed, when she fell into a +deep stupor, from which she did not revive for three hours. + +On her return to consciousness she found that the peasant had taken her +things into the cottage; taken his horse out of the car, and left her. +The invalid made several ineffectual attempts during three days to leave +the bed, but scarcely had she taken a few steps when she sunk back upon +it; her lips trembled, and bitter tears flowed over her pale cheeks. The +fourth day she lay quite still; but in the afternoon besought the old +woman to procure her an honest and safe person, who, for a suitable sum, +would conduct the little girl to a place which would be made known to +him by a letter that would be given with her. The old woman proposed her +brother's son as a good man, and one to be relied on for this purpose, +and promised in compliance with the prayer of the sick woman to seek him +out that same day and speak with him; but as he lived at a considerable +distance she feared that she should only be able to return late in the +evening. After she was gone, the invalid took paper and a lead pencil, +and with a weak and trembling hand wrote as follows: + + "I cannot arrive--I feel it! I sink before I reach the haven. Oh, + foster-parents, good sisters, have mercy on my little one, my + child, who knocks at your door, and will deliver to you my humble, + my last prayer! Give to her a warm home, when I am resting in my + cold one! See, how good she looks! Look at her young countenance, + and see that she is acquainted with want--she is not like her + mother! I fancy her mild features resemble hers whose name she + bears, and whose angelic image never has left my soul. + + "Foster-mother, foster-father! good sisters! I had much to say, + but can say only a little! Forgive me! Forgive me the grief which + I have occasioned you! Greatly have I erred, but greatly also have + I suffered. A wanderer have I been on the earth, and have had + nowhere a home since I left your blessed roof! My way has been + through the desert; a burning simoom has scorched, has consumed my + cheek---- + + "About to leave the world in which I have erred so greatly and + suffered so much, I call now for your blessing. Oh, let me tell + you that that Sara, which you once called daughter and sister, is + yet not wholly unworthy! She is sunk deep, but she has endeavoured + to raise herself; and your forms, like good angels, have floated + around the path of her improvement. + + "It will do your noble hearts good to know that she dies now + repentant, but hopeful--she has fixed her humble hope upon the + Father of Mercy. + + "The hand of mercy cherished on earth the days of my + childhood--later, it has lifted my dying head, and has poured into + my heart a new and a better life; it has conducted me to hope in + the mercy of heaven. Foster-father, thou who wast His image to me + on earth, thou whom I loved much--gentle foster-mother, whose + voice perhaps could yet call forth life in this cold breast--have + mercy on my child--call it your child! and thanks and blessings be + upon you! + + "It never was my intention to come, as a burden, into your house. + No; I wished only to conduct my child to your door--to see it open + to her, and then to go forth--go forth quietly and die. But I + shall not reach so far! God guide the fatherless and the + motherless to you! + + "And now farewell! I can write no more--it becomes dark before my + eyes. I write these last words upon my knees. Parents, sisters, + take my child to you! May it make you some time forget the errors + of its mother! Pardon all my faults! I complain of no one. + + "God reward you, and be merciful to me! + + "Sara." + +Sara folded her letter hastily, sealed it and directed it, and then, +enfeebled by the exertion, sank down beside her sleeping child, kissed +her softly, and whispered, "for the last time!" Her feet and hands were +like ice; she felt this icy coldness run through all her veins, and +diffuse itself over her whole body; her limbs stiffened; and it seemed +to her as if a cold wind blew into her face. + +"It is death!" thought Sara; "my death-bed is lonesome and miserable; +yet--I have deserved no better." Her consciousness became ever darker; +but in the depths of her soul combated still the last, perhaps the +noblest powers of life--suffering and prayer. At length they too also +became benumbed, but not for long, for new impressions waked suddenly +the slumbering life. + +It appeared to Sara as if angel voices had spoken and repeated her name, +tender hands had rubbed her stiffened limbs with electrical fire; her +feet were pressed to a bosom that beat strongly; hot drops fell upon +them, and thawed the icy coldness. She felt a heart throbbing against +hers, and the wind of death upon her face vanished before warm summer +breath, kisses, tears. Oh! was it a dream? But the dream became ever +more living and clear. Life, loving, affectionate, warm life, contended +with death, and was the victor! "Sara, Sara!" cried a voice full of love +and anxiety, and Sara opened her eyes, and said, "Oh! Petrea, is it +you?" + +Yes, indeed, it was our poor Petrea, whose distress at Sara's condition, +and whose joy over her now returning life, can neither of them be +described. Sara took Petrea's hand, and conveyed it to her lips, and the +humility of this action, so unlike the former Sara, penetrated Petrea's +heart. + +"Give me something to drink," prayed Sara, with a feeble voice. Petrea +looked around for some refreshing liquid, but there was nothing to be +found in the cottage excepting a jug containing a little muddy water; +not a drop of milk, and the cow was lost in the wood! Petrea would have +given her heart's blood for a few drops of wine, for she saw that Sara +was ready to die from feebleness. And now, with feelings which are not +to be told, must she give Sara to drink from the muddy water, in which, +however, to make it more refreshing, she bruised some bilberries. Sara +thanked her for it as if it had been nectar. + +"Is there anywhere in this neighbourhood a place where one can meet with +people, and obtain the means of life?" asked Petrea from her little +guide. + +The little guide knew of none excepting in the village, and in the +public-house there they could obtain everything, "whatever they wished," +said the child; to be sure it was a good way there, but she knew a +footpath through the wood by which they might soon reach it. + +Petrea did not stop thinking for a moment; and after she had encouraged +Sara to courage and hope, she set out most speedily with the little +nimble maiden on the way to the village. + +The girl went first: her white head-kerchief guided Petrea through the +duskiness of the wood. But the footway which the girl trod so lightly +and securely, was an actual way of trial for Petrea. Now and then +fragments of her clothes were left hanging on the thick bushes; now a +branch which shot outwards seized her bonnet and struck it flat; now she +went stumbling over tree-roots and stones, which, on account of the +darkness and the speed of her flight, she could not avoid; and now bats +flew into her face. In vain did the wood now elevate itself more +majestically than ever around her; in vain, did the stars kindle their +lights, and send their beams into the deep gullies of the wood; in vain +sang the waterfalls in the quiet evening as they fell from the rocks. +Petrea had now no thought for the beauty of nature; and the lights which +sparkled from the village were to her a more welcome sight than all the +suns and stars in the firmament. + +More lights than common streamed in pale beams through the misty windows +of the public-house as Petrea came up to it. All was fermentation within +it as in a bee-hive; violins were playing; the _polska_ was being +danced; women's gowns swung round, sweeping the walls; iron-heeled shoes +beat upon the floor; and the dust flew up to the ceiling. After Petrea +had sought in vain for somebody outside the dancing-room, she was +compelled to go in, and then she saw instantly that there was a wedding. +The gilded crown on the head of the bride wavered and trembled amid the +attacks and the defence of the contending parties, for it was precisely +the hot moment of the Swedish peasant wedding, in which, as it is said, +the crown is danced off the head of the bride. The married women were +endeavouring to vanquish and take captive the bride, whilst the girls +were, on their part, doing their utmost to defend and hold her back. In +the other half of the great room, however, all went on more noisily and +more violently still, for there the married men strove to dance the +bridegroom from the unmarried ones, and they pulled and tore and pushed +unmercifully, amid shouts and laughter, whilst the _polska_ went on its +whirling measure. + +It would be almost at the peril of her life that a delicate lady should +enter into such a tumult; but Petrea feared in this moment no other +danger than that of not being able to make herself heard in this wild +uproar. She called and demanded to speak with the host; but her voice +was perfectly swallowed up in the universal din. She then quickly turned +herself, amid the contending and round-about-swinging groups to the two +musicians, who were scraping upon their fiddles with a sort of frenzy, +and beating time with their feet. Petrea caught hold of one of them by +the arm, and prayed him in God's name to leave off for a moment, for +that her business was of life and death. But they paid not the slightest +attention to her; they heard not what she said; they played, and the +others danced with fury. + +"That is very mad!" thought Petrea, "but I will be madder still!" and so +thinking, she threw down, upon the musicians, a table which stood near +them covered with bottles and glasses. With this crash the music was +suddenly still. The pause in the music astonished the dancers; they +looked around them. Petrea took advantage of this moment, went into the +crowd and called for the host. The host, who was celebrating his +daughter's wedding, came forward; he was a fat, somewhat pursy man, who +evidently had taken a glass too much. + +Petrea related summarily that which had happened; prayed for people to +assist at the carriage, and for some wine and fine bread for an invalid. +She spoke with warmth and determination; but nevertheless the host +demurred, and the crowd, half intoxicated with drink and dancing, +regarded her with a distrustful look, and Petrea heard it whispered +around her--"The mad lady!" "It is the mad lady!" "No, no, it is not +she!" "Yes, it is she!" + +And we must confess that Petrea's excited appearance, and the condition +of her toilet after the fatigues of her wandering, gave some occasion +for her being taken for a little crazy; this, and the circumstance of +her being mistaken for another person, may explain the disinclination to +afford her assistance, which otherwise does not belong to the character +of the Swedish peasantry. + +Again Petrea exhorted host and peasant to contribute their help, and +promised befitting reward. + +The host set himself now in a commanding attitude, cleared his throat, +and spoke with a self-satisfied air. + +"Yes, yes," said he, "that's all right-good and handsome, but I should +like to see something of this befitting reward before I put myself out +of the way about overturned carriages. In the end, maybe, one shall find +neither one nor the other. One cannot believe everything that people +say!" + +Petrea recollected with uneasiness that she had no money with her; she, +however, let nothing of that be seen, but replied calmly and +collectedly, "You shall receive money when you come to the carriage. But +for heaven's sake, follow me immediately; every moment's delay may cost +a life!" + +The men looked undecidedly one on another; but no one stirred from the +place; a dull murmur ran through the crowd. Almost in despair, Petrea +clasped her hands together and exclaimed, whilst tears streamed from her +eyes, "Are you Christians, and yet can hear that fellow-creatures are in +danger without hastening to help them." + +She mentioned the name and office of her father, and then went from +prayers to threats. + +Whilst all this was going on in the house, something was going on at the +door, of which, in all speed, we will give a glimpse. + +There drew up at the inn-door a travelling-calash, accompanied by a +small Holstein carriage in which sate four boys, the eldest of whom, +probably ten years of age, and who, evidently greatly to his +satisfaction, had managed with his own hands a pair of thin travelling +horses. From the coach-box of the calash sprang nimbly a somewhat stout, +jovial-looking gentleman, and out of the carriage came, one after +another, other four little boys, with so many packets and bundles as was +perfectly wonderful; among all these moved a rather thin lady of a good +and gay appearance, who took with her own hands all the things out of +the carriage, and gave them into the care of a maid and the eldest of +the eight boys; the youngest sate in the arms of his father. + +"Can you yet hold something, Jacob?" asked the lady from one of the +boys, who stood there loaded up to the very chin. "Yes, with my nose," +replied he, merrily; "nay, nay, mamma dear, not the whole +provision-basket--that's quite impossible!" + +The mother laughed, and instead of the provision-basket, two or three +books were put under the protection of the little nose. + +"Take care of the bottles, young ones!" exhorted the mother, "and count +them exactly; there should be ten of them. Adam, don't stand there with +your mouth open, but hold fast, and think about what you have in your +hand, and what you are doing! Take good care of the bottle of mamma's +elixir. What a noise is there within! Does nobody come out? Come here my +young ones! Adam, look after David! Jonathan, stand here! Jacob, +Solomon, where are you? Shem and Seth, keep quiet!" + +This was the moment when, by the opening of the door of the +dancing-room, they became aware of the arrival of the travellers, and +when the host hastened out to receive them. Many followed him, and among +the rest Petrea, who quickly interrupted her address to the peasants, in +order, through the interposition of the travellers, as she hoped, to +obtain speedier help. + +"Good gentlefolks," cried she, in a voice which showed her agitation of +mind; "I know not, it is true, who you are" (and the darkness prevented +her from seeing it), "but I hope you are Christians, and I beseech of +you, for heaven's sake----" + +"Whose voice is that?" interrupted a cheerful, well-toned, manly voice. + +"Who speaks?" exclaimed Petrea in astonishment. + +A few words were exchanged, and suddenly the names "Petrea! Jacobi! +Louise!" flew exultantly from the lips of the three, and they locked one +another in a heartfelt and affectionate embrace. + +"Aunt Petrea! Aunt Petrea!" cried the eight boys in jubilation, and +hopped around her. + +Petrea wept for joy that she had not alone met with good Christians, but +had hit upon her most Christian brother-in-law and court-preacher, and +upon "our eldest," who, with her hopeful offspring, "the Berserkers," +were upon their journey to the paternal house and the new parsonage. + +A few minutes afterwards the carriage, containing Petrea, Louise, and +Jacobi, accompanied by peasants on horseback, drove away at full gallop +into the wood, into whose gullies, as well as into Petrea's imploring +eyes, the half-moon, which now ascended, poured its comfortable light. + +We leave Petrea now with her relatives, who, on their homeward journey, +fell in with her at the right moment to save her from a situation in the +highest degree painful. We are perfectly sure that the Assessor received +speedy assistance; that Sara was regaled with wine as well as with +Louise's elixir; that Petrea's heart was comforted, and her toilet +brought into order; and in confirmation of this our assurance we will +quote the following lines from a letter of Louise, which on the next day +was sent off home. + +"I am quite convinced that Sara, with careful attention, befitting diet, +and above all, by being surrounded with kindness, may be called back to +life and health. But for the present she is so weak that it is +impossible to think of her travelling under several days. And in any +case, I doubt if she will come with us, unless my father come to fetch +her. She says that she will not be a burden to our family. Ah! now it is +a pleasure to open house and heart to her. She is so changed! And her +child is--a little angel! For the Assessor it might be necessary, on +account of his leg, that he go to the city; but he will not leave Sara, +who requires his help so greatly (his servant is out of all danger). +Petrea, spite of all fatigues and adventures, is quite superb. She and +Jacobi enliven us all. As things now stand we cannot fix decidedly the +day of our arrival; but if Sara continue to improve, as appearances +promise, Jacobi sets out to-morrow with the children to you. It is so +dear with them all here in the public-house. God grant that we may all +soon meet again in our beloved home!" + +An hour after the receipt of this letter the Judge set off with such +haste as if his life were concerned. He journeyed from home to the +forest-village; we, on the contrary, reverse the journey, and betake +ourselves from the public-house to---- + +FOOTNOTES: + +[21] A Day-book (Dagbok) is kept at every inn in Sweden. The name of +every traveller who takes thence horses, and the name of the next town +to which he proceeds, are entered in it; and thus when once on the +trace, nothing could be easier than to discover such a traveller. The +day-book is renewed each month.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOME. + + +Lilies were blossoming in the house on the beautiful morning of the +twentieth of September. They seemed to shoot up of themselves under +Gabriele's feet. The mother, white herself as a lily, went about softly +in her fine morning-dress, with a cloth in her hand, wiping away from +mirror or table the smallest particle of dust. A higher expression of +joy than common animated her countenance; a fine crimson tinged her +otherwise pale cheeks, and the lips moved themselves involuntarily as if +they would speak loving and joyful words. + +Bergström adorned ante-room and steps with foliage and splendid flowers, +so that they represented a continuation of garlands along the white +walls; and not a little delighted was he with his own taste, which +Gabriele did not at all omit to praise. But although an unusually great +deal of occupation pervaded the house this morning, still it was +nevertheless unusually quiet; people only spoke in low voices, and when +the least noise was made, the mother said, "Hush! hush!" + +The cause of this was, that the lost but again-found child slept in the +house of her parents. + +Sara had arrived there the evening before, and we have passed over this +scene, for the great change in her, and her shaken condition, had made +it sorrowful; yet we wish indeed that the feeling reader had seen the +manly tears which flowed down the cheeks of the Judge, as he laid the +found-again daughter on the bosom of her mother. We should like to have +shown him the unfortunate one, as she rested with her hands crossed over +her breast on the snow-white couch, over which the mother herself had +laid the fine coverlet; have shown him how she looked upon the child, +whose bed stood near her own; upon the beloved ones, who full of +affection surrounded her--and then up to heaven, without being able to +utter one word! And how glad should we have been could he have seen the +Jacobian pair this evening in the paternal home, and how there sate +eating around them, Adam and Jacob, the twin brothers Jonathan and +David, ditto Shem and Seth, together with Solomon and little Alfred. +They were well-trained children, and looked particularly well, all +dressed alike in a blouse of dark stuff, over which fell back the white +shirt collar, leaving free the throat with its lively tint of health, +whilst the slender waist was girded with a narrow belt of white leather. +Such was the light troop of "the Berserkers." + +But we return to our bright morning hour. Eva and Leonore were in the +garden, and gathered with their own hands some select Astracan apples +and pears, which were to ornament the dinner table. They were still +glittering with dew, and for the last time the sun bathed them with +purple by the song of the bulfinch. The sisters had spoken of Sara; of +the little Elise, whom they would educate; of Jacobi--and their +conversation was cheerful; then they went to other subjects. + +"And to-day," said Leonore, "your last answer goes to Colonel R----, +your last, no! And you feel quite satisfied that it should be so?" + +"Yes, quite!" returned Eva; "how the heart changes! I cannot now +conceive how I once loved him!" + +"It is extraordinary how he should still solicit your hand, and this +after so long a separation. He must have loved you much more than any of +the others to whom he made court." + +"I do not think so, but--ah, Leonore! do you see the beautiful apple +there? It is quite bright. Can you reach it? No? Yes, if you climb on +this bough." + +"Must I give myself so much trouble?" asked Leonore; "that is indeed +shocking! Well, but I must try, only catch me if I should fall!" + +The sisters were here interrupted by Petrea, whose appearance showed +that she had something interesting to communicate. + +"See, Eva," said she, giving to her a written piece of paper, "here you +have something for morning-reading. Now you must convince yourself of +something of which till now you would not believe. And I shall call you +a stock, a stone, an automaton without heart and soul, if you do +not--yes, smile! You will not laugh when you have read it. Leonore! +come, dear Leonore, you must read it also, you will give me credit for +being right. Read, sisters, read!" + +The sisters read the following remarks, in the handwriting of the +Assessor. + +"'Happy is the lonely and the lowly! He may ripen and refresh himself in +peace!' Beautiful words, and what is better, true. + +"The foundling has proved their truth. He was sick in mind, heart, and +sick of the world and of himself, but he belonged to the lowly and to +the unnoticed, and so he could be alone; alone, in the fresh, quiet +wood, alone with the Great Physician, who only can heal the deep wounds +of the heart--and it is become better with him. + +"Now I begin to understand the Great Physician, and the regimen which he +has prescribed for me. I feared the gangrene selfishness, and would +drink myself free therefrom by the nectar of love; but he said, +'Jeremias, drink not this draught, but that of self-denial--it is more +purifying.' + +"I have drunk it. I have loved her for twenty years without pretension +and without hope. + +"To-day I have passed my three-and-sixtieth year; the increasing pain in +my side commands me to leave the steps of the patients, and tells me +that I have not many more paces to count till I reach my grave. May it +be permitted to me to live the remainder of my days more exclusively for +her! + +"At the 'Old Man's Rose' will I live for her--for it stands in my will +that it belongs to her, it belongs to Eva Frank. + +"I will beautify it for her. I will cultivate there beautiful trees and +flowers for her; vines and roses will I bring there. Old age will some +time seize on her, wither her, and consume her. But then 'the rose of +age' will bloom for her, and the odour of my love bless her, when the +ugly old man wanders on the earth no more. She will take her dear +sisters to her there; there hear the songs of the birds, and see the +glory of the sun upon the lovely objects of nature. + +"I will repose on these thoughts during the solitary months or years +that I must pass there. Truly, many a day will be heavy to me; and the +long solitary evenings; truly, it were good to have there a beloved and +gentle companion, to whom one might say each day, 'Good morning, the sun +is beautiful;' or in whose eyes--if it were not so--one could see a +better sun;--a companion with whom one could enjoy books, nature--all +that God has given us of good; whose hand, in the last heavy hour one +could press, and to whom one could say, 'Good night! we meet +again--to-morrow--with love itself--with God!' + +"But--but--the foundling shall find no home upon earth! + +"Now he will soon find another home, and will say to the master there, +'Father, have mercy on my rose!' and to the habitation of men will he +say, 'Wearisome wast thou to me, O world! but yet receive my thanks for +the good which thou hast given me!'" + + * * * * * + +When the sisters had ceased to read, several bright tears lay upon the +paper, and shone in the light of the sun. Leonore dried her tears, and +turning herself to Petrea, inquired, "But, Petrea, how came this paper +into your hands?" + +"Did I not think that would come?" said Petrea. "You should not ask such +difficult questions, Leonore. Nay, now Eva's eyes are inquiring too--and +so grave. Do you think that the Assessor has put it into my hands? Nay, +he must be freed from that suspicion even at my expense. You want to +know how I came by this paper? Well then--I stole it, sisters--stole it +on our journey--on the very morning after it was written." + +"But, Petrea!" + +"But, Petrea! yes, you good ones! it is too late now to cry, 'but, +Petrea!' now you know the Assessor's secret; you now may do what your +consciences command, mine is hardened--you may start before my act, and +be horrified; I don't ask about it. The whole world may excommunicate +me--I don't trouble myself!--Eva! Leonore! Sisters!" + +Petrea laid an arm round the neck of each sister, kissed them, smiling +with a tear in her eye, and vanished. + + * * * * * + +Somewhat later in the morning we find Eva and Gabriele on a visit at the +beautiful parsonage-house immediately in the vicinity of the town, where +Mrs. Louise is in full commotion with all her goods and chattels, whilst +the little Jacobis riot with father and grandfather over fields and +meadows. The little four-years-old Alfred, an uncommonly lively and +amiable child, is alone with the mother at home; he pays especial court +to Gabriele, and believing that he must entertain her, he brings out his +Noah's Ark to introduce to her, in his low, clear, young voice, Ham and +Hamina, Shem and Shemina, Japhet and Japhetina. + +After all how-do-ye-do's between the sisters had been answered, Gabriele +loosened the paper from a basket which Ulla had brought in, and asked +Louise to be pleased to accept some roast veal and patties. "We +thought," said she, "that you would need something fresh after the +journey, before you get your store-room in order. Just taste a patty! +they are filled with mince-meat, and I assure you are baked since the +Flood." + +"Really!" replied Louise, laughing, "they are delicate too! See, there's +one for you, my little manikin; but another time don't come and set +yourself forward and look so hungry! Thanks! thanks, dear sister! Ah, +how charming that we are come again into your neighbourhood! How fresh +and happy you all look! And Petrea! how advantageously she has altered; +she is come to have something quiet and sensible about her; she has +outgrown her nose, and dresses herself neatly; she is just like other +people now. And see--here I have a warm, wadded morning-dress for her, +that will keep her warm up in her garret; is it not superb? And it cost +only ten thalers courant." + +"Oh, extraordinary!--out of the common way!--quite unheard of!" said +they, "is it not so?--why it is a piece of clothing for a whole life!" + +"What a beautiful collar Eva has on! I really believe she is grown +handsomer," said Louise. "You were and are still the rose of the family, +Eva; you look quite young, and are grown stout. I, for my part, cannot +boast of that; but how can anybody grow stout when they have eight +children to work for! Do you know sisters, that in the last week before +I left Stockholm, I cut out a hundred and six shirts! I hope I can meet +with a good sempstress here; at home; look at my finger, it is quite +hard and horny with sewing. God bless the children! one has one's +trouble with them. But tell me, how is it with our mother? They have +always been writing to me that she was better--and yet I find her +terribly gone off; it really grieves me to see her. What does the +Assessor say?" + +"Oh," replied Gabriele warmly, "he says that she will recover. There is +really no danger; she improves every day." + +Eva did not look so hopeful as Gabriele, and her eyes were filled with +tears as she said, "When autumn and winter are only over, I hope that +the spring----" + +"And do you know," interrupted Louise, with animation, "what I have been +thinking of? In the spring she shall come to us and try the milk cure: +she shall occupy this room, with the view towards the beautiful birch +grove, and shall enjoy the country air, and all the good things which +the country affords and which I can obtain for her--certainly this will +do her good. Don't you think that then she will recover? Don't you think +that it is a bright idea of mine?" + +The sisters thought that really it was bright, and Louise continued: + +"Now I must show you what I have brought for her. Do you see these two +damask breakfast cloths, and these six breakfast napkins?--all spun in +the house. I have had merely to pay for the weaving. Now, how do they +please you?" + +"Oh, excellently! excellently!" said one sister. + +"How very handsome! How welcome they will be!" said the other. + +"And you must see what I have bought for my father--ah! Jacobi has it in +his carpet-bag--one thing lies here and another there--but you will see +it, you will see it." + +"What an inundation of things!" said Gabriele, laughing. "One can see, +however, that there is no shortness of money." + +"Thank God!" said Louise, "all is comfortable in that respect, though +you may very well believe that it was difficult at first; but we began +by regulating the mouths according to the dishes. Ever since I married I +have had the management of the money. I am my husband's treasurer; he +gives over to me whatever comes in, and he receives from me what he +wants, and in this way all has gone right. Thank God, when people love +one another all does go right! I am happier than I deserve to be, with +such a good, excellent husband, and such well-disposed children. If our +little girl, our little Louise, had but lived! Ah! it was a happiness +when she was born, after the eight boys; and then for two years she was +our greatest delight. Jacobi almost worshipped her; he would sit for +whole hours beside her cradle, and was perfectly happy if he only had +her on his knee. But she was inexpressibly amiable--so good, so clever, +so quiet; an actual little angel! Ah! it was hard to lose her. Jacobi +grieved as I have never seen a man grieve; but his happy temperament and +his piety came to his help. She has now been dead above a year. Ah! +never shall I forget my little girl!" + +Louise's tears flowed abundantly; the sisters could not help weeping +with her. But Louise soon collected herself again, and said, whilst she +wiped her eyes, "Now we have also anxiety with little David's ankles; +but there is no perfect happiness in this world, and we have no right to +expect it. Pardon me that I have troubled you; and now let us speak of +something else, whilst I get my things a little in order. Tell me +something about our acquaintance--Aunt Evelina is well?" + +"Yes, and sits as grandmother of five nephews at Axelholm, beloved and +honoured by all. It is a very sweet family that she sees about her, and +she has the happiest old age." + +"That is pleasant to hear. But she really deserved to be loved and +honoured. Is her Karin also married?" + +"Ah, no! Karin is dead! and this has been her greatest sorrow; they were +so happy together." + +"Ah, thou heaven! Is she dead? Ah, yes, now I remember you wrote to me +that she was dead----Look at this dress, sisters--a present from my dear +husband; is it not handsome? and then quite modern. Yes, yes, dear +Gabriele, you need not make such an ambiguous face; it is very handsome, +and quite in the fashion, that I can assure you. But, _ŕ propos_, how is +the Court-preacher? Exists still in a new form, does it? Now that is +good! I'll put it on this afternoon on purpose to horrify Jacobi, and +tell him that for the future I intend to wear it in honour of his +nomination to the office of court-preacher." + +All laughed. + +"But tell me," continued Louise, "how will our 'great astonishment' go +on? how have you arranged it?" + +"In this manner," returned one of the sisters. "We shall all meet for a +great coffee-drinking in the garden, and during this we shall lead the +conversation in a natural sort of way to the piece of ground on the +other side the fence, and then peep through the cracks in it, and then +express that usual wish that this fence might come down. And then, at +this signal, your eight boys, Louise, are to fall on the fence and----" + +"How can you think," said Louise--"to be sure my boys are nimble and +strong, but it would require the power of Berserkers to----" + +"Don't be alarmed," answered the sisters, laughing, "the fence is sawn +underneath, and stands only so firm that a few pushes will produce the +effect--the thing is not difficult. Besides, we'll all run to the +attack, if it be needful." + +"Oh, heaven help us! if it be only so, my young ones will soon manage +the business--and _ŕ propos_! I have a few bottles of select white +sugar-beer with me, which would certainly please my father, and which +will be exactly the right thing if we, as is customary on such +occasions, have to drink healths." + +During this conversation little Alfred had gone round ineffectually +offering two kisses, and was just on the point of growing angry because +his wares found no demand, when all at once, summoning resolution, he +threw his arms round Gabriele's neck, and exclaimed, "Now I see really +and thoroughly, that Aunt Gabriele has need of a kiss!" And it was not +Aunt Gabriele's fault if the dear child was not convinced how wholly +indispensable his gift was. + +But Louise still turned over her things. "Here," said she, "I have a +waistcoat-piece for Bergström, and here a neck-kerchief for Ulla, as +well as this little brush with which to dust mirrors and tables. Is it +not superb? And see, a little pair of bellows, and these trifles for +Brigitta." + +"Now the old woman," said the sisters, "will be happy! She is now and +then out of humour, but a feast of coffee, and some little present, +reconcile her with all the world; and to-day she will get both." + +"And see," continued Louise, "how capitally these bellows blow: they can +make the very worst wood burn--see how the dust flies!" + +"Uh! one can be blown away oneself," said Gabriele, laughing. + +While the sisters were still occupied with cleaning and dusting, and +Louise was admiring her own discoveries, the Judge came in, happy and +warm. + +"What a deal of business is going forward!" exclaimed he, laughing. "I +must congratulate you," said he, "Louise; your boys please me entirely. +They are animated boys, with, intellects all alive--but, at the same +time, obedient and polite. Little David is a regular hairbrain, and a +magnificent lad--what a pity it is that he will be lame!" + +Louise crimsoned from heartfelt joy over the praise of her boys, and +answered quickly to the lamentation over the little David, "You should +hear, father, what a talent he has for the violoncello; he will be a +second Gehrman." + +"Nay, that is good," returned the Judge; "such a talent as that is worth +his two feet. But I have hardly had time to notice you properly yet, +Louise. Heavens! it's glorious that you are come again into our +neighbourhood; now I think I shall be able to see you every day! and you +can also enjoy here the fresh air of the country. You have got thin, but +I really think you have grown!" + +Louise said laughingly, that the time for that was over with her. + +The sisters also, among themselves, made their observations on Louise. +They were rejoiced to see her, among all her things, so exactly herself +again. + +Handsomer she certainly had not become--but people cannot grow handsomer +to all eternity. She looked well and she looked good, had no more of the +cathedral about her; she was an excellent Archdeacon's lady. + + * * * * * + +We transport ourselves now to Sara's chamber. + +When a beloved and guiltless child returns, after sufferings overcome, +to the bosom of parents into a beloved home, who can describe the sweet +delight of its situation? The pure enjoyment of all the charms of home; +the tenderness of the family; the resigning themselves to the heavenly +feeling of being again at home? But the guilty---- + +We have seen a picture of the prodigal son which we shall never forget! +It is the moment of reconciliation: the father opens his arms to the +son; the son falls into them and hides his face. Deep compunction of the +heart bows down his head, and over his pale cheek--the only part of his +countenance which is visible, runs a tear--a tear of penitence and pain, +which says everything. The golden ring may be placed upon his hand; the +fatted calf may be killed and served up before him--he cannot feel gay +or happy--embittering tears gush forth from the fountains of memory. + +Thus was it with Sara, and exactly to that degree in which her heart was +really purified and ennobled. As she woke out of a refreshing sleep in +her new home, and saw near her her child sleeping on the soft snow-white +bed; as she saw all, by the streaming in light of the morning sun, so +festally pure and fresh; as she saw how the faithful memory of affection +had treasured up all her youthful predilections; as she saw her +favourite flowers, the asters, beaming upon the stove, in an alabaster +vase; and as she thought how all this had been--and how it now was--she +wept bitterly. + +Petrea, who was reading in the window of Sara's room waiting for her +awaking, stood now with cordial and consoling words near her bed. + +"Oh, Petrea!" said Sara, taking her hand and pressing it to her breast, +"let me speak with you. My heart is full. I feel as if I could tell you +all, and you would understand me. I did not come here of my own +will--your father brought me. He did not ask me--he took me like a +child, and I obeyed like a child. I was weak; I thought soon to die; but +this night under this roof has given me strength. I feel now that I +shall live. Listen, to me, Petrea, and stand by me, for as soon as my +feet will carry me I must go away from here. I will not be a burden to +this house. Stained and despised by the world, as I am, I will not +pollute this sanctuary! Already have I read aversion towards me in +Gabriele's look. Oh, my abode here would be a pain to myself! Might my +innocent little one only remain in this blessed house. I must away from +here! These charms of life; this abundance, they are not for me--they +would wake anguish in my soul! Poverty and labour beseem me! I will +away hence. I must!--but I will trouble nobody: I will not appear +ungrateful. Help me, Petrea--think for me; what I should do and where I +should go!" + +"I have already thought," replied Petrea. + +"Have you?" said Sara, joyfully surprised, and fixed upon her +searchingly her large eyes. + +"Come and divide my solitude," continued Petrea, in a cordial voice. +"You know that I, although in the house of my parents, yet live for +myself alone, and have the most perfect freedom. Next to my room is +another, a very simple but quiet room, which might be exactly according +to your wishes. Come and dwell there! There you can live perfectly as +you please; be alone, or see only me, till the quiet influence of calm +days draw you into the innocent life of the family circle." + +"Ah, Petrea," returned Sara, "you are good--but you cannot approach a +person of ill-report--and you do not know----" + +"Hush! hush!" interrupted Petrea; "I know very well--because I see and +hear you again! Oh, Sara! who am I that I should turn away from you? God +sees into the heart, and he knows how weak and erring mine is, even if +my outward life remain pure, and if circumstances and that which +surrounds me have protected me, and have caused my conduct to be +blameless. But I know myself, and I have no more earnest prayer to God +than that: 'Forgive me my trespasses!' May I not pray by your side? +Cannot we tread together the path which lies before us? Both of us have +seen into many depths of life--both of us now look up humbly to the +cheerful heaven! Give me your hand--you were always dear to me, and now, +even as in the years of childhood do I feel drawn to you! Let us go; let +us try together the path of life. My heart longs after you; and does not +yours say to you that we are fit for one another, and that we can be +happy together?" + +"Should I be a burden to you?" said Sara: "were I but stronger, I would +wait upon you; could I only win my bread by my hands, as in the latter +years I have done--but now!" + +"Now give yourself up to me blindly," said Petrea. "I have enough for +us both. In a while, when you are stronger, we will help one another." + +"Will not my wasted life--my bitter remembrances make my temper gloomy +and me a burden?" asked Sara; "and do not dark spirits master those who +have been so long in their power?" + +"Penitence," said Petrea, "is a goddess--she protects the erring. And if +a heathen can say this, how much more a Christian!--Oh, Sara! +annihilating repentance itself--I know it--can become a strength for +him, by which he can erect himself. It can raise up to new life; it can +arouse a will which can conquer all things--it has raised me erect--it +will do the same for you! You stand now in middle life--a long future is +before you--you have an amiable child; have friends; have to live for +eternal life! Live for these! and you will see how, by degrees, the +night vanishes, the day ascends, and all arranges itself and becomes +clear. Come, and let us two unitedly work at the most important business +of life--improvement!" + +Sara, at these words, raised herself in the bed, and new beams were +kindled in her eyes. "I will," said she, "Petrea; an angel speaks +through you; your words strengthen and calm me wonderfully--I will begin +anew----" + +Petrea pressed Sara to her breast, and spoke warm and heartfelt +"thanks," and then added softly, "and now be a good child, Sara!--all +weak and sick people are children. Now submit, calmly and resignedly, to +be treated and guided like such a one; gladden by so doing those who are +around you, and who all wish you well! We cannot think of any change +before you are considerably better--it would trouble every one." + +At this moment the door was opened, and the mother looked in +inquiringly; she smiled so affectionately as she locked Sara in her +arms. Leonore followed her; but as she saw Sara's excited state, she +went quickly back and returned with a breakfast-tray covered with all +kinds of good things; and now cheerful and merry words emulated one +another to divert the again-found-one, old modes of speech were again +reverted to, and old acquaintances renewed. + +"Do you know Madame Folette again? She has been lately repaired. Can she +have the honour of giving you a cup of coffee? There is your old cup +with the stars; it was saved with Madame Folette from the fire, and the +little one here with the rose-buds is allotted to our little Elise. You +must really taste these rusks--they never were in the Ark--they came +with the blushing morning out of the oven. Our 'little lady' has herself +selected and filled the basket with the very best for you; you shall see +whether these home-baked would not please even the Assessor;"--and so +on. + +In the mean time the little Elise had awoke, and looked with bright blue +eyes up to great Elise, who bent down to her. They were really like each +other, as often daughter's daughters and grandmothers are, and appeared +to feel related already. When Sara saw her child in Elise's arms, tears +of pure joy filled her eyes for the first time. + + * * * * * + +I do not know whether my lady-readers have nerves to stand by while "the +Berserkers" overthrow the garden-fence. I fancy not; and therefore, with +my reader's permission, I make a little leap over the great event of the +day--the thrown-down wooden fence, which fell so hastily that the +Berserkers themselves tumbled all together over it,--and go into the new +piece of land, where we shall find the family-party assembled, sitting +on a flower-decorated moss-seat, under a tall birch-tree, which waved +over them its crown, tinged already with autumnal yellow. The September +sun, which was approaching its setting, illuminated the group, and +gleamed through the alders on the brook, which softly murmuring among +blue creeks, flowed around the new piece of land, and at once beautified +and bounded it. + +Tears shone in the eyes of the family-father; but he spoke not. To see +himself the object of so much love; the thoughts on the future; on his +favourite plan; fatherly joy and pride; gratitude towards his +children--towards heaven, all united themselves to fill his heart with +the most pleasurable sensations which can bless a human bosom. + +The mother, immediately after the great surprise, and the explosion of +joy which followed it, had gone into the house with Eva and Leonore. +Among those who remained behind, we see the friend of the family +Jeremias Munter, who wore on the occasion the grimmest countenance in +the world; the Baron L., who was no more the wild extravagant youth, +but a man, and beyond this, a landed-proprietor, whose grave demeanour +was beautified by a certain, agreeable sobriety, particularly visible +when he spoke with "our little lady," at whose feet he was seated. + +Louise handed about white-sugar beer, which nobody praised more highly +than herself. She found that it had something unearthly in it, something +positively exalting; but when Gabriele, immediately after she had drank +a half glass, gave a spring upwards, "our eldest" became terrified, for +such a strong working of her effervescing white-beer she had by no means +expected. Nevertheless she was soon surrounded by the eight, who cried +altogether, "Mamma, may I have some beer?" "And I too?" "And I?" "And I +too?" "And I?" "And I?" "Send a deal of foam for me, mamma dear!" + +"Nay, nay, nay, dear boys! people must not come clamouring and storming +thus--you don't see that I or the father do so. Solomon must wait to the +very last now. Patience is a good herb. There, you have it; now drink, +but don't wet yourselves!" + +After the little Jacobis had all enjoyed the foaming, elevating liquor, +they became possessed by such a buoyant spirit of life, that Louise was +obliged to command them to exhibit their mighty deeds at a distance. +Hereupon they swarmed forth on journeys of discovery, and began to +tumble head over heels round the place. David hobbled along with his +little crutch over stock and stone, whilst Jonathan gathered for him all +sorts of flowers, and plucked the bilberry plants, to which he pointed +with his finger; little nosegays were then made out of them, with which +they overwhelmed their aunts, especially Gabriele, their chosen friend +and patron. The serious Adam, the eldest of the eight, a boy of +exceedingly staid demeanour, sate quietly by the side of his +grandfather, and appeared to consider himself one of the elderly people; +the little Alfred hopped about his mother. + +The Judge looked around him with an animated countenance; he planted +alleys and hedges; set down benches and saw them filled with happy +people, and communicated his plans to Jacobi. + +Jeremias observed the scene with a bitter, melancholy, and, to him, +peculiar smile. As little David came limping up to him with the +fragrant wood-flowers, he exclaimed suddenly, "Why not rather make here +a botanic garden than a common park? Flowers are indeed the only +pleasant thing here in the world, and because people go all about +snuffing with the nose, it might be as well to provide them with +something to smell at. A water-establishment also could be united with +it, and thus something miserable might get washed away from the pitiable +wretches here in this world." + +The Judge seized on the idea with joy. "So we will," said he; "we will +unite pleasure with profit. This undertaking will cost more than a +simple public pleasure-ground, but that need not prevent it. In this +beautiful time of peace, and with the prospect of its long continuance, +people may take works in hand, and hope to complete them, even if they +should require a long time." + +"And such works," said Jacobi, "operate ennoblingly on life in times of +peace. Peace requires even as great a mass of power as war, but against +another kind of foe. Every ennobling of this earthly existence, +everything which exalts the mind to a more intellectual life, is a +battery directed against the commoner nature in man, and is a service +done to humanity and one's native land." + +"Bah!" cried Jeremias with vexation, "humanity and native land! You have +always large words in the mouth; if a fence is thrown down or a bush +planted, it is immediately called a benefit for one's native land. Plant +your fields and throw down your fences, but let the native land rest in +peace! for it troubles itself just as little about you, as you about it. +For one's country and humanity!--that should sound very affecting--all +mere talk!" + +"No, now you are in fact too severe," said the Judge, smiling at the +outbreak of his friend; "and I, as far as regards myself," continued he, +gravely, but cheerfully, "wish that a clearer idea of one's country +accompanied every step of human activity. If there be a love which is +natural and reasonable, it is the love of one's country. Have I not to +thank my country for everything that I have? Are they not its laws, its +institutions, its spiritual life, which have developed my whole being, +as man and as a citizen? And are they not the deeds of my fathers which +have fashioned these; which have given them their power and their +individual life? In fact, love and gratitude towards one's parents is +no greater duty than love and gratitude towards one's native land; and +there is no one, be he man or woman, high or low, but who, according to +his own relationships, can and must pay this holy debt. And this is +exactly the signification of a christianly constituted state, that every +one shall occupy with his pound so as to benefit, at the same time, both +the individual and the community at large." + +"Thus," added Petrea, "do the rain-drops swell the brook, which pours +its water into the river, and may, even though it be nameless, +communicate benefit in its course." + +"So it is, my dear child," said her father, and extended to her his +hand. + +"It is a gladdening thought," said Louise, with tearful eyes. "Pay +attention, Adam, to what grandfather and aunt say, and keep it in your +mind;--but don't open your mouth so wide; a whole frigate could sail +into it." + +At these words little Alfred began to laugh so shrilly and so heartily +that all the elderly folks irresistibly bore him company. Adam laughed +too; and at the sound of this peal of laughter came bounding forward +from all ends and corners Shem and Seth, Jacob and Solomon, Jonathan and +David, just as a flock of sparrows comes flying down over a handful of +scattered corn. They came laughing because they heard laughter, and +wished to be present at the entertainment. + +In the mean time the sun had set, and the cool elves of evening began to +wander over the place as the family, amid the most cheerful talk, arose +in order to return to the house. As they went into the city the ball on +St. Mary's church glimmered like fire in the last beams of the sun, and +the moon ascended like a pale but gentle countenance over the roof of +their house. There was a something in this appearance which made a +sorrowful impression on Gabriele. The star of the church tower glittered +over the grave of her brother, and the look of the moon made her +involuntarily think on the pale, mild countenance of her mother. For the +rest, the evening was so lovely, the blackbird sang among the alders by +the brook, and the heaven lay clear and brightly blue over the earth, +whilst the wind and every disturbing sound became more and more hushed. + +Gabriele walked on, full of thought, and did not observe that Baron L. +had approached her; they were almost walking together as he said, "I am +very glad; it was very pleasant to me to see you all again so happy!" + +"Ah, yes," answered Gabriele, "now we can all be together again. It is a +great happiness that Louise and her family are come here." + +"Perhaps," continued the Baron--"perhaps it might be audacity to disturb +such a happily united life, and to wish to separate a daughter and +sister from such a family--but if the truest----" + +"Ah!" hastily interrupted Gabriele, "don't speak of disturbing anything, +of changing anything--everything is so good as it now is!" + +He was silent, with an expression of sorrow. + +"Let us be all happy together," said Gabriele, bashfully and cordially; +"you will stop some time with us. It is so charming to have friends and +sisters--this united life is so agreeable with them." + +The Baron's countenance brightened. He seized Gabriele's hand, and would +have said something, but she hastened from him to her father, whose arm +she took. + +Jacobi conducted Petrea; they were cheerful and confidential together, +as happy brother and sister. She spoke to him of her present happiness, +and of the hope which made up her future. He took the liveliest interest +in it, and spoke with her of his plans; of his domestic happiness; and +with especial rapture of his boys; of their obedience to the slightest +word of their parents; of their mutual affection to each other--and +see--all this was Louise's work! And Louise's praise was sung forth in a +harmonious duet--ever a sweet scent for "our eldest," who appeared, +however, to listen to no one but her father. + +They soon reached home. The mother stood with the silver ladle in her +hand, and the most friendly smile on her lips, in the library, before a +large steaming bowl of punch, and with look and voice bade the entering +party welcome. + +"My dear Elise," said the Judge, embracing her, "you are become twenty +years younger to-day." + +"Happiness makes one young," answered she, looking on him +affectionately. + +People seated themselves. + +"Don't make so much noise, children!" said Louise to her eight, seating +herself with the little Elise on her knees; "can't you seat yourselves +without so much noise and bustle." + +Jeremias Munter had placed himself in a corner, and was quiet, and +seemed depressed. + +On many countenances one saw a sort of tension, a sort of consciousness +that before long a something uncommon was about to happen. The Judge +coughed several times; he seemed to have an unusual cause for making his +throat clear. At length he raised his voice and spoke, but not without +evident emotion, "Is it true that our friend Jeremias Munter thinks of +soon leaving us, in order to seat himself down in solitude in the +country? Is it true, as report says, that he leaves us so soon as +to-morrow morning, and that this is the last evening which brings him +into our circle as a townsman of ours?" + +The Assessor made an attempt to reply, but it was only a sort of low +grunting tone without words. He looked fixedly upon the floor, and +supported his hands upon his stick. + +"In this case," continued the Judge, "I am desired to ask him a +question, which I would ask from no one else, and which nearly sticks in +my throat,--Will our friend Munter allow that any one--any one of us +should follow him into his solitude?" + +"Who would accompany me?" snorted Jeremias grumblingly and doubtingly. + +"I!" answered a soft, harmonious voice; and Eva, as beautiful and +graceful at this moment as ever, approached him, conducted by her +father. "I," repeated she, blushing and speaking softly but sincerely, +"I will accompany you if you will." + +On the countenances of the family it might be read that this to the +members of it was no surprise. Louise had gentle tears in her eyes, and +did not look the least in the world scandalised at this step--so +contrary to the dignity of woman. The Assessor drew himself together, +and looked up with a sharp and astonished look. + +"Receive from my hand," said the Judge, with a voice which showed his +feeling, "a companion for whom you have long wished. Only to you, +Munter, would I so resign my beloved child." + +"Do you say no to me?" asked Eva, blushing and smiling, as she extended +her white hand to the still stupified Jeremias. + +He seized the extended hand hastily, pressed it with both hands to his +breast, and said softly as he bent over it, "Oh, my rose!" When he +raised his head, his eyes were wet; but there was anxiety and disquiet +in his whole being. "Brother," said he to the Judge, "I cannot yet thank +you--I don't know--I don't understand--I must first prove her." + +He took Eva by the hand and conducted her into the boudoir adjoining the +library, seated himself opposite to her, and said warmly, "Whence +proceeds this? What jokes are these? How does it arise? Tell me, in +God's name, Eva, with what sentiments do you thus come and woo me? Is it +with true love?--yes, I say, true love; don't be startled at the word! +You can take it as I mean it. Is it love, or is it--pity? As a gift of +mercy I cannot take you. Thus much I can tell you. Do not deceive +yourself--do not deceive me! In the name of God, who proves all hearts, +answer me, and speak the truth. Is it from the full and entire heart +that you come thus to me? Do you think, Eva, angel of God, that I, the +ugly, infirm, ill-tempered old man can make you happy?" + +He spoke with a heartfelt anxiety, yet he now looked handsome with love +and feeling. + +"My friend, my benefactor," answered Eva, and wiped away some tears +which rolled down her cheeks, "see into--read my inmost heart. Gratitude +led me to the acknowledgment of your worth, and both have led me to +love; not the passionate love which I once felt--but never more can +feel--but a deep inward devotion, which will make me and, as I also +hope, you happy, and which nothing further can disturb. To live for you, +and next to you for my family, is the highest wish that I have on earth. +I can candidly say that in this moment there is no one whom I love more +than you. Is that enough for you?" + +The Assessor riveted his deep eyes searchingly and penetratingly on Eva. +"Kiss me!" said he, at once short and sharp. + +With an indescribably charming submission, Eva bowed her blushing face +and kissed him. + +"Lord God!" said Jeremias, "and you are mine! In his name then!" and +with unspeakable emotion clasped he his long beloved to his heart. He +held her long, and only deep sighs arose from his heart overflowing with +happiness. At length he tore himself from her, and as if animated with +new youth he sprang forward, and exclaimed to the company assembled in +the library, "Nay, now it is all made up--I take her--she shall have +me--she shall have me! She is worthy to be my wife, and I am worthy to +be her husband! Now then, you without there, will not you drink our +healths?" + +All gathered around the bowl--Louise with the rest--the eight following +her--it was all a joyful bustle. Leonore and Petrea kept back the little +tumultuous ones amid laughter, and promised to carry the glasses to them +if they would only keep their places. + +At length quiet returned to the assembly, the glasses were filled, and +the skĺl began. + +No. 1, which the Judge proposed, was "for the newly betrothed." + +No. 2, which Jacobi spoke eloquently, was "for the Parents; for their +happiness and well-being," said he, with emotion, "through which I, and +so many others as well as I, are blessed!" + +No. 3, was drunk to "the prosperity of the new Pastor's family." + +No. 4, for "the new purchased land." + +No. 5, for "the old--ever-new Home." + +No. 6, was "the health of all good children!" The eight seemed as if +they could not return thanks enough. + +After this yet a many other particular toasts were given. The young +Jacobis drank incessantly to the aunts--Gabriele must continually make +her glass clink against those of her little nephews. + +In the mean time Jeremias Munter made with love-warm looks the following +speech to his bride. "That was a joke now! that you should have made me +of such consequence! How did she know that I would have her? To woo me +yourself, and to take me so by surprise! To give me no time to think. +What then? It is quite unheard of! Was the thing arranged beforehand? +No, that is too troublesome. Nay, nay, nay, nay then, nay say I! But now +I think about it, it was quite for the best that I accept you--but +indeed you were a little hasty; I've a good mind to----What now? What is +fresh in hand? Comes her little grace, the little sister-in-law, without +any ceremony and kisses me. Heavens! the world is very merry!" + +But nobody in the whole circle found the world so merry as Petrea. + +"Are you now satisfied with me, Petrea?" asked Eva, archly laughing. +Petrea clasped her warmly in her arms. + +Now the voice of Mother Louise was heard saying, "Nay, nay, children, +you must not drink a drop more! What do you say, my little David? A +thee-and-thou toast with Uncle Munter? No, thank you greatly, my dear +fellow, you can propose that another time. You have drunk to-day toasts +enough--more, perhaps, than your little heads can carry." + +"I beg for the boys, sister Louise," said the Assessor; "I will propose +a skĺl, and they must drink it with me. Fill, yet once more, the +glasses, little carousers!--I propose a skĺl for peace! peace in our +country, and peace in our homes! A skĺl for love and knowledge, which +alone can make peace a blessing! A skĺl, in one word, for--Peace upon +Earth!" + +"Amen! amen!" cried Jacobi, drank off his glass, and threw it behind +him. Louise looked at her mother somewhat astonished, but the mother +followed Jacobi's example; she too was carried away. + +"All glasses to the ground after this skĺl!" cried the Judge, and sent +his ringing against the ceiling. With an indescribable pleasure the +little Jacobis threw their glasses up, and endeavoured to make the skĺl +for Peace as noisy and tumultuous as possible. + + * * * * * + +We leave now the joyful circle, from which we have seen the mother +softly steal away. We see her go into the boudoir, where reposing in +comfortable quiet she writes the following lines to her friend and +sister: + +"I have left them now for a few minutes, in order to rest, and to say a +few words to you, my Cecilia. Here it is good and quiet; and joyful +voices--truly festival voices, echo to me here. The heart of my Ernst +enjoys the highest pleasure, for he sees all his children happy around +him. And the children, Cecilia, he has reason to be joyful over them and +proud; they stand all around him, good and excellent human beings; they +thank him that existence has been given to them, and that they have +learned its worth; They are satisfied with their lot. The lost and +again-found-one has come home, in order to begin a new life, and her +charming child is quite established on the knees of the grandfather. + +"I hear Gabriele's guitar accompanied by a song. I fancy now they dance. +Louise's eight boys make the floor shake. Jacobi's voice is heard above +all. The good, ever-young man. I also should be joyful, for all in my +house is peaceful and well-arranged. And I am so; my heart is full of +thankfulness, but my body is weary--very weary. + +"The fir-trees on the grave wave and beckon me. I see their tops +saluting me in the clear moonlight, and pointing upwards. Dost thou +beckon me, my son? Dost thou call me to come home to thee? My +first-born, my summer-child! Let me whisper to thee that this is my +secret wish. The earth was friendly towards me; friendly was my home: +when thou wast gone, my favourite! I began to follow. Perhaps the day of +my departure is at hand. I feel in myself as if I were able to go to +rest. And might a really bright and beautiful moment be enjoyed by me +before my last sleep, I would yet once more press my husband's hand to +my lips, look around me on earth with a blessing, and upwards towards +heaven with gratitude, and say as now, out of the depths of my heart, +'Thank God for the home here, and the home there.'" + + +END OF THE HOME. + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +I inserted 'a' into sentence, Never did I envy [a] human being as I +envied her, on Page 90. + +In Footnote 3, the word appears to be Niflhem, but the more common +spelling is Niflheim. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Home, by Fredrika Bremer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOME *** + +***** This file should be named 20746-8.txt or 20746-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/4/20746/ + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Home + +Author: Fredrika Bremer + +Translator: Mary Howitt + +Release Date: March 5, 2007 [EBook #20746] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOME *** + + + + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h2 class="padbottom">FREDRIKA BREMER'S WORKS.</h2> + +<h1 class="padtop">THE HOME<br /> +OR, LIFE IN SWEDEN.</h1> + +<p class="bold center" style="font-size: 90%;">TRANSLATED</p> + +<h3>BY MARY HOWITT.</h3> + +<p class="bold center padtop">LONDON:<br /> +HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.<br /> +1853.</p> + + + +<p class="bold center padtop" style="font-size: 90%;">C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE HOME:<br /> +OR, LIFE IN SWEDEN.<br /> +<br /> +PART I.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>MORNING DISPUTE AND EVENING CONTENTION.</h3> + + +<p>"My sweet friend," said Judge Frank, in a tone of vexation, "it is not +worth while reading aloud to you if you keep yawning incessantly, and +looking about, first to the right and then to the left;" and with these +words he laid down a treatise of Jeremy Bentham, which he had been +reading, and rose from his seat.</p> + +<p>"Ah, forgive me, dear friend!" returned his wife, "but really these good +things are all somewhat indigestible, and I was thinking about——Come +here, dear Brigitta!" said Mrs. Elise Frank, beckoning an old servant to +her, to whom she then spoke in an under tone.</p> + +<p>Whilst this was going on, the Judge, a handsome strong-built man of +probably forty, walked up and down the room, and then suddenly pausing +as if in consideration, before one of the walls, he exclaimed to his +wife, who by this time had finished her conversation with the old +servant, "See, love, now if we were to have a door opened here—and it +could very easily be done, for it is only a lath-and-plaster wall—we +could then get so conveniently into our bedroom, without first going +through the sitting-room and the nursery—it would indeed be capital!"</p> + +<p>"But then, where could the sofa stand?" answered Elise, with some +anxiety.</p> + +<p>"The sofa?" returned her husband; "oh, the sofa could be wheeled a +little aside; there is more than room enough for it."</p> + +<p>"But, my best friend," replied she, "there would come a very dangerous +draft from the door to every one who sat in the corner."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah! always difficulties and impediments!" said the husband. "But cannot +you see, yourself, what a great advantage it would be if there were a +door here?"</p> + +<p>"No, candidly speaking," said she, "I think it is better as it is."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is always the way with ladies," returned he; "they will have +nothing touched, nothing done, nothing changed, even to obtain +improvement and convenience; everything is good and excellent as it is, +till somebody makes the alteration for them, and then they can see at +once how much better it is; and then they exclaim, 'Ah, see now that is +charming!' Ladies, without doubt, belong to the stand-still party!"</p> + +<p>"And the gentlemen," added she, "belong to the movement party; at least +wherever building and molestation-making comes across them!"</p> + +<p>The conversation, which had hitherto appeared perfectly +good-humoured, seemed to assume a tone of bitterness from that word +"molestation-making;" and in return the voice of the Judge was somewhat +austere, as he replied to her taunt against the gentlemen. "Yes," said +he, "they are not afraid of a little trouble whenever a great advantage +is to be obtained. But——are we to have no breakfast to-day? It is +twenty-two minutes after nine! It really is shocking, dear Elise, that +you cannot teach your maids punctuality! There is nothing more +intolerable than to lose one's time in waiting; nothing more useless; +nothing more insupportable; nothing which more easily might be +prevented, if people would only resolutely set about it! Life is really +too short for one to be able to waste half of it in waiting! +Five-and-twenty minutes after nine! and the children—are they not ready +too? Dear Elise——"</p> + +<p>"I'll go and see after them," said she; and went out quickly.</p> + +<p>It was Sunday. The June sun shone into a large cheerful room, and upon a +snow-white damask tablecloth, which in soft silken folds was spread over +a long table, on which a handsome coffee-service was set out with +considerable elegance. The disturbed countenance with which the Judge +had approached the breakfast-table, cleared itself instantly as a +person, whom young ladies would unquestionably have called "horribly +ugly," but whom no reflective physiognomist could have observed without +interest, entered the room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> This person was tall, extremely thin, and +somewhat inclining to the left side; the complexion was dark, and the +somewhat noble features wore a melancholy expression, which but seldom +gave place to a smile of unusual beauty. The forehead elevated itself, +with its deep lines, above the large brown extraordinary eyes, and above +this a wood of black-brown hair erected itself, under whose thick stiff +curls people said a multitude of ill-humours and paradoxes housed +themselves; so also, indeed, might they in all those deep furrows with +which his countenance was lined, not one of which certainly was without +its own signification. Still, there was not a sharp angle of that face; +there was nothing, either in word or voice, of the Assessor, Jeremias +Munter, however severe they might seem to be, which at the same time did +not conceal an expression of the deepest goodness of heart, and which +stamped itself upon his whole being, in the same way as the sap clothes +with green foliage the stiff resisting branches of the knotted oak.</p> + +<p>"Good day, brother!" exclaimed the Judge, cordially offering him his +hand, "how are you?"</p> + +<p>"Bad!" answered the melancholy man; "how can it be otherwise? What +weather we have! As cold as January! And what people we have in the +world too: it is both a sin and shame! I am so angry to-day that——Have +you read that malicious article against you in the——paper?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't take in that paper; but I have heard speak of the article," +said Judge Frank. "It is directed against my writing on the condition of +the poor in the province, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; or more properly no," replied the Assessor, "for the extraordinary +fact is, that it contains nothing about that affair. It is against +yourself that it is aimed—the lowest insinuations, the coarsest abuse!"</p> + +<p>"So I have heard," said the Judge; "and on that very account I do not +trouble myself to read it."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard who has written it?" asked the visitor.</p> + +<p>"No," returned the other; "nor do I wish to know."</p> + +<p>"But you should do so," argued the Assessor; "people ought to know who +are their enemies. It is Mr. N. I should like to give the fellow three +emetics, that he might know the taste of his own gall!"</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Judge Frank, at once interested in the Assessor's +news—"N., who lives nearly opposite to us,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> and who has so lately +received from the Cape his child, the poor little motherless girl?"</p> + +<p>"The very same!" returned he; "but you must read this piece, if it be +only to give a relish to your coffee. See here; I have brought it with +me. I have learned that it would be sent to your wife to-day. Yes, +indeed, what pretty fellows there are in the world! But where is your +wife to-day? Ah! here she comes! Good morning, my lady Elise. So +charming in the early morning; but so pale! Eh, eh, eh; this is not as +it should be! What is it that I say and preach continually? Exercise, +fresh air—else nothing in the world avails anything. But who listens to +one's preaching? No—adieu my friends! Ah! where is my snuff-box? Under +the newspapers? The abominable newspapers; they must lay their hands on +everything; one can't keep even one's snuff-box in peace for them! +Adieu, Mrs. Elise! Adieu, Frank. Nay, see how he sits there and reads +coarse abuse of himself, just as if it mattered nothing to him. Now he +laughs into the bargain. Enjoy your breakfasts, my friends!"</p> + +<p>"Will you not enjoy it with us?" asked the friendly voice of Mrs. Frank; +"we can offer you to-day quite fresh home-baked bread."</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you," said the Assessor; "I am no friend to such home-made +things; good for nothing, however much they may be bragged of. +Home-baked, home-brewed, home-made. Heaven help us! It all sounds very +fine, but it's good for nothing."</p> + +<p>"Try if to-day it really be good for nothing," urged she. "There, we +have now Madame Folette on the table; you must, at least, have a cup of +coffee from her."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked the surprised Assessor; "what is it? What +horrid Madame is it that is to give me a cup of coffee? I never could +bear old women; and if they are now to come upon the coffee-table——"</p> + +<p>"The round coffee-pot there," said Mrs. Frank, good-humouredly, "is +Madame Folette. Could you not bear that?"</p> + +<p>"But why call it so?" asked he. "What foolery is that?"</p> + +<p>"It is a fancy of the children," returned she. "An honest old woman of +this name, whom I once treated to a cup of coffee, exclaimed, at the +first sight of her favourite beverage, 'When I see a coffee-pot, it is +all the same to me as if I saw an angel from heaven!' The children heard +this, and insisted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> upon it that there was a great resemblance in figure +between Madame Folette and this coffee-pot; and so ever since it has +borne her name. The children are very fond of her, because she gives +them every Sunday morning their coffee."</p> + +<p>"What business have children with coffee?" asked the Assessor. "Cannot +they be thin enough without it; and are they to be burnt up before their +time? There's Petrea, is she not lanky enough? I never was very fond of +her; and now, if she is to grow up into a coffee wife, why—"</p> + +<p>"But, dear Munter," said Mrs. Frank, "you are not in a good humour +to-day."</p> + +<p>"Good humour!" replied he: "no, Mrs. Elise, I am not in a good humour; I +don't know what there is in the world to make people good-humoured. +There now, your chair has torn a hole in my coat-lap! Is that pleasant? +That's home-made too! But now I'll go; that is, if your doors—are they +home-made too?—will let me pass."</p> + +<p>"But will you not come back, and dine with us?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you," replied he; "I am invited elsewhere; and that in this +house, too."</p> + +<p>"To Mrs. Chamberlain W——?" asked Mrs. Frank.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed!" answered the Assessor: "I cannot bear that woman. She +lectures me incessantly. Lectures me! I have a great wish to lecture +her, I have! And then, her blessed dog—Pyrrhus or Pirre; I had a great +mind to kill it. And then, she is so thin. I cannot bear thin people; +least of all, thin old women."</p> + +<p>"No?" said Mrs. Frank. "Don't you know, then, what rumour says of you +and poor old Miss Rask?"</p> + +<p>"That common person!" exclaimed Jeremias. "Well, and what says malice of +me and poor old Miss Rask?"</p> + +<p>"That, not many days since," said Mrs. Frank, "you met this old lady on +your stairs as she was going up to her own room; and that she was +sighing, because of the long flight of stairs and her weak chest. Now +malice says, that, with the utmost politeness, you offered her your arm, +and conducted her up the stairs with the greatest possible care; nor +left her, till she had reached her own door; and further, after all, +that you sent her a pound of cough lozenges; and——"</p> + +<p>"And do you believe," interrupted the Assessor, "that I did that for her +own sake? No, I thank you! I did it that the poor old skeleton might not +fall down dead upon my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> steps, and I be obliged to climb over her ugly +corpse. From no other cause in this world did I drag her up the stairs. +Yes, yes, that was it! I dine to-day with Miss Berndes. She is always a +very sensible person; and her little Miss Laura is very pretty. See, +here have we now all the herd of children! Your most devoted servant, +Sister Louise! So, indeed, little Miss Eva! she is not afraid of the +ugly old fellow, she—God bless her! there's some sugar-candy for her! +And the little one! it looks just like a little angel. Do I make her +cry? Then I must away; for I cannot endure children's crying. Oh, for +heaven's sake! It may make a part of the charm of home: that I can +believe;—perhaps it is home-music! Home-baked, home-made, +home-music——hu!"</p> + +<p>The Assessor sprang through the door; the Judge laughed; and the little +one became silent at the sight of a kringla,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> through which the +beautiful eye of her brother Henrik spied at her as through an +eye-glass; whilst the other children came bounding to the +breakfast-table.</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, nay, my little angels, keep yourselves a little quiet," said +the mother. "Wait a moment, dear Petrea; patience is a virtue. Eva dear, +don't behave in that way; you don't see me do so."</p> + +<p>Thus gently moralised the mother; whilst, with the help of her eldest +daughter, the little prudent Louise, she cared for the other children. +The father went from one to another full of delight, patted their little +heads, and pulled them gently by the hair.</p> + +<p>"I ought, yesterday, to have cut all your hair," said he. "Eva has quite +a wig; one can hardly see her face for it. Give your papa a kiss, my +little girl! I'll take your wig from you early to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"And mine too, and mine too, papa!" exclaimed the others.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," answered the father, "I'll shear every one of you."</p> + +<p>All laughed but the little one; which, half frightened, hid its +sunny-haired little head on the mother's bosom: the father raised it +gently, and kissed, first it, and then the mother.</p> + +<p>"Now put sugar in papa's cup," said she to the little one; "look! he +holds it to you."</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<p>The little one smiled, put sugar in the cup, and Madame Folette began +her joyful circuit.</p> + +<p>But we will now leave Madame Folette, home-baked bread, the family +breakfast, and the morning sun, and seat ourselves at the evening lamp, +by the light of which Elise is writing.</p> + + +<h3>TO CECILIA.</h3> + +<p>I must give you portraits of all my little flock of children; who now, +having enjoyed their evening meal, are laid to rest upon their soft +pillows. Ah! if I had only a really good portrait—I mean a painted +one—of my Henrik, my first-born, my summer child, as I call +him—because he was born on a Midsummer-day, in the summer hours both of +my life and my fortune; but only the pencil of a Correggio could +represent those beautiful, kind, blue eyes, those golden locks, that +loving mouth, and that countenance all so perfectly pure and beautiful! +Goodness and joyfulness beam out from his whole being; even although his +buoyant animal life, which seldom allows his arms or legs to be quiet, +often expresses itself in not the most graceful manner. My +eleven-years-old boy is, alas! very—his father says—very unmanageable. +Still, notwithstanding all this wildness, he is possessed of a deep and +restless fund of sentiment, which makes me often tremble for his future +happiness. God defend my darling, my summer child, my only son! Oh, how +dear he is to me! Ernst warns me often of too partial an affection for +this child; and on that very account will I now pass on from portrait +No. 1 to</p> + +<p>No. 2.—Behold then the little Queen-bee, our eldest daughter, just +turned ten years; and you will see a grave, fair girl, not handsome, but +with a round, sensible face; from which I hope, by degrees, to remove a +certain ill-tempered expression. She is uncommonly industrious, silent +and orderly, and kind towards her younger sisters, although very much +disposed to lecture them; nor will she allow any opportunity to pass in +which her importance as "eldest sister" is not observed; on which +account the little ones give her the titles of "Your Majesty" and "Mrs. +Judge." The little Louise appears to me one of those who will always be +still and sure; and who, on this account, will go fortunately though the +world.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>No. 3.—People say that my little nine-years-old Eva will be very like +her mother. I hope it will prove a really splendid fac-simile. See, +then, a little, soft, round-about figure, which, amid laughter and +merriment, rolls hither and thither lightly and nimbly, with an +ever-varying physiognomy, which is rather plain than handsome, although +lit up by a pair of beautiful, kind, dark-blue eyes. Quickly moved to +sorrow, quickly excited to joy; good-hearted, flattering, +confection-loving, pleased with new and handsome clothes, and with dolls +and play; greatly beloved too by brothers and sisters, as well as by all +the servants; the best friend and playfellow, too, of her brother. Such +is little Eva.</p> + +<p>No. 4.—Nos. 3 and 4 ought not properly to come together. Poor Leonore +had a sickly childhood, and this rather, I believe, than nature, has +given to her an unsteady and violent temper, and has unhappily sown the +seeds of envy towards her more fortunate sisters. She is not deficient +in deep feeling, but the understanding is sluggish, and it is extremely +difficult for her to learn anything. All this promises no pleasure; +rather the very opposite. The expression of her mouth, even in the +uncomfortable time of teething, seemed to speak, "Let me be quiet!" It +is hardly possible that she can be other than plain, but, with God's +help, I hope to make her good and happy.</p> + +<p>"My beloved, plain child!" say I sometimes to her as I clasp her +tenderly in my arms, for I would willingly reconcile her early to her +fate.</p> + +<p>No. 5.—But whatever will fate do with the nose of my Petrea? This nose +is at present the most remarkable thing about her little person; and if +it were not so large, she really would be a pretty child. We hope, +however, that it will moderate itself in her growth.</p> + +<p>Petrea is a little lively girl, with a turn for almost everything, +whether good or bad; curious and restless is she, and beyond measure +full of failings; she has a dangerous desire to make herself observed, +and to excite an interest. Her activity shows itself in destructiveness; +yet she is good-hearted and most generous. In every kind of foolery she +is a most willing ally with Henrik and Eva, whenever they will grant her +so much favour; and if these three be heard whispering together, one may +be quite sure that some roguery or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> other is on foot. There exists +already, however, so much unquiet in her, that I fear her whole life +will be such; but I will early teach her to turn herself to that which +can change unrest into rest.</p> + +<p>No. 6.—And now to the pet child of the house—to the youngest, the +loveliest, the so-called "little one"—to her who with her white hands +puts the sugar into her father's and mother's cup—the coffee without +that would not taste good—to her whose little bed is not yet removed +from the chamber of the parents, and who, every morning, creeping out of +her own bed, lays her bright curly little head on her father's shoulder +and sleeps again.</p> + +<p>Could you only see the little two-years-old Gabriele, with her large, +serious brown eyes; her refined, somewhat pale, but indescribably lovely +countenance; her bewitching little gestures; you would be just as much +taken with her as the rest are,—you would find it difficult, as we all +do, not to spoil her. She is a quiet little child, but very unlike her +eldest sister. A predominating characteristic of Gabriele is love of the +beautiful; she shows a decided aversion to what is ugly and +inconvenient, and as decided a love for what is attractive. A most +winning little gentility in appearance and manners, has occasioned the +brother and sisters to call her in sport "the little young lady," or +"the little princess." Henrik is really in love with his little sister, +kisses her small white hands with devotion, and in return she loves him +with her whole heart. Towards the others she is very often somewhat +ungracious; and our good friend the Assessor calls her frequently "the +little gracious one," and frequently also "the little ungracious one," +but then he has for her especially so many names; my wish is that in the +end she may deserve the surname of "the amiable."</p> + +<p>Peace be with my young ones! There is not one of them which is not +possessed of the material of peculiar virtue and excellence, and yet not +also at the same time of the seed of some dangerous vice, which may ruin +the good growth of God in them. May the endeavours both of their father +and me be blessed in training these plants of heaven aright! But ah! the +education of children is no easy thing, and all the many works on that +subject which I have studied appear to me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> whether the fault be in me +or in them I cannot tell, but small helps. Ah! I often find no other +means than to clasp the child tenderly in my arms, and to weep bitterly +over it, or else to kiss it in the fulness of my joy; and it often has +appeared to me that such moments are not without their influence.</p> + +<p>I endeavour as much as possible not to scold. I know how perpetually +scolding crushes the free spirit and the innocent joyousness of +childhood; and I sincerely believe that if one will only sedulously +cultivate what is good in character, and make in all instances what is +good visible and attractive, the bad will by degrees fall away of +itself.</p> + +<p>I sing a great deal to my children. They are brought up with songs; for +I wished early, as it were, to bathe their souls in harmony. Several of +them, especially my first-born and Eva, are regular little enthusiasts +in music; and every evening, as soon as twilight comes on, the children +throng about me, and then I sit down to the piano, and either accompany +myself, or play to little songs which they themselves sing. It is my +Henrik's reward, when he has been very good for the whole day, that I +should sit by his bed, and sing to him till he sleeps. He says that he +then has such beautiful dreams. We often sit and talk for an hour +instead, and I delight myself sincerely in his active and pure soul. +When he lays out his great plans for his future life, he ends +thus:—"And when I am grown up a man, and have my own house, then, +mother, thou shalt come and live with me, and I will keep so many maids +to wait on thee, and thou shalt have so many flowers, and everything +that thou art fond of, and shalt live just like a queen; only of an +evening, when I go to bed, thou shalt sit beside me and sing me to +sleep; wilt thou not?" Often too, when in the midst of his plans for the +future and my songs, he has dropped asleep, I remain sitting still by +the bed with my heart full to overflowing with joy and pride in this +angel. Ernst declares that I spoil him. Ah, perhaps I do, but +nevertheless it is a fact that I earnestly endeavour not to do so. After +all, I can say of every one of my children what a friend of mine said of +hers, that they are tolerably good; that is to say, they are not good +enough for heaven.</p> + +<p>This evening I am alone. Ernst is away at the District-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>Governor's. It +is my birthday to-day; but I have told no one, because I wished rather +to celebrate it in a quiet communion with my own thoughts.</p> + +<p>How at this moment the long past years come in review before me! I see +myself once more in the house of my parents: in that good, joyful, +beloved home! I see myself once more by thy side, my beloved and only +sister, in that large, magnificent house, surrounded by meadows and +villages. How we looked down upon them from high windows, and yet +rejoiced that the sun streamed into the most lowly huts just as +pleasantly as into our large saloons—everything seemed to us so well +arranged.</p> + +<p>Life then, Cecilia, was joyful and free from care. How we sate and wept +over "Des Vœux Téméraires," and over "Feodor and Maria,"—such were +our cares then. Our life was made up of song, and dance, and merriment, +with our so many cheerful neighbours; with the most accomplished of whom +we got up enthusiasms for music and literature. We considered ourselves +to be virtuous, because we loved those who loved us, and because we gave +of our superfluity to those who needed it. Friendship was our passion. +We were ready to die for friendship, but towards love we had hearts of +stone. How we jested over our lovers, and thought what fun it would be +to act the parts of austere romance-heroines! How unmerciful we were, +and—how easily our lovers consoled themselves! Then Ernst Frank came on +a visit to us. The rumour of a learned and strong-minded man preceded +him, and fixed our regards upon him, because women, whether +well-informed or not themselves, are attracted by such men. Do you not +remember how much he occupied our minds? how his noble person, his calm, +self-assured demeanour, his frank, decided, yet always polite behaviour +charmed us at first, and the awed us?</p> + +<p>One could say of him, that morally as well as physically he stood +firmly. His deep mourning dress, together with an expression of quiet +manly grief, which at times shaded his countenance, combined to make him +interesting to us; nevertheless, you thought that he looked too stern, +and I very soon lost in his presence my accustomed gaiety. Whenever his +dark grave eyes were fixed upon me, I was conscious that they possessed +a half-bewitching, half-oppressive power over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> me; I felt myself happy +because of it, yet at the same time filled with anxiety; my very action +was constrained, my hands became cold and did everything blunderingly, +nor ever did I speak so stupidly as when I observed that he listened. +Aunt Lisette gave me one day this maxim: "My dear, remember what I now +tell thee: if a man thinks that thou art a fool, it does not injure thee +the least in his opinion; but if he once thinks that thou considerest +him a fool, then art thou lost for ever with him!" With the last it may +be just as it will—I have heard a clever young man declare that it +would operate upon him like salt on fire—however, this is certain, that +the first part of Aunt Lisette's maxim is correct, since my stupidity in +Ernst's presence did not injure me at all in his opinion, and when he +was kind and gentle, how inexpressibly agreeable he was!</p> + +<p>His influence over me became greater each succeeding day: I seemed to +live continually under his eyes; when they beamed on me in kindness, it +was as if a spring breeze passed through my soul; and if his glance was +graver than common, I became still, and out of spirits. It seemed to me +at times—and it is so even to this very day—that if this clear and +wonderfully penetrating glance were only once, and with its full power, +riveted upon me, my very heart would cease to beat. Yet after all, I am +not sure whether I loved him. I hardly think I did; for when he was +absent I then seemed to breathe so freely, yet at the same time, I would +have saved his life by the sacrifice of my own.</p> + +<p>In several respects we had no sympathies in common. He had no taste for +music, which I loved passionately; and in reading too our feelings were +so different. He yawned over my favourite romances, nay he even +sometimes would laugh when I was at the point of bursting into tears; I, +on the contrary, yawned over his useful and learned books, and found +them more tedious than I could express. The world of imagination in +which my thoughts delighted to exercise themselves, he valued not in the +least, whilst the burdensome actuality which he always was seeking for +in life, had no charm for me. Nevertheless there were many points in +which we accorded—these especially were questions of morals—and +whenever this was the case, it afforded both of us great pleasure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>And now came the time, Cecilia, in which you left me; when our fates +separated themselves, although our hearts did not.</p> + +<p>One day there were many strangers with us; and in the afternoon I played +at shuttlecock with young cousin Emil, to whom we were so kind, and who +deserved our kindness so well. How it happened I cannot tell, but before +long Ernst took his place, and was my partner in the game. He looked +unusually animated, and I felt myself more at ease with him than common. +He threw the shuttlecock excellently, and with a firm hand, but always +let it fly a little way beyond me, so that I was obliged to step back a +few paces each time to catch it, and thus unconsciously to myself was I +driven, in the merry sport, through a long suite of rooms, till we came +at last to one where we were quite alone, and a long way from the +company. All at once then Ernst left off his play, and a change was +visible in his whole countenance. I augured something amiss, and would +gladly have sprung far, far away, but I felt powerless; and then Ernst +spoke so from his heart, so fervently, and with such deep tenderness, +that he took my heart at once to himself. I laid my hand, although +tremblingly, in his, and, almost without knowing what I did, consented +to go through life by his side.</p> + +<p>I had just then passed my nineteenth year; and my beloved parents +sanctioned the union of their daughter with a man so respectable and so +universally esteemed, and one, moreover, whom everybody prophesied would +one day rise to the highest eminences of the state—and Ernst, whose +nature it was to accomplish everything rapidly which he undertook, +managed it so that in a very short time our marriage was celebrated.</p> + +<p>At the same time some members of my family thought that by this union I +had descended a step. I thought not; on the contrary, the very reverse. +I was of high birth, had several not undistinguished family connexions, +and was brought up in a brilliant circle, in all the superficial +accomplishments of the day, amid superfluity and thoughtlessness. He was +a man who had shaped out his own course in life, who, by his own honest +endeavours, and through many self-denials, had raised his father's house +from its depressed condition, and had made the future prospects of his +mother and sister comfortable and secure: he was a man self-dependent,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +upright, and good—yes, <span class="smcap">good</span>, and that I discover more and more the +deeper knowledge I obtain of his true character, even though the outward +manner may be somewhat severe—in truth, I feel myself very inferior +beside him.</p> + +<p>The first year of our marriage we passed, at their desire, in the house +of my parents; and if I could only have been less conscious of his +superiority, and could only have been more certain that he was satisfied +with me, nothing would have been wanting to my happiness. Everybody +waited upon me; and perhaps it was on this account that Ernst, in +comparison, seemed somewhat cold; I was the petted child of my too kind +parents; I was thankless and peevish, and ah, some little of this still +remains! Nevertheless, it was during this very time that, under the +influence of my husband, the true beauty and reality of life became more +and more perceptible to my soul. Married life and family ties, one's +country and the world, revealed their true relationships, and their holy +signification to my mind. Ernst was my teacher; I looked up to him with +love, but not without fear.</p> + +<p>Many were the projects which we formed in these summer days, and which +floated brightly before my romantic fancy. Among these was a journey on +foot through the beautiful country west of Sweden, and this was one of +the favourite schemes of my Ernst. His mother—from whom our little +Petrea has derived her somewhat singular name—was of Norway, and many a +beloved thought of her seemed to have interwoven itself with the valleys +and mountains, which, as in a wonderfully-beautiful fairy tale, she had +described to him in the stories she told. All these recollections are a +sort of romantic region in Ernst's soul, and thither he betakes himself +whenever he would refresh his spirit, or lay out something delightful +for the future. "Next year," he would then exclaim, "will we take a +journey!" And then we laid out together our route on the map, and I +determined on the dress which I would wear as his travelling-companion +when we would go and visit "that sea-engarlanded Norway." Ah! there soon +came for me other journeys.</p> + +<p>It was during these days also that my first-born saw the light; my +beautiful boy! who so fettered both my love and my thoughts that Ernst +grew almost jealous. How often did I steal out of bed at night in order +to watch him while he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> slept! He was a lively, restless child, and it +therefore was a peculiar pleasure for me to see him at rest; besides +which, he was so angelically lovely in sleep! I could have spent whole +nights bending over his cradle.</p> + +<p>So far, Cecilia, all went with us as in the romances with which we in +our youth nourished heart and soul. But far other times came. In the +first place, the sad change in the circumstances of my parents, which +operated so severely on our position in life; and then for me so many +children—cares without end, grief and sickness! My body and mind must +both have given way under their burden, had Ernst not been the man he +is.</p> + +<p>It suited his character to struggle against the stream; it was a sort of +pleasure to him to combat with it, to meet difficulties, and to overcome +them. With each succeeding year he imposed more business upon himself, +and by degrees, through the most resolute industry, he was enabled to +bring back prosperity to his house. And then how unwearingly kind he was +to me! How tenderly sustaining in those very moments, when without him I +must have found myself so utterly miserable! How many a sleepless night +has he passed on my account! How often has he soothed to sleep a sickly +child in his arms! And then, too, every child which came, as it were +only to multiply his cares, and increase the necessity for his labour, +was to him a delight—was received as a gift of God's mercy—and its +birth made a festival in the house. How my heart has thanked him, and +how has his strength and assurance nerved me!</p> + +<p>When little Gabriele was born I was very near death; and it is my firm +belief that, without Ernst's care for me, I must then have parted from +my little ones. During the time of great weakness which succeeded this, +my foot scarcely ever touched the ground. I was carried by Ernst himself +wherever I would. He was unwearied in goodness and patience towards the +sick mother. Should she not now, that she is again in health, dedicate +her life to him? Ah, yes, that should she, and that will she! Alas, were +but my ability as strong as my will!</p> + +<p>Do you know one thing, Cecilia, which often occasions me great trouble? +It is that I am not a clever housewife; that I can neither take pleasure +in all the little cares and details<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> which the well-being of a house +really requires, nor that I have memory for these things; more +especially is the daily caring for dinner irksome to me. I myself have +but little appetite; and it is so unpleasing to me to go to sleep at +night, and to get up in the morning with my head full of schemes for +cooking. By this means, it happens that sometimes my husband's domestic +comforts are not such as he has a right to demand. Hitherto my weak +health, the necessary care of the children, and our rather narrow +circumstances, have furnished me with sufficient excuses; but these now +will avail me no longer; my health is again established, and our greater +prosperity furnishes the means for better household management.</p> + +<p>On this account, I now exert myself to perform all my duties well; but, +ah! how pleasant it will be when the little Louise is sufficiently grown +up, that I may lay part of the housekeeping burdens on her shoulders. I +fancy to myself that she will have peculiar pleasure in all these +things.</p> + +<p>I am to-day two-and-thirty years old. It seems to me that I have entered +a new period of my life: my youth lies behind me, I am advanced into +middle age, and I well know what both this and my husband have a right +to demand from me. May a new and stronger being awake in me! May God +support me, and Ernst be gentle towards his erring wife!</p> + +<p>Ernst should have married a more energetic woman. My nervous weakness +makes my temper irritable, and I am so easily annoyed. His activity of +mind often disturbs me more than it is reasonable or right that it +should; for instance, I get regularly into a state of excitement, if he +only steadfastly fixes his eyes on a wall, or on any other object. I +immediately begin to fancy that we are going instantly to have a new +door opened, or some other change brought about. And oh! I have such a +great necessity for rest and quiet!</p> + +<p>One change which is about to take place in our house I cannot anticipate +without uneasiness. It is the arrival of a candidate of Philosophy, +Jacob Jacobi, as tutor for my children. He will this summer take my wild +boy under his charge, and instruct the sisters in writing, drawing, and +arithmetic; and in the autumn conduct my first-born from the maternal +home to a great educational institution. I dread this new member in our +domestic circle; he may, if he be not amiable,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> so easily prove so +annoying; yet, if he be amiable and good, he will be so heartily welcome +to me, especially as assistant in the wearisome writing lessons, with +their eternal "Henrik, sit still!"—"Hold the pen properly, +Louise!"—"Look at the copy, Leonore!"—"Don't forget the points and +strokes, Eva!"—"Little Petrea, don't wipe out the letters with your +nose!" Besides this, my first-born begins to have less and less esteem +for my Latin knowledge; and Ernst is sadly discontented with his wild +pranks. Jacobi will give him instruction, together with Nils Gabriel, +the son of the District-Governor, Stjernhök, a most industrious and +remarkably sensible boy, from whose influence on my Henrik I hope for +much good.</p> + +<p>The Candidate is warmly recommended to us by a friend of my husband, the +excellent Bishop B.; yet, notwithstanding this, his actions at the +University did not particularly redound to his honour. Through credulity +and folly he has run through a nice little property which had been left +him by three old aunts, who had brought him up and spoiled him into the +bargain. Indeed, his career has hitherto not been quite a correct one. +Bishop B. conceals nothing of all this, but says that he is much +attached to the young man; praises his heart, and his excellent gifts as +a preceptor, and prays us to receive him cordially, with all parental +tenderness, into our family. We shall soon see whether he be deserving +of such hearty sympathy. For my part, I must confess that my motherly +tenderness for him is as yet fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Yet, after all, this inmate does not terrify me half as much as a visit +with which I am shortly threatened. Of course you have heard of the lady +of the late Colonel S., the beautiful Emilie, my husband's "old flame," +as I call her, out of a little malice for all the vexation her +perfections, which are so very opposite to mine, have occasioned me. She +has been now for several years a widow, has lived long abroad, and now +will pay us a visit on her return to her native land. Ernst and she have +always kept up the most friendly understanding with each other, although +she refused his hand; and it is a noble characteristic of my Ernst, and +one which, in his sex, is not often found, that this rejection did not +make him indifferent to the person who gave it. On the contrary, he +professes the most warm admiration of this Emilie, and has not ceased to +correspond with her; and I, for I read all their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> letters, cannot but +confess her extraordinary knowledge and acuteness. But to know all this +near is what I would indeed be very gladly excused, since I cannot help +thinking that my husband's "old flame" has something of cold-heartedness +in her, and my heart has no great inclination to become warm towards +her.</p> + +<p>It strikes ten o'clock. Ernst will not come home before twelve. I shall +leave you now, Cecilia, that——shall I confess my secret to you? You +know that one of my greatest pleasures is the reading of a good novel, +but this pleasure I have almost entirely renounced, because whenever I +have a really interesting one in my hand, I find the most cruel +difficulty in laying it down before I reach the last page. That, +however, does not answer in my case; and since the time when through the +reading of Madame De Stael's Corinne, two dinners, one great wash, and +seventeen lesser domestic affairs all came to a stand-still, and my +domestic peace nearly suffered shipwreck, I have made a resolution to +give up all novel-reading, at least for the present. But still it is so +necessary for me to have some literary relaxation of the kind, that +since I read no more novels, I have myself—begun to write one. Yes, +Cecilia, my youthful habits will not leave me, even in the midst of the +employments and prosaic cares of every-day life; and the flowers which +in the morning-tide cast their fragrance so sweetly around me, will yet +once more bloom for me in remembrance, and encircle my drooping head +with a refreshing garland. The joyful days which I passed by your side; +the impressions and the agreeable scenes—now they seem doubly so—which +made our youth so beautiful, so lively, and so fresh,—all these I will +work out into one significant picture, before the regular flight of +years has made them perish from my soul. This employment enlivens and +strengthens me; and if, in an evening, my nervous toothache, which is +the certain result of over-exertion or of vexation, comes on, there is +nothing which will dissipate it like the going on with my little +romance. For this very reason, therefore, because this evening my old +enemy has plagued me more than common, I have recourse to my innocent +opiate.</p> + +<p>But Ernst shall not find me awake when he returns: this I have promised +him. Good night, sweet Cecilia!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>We will now, in this place, give a little description of the +letter-writer—of the mother of Henrik, Louise, Eva, Leonore, Petrea, +and Gabriele.</p> + +<p>Beautiful she certainly was not, but nature had given to her a noble +growth, which was still as fine and delicate as that of a young girl. +The features were not regular, but the mouth was fresh and bewitching, +the lips of a lovely bright red, the complexion fair, and the clear blue +eyes soft and kind. All her actions were graceful: she had beautiful +hands—which is something particularly lovely in a lady—yet she was not +solicitous to keep them always in view, and this beautified them still +more. She dressed with much taste, almost always in light colours; this +and the soft rose scent which she loved, and which always accompanied +her, lent to her whole being a something especially mild and agreeable. +One might compare her to moonlight; she moved softly, and her voice was +low and sweet, which, as Shakspeare says, is "an excellent thing in +woman." Seeing her, as one often might do, reclining on a soft couch, +playing with a flower or caressing a child, one could scarcely fancy her +the superintendent of a large household, with all its appertaining +work-people and servants; and beyond this, as the instructor of many +children: yet love and sense of duty had led her to the performance of +all this, had reconciled her to that which her natural inclinations were +so averse to; nay, by degrees indeed, had made these very cares dear to +her—whatever concerned the children lay near to her heart, whilst +order, pleasantness, and peace, regulated the house. The contents of the +linen-press were dear to her; a snow-white tablecloth was her delight; +grey linen, dust, and flies, were hated by her, as far as she could hate +anything.</p> + +<p>But let us now proceed with our historical sketches.</p> + +<p>We left Elise at her manuscript, by which she became soon so deeply +occupied that the clock struck twelve unperceived by her; nor was she +aware of the flight of time till a sudden terror thrilled her as she +heard her husband return. To throw her manuscript into her drawer, and +quickly undress, had been an easy thing for her, and she was about to do +so, when the thought occurred, "I have never hitherto kept my +proceedings secret from Ernst, and to-day I will not begin to do so;" +and she remained at her writing-table till he entered the room.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What! yet up, and writing?" said he, with a displeased glance. "Is it +thus you keep your promise, Elise?"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Ernst," said she; "I had forgotten myself."</p> + +<p>"And for what?" asked he. "What are you writing? No, let me see! What! a +novel, as I live! Now, what use is this?"</p> + +<p>"What use is it?" returned Elise. "Ah, to give me pleasure."</p> + +<p>"But people should have sense and reason in their pleasures," said the +Judge. "Now it gives me no pleasure at all that you should sit up at +night ruining your eyes on account of a miserable novel;—if there were +a fire here I would burn the rubbish!"</p> + +<p>"It would be a great deal better," returned Elise, mildly, "if you went +to bed and said your prayers piously, rather than thought about such an +<i>auto-da-fé</i>. How have you amused yourself at the Governor's?"</p> + +<p>"You want now to be mixing the cards," said he. "Look at me, Elise; you +are pale; your pulse is excited! Say my prayers, indeed! I have a great +mind to give you a lecture, that I have! Is it reasonable—is it +prudent—to sit up at night and become pale and sleepless, in order to +write what is good for nothing? It really makes me quite angry that you +can be so foolish, so childish! It certainly is worth while your going +to baths, sending to the east and to the west to consult physicians, and +giving oneself all kind of trouble to regain your health, when you go +and do every possible thing you can in the world to destroy it!"</p> + +<p>"Do not be angry, Ernst," besought Elise; "do not look so stern on me +to-night, Ernst; no, not to-night."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" replied he, but in a tone which had become at once +milder, "because it is two-and-thirty years to-day since you came into +the world, do you think that you have a right to be absolutely +childish?"</p> + +<p>"Put that down to my account," said Elise, smiling, yet with a tear in +her eye.</p> + +<p>"Put it down! put it down!" repeated the Judge. "Yes, I suppose so. +People go on putting down neck or nothing till it's a pretty fool's +business. I should like to pack all novels and novel-writers out of the +world together! The world never will be wise till that is done; nor will +you either. In the mean time, however, it is as well that I have found +you awake, else I must have woke you to prove that you cannot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> conceal +from me, not even for once, how old you are. Here then is the punishment +for your bad intention."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Walter Scott's romances!" exclaimed Elise, receiving a set of +volumes from her husband; "and such a magnificent edition! Thanks! +thanks! you good, best Ernst! But you are a beautiful lawgiver; you +promote the very things which you condemn!"</p> + +<p>"Promise me, only," returned he, "not to spend the night in reading or +writing novels. Think only how precious your health is to so many of us! +Do you think I should be so provoked, if you were less dear to me? Do +you comprehend that? In a few years, Elise," added he, "when the +children are older, and you are stronger, we will turn a summer to +really good account, and take our Norwegian journey. You shall breathe +the fresh mountain air, and see the beautiful valleys and the sea, and +that will do you much more good than all the mineral waters in the +world. But come now, let us go and see the children; we will not wake +them, however, although I have brought with me some confectionery from +the lady hostess, which I can lay on their pillows. There is a rennet +for you."</p> + +<p>The married pair went into the children's room, where the faithful old +Fin-woman, Brigitta, lay and guarded, like the dragon, her treasures. +The children slept as children sleep. The father stroked the beautiful +curling hair of the boy, but impressed a kiss on the rosy cheek of each +girl. After this the parents returned to their own chamber. Elise lay +down to rest; her husband sate down to his desk, but so as to shade the +light from his wife. The low sounds of a pen moving on paper came to her +ear as if in sleep. As the clock struck two she awoke, and he was still +writing.</p> + +<p>Few men required and allowed themselves so little rest as Ernst Frank.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> A kind of fine curled cake.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE CANDIDATE.</h3> + + +<p>It was in the twilight. The children were playing at "låna eld"<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> in +the great hall, swarming about in holes and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> corners, when the sudden +stopping of a travelling carriage before the door operated upon the wild +little flock much as a stream of cold water on a swarm of Lees. The +Queen-bee of the children-swarm, the wise little Louise, sate herself +down at the window, and four other little heads clustered themselves +about her, fervent and inquisitive, and almost pushing her away in their +impatient zeal to get a peep at the arrival.</p> + +<p>It was a gentleman who stepped lightly out of that travelling carriage, +but whether young or old, the children could not see; this, however, +they saw, that their father came quickly to the door, shook the +traveller by the hand, and conducted him into the house; whilst a very +small portmanteau was carried after him. Seeing this, the little swarm +hastened to their mother; to whom they gave, in all possible degrees of +tone, from a low whisper to a loud annunciation, the information that +for certain "the tutor was come."</p> + +<p>Elise, who had company with her, calmed with a "yes, yes!" and "so, +indeed!" the excited state of the children. The Queen-bee composed +herself quickly; and with mildly silencing looks seemed to observe that +she had somewhat forgotten her own dignity, and seated herself quietly +and becomingly among the "grown people," as one of them, whilst the +other children gathered themselves in a little group in one corner of +the room, whispering and wondering; and whoever had looked at them might +have seen many a time Petrea's nose peering forth from the little group.</p> + +<p>Judge Frank sent to announce to his wife the arrival of the expected +guest, who would be introduced to her as soon as he had completed his +toilet. Presently afterwards another messenger came, desiring +curling-irons for the Candidate.</p> + +<p>"It is a blessed long toilet!" thought Elise, many a time during a full +hour which elapsed in waiting; and it must be confessed that her nose +more than once during the hour took the same direction as Petrea's.</p> + +<p>At last the steps of two gentlemen were heard on the hall floor, and +there advanced through the parlour door a well-shod foot and a handsome +leg, belonging to a well-formed though somewhat compressed figure, which +carried gracefully a twenty-year-old head, of a jovial, comely +appearance, with the hair dressed after the newest mode. It was the +Candidate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> He cast a glance first at his foot, and then at the lady of +the house, whom he approached with the most unconstrained +self-possession, exhibiting the while a row of dazzlingly white teeth. +Odour of <i>eau de Portugal</i> diffused itself though the room.</p> + +<p>The Judge, who followed, and whose bearing and simple demeanour +contrasted with those of the new guest, introduced the Candidate Jacobi. +Various unimportant polite speeches were made by everybody, and then +they all took their seats. The children then came forward, and made +their bows and curtseys. Henrik eyed his future preceptor with a joyous, +confiding glance; the Queen-bee curtseyed very becomingly, and then made +several steps backward as the young man seemed inclined to take the +great liberty of kissing her; whilst Petrea turned up her nose with an +inquisitive saucy air. The Candidate took the kindest notice of them +all; shook all of them by the hand; inquired all their names; looked at +himself in the glass, and arranged his curls.</p> + +<p>"Whom have we here?" thought Elise, with secret anxiety. "He is a fop—a +perfect fop! How in all the world could Bishop B. select him as teacher +for my poor little children? He will think much more of looking at +himself in the glass than of looking after them. The fine breast-pin +that he is wearing is of false stones. He laughs to show his white +teeth. An actual fop—a fool, perhaps! There, now, he looks at himself +again in the glass!"</p> + +<p>Elise sought to catch her husband's eye, but he evidently avoided +meeting hers; yet something of discontent, and something of trouble too, +showed itself in his manner. The Candidate, on the contrary, appeared +not in the slightest degree troubled, but reclined perfectly at his ease +in an armchair, and cast searching glances on three ladies, who +evidently were strangers in the company. The eldest of these, who kept +on sewing incessantly, appeared to be upwards of forty, and was +distinguished by a remarkably quiet, bright, and friendly aspect. Judge +Frank and she talked much together. The other two appeared neither of +them to have attained her twentieth year: the one was pale and fair; the +other a pretty brunette; both of them were agreeable, and looked good +and happy. These ladies were introduced to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> Jacobi as Miss Evelina +Berndes and her adopted daughters, Laura and Karin. Laura had always one +of the children on her knee, and it was upon her that his eyes were most +particularly fixed. It was indeed a very pretty picture, which was +formed by Laura, with the lovely little Gabriele on her knee, decorated +with the flowers, bracelets, necklace, in short, with all the pretty +things that just before had ornamented herself.</p> + +<p>The conversation soon became general, and was remarkably easy, and the +Candidate had an opportunity of taking his part well and interestingly +in it whilst speaking of certain distinguished men in the University +from which he was just come. Elise mentioned one celebrated man whom she +had a great desire to see, upon which Jacobi said he had lately made a +little sketch of him, which, on her expressing a wish to see, he +hastened to fetch.</p> + +<p>He returned with a portfolio containing many drawings and pictures; +partly portraits, and partly landscapes, from his own pencil; they were +not deficient in talent, and afforded pleasure. First one portrait was +recognised and then another, and at last the Candidate himself. The +children were quite enchanted, and thronged with enthusiasm round the +table. The Candidate placed some of them on his knee, and seemed +particularly observant of their pleasure, and it was not long, +therefore, before they appeared entirely to forget that he was only a +new acquaintance—all at least excepting Louise, who held herself rather +<i>fière</i>, and "the baby," which was quite ungracious towards him.</p> + +<p>Above all the pictures which the portfolio contained, were the children +most affected and enchanted by one in sepia, which represented a girl +kneeling before a rose-bush, from which she was gathering roses, whilst +a lyre lay against a gravestone near her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how sweet! how divinely beautiful!" exclaimed they. Petrea seemed +as if she actually could not remove her eyes from the charming picture, +which the Candidate himself also seemed to regard with a fatherly +affection, and which was the crown of his little collection.</p> + +<p>It was the custom at the Franks, that every evening, as soon as the +clock had struck eight, the little herd of children, conducted by the +Queen-bee, withdrew to their bed-chamber,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> which had once occasioned the +wakeful Petrea to say that night was the worst thing God had ever made: +for which remark she received a reproving glance from the Queen-bee, +accompanied by the maxim, "that people should not talk in that way."</p> + +<p>In order, however, to celebrate the present day, which was a remarkable +one, the children were permitted to take supper with their parents, and +even to sit up as late as they did. The prospect of this indulgence, the +Candidate, the pictures, all combined to elevate the spirits of the +children in no ordinary degree; so much so indeed that Petrea had the +boldness, whilst they were regaling on roast chicken, to propose to the +Candidate that the picture of the girl and the rose-bush should be put +up for a prize on the breaking of a merrythought between them; +promising, that if she had the good fortune to win it, she would give as +a recompense a picture of her own composition, which should represent +some scene in a temple. The Queen-bee appeared scandalised at her +sister's proposal, and shook her little wise head at her.</p> + +<p>The mother also violently opposed Petrea's proposition; and she, poor +girl, became scarlet, and deeply abashed, before the reproving glances +which were cast upon her; yet the Candidate was good-natured enough, +after the first astonishment was over, to yield in the most cheerful +manner to Petrea's proposal, and zealously to declare that the affair +should be managed just as she would. He accordingly set himself, with an +appearance of great accuracy and solemnity, to measure the length of +both limbs of the merrythought, and then counted three; the mother all +this time hoping within herself that he would so manage it that he +himself should retain the head—but no! the head remained in Petrea's +hand, and she uttered a loud cry of joy. After supper, the parents again +opposed what had taken place; but the Candidate was so cheerful and so +determined that it should remain as it was settled already, that Petrea, +the happiest of mortals, ventured to carry out the girl and rose-bush; +yet, she did not miss a motherly warning by the way, which mingled some +tears with her joy. The Candidate had, in the mean time, on account of +his kindness towards the children, and his good-nature towards Petrea, +made a favourable impression on the parents.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who knows," said Elise to her husband, "but that he may turn out very +well. He has, probably, his faults, but he has his good qualities too; +there is something really very agreeable in his voice and countenance; +but he must leave off that habit of looking at himself so continually in +the glass."</p> + +<p>"I feel assured that he must have worth," said the Judge, "from the +recommendation of my friend B. This vanity, and these foppish habits of +his, we shall soon know how to get rid of; the man himself is +unquestionably good; and, dear Elise, be kind to him, and manage so that +he shall feel at home with us."</p> + +<p>The children also, in their place of rest, made their observations on +the Candidate.</p> + +<p>"I think he is much handsomer than my father," said little Petrea.</p> + +<p>"I think," said the Queen-bee, in a tone of correction, "that nobody can +be more perfect than my father."</p> + +<p>"That is true, excepting mamma," exclaimed Eva, out of her little bed.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Petrea, "I like him so much; he has given me that lovely +picture. Do you know what I shall call that girl? I shall call her Rosa; +and I'll tell you a long story about her. There was once upon a +time——"</p> + +<p>All the sisters listened eagerly, for Petrea could relate better and +prettier stories than any of them. It was therefore said among +themselves that Petrea was very clever; but as the Queen-bee was +desirous that Petrea should not build much on this opinion, she now +listened to her history without bestowing upon it one token of applause, +although it was found to be sufficiently interesting to keep the whole +little auditorium awake till midnight.</p> + +<p>"What will become of my preserves?" thought Elise, one day as she +remarked the quantity which vanished from the plate of the Candidate; +but when that same evening she saw the little Gabriele merrily, and +without reproof, pulling about his curls; when she saw him join the +children at their play, and make every game which they played +instructive to them; when she saw him armed with a great paper weapon, +which he called his sword, and deal about blows to those who counted +false, thereby exciting greater activity of mind as well as more mirth, +she thought to herself, "he may eat just as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> much preserves as he likes; +I will take care that he never goes short of them."</p> + +<p>If, however, the Candidate rose higher in the regards of one party, +there still was another with which his actions did not place him in the +best point of view. Brigitta, to whom the care of some few things in the +house was confided, began to look troubled, and out of sorts. For +several days, whatever her cause of annoyance might be, she preserved +silence, till one evening, when expanding the nostrils of her little +snubby nose, she thus addressed her mistress:</p> + +<p>"The gracious lady must be so good as to give out to the cook just twice +as much coffee as usual; because if things are to go on in this way, we +cannot do with less. He, the master there, empties the little coffee-pot +himself every morning! Never, in all my life, have I seen such a +coffee-bibber!"</p> + +<p>The following evening came a new announcement of trouble.</p> + +<p>"Now it is not alone a coffee-bibber," said poor Brigitta, with a gloomy +countenance and wide-staring eyes, "but a calf it is, and a devourer of +rusks! What do you think, gracious lady, but the rusk-basket, which I +filled only yesterday, is to-day as good as empty—only two rusks and +two or three crumbs remaining! Then for cream! Why every morning he +empties the jug!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, it is very good," said Elise, mildly, yet evasively, "that he +enjoys things so much."</p> + +<p>"And only look, in heaven's name!" lamented poor Brigitta another day, +"he is also quite a sugar-rat! Why, dear, gracious lady, he must put in +at least twenty pieces of sugar into one cup of coffee, or he never +could empty a sugar-basin as he does! I must beg you to give mo the key +of the chest, that I may fill it again. God grant that all this may have +a good ending!"</p> + +<p>Brigitta could venture to say much, for she had grown old in the house; +had carried Elise as a child in her arms; and from affection to her, had +followed her when she left her father's house: besides this, she was a +most excellent guardian for the children; but as now these complaints of +hers were too frequently repeated, Elise said to her seriously: "Dear +Brigitta, let him eat and drink as much as he likes, without any +observation: I would willingly allow him a pound of sugar and coffee a +day, if he only became, as I hope he may, a good friend and preceptor +for the children."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + +<p>Brigitta walked away quite provoked, and grumbling to herself: "Well, +well!" said she, "old Brita can be silent, yes, that she can;—well, +well! we shall see what will be the end of it. Sugar and rusks he eats, +and salt-fish he can't eat!—well, well!"</p> + +<p>All this time Jacobi was passing his days in peace, little dreaming of +the clouds which were gathering over his head, or of his appellations of +coffee-bibber, calf, rusk-devourer, and sugar-rat; and with each +succeeding day it became more evident that Elise's hopes of him were +well grounded. He developed more and more a good and amiable +disposition, and the most remarkable talents as teacher. The children +became attached to him with the most intense affection; nor did their +obedience and reverence for him as preceptor prevent them, in their +freer hours, from playing him all kind of little pranks. Petrea was +especially rich in such inventions; and he was too kind, too much +delighted with their pleasure, not willingly to assist, or even at times +allow himself to be the butt of their jokes.</p> + +<p>Breakfast, which for the elder members of the family was commonly served +at eleven o'clock, furnished the children with an excellent opportunity +for their amusement. The Candidate was particularly fond of eggs, and +therefore, when under a bulky-looking napkin he expected to find some, +and laid hasty hands on it, he not unfrequently discovered, instead of +eggs, balls of worsted, playing-balls, and other such indigestible +articles; on which discovery of his, a stifled laughter would commonly +be heard at the door, and a cluster of children's heads be visible, +which he in pretended anger assailed with the false eggs, and which +quickly withdrew amid peals of laughter. Often too, when, according to +old Swedish usage, he would take a glass of spirits, he found pure water +instead of Cognac in his mouth; and the little advocates of temperance +were always near enough to enjoy his astonishment, although sufficiently +distant, also, that not one drop of the shower which was then sent at +them should reach them, though it made them leap high enough for +delight. And really it was wonderful how often these little surprises +could be repeated, and how the Candidate let himself so constantly be +surprised. But he was too much occupied by his own thoughts (the +thoughts of course of a student of philosophy!)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> in order to be on his +guard against the tricks of these young merry-andrews. One day——</p> + +<p>But before we proceed further we must observe, that although the +toilette of the Candidate seemed externally to be always so well +supplied, yet still it was, in fact, in but a very indifferent +condition. No wonder, therefore, was it, that though his hat outwardly +was always well brushed, and was apparently in good order, yet that it +had within a sadly tattered lining.</p> + +<p>One day, therefore, as the Candidate had laid his hat in a corner of the +room, and was sitting near the sofa in a very earnest conversation, +Henrik, Petrea, and Eva gathered themselves about that symbol of freedom +with the most suspicious airs and gestures of conspiracy. Nobody paid +any attention to them, when after awhile the Candidate rose to leave the +room, and going through the door would have put on his hat—but, behold, +a very singular revolution had taken place within it, and a mass of tin +soldiers, stones, matches, and heaven knows what besides, came rattling +down upon his head; and even one little chimney-sweeper fell astride on +his nose. Nothing could compare with the immeasurable delight of the +children at the astonishment of the Candidate, and the comic grimaces +and head-shakings with which he received this their not very polite +jest.</p> + +<p>No wonder was it, therefore, that the children loved the Candidate so +well.</p> + +<p>The little Queen-bee, however, who more and more began to reckon herself +as one of the grown people, and only very rarely took part in the +conspiracies against the Candidate, shook her head at this prank of her +brother and sisters, and looked out a new piece of dark silk from her +drawer (Louise was a hoarder by nature), possessed herself secretly of +the Candidate's hat, and with some little help from her mother, had then +her secret pleasure also, and could laugh in her own sleeve at his +amazement when he discovered a bran new lining in his hat.</p> + +<p>"Our little Queen-bee is a sensible little girl," said the Judge, +well-pleased, to his wife, who had made him a third in this plot; and +after that day she was called both by father and mother "our sensible +little Queen-bee."</p> + +<p>Scarcely had Jacobi been three weeks in the family of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> Franks, +before Elise felt herself disposed to give him a new title, that of +Disputer-General, so great was the ability he discovered to dispute on +every subject, from human free-will to rules for cookery; nay, even for +the eating of eggs.</p> + +<p>On this subject Elise wrote thus to her sister Cecilia:—"But however +polite and agreeable the Candidate may be generally, still he is just as +wearisome and obstinate in disputation; and as there is nobody in the +house that makes any pretension to rival him in certain subtleties of +argument, he is in great danger of considering himself a miracle of +metaphysical light, which he is not, I am persuaded, by any means, since +he has much more skill in rending down than in building up, in +perplexing than in making clear. Ernst is no friend of metaphysical +hair-splitting, and when Jacobi begins to doubt the most perceptible and +most certain things—'what is perceptible, what is certain?' the +Candidate will inquire—he grows impatient, shrugs his shoulders, goes +to his writing-table, and leaves me to combat it out, although, for my +part, I would gladly have nothing to do with it. Should I, however, for +awhile carry on the contest boldly, the scholar then will overwhelm me +with learned words and arguments, and then I too flee, and leave him +<i>maître du champ de bataille</i>. He believes then that I am convinced, at +least of his power, which yet, however, is not the case; and if fortune +do not bestow upon me a powerful ally against him, he may imagine so. +Nevertheless, I am not without some curiosity to hear a system which he +has promised to explain to me this evening, and according to which +everything in the world ought to be so good and consistent. These +subjects have always an interest for me, and remind me of the time when +you and I, Cecilia, like two butterflies, went fluttering over the +earth, pausing about its flowers, and building up for ourselves pretty +theories on the origin of life and all things. Since then I had almost +forgotten them. Think only if the mythology of our youth should present +itself again in the system of the Candidate!"</p> + +<p>Here Elise was interrupted by the entrance of the troop of children.</p> + +<p>"Might we borrow Gabriele?" "Mother, lend us Gabriele!" besought several +coaxing little voices.</p> + +<p>"Gabriele, wilt thou not come and play with us? Oh, yes, certainly thou +wilt!" and with these words Petrea held<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> up a gingerbread heart, winch +so operated on the heart of the little one, that she yielded to the +wishes of brother and sisters.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you must take great care of her, my little angel!" said the +mother; "Louise, dear, take her under your charge; look after her, and +see that no harm befal her!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course," said Louise, with a consequential countenance; and the +jubilant children carried off the borrowed treasure, and quickly was +their sport in full operation in the hall.</p> + +<p>Elise took her work, and the Candidate, with a look of great importance, +seated himself before her, in order to initiate her into the mysteries +of his system. Just, however, at the moment when he had opened his mouth +to begin, after having hemmed a few times, a shrill little barking, and +the words "your most devoted servant," were heard at the door, and a +person entered curtseying with an air of conscious worth, said with a +little poodle in her arms—a person with whom we will have the honour to +commence a new chapter.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Borrowing fire; a Swedish child's play.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE CHAMBERLAIN'S LADY.</h3> + + +<p>Where is there not <i>haute volée</i>? Above the heavenly hosts are outspread +the wings of cherubim and seraphim; and in the poultry-yards of earth +the geese exalt their wings high over the other lesser feathered +creatures. It belongs to the ordination of the world.</p> + +<p>The Chamberlain's lady, Gunilla W., belonged incontestibly to the +highest <i>haute volée</i> in the excellent city of X., where we have had the +honour of making the acquaintance of the family of the Franks. She was +the sister of Governor Stjernhök, and inhabited the third story of the +house of which the Franks inhabited the second, and Evelina Berndes the +first.</p> + +<p>This lady had spent her youth at court, and passed many a day of +wearisome constraint, and many a night in making those clothes which +were to conceal from the world how poor Miss Gunilla was; yet neither +night nor day did she complain either of constraint or of poverty, for +she possessed under a plain exterior a strong and quiet spirit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>An old aunt used to preach to her thus: "Eat, that thou mayst grow fat; +if thou art fat, thou wilt grow handsome; and if thou art handsome, thou +wilt get married."</p> + +<p>Miss Gunilla, who never ate much, and who did not eat one mouthful more +for this warning, grew neither fat nor handsome; yet on account of her +excellent disposition she was beloved by every one, and especially by a +young rich Chamberlain of the court, who, through his own good qualities +and excellent heart, won her affections, and thus Miss Gunilla became +Mistress. After this, in the circle of her friends she was accustomed to +be called Mrs. Gunilla; which freedom we also shall sometimes take with +her here.</p> + +<p>Shortly after her marriage, and in consequence of cold, her husband +became a sad invalid. For thirty years she lived separated from the +world, a faithful and lonely attendant of the sick man; and what she +bore and what she endured the world knew not, for she endured all in +silence. For several years her husband could not bear the light; she +learned, therefore, to work in darkness, and thus made a large +embroidered carpet. "Into this carpet," said she, as she once spoke +accidentally of herself, "have I worked many tears."</p> + +<p>One of the many hypochondriacal fancies of her husband was, that he was +about to fall into a yawning abyss, and only could believe himself safe +so long as he held the hand of his wife. Thus for one month after +another she sate by his couch.</p> + +<p>At length the grave opened for him; and thanking his wife for the +happiness he had enjoyed in the house of sickness on earth, he sank to +rest, in full belief of a land of restoration beyond. When he was gone, +it seemed to her as if she were as useless in the world as an old +almanack; but here also again her soul raised itself under its burden, +and she regulated her life with peace and decision. In course of years +she grew more cheerful, and the originality of her talents and +disposition which nature had given to her, and which, in her solitude, +had undisturbedly followed their own bent, brought a freshness with them +into social life, into which she entered at first rather from resolution +than from feeling at ease in it.</p> + +<p>"The Lord ordains all things for the best;" that had always been, and +still remained, the firm anchorage of her soul. But it was not this +alone which gave to her the peace and gentleness which announced +themselves in her voice, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> diffused a true grace over her aged and +not handsome countenance; they had yet another foundation: for even as +the sunken sun throws the loveliest light upon the earth which it has +left, so does the holy memory of a beloved but departed human being on +the remaining solitary friend. Mrs. Gunilla herself lived in such a +remembrance: she knew it not, but after the death of her husband the +dark pictures of his suffering vanished more and more, and his own form, +purified by patience and suffering, rose continually higher in its noble +glorification; it beamed into her soul, and her soul became brightened +thereby. Seldom mentioned she the name of her husband; but when she did +so, it was like a breath of summer air in voice and countenance.</p> + +<p>She collected good people about her, and loved to promote their +happiness; and whenever there was a young couple whose narrow +circumstances, or whose fears for the future, filled them with anxiety, +or a young but indigent man who was about to fall into debt and +difficulty, Mrs. Gunilla was ever at hand, although in most cases behind +others. She had nevertheless her faults; and these, as we proceed, we +shall become acquainted with.</p> + +<p>We now hastily sketch her portrait the size of life. Age between fifty +and sixty; figure tall, stiff, well-made, not too thin—beside Jeremias +Muntor she might be called stout—complexion, pale yellow; the nose and +chin coming together, the mouth fallen in; the eyes grey and small, +forehead smooth, and agreeably shaded by silver hair; the hands still +handsome, and between the thumb and delicate tip of the forefinger a +pinch of snuff, which was commonly held in certain perspective towards +the nose, whilst with an elbow resting on the arm of sofa or easy-chair +she gave little lectures, or read aloud, for it was one of her +weaknesses to suppose that she knew everything.</p> + +<p>During her long hermit-life she had been accustomed wholly to neglect +her toilet, and this neglect she found it difficult afterwards to +overcome; and her old silk gown, from which the wadding peeped out from +many a hole, especially at the elbows; her often-mended collar, and her +drooping cap, the ribbons of which were flecked with many a stain of +snuff, were always a trouble to Elise's love of order and purity. +Notwithstanding all this, there was a certain air about Mrs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> Gunilla +which carried off all; and with her character, rank, property, and +consideration, she was <i>haute volée</i>, spite of torn gown and +snuff-beflecked ribbons, and had great influence among the best society +of the city.</p> + +<p>She considered herself somewhat related to Elise, was very fond of her, +and used very often to impart to her opinions on education (N. B.—Mrs. +Gunilla never had children), on which account many people in the city +accused Elise of weakness towards the <i>haute volée</i>, and the +postmistress Bask and the general-shopkeeper Suur considered it quite as +much a crime as a failing.</p> + +<p>There was in Mrs. Gunilla's voice, manners, and bearing, a something +very imposing; her curtsey was usually very stately and low, and this +brings us again to her entrance into Elise's room. Elise, the moment she +entered, quickly rose and welcomed her, introducing Jacobi at the same +time.</p> + +<p>At the first glance Jacobi uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise, +approached her with an appearance of the greatest cordiality, seized her +hand, which he kissed reverentially, and felicitated himself on the +happiness of seeing her again.</p> + +<p>The little eyes of the Chamberlain's lady twinkled, and she exclaimed, +"Oh, heavens! my heart's dearest! Nay, that is very pleasant! He, he, +he, he!"</p> + +<p>"How!" exclaimed Elise, in astonishment, "Mr. Jacobi, do you +know——Aunt W., do you know Mr. Jacobi?"</p> + +<p>The Candidate appeared about to give an explanation of the acquaintance, +but this Mrs. Gunilla, with a faint crimson overspreading the pale +yellow cheek, and a twitch of the eyebrow, prevented, and with a quick +voice she said, "We once lived in the same house."</p> + +<p>She then desired that the conversation which her entrance had +interrupted, and which appeared to have been very important, might +proceed. "At least," added she, with a penetrating glance on Elise and +the Candidate, "if I should not disturb you."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!"</p> + +<p>The Candidate needed only the sixteenth of a hint to rush armed with +full fervour into the mysteries of his system. Mrs. Gunilla took up a +packet of old gold thread, which she set herself to unravel, whilst the +Candidate coughed and prepared himself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>MONADS AND NOMADS.</h3> + + +<p>"All beings," commenced the Candidate, "have, as their most intrinsic +foundation and substance, a simple unity, a soul, a—in one word, a +monad."</p> + +<p>"A—a what?" asked the Chamberlain's lady, fixing her eyes upon him.</p> + +<p>"A monad, or a simple unity," continued he. "The monads have a common +resemblance in substance one with another; but in respect of qualities, +of power, and size, they are substantially unlike. There are the monads +of people; there are human monads, animal monads, vegetable monads; in +short, the world is full of monads—they compose the world——"</p> + +<p>"Heart's dearest!" interrupted the old lady, in a tone of displeasure, +"I don't understand one word of all this! What stuff it is! What are +monads?—fill the world, do they?—I see no monads!"</p> + +<p>"But you see me, dear lady," said Jacobi, "and yourself. You are +yourself a monad."</p> + +<p>"I a monad!" exclaimed she, in disgust.</p> + +<p>"Yes, certainly," replied he, "your Honour, just the same as any other +living creature——"</p> + +<p>"But," interrupted she, "I must tell you, dear friend, that I am neither +a monad nor a creature, but a human being—a sinful human being it is +true—but one that God, in any case, created in his own image."</p> + +<p>"Yes, certainly, certainly," acceded the Candidate. "I acknowledge a +principal monad, from which all other monads emanate——"</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed she, "is our Lord God to be a monad also?"</p> + +<p>"He may be so designated," said the Candidate, "on account of oneness, +and also to preserve uniformity as to name. For the rest, I believe that +the monads, from the beginning, are gifted with a self-sustaining +strength, through which they are generated into the corporeal world; +that is to say, take a bodily shape, live, act, nay even strive—that is +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> say, would remove themselves from one body into another without the +immediate influence of the Principal Monad. The monads are in perpetual +motion—perpetual change, and always place and arrange themselves +according to their power and will. If, now, we regard the world from +this point of view, it presents itself to us in the clearest and most +excellent manner. In all spheres of life we see how the principal monad +assembles all the subject monads around itself as organs and members. +Thus are nations and states, arts and sciences, fashioned; thus every +man creates his own world, and governs it according to his ability; for +there is no such thing as free-will, as people commonly imagine, but the +monad in man directs what he shall become, and what in regard to——"</p> + +<p>"That I don't believe," interrupted Mrs. Gunilla; "since, if my soul, or +monad, as you would call it, had guided me according to its pleasure, it +would have led me to do many wicked things; and if our Lord God had not +chastised me, and in his mercy directed me to something that was +good—be so good as to let alone my cotton-balls—it would have gone mad +enough with my nomadic soul—that I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"But, your Honour," said Jacobi, "I don't deny at all the influence of a +principal monad; on the contrary, I acknowledge that; and it is +precisely this influence upon your monad which——"</p> + +<p>"And I assert," exclaimed she, warming, and again interrupting him, +"that we should do nothing that was right if you could establish your +nomadic government, instead of the government of our Lord God. What good +could I get from your nomads?"</p> + +<p>"Monads," said the Candidate, correcting her.</p> + +<p>"And supposing your monads," continued Mrs. Gunilla, "do keep in such +perpetual movement, and do arrange themselves so properly, what good +will that do me in moments of temptation and need? It is far wiser and +better that I say and believe that our Lord God will guide us according +to his wisdom and good, than if I should believe that a heap of your +nomads——"</p> + +<p>"Monads, monads!" exclaimed the Candidate.</p> + +<p>"Monads or nomads," answered angrily Mrs. Gunilla, "it is all one—be so +good as to let my cotton alone, I want it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> myself—your nomads may be as +magnificent and as mighty as they please, and they may govern +themselves, and may live and strive according to their own wisdom; yet I +cannot see how the world, for all that, can be in the least the more +regular, or even one little grain the more pleasant, to look at. And why +are things so bad here? Why, precisely for this very reason, because you +good people fancy yourselves such powerful monads, and think so much of +your own strength, without being willing to know that you are altogether +poor sinners, who ought to beseech our Lord God to govern their poor +nomadic souls, in order that they might become a little better. It is +precisely such nomadic notions as these that we have to thank for all +kind of rapscallion pranks, for all uproars and broken windows. If you +had only less of nomads, and more of sensible men in you, one should +live in better peace on the earth."</p> + +<p>The Candidate was quite confounded; he had never been used to argument +like this, and stared at Mrs. Gunilla with open mouth; whilst little +Pyrrhus, excited by the warmth of his mistress, leapt upon the table, +and barking shrilly seemed disposed to spring at the Candidate's nose. +All this appeared so comic, that Elise could no longer keep back the +merriment which she had felt during the former part of the dispute, and +Jacobi himself accompanied her hearty laugh. Mrs. Gunilla, however, +looked very bitter; and the Candidate, nothing daunted, began again.</p> + +<p>"But, in the name of all the world," said he, "your Honour will not +understand me: we speak only of a mode of observing the world—a mode by +which its phenomena can be clearly expounded. Monadology, rightly +understood, does not oppose the ideas of the Christian religion, as I +will demonstrate immediately. Objective revelation proves to us exactly +that the subject-objective and object-subjective, which——"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Mrs. Gunilla, throwing herself back, "talk what nonsense you +will for me, I know what I know. Nomads may be just what they please for +me: but I call a man, a man; I call a cat, a cat, and a flower, a +flower; and our Lord God remains to me our Lord God, and no nomad!"</p> + +<p>"Monad, monad!" cried the Candidate, in a sort of half-comic despair; +"and as for that word, philosophy has as good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> a right as any other +science to make use of certain words to express certain ideas."</p> + +<p>During the last several minutes suspicious movements had been heard at +the parlour door, the cause of which now became evident; the children +had stolen in behind the Candidate, and now cast beseeching glances +towards their mother that she should let all go on unobserved. Petrea +and Eva stole in first, carrying between them a heavy pincushion, +weighted with lead, five pounds in weight at least. The Candidate was +standing; and at the very moment when he was doing his best to defend +the rights of philosophy, the leaden cushion was dropped down into his +coat-pocket. A motion backwards was perceptible through his whole body, +and his coat was tightly pulled down behind. A powerful twitching showed +itself at the corners of his mouth, and a certain stammering might be +noticed in his speech, although he stood perfectly still, and appeared +to observe nothing; while the little rascals, who had expected a +terrible explosion from their well-laid train, stole off to a distance; +but oh, wonder! the Candidate stood stock-still, and seemed not at all +aware that anything was going on in his coat-laps.</p> + +<p>All this while, however, there was in him such a powerful inclination to +laugh that he hastened to relate an anecdote which should give him the +opportunity of doing so. And whether it was the nomads of Mrs. Gunilla +which diverted him from his system, or the visit of the little herd of +nomads to his pockets, true it is there was an end of his philosophy for +that evening. Beyond this, he appeared now to wish by cheerful discourse +to entertain Mrs. Gunilla, in which he perfectly succeeded; and so mild +and indulgent was he towards her, that Elise began to question with +herself whether Mrs. Gunilla's mode of argument were not the best and +the most successful.</p> + +<p>The children stood not far off, and observed all the actions of Jacobi. +"If he goes out, he will feel the cushion," said they. "He will fetch a +book! Now he comes—ah!"</p> + +<p>The Candidate really went out for a book from his room, but he stepped +with the most stoical repose, though with a miserably backward-pulled +coat, through the astonished troop of children, and left the room.</p> + +<p>When he returned, the coat sate quite correctly; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> cushion evidently +was not there. The astonishment of the children rose to the highest +pitch, and there was no end to their conjectures. The Queen-bee imagined +that there must be a hole in his pocket, through which the pincushion +had fallen on the stairs. Petrea, in whose suggestion the joke +originated, was quite dismayed about the fate of the cushion.</p> + +<p>Never once did it enter into the innocent heads of the children that the +Candidate had done all this in order to turn their intended surprise on +him into a surprise on themselves.</p> + +<p>"How came you to be acquainted with Mrs. Gunilla W.?" asked Elise from +Jacobi when the lady was gone.</p> + +<p>"When I was studying in——," replied he, "I routed a small room on the +ground-floor of the same house where she lived. As I at that time was in +very narrow circumstances, I had my dinner from an eating-house near, +where all was supplied at the lowest price; but it often was so +intolerably bad, that I was obliged to send it back untasted, and +endeavour, by a walk in the fresh air instead, to appease my hunger. I +had lived thus for some time, and was, as may be imagined, become meagre +enough, when Mrs. W., with whom I was not personally acquainted, +proposed to me, through her housekeeper, that she should provide me with +a dinner at the same low charge as the eating-house. I was astonished, +but extremely delighted, and thankfully accepted the proposal. I soon +discovered, however, that she wished in this way to become my benefactor +without its appearing so, and without my thanks being necessary. From +this day I lived in actual plenty. But her goodness did not end here. +During a severely cold winter, in which I went out in a very thin +great-coat, I received quite unexpectedly one trimmed with fur. From +whom it came I could not for some time discover, till chance gave me a +clue which led me to the Chamberlain's lady. But could I thank her for +it? No; she became regularly angry and scolded me if I spoke of the +gratitude which I felt and always shall feel for her kindness."</p> + +<p>Tears filled the eyes of Jacobi as he told this, and both Elise's eyes +and those of her husband beamed with delight at this relation.</p> + +<p>"It is," said Judge Prank, "a proof how much goodness there is in the +world, although at a superficial glance one is so disposed to doubt it. +That which is bad usually noises<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> itself abroad, is echoed back from +side to side, and newspapers and social circles find so much to say +about it; whilst that which is good likes best to go—like +sunshine—quietly through the world."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>DISAGREEABLE NEWS.</h3> + + +<p>The "skirmish"—as Mrs. Gunilla called the little strift she had with +the Candidate, about monads and nomads—appeared to have displeased +neither of them, but rather, on the contrary, to have excited in them a +desire for others of the same kind; and as Elise, who had no great +inclination to spend her evenings alone with him, used frequently to +invite Mrs. Gunilla to drink tea with them, it was not long before she +and the Candidate were again in full disputation together. If the +Assessor happened also to come in, there was a terrible noise. The +Candidate screamed, and leapt about almost beside himself, but was +fairly out-talked, because his voice was weak, and because Mrs. Gunilla +and the Assessor, who between them two selves never were agreed, leagued +themselves nevertheless against him. Jacobi, notwithstanding this, had +often the right side of an argument, and bore his overthrow with the +best temper in the world. Perhaps he might have lost his courage, +however, as well as his voice in this unequal contest—he himself +declared he should—had he not suddenly abandoned the field. He vanished +almost entirely from the little evening circle.</p> + +<p>"What has become of our Candidate?" sometimes asked Mrs. Gunilla. "I +shall be much surprised if his monad or nomad has not carried him off to +the land of the nomads! He, he, he, he!"</p> + +<p>Judge Frank and wife also began to question with some anxiety, "What has +become of our Candidate?"</p> + +<p>Our Candidate belonged to that class of persons who easily win many +friends. His cheerful easy temper, his talents, and good social +qualifications, made him much beloved and sought after, especially in +smaller circles. It was here, therefore, as it had been in the +University—he was drawn into a jovial little company of good fellows, +where, in a variety of ways,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> they could amuse themselves, and where the +cheerful spirit and talents of Jacobi were highly prized. He allowed +himself, partly out of good-nature and partly out of his own folly, to +be led on by them, and to take part in a variety of pranks, which, +through the influence of some members of the Club, went on from little +to more, and our Candidate found himself, before he was aware of what he +was about, drawn into a regular carouse—all which operated most +disadvantageously upon his affairs—kept him out late at night, and only +permitted him to rise late in the morning, and then with headache and +disinclination to business.</p> + +<p>There was, of course, no lack of good friends to bring these tidings to +Judge Frank. He was angry, and Elise was seriously distressed, for she +had begun to like Jacobi, and had hoped for so much from his connexion +with the children.</p> + +<p>"It won't do, it won't do," grumbled Judge Frank. "There shall very soon +be an end to this! A pretty story indeed! I shall tell him—I, if +he——But, my sweet friend, you yourself are to blame in this affair; +you should concern yourself a little about him; you are so <i>fière</i> and +distant to him; and what amusement do you provide for him here of an +evening? The little quarrels between Mrs. Gunilla and Munter cannot be +particularly amusing to him, especially when he is always out-talked by +them. It would be a thousand times better for the young man if you would +allow him to read aloud to you; yes, if it were romances, or whatever in +the world you would. You should stimulate his talent for music; it would +give yourself pleasure, and between whiles you could talk a little sound +reason with him, instead of disputing about things which neither he nor +you understand! If you had only begun in that way at first, he would +perhaps never have been such a swashbuckler as he is, and now to get +order and good manners back into the house one must have scenes. I'll +not allow such goings on!—he shall hear about it to-morrow morning! +I'll give that pretty youth something which he shall remember!"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Elise, "don't be too severe, Ernst! Jacobi is good; and if +you talk seriously yet kindly to him, I am persuaded it will have the +best effect."</p> + +<p>Judge Frank made no reply, but walked up and down the room in very ill +humour.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Would you like to hear some news of your neighbour the +pasquinade-writer?" asked Assessor Munter, who just then entered with a +dark countenance. "He is sick, sick to death of a galloping +consumption—he will not write any more pasquinades."</p> + +<p>"Who looks after his little girl?" asked Elise; "I see her sometimes +running about the street like a wild cat."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there's a pretty prospect for her," snorted out the Assessor. +"There is a person in the house—a person they call her, she ought to be +called reptile, or rather devil—who is said to look after the +housekeeping, but robs him, and ruins that child. Would you believe it? +she and two tall churls of sons that she has about her amuse themselves +with terrifying that little girl by dressing themselves up whimsically, +and acting the goblins in the twilight. It is more than a miracle if +they do not drive her mad!"</p> + +<p>"Poor wretch!" exclaimed Judge Frank, in rage and abhorrence. "Good +heavens! how much destruction of character there is, how much crime, +which the arm of the law cannot reach! And that child's father, can he +bear that it is so treated?"</p> + +<p>"He is wholly governed by that creature—that woman," said Munter; +"besides, sick in bed as he now is, he knows but little of what goes on +in the house."</p> + +<p>"And if he die," asked the Judge, "is there nobody who will look after +that girl? Has he a relation or friend?"</p> + +<p>"Nobody in this world," returned Jeremias. "I have inquired +particularly. The bird in the wood is not more defenceless than that +child. Poverty there will be in the house; and what little there is, +that monster of a housekeeper will soon run through."</p> + +<p>"What can one do?" asked the Judge, in real anxiety. "Do you know +anything, Munter, that one could do?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing as yet," returned he; "at present things must take their own +course. I counsel nobody to interfere; for he is possessed of the woman, +and she is possessed of the devil: and as for the girl, he will have her +constantly with him, and lets her give way to all her petulances. But +this cannot long endure. In a month, perhaps, he will be dead; and he +who sees the falling sparrow will, without doubt, take care of the poor +child. At present nobody can save her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> from the hands of these harpies. +Now, good night! But I could not help coming to tell you this little +history, because it lay burning at my heart; and people have the very +polite custom of throwing their burdens upon others, in order to lighten +themselves. Adieu!"</p> + +<p>The Judge was very much disturbed this evening. "What he had just heard +weighed heavily on his heart.</p> + +<p>"It is singular," said he, "how often Mr. N.'s course and mine have +clashed. He has really talent, but bad moral character; on that account +I have opposed his endeavours to get into office, and thus operated +against his success. It was natural that he should become my enemy, and +I never troubled myself about it! but now I wish—the unhappy man, how +miserably he lies there! and that poor, poor child! Ström," said he, +calling to his servant, "is the Candidate at home? No? and it is nearly +eleven! The thousand! To-morrow he shall find out where he is at home!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>HERO-DEEDS.</h3> + + +<p>On the following morning, as Judge Frank drew aside his window-curtains, +the sun—the sun, so powerful in its beams and its silence—shone into +his chamber, lighting it with its glorious splendour. Those sunbeams +went directly to his heart.</p> + +<p>"Dear Elise," said he, when his wife was awake, "I have a great deal to +do to-day. Perhaps it would be better if you would speak with Jacobi, +and give him his lecture. Ladies, in such circumstances, have more +influence on men than we men can have. Besides this, what can be bent +must not be broken. I—in short, I fancy you will manage the affair +best. It is so beautiful to-day! Could you not take the children a long +walk? It would do both them and you good, and upon the way you would +have an excellent opportunity for an explanation. Should this be of no +avail, then I will—but I would gladly avoid being angry with him; one +has things enough to vex one without that."</p> + +<p>The Judge was not the only person in the house whom the sun inspired +with thoughts of rambling. The Candidate had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> promised the children on +some "very fine day" to take them to a wood, where there were plenty of +hazel-bushes, and where they would gather a rich harvest of nuts. +Children have an incomparable memory for all such promises; and the +little Franks thought that no day could by any possibility be more +beautiful or more suitable for a great expedition than the present, and +therefore, as soon as they discovered that the Candidate and their +parents thought the same, their joy rose actually as high as the roof. +Brigitta had not hands enough for Petrea and Eva, so did they skip about +when she wished to dress them.</p> + +<p>Immediately after noon the procession set forth; Henrik and the +Queen-bee marched first, next came Eva and Leonore, between whom was +Petrea, each one carrying a little basket containing a piece of cake, as +provision for their journey. Behind the column of children came the +mother, and near her the Candidate, drawing a little wicker-carriage, in +which sate little Gabriele, looking gravely about with her large brown +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Little Africa"—so the children called their little dark-eyed neighbour +from the Cape—stood at her door as the little Franks tripped forth from +theirs. Petrea, with an irresistible desire to make her acquaintance, +rushed across the street and offered her the piece of cake which she had +in her basket. The little wild creature snatched the piece of cake with +violence, showed her row of white teeth, and vanished in the doorway, +whilst Elise seized Petrea's hand, in order to keep her restless spirit +in check.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had passed the gate of the city the children were +permitted full freedom, and they were not much more composed in their +demeanour than a set of young calves turned out for the first time into +a green meadow. We must even acknowledge that the little Queen-bee fell +into a few excesses, such as jumping over ditches where they were the +broadest, and clapping her hands and shouting to frighten away +phlegmatical crows. It was not long, however, before she gave up these +outbreaks, and turned her mind to a much sedater course; and then, +whenever a stiff-necked millifolium or gaudy hip came in her way, she +carefully broke it off, and preserved it in her apron, for the use of +the family. Henrik ran back every now and then to the wicker-carriage, +in order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> to kiss "the baby," and give her the very least flowers he +could find. Petrea often stumbled and fell, but always sprang up +quickly, and then unaffrightedly continued her leaping and springing.</p> + +<p>The Candidate also, full of joyous animal spirits, began to sing aloud, +in a fine tenor voice, the song, "Seats of the Vikings! Groves old and +hoary," in which the children soon joined their descant, whilst they +marched in time to the song. Elise, who gave herself up to the full +enjoyment of the beautiful day and the universal delight, had neither +inclination nor wish to interrupt this by any disagreeable explanation; +she thought to herself that she would defer it a while.</p> + +<p>"Nay, only look, only look, sisters! Henrik, come here!" exclaimed +little Petrea, beckoning with the hand, leaping, and almost out of +herself for delight, whilst she looked through the trellis-work of a +tall handsome gate into pleasure-grounds which were laid out in the +old-fashioned manner, and ornamented with clipped trees. Many little +heads soon looked with great curiosity through the trellis-gate; they +seemed to see Paradise within it; and then up came the Candidate, not +like a threatening cherub with a flaming sword, but a good angel, who +opened the door of this paradise to the enraptured children. This +surprise had been prepared for them by Elise and the Candidate, who had +obtained permission from the Dowager Countess S * * * to take the +children on their way to the nut-wood through her park.</p> + +<p>Here the children found endless subject for admiration and inquiry, nor +could either the Candidate or their mother answer all their questions. +Before long the hearts of the children were moved at sight of a little +leaden Cupid, who stood weeping near a dry fountain.</p> + +<p>"Why does he cry?" asked they.</p> + +<p>"Probably because the water is all gone," answered the Candidate, +smiling.</p> + +<p>Presently again they were enchanted by sight of a Chinese temple, which +to their fancy contained all the magnificence in the world—instead of, +as was the case, a quantity of fowls; then they were filled with +astonishment at trees in the form of pyramids—they never had seen +anything so wonderful, so beautiful! But the most wonderful thing was +yet to come.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>They reached a gloomy part of the grounds. Melancholy sounds, +incoherent, yet pleasurable, became audible, accompanied by an +uninterrupted splashing of water. The children walked slower and closer +together, in a state of excited expectation, and a kind of shuddering +curiosity. The melancholy tones and the falling water became more and +more distinct, as they found themselves inclosed in a thick fir-wood; +presently, however, an opening to the right showed itself, and then +thickly wreathed with a wild growth of plants and heavily-leaved trees, +the vault of a grotto revealed itself, within which, and in the +distance, stood a large white figure, with aged head, long beard, +crooked back, and goat's legs. To his lips he held a pandean pipe, from +which the extraordinary sounds appeared to proceed. Little waterfalls +leapt here and there from the rocks around, and then collected +themselves at the foot of the statue in a large basin, in which the +figure seemed, with a dreamy countenance, to contemplate himself and the +leaf-garlanded entrance of the grotto.</p> + +<p>The Candidate informed them that this was the Wood-god Pan; but what +further information he gave respecting the faith of the ancients in this +deity of nature was listened to by nobody but the Queen-bee, who, +however, shook her wise head over the want of wisdom in the Grecians who +could believe on such a god; and by Elise, who loved to discover in the +belief of antiquity a God of nature, which makes itself felt also in our +days, but in a truer and, as we think, a diviner sense.</p> + +<p>The exhibition in the grotto had produced its effect upon all the +spectators, great as well as small; but the brain of the little Petrea +seemed quite intoxicated, not to say crazed by it. The Wood-god, with +his music, his half-animal, half-human figure, although only of gypsum, +and, as the Candidate declared, the offspring only of a dim fancy, as +well as that it was without life or actuality, still remained to her +imagination a living existence, as real as wonderful. She could see +nothing, think of nothing, but the Wood-god; and the foreboding of a new +and wonderful world filled her soul with a delicious terror.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the Candidate conducted Elise, by a path which wound +among alders and birches, up the mountain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> in which the grotto was. When +they reached the top, all was sunny and cheerful; and behold upon a +mound was set out, so pleasantly in the sunshine, a little collation of +berries and fruit. It was the Candidate, who had great pleasure in being +the kind-hearted host on such occasions, who had provided this little +surprise for Elise and the children; and never, indeed, was a surprise +more welcome or more joyous. It is the most thankful thing in the world +to give pleasure to children; and, moreover, the goodwill of the mother +is always obtained thereby.</p> + +<p>The Candidate spread his cloak upon a green slope under a hedge of +roses, on which Elise's favourite flowers were still blooming, as a seat +for herself and "the baby," which now, lifted out of the +wicker-carriage, had its green silk bonnet taken off, and its golden +locks bathed in sunshine. He chose out the best fruit for her and her +mother; and then seating himself on the grass near her, played with her, +and drove away the flies from her and her mother with a spray of roses, +whilst the other children ran about at a distance, enjoying with all the +zest of childhood, gooseberries and freedom. The trees soughed in the +soft south wind, whilst the melodious sighs of the Wood-god, and the +splash of the water, mingled gently with the whispering leaves. It was a +delicious time, and its soft influence stole into the soul of Elise. The +sun, the scent of the roses, the song of the wood and of the water, and +the Syrinx, the beautiful scene before her, the happy children—all +these called up suddenly into her breast that summer of the heart, in +which all sentiments, all thoughts, are like beautiful flowers, and +which makes life seem so light and so lovely: she conceived a friendship +for that young man who had occasioned it, and whose good heart beamed +forth from his eyes, which at one moment were fixed on the blue heavens, +and then on her own soft blue eyes, with an expression of devotion and a +certain pure earnestness, which she had never observed in him before. +Elise felt that she could now undertake the explanation with him; she +felt that she could talk with him openly and warmly as a sister, and +that the truth would flow from her lips, without wounding him or giving +him pain.</p> + +<p>Scarcely, however, had she with cordial, though with tremulous voice, +began to speak, when an uneasy movement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> among the children interrupted +her. Some looked in the hedges, some ran about under the trees, and the +name "Petrea! Petrea!" was repeated in every variety of tone. The mother +looked uneasily around, and the Candidate sprang up to see what was +amiss. It was nothing uncommon for Petrea to separate herself from the +rest of the children, and occupied by her own little thoughts, to lag +behind; on that account, therefore, nobody had at first troubled +themselves because she was not with them at the collation, for they +said, "she will soon come." Afterwards, Elise and the Candidate were too +much occupied by their own thoughts; and the children said as usual, +"she'll soon come." But when she did not come, they began to seek for +her, and Elise and the Candidate came to their assistance. They ran back +to the grotto; they sought and called, but all in vain—Petrea was +nowhere to be found! and uneasiness very soon changed itself into actual +anxiety.</p> + +<p>We will now ourselves go in quest of Petrea. So enchanted was she with +the Wood-god and his music, that no sooner had she, with the others, +begun to climb the hill, than she turned back to the grotto, and there, +transported by its wonderful world, she was suddenly possessed by a +desire to acquaint her father and Brigitta, with her having seen the +Wood-god. Resolve and action are much more one with children than with +women. To be the first who should carry to the father the important +tidings, "Father, I have seen the Wood-god!" was a temptation too strong +for Petrea's ambition and craving for sympathy.</p> + +<p>She had heard them say that they should rest on the hill; and as her +organ of locality was as feeble as her imagination was powerful, she +never doubted for a moment of being able to run home and back before +they were aware even of her absence. As for the rest, to confess the +truth, she thought nothing at all about it; but with a loudly-beating +heart, and the words, "Oh, father! we have seen the Wood-god!" on her +lips, she made a spring, and rushed forward on the wings of fancy as +fast as her little legs would carry her in a direction exactly the +opposite of that which led homeward, and which at the same time removed +her from the grotto; never thinking, the poor Petrea! that in this world +there are many ways. Before long, however, she found it necessary to +stand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> still, in order to rest herself: it was all so beautiful around +her; delicious odours breathed from the wild flowers; the birds sang; +the heaven was cloudless; and here, where no Cupids nor Chinese temples +dazzled her thoughts, the very remembrance of the god Pan vanished from +her soul, and instead of it a thought, or more properly speaking a +sentiment, took possession of it—a holy and beautiful sentiment, which +the mother had early instilled into the hearts of her children. Petrea +saw herself solitary, yet at the same time she felt that she was not so; +in the deliciousness of the air, in the beauty of nature, she perceived +the presence of a good spirit, which she had been taught to call <span class="smcap">Father</span>; +and filled, as her heart seemed to be, by a sense of his goodness and +affection, which appeared never to have been so sensibly impressed upon +her mind as then, her heart felt as if it must dissolve itself in love +and happiness. She sank down on the grass, and seemed to be on the way +to heaven. But, ah! the way thither is not so easy; and these heavenly +foretastes remain only a short time in the souls of children, as well as +of grown people.</p> + +<p>That which brought Petrea from her heavenly journey back to the earth +again was a squirrel, which sprang directly across her path, and sent +her forth immediately in chase of it. To catch such game, and to carry +it home, would be indeed in the highest degree a memorable action. "What +would Henrik and my sisters say? What would all the city say? Perhaps it +will get into the newspapers!—perhaps the king may get to hear of +it!"—thought Petrea, whilst, out of herself with ambition and +earnestness, she pursued the little squirrel over stock and stone.</p> + +<p>Her frock was torn; her hands and feet were bruised; but that was a mere +nothing! She felt it not, more particularly—oh, height of felicity!—as +she fell down, and at that same moment grasped in her trembling hands +her little prey. Petrea cried for delight, and shouted to her mother and +sisters, who—could not hear her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, thou little most loveable creature!" said Petrea, endeavouring at +the same time to kiss her little captive, in return for which that most +loveable little creature bit her by the chin. Surprised, and sorely +smarting from the pain, Petrea began to cry; yet for all that would not +let go the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> squirrel, although the blood flowed from the wound. Petrea +ran forward, wondering that she never came to the great trellis-gate, +through which she knew she must pass in order to reach home. Whilst she +thus wondered with herself, and ran, and struggled with her little +untractable prisoner, she saw a gentleman coming towards her. It never +once occurred to her that this could be any other than her father, and +almost transported for joy, she exclaimed, "Father, I have seen the +Wood-god!"</p> + +<p>Greatly astonished to hear himself thus parentally addressed, the young +man looked up from the book in which he read, gazed at Petrea, smiled, +and replied, "Nay, my child, he is gone in that direction," pointing +with his finger towards that quarter whence Petrea had come. Imagining +at once that he meant the Candidate, Petrea replied with anxiety and a +quick foreboding that she was on a wrong track, "Oh, no, it is not he!" +and then turned suddenly back again.</p> + +<p>She abandoned now all thoughts of running home, and was only desirous of +finding those whom she had so thoughtlessly left. She ran back, +therefore, with all her speed, the way she had come, till she reached +where two roads branched off, and there unfortunately taking the wrong +one, came into a wild region, where she soon perceived how entirely +confused she had become. She no longer knew which way to go, and in +despair threw herself into the grass and wept. All her ambition was +gone; she let the squirrel run away, and gave herself up to her own +comfortless feelings. She thought now of the uneasiness and anxiety of +her mother, and wept all the more at the thought of her own folly. But, +however, consoling thoughts, before long, chased away these desponding +ones. She dried her eyes with her dress—she had lost her +pocket-handkerchief—and looking around her she saw a quantity of fine +raspberries growing in a cleft of the hill. "Raspberries!" exclaimed +she, "my mother's favourite berries!" And now we may see our little +Petrea scrambling up the cliff with all her might, in order to gather +the lovely fruit. She thought that with a bouquet of raspberries in her +hand, she could throw herself at the feet of her mother, and pray for +forgiveness. So thought she, and tore up the raspberry bushes, and new +courage and new hope revived the while in her breast. If, thought she, +she clambered only a little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> way higher, could she not discover where +her home was? should she not see her mother, father, sisters, nay, the +whole world? Certainly. What a bright idea it was!</p> + +<p>With one hand full of raspberries, the other assisted her to climb; but, +ah! first one foot slipped on the dry smooth grass, and then the other. +The left hand could no longer sustain the whole weight of her body; the +right hand would not let go the raspberries. A moment of anguish, a +violent effort, and then Petrea rolled down the cliff into a thicket of +bushes and nettles, where for the present we will leave her, in order to +look after the others.</p> + +<p>The anxiety of the mother is not to be described, as after a whole hour +spent with Jacobi and Henrik (the little Queen-bee watched over the +other children near Pan's grotto), in seeking and calling for Petrea, +all was in vain. There were many ponds in the park, and they could not +conceal from themselves that it was possible she might have fallen into +one. It was a most horrible idea for Elise, and sent an anguish like +death into her heart, as she thought of returning in the evening to her +husband with one child missing, and that one of his favourites—missing +through her own negligence. Death itself seemed to her preferable.</p> + +<p>Breathless, and pale as a corpse, she wandered about, and more than once +was near sinking to the earth. In vain the Candidate besought her to +spare herself; to keep herself quiet, and leave all to him. In vain! She +heard him not; and restless and unhappy, she sought the child herself. +Jacobi was afraid to leave her long alone, and kept wandering near her; +whilst Henrik ran into other parts of the park, seeking about and +calling.</p> + +<p>It was full two hours of fruitless search after the lost one, when the +Candidate had again joined the despairing mother, that at the very same +moment their glances both fell suddenly on the same object—it was +Petrea! She lay in a thicket at the foot of the hill; drops of blood +were visible on her face and dress, and a horrible necklace—a yellow +spangled snake!—glittered in the sun around her neck. She lay +motionless, and appeared as if sleeping. The mother uttered a faint cry +of terror, and would have thrown herself upon her, had not the Candidate +withheld her.</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake," said he, fervently, and pale as death,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> "be still; +nothing perhaps is amiss; but it is the poisonous snake of our +woods—the aspic! An incautious movement, and both you and Petrea may be +lost! No, you must not; your life is too precious—but I—promise me to +be still, and——"</p> + +<p>Elise was scarcely conscious of what she did. "Away! away!" she said, +and strove to put Jacobi aside with her weak hands; she herself would +have gone, but her knees supported her no longer—she staggered, and +fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>In that same moment the Candidate was beside Petrea, and seizing the +snake by the neck with as much boldness as dexterity, he slung it to a +distance. By this motion awakened, Petrea shuddered, opened her +sleep-drunken eyes, and looking around her, exclaimed, "Ah, ah, father! +I have seen the Wood-god!"</p> + +<p>"God bless thee and thy Wood-god!" cried the delighted Candidate, +rejoicing over this indisputable token of life and health; and then +clasping her to his breast he bore her to her mother. But the mother +neither heard nor saw anything; she lay in a deep swoon, and was first +recalled to consciousness by Henrik's kisses and tears. For a while she +looked about her with anguishful and bewildered looks.</p> + +<p>"Is she dead?" whispered she.</p> + +<p>"No, no! she lives—she is unhurt!" returned Jacobi, who had thrown +himself on his knees beside her; whilst the little Petrea, kneeling +likewise, and holding forth the bunch of raspberries, sobbed aloud, and +besought her, "Forgive! oh, mamma, forgive me!"</p> + +<p>Light returned to the eyes of the mother; she started up, and, with a +cry of inexpressible joy, clasped the recovered child to her breast.</p> + +<p>"God be praised and blessed!" cried she, raising her folded hands to +heaven; and then silently giving her hand to Jacobi, she looked at him +with tears, which expressed what was beyond the power of words.</p> + +<p>"Thank God! thank God!" said Jacobi, with deep emotion, pressing Elise's +hand to his lips and to his breast. He felt himself happy beyond words.</p> + +<p>They now hastened to remove from the dangerous neighbourhood of the +snake, after Jacobi and Henrik had given up, at the desire of the +mother, the probably ineffectual design of seeking out the poisonous but +blameless animal, and killing it on the spot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>All this time the little Queen-bee had sate alone by the grotto, +endeavouring to comfort her sisters, whilst she herself wept bitter +tears over Petrea, whom she never expected to see again: on that very +account her joy was all the greater and louder, when she saw her carried +in the arms of the Candidate; and no sooner did she learn from her +mother how he had rescued her from the fangs of death, than she threw +her arms round his neck in inexpressible gratitude. All this Petrea +heard and saw with the astonishment and curiosity of one who meets with +something unheard of; and then, thus seeing the distress which her +inconsiderateness had occasioned, she herself melted into such +despairing tears, that her mother was obliged to console and cheer her. +Of her fall into the thicket Petrea knew no more than that her head had +felt confused, that she could not get up again, had slept, and then +dreamed of the Wood-god.</p> + +<p>In the mean time it had become so late, that the harvest of nuts was not +to be thought of, and as much on the mother's as on Petrea's account, it +was necessary to hasten home. The other children probably would have +grieved more over the unfortunate pleasure journey, had they not felt an +extraordinary desire to relate at home the remarkable occurrences of the +day. New difficulties arose on the return. Petrea—who, besides that she +was weary, was bruised and sadly dirtied by her fall—could not walk, +and therefore it was determined that she must ride in the little +carriage, while the Candidate carried Gabriele. When, however, the +little one saw that Jacobi was without gloves, she would neither allow +him to carry her nor to take hold of her, and set up the most pitiable +cry. Spite of her crying, however, he took up the "little mother," as he +called her; and what neither his nor the mother's persuasion could +effect, was brought about by Henrik's leaps and springs, and +caresses—she was diverted: the tears remained standing half-way down +her cheeks, in the dimples which were suddenly made by her hearty +laughter.</p> + +<p>Petrea, after the paroxysm of sorrow and penitence was in measure +abated, began to think herself and her adventures particularly +interesting, and sate in her little carriage a very important personage, +surrounded by her sisters, who could not sufficiently listen to her +relation, and who emulated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> each other in drawing the little equipage. +As for Jacobi, he drew the carriage; he carried the baby, which soon +fell asleep on his shoulder; he sang songs; told stories, in order to +entertain Elise, who remained a long time pale and depressed, from the +danger which had threatened her, and the anxiety which she had endured.</p> + +<p>At length they reached home. They poured forth their adventures: +Brigitta shed tears over her "Little angel-sweet Mamselle Petrea;" and +the father, from the impulse of his feelings, pressed Jacobi to his +heart.</p> + +<p>After Petrea's scratches and bruises had been washed with Riga-balsam, +the mother permitted the children to have a supper of pancakes and +raspberry-cream, in order to console them for the unfortunate +expedition. Hereupon the children danced for joy about the table; and +Petrea, who, on account of her misfortunes, received a Benjamin's +portion, regarded it as certain that they always eat such cream in +heaven, wherefore she proposed that it should be called "Angels' food." +This proposition met with the highest approbation, and from this day +"Angels' food" became a well-known dish in the Frank family.</p> + +<p>Yet Petrea wept some bitter tears on the breast of her father over the +gentle admonition she received from him; but spite of tears, she soon +slept sweetly in his arms.</p> + +<p>And the lecture of the Candidate?</p> + +<p>"Stay at home with us this evening," said Elise to him, with a kind, +beseeching glance.</p> + +<p>The Candidate stayed with them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>BREAKERS.</h3> + + +<p>"Stay at home with us this evening," prayed Elise the next day, and for +several other days, and the Candidate stayed.</p> + +<p>Never before had he seen Elise so kind, so cordial towards him; never +before had she shown him so much attention as now; and this attention, +this cordiality from a lady who, in her intercourse with men, was +generally only polite and indifferent, flattered his vanity, at the same +time that it penetrated his good heart. All occasion for explanation +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> lectures vanished, for the Candidate had entirely renounced his +dissipated friends and companions, and now nobody could talk more +edifying than he on the subject. He agreed so cordially with Elise, that +the fleeting champagne of the orgies foamed only for the moment, leaving +nothing but emptiness and flatness behind. "For once, nay, for a few +times," he was of opinion, "such excesses might be harmless, perhaps +even refreshing; but often repeated—ah! that would be prejudicial, and +demoralising in the highest degree!"</p> + +<p>All this seemed to the little Queen-bee, who had heard it, remarkably +well expressed.</p> + +<p>Nobody seemed now better pleased at home than Jacobi; he felt himself so +well in the regular course of life which he led, and there seemed so +much that was genuine and fresh in the occupations and pleasures of +those quiet days at home.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, the fresh life of the Candidate began to develop its +weak side. Gratitude had, in the first instance, warmed Elise's heart +towards him, and then his own real amiability made it so easy to gratify +the wish of her husband respecting her behaviour towards him, and thus +it soon happened that her intercourse with Jacobi enlivened her own +existence. In many respects their tastes were similar, especially in +their love of music and polite literature, whilst his youthful +enthusiasm gave to their common occupations a higher life and interest. +Discussion lost all character of dispute, and became merely an agreeable +interchange of thought: it was no longer now of any importance to him to +be always right; there was a peculiar kind of pleasure in giving up his +opinion to hers. He knew more out of books than she did, but she knew +more of life—the mother of books, than he; and on this account she, on +her part, proceeded as the older and guiding friend. He felt himself +happy from the influence and gentle guidance of an agreeable woman, and +became more and more devoted to her from his soul.</p> + +<p>Still there was a quietness and a charm about this connexion that made +him never forbode danger in it. He loved to be treated as a child by +Elise, and he gave, therefore, free play to his naturally +unsophisticated feelings. Her gentle reproofs were a sort of luxury to +him; he had a delight in sinning, in order to deserve them; and then, +whilst listening to them, how gladly would he have pressed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> her dress, +or her white and beautiful hand to his lips; there was even a sort of +painfully agreeable sensation to him in his not daring to do so. +Whenever she approached, and he heard her light footsteps, or when he +perceived the soft rose-odour which always accompanied her, it seemed to +become infinitely warm around his heart. But that which, above all the +rest, was the strongest bond between Jacobi and Elise, was her +sufferings. Whenever nervous pain, or domestic unpleasantness, depressed +her spirits; when she bore the not unfrequent ill-humour of her husband +with patience, the heart of Jacobi melted in tenderness towards her, and +he did all that lay in his power to amuse and divert her thoughts, and +even to anticipate her slightest wishes. She could not be insensible to +all this—perhaps also it flattered her vanity to observe the power she +had over this young man—perhaps even she might willingly deceive +herself as to the nature of his sentiments, because she would not +disturb the connexion which lent a sweet charm to her life.</p> + +<p>"He loves the children and their mother," said she; "he is their friend +and mine! May he only continue such!"</p> + +<p>And certain it is that the children had never been better conducted, +never had learned better, never been happier, than they were now, whilst +Jacobi himself developed a more and more happy ability to teach and +guide.</p> + +<p>Adverse fate barricades the shore which the vessel is on the point of +approaching, by dangerous breakers, and interrupts the bond between the +dearest friends, which is just about to be cemented eternally. It was +this fate which, at the very time when Jacobi was exhibiting his +character in the fairest point of view, occasioned the Judge to exhibit +the darker side of his.</p> + +<p>Judge Frank belonged to that class of persons who are always in the best +humour the more they have to do, and the more active is the life they +lead. And just now there had occurred a pause in an undertaking for the +country's good, which lay much at the Judge's heart; and delay, +occasioned by a number of little circumstances which he willingly would, +but could not, dissipate, put him into an ill humour. At home he was +often exacting and quarrelsome, particularly towards his wife; thus +placing himself, beside the kind and cheerful Jacobi, in a very +disadvantageous light. He felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> this, and was displeased with himself, +and displeased with his wife too, because she seemed to pay but little +regard to his grumbling; occupying herself instead by her +singing-practice with Jacobi. This very singing-practice, too, of which +he himself had been the occasion, began to appear to him too much of a +thing. He seemed to think scolding more agreeable for the ear; in fact, +he was in that edifying state of mind which excites and angers itself +about that which a few good words alone would easily put an end to.</p> + +<p>The reading, likewise, which at first he had so zealously recommended, +became now to him another cause of vexation. Precisely at this very time +he wished to have more of the society of his wife of an evening, and +wished her to take more interest in his undertakings and his annoyances; +but whenever he came into the parlour he found them reading, or occupied +by music; and if these ceased at his entrance, there was still an +evident damp on the spirits of all—the entertainment could not proceed; +and if, on the contrary, he said, "Go on with your music (or reading), +go on," and they did so, he was still dissatisfied; and if he did not +very soon return to his own room, he walked up and down like a +snowstorm.</p> + +<p>It was precisely this fate, of which we have just now spoken, which +managed it so, that one evening as Judge Frank, the prey of ill humour, +was walking up and down the room, a letter was put into his hand, at +sight of which he burst into an exclamation of joyful surprise. "Nay, +that is indeed delightful," said he, in a very cheerful voice, as soon +as he had read the letter. "Elise! Mrs. S——, Emelie, is here. She is +only just this evening arrived; I must hasten to her directly. Sweet +Elise, will you not come with me? It would be polite."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is so late!" said Elise, much less pleased than her husband; +"and I fancy it rains. Cannot you go alone to-night? to-morrow morning I +will——"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, then," said the Judge, suddenly breaking off; and somewhat +offended at her refusal, hastening away.</p> + +<p>It was rather late when he returned from his visit, but he was in high +spirits. "She is a most interesting lady," said he; "my best Elise, it +certainly would give you great pleasure to know her intimately."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah! I question that," thought Elise.</p> + +<p>"She talks," continued he, "of locating herself here in the city. I hope +we shall decide her to do so."</p> + +<p>"I hope not," thought Elise.</p> + +<p>"We will do all that we possibly can," said he, "to make her residence +here agreeable. I have invited her to dinner to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow!" exclaimed Elise, half terrified.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-morrow," answered her husband, peremptorily. "I told her that +to-morrow morning you would pay her a visit, but she insists on first +coming to you. You need not trouble yourself much about the dinner +to-morrow. Emelie will not expect much from an improvised dinner. At all +events, it may be just as good as there is any need for, if people will +only give themselves a little trouble. I hope Emelie will often come and +take up with our simple way of living."</p> + +<p>Elise went to rest that night with a depressed heart, and with an +indefinite but most unpleasant feeling, thought of the next day's +dinner, and then dreamed that her husband's "old flame" had set the +house on fire, and robbed the whole family of its shelter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE IMPROVISED DINNER.</h3> + + +<p>You housewives who know the important meaning of a roast, who know the +difficulties which sometimes overwhelm you, especially when you must +improvise a dinner; you who know that notwithstanding all inspiration, +both of understanding and inclination—yet inspiration is necessary to +all improvisation—one cannot inspire either chickens or heath-cocks to +come flying into the important dish, when the crust is ready to put on +it;—you housewives who have spent many a long morning in thoughts of +cookery and in anguish, without daring to pray the Lord for help, +although continually tempted to do so; you can sympathise in Elise's +troubles, as she, on the morning of this important dinner, saw the +finger of the clock approach twelve without having been able to +improvise a roast.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is true that an improvised dinner might do without a roast: this we +grant as a general law; but in the case of this particular dinner, we +deny it altogether, in proof of which we might easily give the +arrangement of the whole dinner, did we not flatter ourselves that we +are believed on our bare word. Beyond this, the Judge was a declared +lover of a roast, and of all kinds of animal food, which circumstance +increased still more Elise's difficulty; and as if to make difficulty +still greater, Elise, on this very day, was remarkably in want of +assistants, for her husband had sent out, on his own business, those +servants who, on extraordinary occasions, Elise found very good help. +The cook, too, was confused to-day in a remarkable manner; the children +were in a fermentation; Eva and Leonore quarrelled; Petrea tore a hole +in her new frock; Henrik broke a water-bottle and six glasses; the baby +cried and screamed for nothing; the clock was on the stroke of twelve, +and no roast would come!</p> + +<p>Elise was just on the point of falling into despair over roasts, cooks, +the dinner, the child, nay, over the whole world, when the door opened, +and the words, "your most devoted servant," were spoken out shrilly and +joyously, and the widow of the Court Chamberlain—to Elise she seemed an +angel of light from heaven—stood in the room, with her beaming friendly +countenance, took out of her monstrous reticule one chicken after +another, and laid them upon the table, fixing her eye on Elise, and +making with each one a little curtsey to her, upon which she laughed +heartily. Enraptured by the sight, Elise embraced first the lady +Chamberlain, then the chickens, with which she hastily sprang into the +kitchen, and returning, poured forth her thanks and all her cares to +this friend in need.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, patience!" exhorted Mrs. Gunilla, kindly and full of +cordial sympathy, and somewhat touched by Elise's communication. +"Best-beloved, one should not take it so much to heart—such troubles as +these soon pass away—yes, indeed, they soon pass. Now listen, and I'll +tell you something, 'when need is greatest, help is nearest.' Yes, yes, +remember that! As for the chickens, I saw them in a peasant's cart, as I +crossed the market, and as I knew what was going on here, I lost no time +in buying them and bringing them, under my cloak, and I have nearly run +myself out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> breath, in my haste. He, he, he! And so now I must go, +for the dear lady must dress herself nicely, and so must I too. Adieu, +dear Elise; I wish you the happiness of getting both the dinner and the +young folks in order. He, he, he!"</p> + +<p>Gunilla went, dinner-time came, and with it the guests and the Judge, +who had spent the whole morning in the business of his own office, out +of the house.</p> + +<p>Emelie, the Colonel's widow, was elegant in the highest degree; looked +handsome, and distinguished, and almost outdid herself in politeness; +but still Elise, spite even of herself, felt stiff and stupid by the +side of her husband's "old flame." Beyond this, she had now a great +distraction.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that the chickens may be nicely done!" was the incessant +master-thought of Elise's soul; and it prevailed over the Pope, the +Church of St. Peter's, Thorwaldsen and Pasta, and over every subject on +which they talked.</p> + +<p>The hour of dinner was come, and yet the dinner kept the company +waiting. The Judge, who expected from everybody else the punctuality +which he himself practised, began to suffer from what Elise called his +"dinner-fever," and threw uneasy glances first at the dining-room door, +and then at his wife, whose situation, it must be confessed, was not a +very enviable one. She endeavoured to look quite calm, but often +whispered something to the little Louise, which sent her very +importantly in and out of the room. Elise's entertainment, both that +part which was audible, and that which was inaudible, was probably at +the moment carried on something after the following fashion:</p> + +<p>"It must be inexpressibly pleasant to know," (ah, how unbearably long it +is!) "it must be very interesting." (I wish Ernst would fire again on +his "old flame," and forget dinner.) "Yes, indeed, that was very +remarkable." (Now are those chickens not roasted!) "Poor Spain!" (Now, +thank goodness, dinner is ready at last—if the chickens are only well +done!)</p> + +<p>And now to dinner! A word which brightens all countenances, and enlivens +all tempers. Elise began to esteem the Colonel's widow very highly, +because she kept up such a lively conversation, and she hoped this would +divert attention from any of the dishes which were not particularly +successful. The Judge was a polite and agreeable host, and he was +particularly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> fond of dinner-time, when he would willingly have made all +men partakers of his good appetite, good humour, and even of his good +eating—N. B. if this really was good—but if the contrary happened to +be the case, his temper could not well sustain it.</p> + +<p>During the dinner Elise saw now and then little clouds come over her +husband's brow, but he himself appeared anxious to disperse them, and +all went on tolerably till the chickens came. As the Judge, who adhered +to all old customs, was cutting them up, he evidently found them tough, +whereupon a glance was sent across the table to his wife which went to +her heart like the stab of a knife; but no sooner was the first pang +over than this reproachful glance aroused a degree of indignation in her +which determined her to steel herself against a misfortune which in no +case was her fault; she, therefore, grew quite lively and talkative, and +never once turned her eyes to her husband, who, angry and silent, sate +there with a very hot brow, and the knife sticking still in the fowls.</p> + +<p>But, after all, she felt as if she could again breathe freely when the +dinner was over, and on that very account longed just to speak one word +of reconciliation with her husband; but he now seemed to have only eyes +and ears for Emelie; nor was it long before the two fell into a lively +and most interesting conversation, which certainly would have given +Elise pleasure, and in which she might have taken part, had not a +feeling of depression stolen over her, as she fancied she perceived a +something cold and depreciating in the manners of her husband towards +her. She grew stiller and paler; all gathered themselves round the +brilliant Emelie; even the children seemed enchanted by her. Henrik +presented her with a beautiful flower, which he had obtained from Louise +by flattery. Petrea seemed to have got up a passion for her father's +"old flame," took a footstool and sat near her, and kissed her hand as +soon as she could possess herself of it.</p> + +<p>The lady devoted herself exclusively to her old worshipper, cast the +beams of her beautiful eyes upon him, and smiled bewitchingly.</p> + +<p>"This is a great delight!" thought Elise, as she wiped away a traitorous +tear; "but I will keep a good face on it!"</p> + +<p>The Candidate, who perceived all this, quickly withdrew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> from the lady's +enchanted circle, in which he also had been involved, and taking "the +baby" on his knee, began to relate a story which was calculated as much +to interest the mother as the child. The children were soon around him: +Petrea herself forsook her new flame to listen, and even Elise for the +moment was so amused by it that she forgot everything else. That was +precisely what Jacobi wanted, but it was not that which pleased the +Judge. He rose for a moment, in order to hear what it was which had so +riveted the attention of his wife.</p> + +<p>"I cannot conceive," said he to her in a half-whisper, "how you can take +delight in such absurdity; nor do I think it good for the children that +they should be crammed with such nonsense!"</p> + +<p>At length Emelie rose to take her leave, overwhelming Elise with a flood +of polite speeches, which she was obliged to answer as well as she +could, and the Judge, who had promised to show her the lions of the +place, accompanied her; on which the rest of the guests dispersed +themselves. The elder children accompanied the Candidate to the +school-room to spend an hour in drawing; the younger went to play; +Petrea wished to borrow Gabriele, who at the sight of a gingerbread +heart could not resist, and as a reward received a bit of it; Elise +retired to her own chamber.</p> + +<p>Poor Elise! she dared not at this moment descend into her own heart; she +felt a necessity to abstain from thought—a necessity entirely to forget +herself and the troubling impressions with which to-day had overwhelmed +her soul. A full hour was before her, an hour of undisturbed repose, and +she hastened to her manuscript, in order to busy herself with those rich +moments of life which her pen could call up at pleasure, and to forget +the poor and weary present—in one word, to lose the lesser in the +higher reality. The sense of suffering, of which the little annoyances +of life gave her experience, made her alive to the sweet impressions of +that beauty and that harmonious state of existence which was so dear to +her soul.</p> + +<p>She wrote and wrote and wrote, her heart was warm, her eyes filled with +tears, the words glowed upon her page, life became bright, the moments +flew. An hour and a half passed. Her husband's tea-time came; he had +such delight in coming home at this hour to find his wife and his +children all assembled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> round the tea-table in the family room. It very +rarely happened that Elise had not all in readiness for him; but now the +striking of seven o'clock roused her suddenly from her writing; she laid +down her pen, and was in the act of rising when her husband entered.</p> + +<p>A strong expression of displeasure diffused itself over his countenance +as he saw her occupation.</p> + +<p>"You gave us to-day a very bad dinner, Elise," said he, going up to her +and speaking with severity; "but when this novel-writing occupies so +much of your time, it is no wonder that you neglect your domestic +duties; you get to care really just as little about these, as you +trouble yourself about my wishes."</p> + +<p>It would have been easy for Elise to excuse herself, and make all right +and straight; but the severe tone in which her husband spoke, and his +scornful glance, wounded her deeply. "You must have patience with me, +Ernst," said she, not without pride and some degree of vexation; "I am +not accustomed to renounce all innocent pleasures; my education, my +earlier connexions, have not prepared me for this."</p> + +<p>This was like pricking the Judge in the eye, and with more bitterness +and severity than usual he replied:</p> + +<p>"You should have thought about that before you gave me your hand; before +you had descended into so humble and care-full a circle. It is too late +now. Now I will——" but he did not finish his sentence, for he himself +perceived a storm rising within him, before which he yielded. He went to +the door, opened it, and said in a calm voice, yet still with an +agitated tone and glance, "I would just tell you that I have taken +tickets for the concert to-morrow, if you would wish to go. I hoped to +have found you at the tea-table; but I see that is not at all thought +of—it is just as desolate and deserted there as if the plague were in +the house. Don't give yourself any trouble, I shall drink my tea at the +club!" and thus saying he banged the door and went away.</p> + +<p>Elise seated herself—she really could not stand—and hid her face in +her trembling hands. "Good heavens! is it come to this? Ernst, Ernst! +What words! what looks! And I, wretched being, what have I said?"</p> + +<p>Such were Elise's broken and only half-defined thoughts, whilst tears +streamed down her cheeks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Words, words, words!" says Hamlet, disparagingly. But God preserve us +from the destructive power of words! There are words which can separate +hearts sooner than sharp swords—there are words whose sting can remain +in the heart through a whole life!</p> + +<p>Elise wept long and violently; her whole soul was in excitement.</p> + +<p>In moments of violent struggle, bad and good spirits are at hand; they +surrounded Elise and spoke to her thus:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Bad Spirits.</span>—"Think on that which thou hast given up! think on thy own +merits! Recollect the many little acts of injustice which thou hast had +to bear, the bitter moments which the severity of thy husband has +occasioned thee! Why shouldst thou humbly crawl in the dust? Raise +thyself, depressed one! raise thyself, offended wife! think of thy own +worth, of thy own rights! Do not allow thyself to be subjected; show +some character. Requite that which thou hast endured. Thou also canst +annoy; thou also canst punish! Take refuge in thy nerves, in unkindness; +make use of thy power, and enjoy the pleasure of revenge!"</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Good Spirits.</span>—"Think on thy wants, on thy faults! Recollect all the +patience, all the kindness, all the tenderness which has been shown +thee! Think on the many beautiful moments! Think on thy husband's worth, +on his beautiful noble qualities! Think also on life, how short it is; +how much unavoidable bitterness it possesses; how much which it is easy +either to bear or to chase away; and think on the all-rectifying power +of affection. Tremble before the chains of selfish feeling; free thyself +from them by a new sacrifice of love, and purify the heaven of home. +Ascending clouds can easily expand into a destructive tempest, or can +disperse and leave not a trace in the air. Oh, chase them hence with the +powerful breath of love!"</p> + +<p>The happiness of a long life depends, not unfrequently, upon which of +these invisible counsellors in such moments we give ear to. On this it +depends whether the gates of heaven or of hell shall be opened upon +earth to men. Elise listened to the good counsellors; she conversed long +with them, and the more pure recollections they sent into her soul the +lighter it became therein. The light of love was kindled in her, and in +its light she became clear-sighted in many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> directions. She saw now what +it was right for her to do respecting her novel, and this revelation +warmed her heart. She knew also that this was the only one she should +ever write, and that her husband should never again miss her from the +tea-table, and therefore be obliged to drink his tea at the club (but he +should be reconciled sometime with the sinner—the novel); and she +would, moreover, prepare a dinner for the Colonel's widow, which should +compensate for the unlucky one of this day; and—"Would that Ernst would +but come home soon," thought she, "I would endeavour to banish all his +displeasure, and make all right between us."</p> + +<p>It was the bathing-day of the children, and the message that the hour of +bathing was come interrupted Elise's solitude. She ordered Brigitta to +commence her preparations, and when she had somewhat composed herself, +and washed away the traces of her tears with rose-water, she herself +went down into the chamber.</p> + +<p>"God be praised for water!" thought Elise, at the first view of the +scene which presented itself. The soft glowing young forms in the clear +warm water, the glimmering of the open fire, the splashing and +jubileering of the children in their unspeakable comfort, their innocent +sport one with another in the peaceful little lake of the bath, in which +they had no fear of raising stormy waves; nay, even Brigitta's happy +face, under her white cap, her lively activity, amid the continual +phrases of "best-beloved," "little alabaster arm," "alabaster foot," +"lily-of-the-valley bosom," and such like, whilst over the +lily-of-the-valley bosom, and the alabaster arm, she spread soap-foam +scarcely less white, or wrapped them in snowy cloths, out of which +nothing but little lively, glowing, merry faces peeped and played with +one another at bo-peep—all this united to present a picture full of +life and pleasure.</p> + +<p>Elise, however, could not fully enjoy it; the thought of what had just +occurred, longings for reconciliation with her husband, fear that he +might remain long, that he might return too much displeased for her +easily to make all straight again—these thoughts occupied her mind; yet +still she could not help smiling as Gabriele, who had sunk down into the +bath alone, exclaimed, almost beside herself for fright, "I am drowning! +I am drowning!" In order to re-assure her, her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> mother stretched out her +white hands to her, and under their protection she laughed and splashed +about like a little fish in water.</p> + +<p>A shower of flowers streamed suddenly over both mother and child, and +Gabriele screamed aloud for joy, and stretched forth her little arms to +catch gilly-flowers, roses, and carnations, which fell upon and around +her. Elise turned herself round in surprise, and her surprise changed +itself into the most delightful sensation of joy, as the lips of her +husband were pressed to her forehead.</p> + +<p>"Ah, you!" exclaimed Elise, and threw her arms round his neck, and +caressingly stroked his cheek.</p> + +<p>"I shall get wet through with all this," said he, laughing, yet without +leaving the bath, nay, he even stooped down his head to little Gabriele, +kissed her, and allowed her to splash him with water.</p> + +<p>"Thank God! all is right again! and perhaps it will be best to take no +further notice of this unpleasant affair!" thought she, and prepared to +follow her husband into the parlour.</p> + +<p>The Judge had, probably, during his bad tea at the club, held with the +invisible speakers the same conversation, with some variations, as his +wife during his absence, the consequence whereof was his visit to the +bathing-room, and the shower of flowers from the nosegay he had brought +with him for her, and the kiss of reconciliation which effaced every +thoughtless and wounding word. He felt now quite pleased that everything +was as it should be, and that the gentle and yielding temper of his wife +would require nothing further. But, perhaps, on that very account, he +was dissatisfied with himself, her eyes red with weeping grieved him, +especially as they beamed so kindly upon him, he felt that he misused +the power which circumstances had given him over his wife; he felt that +he had behaved harshly to her, and therefore he had no peace with +himself, therefore he felt a necessity to pronounce one word—one word, +which it is so hard for the lips of a man to pronounce, yet, which Ernst +Frank was too manly, too firm to shrink from.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, his wife entered, he offered her his hand; "Forgive me, +Elise," said he, with the deepest feeling; "I have behaved severely, +nay, absurdly to-day!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, forgive me, Ernst!" said Elise, deeply affected, whilst she pressed +his hand to her heart and——</p> + +<p>Accursed be all disturbers of peace in this world! Such a one entered at +that moment, and undid that which would otherwise have bound them so +closely to each other. It was a messenger from the Colonel's widow with +a note, together with a book for the Judge, and two little bottles of +select Eau de rose for Elise, "of which, I know," said the note, "she is +very fond."</p> + +<p>The Judge's cheek grew crimson as he read the note, which he did not +show to his wife.</p> + +<p>"An extremely polite and interesting person," said he; "I will +immediately answer it."</p> + +<p>"Ernst," said Elise, "should we not invite her to dinner to-morrow? I +thought of something very nice, which is sure to succeed; then we could +go altogether to the concert, and afterwards she might sup with us."</p> + +<p>"Now that is a good idea, and I thank you for it, my sweet Elise," said +he, extremely pleased.</p> + +<p>Yes, if the Colonel's widow had not been there—if the Candidate had not +been there—and if there had been no <i>if</i> in the case, all might have +gone on quite smoothly. But it was quite otherwise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>ONE SWALLOW MAKES NO SUMMER.</h3> + + +<p>Too many chaotic elements had collected together in the family of the +Franks for one sun-gleam to dissipate. Even the married pair did not +clearly understand their own actions.</p> + +<p>The Judge, truly, was too much enchanted by his former beloved one; and +the beautiful Emelie did all that was in her power to enslave again her +early adorer.</p> + +<p>Judge Frank, who would have been as cold and proud as possible, if he +had been assailed by coarse and direct flattery, was yet by no means +steeled against the refined and almost imperceptible flattery of Emelie, +who, with all her peculiar gifts of soul and understanding, made herself +subordinate to him, in order to be enlightened and instructed by him.</p> + +<p>"An extraordinarily amiable and interesting lady," thought he still with +greater animation, although he seldom asserted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> so much; and exactly in +the proportion in which he found Emelie interesting, it was natural that +he should find Elise less so, especially as he found in Emelie precisely +those very qualities, the want of which he had so much regretted in his +wife; namely, an interest in his activity as a citizen, and in general +for the objects connected with which he occupied himself in the +liveliest manner.</p> + +<p>Elise, on her part, was neither calm nor clear. The connexion between +her husband and Emelie was painful to her; and she felt a sort of +consolation from the devotion of Jacobi, even when it was beginning to +assume that passionate character which made her seriously uneasy.</p> + +<p>A letter, which she wrote to her sister about this time, exhibits her +state of feeling:</p> + +<p>"It is long since I wrote to you, Cecilia—I hardly know why; I hardly +know, indeed, my own feelings—all is so unquiet, so undefined. I wish +it were clear!</p> + +<p>"Do you know she is very lovely, this 'old flame' of my husband's, and +very brilliant. I fancy I am jealous of her. Last evening I went out to +a supper-party—the first for several years. I dressed myself with great +care, for I wished to please Ernst, and had flowers in my hair. I was +greatly satisfied with my appearance when I went. My husband was to come +later. I found Emelie already there; she was beautiful, and looked most +elegant. They placed me beside her; a looking-glass was before us, on +which I threw stolen glances, and saw opposite to me—a shadow! I +thought at first it was some illusion, and looked again: but again it +revealed unmercifully to me a pale ghost beside the beautiful and +dazzling Emelie. 'It is all over, irremediably over,' thought I, 'with +my youth and my bloom! But if my husband and children only can love me, +I can then resign youth and beauty.'</p> + +<p>"But again I felt compelled to look at the shadow in the glass, and grew +quite melancholy. Emelie also cast glances at the mirror, and drew +comparisons, but with feelings far different to mine. Then came Ernst, +and I saw that he too made comparisons between us.</p> + +<p>"He was, all this evening, very much occupied with Emelie. I felt unwell +and weak; I longed so to support myself on his arm; but he did not come +near me the whole time: perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> he imagined I was out of +humour—perhaps I looked so. Ah! I returned home before supper, and he +remained. As I drove home through those deserted streets in the wretched +hackney-coach, a sense of misery came over my heart such as I cannot +describe; many a bitter thought was awakened within me, before which I +trembled.</p> + +<p>"At the door of my own home I met Jacobi; he had sate up for me, and +wished to tell me something amusing about my children. He seemed to have +foreboded my feelings this evening. My favourite fruit, which he had +provided for me, should have refreshed me. His friendship and his +devotion cheered me. There is something so beautiful in feeling oneself +beloved.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Every new emotion, every new connexion, among men, has its danger, its +temptation; the most beautiful, the most noble, may have their dangerous +tendency. Oh! how is this to be prevented without a separation?—how is +the poison to be avoided without deadening the sting? Oh, Cecilia! at +this moment I need a friend; I need you, to whom I could turn, and from +whom, in these disquieting circumstances, I in my weakness could derive +light and strength. I am discontented with myself; I am discontented +with——Ah! he alone it is who, if he would, could make all right!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Oh, Cecilia, this is a mist-enveloped hour of my life!—does it +announce day or night? My glance is dark; I see the path no longer! But +I will resign myself into the hand of <span class="smcap">Him</span> who said, 'let there be +light.'</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"All is now better and clearer! God be praised! In a few hours this day +will be over;—I long vehemently for it!</p> + +<p>"This evening we have a children's dance at our house. Emelie will be +here also. There is not a good understanding between us two. She is cold +to me, too witty, and too——, but I will do my best to be a good +hostess; and when the day is ended, I will sit and look at my beautiful +sleeping boy, and be happy in my children."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>THE END OF THE DAY.</h3> + + +<p>Evening came, and with it lights and guests. A strong, self-sacrificing +amiability governed Elise's manner this evening. She was almost cordial +towards Emelie; cared for the comfort of every one, played the piano for +the children's dance, and appeared to exist only in order to serve +others. The beautiful Emelie, on the contrary, thought of herself; was +livelier and more brilliant than ever, and, as usual, assembled all the +gentlemen around her. The conversation was lively in this group; it +turned from politics to literature, and then dwelt awhile on +theatricals, in which Emelie, equally animated and sarcastic, +characterised the Scribe and Mellesville school as a dramatic +manufactory.</p> + +<p>"For the rest," added she, "the stage acts very prudently and sensibly +in letting the curtain fall the moment the hero and heroine approach the +altar; novels do the same, and that, also, with good reason, otherwise +nobody would be able to read them."</p> + +<p>"How so?" asked the Judge, with great earnestness.</p> + +<p>"Because," answered Emelie, "the illusion of life is extinguished on the +other side of this golden moment, and reality steps forward then in all +its heaviness and nakedness. Look at a young couple in the glowing +morning of their union, how warm love is then; how it penetrates and +beautifies everything; how it glows and speaks in glance and word, and +agreeable action; how its glory changes the whole of life into poetry! +'Thou, thou!' is the one thought of the young people then. But observe +the same couple a few years later—'I, I!' and 'my pleasure,' is the +phrase now. The adoring all-resigning lover is then become the exacting +married man, who will be waited on and obeyed. And the loving +all-sacrificing bride, she is become the unwieldy and care-burdened +housewife, who talks of nothing but trouble, bad saltings, and negligent +maid-servants. And what are <i>tête-à-tête</i> communications between these +two? 'How, my dear! is the butter really used up already? Why, I gave +you money only the other day for butter! You really must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> look better +after things, and see what the cook does with the butter; I will not +allow such extravagance in the house! Do you want something more?' 'Yes, +indeed, my love, I and the children must have new over-dresses. Little +Peter's coat is worn out, and little Paul has grown out of his; and my +old cloak cannot last to eternity!' People," continued the sarcastic +Emilie, "may thank their stars, too, if out of such interesting +communications as these no hateful quarrels arise; and if, in the happy +repose of their homes, harmless yawnings have only taken place of the +kisses which have left it. Contracted circumstances, meannesses, and +domestic trials, destroy the happiness of marriage, even as the worm +destroys the flower, bringing bitterness and sourness into the temper; +and though the married pair may continue to the very day of their death +to address each other as 'My sweet friend,' yet, very often, <i>in petto</i>, +it is 'My sour friend.' Yet, after all, this is nothing, in fact, but +what is perfectly natural; and, in this respect, marriage only follows +the eternal law of nature in all earthly existence. Every form of life +carries in itself decay and dissolution—a poisonous snake-king<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> gnaws +even at the root of the world's tree."</p> + +<p>Several of the listeners, and among them the Candidate, had laughed +loudly at Emelie's descriptions; but the Judge had not once moved his +lips, and replied, when she had done, with an earnestness that +confounded even her satire.</p> + +<p>"If all this were true, Emelie," said he, "then were life, even in the +best point of view, good for nothing; and with justice might it indeed +be called an illusion. But it is not so; and you have only described +marriage in its lowest, and not either in its best or its truest sense. +I do not deny the difficulties which exist in this as in every other +circumstance of life; but I am confident that they may and must be +overcome; and this will be done if the married pair bring only right +intentions into the house. Then want and care, disturbing, nay even +bitter hours, may come, but they will also go; and the bonds of love and +truth will be consolation, nay, even will give strength. You have +spoken, Emelie, of death and separation as the end of the drama of life; +you have forgotten the awaking again, and the second youth, of which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +the ancient northern Vala sings. Married life, like all life, has such a +second youth; yes, indeed, a progressive one, because it has its +foundation in the life which is eternal; and every contest won, every +danger passed through, every pain endured, change themselves into +blessings on home and on the married pair, who have thus obtained better +knowledge, and who are thus more closely united."</p> + +<p>He spoke with unusual warmth, and not without emotion, and his +expressive glance sought and dwelt upon his wife, who had approached +unobserved, and who had listened to Emelie's bitter satire with stinging +pain, because she knew that there was a degree of truth in it.</p> + +<p>But as her husband spoke, she felt that he perceived the full truth, and +her heart beat freer and stronger, and all at once a clearness was in +her soul. With her head bent forward, she gazed on him with a glance +full of tenderness and confidence, forgetting herself, and listening +with fervour to every word which he uttered. In this very moment their +eyes met, and there was much, inexpressibly much, in their glance; a +clear crimson of delight flushed her cheek, and made her beautiful. The +gentle happiness which now animated her being, together with her lovely +figure, her graceful movements, and the purity of her brow, made her far +more fascinating than her lovely rival. Her husband followed her with +his eyes, as kindly and attentively she busied herself among her guests, +or with the little Gabriele in her arms mingled in the children's dance, +for which Evelina's foster-daughters were playing a four-handed piece. +He had suddenly cooled towards his "old flame," nor was he at all warmed +again by the sharp tone with which the little caressing Petrea was +reproved for being too obtrusive.</p> + +<p>"Our little Louise in time will dance very well," remarked the Judge to +his wife, as he noticed with great pleasure the little <i>brisées</i> and +<i>chassées</i> of his daughter whom the twelve-years-old Nils Gabriel +Stjernhök twirled round, and with whom he conversed with great gravity, +and a certain knightly politeness.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Mrs. Gunilla was instructing Emelie on the manners and +character of the French; and Emelie, whose countenance since the +discussion of the marriage question had worn a bitter expression, +endeavoured with a tolerably<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> sharp tone to make her superior +information felt, and in return was mown down, as it were, at one stroke +by Mrs. Gunilla, who—had never been in France.</p> + +<p>The Candidate followed Elise everywhere with glances of devotion, and +appeared this evening perfectly enchanted by her amiability.</p> + +<p>"Fie, for shame!—to take all the confections to yourself!" moralised +the little Queen-bee to the little S——ne,—a fat, quiet boy, who took +the confections and the reproof with the same stoical indifference. +Louise cast a look of high indignation upon him, and then gave her share +of sweetmeats to a little girl, who complained that she had had none.</p> + +<p>Supper came, and Emelie, whose eyes flashed unusual fire, seemed to wish +fervently to win back that regard which she, perhaps, feared to have +lost already, and with her playful and witty conversation electrified +the whole company. Jacobi, who was excited in no ordinary manner, drank +one glass of wine after another, talked and laughed very loud, and +looked between whiles upon Elise with glances which expressed his +sentiments in no doubtful manner. These glances were not the first of +the kind which the quick eye of Elise's rival observed.</p> + +<p>"That young man," said she, in a low but significant whisper to the +Judge, and with a glance on Jacobi, "seems to be very charming; he has +really remarkably attractive talents—is he nearly related to Elise?"</p> + +<p>"No," returned he, looking at her rather surprised; "but he has been for +nearly three months a member of our family."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said she, in a significant and grave manner; "I should have +thought—but as for that," added she, in an apparently careless +tone—"Elise is really so kind and so amiable, that for him who is with +her daily, it must be very difficult not to love her."</p> + +<p>The Judge felt the sting of the viper, and with a glance which flashed a +noble indignation, he replied to his beautiful neighbour, "You are +right, Emelie; I know no woman who deserves more love or esteem than +she!"</p> + +<p>Emelie bit her lip and grew pale; and she would assuredly have grown yet +paler, could she only have understood the sentiment which she had +awakened in the breast of her former admirer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ernst Frank had a keen sense of moral meanness, and when this displayed +itself no gifts of genius or of nature had power to conceal it. He +clearly understood her intentions, and despised her for them. In his +eyes, at this moment, she was hateful. In the mean time his composure +was destroyed. He looked on Jacobi, and observed his glances and his +feelings; he looked on Elise, and saw that she was uneasy, and avoided +his eye.</p> + +<p>A horrible spasmodic feeling thrilled through his soul; in order to +conceal what he felt he became more than usually animated, yet there was +a something hostile, a something sternly sarcastic in his words, which +still, on account of the general gaiety, remained unobserved by most.</p> + +<p>Never before was Assessor Munter so cheerful, so comically cross with +all mankind. Mrs. Gunilla and he shouted as if desperate against each +other. The company rose from the supper-table in full strife, and +adjourned to the dancing-room.</p> + +<p>"Music, in heaven's name! music!" exclaimed the Assessor with a gesture +of despair, and Elise and the Colonel's widow hastened to the piano. It +was a pleasant thought, after the screaming of that rough voice had been +heard, to play one of Blangini's beautiful night-pieces, which seem to +have been inspired by the Italian heaven, and which awaken in the soul +of the hearer a vision of those summer nights, with their flowery +meadows, of their love, of their music, and of all their unspeakable +delights.</p> + +<p>"<i>Un' eterna constanza in amor!</i>" were the words which, repeated several +times with the most bewitching modulations, concluded the song.</p> + +<p>"<i>Un' eterna constanza in amor!</i>" repeated the Candidate, softly and +passionately pressing his hand to his heart, as he followed Elise to a +window, whither she had gone to gather a rose for her rival. As Elise's +hand touched the rose, the lips of Jacobi touched her hand.</p> + +<p>Emelie sang another song, which delighted the company extremely; but +Ernst Frank stood silent and gloomy the while. Words had been spoken +this evening which aroused his slumbering perception; and with the look +he cast upon Jacobi and his wife, he felt as if the earth were trembling +under his feet. He saw that which passed at the window,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> and gasped for +breath. A tempest was aroused in his breast; and at the same moment +turning his eyes, he encountered, those of another person, which were +riveted upon him with a questioning, penetrating expression. They were +those of the Assessor. Such a glance as that from any other person had +been poison to the mind of Frank, but from Jeremias Munter it operated +quite otherwise; and as shortly afterwards he saw his friend writing +something on a strip of paper, he went to him, and looking over his +shoulder, read these words:</p> + +<p>"Why regardest thou the mote in thy brother's eye, yet seest not the +beam in thine own eye?"</p> + +<p>"Is this meant for me?" asked he, in a low but excited voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the direct reply.</p> + +<p>The Judge took the paper, and concealed it in his breast.</p> + +<p>He was pale and silent, and began to examine himself. The company broke +up; he had promised Emelie to accompany her home; but now, while she, +full of animation, jested with several gentlemen, and while her servant +drew on her fur-shoes, he stood silent and cold beside his "old flame" +as a pillar of ice. Mrs. Gunilla and the Assessor quarrelled till the +last moment. Whilst all this was going on, Elise went quietly to Jacobi, +who stood somewhat apart, and said to him in a low voice, "I wish to +speak with you, and will wait for you in the parlour, when they are all +gone." Jacobi bowed; a burning crimson flashed to his cheek; the Judge +threw a penetrating glance upon them, and passed his hand over his pale +countenance.</p> + +<p>"It gives me great pleasure," cried Mrs. Gunilla, speaking shrilly and +<i>staccato</i>—"it gives me great pleasure to see my fellow-creatures, and +it gives me great pleasure if they will see me. If they are not always +agreeable, why I am not always agreeable myself! Heart's-dearest! in +this world one must have patience one with another, and not be +everlastingly requiring and demanding from others. Heaven help me! I am +satisfied with the world, and with my own fellow-creatures, as our Lord +has been pleased to make them. I cannot endure that people should be +perpetually blaming, and criticising, and mocking, and making sour faces +at everything, and saying 'I will not have this!' and 'I will not have +that!' and 'I will not have it so! It is folly; it is unbearable;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> it is +wearisome; it is stupid!' precisely as if they themselves only were +endurable, agreeable, and clever! No, I have learned better manners than +that. It is true that I have no genius, nor learning, nor talents, as so +many people in our day lay claim to, but I have learned to govern +myself!"</p> + +<p>During this moral lecture, and endeavouring all the time to overpower +it, the Assessor exclaimed, "And can you derive the least pleasure from +your blessed social life? No, that you cannot! What is social life, but +a strift to get into the world in order to discover that the world is +unbearable? but a scheming and labouring to get invited, to be offended +and put out of sorts if not invited; and if invited, then to complain of +weariness and vexation, and thus utter their lamentations. Thus people +bring a mass of folks together, and wish them—at Jericho! and all this +strift only to get poorer, more out of humour, more out of health; in +one word, to obtain the perfectly false position, <i>vis-à-vis</i>, of +happiness! See there! Adieu, adieu! When the ladies take leave, they +never have done."</p> + +<p>"There is not one single word of truth in all that you have said," was +the last but laughing salutation of Mrs. Gunilla to the Assessor, as, +accompanied by the Candidate, she left the door. The Judge, too, was +gone; and Elise, left alone, betook herself to the parlour.</p> + +<p>Suddenly quick steps were heard behind her—she thought "Jacobi"—turned +round, and saw her husband; but never before had she seen him looking as +then; there was an excitement, an agitation, in his countenance that +terrified her. He threw his arm violently round her waist, riveted his +eyes upon her with a glance that seemed as if it would penetrate into +her inmost soul.</p> + +<p>"Ernst, Ernst, be calm!" whispered she, deeply moved by his state of +mind, the cause of which she imagined. He seized her hand and pressed it +to his forehead—it was damp and cold; the next moment he was gone.</p> + +<p>We will now return to the Candidate.</p> + +<p>Wine and love, and excited expectation, had so inflamed the imagination +of the young man, that he hardly knew what he did—whether he walked, or +whether he flew; and more than once, in descending the stairs, had he +nearly precipitated Mrs. Gunilla, who exclaimed with kindness, but some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +little astonishment, "The Cross preserve me! I cannot imagine, +heart's-dearest, how either you or I go to-night! I think we are all +about to—see, now again, all's going mad.—No, I thank you, I'll take +care of my nose, crooked as it is. I think I can go safer by myself. I +can hold by——"</p> + +<p>"A thousand thousand times pardon," interrupted the Candidate, whilst he +pressed Mrs. Gunilla's arm tightly; "it is all my fault. But now we will +go safely and magnificently; I was a little dizzy!"</p> + +<p>"Dizzy!" repeated she. "Heart's-dearest, we should take care on that +very account; one should take care of one's head as well as one's heart; +one should take care of that, or it may go still more awry than it now +is with us! He, he, he, he—but listen to me, my friend," said Mrs. +Gunilla, suddenly becoming very grave: "I will tell you one thing, and +that is——"</p> + +<p>"Your most gracious Honour, pardon me," interrupted he, "but I think—I +feel rather unwell—I—there, now we are at your door! Pardon me!" and +the Candidate tumbled up-stairs again.</p> + +<p>In the hall of the Franks' dwelling he drew breath. The thought of the +mysterious meeting with Elise filled him at the same time with joy and +uneasiness. He could not collect his bewildered thoughts, and with a +wildly-beating heart went into the room where Elise awaited him.</p> + +<p>As soon as he saw her white lovely figure standing in the magical +lamplight his soul became intoxicated, and he was just about to throw +himself at her feet, when Elise, hastily, and with dignity, drew back a +few paces.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Jacobi," said she, with trembling but earnest voice.</p> + +<p>"Listen to you!" said he, passionately—"oh, that I might listen to you +for ever!—oh, that I——"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" interrupted Elise, with a severity very unusual to her; "not +one word more of this kind, or our conversation is at an end, and we are +separated for ever!"</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" exclaimed Jacobi, "what have——"</p> + +<p>"I beseech you, listen to me!" continued Elise; "tell me, Jacobi, have I +given you occasion to think thus lightly of me?"</p> + +<p>Jacobi started. "What a question!" said he, stammering, and pale.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," continued Elise, with emotion, "I must have done so; +your behaviour to me this evening has proved it. Could you think, +Jacobi, that I, a wife, the mother of many children, could permit the +sentiment which you have been so thoughtless as to avow this evening? +Could you imagine that it would not occasion me great uneasiness and +pain? Indeed, it is so, Jacobi; I fear that you have gone sadly wrong; +and if I myself, through any want of circumspection in my conduct, have +assisted thereto, may God forgive me! You have punished me for it, +Jacobi—have punished me for the regard I have felt for you and shown to +you; and if I now must break a connexion which I hoped would gladden my +life, it is your own fault. Only one more such glance—one more such +declaration, as you have made this evening, and you must remove from +this house."</p> + +<p>The crimson of shame and indignation burned on Jacobi's cheek. "In +truth," said he, "I have not deserved such severity."</p> + +<p>"Ah! examine yourself, Jacobi," said she, "and you will judge yourself +more severely than I have done. You say that you love me, Jacobi, and +you do not dread to destroy the peace and happiness of my life. Already, +perhaps, are poisonous tongues in activity against me. I have seen this +evening glances directed upon me and upon you, which were not mild; and +thoughts and feelings are awakened in my husband's soul, which never +ought to have been awakened there. You have disturbed the peace of a +house, into which you were received with friendship and confidence. But +I know," continued she, mildly, "that you have not intended anything +criminal!—no bad intentions have guided your behaviour; folly only has +led you to treat so lightly that relationship which is the holiest on +earth. You have not reflected on your life, on your duty, and your +situation, in this family, with seriousness."</p> + +<p>Jacobi covered his face with his hands, and a strong emotion agitated +him.</p> + +<p>"And seriousness," again began Elise, with warmth and deep +earnestness—"seriousness! how it clothes—how it dignifies the +man!—Jacobi, the saviour of my child—my young friend! I would not have +spoken thus to you if I had not had great faith on your better—your +nobler self;—if I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> not hoped to have won a friend in you—a friend +for my whole life, for myself and my Ernst. Oh, Jacobi, listen to my +prayer!—you are thrown among people who are willing from their very +hearts to be your friends! Act so that we may love and highly esteem +you; and do not change into grief that hearty goodwill which we both +feel for you! Combat against, nay, banish from your heart, every foolish +sentiment which you, for a moment, have cherished for me. Consider me as +a sister, as a mother! Yes," continued she, pausing over this word, and +half prophetically, "perhaps you may even yet call me mother; and if you +will show me love and faith, Jacobi, as you have said, I will accept +it—from my son! Oh, Jacobi! if you would deserve my blessing, and my +eternal gratitude, be a faithful friend, a good instructor of my boy—my +Henrik! Your talents as a teacher are of no common kind. Your heart is +good—your understanding is capable of the noblest cultivation—your +path is open before you to all that which makes man most estimable and +most amiable. Oh, turn not away from it, Jacobi—tread this path with +seriousness——"</p> + +<p>"Say not another word!" exclaimed Jacobi. "Oh, I see all! forgive me, +angelic Elise! I will do all, everything, in order to deserve hereafter +your esteem and your friendship. You have penetrated my heart—you have +changed it. I shall become a better man. But tell me that you forgive +me—that you can be my friend, and that you will!"</p> + +<p>Jacobi, in the height of his excitement, had thrown himself on his knee +before her; Elise also was deeply affected; tears streamed from her +eyes, whilst she extended her hand to him, and bending over him said, +from the very depths of her heart, "Your friend, for ever!"</p> + +<p>Calmly, and with cheerful countenances, both raised themselves; but an +involuntary shudder passed through both as they saw the Judge standing +in the room, with a pale and stern countenance.</p> + +<p>Jacobi went towards him: "Judge Frank," said he, with a firm but humble +voice, "you behold here a——"</p> + +<p>"Silence, Jacobi!" interrupted Elise, quickly; "you need not blush on +account of your bended knee, nor is any explanation needful. It is not, +is it, Ernst?" continued she, with the undaunted freshness of innocence: +"you desire no explanation; you believe me when I say that Jacobi now, +more than ever, deserves your friendship. A bond is formed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> between us +three, which, as I hope before God, nothing will disturb, and no +poisonous tongues censure. You believe me, Ernst?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, giving her his hand; "if I could not, then——" he did +not finish his sentence, but fixed his eyes with a stern expression +immovably on her. "I will speak with you," said he, after a moment, and +in a calmer voice. "Good night, Mr. Jacobi."</p> + +<p>Jacobi bowed, withdrew a few steps, and then returned. "Judge Frank," +said he, in a voice which showed the excitement of his feelings, "give +me your hand; I will deserve your friendship."</p> + +<p>The outstretched hand was grasped firmly and powerfully, and Jacobi left +the room in haste.</p> + +<p>"Come here, Elise," said the Judge, with warmth, leading his wife to the +sofa, and enclosing her in his arms. "Speak to me! Tell me, has anything +in my behaviour of late turned your heart from me!"</p> + +<p>Elise's head sunk upon the breast of her husband, and she was silent. +"Ah, Ernst!" said she at length, with a painful sigh, "I also am +dissatisfied with myself. But, oh!" added she more cheerfully, "when I +lean myself on you thus, when I hear your heart beating, and know what +is within that heart, then, Ernst, I feel how I love you—how I believe +on you! Then I reproach myself with being so weak, so unthankful, so +ready to take offence, then—oh, Ernst! love me! Look on me always as +now, then life will be bright to me; then shall I have strength to +overcome all—even my own weakness; then I shall feel that only a cloud, +only a shadow of mist, and no reality can come between us. But now all +is vanished. Now I can lay open to you all the innermost loopholes of my +heart—can tell you all my weaknesses——"</p> + +<p>"Be still, be still now," said the Judge, with a bright and affectionate +look, and laying his hand on her mouth. "I have more failings than you; +but I am awake now. Weep not, Elise; let me kiss away your tears! Do you +not feel, as I do now, that all is right? Do we not believe in the +Eternal Good, and do we not believe in each other? Let us forgive and +forget, and have peace together. Hereafter, when the error of this time +has in some measure passed from our remembrance, we will talk it over, +and wonder how it ever came between us. Now, all is so bright between +us, and we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> both of us see our way clearly. Our errors will serve us for +warnings. Wherefore do we live in the world, unless to become better? +Look at me, Elise. Are you friendly towards me? Can you have confidence +in me?"</p> + +<p>"I can! I have!" said she; "there is not a grain of dust any longer +between us."</p> + +<p>"Then we are one!" said he, with a joyful voice. "Let us, then, in God's +name, go thus together through life. What He has united, let no man, no +accident, nothing in this world, separate!"</p> + +<p>Night came; but light had arisen in the breast both of husband and wife.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The furrow of disunion bears commonly thorns and thistles, but it may +likewise bear seed for the granary of heaven.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> According to the Northern mythology, Nidhögg, the +snake-king, lives in Niflhem, the nether world.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>JACOBI.</h3> + + +<p>When Jacobi entered his room, he found a letter lying on the table near +his bed. He recognised the handwriting as that of Judge Frank, and +quickly opened it. A bank-note of considerable value fell out; and the +letter contained the following words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You are indebted to several persons in the city, Jacobi, with +whom I wish, for your own sake, that you should have as little to +do as possible. Within, you will find the means of satisfying +their demands. Receive it as from a paternal friend, who sincerely +wishes you to regard him as such, and who embraces with pleasure +an opportunity of making an acknowledgment to the friend and +instructor of his children. To the preserver of my child I shall +always remain indebted; but should you desire anything, or need +anything, do not apply to any other than</p> + +<p>"Your friend, <span class="smcap">E. Frank</span>."</p></div> + +<p>"He! and he, too!" exclaimed Jacobi, deeply agitated. "Oh, the kind, +noble, excellent man! And I—I shall, I will become worthy of him! From +this day I am a new man!"</p> + +<p>He pressed the letter to his breast, and looked up to the star-lighted +heaven with silent but fervent vows.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>TIME GOES.</h3> + + +<p>Life has its moments of strength and bloom; its bright moments of +inspiration, in which the human artist (the painter of earthly life) +seizes on, and utters the supremely pure, the supremely beautiful, the +divine. If, in such moments, everything in human life were executed; if +then sacrifices were made, work accomplished, victories won, there would +be but little difficulty in life. But the difficult part is to preserve, +through a long course of years, the flame which has been kindled by +inspiration! to preserve it while the storms come and go, while the +everlasting dust-rain of the moments falls and falls; to preserve it +still and uniform, amidst the uniform changing of uniform days and +nights. To do this, strength from above is required; repeated draughts +from the fountain of inspiration; both for the great and the small—for +all labourers on earth.</p> + +<p>It was the good fortune of Ernst and Elise that they knew this; and knew +also how to avail themselves of it. On this account they succeeded more +and more in conquering their natural failings; on this account they came +nearer to each other by every little step, which in itself is so +unobservable, but which yet, at the same time, twines so firmly and +lovingly together the human heart and life, and which may be contained +in the rubric—<i>regard for mutual inclinations, interest for mutual +interests</i>.</p> + +<p>Through this new-born intimacy of heart, this strengthening and pure +affection, Elise assumed a secure and noble standing with regard to +Jacobi. Her heart was vanquished by no weakness, even when she saw +suffering expressed in his youthful countenance; nay, she remained firm, +even when she saw that his health was giving way, and only besought her +husband to name an earlier day for his and Henrik's departure. This was +also her husband's wish. Like a good angel, at once gentle, yet strong, +he stood at this time by her side. No wonder was it, therefore, that, +with his support, Elise went forward successfully; no wonder was it, +therefore, that from the firm conduct of her husband, and from the +contemplation of the good understanding which existed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> between the +married pair, the whispered blame, which had already begun to get +abroad at their expense, died of itself, like a flame wanting +nourishment.</p> + +<p>Of Judge Frank's "old flame," which Elise had feared so much, we must +relate how that she found herself so wounded, and so cooled likewise, by +the ice-cold behaviour of her former adorer, that she quickly left the +town, which was too monotonous for her, and abandoned all thoughts of +settling there.</p> + +<p>"Life there would be too uniform for me, would possess too little +interest," said she, yawning, to the Judge, who was warmly counselling +her return either to France or Italy.</p> + +<p>"In our good North," added he, "we must find that which can give +interest and enjoyment to life in ourselves and our own means,—from our +families, from our own breasts."</p> + +<p>"She is, nevertheless, extremely beautiful and interesting," said Elise, +with a kindly feeling towards her when she was gone. The Judge made no +reply; he never was heard to speak again of his former beloved one.</p> + +<p>Days went by. The Judge had much to do. Elise occupied herself with her +little girls, and the Candidate with Henrik and his own studies.</p> + +<p>The children grew like asparagus in June, and the father rejoiced over +them. "The Queen-bee will grow over all our heads," prophesied he many a +time; and when he heard Eva playing "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre," on +the piano, his musical sense awoke, and he said, "what a deal of feeling +there is already in her music!—is there not, Elise?"</p> + +<p>The evenings, on which all the members of the family assembled, assumed +constantly a livelier and more comfortable character for every one; +often they played and danced with the children.</p> + +<p>The children! What a world of pleasure and pain do they not bring with +them into a house! Of a truth all is not of as rosy a hue as their +cheeks. Elise discovered that in her children which was not always +exactly good. "Do not to others what thou wouldst not that they should +do to thee." "People should think of what they do." "Patience is a good +root." "You do not see that your father and mother do so; look at me, +and do as I do." These standing and going speeches, which have travelled +through the world from the time when "Adam delved and Eve span," down to +the present<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> day, and which to the very end of time will be ever in +use—together with assurances to the children, whenever they were +punished, or when they must learn their lessons yet more—that all this +was done for their benefit, and that the time would come when they would +be thankful for it—which the children very seldom, if ever +believed—this citizen-of-the-world, patriarchal household-fare, which +was dealt out in the family of the Franks, as in every other worthy +family, did not always produce its proper effect.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Elise troubled herself too much sometimes about the perpetual +recurrence of the same fault in her children—perhaps she calculated too +little on the invisible but sun-like and powerful influence of paternal +love on the little human-plants. True it is that she often was in great +anxiety on their account, and that the development and future prospects +of her daughters awoke in her soul much disquiet and trouble.</p> + +<p>One day, when such thoughts had troubled her more than usual, she felt +the necessity of a prudent, and, in this respect, experienced female +friend, to whom she could open her mind.</p> + +<p>"Ernst," said she, as her husband prepared himself to go out immediately +after dinner, "I shall go below for a few minutes to Evelina, but I will +be back again by the time you return."</p> + +<p>"Don't trouble yourself about that, dear Elise," said he; "remain as +long as you like; I'll fetch you. Take my arm, and let us go down +together, that I may see exactly where you go, and whence I must fetch +you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>A LITTLE EDUCATION AND COFFEE COMMITTEE.</h3> + + +<p>As Elise entered Evelina's room, Pyrrhus sprang, barking, towards her, +and wagging his tail. Mrs. Gunilla was there, and she and the hostess +emulated each other in welcoming their friend.</p> + +<p>"Nay! best-beloved, that is charming!" exclaimed Mrs. Gunilla, embracing +Elise cordially. "Now, how does the little lady?—somewhat +pale?—somewhat out of spirits, I fancy? I will tell confidentially that +I know we shall presently get some magnificent coffee, which will cheer +up little Elise."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>Evelina took Elise's hand, and looked kindly and sympathising at her +with her calm sensible eyes. Pyrrhus touched her foot gently with his +nose, in order to call her attention, and then seated himself on his +hind legs before her, began growling, in order to express his sympathy +also. Elise laughed, and she and Mrs. Gunilla vied with each other in +caressing the little animal.</p> + +<p>"Ah, let me sit down here and chat with you, where everything seems so +kind," said Elise, in reply to Evelina's glance, which spoke such a kind +"How do you do?" "Here all is so quiet and so comfortable. I do not know +how you manage, Evelina, but it seems to me as if the air in your room +were clearer than elsewhere; whenever I come to you it seems to me as if +I entered a little temple of peace."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and so it seems to me," said Mrs. Gunilla, cordially.</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank God," said Evelina, smiling gratefully, and with tears in +her eyes; "here is peace!"</p> + +<p>"And at our little lady's, the young folks raise dust sometimes in the +temper, as well as in the rooms. Is it not so?" said Mrs. Gunilla, with +facetiousness. "Well, well," added she, by way of consolation, +"everything has its time, all dust will in time lay itself, only have +patience."</p> + +<p>"Ah, teach me that best thing, Aunt," said Elise, "for I am come here +precisely with the hope of gaining some wisdom—I need it so much. But +where are your daughters to-day, Evelina?"</p> + +<p>"They are gone to-day to one of their friends," replied she, "to a +little festival, which they have long anticipated with pleasure; and I +also expect to have my share, from their relation of it to me."</p> + +<p>"Ah! teach me, Evelina," said Elise, "how I can make my daughters as +amiable, as good, and as happy, as your Laura and Karin. I confess that +it is the anxiety for the bringing up of my daughters which ever makes +me uneasy, and which lies so heavy on my heart this very day. I distrust +my own ability—my own artistical skill, rightly to form their +minds—rightly to unfold them."</p> + +<p>"Ah, education, education!" said Mrs. Gunilla, angrily; "people are +everlastingly crying out now for education. One never can hear anything +now but about education. In my youth I never heard talk and outcry for +education, and yet, thank God, a man was a man in those days for all +that. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> confess that when I first heard this talk of education, I +supposed that there would be two sorts, as of everything in the world. I +thought so! But now, ever since <i>le tiers état</i> have pushed themselves +so much forward, have made so much of themselves, and have esteemed +themselves as something exclusive in the world with their education—now +the whole world cries out, 'educate! educate!' Yes, indeed, they even +tell us now that we should educate the maid-servants. I pray God to +dispense with my living in the time when maid-servants are educated; I +should have to wait myself on them, instead of their waiting on me. Yes, +yes! things are going on towards that point at a pretty rate, that I can +promise you! Already they read Frithiof and Axel; and before one is +aware, one shall hear them talk of 'husband and wife,' and 'wife and +husband;' and that they fancy themselves 'to be vines, which must wither +if they are not supported;' and 'sacrifices,' and other such affecting +things, until they become quite incapable of cleaning a room, or +scouring a kettle. Yes, indeed, there would be pretty management in the +world with all their education! It is a frenzy, a madness, with this +education! It is horrible!"</p> + +<p>The longer Mrs. Gunilla talked on this subject, the more she excited +herself.</p> + +<p>Elise and Evelina laughed heartily, and then declared that they +themselves, as belonging to the <i>tiers état</i>, must take education, nay, +even the education of maid-servants, under their protection.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mrs. Gunilla, impatiently, "you make all so artistical and +entangled with your education; and you cram the heads of children full +of such a many things, that they never get them quite straight all the +days of their life. In my youth, people learned to speak 'the language,' +as the French was then called, just sufficient to explain a motto; +enough of drawing to copy a pattern, and music enough to play a <i>contre +danse</i> if it were wanted; but they did not learn, as now, to gabble +about everything in the world; but they learned to think, and if they +knew less of art and splendour, why, they had the art to direct +themselves, and to leave the world in peace!"</p> + +<p>"But, your best Honour," said Evelina, "education in its true meaning, +as it is understood in our time, teaches us to take a clearer view of +ourselves and of the world at large, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> that we may more correctly +understand our own allotted station, estimate more properly that of +others, and, in consequence, that every one may be fitted for his own +station, and contented therewith."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Gunilla, "all that may be very good, but——" But +just then the coffee came in, with biscuits and gingerbread, which made +an important diversion in the entertainment, which now took a livelier +character. Mrs. Gunilla imparted to Elise, with jesting seriousness, a +variety of good counsel on the education of her children. She sent for +and recommended particularly a certain <i>Orbis Pictus</i>, which she herself +had studied when a child, and which began with the words, "Come here, +boy, and learn wisdom from my mouth," and in which one could see clearly +how the soul was fashioned, and how it looked. It looked like a pancake +spread out on a table round and smooth, with all the five senses +properly numbered. Mrs. Gunilla assured Elise, that if her children paid +attention to this picture, it would certainly develop and fashion their +ideas of the human soul. Furthermore, she proposed the same educational +course as had been used with such distinguished success upon her +deceased father and his brother, when they went to school, and which +consisted in every boy being combed with a fine comb every Saturday, and +well whipped, whilst an ounce of English salt was allowed per boy, in +order to drive the bad spirits out of him. Beyond this, they had, too, +on the same day, a diet of bread and beer, in which was a dumpling +called "Grammatica," so that the boys might be strengthened for the +learning of the following week.</p> + +<p>During the merriment which these anecdotes occasioned, the Judge came +in: delighted with the merriment, and delighted with his wife, he seated +himself beside her, quite covetous of an hour's gossip with the ladies. +Mrs. Gunilla served him up the human soul in the <i>Orbis Pictus</i>, and +Elise instigated her still further to the relation of the purification +of the boys. The Judge laughed at both from the bottom of his heart, and +then the conversation turned again on the hard and disputable ground of +education; all conceding, by general consent, the insufficiency of rules +and methods to make it available.</p> + +<p>Evelina laid great stress on the self-instruction of the teacher. "In +the degree," said she, "in which man developes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> in himself goodness, +wisdom, and ability, he succeeds commonly in calling out these in +children."</p> + +<p>All the little committee, without exception, gave their most lively +approval; and Elise felt herself quite refreshed, quite strengthened by +the words which showed her so clearly the path to her great object. She +turned now, therefore, the conversation to Evelina's own history and +development. It was well known that her path through life had been an +unusual one, and one of independence, and Elise wished now to know how +she had attained to that serenity and refreshing quiet which +characterised her whole being. Evelina blushed, and wished to turn the +conversation from herself—a subject which she least of all would speak +about, and that probably because she was in harmony with herself—but as +the Judge with his earnest cordiality united in the wish of his wife and +Mrs. Gunilla, that Evelina would relate to them some passages in the +history of her life, she acceded, remarking only that what she had to +relate was in no way extraordinary; and then, after she had bethought +herself for a moment, she began, addressing herself more especially to +Elise, and in the mean time Mrs. Gunilla hastily jotted down the +narrative, which we will here designate</p> + + +<h3>EVELINA'S HISTORY.</h3> + +<p>Have you ever been conscious, while listening to a beautiful piece of +music, of a deep necessity, an indescribable longing, to find in your +own soul, in your own life, a harmony like that which you perceived in +the tune?—if so, you have then an idea of the suffering and the release +of my soul. I was yet a little child when, for the first time, I was +seized upon by this longing, without at that time comprehending it. +There was a little concert in the house of my parents; the harp, piano, +horn, and clarionette, were played by four distinguished artists. In one +part of the symphony the instruments united in an indescribably sweet +and joyous melody, in the feeling of which my childish soul was seized +upon by a strong delight, and at the same time by a deep melancholy. It +seemed to me as if I had then an understanding of heaven, and I burst +into tears. Ah! the meaning of these I have learned since then. Many +such, and many far more painful, tears of longing, have fallen upon the +dark web of my life.</p> + +<p>To what shall I compare the picture of my youthful years?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> All that it, +and many other such family pictures exhibit, is unclear, indefinite, in +one word, blotted as it were in the formation. It resembled a dull +autumn sky, with its grey, shapeless, intermingling cloud-masses; full +of those features without precision, of those contours without meaning, +of those shadows without depth, of those lights without clearness, which +so essentially distinguish the work of a bungler from that of a true +master.</p> + +<p>My family belonged to the middle class, and we were especially well +content to belong to this noble class; and as we lived from our rents, +and had no rank in the state, we called ourselves, not without some +self-satisfaction, people of condition. We exhibited a certain genteel +indifference towards the <i>haute volée</i> in the citizen society, not only +in words but sometimes also in action; yet, nevertheless, in secret we +were extremely wounded or flattered by all those who came in contact +with us from this circle; and not unfrequently too the family +conversation turned, quite accidentally as it were, on the subject of +its being ennobled on the plea of the important service which our father +could render to the state in the House of Knights; and in the hearts of +us young girls it excited a great pleasure when we were addressed as "my +lady." Beyond this agitation of the question nothing came.</p> + +<p>The daughters of the house were taught that all pomp and pleasure of +this world was only vanity, that nothing was important and worth +striving after but virtue and inward worth; yet for all this, it so +happened that their most lively interest and endeavours, and the warmest +wishes of the hearts of all, were directed to wealth, rank, and worldly +fortune of every kind. The daughters were taught that in all things the +will of God must alone direct them; yet in every instance they were +guided by the fear of man. They were taught that beauty was nothing, and +of no value; yet they were often compelled to feel, and that painfully, +in the paternal house, that they wore not handsome. They were allowed to +cultivate some talents, and acquire some knowledge, but God forbid that +they should ever become learned women; on which account they learned +nothing thoroughly, though in many instances they pretended to +knowledge, without possessing anything of its spirit, its nourishing +strength, or its pure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> esteem-inspiring earnestness. But above all +things they learned, and this only more and more profoundly the more +their years increased, that marriage was the goal of their being; and in +consequence (though this was never definitely inculcated in words, but +by a secret, indescribable influence), to esteem the favour of men as +the highest happiness, denying all the time that they thought so.</p> + +<p>We were three sisters. As children, it was deeply impressed upon us that +we must love one another; but in consequence of partiality on the side +of our teachers, in consequence of praise and blame, rewards and +punishments, which magnified little trifles into importance, envy and +bitterness were early sown among the sisters. It was said of my eldest +sister and myself, that we were greatly attached to each other; that we +could not live asunder. We were cited as examples of sisterly love; and +from constantly hearing this, we at last came to believe it. We were +compared to the carriage-horses of the family; and we were in the habit, +almost of our own accord, of seating ourselves every day after dinner on +each side of our good father, who caressed us, and called us his +carriage-horses. Yet, in fact, we did not pull together. My sister was +more richly endowed by nature than I, and won favour more easily. Never +did I envy a human being as I envied her, until in later years, and +under altered circumstances, I learned to love her rightly, and to +rejoice over her advantages.</p> + +<p>We were not very rich, and we cast a philosophically compassionate +glance upon all who were richer than we, who lived in a more liberal +manner, had more splendid equipages, or who dressed themselves more +elegantly. "What folly—what pitiable vanity!" said we: "poor people, +who know nothing better!" We never thought that our philosophy was +somewhat akin to the fox and the grapes.</p> + +<p>If we looked in this manner upon the advantages of the great, we +despised still more the pleasures of the crowd. (We ought to be so +all-sufficient for ourselves. Ah, alas!) And if ever a theatrical piece +was much talked of and visited, we had a kind of pride in saying, with +perfect indifference, that we never had seen it; and whenever there was +a popular festival, and the crowd went towards Haga or the Park, it was +quite as certain that our calesche—if it went out at all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>—would drive +on the road to Sabbatsberg, or in some other direction equally deserted +at the time; for all which, we prided ourselves on our philosophy. Yet +with all this in our hearts we really never were happy.</p> + +<p>The daughters came out into society. The parents wished to see them +loved and wooed; the daughters wished it no less—but they were not +handsome—were dressed without any pretension. The parents saw very +little company; and the daughters remained sitting at balls, and were +nearly unobserved at suppers. Yet from year to year they slid on with +the stream.</p> + +<p>The daughters approached to ripened youth. The parents evidently wished +them married; they wished it likewise, which was only natural, +especially as at home they were not happy; and it must be confessed that +neither did they themselves do much to make it pleasant there. They were +peevish and discontented—no one knew exactly what to do or what she +wanted; they groped about as if in a mist.</p> + +<p>It is customary to hear unmarried ladies say that they are satisfied +with their condition, and do not desire to change it. In this pretension +there lies more truth than people in general believe, particularly when +the lively feelings of early youth are past. I have often found it so; +and above all, wherever the woman, either in one way or another, has +created for herself an independent sphere of action, or has found in a +comfortable home that freedom, and has enjoyed that pure happiness of +life, which true friendship, true education, can give.</p> + +<p>A young lady of my acquaintance made what was with justice called a +great match, although love played but a subordinate part. As some one +felicitated her on her happiness, she replied, quite calmly, "Oh, yes! +it is very excellent to possess something of one's own." People smiled +at her for her thus lightly esteeming what was universally regarded so +great a good fortune; but her simple words, nevertheless, contain a +great and universal truth. It is this "one's own," in the world, and in +his sphere of action, which every man unavoidably requires if he would +develop his own being, and win for himself independence and happiness, +self-esteem, and the esteem of others. Even the nun has her own cell, +where she can prepare herself in peace for heaven, and in which she +possesses her true home. But in social life, the unmarried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> woman has +often not even a little cell which she can call her own; she goes like a +cloud of mist through life, and finds firm footing nowhere. Hence, +therefore, are there often marriages the genuine children of necessity, +which ought never to have taken place, and that deep longing after the +deep quiet of the grave, which is experienced by so many. But there is +no necessity for this, and in times, in which the middle classes are so +much more enlightened, it becomes still less so; we need, indeed, only +contemplate the masses of people who strive for a subsistence, the +crowds of neglected and uncared-for children that grow up in the world, +in order to see that whatever is one-sided in the view of the +destination of woman vanishes more and more, and opens to her a freer +sphere of action.</p> + +<p>But I return to the <i>pros</i> and <i>cons</i> of my own life, one feature of +which I must particularly mention. If young ladies of our acquaintance +connected themselves by marriage with men who were rather above than +below them in property or station, we considered it, without exception, +reasonable and estimable. But if a man, whose connexions and prospects +were similar to our own, looked round him for a wife in our house, we +considered it great audacity, and treated it accordingly. We were +secretly looking out for genteeler and richer individuals, who again, on +their part, were looking out for genteeler and richer individuals than +we.—N. B. This <i>looking-out</i> in the great world is a very useful thing, +both for gentlemen and ladies, although anybody who would be <i>naïve</i> +enough to acknowledge as much, would not be greatly in favour either +with those who looked-out or those who did not.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, a spirit was developed within me, which full of living +energy woke to the sense of its nonentity—to a sense of the enslaving +contradictions in which it moved, and to the most vehement desire to +free itself from them. As yet, however, I did not understand what I was +to do with my restless spirit. By contemplation, however, of noble works +of art, it appeared to me frequently that the enigma of my inner self +became clear to me. When I observed the antique vestal, so calm, so +assured, and yet so gentle—when I saw how she stood, self-possessed, +firm, and serene—I had a foretaste of the life which I needed, and +sought after, both outwardly and inwardly, and I wept tears of +melancholy longing.</p> + +<p>Tortured by the distorted circumstances (many of which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> I have not +mentioned) under which I moved in my own family connexion, I began, as +years advanced, to come in contact with the world in a manner which, for +a temper like mine, was particularly dangerous.</p> + +<p>We have heard of the daughters of the Husgafvel family, who grew old +yawning over the spinning-wheel and the weaving-stool; but, better so to +grow old, yes, better a thousand times to grow grey over the +spinning-wheel and the ashes of the cooking-stove, than with artificial +flowers—oh, how artificial!—in the hair, on the benches of the +ball-room, or the seat of the supper-room, smiling over the world, which +smiles over us no longer. This was the case with me.</p> + +<p>There are mild, unpretending beings, who bow themselves quietly under +the yoke which they cannot break; move, year after year, through the +social circle, without any other object than to fill a place there—to +ornament or to disfigure a wall. Peace to such patient souls! There, +too, are joyous, fresh, ever youthful natures, who, even to old age, and +under all circumstances, bring with them cheerfulness and new life into +every circle in which they move. These belong to social life, and are +its blessings. Many persons—and it is beautiful that it should be +so—are of this description. I, however, belonged neither to the joyous +and enlivening, nor yet to the patient and unpretending. On this account +I began to shun social life, which occasioned in me, still more and +more, a moral weariness; yet, nevertheless, I was driven into it, to +avoid the disquiet and discomfort which I experienced at home. I was a +labourer who concealed his desire for labour, who had buried his talent +in the earth, as was the hereditary custom of the circle in which I +lived.</p> + +<p>The flower yields odour and delight to man, it nourishes the insect with +its sweetness; the dewdrop gives strength to the leaf on which it falls. +In the relationships in which I lived, I was less than the flower or the +dewdrop; a being endowed with power and with an immortal soul! But I +awoke at the right time to a consciousness of my position. I say at the +right time, because there may be a time when it is too late. There is a +time when, under the weight of long wearisome years, the human soul has +become inflexible, and has no longer the power to raise itself from the +slough into which it has sunk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>I felt how I was deteriorating; I felt clearly how the unemployed and +uninterested life which I led, nourished day after day new weeds in the +waste field of my soul. Curiosity, a desire for gossip, an inclination +to malice and scandal, and an increasing irritability of temper, began +to get possession of a mind which nature had endowed with too great a +desire for action for it blamelessly to vegetate through a passive life +as so many can. Ah! if people live without an object, they stand as it +were on the outside of active life, which gives strength to the inward +occupation, even if no noble endeavour or sweet friendship give that +claim to daily life which makes it occasionally, at least, a joy to +live; disquiet rages fiercely and tumultuously in the human breast, +undermining health, temper, goodness, nay, even the quiet of conscience, +and conjuring up all the spirits of darkness: so does the corroding rust +eat into the steel-plate and deface its clear mirror with a tracery of +disordered caricatures.</p> + +<p>I once read these words of that many-sided thinker, Steffen:—"He who +has no employment to which he gives himself with true earnestness, which +he does not love as much as himself and all men, has not discovered the +true ground on which Christianity even here brings forth fruit. Such an +occupation becomes a quiet and consecrated temple in all hours of +affliction, into which the Saviour pours out his blessing; it unites us +with all other men, so that we can sympathise in their feelings, and +makes our actions and our wills administer to their wants; it teaches us +rightly to weigh our own circumscribed condition and the worth of +others. It is the true, firm, and fruit-bearing ground of real +Christianity."</p> + +<p>These words came like a breath of air on glowing sparks. A light was +kindled in my soul, and I knew now what I wanted, and what I ought to +do. After I had well considered all this with myself, I spoke with my +parents, and opened my whole heart to them. They were surprised, opposed +me, and besought me to think better of it. I had foreseen this; but as I +adhered firmly and decidedly to my wishes and my prayers, they surprised +me by their kindness.</p> + +<p>I was very fond of children; my plan was, therefore, to begin +housekeeping for myself, and to undertake some work or occupation which +should, by degrees, enable me to take two or three children, for whom I +would provide, whom I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> would educate, and altogether adopt as my own. I +was well persuaded that I needed many of the qualifications which make a +good teacher; but I hoped that that new fountain of activity would, as +it were, give to my whole being a new birth. My goodwill, my affection +for children would, I believed, be helpful to make me a good guide to +them; and thus, though I could not become a wife, I might yet enjoy the +blessing of a mother.</p> + +<p>"And why could you not—why could you not?" interrupted Elise.</p> + +<p>"People say," returned Evelina, smiling, "that you had to make your +selection of a husband from many adorers; you cannot then understand a +case in which there should not even be one choice. But truly, indeed, +that was my case. But do not look at me so amazed—don't look at me as +if I were guilty of high treason. The truth is, sweet Elise, that I +never had an opportunity to say either yes or no to a lover. With my +sisters, who were much more agreeable and much more attractive than I, +it was otherwise."</p> + +<p>But now I must return to that moment of my life when I released myself +from every-day paths—but, thank God! not with violence, not amid +discontent; but with the blessing of those who had given me life, for +which I now, for the first time, blessed them.</p> + +<p>Touched by my steadfastness of purpose, and by the true goodwill which +they had perceived in me, my parents determined—God reward them for +it!—to bestow upon my desired domestic establishment the sum of money +which they had put aside for my dowry, in case I married. Indeed, their +and my sisters' kindness made them find pleasure in arranging all for me +in the best and most comfortable manner; and when I left the paternal +roof for my own new home, it was with tears of real pain. Yet I had too +clearly studied my own character and position to be undecided.</p> + +<p>It was a day in April, my thirtieth birthday, when, accompanied by my +own family, I went to take possession of my new, small, but pretty +dwelling. Two young father-and-motherless girls, not quite without +means, followed me to my new habitation. They were to become my +children, I their mother.</p> + +<p>I never shall forget the first morning of my waking in my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> new abode. At +this very moment it is as if I saw how the day dawned in the chamber; +how all the objects gradually assumed, as it seemed to me, an +unaccustomed definiteness. From the near church ascended the morning +hymn with its pleasant serious melody, which attuned the soul to +harmonious peace. I rose early; I had to care for house and children. +All was cheerful and festival-like in my soul; a sweet emotion +penetrated me like the enlivening breeze of spring. Also without spring +breathed. I saw the snow melt from the roofs, and fall down in +glittering drops, yet never had I seen the morning light in them so +clear as now. I saw the sparrows on the edge of the chimneys twittering +to greet the morning sun. I saw without, people going joyfully about +their employments: I saw the milk-woman going from door to door, and she +seemed to me more cheerful than any milk-woman I had ever seen before; +and the milk seemed to me whiter and more nutritious than common. It +seemed to me as if I now saw the world for the first time. I fancied +even myself to be altered as I looked in the glass; my eyes appeared to +me larger; my whole appearance to have become better, and more +important. In the chamber near me the children awoke—the little +immortals whom I was to conduct to eternal life. Yes, indeed, this was a +beautiful morning! In it the world first beamed upon me, and at the same +time my own inner world, and I became of worth and consequence in my own +estimation.</p> + +<p>The active yet quiet life which I led from this time forth, suited me +perfectly well. From this time I became more thoroughly in harmony with +myself, and altogether happier. The day was often wearisome, but then +the evening rest was the sweeter, and the thought that I had passed a +useful day refreshed my soul. The children gave me many cares, many +troubles; but they gave likewise an interest to my life, and happiness +to my heart, and all the while, in pleasure and want, in joy and sorrow, +they became dearer and dearer to me. I cannot imagine that children can +be dearer to their own mother than Laura and Karin are to me.</p> + +<p>In this new position I also became a better daughter, a more tender +sister than I had hitherto been; and I could now cheer the old age of my +parents far more than if I had remained an inactive and superfluous +person in their house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> Now for the first time I had advantage of all +that was good in my education. Amid lively activity, and with a distinct +object in life, and in affectionate relationships, that which was vain +and false fell gradually away from my disposition; and the knowledge +which I had obtained, the truths which I had known, were productive in +heart and deed since I had, so to say, struck root in life.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Evelina ceased. All had heard her with sympathy, but no one more than +Ernst Frank. A new picture of life was opened to his view, and the +truest sympathy expressed itself on his manly features. He suffered by +this picture of so contracted a world, in so oppressive and gloomy a +condition, and his thoughts already busied themselves with plans for +breaking open doors, for opening windows in these premises, to free this +oppressed and captive life.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes!" said Mrs. Gunilla, with a gentle sigh, "everybody here in +this world has their difficult path, but if every one walks in the fear +and admonition of the Lord, all arrive in the end at their home. Our +Lord God helps us all!" And Mrs. Gunilla took a large pinch of snuff.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget the <i>Orbis Pictus</i>," exclaimed she to Elise, who with her +husband was preparing to go; "don't forget it, and let the children be +educated from it, that they may observe how the soul looks. He, he, he, +he!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE ORPHAN.</h3> + + +<p>The day was declining, and Ernst and Elise sate in one of the parlour +windows. Mutual communications received with mutual sympathy, had made +them have joy in each other—had let them feel at peace with life. They +were now silent; but a presentiment that for the future they should be +ever happier with each other, like a harmonious tone, responded in their +hearts, and brightened their countenances. In the mean time, the shadows +of evening began to grow broader, and a soft rain pattered on the +window. The sonorous voice of the Candidate, as he told stories to the +children, interrupted occasionally by their questions and exclamations, +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> heard in the saloon. A feeling of home-peace came over the heart of +the father; he took the hand of his wife affectionately between his, and +looked joyfully into her gentle countenance, whilst she was projecting +little domestic arrangements. In the midst of this sense of happiness a +cloud suddenly passed over the countenance of the Judge, and tears +filled his eyes.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Ernst?—what is amiss, Ernst?" asked his wife tenderly, +whilst she wiped away the tears with her hand. "Nothing," said he, "but +that I feel how happy we are. I see you, I hear our children without +there, and I cannot but think on that unfortunate child opposite, which +will be ruined in that wretched home."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes!" sighed Elise; "God help all unfortunate little ones on the +earth!"</p> + +<p>Both cast their eyes involuntarily towards the nearest window of the +before-mentioned house. Something was moving before the window; a female +figure mounted on the window ledge, a dark child's head peeped out from +between her feet, was kicked away, and a large white cloth, which was +quickly unrolled, hid all within.</p> + +<p>"He is dead!" said both husband and wife, looking at each other.</p> + +<p>The Judge sent over to inquire how it was; the messenger returned with +the tidings that Mr. N. had been dead some hours.</p> + +<p>Lights were now kindled behind the blind, and people appeared to be busy +within the chamber. The Judge walked up and down his room, evidently +much affected. "The poor child!—the poor little girl! what will become +of her? Poor child!" were his broken exclamations.</p> + +<p>Elise read the soul of her husband. She had now for some time, in +consequence of a wish which she had perceived in his heart, accustomed +herself to a thought, which yet at this moment her lips seemed unwilling +to express: "Ernst," at length, suppressing a sigh, she began, "the pot +which boils for six little mouths will boil also for seven."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" asked he, with pleasure, and with beaming eyes. He +embraced his wife tenderly, placed her beside him, and inquired—"Have +you proved your own strength? The heaviest part of this adoption would +rest upon you. Yet if you feel that you have courage to undertake it, +you would fulfil the wish of my heart."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ernst," said she, repressing a tear, "my strength is small, and nobody +knows that better than you do; but my will is good;—I will undertake +the trouble—you will support me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will help one another," said he, rising up joyfully. "Thank +you, Elise—thank you, my sweet friend," continued he, kissing her hand +affectionately. "Shall I go to fetch the child immediately?—but perhaps +it will not come with me."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go with you?"</p> + +<p>"You!" said he; "but it gets dark—it rains."</p> + +<p>"We can take an umbrella," replied she; "and besides that, I will put on +a wrapping cloak, and will soon be ready."</p> + +<p>Elise went to dress herself, and her husband went to help her, put on +her cloak for her, and paid her a thousand little affectionate +attentions.</p> + +<p>After Elise had given sundry orders to Brigitta, she and her husband +betook themselves to the house, whilst the children set their little +heads together full of curiosity and wonder.</p> + +<p>The two crossed the street in wind and rain; and after they had ascended +the dark staircase, they arrived at the room which Mr. N. had inhabited. +The door stood half open; a small candle, just on the point of going +out, burned within, spreading an uncertain and tremulous light over +everything. No living creature was visible within the room, which had a +desolate, and, as one might say, stripped appearance, so naked did it +seem. The dead man lay neglected on his bed, near to which was no trace +of anything which might have mitigated the last struggle. A cloth +covered his face. Ernst Frank went towards the bed, and softly raising +the cloth, observed for a moment silently the terrible spectacle, felt +the pulse of the deceased, and then covering again the face, returned +silently, with a pale countenance, to his wife.</p> + +<p>"Where can we find the child?" said she, hastily. They looked +searchingly around; a black shadow, in a human form, seemed to move +itself in one corner of the room. It was the orphan who sate there, like +a bird of night, pressing herself close to the wall. Elise approached +her, and would have taken her in her arms, when the child suddenly +raised her hand, and gave her a fierce blow. Elise drew back astonished, +and then, after a moment, approached again the half-savage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> girl with +friendly words; again she made a threatening demonstration, but her +hands were suddenly grasped by a strong manly hand, and a look so +serious and determined was riveted upon her, that she trembled before +it, and resigned herself to the power of the stronger.</p> + +<p>The Judge lifted her up, and set her on his knee, whilst she trembled +violently.</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid of us," said Elise, caressingly; "we are your good +friends. If you will come with me this evening to my little children, +you shall have sweet milk and wheaten bread with them, and then sleep in +a nice little bed with a rose-coloured coverlet."</p> + +<p>The white milk, the rose-coloured coverlet, and Elise's gentle voice, +seemed to influence the child's mind.</p> + +<p>"I would willingly go with you," said she, "but what will my father say +when he wakes?"</p> + +<p>"He will be pleased," said Elise, wrapping a warm shawl about the +shoulders of the child.</p> + +<p>At that moment a sound was heard on the stairs; little Sara uttered a +faint cry of terror, and began to tremble anew. Mr. N.'s housekeeper +entered, accompanied by two boys. The Judge announced to her his +determination to take the little Sara, as well as the effects of her +deceased father, under his care. At mention of the last word, the woman +began to fume and swear, and the Judge was obliged to compel her to +silence by severe threats. He then sent one of the boys for the +proprietor of the house, and after he had in his presence taken all +measures for the security of the effects of the deceased, he took the +little Sara in his arms, wrapped her in his cloak, and, accompanied by +his wife, went out.</p> + +<p>All this time an indescribable curiosity reigned among the little +Franks. Their mother had said, in going out, that perhaps, on her +return, she should bring them another sister. It is impossible to say +the excitement this occasioned, and what was conjectured and counselled +by them. The Candidate could not satisfy all the questions which were +let loose upon him. In order, therefore, somewhat to allay their +fermentation, he sent them to hop through the room like crows, placing +himself at the head of the train. A flock of real crows could not have +fluttered away with greater speed than did they as the saloon door +opened and the father and mother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> entered. Petrea appeared curious in +the highest degree, as her father, opening his wide cloak, softly set +down something which, at the first moment, Petrea, with terror, took for +a chimney-sweeper; but which, on closer inspection, seemed to be a very +nice thin girl of about nine years old, with black hair, dark +complexion, and a pair of uncommonly large black eyes, which looked +almost threateningly on the white and bright-haired little ones which +surrounded her.</p> + +<p>"There, you have another sister," said the father, leading the children +towards each other;—"Sara, these are your sisters—love one another, +and be kind to one another, my children."</p> + +<p>The children looked at each other, somewhat surprised; but as Henrik and +Louise took the little stranger by the hand, they soon all emulated each +other in bidding her welcome.</p> + +<p>Supper was served up for the children, more lights were brought in, and +the scene was lively. Everything was sacrificed to the new comer. Louise +brought out for her two pieces of confectionery above a year old, and a +box in which they might be preserved yet longer.</p> + +<p>Henrik presented her with a red trumpet, conferring gratuitous +instruction on the art of blowing it.</p> + +<p>Eva gave her her doll Josephine in its new gauze dress.</p> + +<p>Leonore lighted her green and red wax tapers before the dark-eyed Sara.</p> + +<p>Petrea—ah, Petrea!—would so willingly give something with her whole +heart. She rummaged through all the places where she kept anything, but +they concealed only the fragments of unlucky things; here a doll without +arms; here a table with only three legs; here two halves of a sugar-pig; +here a dog without head and tail. All Petrea's playthings, in +consequence of experiments which she was in the habit of making on them, +were fallen into the condition of that which had been—and even that +gingerbread-heart with which she had been accustomed to decoy Gabriele, +had, precisely on this very day, in an unlucky moment of curiosity, gone +down Petrea's throat. Petrea really possessed nothing which was fit to +make a gift of. She acknowledged this with a sigh; her heart was tilled +with sadness, and tears were just beginning to run down her cheeks, when +she was consoled by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> sudden idea—The Girl and the Rose-bush! That +jewel she still possessed; it hung still, undestroyed, framed and behind +glass, over her bed, and fastened by a bow of blue ribbon. Petrea +hesitated only a moment; in the next she had clambered up to her little +bed, taken down the picture, and hastened now with beaming eyes and +glowing cheeks to the others, in order to give away the very loveliest +thing she had, and to declare solemnly that now "Sara was the possessor +of the Girl and the Rose-bush."</p> + +<p>The little African appeared very indifferent about the sacrifice which +the little European had made to her. She received it, it is true, but +she soon laid it down again without caring any more about it, which +occasioned Louise to propose that she should keep it for her.</p> + +<p>In the midst of these little occurrences the Assessor came in. He looked +with an inquisitive glance round the room, showed his white teeth, and +said to himself, "Yes, it's all right; it is what I expected. So, +indeed," added he aloud, in his angry manner, whilst he cordially shook +the hand of his friend, "I see you thought you had not children enough +of your own in the house, but you must drag in those of other people! +How many do you mean to burden yourselves with? Will there not be +another to-morrow? Were you not satisfied with a whole half-dozen girls +of your own? And what will become of them? One shall presently not be +able to get into the house for children! I suppose that you have such a +superfluity of money and property, that you must go and squander it on +others! Nay! good luck to you!—good luck to you!"</p> + +<p>The Judge and his wife replied only by smiles to the grumbling of their +friend, and by the request that he would spend the evening with them. +But he said he had not time; and then, after he had laid large pears, +which he took from his pocket, under the napkins on the children's +plates, he went out.</p> + +<p>Every one of those pears had its own distinctive sign: round Sara's was +a gold-coloured ribbon; and upon her plate, under the pear, was found a +bank-note of considerable value. It was his gift to the fatherless, yet +he never would acknowledge it. That was his way.</p> + +<p>As the mother took Sara by the hand, in order to conduct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> her to rest, +Petrea had the indescribable delight of seeing that, from all the little +presents which had been made to her, she only took with her the girl and +the rose-bush, which she appeared to regard with pleasure.</p> + +<p>Sara was seized with violent grief in the comfortable bedroom; tears +streamed with wonderful violence from her eyes, and she called loudly +for her father. Elise held her quietly in her arms, and let her weep out +her grief on her bosom, and then gently undressing her, and laying the +weary child in bed, had the pleasure of feeling how affectionately she +clasped her arms around her neck.</p> + +<p>The girl and the rose-bush hung over her bed, but still there seemed to +be no rest on the snow-white couch for the "little African." Her dark +eyes glanced wildly about the room, and her hands grasped convulsively +Elise's white dress.</p> + +<p>"Don't go," whispered she, "or else they will come and murder me."</p> + +<p>Elise took the child's hands in hers, and repeated a simple and pious +little prayer, which she had taught to all her own children. Sara said +the words after her; and though it was only mechanically, she seemed to +become calmer, though shudderings still shook her frame, and she hold +fast by Elise's dress. Elise seated herself by her, and at the request +of the other children, "Mother, sing the song of the Dove—oh, the song +of the Dove!" she sang, with a pleasant low voice, that little song +which she herself had made for her children:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There sitteth a dove so white and fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">All on the lily-spray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And she listeneth how, to Jesus Christ,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The little children pray.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lightly she spreads her friendly wings,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And to heaven's gate hath sped,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And unto the Father in heaven she bears<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The prayers which the children said.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And back she comes from heaven's gate,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And brings—that dove so mild—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the Father in heaven, who hears her speak,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">A blessing for every child.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then, children, lift up a pious prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">It hears whatever you say,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That heavenly dove, so white and fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">That sits on the lily-spray.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>During this song, the dove of peace descended on the soul<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> of the child. +Pleasant images passed before her mind: the girl and the rose-bush and +the singing Elise were the same person—the rose diffused pleasant +odour; and whilst the long dark lashes approached her cheek yet nearer +and nearer, it seemed to her as if a white lovely singing-bird spread +out his wings caressingly and purifyingly over her breast. By degrees +the little hand opened itself, and let go the dress which it had +grasped, the tearful eyes closed, and the sweetness of repose came over +the fatherless and the motherless.</p> + +<p>Elise raised herself gently, and went to the beds of the other children. +The dove on the lily-spray sent sleep also to them; and after the mother +had pressed her lips to their cheeks, had spoken with Brigitta about the +new comer, and had received from the child-loving, good-natured old +woman, the most satisfactory promises, she hastened back to her husband.</p> + +<p>He listened with curiosity to what she had to relate of Sara. This new +member of the family, this increase of his cares, seemed to have +expanded and animated his soul. His eyes beamed with a gentle emotion as +he spoke of the future prospects of the children. Evelina's history, +which was still fresh in his and Elise's mind, seemed to spur him on to +call forth for his family quite another picture of life.</p> + +<p>"We will bring up our children," said he warmly, "not for ourselves, but +for themselves. We will seek for their good, for their happiness; we +will rightly consider what may conduce to this, as much for one child as +for another; we will endeavour to win and to maintain their full +confidence; and should there, dear Elise, be any harshness or severity +in me, which would repel the children from me, you must assist me; let +their secret desires and cares come to me through you!"</p> + +<p>"Yes! where else could they go?" returned she, with the deepest feeling; +"you are my support, my best strength in life! Without you how weak +should I be!"</p> + +<p>"And without you," said he, "my strength would become sternness. Nature +gave me a despotic disposition. I have had, and have still, many times +the greatest difficulty to control it; but with God's help I shall +succeed! My Elise, we will improve ever. On the children's account, in +order to make them happy, we will endeavour to ennoble our own nature."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that we will, Ernst!" said she; "and may the peace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> in the house +make betimes the spirit of peace familiar to their bosoms!"</p> + +<p>"We will make them happy," began the father again, with yet increasing +warmth; "with God's help, not one of them shall wander through life +unhappy and infirm of spirit. My little girls! you shall not grow up +like half-formed human beings; no illusions shall blind your eyes to +what are the true riches of life; no noble desires shall you experience +unsatisfied. Ah, life is rich enough to satisfy all the birds under +heaven, and no one need be neglected on earth! Your innocent life shall +not fail of strength and joy; you shall live to know the actuality of +life, and that will bring a blessing on every day, interest on every +moment, and importance on every occupation. It will give you repose and +independence in sorrow and in joy, in life and in death!"</p> + +<p>Whilst Elise listened to these words, she felt as if a refreshing breeze +passed through her soul. Nothing more seemed to her difficult. All the +troubles of life seemed light, on account of the bright end to be +attained. And then, as she thought on the manly warm heart which lived +so entirely for her good and the children's, she felt a proud joy that +she could look up to her husband; and at the same time a sense of +humility slid into her heart, she bowed herself over his hand, and +kissed it fervently.</p> + +<p>This did not please the Judge, because, like every other decided and +powerful man, it gratified him rather to pay homage to woman than, at +least by outward bearing, to receive homage from her. He therefore +withdrew his hand with some displeasure.</p> + +<p>"Why may I not kiss your hand," inquired Elise, "if it give me +pleasure?"</p> + +<p>"Because it gives me no pleasure, and you must not do it again."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, dear friend, you need not forbid it so sternly. Perhaps I +shall never again have the desire to do it."</p> + +<p>"All the better," said he.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not!" returned Elise. "But let us now go to rest."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> +<h2>PART II.</h2> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE NEW HOUSE.</h3> + + +<p>"Farewell, oh house of my childhood! Farewell, you walls, insensible +witnesses of my first tears, my first smiles, and my first false steps +on the slippery path of life—of my first acquaintance with water-gruel +and A B C! Thou corner, in which I stood with lessons difficult to be +learned; and thou, in which I in vain endeavoured to tame the most +thankless of all created things, a fly and a caterpillar!—you floors, +which have sustained me sporting and quarrelling with my beloved brother +and sisters!—you papers, which I have torn in my search after imagined +treasures;—you, the theatre of my battles with carafts and +drinking-glasses—of my heroic actions in manifold ways, I bid you a +long farewell, and go to live in new scenes of action—to have new +adventures and new fate!"</p> + +<p>Thus spake Petrea Frank, whilst, with dignified gestures, she took a +tragic-comic farewell of the home which she and her family were now +about to leave.</p> + +<p>It was a rainy day, in the middle of April. A black silk cloak, called +merrily the "Court-preacher," a piece of property held in common by the +Frank family, and a large red umbrella, called likewise the +"Family-roof," which was common property too, were on this day seen in +active promenade on the streets of the city of X——. What all this +passing to and fro denoted might probably be conjectured if one had seen +them accompanied by a tall, fair, blue-eyed maid-servant, and a little +brown, active, servant-man, carrying bandboxes, baskets, packages, etc., +etc.</p> + +<p>Towards twilight might have been seen, likewise, the tall thin figure of +Jeremias Munter, holding the "family-roof" over the heads of himself and +Petrea Frank. Petrea seemed to be carrying something under her cloak, +laughed and talked, and she and the Assessor seemed to be very much +pleased with each other. Alas! this satisfaction did not endure long;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +on the steps of the front-door Petrea accidentally trod on the dangling +lace of her boot, made a false step, and fell. A large paper case of +confectionery suddenly proceeded from under the "court-preacher," and +almond-wreaths, "brown sugar-candy, and iced fruits rolled in all +directions. Even amid the shock and the confusion of the first moment it +was with difficulty that Petrea restrained a loud laugh from bursting +forth when she saw the amazement of the Assessor, and the leaps which he +made, as he saw the confections hopping down the steps towards the +gutter. It was the Assessor's own tribute to the festival of the day +which was thus unluckily dispersed abroad.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, if there were no ladies," said the Assessor, vexed, "one +should be able to accomplish something in this world. But now they must +be coming and helping, and on that account things always go topsy-turvy. +'Let me only do it—let me only manage it,' say they; and they manage +and make it, so that——'Did one ever see anything so foolish!—To fall +over your foot-lace!'—but women have order in nothing; and yet people +set up such to govern kingdoms!—To govern kingdoms!!! I would ask +nothing more from them than that they should govern their feet, and keep +their boot and shoe strings tied. But from the queen down to the +charwoman, there is not a woman in this world who knows how to fasten +her boot-lace!"</p> + +<p>Such was the philippic of Jeremias Munter, as he came into the room with +Petrea, and saw, after the great shipwreck, that which remained of the +confectionery. Petrea's excuses, and her prayers for forgiveness, could +not soften his anger. True it is, that an unfortunate disposition to +laugh, which overcame her, gave to all her professions of distress a +very doubtful appearance. Her distress, however, for all that, was real; +and when Eva came, and said, with a beseeching, flattering voice, "Dear +uncle, do not be angry any longer; poor Petrea is really quite cast +down—besides which she really has hurt her knee," the good man replied +with a very different voice:</p> + +<p>"But has she, indeed? But why are people so clumsy—so given to tripping +and stumbling, that one——"</p> + +<p>"One can get some more confections at any time," said Eva.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can one!" exclaimed Jeremias; "do they grow on trees, then? How? Shall +one then throw away one's money for confectionery, in order to see it +lie about the streets? Pretty management that would be, methinks!"</p> + +<p>"Yet just say one kind word to Petrea," besought Eva.</p> + +<p>"A kind word!" repeated Jeremias: "I would just tell her that another +time she should be so good as to fasten her shoestrings. Nay, I will go +now after some more confectionery; but only on your account, little Miss +Eva. Yes, yes; say I—I will now go: I can dance also, if it be +for——But how it rains! lend me the 'family-roof,' and the cloak there +I need also. Give it here handsomely! Well then, what is there to gape +at? How! will the people gape at me?—all very good; if it gives them +any pleasure, they may laugh at me, I shall not find myself any the +worse for it. Health and comfort are above all things, and one dress is +just as good as another."</p> + +<p>The young girls laughed, and threw the "court-preacher," which hardly +reached to his knees, over the shoulders of the Assessor; and thus +apparelled he went forth with long strides.</p> + +<p>The family had this day removed into a new house. Judge Frank had bought +it, together with a small garden, for the lifetime of himself and his +wife, and for the last two years he had been pulling down, building up, +repairing, and arranging: some doors he had built up, others he had +opened, till all was as convenient and as comfortable as he wished. His +wife, in full confidence, had left all to his good judgment, well +pleased for her own part to be spared the noise of bricklayers and +carpenters, which she escaped not without difficulty; to be spared from +going among shavings and under scaffoldings, and from clambering over +troughs full of mortar, etc. Papers for the walls and other ornamental +things had been left to the choice of herself and her daughters.</p> + +<p>And now he went, full of pleasure, with his wife's arm in his, from one +story to another, and from one room into another, greatly pleased with +the convenient, spacious, and cheerful-looking habitation, and yet even +more so with his wife's lively gratification in all his work. And thus +she was obliged to promenade through the whole house, from the cellar up +to the roof; into the mangling-room, the wood-chamber, etc.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>We will not weary the reader by following them in this promenade, but +merely make him acquainted with some of the rooms in which he will often +meet the family. We merely pass through the saloon and best parlour; +they were handsome, but resembled all such apartments; but the room +which the Judge had arranged with the most especial love, which was +designed for daily use, and as the daily assembling place of the family, +and which deserves our most intimate acquaintance, was the library, so +called. It was a large, very lively room, with three windows on one side +looking into a spacious market-place. Louise rejoiced especially over +this, for thus they could look out of the windows on market-days, and +see at once what they wished to buy; directly opposite lay the church, +with its beautiful churchyard well planted with trees; these objects +pleased Elise greatly. The side of the room opposite to the windows was +entirely covered with books; the shelves consisted of several divisions, +each one of which contained the literature of a different country. In +niches between the several divisions stood, on simple but tasteful +pedestals, busts of distinguished men, great for their heroic and +peaceful actions—standing there, said the Judge, not because they +separated the different nations of the earth, but because they united +them. Ernst Frank's library was truly a select one; it had been the +pleasure of his life, and still it was his delight to be increasing his +collection of book's. Now, for the first time, they were collected and +arranged all in one place. He rejoiced over these treasures, and +besought his daughters freely to make use of them (on this one express +condition, that every book should be restored again to its right place). +To Louise was consigned the office of librarian; to Petrea that of +amanuensis. Both mother and daughters were delighted with this room, and +began to consider where the work-table, the flower-table, and the +bird-cage should stand, and when all were arranged, they were found to +suit their places admirably. Against one of the short walls stood the +green sofa, the appointed place for the mother; and against the opposite +one the piano, and the harp, which was Sara's favourite instrument, +together with a guitar, whose strings were touched by Eva, as she sang +"Mamma mia."</p> + +<p>An agreeable surprise awaited Elise as she was led through a curtained +door which conducted from the library into a sort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> of boudoir, whose one +window had the same prospect as the library—this was solely and +entirely her own consecrated room. She saw with emotion that the +tasteful furniture of the room was the work of her daughters; her +writing-table stood by the window; several beautiful pictures and a +quantity of very pretty china adorned the room. Elise saw, with thankful +delight, that all her favourite tastes, and all her little fancies, had +been studied and gratified both by husband and children.</p> + +<p>A small curtained door, likewise, on the other side, conducted Elise +into her sleeping-room; and her husband made her observe how smoothly +these doors turned on their hinges, and how easily she, from either +side, could lock herself in and remain in quiet.</p> + +<p>After this room, nothing gave Elise greater delight than the +arrangements for bathing, which the Judge had made particularly +convenient and comfortable; and he now turned the white taps with +remarkable pleasure, to exhibit how freely the warm water came out of +this, and the cold—no, out of this came the warm water, and out of the +other the cold. The cheerfulness and comfort of the whole arrangement +were intended to give to the bathing-day—which was almost as +religiously observed in this family as the Sunday—a double charm. In a +room adjoining that which was appropriated to dressing, the old cleanly +Brigitta had already her fixed residence. Here was she and the great +linen-press to grow old together. Here ticked her clock, and purred her +cat; here blossomed her geraniums and balsams, with the Bible and +Prayer-book lying between them.</p> + +<p>The three light and pleasant rooms intended for the daughters lay in the +story above, and were simply but prettily furnished.</p> + +<p>"Here they will feel themselves quite at home," said the father, as he +looked round with beaming eyes; "don't you think so, Elise? We will make +home so pleasant to our children that they shall not wish to leave it +without a really important and deserving cause. No disquiet, no +discontent with home and the world within it, shall drive them from the +paternal roof. Here they can have leisure and quiet, and be often alone, +which is a good thing. Such moments are needed by every one in order to +strengthen and collect themselves, and are good for young girls as well +as for any one else."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>The mother gave her applause fully and cordially; but immediately +afterwards she was a little absent, for she had something of importance +to say to her eldest daughter; and as at that very moment Louise came +in, an animated conversation commenced between them, of which the +following reached the father's ear:</p> + +<p>"And after them, pancakes; and, my good girl, take care that six of them +are excellently thick and savoury; you know, indeed, how Henrik likes +them."</p> + +<p>"And should we not," suggested Louise, "have whipped cream and raspberry +jam with the pancakes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, with pleasure," returned the mother,—"Jacobi would unquestionably +recommend that."</p> + +<p>Louise blushed, and the Judge besought with animation that there might +be something a little more substantial than "angels' food" for supper, +which was promised him.</p> + +<p>The Assessor shook out the "family-roof" in the hall in indignation. +"The most miserable roof in all Christendom," said he; "it defends +neither from wind nor rain, and is as heavy as the ark! and——"</p> + +<p>But at the very moment when he was shaking and scolding his worst, he +perceived a sound——exclamations and welcomes, in every possible +variety of joyous and cordial tones. The "court-preacher" was thrown +head and shoulders over the "family-roof," and with great leaps hastened +Jeremias forward to shake hands with the son and the friend of the +house, who were just now returned home from the University.</p> + +<p>Tokens of condolement mingled themselves with welcomes and +felicitations.</p> + +<p>"How wet, and pale, and cold you are!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we have had a magnificent shower!" said Henrik, shaking himself, +and casting a side glance on Jacobi, who looked both downcast and +doleful in his wet apparel. "Such weather as this is quite an affair of +my own. In wind and rain one becomes so—I don't know rightly how—do +you, <i>mon cher</i>?"</p> + +<p>"A jelly, a perfect jelly!" said Jacobi, in a mournful voice; "how can +one be otherwise, knocked about in the most infamous of peasant-cars, +and storm, and pouring rain, so that one is perfectly battered and +melted! Hu, hu, u, u, u, uh!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, according to my opinion," said Henrik, laughing heartily at the +gestures of his travelling companion, "it is a hardening sort of +weather; there is a proud exalting feeling in it, sitting there quite +calm under the raging of the elements; especially when one looks down +from one's elevation on other fellow-mortals, who go lamenting, and full +of anxiety, under their umbrellas. Thus one sits on one's car as on a +throne; nay, indeed, one gets quite a flattering idea of oneself, as if +one were a little, tiny philosopher. Apropos! I bethink myself now, as +if we had seen, as we came this way, a philosopher in a lady's cloak +walking hither. But, how are you all, sweet, sweet sisters? How long it +is since I saw you!" and he pressed their hands between his cold and wet +ones.</p> + +<p>This scene, which took place in twilight, was quickly brought to an end +by the ladies resolutely driving the gentlemen out to their own chamber +to change their clothes. Jacobi, it is true, on his own account, did not +require much driving, and Louise found Henrik's philosophy on this +occasion not so fully adopted. Louise had already taken care that a good +blazing fire should welcome the travellers in their chamber.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, the ladies quartered themselves in the library; lights +were kindled, the table spread; the Judge helped all, and was highly +delighted if people only called to him. The Assessor looked enraptured, +as Eva arranged his confections on little plates. Petrea did not venture +to look at them, much less to touch them.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, my dear girls, how comfortable it is here!" exclaimed the +Judge in the joy of his heart, as he saw the library thus peopled, and +in its for-the-future every-day state. "Are you comfortable there, on +the sofa, Elise? Let me get you a footstool. No; sit still, my friend! +what are men for in the world?"</p> + +<p>The Candidate—we beg his pardon, the Master of Arts, Jacobi—appeared +no longer to be the same person who had an hour before stood there in +his wet dress, as he made his appearance, handsomely apparelled, with +his young friend, before the ladies, and his countenance actually beamed +with delight at the joyful scene which he there witnessed.</p> + +<p>People now examined one another nearer. They discovered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> that Henrik had +become considerably paler as well as thinner, which Henrik received as a +compliment to his studies. Jacobi wished also a compliment on his +studies, but it was unanimously refused to him on account of his +blooming appearance. He protested that he was flushed with the weather, +but that availed nothing. Louise thought privately to herself that +Jacobi had decidedly gained in manly bearing; that he had a simpler and +more vigorous demeanour; he was become, she thought, a little more like +her father. Her father was Louise's ideal of manly perfection.</p> + +<p>Little Gabriele blushed deeply, and half hid herself behind her mother, +as her brother addressed her.</p> + +<p>"How is your highness, my most gracious Princess Turandotte!" said he; +"has your highness no little riddle at hand with which to confuse weak +heads?"</p> + +<p>Her little highness looked in the highest degree confused, and tried to +withdraw the hand which her brother kissed again and again. Gabriele was +quite bashful before the tall student.</p> + +<p>Henrik had a little <i>tête-à-tête</i> with every sister, but it was somewhat +short and cold with Sara; after which he seated himself by his mother, +took her hand in his, and a lively and general conversation began, +whilst Eva handed about the confectionery.</p> + +<p>"But what is amiss now?" asked Henrik, suddenly. "Why have the sisters +all left us to take council together there, with such important +judge-like faces? Is the nation in danger? May not I go, in order to +save the native land?—If one could only first of all have eaten one's +supper in peace," added he, speaking aside, after the manner of the +stage.</p> + +<p>But it was precisely about the supper that they were talking. There was +a great danger that the pancakes would not succeed; and Louise could not +prevent Henrik and Jacobi running down into the kitchen, where, to the +greatest amusement of the young ladies, and to the tragi-comic despair +of the cook, they acted their parts as cooks so ridiculously that Louise +was obliged at length, with an imposing air, to put an end to the +laughter, to the joking, and to the burnt pancakes, in order that she +herself might put her hand to the work. Under her eye all went well; the +pancakes turned out excellently. Jacobi besought one from her own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> hand, +as wages for his work; graciously obtained it, and then swallowed the +hot gift with such rapture that it certainly must have burnt him +inwardly, had it not been for another species of warmth (which we +consider very probable)—a certain well-known spiritual fire, which +counteracted the material burning, and made it harmless. Have we not +here, in all simplicity, suggested something of a homoeopathic nature?</p> + +<p>But we will leave the kitchen, that we may seat ourselves with the +family at the supper-table, where the mother's savoury, white pancakes, +and the thick ones for Henrik, were found to be most excellent, and +where the "angels' food" was devoured with the greatest earthly +enjoyment.</p> + +<p>After this, they drank the health of the travellers, and sang a merry +little song, made by Petrea. The father was quite pleased with his +Petrea, who, quite electrified, sang too with all her might, although +not with a most harmonious voice, which, however, did not annoy her +father's somewhat unmusical ear.</p> + +<p>"She sings louder than they all," said he to his wife, who was +considerably less charmed than he with Petrea's musical accompaniment.</p> + +<p>Although every one in the company had had an exciting and fatiguing day, +the young people began immediately after supper, as if according to a +natural law, to arrange themselves for the dance.</p> + +<p>Jacobi, who appeared to be captivated by Sara's appearance, led her in +the magic circle of the waltz.</p> + +<p>"Our sensible little Queen-bee," a rather broad-set, but very well-grown +blonde of eighteen, distinguished herself in the dance by her beautiful +steps, and her pleasing though rather too grave carriage. Everybody, +however, looked with greater admiration on Eva, because she danced with +heart and soul. Gabriele, with her golden curls, flew round like a +butterfly. But who did not dance this evening?—Everybody was actually +enthusiastic—for all were infected with the joyous animal spirits of +Henrik. Even Jeremias Munter, to the amazement of everybody, led Eva, +with most remarkable skill, through the Polska,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> the most artificial +and perplexing of dances.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> +<p>It was only at midnight that the dance was discontinued, at the +suggestion of Elise. But before they separated, the Judge begged his +wife to sing the well-known little song—"The First Evening in the New +House." She sang it in her simple, soul-touching manner, and the joy +full of peace which this song breathed penetrated every heart; even the +grave countenance of the Judge gleamed with an affectionate emotion. A +quiet glory appeared to rest on the family, and beautified all +countenances; for it is given to song, like the sun, to throw its +glorifying light upon all human circumstances, and to lend them beauty, +at least for a moment. "The spinner," and "the aged man by the +road-side," are led by song into the kingdom of beauty, even as they are +by the Gospel into the kingdom of heaven.</p> + +<p>On taking leave for the night, all agreed upon a rendezvous the next +morning after breakfast in the orchard, in order to see what was to be +made of it.</p> + +<p>The father conducted the daughters up into their chambers. He wanted to +see yet once more how they looked, and inquired from them again and +again—"Are you satisfied, my girls? Do they please you? Would you wish +anything besides? If you wish anything, speak out right Swedishly."</p> + +<p>As now his daughters, assuring him of their contentment, gratefully and +affectionately hung about him, there was not a happier man on the face +of the earth than Judge Frank.</p> + +<p>The mother, on her part, had taken her first-born with her into her +little boudoir. She had as yet not been able to speak one word to him +alone. Now she questioned him on everything, small and great, which +concerned him, and how freely and entirely he opened his whole heart to +her!</p> + +<p>They talked of the circumstances of the family; of the purchase of this +new property; of the debt which they had thereby contracted; of the +means through which, by degrees, it would be paid off, and of the +necessity there was for greater economy on all sides. They talked, too, +of the daughters of the house.</p> + +<p>"Louise is superb," said Henrik, "but her complexion is rather muddy; +could she not use some kind of wash for it? She would be so much +handsomer if she had a fresher complexion; and then she looks, the least +in the world, cathedral-like. What a solemn air she had to-night, as +Jacobi made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> some polite speech to her! Do you know, mother, I think the +sisters sit too much; it is in that way that people get such grave +cathedral-like looks. We must make them take more exercise; we must find +out some lively exhilarative exercise for them. And Eva! how she is +grown, and how kind and happy she looks! It is a real delight to see +her—one can actually fall in love with her! But what in all the world +is to be done with Petrea's nose? It does, indeed, get so large and +long, that I cannot tell what is to be done! It is a pity, though, for +she is so good-hearted and merry. And Leonore! How sickly and unhappy +she looks at times! We must endeavour to cheer her up."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that we will," said the mother; "if she were but healthy, we could +soon manage that; but how does little Gabriele please you?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! she is very lovely, with her high-bred little airs—quite +fascinating," said Henrik.</p> + +<p>"And Sara!" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, "she is lovely—very lovely, I think; but still there is +something, at least to my taste, very unpleasant in her. She is not like +my sisters; there is something about her so cold, so almost repulsive."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the mother, sighing; "there is at times something very +extraordinary about her, more particularly of late. I fear that a +certain person has too great, and that not a happy, influence over her. +But Sara is a richly gifted and truly interesting girl, out of whom +something very good may be made, if—if——She gives us, indeed, anxiety +at times, for we are as much attached to her as if she were our own +child. She has a most extraordinary talent for music—you must hear her. +There really is much that is very distinguished and truly amiable in +her; you will see it, as you remain so much longer time with us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, thank God!" said Henrik, "I can now reckon on that, on remaining +some months at home."</p> + +<p>The conversation now turned on Henrik's future prospects. His father +wished him to devote himself to mining, and with this end in view he had +studied, but he felt ever, more and more, a growing inclination to +another profession, and this had become a ground of dissatisfaction in +the family. The mother now besought her first-born to prove himself +carefully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> and seriously before he deserted the path to which his father +was attached, and which Henrik himself had selected in common council +with his father. Henrik promised this solemnly. His soul was warm and +noble. His young heart possessed every fine sentiment, a pure enthusiasm +for virtue and for his country, a glowing desire to live for them, this +belonged to his heart in the richest measure. The wish to be useful to +the community generally, united itself with all his views of +self-advantage, and he only saw his own prosperity in connexion with +that of his family. These thoughts and sentiments poured themselves +forth in that sweet confidential hour freely and fully to his +mother—the happy mother, whose heart beat with joy and with proudest +hope of her first-born, the favourite of her soul, her summer child!</p> + +<p>"And when I have made my own way in the world," added Henrik, joyfully +kissing the hand of his mother, "and have a house of my own, then, +mother, you shall come to me, and live with me, will you not?"</p> + +<p>"And what would your father say to that?" said she, in a tone like his +own.</p> + +<p>"Oh! he has all the sisters who can keep house for him," said Henrik, +"and——"</p> + +<p>"Do you intend to sit up here the whole night?" asked a voice at the +door. It was the voice of the Judge, and both mother and son rose up as +if they had been caught in the fact of conspiracy. The conspiracy, +however, was immediately imparted to the Judge, whereupon he declared +that all this would lead to such fearful consequences that they had +better say no more about it.</p> + +<p>Both mother and son laughed, and said "Good night" to each other. But as +Henrik conveyed the hand of his mother towards his lips, he fell into a +sort of ecstasy over it.</p> + +<p>"Heavens! what a white hand! and what small fingers! nay, how can people +have such small fingers?" And with a sort of comic devotion he kissed +the little finger of that beautiful hand.</p> + +<p>"I see I must carry you off forcibly, if I would have you to myself," +said the Judge merrily, and taking his wife's arm in his, led her out.</p> + +<p>But her thoughts still hovered around her first-born, her handsome and +richly endowed son. She uttered a glowing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> prayer for his perfecting in +all good, whilst all were sleeping sweetly the first night in the new +house.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> A wild and animated Swedish national dance.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE MORROW.</h3> + + +<p>How pleasant it must have been to the family the next morning to +assemble round the amply-supplied breakfast-table in a handsome and +spacious drawing-room. But drawing-room, and breakfast-table, and all +outward comforts, signify nothing, if the inward are wanting; if +affectionate dispositions and kind looks do not make the room bright, +and the breakfast well-flavoured. But nothing was wanting on this +morning to the family of the Franks—not even the sun. It shone in +brightly to illumine the bright scene.</p> + +<p>Henrik made a speech to Madame Folette, in testimony of his love and +reverence for her, and of his joy on meeting her again in so good a +state of preservation.</p> + +<p>Louise, with the help of Eva, served tea and coffee, bread and butter, +etc., taking particular care that everybody had just what they liked +best. The basket which held sugar-biscuits was constantly in the +neighbourhood of Jacobi.</p> + +<p>"How glorious this is!" exclaimed Henrik, rubbing his hands, and casting +a glance of pleasure around on his parents and sisters, "it is quite +paradisiacal! What does your Majesty desire? Ah, your most devoted +servant! Coffee, if I might ask it, excellent Madame Folette!"</p> + +<p>"After breakfast," said the mother, "I have something for you to guess."</p> + +<p>"Something to guess?" said Henrik, "what can it be? Tell me, what is it +like, sweet mamma? what name does it bear?"</p> + +<p>"A wedding," replied she.</p> + +<p>"A wedding? A most interesting novelty! I cannot swallow another morsel +till I have made it out! Jacobi, my best fellow, can I possess myself of +a biscuit? A wedding! Do I know the parties?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly well."</p> + +<p>"It cannot possibly be our excellent Uncle Munter, himself?" suggested +he. "He seems to me very odd, and, as it were, a little touched in the +heart."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no! He'll not marry."</p> + +<p>"He is already so horribly old," said Eva.</p> + +<p>"Old!" exclaimed the Judge. "He is something above forty, I fancy; you +don't call that so horribly old, my little Eva. But it is true he has +always had an old look."</p> + +<p>"Guess better," said the mother.</p> + +<p>"I have it! I have it!" said Petrea, blushing. "It is Laura! Aunt +Evelina's Laura!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, light breaks in," said Henrik; "and the bridegroom is Major Arvid +G. Is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Precisely," said his mother. "Laura makes a very good match. Major G. +is a very good-looking, excellent young man; and beyond this, has a good +property. He has persuaded Evelina to remove with Karin to his beautiful +seat at Axelholm, and to consider Laura's and his home as theirs for the +future. Eva dear, set the ham before Henrik. What do you want, my angel +Gabriele? Another rusk? Heavens! how quick you are! Leonore, may I give +you some more bread and butter, my child? No?"</p> + +<p>"But I hope," exclaimed Henrik, "that we shall be invited to the +wedding. Evelina, who is such a sensible woman, must have the good sense +to invite us. Most gracious sister Queen-bee, these rolls—very +nourishing and estimable rolls—were they baked before or after the +Flood?"</p> + +<p>"After," replied Louise, a little piqued, yet with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I humble myself in the dust," said he. "I pray your Majesty most +graciously to pardon me—[<i>aside</i>—but after all they taste remarkably +either of the ark or of a cupboard]. But what in all the world sort of +breakfast are you making, Petrea? Nay, dear sister, such, a superfluity +in eating never can prosper. I pray you do not eat yourself ill!"</p> + +<p>Petrea, who had her curious fancies, or as Louise called them, +her "raptures," had now for some time had the fancy to take only a +glass of cold water and a piece of dry bread for her breakfast. On +account of this abstinence, Henrik now jested, and Petrea answered +him quite gaily; Louise, on the contrary, took up the matter quite +seriously, and thought—as many others did—that this whim of Petrea's +had a distant relationship to folly; and folly, Louise—the sensible +Louise—considered the most horrible of horrors; Louise, who was so very +sensible!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, really, you must not sit gossiping any longer!" exclaimed the +father, when he saw their mouths only put in motion by conversation, +"else I must go away and leave you; and I should very much like to go +into the garden with you first."</p> + +<p>A general rising followed these words, and all betook themselves to the +garden, with the exception of Leonore, who was unwell, and the little +Gabriele, who had to be careful on account of the damp.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the garden had its own extraordinary circumstances, and +all here did not go on in the usual mode; for although the place was yet +not laid out, and the April snow covered the earth, and still hung in +great masses on the low fruit-trees, which were the only wealth of the +garden, yet these, not at all according to the commonly established laws +of nature, were covered with fruit the most beautiful; rennets and +oranges clustered the twigs, and shone in the sun. Exclamations were +uttered in every variety of tone; and although both Jacobi and Henrik +protested that they could not discover any way of accounting for this +supernatural phenomenon, still they did not escape the suspicion of +being instrumental in the witchcraft, spite of all the means they used +to establish their innocence. The opinion, however, was universally +adopted, that good and not bad elves had been thus busily at work; and +the fruit, therefore, was gathered without fear of bad consequences, and +laid in baskets. The elves were praised both in prose and verse; and +there never was a merrier harvest-feast.</p> + +<p>The Judge had some trouble to get anybody to listen to all his plans of +lilac-hedges, strawberry-beds, of his arbour, and his garden-house. The +narrow space, however, in which he had to work troubled him.</p> + +<p>"If one could only get possession of the piece of land beyond this!" +said he, striking with his stick upon the tall red-boarded fence which +bounded one side of the garden. "Look here, Elise, peep through that +gap; what a magnificent site it is for building—it extends down to the +river!—what a magnificent promenade it would make, properly laid out +and planted! It might be a real treasure to the whole city, which needs +a regular walk in its neighbourhood; and now it lies there desolate, and +useful to nobody, but only for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> a few cows, because the proprietor does +not know how to make use of it; and our good men of the city have not +public spirit enough to purchase it out of the common fund for the +general good. If I were but rich enough to buy the place, it should soon +have a different appearance, and instead of cows human beings should be +walking there; these boards should be torn down, and our garden should +be united to the great promenade. What a situation it would be!"</p> + +<p>"Would not beehives answer very well here?" asked our sensible +Queen-bee; "the sun strikes directly on these boards."</p> + +<p>"You are perfectly right, Louise," said her father, well pleased; "that +is a good thought; this is an excellent place for beehives: to-morrow +I'll see about some. Two or three we must have, and that directly, that +the bees may have the advantage of the apple and cherry bloom. Thus we +can see them working altogether, and learn wisdom from them, and watch +how they collect honey for us. That will be a pleasure—don't you think +so, Elise?"</p> + +<p>Elise rejoiced sincerely over the bees, and over the garden. It would +give her great pleasure to lay it out. She would set Provence-roses as +soon as possible; and forcing houses also should be erected. Eva thought +she should give herself up to gardening.</p> + +<p>But it was necessary to leave for the present the future home of +radishes and roses, because it was wet and uncomfortable out of doors.</p> + +<p>Gabriele made large eyes when she saw the basketful of fruit which had +been gathered in the garden. But the little Princess Turandotte could +not unravel the riddle respecting them, as Henrik presented it to her.</p> + +<p>The forenoon was spent in clearing away, and in arranging things in the +house. Sara alone took no part in it, but took lessons on the harp from +a distinguished young musician of the name of Schwartz, who had come a +stranger to the city. She sate the whole morning at her music, which she +loved passionately; in the mean time, Petrea had promised to enact the +part of lady's-maid to her, and to put all her clothes and things in +order.</p> + +<p>Henrik sate perfectly happy in his sisters' rooms, and nearly killed +himself with laughing while he watched in part their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> clearing away and +bustling about, and in part taking a share in all. The quantities of +bundles of pieces, old bonnets, cloaks, dresses, etc., which were here +in motion, and played their parts, formed a singular contrast to his +student-world, in which such a thing as a piece of printed cotton or a +pin might be reckoned quite a curiosity. Then the seriousness with which +all these things were treated, and the jokes and merriment which arose +out of all this seriousness, were for him most delicious things.</p> + +<p>Nothing, however, amused him more than Louise and all her "properties," +as well as the great care which, with a half-comic, half-grave +earnestness, she took of them; but he declared solemnly that he would +disclaim all relationship with her if ever he should see her wearing a +certain pale green shawl, called jokingly "spinage," and a pale grey +dress, with the surname of "water-gruel." None of the sisters had so +many possessions as Louise, and none treated them with so much +importance; for she had in the highest degree that kind of passion which +we will call property-passion. Her bandboxes and bundles burst +themselves out of the space in which she wished to stow them, and came +tumbling down upon her head. She accused Henrik of being guilty of these +accidents; and certain it is that he helped her, not without some +mischievous pleasure, to put them up again in their places.</p> + +<p>Louise was well known in the family for her love of what was old; the +more shabby a dress was, the more distinguished she seemed to think it; +and the more faded a shawl, the more, according to her, it resembled a +Cashmere. This affection for old things extended itself sometimes to +cakes, biscuits, creams, etc., which often occasioned Henrik to inquire +whether an article of a doubtful date had its origin before or after the +Flood. We will here add to the description of Louise a few touches, +which may make the reader more fully acquainted with her character.</p> + +<p>Pure was she both in heart and intention, with great love of truth, and +a high moral sense, although too much given to lecturing, and sometimes +a little wanting in charity towards erring fellow-mortals. She had much +of her father's understanding and prudence, but came, of course, far +short of him in knowledge of mankind and in experience, although now, in +her eighteenth year, she considered herself to have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> perfect knowledge +of mankind. The moral worth of her soul mirrored itself in her exterior, +which, without her being handsome, pleased, and inspired a degree of +confidence in her, because good sense expressed itself in her calm +glance, and her whole demeanour was that of a decided and well-balanced +character. A certain comic humour in her would often dissolve her solemn +mien and important looks into the most hearty laughter; and when Louise +laughed, she bore a charming resemblance to her mother, for she +possessed Elise's beautiful mouth and teeth.</p> + +<p>She was as industrious as an ant, and in the highest degree helpful to +those who were deserving of help, but less merciful than Lafontaine's +ants were to thoughtless crickets and their fellows. Louise had three +hobby-horses, although she never would confess that she had a single +one. The first was to work tapestry; the second, to read sermons; and +the third, to play Patience, and more especially Postillion. A fourth +had of late began to discover itself, and that was for medicine—for the +discovering and administering of useful family medicines; nay, she had +herself decocted a certain elixir from nine bitter herbs, which Henrik +declared would be very serviceable in sending people to the other world. +Louise was no way disturbed by all this, for she did not allow herself +to be annoyed by remarks.</p> + +<p>She prized, enjoyed, and sought, above all things, after "the right;" +but she also set a high value on "respectability" and "property," and +seemed to think that these were hers of course. She had the excellent +peculiarity of never undertaking anything that she could not creditably +get through with; but she had a great opinion of her own ability, in +which her family participated, although they sometimes attempted to set +her down. In the mean time she was in many instances the adviser and +support of the family; and she had a real genius for the mighty +department of housekeeping.</p> + +<p>The parents called her, with a certain satisfaction—the father with a +secret pride—"our eldest daughter." The sisters styled her rather +waggishly "our eldest sister," and sometimes simply "our eldest;" and +"our eldest" knew exceedingly well how to regard her own dignity in +respect to rank and priority. Beyond this, she had a high idea of the +value of woman.</p> + +<p>Louise had an album, in which all her friends and acquaintance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> had +written down their thoughts or those of others. It was remarkable what a +mass of morality this book contained.</p> + +<p>We fear that our readers may be somewhat weary of hearing the names of +Sara, Louise, Eva, Leonore, Petrea, Gabriele, repeated so often one +after another, and we are very sorry that we find it unavoidable yet +once more to present the whole array in connexion with Louise. But we +will see what little variety we can make by taking them at hap-hazard, +and therefore now steps forward</p> + + +<h3>PETREA.</h3> + +<p>We are all of us somewhat related to chaos; Petrea was very closely so. +Momentary bursts of light and long periods of confusion alternated in +her. There was a great dissimilarity between Louise and Petrea. While +Louise required six drawers and more to contain her possessions, there +needed scarcely half a one for the whole wardrobe of Petrea; and this +said wardrobe too was always in such an ill-conditioned case, that it +was, according to Louise, quite lamentable, and she not unfrequently +lent a helping hand to its repair. Petrea tore her things, and gave away +without bounds or discrimination, and was well known in the sisterly +circle for the bad state of her affairs. Petrea had no turn for +accumulation; on the contrary, she had truly, although Louise would not +allow it, a certain turn for art.</p> + +<p>She was always occupied by creations of one kind or another, either +musical, or architectural, or poetical. But all her creations contained +something of that which is usually called trash. At twelve years old she +wrote her first romance: "Annette and Belis loved each other tenderly; +they experienced adversity in their love; were at last, however, united, +and lived henceforth in a charming cottage, surrounded with hedges of +roses, and had eight children in one year," which we may call a very +honourable beginning. A year afterwards she began a tragedy, which was +to be called "Gustavus Adolphus and Ebba Brahe," and which opened with +these verses spoken by one Delagardie:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">Now from Germania's coast returned,<br /></span> +<span class="i10">I see again the much-loved strand;<br /></span> +<span class="i6">From war I come, without a wound,<br /></span> +<span class="i10">Once more into my native land.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Say, Bannér say, what woe has caused these tears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Am I not true to thee, or is it idle hope alone that will befool my years?<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>Whether no sheet of paper was broad enough to contain the lengthened +lines, or any other cause interfered to prevent the completion of the +piece, we know not; but certain it is that it was soon laid aside. +Neither did a piece of a jocular nature, which was intended to emulate +the fascinating muse of Madame Lenngren,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> advance much further—the +beginning was thus:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Within the lordly castle Elfvakolastie,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Which lay, in sooth, somewhere in Sverge,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a><br /></span> +<span class="i0">There lived of yore the lovely Melanie,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">The only daughter of Count Stjerneberge.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>At the present time Petrea was engaged on a poem, the title of which, +written in large letters, ran thus—"The Creation of the World!"</p> + +<p>The Creation of the World began thus:</p> + +<p class="bold" style="margin-left: 10%;">CHAOS.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Once in the depths etern of darkness lying,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">This mighty world<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waited expectantly the moments flying<br /></span> +<span class="i4">When light should be unfurled.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The world was nothing then, which now is given<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To crowds of busy men;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all our beautiful star-spangled heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Was desolate darkness then;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet He was there, who before time existed,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Who will endure for ever.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The creation of the world ceased with this faint glimmering of light, +and was probably destined under Petrea's hand never to be brought forth +from chaos. Petrea had an especially great inclination for great +undertakings, and the misfortune to fail in them. This want of success +always wounded her deeply, but in the next moment the impulse of an +irresistibly vigorous temperament raised her above misfortune in some +new attempt. The blood rushed up to her young head, and filled it with a +mass of half-formed thoughts, fancies, and ideas; her mind and her +character were full of disquiet. At times joyous and wild beyond bounds, +she became on the other hand wretched and dispirited without reason. +Poor Petrea! She was wanting in every kind of self-regulation and +ballast, even outwardly; she walked ill—she stood ill—she curtseyed +ill—sate ill—and dressed ill; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> occasioned, in consequence, much +pain to her mother, who felt so acutely whatever was unpleasing; and +this also was very painful to Petrea, who had a warm heart, and who +worshipped her mother.</p> + +<p>Petrea also cherished the warmest affection and admiration for Sara, but +her manner even of evidencing her affection was commonly so entirely +without tact, as rather to displease than please the object of it. The +consciousness of this fact embittered much of Petrea's life; but it +conducted her by degrees to a love in which tact and address are of no +consequence, and which is never unreturned.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Petrea was seized with a strong consciousness of the +chaoticness of her state; but then, again, at other times she would have +a presentiment that all this would clear itself away, and then that +something which was quite out of the common way would come forth; and +then she was accustomed to say, half in jest and half in earnest, to her +sisters, "You'll see what I shall turn out sometime!" But in what this +extraordinary turning out should consist nobody knew, and least of all +poor Petrea herself. She glanced full of desire towards many suns, and +was first attracted by one and then by another.</p> + +<p>Louise had for Petrea's prophesyings great contempt, but the little +Gabriele believed in them all. She delighted herself, moreover, so +heartily in all that her sister began, that Petrea sacrificed to her her +most beautiful gold-paper temple; her original picture of shepherdesses +and altars; and her island of bliss in the middle of peaceful waters, +and in the bay of which lay a little fleet of nut-shells, with rigging +of silk, and laden with sugar-work, and from the motion of which, and +the planting of its wonderful flowers, and glorious fruit-bearing trees, +Petrea's heart had first had a foretaste of bliss.</p> + +<p>Petrea's appearance imaged her soul;—for this too was very variable; +this too had its "raptures;" and here too at times also a glimmering +light would break through the chaos. If the complexion were muddled, and +the nose red and swollen, she had a most ordinary appearance; but in +cooler moments, and when the rose-hue confined itself merely to the +cheeks, she was extremely good-looking; and sometimes too, and that even +in her ugly moments, there would be a gleam<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> in her eye, and an +expression in her countenance, which had occasioned Henrik to declare +that "Petrea was after all handsome!"</p> + +<p>To a chaotic mind, the desire for controversy is in-born; it is the +conflict of the elements with each other. There was no subject upon +which Petrea had not her conjectures, and nothing upon which she was not +endeavouring to get a clear idea; on this account she discussed all +things, and disputed with every one with whom she came in contact; +reasoned, or more properly made confusion, on politics, literature, +human free-will, the fine arts, or anything else; all which was very +unpleasant to the tranquil spirit of her mother, and which, in connexion +with want of tact, especially in her zeal to be useful, made poor Petrea +the laughing-stock of every one; a bitter punishment this, on earth, +although before the final judgment-seat of very little, or of no +consequence at all.</p> + + +<h3>LEONORE.</h3> + +<p>Spite of the mother's embraces, and the appellation, "thou beloved, +plain child!" the knowledge by degrees had come painfully to Leonore +that she was ugly, and that she was possessed of no charm—of no fine +endowment whatever; she could not help observing what little means she +had of giving pleasure to others, or of exciting interest; she saw very +plainly how she was set behind her more gifted sisters by the +acquaintance and friends of the family; this, together with feeble +health, and the discomfort which her own existence occasioned to her, +put her in a discordant state with life and mankind. She was prone to +think everything troublesome and difficult; she fell easily into a state +of opposition to her sisters, and her naturally quick temper led her +often into contentions which were not without their bitterness. All this +made poor Leonore feel herself very unhappy.</p> + +<p>But none, no! none, suffer in vain, however for a while it may appear +so. Suffering is the plough which turns up the field of the soul, into +whose deep furrows the all-wise Husbandman scatters his heavenly seed; +and in Leonore, also, it already began to sprout, although, as yet, only +under the earth. She was not aware of it herself yet; but all that she +experienced in life, together with the spirit which prevailed in her +family, had already awakened the beauty of her soul.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> She was possessed +of deep feeling, and the consciousness of her many wants made her, by +degrees, the most unpretending and humble of human beings; and these are +virtues which, in private life, cannot be exceeded. If you come near a +person of this character, the influence on you is as if you came out of +the sun's heat into refreshing shadow: a soft coolness is wafted over +your soul, which refreshes and tranquillises you at the same time.</p> + +<p>In the period at which we have now to meet Leonore, she had just +recovered from the scarlet fever, which had left behind it such an +obstinate and oppressive headache as compelled her almost constantly to +remain in her own room; and although her parents and her sisters visited +her there, it afforded her but little pleasure, for as yet she had not +learned how, by goodness and inward kindness, to make herself agreeable +to others.</p> + +<p>But, poor Leonore! when I see thee sitting there in deep thought, thy +weak head supported by thy hand, sunk in sorrowful reflections, I am +ready to lay thy head on my bosom, and to whisper a prophesying in thy +ear—but this may as well remain to a future time. We leave thee now, +but will return another time to thy silent chamber.</p> + +<p>And now step forth, thou, the joy and ornament of home, the beautiful</p> + + +<h3>EVA!</h3> + +<p>Eva was called in the family, "our rose," "our beauty." There are many +in the world like Eva, and it is well that it is so; they are of a +pleasing kind. It is delightful to look upon these blooming young girls, +with smiles on their lips, and goodness and joy of life beaming from +their beautiful eyes. All wish them so well, and they wish so well to +all; everything good in life seems as if it came from themselves. They +have favourable gales in life—it was so with Eva. Even her weakness, a +desire to please, which easily went too far, and an instability of +character which was very dangerous to her, exhibited themselves only on +their pleasing side, within the circle of her family and of her +acquaintance, and helped to make her more beloved.</p> + +<p>Eva, although perhaps, strictly speaking, not beautiful, was yet +bloomingly lovely. Her eyes were not large, but were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> of the most +exquisite form, and of the clearest dark blue colour, and their glance +from under their long black lashes was at once modest, lively, and +amiable. The silky chestnut brown hair was parted over a not lofty but +classically-formed brow. Her skin was white, fine, and transparent, and +the mouth and teeth perfectly beautiful; add to all this, Eva had the +fine figure of her mother, with her light and graceful action. Excellent +health, the happiest temper, and a naturally well-tuned soul, gave a +beautiful and harmonious expression to her whole being. Whatever she +did, she did well, and with grace; and whatever she wore became her; it +was a kind of proverb in the family, that if Eva were to put a black cat +on her head it would be becoming.</p> + +<p>A similarity in understanding and talent, as well as companionship +together, had made Louise and Eva hitherto "<i>les inseparables</i>," both at +home and abroad; of late, however, without separating herself from +Louise, Eva had been drawn, as it were, by a secret power to Leonore. +Louise, with all her possessions, was so sufficient for herself. Leonore +was so solitary, so mournful, up there, that the good heart of Eva was +tenderly drawn towards her.</p> + +<p>But it seems to us as if Gabriele looks rather poutingly, because she +has been so long, as it were, pushed aside. <i>We</i> will therefore hastily +turn to</p> + + +<h3>THE LITTLE LADY.</h3> + +<p>It did not please "our little lady" to be neglected at all. Gabriele +was, in truth, a spoiled child, and often made "<i>la pluie</i>" and the +"<i>beau temps</i>" in the house. She was defended from cold, and wind, and +rain, and vexation, and faddled with and indulged in all possible ways, +and praised and petted as if for the best behaviour, if she were only +gracious enough to take a cup of bouillon, or the wing of a chicken for +dinner. She herself is still like the chicken under the mother's wing; +yet she will sometimes creep from under, and attempt little flights on +her own account. Then she is charming and merry, makes enigmas and +charades, which she gives mostly to her mother and Petrea to guess. It +gives her particular pain to be treated as a little girl; and nothing +worse can happen to her than for the elder sisters to say, "Go out just +for a little while, Gabriele, dear!" in order that they may then impart<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +to each other some important affair, or read together some heart-rending +novel. She will willingly be wooed and have homage paid to her; and the +Assessor is always out of favour with her, because he jokes with her, +and calls her "little Miss Curlypate," and other such ugly names.</p> + +<p>Learning and masters are no affairs of hers. She loves a certain "<i>far +niente</i>," and on account of delicate health her tastes are indulged. Her +greatest delight is in dancing, and in the dance she is captivating. In +opposition to Petrea, she has a perfect horror of all great +undertakings; and in opposition to Louise, a great disinclination to +sermons, be they by word of mouth or printed. The sun, the warm wind, +flowers, but above all, beloved and amiable human beings, make Gabriele +feel most the goodness of the Creator, and awaken her heart to worship.</p> + +<p>She has a peculiar horror of death, and will neither hear it, nor indeed +anything else dark or sorrowful, spoken of; and, happily for Gabriele, +true parental love has a strong resemblance to the Midsummer sun of the +North, which shines as well by night as by day.</p> + +<p>If we turn from the bright-haired Gabriele to Sara, to "that Africa," as +the Assessor called her, we go from day to night. Sara was like a +beautiful dark cloud in the house—like a winter night with its bright +stars, attractive, yet at the same time repulsive. To us, nevertheless, +she will become clear, since we possess the key to her soul, and can +observe it in the following</p> + + +<h3>NOTICES FROM SARA'S JOURNAL.</h3> + +<p>"Yesterday evening Macbeth was read aloud; they all trembled before Lady +Macbeth: I was silent, for she pleased me. There was power in the +woman."</p> + +<p>"Life! what is life? When the tempest journeys through space on strong +free pinions, it sings to me a song which finds an echo in my soul. When +the thunder rolls, when the lightning flames, then I divine something of +life in its strength and greatness. But this tame every-day life—little +virtues, little faults, little cares, little joys, little +endeavours—this contracts and stifles my spirit. Oh, thou flame which +consumest me in the silent night, what wilt thou? There are moments in +which thou illuminest, but eternities in which thou tormentest and +burnest me!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This narrow sphere satisfies <i>them</i>; they find interest in a thousand +trifles; they are able to exert themselves in order to obtain little +enjoyments for each other. Well for them! I was made for something +different."</p> + +<p>"Why should I obey? Why should I submit my inclination—my will, to +gratify others?—Why? Ah, freedom—freedom!"</p> + +<p>"I have obtained 'Volney's Ruins' from S——. I conceal the book from +these pious fearful people, who tremble at shadows; but +to-night!—to-night!—when their eyes are closed in sleep, mine shall +wake and read it. The frontispiece to this book gives me extraordinary +pleasure. A wreck combats with stormy waves; the moon goes down amid +black clouds; on the shore, among the ruins of a temple, sits a +Mussulman—a beautiful and thoughtful figure—and surveys the scene. I +likewise observe it, and an agreeable shudder passes through me. A vast +ruin is better and far more beautiful than a small and an empty +happiness."</p> + +<p>"The book pleases me. It expresses what has long lain silent in me. It +gives clear light to my dark anticipations. Ah! what a day dawns upon +me! A dazzling light that clears away all misty illusions, but my eyes +are strong enough to bear it! Let the net of prejudice, let the +miserable bond of custom be rent asunder, let the fettering supports +fall! My own strength is sufficient for me."</p> + +<p>"Why am I a woman? As a man my life and my conduct would have been clear +and easy; as a woman, I must bow myself in order to clear myself. +Miserable dependence! Miserable lot of woman!"</p> + +<p>"I do not love S——, but he makes a certain impression upon me. The +dark strength in his eye pleases me, the reckless strong will that will +bow itself only to me; and when he takes the harp in his arms, with what +powerful strength he compels it to express all that which the heart has +dreamt and dreams. Then he grasps the strings of my heart—then I +acknowledge in him my master; but never, he shall never govern me.</p> + +<p>"His spirit is not powerful enough for that. He never can be other to me +than as a means to my end. Nor will I herein deceive him. I am too proud +for a hypocrite. I know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> well whom I could love. I know well the man who +could be the aim of my ambition."</p> + +<p>"Nature never created me for this narrow sphere—for this narrow +foot-track through life. S—— shows me another, which captivates my +mind; I feel that I am created for it.</p> + +<p>"I have observed myself in the glass, and it tells me, as well as the +glance of mankind, that I am handsome. My growth is strong, and accords +with the character of my countenance. I cannot doubt the assurance of +S——. My person, in connexion with the powers of my mind, and my +talent, will ensure me a brilliant future."</p> + +<p>"What purpose would it serve to create illusions? Away with all +illusions! I stand upon a higher point than those around me—than they +who consider themselves entitled to censure my faults, to exalt +themselves in secret above me, perhaps because they have taken me out of +compassion. Taken me out of compassion! Subjecting, humiliating thought!</p> + +<p>"Yet, at the same time, they are good; yes, angelically good to me. I +wish they were less so!"</p> + +<p>"To-night, now for the second time in my life, I have had the same +extraordinary dream. It appeared to me that I was in my chamber, and saw +in heaven vast masses of black cloud above my head driving towards the +horizon, accompanied with a strong rushing sound in the air.</p> + +<p>"'Save thyself, Sara!' cried the voices of my sisters; 'come, come with +us!' But I felt in my limbs that peculiar sluggishness which one +perceives in dreams when one wishes to hasten. My chamber-window flew +open before the tempest, and impelled by a strong curiosity I looked +out. The sun stood opposite to me, pale, watery, without beams; but the +whole firmament around me seemed to burn; a glow of fire passed over all +things. Before me stood a tall aspen, whose leaves trembled and +crackled, whilst sparks of fire darted forth from them. Upon one twig of +the tree sate a huge black bird, looking on me with a fiery glance, and +singing hoarsely and tunelessly, while the tempest and flame rioted +around him. I heard the voices of my adopted mother and sisters +anxiously calling on me from a distance ever further and further +removed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I leaned myself out of the window to hear what the black bird with the +wonderful voice sang. I no longer had any fear. I awoke; but the dream +has a charm for me."</p> + +<p>"The black bird sings to me, out of my dream. My adopted mother has wept +to-day on my account. I am sorry for it, but——it is best that I go. +They do not love me here—they cannot do it. They do not need me, nor I +them any longer. It is best that we separate."</p> + +<p>Thus Sara.</p> + +<p>We will now cast a glance on the parents themselves, who were not +greatly altered, excepting that Elise's whole appearance exhibited much +more health and strength than formerly. The energetic countenance of the +Judge had more wrinkles, but it had, besides, an expression of much +greater gentleness. A slight, but perhaps not wholly unpardonable, +weakness might be observed in him. He was completely captivated with his +daughters. God bless the good father!</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Anna Lenngren, a distinguished Swedish poetess, admired +especially for her Idyls. She died in 1817.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Sweden.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE OBJECT.</h3> + + +<p>We must now say how the family grouped themselves in the new house. +Since the arrival of Henrik and Jacobi, the liveliness of the family had +visibly increased, Henrik zealously followed up his purpose of making +his sisters take more active exercise, and Jacobi assisted him with his +whole heart. Long walks were arranged, but, to Henrik's annoyance, it +seldom was possible to induce Louise to take exercise of that kind +which, according to his opinion, she needed so much. Louise had always +such a vast deal to do at home; Sara lived only for her harp and her +singing; Leonore was not strong enough; and for Gabriele, it was +generally either too cold, or too dirty, or too windy, or she was not in +the humour to walk. Eva, on the contrary, was always in the humour, and +Petrea had always the desire to speed away. It was Henrik's greatest +pleasure to give one of his sisters his arm, especially when they were +well and handsomely dressed.</p> + +<p>At seven o'clock in the evening all the members of the family assembled +themselves in the library, where the tea-table was prepared, at which +Louise presided. The evenings were uncommonly cheerful, particularly +when the family<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> were alone. Between tea and supper they either talked, +or read aloud, or had music; after supper they mostly danced, and then +Louise exercised herself with remarkable grace. Sometimes they had +charades or social games. Henrik and Petrea had always some new flash of +merriment or other. It was the greatest delight of the Judge to see all +his children around him, especially in an evening, and to see them happy +too. The door of his study, which adjoined the library, always stood +open, in an evening, and, whether he read or wrote there, he still was +conscious of all that went forward among them. Sometimes he would come +out and take part in their entertainment, or would sit on the green sofa +beside his wife, and watch the dance, rejoicing himself over his +daughters, and sometimes was even taken out into the dance, where he was +in much request.</p> + +<p>The young people remarked, that whatever might for the time occupy +Jacobi, he was somewhat absent and incomprehensible; he sighed +frequently, and seemed rather to enjoy quiet conversation with the +ladies than charades and other amusements. It was discovered, between +Henrik and Petrea, that these fits of absence, and these sighs, must +have an object; but it was a long time, that is to say, three or four +days, before they could decide who it really was.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be our mamma," said Petrea, "because she is married; and +besides this, she is so much older than any of us, although, prettier +than all of us together; and though Master Jacobi has such pleasure in +talking with her, and conducts himself towards her as if he were her +son, still it cannot be she. Do you know, Henrik, I fancy Sara is the +object—he looks at her so much; or perhaps Eva, for he is always so +lively with her; and I heard him say yesterday to Uncle Munter, that she +was so uncommonly charming. But it is rather improper that he should +pass 'our eldest' so!"</p> + +<p>Henrik was greatly amused by Petrea's difficulty and conjectures, for he +had his own peculiar notions about the object, and by degrees Petrea +herself began to have a clearer foreknowledge, and to think that +perhaps, after all, the true object might be no other than "our eldest" +herself. After this insight into things, which Petrea was not slow in +circulating among her sisters, Louise was called, in their jocular +phraseology, "the object." All this while, however, "the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> object" +herself appeared to pay very little attention to the speculations which +had thus reference to herself. Louise was at the present time greatly +occupied by setting up a piece of weaving, and had in consequence, +greatly to Henrik's horror, brought again into use the dress surnamed +"water-gruel." She had absolutely a sort of rage to wear out her old +clothes—and as it happened, moreover, that the piece of weaving was of +a pattern which was much perplexed and difficult to arrange, she assumed +almost constantly the "cathedral demeanour," which occasioned her to +look all the less attractive. But so it happened, Jacobi looked a great +deal at Sara, joked with Eva, and remained sitting beside Louise, as if +he found by her side only true happiness and satisfaction.</p> + +<p>In vain did Petrea draw him into all kind of controversial subjects, in +order to make him, during the contest, somewhat forgetful of "the +object." He did not become abstracted; and it was particularly +observable that the Master had much less desire for disputation than the +Candidate had had; and when Mrs. Gunilla took the field against him more +than once with a whole host of monads and nomads, he only laughed. Now, +indeed, Jacobi had a favourite topic of conversation, and that was his +Excellency O——. The distinguished personal qualities of his +Excellency, his noble character, his goodness, his spirit, his +commanding carriage, his imposing exterior, could not be sufficiently +celebrated and exalted by Jacobi; nay, even his broad lion-like +forehead, his strong glance, and his beautiful patrician hands, were +many a time described.</p> + +<p>Jacobi had for some time been attached to his Excellency as his +secretary, and he had now the hope of his assistance in his future +prospects. In the mean time his Excellency had shown him the greatest +kindness; had given him many opportunities of increasing his knowledge, +and had offered to take him with him on a journey to foreign countries; +besides all which, he had himself practised him in French. In one word, +Excellency O—— was the most excellent excellency in all the world, an +actual excellentissimus. Jacobi was devoted to him heart and soul, was +rich in anecdotes about Excellency O——, and in anecdotes which he had +heard of his Excellency.</p> + +<p>Louise, more than any member of the family, had the property<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> of being a +good listener, and therefore she heard more than any one else of his +Excellency O——, but yet not alone of him; Jacobi had always a +something to relate to her, a something on which he wanted her +consideration, and if Louise were not too much occupied with her +thoughts about the weaving, he was always quite sure, not only of her +sincere sympathy, but of her most deliberate judgment, as well on moral +questions as on questions of economical arrangement, dress, plans for +the future, and so forth. He himself imparted to her good advice—which, +however, was not often followed—for playing Postillion. He drew +patterns for her embroidery, and read aloud to her gladly, and that +novels in preference to sermons.</p> + +<p>But he was not long permitted to sit in peace by her side, for very soon +the seat on the other side of her was occupied by a person whom we will +call "the Landed-proprietor," from the circumstance of his most eminent +distinction being the possession of an estate in the neighbourhood of +the town.</p> + +<p>The Landed-proprietor appeared to the Candidate—we will for the future +adhere to this our old appellation, for, in a certain sense, in this +world, all men are Candidates—quite disposed to make a quarrel about +the place he was inclined to take.</p> + +<p>Beside his large estate, the Landed-proprietor was possessed of a large +portly body, round cheeks, plump from excess of health, a pair of large +grey eyes remarkable for their unmeaning expression, a little ruddy +mouth, which, preferred eating rather than speaking, which laughed +without meaning, and which now directed to Cousin Louise—he considered +himself related to her father—sundry speeches which we will string +together in our next chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>STRANGE QUESTIONS.</h3> + + +<p>"Cousin Louise, are you fond of fish? for example, bream?" asked the +Landed-proprietor one evening as he seated himself beside Louise, who +was industriously working a landscape in her embroidery-frame.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! bream is good fish," replied she, very phlegmatically, and +without looking up from her work.</p> + +<p>"Oh, with red-wine sauce," said the Landed-proprietor,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> "delicate! I +have magnificent fishing on my estate at Oestanvik. Big fellows of +bream! I catch them myself."</p> + +<p>"Who is that great fish there?" asked Jacobi from Henrik, with an +impatient sneer, "and what matters it to him whether your sister Louise +likes bream or not?"</p> + +<p>"Because in that case she might like him, <i>mon cher</i>," replied Henrik; +"a most respectable and substantial fellow is my Cousin Thure of +Oestanvik. I advise you to cultivate his acquaintance. Well, now, +Gabriele dear, what wants your highness?—Yes, what is it?—I shall lose +my head about the riddle.—Mamma dear, come and help your stupid son!"</p> + +<p>"No, no, mamma knows it already! Mamma must not tell," exclaimed +Gabriele, terrified.</p> + +<p>"What king do you set up above all other kings, Master Jacobi?" for the +second time asked Petrea, who this evening had a sort of question mania.</p> + +<p>"Charles the Thirteenth," replied he, and listened to Louise's answer to +the Landed-proprietor.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Louise, are you fond of birds?" asked the Landed-proprietor.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, particularly of fieldfares," answered Louise.</p> + +<p>"Nay, that's capital!" said the Landed-proprietor. "There are +innumerable fieldfares on my estate of Oestanvik. I often go out myself +with my gun and shoot them for my dinner; piff-paff! with two shots I +have killed a whole dishful!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you imagine, Master Jacobi, that the people before the Flood were +much wickeder than those of our time?" asked Petrea, who wished to +occupy the Candidate, nothing deterred by his evident abstraction, and +whom nobody had asked if she liked fieldfares.</p> + +<p>"Oh, much—much better," answered Jacobi.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Louise, are you fond of roast hare?" asked the +Landed-proprietor.</p> + +<p>"Master Jacobi, are you fond of roast hare?" whispered Petrea, +waggishly, to the Candidate.</p> + +<p>"Bravo, Petrea!" whispered her brother to her.</p> + +<p>"Cousin Louise, are you fond of cold meat?" asked the Landed-proprietor, +as he handed Louise to the supper-table.</p> + +<p>"Should you like to be a landed-proprietor?" whispered Henrik to her as +she left it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>Louise answered exactly as a cathedral would have answered—looked very +solemn, and was silent.</p> + +<p>Petrea, like something let quite loose, after supper would not let +anybody remain quiet who by any possibility could be made to answer her. +"Is reason sufficient for mankind?" asked she. "What is the foundation +of morals? What is the proper meaning of revelation? Why is the nation +always so badly off? Why must there be rich and poor?" etc., etc.</p> + +<p>"Dear Petrea," said Louise, "what can be the use of asking such +questions?"</p> + +<p>It was an evening for questions; there was not even an end to them when +people separated for the night.</p> + +<p>"Do you not think," asked the Judge from his wife when they were alone +together, "that our little Petrea begins to be quite disagreeable with +her perpetual questions and disputations? She leaves nobody at peace, +and is at times in a sort of unceasing disquiet. She will, some time or +other, make herself quite ridiculous if she goes on so."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Elise, "<i>if</i> she goes on so; but I think she will not. I +have observed Petrea narrowly for some time, and do you know I fancy +there is something out of the common way in that young girl."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said he, "in the common way she certainly is not; the +merriment and the everlasting joviality which she occasions, and the +comical devices that she has——"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the mother, "do they not indicate a decided turn for art? +And then she has a remarkable thirst for knowledge. Every morning she is +up between three and four, in order to read or write, or to work at her +Creation. It is, in fact, quite uncommon; and may not this unrest, this +zeal to question and dispute, arise from a sort of intellectual hunger? +Ah! from such hunger, which many a woman for want of fitting aliment +suffers through the whole of her life! From such an emptiness of the +soul proceed unrest, discontentedness, nay, innumerable faults!"</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right, Elise," said her husband; "and no condition in +life is more melancholy, particularly in advanced years. But this shall +not be the lot of my Petrea—that we will prevent. What do you think now +would be good for her?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy," said Elise, "that a course of serious and well-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>directed +study would assist in regulating her mind. She is too much left to +herself, with her disarranged bent—with her enthusiasm and her +attempts. I myself have too little knowledge to instruct her, you have +too little time, and there is no one here who would undertake the +guidance of her young unsettled mind. I am sometimes extremely grieved +about her; for her sisters do not understand the workings of her mind, +which I must confess sometimes give me pain. I wish I were better able +to help her. Petrea requires a ground on which to take her stand—as yet +she has none; her thoughts require some firm holding-place; from the +want of this comes her unrest. She is like a flower without roots, which +is driven about by wind and wave."</p> + +<p>"She shall be firmly rooted; she shall find firm ground to stand upon, +if such is to be found in the world!" said the Judge, with a grave yet +beaming eye, and striking his hand at the same time with such violence +on a volume of West-Gotha law, that it fell to the ground. "We will +think about it," continued he; "Petrea is yet too young for one to say +with certainty what is her decided bent; but we will strengthen her +powers! she shall no longer know hunger of any kind, so long as I live +and can get my own bread. You know my friend, the excellent Bishop +B——. Perhaps we can at first confide Petrea to his guidance. After a +few years we shall see——as yet she is only a child. But don't you +think we might speak with Jacobi, whether he could not read with her and +talk with her—apropos! how is it with Jacobi? I fancy he begins to +think about Louise."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, you are not wrong," said Elise; "and our Cousin Thure of +Oestanvik—have you remarked nothing there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did remark something," replied he. "The thousand! What stupid +questions were those that he put to her! 'Does Cousin like this?' or, +'Does Cousin like that?' But I don't like that! not I! Louise is not yet +grown up, and already shall people come and ask her, does Cousin like? +Nay, perhaps, after all it means nothing; that would please me best. +What a pity it is, however, that our Cousin Thure is not more of a man! +A most beautiful estate he has, and so near us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, a pity," said Elise; "because such as he is now, I am quite +convinced Louise would find it impossible to endure him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You do not think she would like Jacobi?" asked the father.</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth," returned she, "I think it probable she might."</p> + +<p>"Nay," said he, "that would be very unpleasant, and very imprudent: I am +very fond of Jacobi, but he has nothing, and he is nothing."</p> + +<p>"But, my love," reasoned his wife, "he may become something, and he may +get something. I confess, dear Ernst, that he would suit Louise better +for a husband than almost any one else, and I would willingly call him +son."</p> + +<p>"Would you, Elise!" exclaimed the Judge, "then I suppose I must prepare +myself to do the same. You have had most trouble, most labour, with the +children, and you have, therefore, most to say in their affairs."</p> + +<p>"You are so good, Ernst," said Elise.</p> + +<p>"Say reasonable—nothing more than reasonable," said he; "beyond this I +have the belief that our thoughts and our inclinations do not differ +much. I confess that I consider Louise as a great treasure, and I know +nobody whom, of my own will, I would confer her upon; still, if Jacobi +obtains her affections, I could not find in my heart to oppose a union +between them, although, on account of his uncertain prospects, it would +make me anxious. I am much attached to Jacobi, and on Henrik's account +we have much to thank him for. His excellent heart, his honesty, his +good qualities, will make him as good a citizen as husband and father, +and he belongs at the same time to that class of persons with whom it is +most pleasant to have daily intercourse. But, God forbid! I am talking +just as if I wished the union, and I am a long way from that yet. I +would much rather keep my daughters with me as long as they could feel +themselves happy with me; but when girls grow up, one cannot reckon on +peace. I wish all wooers and question-askers at Jericho! Now, we could +live here as in a kingdom of heaven, since we have got all into such +nice order—some little improvements, it is true, I could yet make, +though things are well enough, if we could be at peace. I have been +thinking that we could so easily make a wardrobe. See on this side, in +the wall; don't you think that if we here opened——Heavens! are you +already asleep, my dear?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>AN INVITATION.</h3> + + +<p>About this time the sisters of the house began to dream a great deal +about conflagrations, and there was no end of the meanings of dreams, +hints, little jokes, and communications among the sisters, none of whom +dreamt more animated or more significant dreams than Petrea. Gabriele, +who, in her innocence, did not dream at all, wondered what all this +extraordinary talk about conflagration meant; but she could not learn +much, for as often as she desired to have her part in the mysteries, it +was said, "Go out for a little while, Gabriele dear."</p> + +<p>One evening Sara, Louise, Eva, and Petrea were sitting together at a +little table, where they were deep in the discussion of something which +seemed to possess extraordinary interest for them, when Gabriele came +and asked just for a little place at the table for herself and her +books; but it was impossible, there was no room for the little one. +Almost at the same moment Jacobi and Henrik came up; they too sought for +room at the circle of young ladies, and now see! there was excellent +room for them both, whereupon Gabriele stuck her little head between +Louise and Petrea, and prayed her sisters to solve the following riddle:</p> + +<p>"What is that at which six places may be found, but not five?"</p> + +<p>The sisters laughed; Louise kissed the little refined moralist; and +Petrea left the table, the gentlemen, and a political discussion, which +she had begun with Henrik, in order to sit on one side and relate to +Gabriele the Travels of Thiodolf, which was one of the greatest +enjoyments of our little lady.</p> + +<p>"Apropos!" cried Henrik, "will there not be a wedding celebrated the day +after to-morrow, to which we ought naturally to be invited.—N. B. +According to my reckoning, Aunt Evelina has far less genius than I gave +her credit for, if——"</p> + +<p>"Aunt Evelina stands here now ready, if possible, to vindicate her +genius," said a friendly voice, and to the amazement of all Aunt Evelina +stood in the middle of the room.</p> + +<p>After the first salutations and questions, Evelina presented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> an +invitation, not as Henrik expected for the marriage, but for the +entertainment after the marriage.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p>Laura's marriage with Major G. was to be celebrated in the quietest +manner, at her adopted mother's house, and only in the presence of a few +relations. But the mother of the bridegroom, one of those joyous persons +who in a remarkable manner lightens the world of its cares—and for +which the world thanks them so little—one of those who, if possible, +would entertain and make glad all mankind, and whom mankind on that +account very willingly slanders;—she, the stout and cordial widow of a +Councillor of War, was determined to celebrate the marriage of her only +and beloved son in a festive and cheerful manner, and to make the whole +country partakers of the joy which she herself felt.</p> + +<p>The great marriage-festival was to last eight days, and already the +great doors of Axelholm were standing wide open to receive a +considerable party of the notables of the place. The bride and +bridegroom were to invite their respective friends and acquaintances, +and commissioned now by the bride and her future mother-in-law, Evelina +brought a written invitation from her; she came now to beseech the +family—the whole family, Jacobi included, to honour the festivity with +their presence; above all things, desiring that <i>all</i> the daughters +might come—every one of them was wanted for one thing or another. They +reckoned on Petrea, she said, who had a great turn for theatricals, to +take a character in a play which was to be acted; and the others were +wanted for dancing and for <i>tableaux vivants</i>. Gabriele must allow +herself to be made an angel of—and naturally they hoped, that out of +all this the young people would find amusement.</p> + +<p>They wished and prayed that the whole family would establish themselves +at Axelholm, where everything was prepared for them during the whole +time of the festival, and, if possible, longer, which would contribute +so much to their friends' satisfaction there.</p> + +<p>Pitt, Fox, Thiers, Lafitte, Platen, Anckarsvärd, nay, one may even +assert that all the orators in the world never made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> speeches which were +considered more beautiful by their hearers, nor which were received with +warmer or more universal enthusiasm than this little oration of Aunt +Evelina. Henrik threw himself on his knee before the excellent, eloquent +Aunt; Eva clapped her hands, and embraced her; Petrea cried aloud in a +fit of rapture, and in leaping up threw down a work-table on Louise; +Jacobi made an <i>entrechat</i>, freed Louise from the work-table, and +engaged her for the first <i>anglaise</i> of the first ball.</p> + +<p>The Judge, glad from his heart that his children should have so much +enjoyment, was obliged, for his part, to give up the joyful festivity. +Business! Judge Frank had seldom time for anything but business! yet he +would manage it so that at least he would take them there, and on the +following day he would return. Elise sent back her compliments, but +could not take more than two, or at most three, of her daughters with +her; Evelina, however, overruled this, as did also her husband, who +insisted that they <i>all</i> should go.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said he, "they may never have such another opportunity to +enjoy themselves."</p> + +<p>Seldom, indeed, does it happen that people beg and pray and counsel a +mother to take all her six daughters with her. Long may such counsellors +live! But then it must be acknowledged, that the daughters of the Franks +were universally beloved on account of their kind, agreeable manners, +and their many good qualities.</p> + +<p>Elise must promise to take them all with her—Sara, Louise, Eva, +Leon——no! It is true Leonore could not go with her; the poor Leonore +must remain at home, on account of indisposition; and very soon, +therefore, Eva and Petrea emulated each other as to which should remain +with her. Leonore declared coldly and peevishly that nobody should stay +at home on her account; she needed nobody; she would much rather be +alone; the sisters might all go, without hesitation; there was no fear +of her not living through it! Poor Leonore had become changed by her +sickness and her sedentary life;—her better self had become hidden +under a cloud of vexation and ill-humour, which chilled the kindliness +and friendliness that people otherwise would have shown to her.</p> + +<p>In the mean time there was a stir among the young people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> of the family; +for much had to be bought, much to be made, and much to be put in order, +that they might be able to make an honourable appearance at the marriage +festival. What a review was there then of dresses, flowers, ribbons, +gloves, etc.! what counsel-takings and projects regarding the new +purchases! what calculations, so that the present of money which the +good father had, all unsolicited, made to each daughter might not be +exceeded. Louise was invaluable to everybody; she had counsel and +contrivance for everybody; besides all this, she was unwearied in +shopping, and never disheartened in buying. She made very few +compliments—would let them in a shop open all they had, if she wanted +only an ell of cloth; and would go to twelve places in order to get a +piece of ribbon cheaper or of better quality—she paid great regard to +<i>quality</i>. According to her own opinion, as well as that of her family, +she was an excellent hand at getting good bargains; that is, for +obtaining good wares at unheard-of low prices. With all this our Louise +was held in great consideration in all the shops of the city, and was +served with the greatest zeal and respect; whilst, on the contrary, +Petrea, who never bargained about anything, and always took that which +was first offered to her, at all events when she was alone, was not +esteemed in the least, and always obtained bad, and at the same time +dear goods. True it is that Petrea went a-shopping as little as +possible; whilst Louise, on the contrary, who took the difficult part of +commissioner for all her friends and acquaintance, was about as much at +home in a shop as in her own wardrobe.</p> + +<p>It was unanimously decided that Sara, Louise, and Eva should all wear +the same dress on the evening of the great ball at Axelholm, which would +be given on the day they arrived there; namely, that they should wear +white muslin dresses, with pale pink sashes, and roses in their hair. +Petrea was enraptured by this project, and did not doubt but that her +sisters would be universally known by the appellation of "the three +Graces." For her own part, she would willingly have been called Venus, +but, alas! that was not to be thought of. She studied her face in all +the glasses in the house—"It is not so very bad-looking," thought she, +"if the nose were only different." Petrea was to appear at the ball in +sky-blue; and "the little lady" was quite enraptured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> by the +rose-coloured gauze dress which her mother was making for her.</p> + +<p>The toilet occupied every one, body and soul.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Hemkommeöl, literally, coming-home-ale. The names of many +of the domestic festivities of Sweden remind us very much of those of +our own old festivities; as church-ales, christening-ales, etc.: thus, +barnsöl, the christening-feast; graföl, burial-feast; arföl, the feast +given by the heir on descent of property, etc.—M. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>CONFUSION.</h3> + + +<p>A fine mizzling rain fell without; and Jacobi, with secret horror, +beheld Louise equipped in the "court-preacher," which became her so ill, +ready to go out with Eva, under shelter of the "family-roof," in order +to make good bargains. In the mean time Sara took her music lesson with +Schwartz, but had promised Petrea to go out with her in the afternoon, +in order to make good bargains likewise.</p> + +<p>"Henrik!" said Jacobi to his young friend, "I fancy that we too are +going out on a 'good bargain' expedition. I want a pair of gloves, +and——"</p> + +<p>"And perhaps we shall meet the sisters in the shop," said Henrik, +waggishly.</p> + +<p>"Quite right," returned Jacobi, smiling; "but, Henrik, cannot you tell +your sister Louise that she should not wear that horrible black cloak? I +declare she does not look as——indeed she does not look well in it."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think that I have told her so already?" replied Henrik. "I +have preached so long against the 'court-preacher,' that he ought long +ago to have been banished from respectable society; but it is all to no +purpose. He has worked himself so completely into the good graces of our +gracious oldest, that depend upon it, my brother, we must endure him all +our lives long. And what think you? I almost fancy our Cousin of +Oestanvik likes him!"</p> + +<p>"Nay," said Jacobi, "one can very well see that that creature has a +wretched taste—a true Hottentot taste!"</p> + +<p>"And is that the reason," remarked Henrik, "that he likes Louise?"</p> + +<p>"Hum!" said Jacobi.</p> + +<p>At dinner-time the bargaining young ladies came back, attended by the +bargaining gentlemen, who had, after all, gone about peacefully with the +"court-preacher." Louise was quite full of glory; never in her whole +life before had she made more lucky bargains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look, sisters," said she, "this muslin for a crown-banco<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> the ell! Is +it not a charming colour? I have saved in it alone twelve shillings.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +And see these ribbons which I have got for four-and-twenty shillings the +ell—thirty were asked. Are they not beautiful?—will they not look +magnificently?—is it not a real discovery?—did you ever hear of +anything like it? Sara, if you will go to the same shop as I do, you +will get all at the same price. I have made that agreement for you at +three places: at Bergvall's, and at Åström's, and Madame Florea's for +the flowers."</p> + +<p>Sara thanked her, but said she had altered her plans; she did not intend +to have the same dress as Louise and Eva, but another, which pleased her +better.</p> + +<p>The sisters were astonished, and rather vexed; Louise quite offended. +Had they not already agreed about it? What was to become of the Three +Graces?</p> + +<p>Sara answered, that the third Grace might be whoever she would, but for +her part she should not have that honour.</p> + +<p>The sisters thought her very ungracious.</p> + +<p>Eva ran up to Leonore in order to show her her purchases.</p> + +<p>"Look at this rose, Leonore," said she, "is it not very pretty? just as +if it were natural! And these ribbons!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Leonore, with a depressed voice, regarding these +ornaments with a gloomy look; and then pushing them from her so hastily +that they fell on the floor, burst into tears. Eva was quite concerned; +a book had fallen on her beautiful rose and had crushed it. For one +moment Eva shed tears over her flower, the next over her sister.</p> + +<p>"Why have you done so, Leonore?" said she; "you must be very ill, or are +you displeased with me?"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" said poor Leonore; "forgive me, and leave me."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Eva. "Ah, do not weep—do not distress yourself. It was +quite thoughtless of me to come here and——But I will bid farewell to +all the magnificence; I will not go to the ball; I will stop at home +with you, only tell me that you love me, and that you would like me to +do so. Just say so—say so!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p><p>"No, no!" said Leonore, passionately, and turning away from the +affectionate comforter; "I do not like it! You teaze me, all of you, +with this talk of stopping at home on my account. I know very well that +I am not such as any one would wish to please—I am neither merry nor +good. Go, Eva, to those who are merry, and follow them. Leave me, leave +me in peace, that is all that I desire."</p> + +<p>Eva retired weeping, and with the crushed rose in her hand.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, when Petrea was ready to go out on the promised +expedition, she found Sara also was in an ill-humour. She would go, but +only on Petrea's account; she had no intention of buying anything; she +had not money enough wherewith to make purchases; she would not go to +the festival; she could not have any pleasure if she did; nothing in the +world gave one any pleasure when one had not things exactly to one's own +wishes.</p> + +<p>Petrea was quite confounded by this sudden change, and sought in all +possible ways to discover the cause of it.</p> + +<p>"But why," asked she, with tears in her eyes, "will you not go with us?"</p> + +<p>"Because I will not go," answered Sara, "if I cannot go with honour, and +in my own way! I will not be mixed up in a mass of every-day mediocre +people! It is in my power to become distinguished and uncommon. That is +now, for once, my humour. I will not live to be trammelled. I would +rather not live at all!"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed Petrea, who now comprehended what was working in Sara, +whilst her eyes flashed with sudden joy—"ah, is it nothing more than +that? Dear Sara, take all that I possess; take it, I beseech you! Do you +not believe that it gives me a thousand times the pleasure if I see you +happy and beautiful, than if I possessed the most glorious things in the +world? Take it, best, dearest Sara! I pray you, on my knees, to take it, +and then if there be enough you can buy what you like and go with +us—else the whole splendour will be good for nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Petrea, and you?" asked Sara.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Petrea, "I'll just furbish up my gauze dress, and keep a +little money for some ribbon, and then all is done; and as for the rest, +it does not matter how I look. Be only contented, Sara, and do as I bid +you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But ought I? Can I?" asked Sara. "Ah, no, Petrea, I could not do it! +Your little all! And then it would not be sufficient."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," said Petrea, "make it sufficient. We can go to Louise's +shops, and one gets everything so cheap there. I shall never be happy +again if you do not do as I pray you. See now, you are my good, dear +Sara! Thank you, thank you! Ah, now am I so light at heart! Now I need +not trouble myself about the blessed toilet. And that is a great gain +for me!"</p> + +<p>The bird that sits on the swinging bough is not lighter of mood than +Petrea was as she went out with Sara, who was far less cheerful, but who +still had never been more friendly towards Petrea.</p> + +<p>It went thus with Petrea's purchase of ribbon:—In passing a +gingerbread-booth she saw a little chimney-sweeper, who was casting the +most loving glances on some purple-red apples, and Petrea, with the +money in her hand, could not resist the desire of making him a present +of them, and felt more than rewarded as she saw the boy's white teeth +shining forth from their black neighbourhood, first in smiles at her, +and then as they attacked the juicy fruit. Her own mouth watered at it, +and as she now cast her eyes round the booth, and saw such beautiful +bergamotte-pears—the favourite fruit of her mother—and such +magnificent oranges, that would please Leonore so much!—the result was, +that Petrea's reticule was filled with fruit, and the ribbon—for that +there was not now money enough.</p> + +<p>"But," consoled herself Petrea, "Louise has such a deal of old +ribbon—she can very well lend me some." Petrea thought like all bad +managers.</p> + +<p>When Sara and Petrea returned from the shopping expedition, Louise saw +directly that the things which Sara had bought must far have exceeded +her means; and besides this, Louise justly thought that they were +unseemly for a young girl of her station. She saw without saying one +word the white silk; the blue gauze for the tunic; the beautiful white +and yellow asters for the hair, and the other ornaments which Sara, not +without vanity, displayed.</p> + +<p>"And what have you bought, Petrea?" now asked Louise; "let us see your +bargains."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>Petrea replied, with a blush, that she—had bought nothing yet.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards Petrea came to Louise, and besought her, with a +certain bashfulness, to lend her some ribbon.</p> + +<p>"Good Petrea," said Louise, displeased, "I want my ribbons myself, and +you have had money just as well as I or any of the others, to buy what +you may want."</p> + +<p>Petrea was silent, and tears were in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I did not think, Louise," said Sara, hotly, "that you would have been +so covetous as to refuse Petrea some old ribbons which you are certain +not to want yourself."</p> + +<p>"And I, Sara," returned Louise in the same tone, "I could not have +believed that you would have so abused Petrea's good-nature and weakness +towards you as to take from her her little share, just to indulge your +own vanity! It appears to me especially blameworthy, as it has led to +expenses which far exceed the means of our parents."</p> + +<p>"Sara did not desire anything from me," said Petrea, with warmth; "I +insisted upon it; I compelled her."</p> + +<p>"And above all, Sara," continued Louise, with stern seriousness, "I must +tell you that the dress you have chosen appears to me neither modest nor +becoming. I am quite persuaded that Schwartz has induced you to deviate +from our first project; and I must tell you, dear Sara, that were I in +your place I would not allow such a person to have such an influence +with me; nor is this the only instance in which your behaviour to him +has not appeared to me what it ought to be, not such as becomes the +dignity of a woman, or what I should wish in a sister <i>of mine</i>. I am +very sorry to say this."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are quite too good!" returned Sara, throwing back her head, and +with a scornful smile; "but don't trouble yourself, Louise, for I assure +you that it gives me very little concern what pleases you or what does +not."</p> + +<p>"So much the worse for you, Sara," said Louise, "that you concern +yourself so little for those who are your true friends. I, besides, am +not the only one whom your behaviour to Schwartz displeases. Eva——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sara," interrupted Eva, blushing, "I think too that you do not +conduct yourself towards him as is becoming, for——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sisters," said Sara, with warmth and pride, "you cannot judge of what +is seemly for me. You have no right to censure my conduct, and I will +not endure——"</p> + +<p>"I think, too," said Petrea, warmly, "that if our mother has said +nothing, nobody else has any right——"</p> + +<p>"Silence, dear Petrea," said Louise; "you are silly and blind to——"</p> + +<p>At this moment of disunion and confusion, when all the sisters were +beginning to speak at once, and that with the tongues of indignation and +reproof, a deep and mournful sigh was suddenly heard, which silenced +all, and turned every eye to the door of the little boudoir. The mother +stood there, with her hands clasped against her breast, pale, and with +an expression of pain on her countenance, which sent a quick pang of +conscience through the hearts of the daughters. As all remained silent, +she came softly forward, and said, with a voice of emotion:</p> + +<p>"Why? ah, why, my dear girls, is all this? No! Now, no explanations; +there is error and blame on one side, perhaps also on more. But why this +bitterness, this incautious outbreak of injurious words? Ah, you know +not what you are doing! You know not what a hell sisters can make for +one another, if they cherish such tempers. You know not how bitterness +and harshness may grow among you to a dreadful habit; how you may become +tormenting spirits to each other, and embitter each others' lives. And +it could be so different! Sisters might be like good angels the one to +the other, and make the paternal home like a heaven upon earth! I have +seen both the one and the other in families: a greater contrast is not +to be found on earth. Ah, think, think only that every day, nay, every +hour, you are working to shape the future. Reflect that you may gladden +and beautify your lives, or embitter them, according as you now act. My +dear girls, bethink you that it is in your power to make your parents, +your family, yourselves, either very happy or very unhappy!"</p> + +<p>The daughters were silent, and were penetrated by the deep emotion which +expressed itself in the words of their mother, in her pale countenance, +and in her tearful looks. They felt strongly the truth of all that she +had said. With a torrent of tears, Petrea ran out of the room; Sara +followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> her silently; Eva threw herself caressingly on her mother's +neck; but Louise said:</p> + +<p>"I have only spoken the truth to Sara. It is not my fault if it be +unpleasant for her to hear it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Louise!" returned her mother, "this is constantly said in the +world, and yet so much division and hatred prevail between those who say +it. It is the blind belief in our own faultlessness, it is the hard and +assuming spirit of correction, which excite the temper, and make the +truth unproductive of good. Why should we present truth in a disfiguring +dress, when she is in herself so pure and beautiful? I know, my dear +girl, that you only wish to do that which is right and good, and whoever +aims rightly at that object will not fail of the means also."</p> + +<p>"Must I then dissimulate?" asked Louise. "Must I conceal my thoughts, +and be silent respecting that which I think wrong? That may indeed be +prudent, but it certainly is not Christian."</p> + +<p>"Become Christian in temper, my child," said the mother, "and you will +easily discover the means of doing what is right in a proper and +effectual manner. You will learn to speak the truth without wounding; a +truly pure, truly affectionate spirit wounds no one, not even in +trifles. For that reason, one need not to be silent when one should +speak, but——"</p> + +<p>"'<i>C'est le ton qui fait la chanson!</i>' Is it not so? he, he, he!" +interposed the shrill voice of Mrs. Gunilla, who had come in unobserved, +and who thus put an end to the discourse. Soon afterwards the Assessor +made his appearance, and they two fell into conversation, though not, as +commonly, into strife with each other. Mrs. Gunilla lamented to him +respecting Pyrrhus; she was quite in trouble about the little animal, +which had now for some time had a pain in the foot, which it always lay +and licked, and which, spite of that and of other means, got rather +worse than better. She did not know what she was to do with the little +favourite. The Assessor besought her, in the kindest manner, to allow +him to undertake his treatment. He said he had always been much more +successful in curing dogs than men, and that dogs were far more +agreeable, and far nicer patients than their masters. Mrs. Gunilla +thanked him much, and was heartily glad of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> offer, and the following +morning, she said, Pyrrhus should be conveyed to him.</p> + +<p>The family assembled themselves for tea, and the quick eyes of Mrs. +Gunilla soon discovered that all was not quite as it should be.</p> + +<p>"Listen, now," said she, "my little Elise. I know that there will be +festivities, and balls, and banquets, given there at——<i>chose</i>! what do +they call it? and of course the young people here should all be at them +and figure a little. If there be any little embarrassments about the +toilet in which I can help, tell me candidly. Good heavens! one can +imagine that easily. Young girls!—a rosette is wanted here, and a +rosette is wanted there, and one thing and another—heart's-dearest! it +is so natural. I know it all so well. Now tell me——"</p> + +<p>Elise thanked her cordially, but must decline this offer; her daughters, +she said, must learn betimes to moderate their desires to their means.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Gunilla, "but I must tell you, my dear friend, +there is no rule without its exception, and if any trifles are wanted, +so—think on me."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gunilla was to-day in such a happy humour; she looked like somebody +who was determined to make some fellow-creature happy. The Assessor +could not get into dispute with her. She rejoiced herself in the +country, to which she should soon remove; in the spring which was at +hand, and in the greenness which was approaching. The Assessor rejoiced +himself not at all. "What had one to rejoice about in such a hateful +spring? It was quite impossible to live in such a climate, and it must +be the will of our Lord God that man should not live, or he would not +have sent such springs. How could people plant potatoes in ice? and how +otherwise could they be planted at all this year? And if people could +get no potatoes, they must die of hunger, which was then perhaps the +best part of the history of life."</p> + +<p>On her side, Mrs. Gunilla bethought herself that she would willingly +live. "Our Lord God," she said, "would take care that people had +potatoes!" and then she looked with an expression of cordial sympathy on +the troubled and distressed countenances of the young girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When Eva, dear, is as old as I," said she, patting her gently on her +white neck, "she will know nothing more of all that which so distresses +her now."</p> + +<p>"Ah! to be sixty years old!" exclaimed Eva, smiling, though with a tear +in her eye.</p> + +<p>"You'll get well on to sixty—well on; he, he, he, he!" said Mrs. +Gunilla, consolingly. "Heart's-dearest! it goes before one thinks of it! +But only be merry and cheerful. Amuse yourselves at——<i>chose</i>! what do +you call it? and then come and tell me all about it. Do that nicely, and +then I shall get my share of the fun though I am not there. That comes +of the so-to-be envied sixty years, Eva, dear! he, he, he, he!"</p> + +<p>The sun set bright and glorious. Mrs. Gunilla went to the window, and +sent a little greeting towards the sun, whose beams, glancing through +the trees of the opposite churchyard, seemed to salute her in return.</p> + +<p>"It looks as if one should have a fine day to-morrow," said Mrs. Gunilla +to herself, gently, and looking very happy.</p> + +<p>People place youth and age opposite to each other, as the light and +shade in the day of life. But has not every day, every age, its own +youth—its own new attractive life, if one only sets about rightly to +enjoy them? Yes, the aged man, who has collected together pure +recollections for his evening companions, is many degrees happier than +the youth who, with a restless heart, stands only at the beginning of +his journey. No passions disturb the coffee-cup of the other—no +restless endeavours disturb the cheerful gossip of the evening twilight; +all the little comforts of life are then so thoroughly enjoyed; and we +can then, with more confidence, cast all our cares and anxieties on God. +We have then proved Him.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Crown-banco, equal to one shilling and sixpence English +money.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> A shilling Swedish is equal to about one farthing +English.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>DISENTANGLING.</h3> + + +<p>"There are certainly too many bitter almonds in this almond-mass; +nothing tastes good to me this afternoon," said Elise, who set down a +glass of almond-milk, and sighed—but not for the almond-milk.</p> + +<p>"Be pleased with us, dear mother," whispered Eva, tenderly; "we are all +friends again!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> + +<p>The mother saw it in their beautiful beaming eyes; she read it in +Louise's quiet glance as she turned round from the table, where she was +helping Sara with her tunic, and looked at her mother. Elise nodded +joyfully both to her and Eva, and drank to them the glass of +almond-milk, which now appeared to have become suddenly sweet, so +pleased did she look as she again set down the glass.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, dear," said Gabriele, "we must certainly do something towards +poor Petrea's toilet, otherwise she will not be presentable."</p> + +<p>But Louise took Petrea's gauze-dress secretly in hand, and sate up over +it till midnight, and adorned it so with her own ribbons and lace that +it was more presentable than it had ever been before.</p> + +<p>Petrea kissed her skilful hands for all that they had done. Eva—yet we +will, for the present, keep silent on her arrangements.</p> + +<p>But dost thou know, oh, reader!—yes, certainly thou dost!—the zephyrs +which call forth spring in the land of the soul—which call forth +flowers, and make the air pure and delicious? Certainly thou knowest +them—the little easy, quiet, unpretending, almost invisible, and yet +powerful—in one word, human kindnesses.</p> + +<p>Since these have taken up their abode in the Franks' family we see +nothing that can prevent a general joyful party of pleasure. But +yes!—it is true—</p> + + +<h3>PETREA'S NOSE!</h3> + +<p>This was, as we have often remarked, large and somewhat clumsy. Petrea +had great desire to unform it, particularly for the approaching +festivities.</p> + +<p>"What <i>have</i> you done to your nose? What is amiss with your nose?" were +the questions which assailed Petrea on all sides, as she came down to +breakfast on the morning of the journey.</p> + +<p>Half laughing and half crying, Petrea related how she had made use of +some innocent machinery during the night, by which she had hoped +somewhat to alter the form of this offending feature, the consequence of +which had unfortunately been the fixing a fiery red saddle across it, +and a considerable swelling beside.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't cry, my dear girl," said her mother, bathing it with +oatmeal-water, "it will only inflame your nose the more."</p> + +<p>"Ah," burst forth poor Petrea, "anybody is really unfortunate who has +such a nose as mine! What in the world can they do with it? They must go +into a convent."</p> + +<p>"It is very much better," said the mother, "to do as one of my friends +did, who had a very large nose, much larger than yours, Petrea."</p> + +<p>"Ah, what did she do?" asked Petrea, eagerly.</p> + +<p>"She made herself so beloved, that her nose was beloved too," said her +mother. "Her friends declared that they saw nothing so gladly as her +nose as it came in at the door, and that without it she would have been +nothing."</p> + +<p>Petrea laughed, and looked quite cheerful. "Ah," said she, "if my nose +can but be beloved, I shall be quite reconciled to it."</p> + +<p>"You must endeavour to grow above it!" said the good, prudent mother, +jestingly, but significantly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DAY OF THE JOURNEY.</h3> + + +<p>On the morning of the important day all was in lively motion. The +Assessor sent Eva a large bouquet of most remarkably beautiful natural +flowers, which she immediately divided among her sisters. The Judge +himself, in a frenzy of activity, packed the things of his wife and +daughters, and protested that nobody could do it better than he, and +that nobody could make so many things go into one box as he could. The +last was willingly conceded to him, but a little demur arose as to the +excellency of the packing. The ladies asserted that he rumpled their +dresses; the Judge asserted that there was no danger on that account, +that everything would be found remarkably smooth, and stood zealous and +warm in his shirt-sleeves beside the travelling-case, grumbling a little +at every fresh dress that was handed to him, and then exclaiming +immediately afterwards, "Have you more yet, girls? I have more room. Do +give me more! See now! that? and that? and that? and——now, in the name +of all weathers, is there no end of your articles? Give them here, my +girls! Let that alone, child! I shall soon lay it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> straight! What? +rumple them, shall I? Well, they can be unrumpled again, that's all! Are +there no smoothing-irons in the world? What? so, so, my girls! Have you +any more? I can yet put something more in."</p> + +<p>They were to set off immediately after dinner, in order to be at +Axelholm, which lay about two miles<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> from the city, ready for the ball +in the evening. By dinner-time all boxes were packed, and all tempers +cleared, more especially that of the Judge, who was so contented with +his morning's work that he almost imparted his delight to those who at +first were not altogether satisfied with it.</p> + +<p>Petrea ate nothing but a pancake, with a little snow milk to it, in +order that she might dance all the lighter.</p> + +<p>"Above all things, my friends," prayed the Judge, "be precise, and be +ready at half-past three; the carriages come then to the door, do not +let me have to wait for you."</p> + +<p>Precisely at half-past three the Judge went to the doors of his wife and +daughters.</p> + +<p>"Mamma! girls! it is time to go!" said he. "The clock has struck +half-past three! The carriages are here!"</p> + +<p>"Directly, directly!" was answered from all sides. The Judge waited; he +knew from experience what this "directly" meant.</p> + +<p>In the fever of his punctuality his blood began to boil, and he walked +up and down the hall with great steps, talking with himself: "It is +shocking, though," argued he, "that they never are ready! but I won't be +angry! Even if they make me angry, I will not spoil their pleasure. But +patience is necessary, more than Job had!"</p> + +<p>Whilst he was thus moralising with himself, he heard the voice of his +wife saying, with decision, in the library, "Come now, dear girls! In +heaven's name, don't keep the father waiting! I know, indeed, how it +annoys him——!"</p> + +<p>"But he said nothing the day before yesterday," Petrea's voice was heard +to return, "though he had then to wait for us. (I can't think what I +have done with my gloves!)"</p> + +<p>"And precisely on that account he shall not wait a moment longer for +us," said the mother; "and never again, if I can help it; so, if you are +not ready girls, I shall run away without you!"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> +<p>The mother ran, and all the daughters ran merrily after her.</p> + +<p>The father remarked with pleasure, that love has a far more effectual +power than fear, and all were soon seated in the carriage.</p> + +<p>We will allow them to roll away, and will now pay a little visit to</p> + + +<h3>LEONORE'S CHAMBER.</h3> + +<p>Leonore sate solitary. She supported her sick head on her hand. She had +impelled herself to answer kindly the leave-taking kiss of her mother +and sisters; she had seen how they sought to repress their joy before +her; and she had particularly remarked a sort of half-concealed roguish +joy in the glance which was exchanged between Eva and her mother, which +had pained her. She had heard their happy voices on the stairs, and then +the driving away of the carriages. Now they were gone; now all was still +and desolate in the house, and large tears traced their way down +Leonore's cheeks. She seemed to herself so forlorn, so uncared for, so +solitary in the world!</p> + +<p>At that moment the door was softly opened, a smiling face looked in, and +a light fascinating figure sprang forward through the chamber towards +her, kissed her, laughed, and glanced with roguish and ardent affection +into her astonished face.</p> + +<p>"Eva!" exclaimed Leonore, scarcely trusting her eyes; "Eva, are you +here? How! whither came you? Are you not gone with the others?"</p> + +<p>"No, as you see," returned Eva, embracing her, laughing, and looking +quite happy; "I am here, and mean to stay here."</p> + +<p>"But why? What is the meaning of it?" asked Leonore.</p> + +<p>"Because I would much rather remain here with you than go anywhere +else," said Eva. "I have bid Axelholm with all its splendours good day."</p> + +<p>"Ah! why have you done so? I would much rather you had not!" said +Leonore.</p> + +<p>"See you! I knew that," returned her sister, "and therefore I put on a +travelling dress, like the rest, and took leave of you with them. I +wanted to take you by surprise, you see. You are not angry with me, are +you? You must now be contented with it—you can't get rid of me! Look a +little happy on me, Leonore!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I cannot Eva," said Leonore, "because you have robbed yourself of a +great pleasure on my account, and I know that it must have been +difficult for you. I know that I am neither agreeable nor pleasing, and +that you cannot love me, nor yet have pleasure with me, and on that +account I cannot have pleasure in your sacrifice. It becomes you to be +with the joyful and the happy. Ah! that you had but gone with them!"</p> + +<p>"Do not talk so, unless you would make me weep," said Eva; "you do not +know how the thought of giving up all these festivities in order to +remain alone with you has given me pleasure for many days, and this +precisely because I love you, Leonore! yes, because I feel that I could +love you better than all the rest! Nay, do not shake your head—it is +so. One cannot help one's feelings."</p> + +<p>"But why should you love me?" argued the poor girl; "I am, indeed, so +little amiable, nobody can endure me, nobody has pleasure in me; I would +willingly die. Ah! I often think it would be so beautiful to die!"</p> + +<p>"How can you talk so, Leonore?" said her sister; "it is not right! Would +you wish such horrible grief to papa and mamma, and me, and all of us?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Leonore, "you and the sisters would soon comfort yourselves. +Mamma does not love me as much as any of you others; nor papa either. +Ottil R. said the other day that everybody talked of it—that I was +beloved neither by father nor mother."</p> + +<p>"Fie!" exclaimed Eva, "that was wicked and unjust of Ottil. I am quite +certain that our parents love us all alike. Have you ever observed that +they unjustly make any difference between us?"</p> + +<p>"That I never have," said Leonore; "they are too good and perfect for +that. But, do you think I have not observed with how different an +expression my father regards me to that with which he looks on you or +Louise? Do you think that I do not feel how cold, and at times +constrained, is the kiss which my mother gives me, to the two, the +three, yes, the many, which, out of the fulness of her heart, she gives +to you or to Gabriele? But I do not complain of injustice. I see very +well that it cannot be otherwise. Nature has made me so disagreeable, +that it is not possible people can bear me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> Ah! fortunate indeed are +they who possess an agreeable exterior! They win the good-will of people +if they only show themselves. It is so easy for them to be amiable, and +to be beloved! But difficult, very difficult is it for those who are +ill-favoured as I!"</p> + +<p>"But, dear Leonore, I assure you, you are unjust towards yourself. Your +figure, for example, is very good; your eyes have something so +expressive, something at the same time so soft and so earnest; your hair +is fine, and is of a beautiful brown;—it would become you so if it were +better dressed; but wait awhile, when you are better I will help you to +do it, and then you shall see."</p> + +<p>"And my mouth," said poor Leonore, "that goes from ear to ear, and my +nose is so flat and so long—how can you mend that?"</p> + +<p>"Your mouth?" replied Eva, "why yes, it is a little large; but your +teeth are regular, and with a little more care, would be quite white. +And your nose?—let me see—yes, if there were a little elevation, a +little ridge in it, it would be quite good, too! Let me see, I really +believe it begins to elevate itself!—yes, actually, I see plainly +enough the beginning of a ridge! and do you know, if it come, and when +you are well, and have naturally a fresh colour, I think that you will +be really pretty!"</p> + +<p>"Ah! if I can ever believe that!" said Leonore, sighing, at the same +time that an involuntary smile lit up her countenance.</p> + +<p>"And even if you are not so very lovely," continued Eva, "you know that +yet you can be infinitely agreeable; you have something peculiarly so in +your demeanour. I heard papa say so this very day to mamma."</p> + +<p>"Did he really say so?" said Leonore, her countenance growing brighter +and brighter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed he did!" replied her sister. "But, ah! Leonore, after all, +what is beauty? It fades away, and at last is laid in the black earth, +and becomes dust; and even whilst it is blooming, it is not +all-sufficient to make us either beloved or happy! It certainly has not +an intrinsic value."</p> + +<p>Never was the power of beauty depreciated by more beautiful lips! +Leonore looked at her and sighed.</p> + +<p>"No, Leonore," continued she, "do not trouble yourself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> to be beautiful. +This, it is true, may at times be very pleasant, but it certainly is not +necessary to make us either beloved or happy. I am convinced that if you +were not in the least prettier than you are, yet that you might if you +would, in your own peculiar way, be as much in favour and as much +beloved as the prettiest girls in the world."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Leonore, "if I were only beloved by my nearest connexions! +What a divine thing it must be to be beloved by one's own family!"</p> + +<p>"But that you can be—that you will be, if you only will! Ah! if you +only were always as you are sometimes—and you are more and more so—and +I love you more and more—infinitely I love you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, beloved Eva," said Leonore, deeply affected, whilst she leaned +herself quietly on her sister, "I have very little deserved this from +you; but, for the future, I will be different—I will be such as you +would have me. I will endeavour to be good and amiable."</p> + +<p>"And then you will be so lovely, so beloved, and so happy!" said Eva, +"that it would be a real delight. But now you must come down into +Louise's and my room. There is something there for you; you must change +the air a little. Come, come!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, how charming!" was Leonore's exclamation as she entered Eva's +chamber; and in fact nothing could be imagined more charming than that +little abode of peace, adorned as it now was by the coquetry of +affection. The most delicious odour of fruit and flowers filled the air, +and the sun threw his friendly beams on a table near the sofa, on which +a basket filled with beautiful fruit stood enticingly in the midst of +many pretty and tastefully arranged trifles.</p> + +<p>"Here, dear Leonore," said Eva, "you will remain during this time. It +will do you good to leave your room a little. And look, they have all +left you an offering! This gothic church of bronze is from Jacobi. It is +a lamp! do you see? Light comes through the church window;—how +beautiful! We will light it this evening. And this fruit here—do you +see the beautiful grapes? All these are a plot between Henrik and +Petrea. The copperplate engravings are from my father; Louise has worked +you the slippers; and the little lady, she——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>Leonore clasped her hands. "Is it possible," said she, "that you all +have thought so much about me! How good you are—ah, too good!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, do not weep, sweet Leonore," said Eva; "you should not weep, you +should be joyful. But the best part of the entertainment remains yet +behind. Do you see this new novel of Miss Edgeworth's? Mamma has given +us this, for us to read together. I will read to you aloud till +midnight, if you will. A delicate little supper has been prepared for us +by Louise, and we shall sup up here. We'll have a banquet in our own +way. Take now one of those big grapes which grow two on one stem, and I +will take the other. The king's health! Oh, glorious!"</p> + +<p>Whilst the two sisters are banqueting at their own innocent feast, we +will see how it goes on in the great company at</p> + + +<h3>AXELHOLM.</h3> + +<p>Things are not carried on in so enviably easy and unconstrained a manner +at every ball as at that of the citizens in the good little city of +* * * ping, where one saw the baker's wife and the confectioner's wife +waltzing together, but altogether in a wrong fashion, to which the rest +only said, "It does not signify, if they only go on!" Oh, no! such +simplicity as that is very rarely met with, and least of all among those +of whom we write.</p> + +<p>At Axelholm, as at other great balls, the rocky shores of +conventionality made it impossible to move without a thousand +ceremonies, proprieties, dubiosities, formalities, and all the rest, +which, taken together, make up a vast sum of difficulties. The great +ball at Axelholm was not without pretension, and on that account not +without its stiff difficulties. Among these may be reckoned that several +of the young gentlemen considered themselves too old, or too——to dance +at all, and that, in consequence, many of the dance-loving ladies could +not dance at all either, because, on account of the threatening +eye-glasses of the gentlemen, they had not courage to dance with one +another. Nevertheless the scene looked like one of pure delight. The +great saloon so splendidly lighted, and a vast assembly collected there!</p> + +<p>It is now the moment just before the dancing begins; the gentlemen stand +in a great group in the middle of the room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> spreading themselves out in +direct or wavy lines towards the circle of ladies. These sit, like +flowers in the garden beds, on the benches round the room, mostly in +bashful stillness; whilst a few, in the consciousness of zephyr-like +lightness, float about the room like butterflies. All look happy; all +talk one with another, with all that animation, that reciprocal +good-will, which the sight of so much beauty, united to the +consciousness that they themselves are wearing their best looks, as well +as the expectation of pleasure, infuses.</p> + +<p>Now the music begins to sound; now young hearts beat with more or less +disquiet; now go the engaged ones, amid the jostlings of the servants, +who are perpetually soliciting the young ladies to partake of the now +disdained tea. There one saw several young girls numerously surrounded, +who were studying the promised dances which were inscribed on the ivory +of their fans, declining fervent solicitations for the third, fourth, +fifth—nay, even up to the twelfth dance; but, fascinatingly-gracious, +promising themselves for the thirteenth, which perhaps may never be +danced; whilst others in their neighbourhood sit quiet and undisturbed, +waiting for the first invitation, in order thereto to say a willing and +thankful yes. Among the many-surrounded and the much-solicited, we may +see Sara and even Louise. With these emulated the three Misses +Aftonstjerna—Isabella, Stella, and Aurora—who stood constantly round +the chair of the Countess Solenstråle, which was placed before the great +mirror at the far end of the saloon. Among those who sat expectantly, in +the most beautiful repose, we shall discover our Petrea, who +nevertheless, with her bandeau of pearls in her hair, and a certain +bloom of innocence and goodness in her youthful countenance, looked +uncommonly well. Her heart beat with an indescribable desire to be +engaged.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" sighed she, as she saw two most elegant young men, the two +brothers B——, walking round the circle of ladies, with their +eye-glasses in their hands. Their eye-glasses rested for a moment on +Petrea; the one whispered something in the ear of the other; both +smiled, and went on. Petrea felt humiliated, she knew not why.</p> + +<p>"Now!" thought she, as Lieutenant S—— approached her quickly. But +Lieutenant S—— came to engage Miss T——, and Petrea remained sitting. +The music played the liveliest <i>anglaise</i>, and Petrea's feet were all in +agitation to be moving.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah!" thought she, "if I were but a man I would engage Petrea."</p> + +<p>The <i>anglaise</i> streamed past Petrea's nose.</p> + +<p>"Where is Eva?" asked Jeremias Munter, in a hasty and displeased tone, +from Louise, in the pause between the <i>anglaise</i> and the waltz.</p> + +<p>"She has remained at home with Leonore," said Louise; "she was +determined upon it."</p> + +<p>"How stupid!" exclaimed he; "why did I come here then."</p> + +<p>"Nay, that I really cannot tell!" returned Louise, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Not!" retorted the Assessor. "Now then I will tell you, sister Louise, +I came here entirely to see Eva dance—solely and altogether on that +account, and for nothing else. What a stupid affair it was that she +should stop at home! You had a great deal better, all the rest of you, +have stopped at home together; you yourself, dear sister, reckoned into +the bargain! Petrea, there! what has she to do here? She was always a +vexation to me, but now I cannot endure her, since she has not +understanding enough to stay at home in Eva's place; and this little +curly-pate, which must dance with grown people just as if she were a +regular person; could not she find a piece of sugar to keep her at home, +instead of coming here to be in a flurry! You are all wearisome +together; and such entertainments as these are the most horrible things +I know."</p> + +<p>Louise floated away in the waltz with Jacobi, laughing over this sally; +and the Countess Solenstråle, the sun of the ball, said as she passed +her chair, "Charmant, charmant!"</p> + +<p>Besides this couple, who distinguished themselves by their easy +harmonious motion, there was another, which whirled past in wild +circles, and drew all eyes upon them likewise: this was Sara and the +boisterous Schwartz. Her truly beaming beauty, her dress, her haughty +bearing, her flashing eyes, called forth a universal ah! of astonishment +and admiration. Petrea forgot that she was sitting while she looked upon +her. She thought that she had never seen anything so transporting as +Sara in the whirl of the dance. But the Countess Solenstråle, as she +sate in her chair, said of this couple—nothing; nay, people even +imagined that they read an expression of displeasure in her countenance. +The Misses Aftonstjerna sailed round with much dignity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My dear girl," said Elise kindly, but seriously, to Sara after the +waltz, "you must not dance thus; your chest will not allow it. How warm +you are! You really burn!"</p> + +<p>"It is my climate," answered Sara; "it agrees with me excellently."</p> + +<p>"I beseech you sit this dance. It is positively injurious to you to heat +yourself thus," said Elise.</p> + +<p>"This dance?" returned Sara; "impossible! I am engaged for it to Colonel +H——."</p> + +<p>"Then, do not dance the next," besought Elise; "if you would do me a +pleasure, do not dance it with Schwartz. He dances in such a wild manner +as is prejudicial to the health; besides which, it is hardly becoming."</p> + +<p>"It gives me pleasure to dance with him," answered Sara, both with pride +and insolence, as she withdrew; and the mother, wounded and displeased, +returned to her seat.</p> + +<p>The Countess Solenstråle lavished compliments on Elise on account of her +children. "They are positively the ornament of the room," said +she;—"<i>charmant!</i> and your son a most prepossessing young man—so +handsome and <i>comme il faut</i>! A charming ball!"</p> + +<p>Isabella Aftonstjerna threw beaming glances on the handsome Henrik.</p> + +<p>"What madness this dancing is!" said Mr. Munter, as with a strong +expression of weariness and melancholy he seated himself beside Evelina. +"<i>Nay</i>, look how they hop about and exert themselves, as if without this +they could not get thin enough; then, good heavens! how difficult it +seems, and how ugly it is! As if this could give them any pleasure! For +some of them it seems as if it were day-labour, and as if it were a +frenzy to others; and for a third, a kind of affectation; nay, I must go +my ways, for I shall become mad or splenetic if I look any longer on +this super-extra folly!"</p> + +<p>"If Eva Frank were dancing too, you would not think it so," said +Evelina, with a well-bred smile.</p> + +<p>"Eva!" repeated he, whilst a light seemed to diffuse itself over his +countenance, and his eyes suddenly beamed with pleasure—"Eva! no! I +believe so too. To see her dance is to see living harmony. Ah! it +enlivens my mind if I only see her figure, her gait, her slightest +movement; and then to know that all this harmony, all this beauty, is +not mere<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> paint—not mere outside; but that it is the true expression of +the soul! I find myself actually better when I am near her; and I have +often a real desire to thank her for the sentiments which she instils +into me. In fact, she is my benefactress; and I can assure you that it +reconciles me to mankind and to myself, that I can feel thus to a +fellow-creature. I cannot describe how agreeable it is, because commonly +there is so much to vex oneself about in this so-called masterpiece of +the Creator!"</p> + +<p>"But, best friend," said Evelina, "why are you so vexed? Most people +have still——"</p> + +<p>"Ah, don't go and make yourself an <i>ange de clémence</i> for mankind," said +he, "in order to exalt secretly yourself over me, otherwise I shall be +vexed with you; and you belong to the class that I can best endure. Why +do I vex myself? What a stupid question! Why are people stupid and +wearisome, and yet make themselves important with their stupidity? And +wherefore am I myself such a melancholy personage, worse than anybody +else, and should have withal such a pair of quick eyes, as if only on +purpose to see the infirmities and perversions of the world? There may, +however, in my case be sufficient reason for all this. When one has had +the fancy to come into the world against all order and Christian usage; +has seen neither father nor mother beside one's cradle; heard nothing, +seen nothing, learned nothing, which is in the least either beautiful or +instructive—one has not entered upon life very merrily. And then, after +all, to be called Munter!<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> Good heavens! Munter! Had I been called +Blannius, or Skarnius, or Brummerius, or Grubblerius, or Rhabarberius, +there might have been some sense in the joke; but Munter! I ask you now, +is it not enough to make a man splenetic and melancholy all the days of +his life? And then, to have been born into the world with a continual +cold, and since then never to have been able to look up to heaven +without sneezing—do you find that merry or edifying. Well, and then! +after I had worked my way successfully through the schools, the dust of +books, and the hall of anatomy, and had come to hate them all +thoroughly, and to love that which was beautiful in nature and in art, +am I to thank my stars that I must win my daily bread by studying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> and +caring for all that is miserable and revolting in the world, and hourly +to go about among jaundice, and colic, and disease of the lungs? On this +account I never can be anything but a melancholy creature! Yes, indeed, +if there were not the lilies on the earth, the stars in heaven, and +beyond all these some one Being who must be glorious—and were there not +among mankind the human-rose Eva—the beautiful, fascinating Eva, +then——"</p> + +<p>He paused; a tear stood in his eye; but the expression of his +countenance soon was changed when he perceived no less than five young +girls—they danced now the "free choice"—and among them the three +enchanting Miss Aftonstjernas, who, all locked together, came dancing +towards him with a roguish expression. He cast towards them the very +grimmest of his glances, rose up suddenly, and hastened away.</p> + +<p>Sara danced the second waltz with Schwartz, yet wilder than the first. +Elise turned her eyes away from her with inward displeasure; but +Petrea's heart beat with secret desire for a dance as wild, and she +followed their whirlings with sparkling eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh," thought she, "if one could only fly through life in a joyful whirl +like that!"</p> + +<p>It was the sixth dance, and Petrea was sitting yet. She felt her nose +red and swollen. "See now!" thought she, "farewell to all hopes of +dancing! It must be that I am ugly, and nobody will look at me!" At the +same moment she was aware of the eye of her mother fixed upon her with a +certain expression of discomfort, and that glance was to her like a stab +at the heart; but the next moment her heart raised itself in opposition +to that depressing feeling which seemed about to overcome her. "It is +unpleasant," thought she, "but it cannot be altered, and it is no fault +of mine! And as nobody will give me any pleasure, I will even find some +for myself."</p> + +<p>Scarcely had Petrea made this determination, than she felt herself quite +cheered; a spring of independence and freedom bubbled up within her; she +felt as if she were able even to take down the chandelier from the +ceiling, and all the more so when she saw so many life-enjoying people +skipping around her.</p> + +<p>At this moment an old gentleman rose up from a bench opposite Petrea, +with a tea-cup in his hand. In a mania of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> officiousness she rushed +forward in order to assist him in setting it aside. He drew himself +back, and held the cup firmly, whilst Petrea, with the most firm and +unwearying "Permit me, sir," seemed determined to take it. The strife +about the cup continued amid the unending bows of the gentleman, and the +equally unending curtseys of Petrea, until a passing waltzing couple +gave a jostle, without the least ceremony whatever to the +compliment-makers, which occasioned a shake of the tea-cup, and revealed +to Petrea the last thing in the world which she had imagined, that the +cup was not empty! Shocked and embarrassed, she let go her hold, and +allowed the old gentleman, with what remained of his cup of tea, to go +and find out for himself a securer place. Petrea seated herself, she +hardly knew how, on a bench near an elderly lady, who looked at her very +good-naturedly, and who helped very kindly to wipe off the ablution of +tea which she had received. Petrea felt herself quite confidential with +this excellent person, and inquired from her what was her opinion of +Swedenborg, beginning also to give her own thoughts on spectral visions, +ghosts, etc. The lady looked at her, as if she thought she might be a +little deranged, and then hastened to change her place.</p> + +<p>A stout military gentleman sat himself down ponderously, with a deep +sigh, on the seat which the old lady had left, as if he were saying to +himself, "Ah, thank God! here I can sit in peace!" But, no! he had not +sate there three minutes and a half when he found himself called upon by +Petrea to avow his political faith, and invited by her to unite in the +wish of speedy war with Russia. Lieutenant-Colonel Uh——turned rather a +deaf ear to the battery by which his neighbour assailed him, but for all +that he probably felt it not the less heavy, because after several +little sham coughs he rose up, and left our Petrea alone with her +warlike thoughts.</p> + +<p>She also rose, from the necessity she felt of looking elsewhere for more +sympathy and interest.</p> + +<p>"In heaven's name, dear Petrea, keep your seat!" whispered Louise, who +encountered her on her search for adventures.</p> + +<p>Petrea now cast her eyes on a young girl who seemed to have had no +better dancing fortune than herself, but who seemed to bear it much +worse, appeared weary of sitting, and could hardly refrain from tears. +Petrea, in whose disposition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> it lay to impart to others whatever she +herself possessed—sometimes overlooking the trifling fact that what she +possessed was very little desired by others—and feeling herself now in +possession of a considerable degree of prowess, wished to impart some of +the same to her companion in misfortune, and seated herself by her for +that purpose.</p> + +<p>"I know not a soul here, and I find it so horribly wearisome," was the +unasked outpouring of soul which greeted Petrea, and which went directly +to her sympathising heart.</p> + +<p>Petrea named every person she knew in the company to the young +unfortunate, and then, in order to escape from the weight of the +present, began to unfold great plans and undertakings for the future. +She endeavoured to induce her new acquaintance to give her her <i>parole +d'honneur</i> that she would sometime conduct a social theatre with her, +which would assist greatly to make social life more interesting; and +further than that, that they should establish together a society of +Sisters of Charity in Sweden, and make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; +furthermore, that they would write novels together; and that on the +following day, or more properly in the night, they would rise at +half-past two o'clock, and climb to the top of a high mountain in order +to see the sun rise; and finally, after all these, and sundry other +propositions, Petrea suggested to her new acquaintance a thee-and-thou +friendship between them! But, ah! neither Petrea's great prowess, nor +her great plans; neither the social theatre, nor the pilgrimage to +Jerusalem, least of all the thee-and-thou friendship, availed anything +towards enlivening the churlish young girl. Petrea saw plainly that an +invitation to dance would avail more than all her propositions, so, +sighing deeply because she was not a man to offer so great a pleasure, +she rose up, and left the object of her vain endeavours.</p> + +<p>She looked round for a new subject, and her eye fell on the Countess +Solenstråle. Petrea was dazzled, and became possessed of the frenzied +desire to become acquainted with her, to be noticed by her; in short, in +some kind of way to approach the sun of the ball, fancying thereby that +a little glory would be reflected upon herself. But how was she to +manage it? If the Countess would but let fall her handkerchief, or her +fan, she might dart forward and pick it up, and then deliver it to her +with a compliment in verse. Petrea,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> hereupon, began to improvise to +herself; there was something, of course, about the sun in it. +Undoubtedly this would delight the Countess, and give occasion to more +acquaintance, and perhaps—but, ah! she dropped neither handkerchief nor +fan, and no opportunity seemed likely to occur in which she could make +use of her poem with effect. In the mean time she felt drawn as by a +secret influence (like the planet to the sun) ever nearer and nearer to +the queen of the saloon. The Aftonstjernas were now standing, beaming +around her, bending their white and pearl-ornamented necks to listen to +her jesting observations, and between whiles replying with smiles to the +politeness and solicitations of elegant gentlemen. It looked magnificent +and beautiful, and Petrea sighed from the ardent longing to ascend to +the <i>haute volée</i>.</p> + +<p>At this moment Jacobi, quite warm, came hastening towards her to engage +her for the following quadrille.</p> + +<p>Petrea joyfully thanked him; but suddenly reddening to the resemblance +of a peony with her mania of participation, she added, "Might I accept +your invitation for another person? Do me the great pleasure to ask that +young girl that sits there in the window at our left."</p> + +<p>"But why?" asked Jacobi; "why will not you?"</p> + +<p>"I earnestly beseech you to do it!" said Petrea. "It would give me +greater pleasure to see her dancing than if I danced myself."</p> + +<p>Jacobi made some friendly objections, but did in the end as she +requested.</p> + +<p>It was a great pleasure to Petrea to perceive the influence of this +engagement on her young friend. But Fate and the Candidate seemed +determined to make Petrea dance this quadrille; and a young officer +presented himself before her in splendid uniform, with dark eyes, dark +hair, large dark moustache, martial size, and very martial mien. Petrea +had no occasion, and no disposition either, to return anything but a +"yes" to this son of Mars. In fact, she never expected to receive a more +honourable invitation; and a few minutes later she found herself +standing close beside the chair of the Countess Solenstråle, dancing in +the same quadrille with the Aftonstjernas, and <i>vis-à-vis</i> with the +Candidate. Petrea felt herself highly exalted, and would have been +perfectly prosperous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> had it not been for her restless demon, which +incessantly spurred her with the desire of coming in closer contact with +the beautiful, magnificent lady to whom she stood so near. To tread upon +her foot or her dress, might, it is true, have furnished an easy +occasion for many fine and reverential excuses; but, at the same time, +this would be neither polite nor agreeable. To fall in some kind of way +before her feet, and then, when graciously raised by the Countess, to +thank her in a verse, in which the <i>sun</i> played a conspicuous part, +would have been incontestibly better; but now—Petrea must dance on!</p> + +<p>Was it that our Petrea really was so addled (if people will graciously +allow us such an expression) that she had no right power over her limbs, +or did it happen from want of ballast, in consequence of the slender +dinner she had eaten, or was it the result of her usual distraction—we +know not; but this much is certain, that she in <i>chassée</i>-ing on the +right hand, on which she had to pass her <i>vis-à-vis</i>, made an error, and +came directly up to him. He withdrew to the other side, but Petrea was +already there: and as the Candidate again withdrew to the right, there +was she again; and amid all this <i>chassée</i>-ing her feet got so entangled +with his, that as he made a despairing attempt to pass her, it so +happened that both fell down in the middle of the quadrille!</p> + +<p>When Petrea, with tears in her eyes, again stood upright, she saw before +her the eye-glass gentlemen, the two brothers B., who were nearly dying +with laughter. A hasty glance convinced Petrea that her mother saw +nothing of it; and a second glance, that she had <i>now</i> attracted the +attention of the Countess Solenstråle, who was smiling behind her fan. +The first observation consoled her for the last; and she fervently +assured Jacobi, who was heartily distressed on her account, that she had +not hurt herself; that it signified nothing; that it was her fault, +etc., etc.; cast a tranquil glance on the yet laughing gentlemen, and +<i>chasséed</i> boldly back again. But what, however, made the deepest +impression on Petrea, was the conduct of her partner, and his suddenly +altered behaviour. He brought the continued and unbecoming merriment of +the brothers B. to an end by one determined glance; and he who hitherto +had been parsimonious of words, and who had only answered all her +attempts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> at being entertaining by a yes or a no, now became quite +conversable, polite, and agreeable, and endeavoured in every possible +way to divert her attention from the unpleasant accident which had just +occurred, engaging her moreover for the <i>anglaise</i> after supper.</p> + +<p>Petrea understood his kindness; tears came into her eyes, and her heart +beat for joy at the thought of hastening to her mother after the +quadrille, and saying, "Mamma, I am engaged for the <i>anglaise</i> after +supper."</p> + +<p>But no thought, no feeling, could remain in tranquillity with the poor +little "Chaos;" so many others came rushing in, that the first were +quite effaced. Her first impression of the kindness of Lieutenant Y. +was, "how good he is!" the second was, "perhaps he may endure me!" And +hereupon a flood of imagined courtesy and courtship poured in, which +almost turned her head. But she would not marry, heaven forbid! yet +still it would be a divine thing to have a lover, and to be oneself "an +object" of passion, like Sara and Louise. Perhaps the young Lieutenant +Y. might be related to the Countess Solenstråle, and, oh heavens! how +well it would sound when it was said, "A nephew of the Countess +Solenstråle is a passionate admirer of Petrea Frank!" What a coming +forth that would be! A less thing than that might make one dizzy. Petrea +was highly excited by these imaginings, and was suddenly changed by them +into an actual coquette, who set herself at work by all possible means +to enslave "her object;" in which a little, and for the moment very +white, hand (for even hands have their moments), figuring about the +head, played a conspicuous part. Petrea's amazing animation and +talkativeness directed the eye-glass of her mother—for her mother was +somewhat short-sighted—often in this direction, and called forth +glances besides from Louise, which positively would have operated with a +very subduing effect, had not Petrea been too much excited to remark +them. The observations and smiles of her neighbours Petrea mistook for +tokens of applause; but she deceived herself, for they only amused +themselves with the little coquetting, but not very dangerous lady. +Lieutenant Y., nevertheless, seemed to find pleasure in her liveliness, +for when the quadrille was ended, he continued a dispute which had +commenced during it, and for this purpose conducted her into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> one of the +little side rooms, which strengthened her in the idea of having made a +conquest. Isabella Aftonstjerna was singing there a little French song, +the refrain of which was—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hommage à la plus belle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Honneur au plus vaillant!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The world was all brightness to Petrea: the song carried her back to the +beautiful days of knighthood: Lieutenant Y. appeared to her as the ideal +of knightly honour, and the glass opposite showed her own face and nose +in such an advantageous light, that she, meeting herself there all +beaming with joy, fancied herself almost handsome. A beautiful rose-tree +was blossoming in the window, and Petrea, breaking off a flower, +presented it to the Lieutenant, with the words—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Honneur au plus vaillant.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Petrea thought that this was remarkably striking and apropos, and +secretly expected that her knight would lay the myrtle-spray with which +he was playing at her feet, adding very appropriately—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Hommage à la plus belle.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Most humble thanks!" said Lieutenant Y., taking the rose with +misfortune-promising indifference. But Fate delivered Petrea from the +unpleasantness of waiting in vain for a politeness she desired, for +suddenly there arose a disturbance in the ball-room, and voices were +heard which said, "She is fainting! Gracious heaven! Sara!"</p> + +<p>Myrtle-spray, knight, conquest, all vanished now from Petrea's mind, and +with a cry of horror she rushed from Lieutenant Y. into the ball-room at +the very moment when Sara was carried out fainting. The violent dancing +had produced dizziness; but taken into a cool room, and sprinkled with +eau de Cologne and water, she soon recovered, and complained only of +horrible headache. This was a common ailment of Sara's, but was quickly +removed when a certain remedy was at hand.</p> + +<p>"My drops!" prayed Sara, in a faint voice.</p> + +<p>"Where? where?" asked Petrea, with a feeling as if she would run to +China.</p> + +<p>"In the little box in our chamber," said Sara.</p> + +<p>Quick as thought sped the kind Petrea across the court to the east wing. +She sought through the chamber where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> their things were, but the box was +not to be found. It must have been left in the carriage. But where was +the carriage? It was locked up in the coach-house. And where was the key +of the coach-house?</p> + +<p>Great was Petrea's fatigue before she obtained this; before she reached +the coach-house; and then before, with a lantern in her hand, she had +found the missing box. Great also, on the other hand, was her joy, as +breathless, but triumphant, she hastened up to Sara with the little +bottle of medicine in her hand, and for reward she received the not less +agreeable commission of dropping out sixty drops for Sara. Scarcely, +however, was the medicine swallowed, when Sara exclaimed with violence:</p> + +<p>"You have killed me, Petrea! You have given me poison! It is +unquestionably Louise's elixir!"</p> + +<p>It was so! The wrong bottle had been brought, and great was the +perplexity.</p> + +<p>"You do everything so left-handedly, Petrea!" exclaimed Sara, in +ill-humour; "you are like the ass in the fable, that would break the +head of his friend in driving away a fly!"</p> + +<p>These were hard words for poor Petrea, who was just about to run off +again in order to redeem her error. This, added to other agitation of +mind, brought tears to her eyes, and blood to her head. Her nose began +violently to bleed. Louise, excited against Sara by her severity to +Petrea, and some little also by her calling her elixir poison, threw +upon her a look of great displeasure, and devoted herself to the weeping +and bleeding Petrea.</p> + +<p>Whether it was the spirit of anger that dispersed Sara's headache, or +actually Louise's elixir (Louise was firmly persuaded that it was the +latter), we know not; but certain it was that Sara very soon recovered +and returned to the company, without saying one consoling word to +Petrea.</p> + +<p>Petrea was in no condition to appear at the supper-table, and Louise +kindly remained with her. Aunt Evelina, Laura, Karin, and even the lady +of the War-Councillor herself, brought them delicacies. Amid so much +kindness, Petrea could not do otherwise than become again tranquil and +lively. She should, she thought, after all, dance the <i>anglaise</i> after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +supper with "le plus vaillant," as she called the Lieutenant, who had +truly captivated her evidently not steeled heart.</p> + +<p>The <i>anglaise</i> had already begun as the sisters entered the ball-room. +The Candidate hastened to meet them quite in an uneasy state of mind; he +had engaged Louise for this dance, and they now stood up together in the +crowd of dancers. Petrea expected, likewise, that "le plus vaillant" +would rush up to her and seize her hand; but as she cast a hasty glance +around, she perceived him, not rushing towards her, but dancing with +Sara, who was looking more beautiful and brilliant than ever. The rose +which Petrea had given him—faithless knight!—together with the +myrtle-sprig on which she had speculated, were both of them placed in +Sara's bosom. The eyes of "le plus vaillaut" were incessantly riveted +upon "la plus belle," as Sara was then unanimously declared to be. The +glory of the Aftonstjernas paled in the night, as they were too much +heated by dancing, but Sara's star burned brighter and brighter. She was +introduced to the Countess Solenstråle, who paid her charming +compliments, and called her "la reine du bal," at which the +Aftonstjernas looked displeased.</p> + +<p>"Thousand devils, how handsome she is!" exclaimed the old gentleman who +had striven with Petrea about the tea-cup, and who now, without being +aware of it, trod upon her foot as he thrust himself before her to get a +better view of "la reine du bal."</p> + +<p>Overlooked, humiliated, silent, and dejected, Petrea withdrew into +another room. The scenes of the evening passed in review before her +soul, and appeared now quite in an altered light. The mirror which a few +hours before had flattered her with the notion that she might be called +<i>la plus belle</i>, now showed her her face red and unsightly; she thought +herself the most ridiculous and unfortunate of human beings. She felt at +this moment a kind of hostility against herself. She thought on +something which she was preparing for Sara, and which was to be an +agreeable surprise to her, and which was to be made known to her in a +few days—she thought of this, and in that moment of trouble the thought +of it, like a sunbeam on dark clouds, brightened the night in her soul. +The thought of gratifying one, who on this evening had so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> deeply +wounded her, gave a mild and beneficial turn to her mind.</p> + +<p>After supper, a balcony in the saloon adjoining the ball-room was +opened, in order somewhat to cool the heated atmosphere of the room.</p> + +<p>Two persons, a lady and gentleman, stepped into the balcony; a light +white shawl was thrown over the lady's shoulders; stars garlanded her +dark hair; stars flashed in her black eyes, which glanced fiercely +around into free space.</p> + +<p>There lay over the landscape the deliciously mysterious half-darkness of +a May-night, a magical veil which half hides and half reveals its +beauty, and which calls forth mysterious forebodings. A mighty and +entrancing revelation of the gloriousness of life seemed to sing in the +wind, which passed tranquilly murmuring through space, shone in the +stars, and wandered high above earth.</p> + +<p>"Ah, life! life!" exclaimed she, and stretched forth her arms towards +space, as if she would embrace it.</p> + +<p>"Enchanting girl!" said he, while he seized her hand, "my life belongs +to you!"</p> + +<p>"Conduct me forth into free, fresh life," said she, without withdrawing +her hand, and looking haughtily at him all the while, "and my hand +belongs to you! But remember you this, that I will be free—free as the +wind which now kisses your forehead, and lifts those topmost branches of +the tree! I love freedom, power, and honour! Conduct me to these, help +me to obtain these, and my gratitude will secure to you my love; will +fetter me to you with stronger bonds than those of ceremony and +prejudice, to which I only submit out of regard to those who otherwise +would weep over me, and whom I would not willingly distress more than +there is need for. It shall not bind us more than we ourselves wish. +Freedom shall be the knitting and the loosening of our bond!"</p> + +<p>"Beautiful woman!" answered he, "raised above the hypocrisy of +weakness—above the darkness of prejudice—I admire you and obey you! +Only to such a woman can my will submit! My beautiful scholar is become +my teacher! Well, then, let the hand of the priest unite us; my hand +shall conduct you up to that brilliant throne which your beauty and your +talents deserve! I will only elevate you in order,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> as now, to fall +before your feet the most devoted of your servants!"</p> + +<p>He dropped upon one knee before her; and she, bending herself towards +him, let her lips touch his forehead. He threw his arms round her, and +held her for one moment bent towards him. A supercilious, scornful +expression, unobserved by her, played upon his lips.</p> + +<p>"Release me, Hermann! some one comes," said she; he did so, and as she +raised her proud neck against his will, a dark flash of indignation +burned in her eyes.</p> + +<p>They withdrew, and another couple stepped out into the balcony.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He.</span> Wait, let me wrap my cloak better round you; the wind is cool.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">She.</span> Ah, how beautiful to feel how it wraps us both! Do you see how we +are here standing between heaven and earth, separated from all the +world?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He.</span> I do not see it—I see my lovely world in my arms! I have you, +Laura! Laura, tell me, are you happy?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">She.</span> Ah, no!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He.</span> How?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">She.</span> Ah, I am not happy because I am too happy! I fancy I never can have +deserved this happiness. I cannot conceive how it came to my share. Ah, +Arvid! to live thus with you, with my mother, my sister, all that I most +love—and then to be yours ever, ever!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He.</span> Say eternally, my Laura! Our union belongs as much to heaven as to +earth, here as there; to all eternity I am yours, and you are mine!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">She.</span> Hush, my Arvid! I hear my mother's voice—she calls me. Let us go +to her.</p> + +<p>They returned into the room, and presently another couple stepped on the +balcony.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He.</span> Cousin Louise, do you like evening air? Cousin Louise, I fancy, is +rather romantic. Cousin, do you like the stars? I am a great friend of +the stars too; I think on what the poet sings:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">——silently as Egypt's priests<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They move.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Look, Cousin Louise, towards the corner, in the west there lies +Oestanvik. If it would give you any pleasure to make a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> little tour +there, I would beg that I might drive you there in my new landau. I +really think, Cousin Louise, that Oestanvik would please you: the +peaches and the vines are just now in full bloom; it is a beautiful +sight.</p> + +<p>A deep sigh is heard.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">She.</span> Who sighs so?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Voice.</span> Somebody who is poor, and who now, for the first time, envies +the rich.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">He.</span> Oh rich! rich! God forbid! rich I am not exactly. One has one's +competency, thank God! One has wherewith to live. I can honestly +maintain myself and a family. I sow two hundred bushels of wheat; and +what do you think, Cousin Louise—but where is Cousin Louise?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Voice.</span> It seemed to her, no doubt, as if a cold wind came over here +from Oestanvik.</p> + +<p>At the moment when the gentlemen returned to the room, a girl came into +the balcony. She was alone. The misfortunes of the evening depressed her +heart, and were felt to be so much more humiliating because they were of +such a mean kind. Some burning tears stole quickly and silently over her +cheeks. The evening wind kissed them gently away. She looked up to +heaven; never had it seemed to her so high and glorious. Her soul raised +itself, mounted even higher than her glance, up to the mighty friend of +human hearts; and He gave to hers a presentiment that a time would come, +when, in his love, she would be reconciled to and forget all adversities +of earth.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The days at Axelholm wore on merrily amid ever-varying delights. Petrea +wrote long letters, in prose and in verse, to her sisters at home, and +imparted to them all that occurred here. Her own misfortunes, which she +even exaggerated, she described in such a comic manner that those very +things which were at first distressing to her, were made a spring of +hearty merriment both to herself and to her family.</p> + +<p>She received one day a letter from her father, which contained the +following words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">My good Child</span>,</p> + +<p>"Your letters, my dear child, give me and your sisters great +pleasure; not merely on account of the lively things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> which they +contain, but more especially on account of your way of bearing +that which is anything but lively. Continue to do thus, my child, +and you—my heart rejoices in the thought—will advance on the way +to wisdom and happiness, and you will have joyfully to acknowledge +the blessed truth which the history of great things, as well as of +small, establishes, that there is nothing evil which may not be +made conducive to good; and thus our own errors may be made steps +on our way to improvement.</p> + +<p>"Greet your sisters cordially from their and your tenderly devoted</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Father.</span>"</p></div> + +<p>Petrea kissed these lines with tears of grateful joy. She wore them for +several days near her heart; she preserved them through her whole life +as one of the endeared means by which she had gone happily through the +chromatic scale of existence.</p> + +<p>Louise was joked much about Cousin Thure; Cousin Thure was joked much +about Louise; it pleased him very much to be joked about her, to be told +that Oestanvik wanted a mistress, that he himself wanted a pretty wife, +and that without doubt Louise Frank was one of the most sensible as well +as one of the prettiest girls in the country; and more than this, was +besides of such a respectable family! The Landed-proprietor received +already felicitations on his betrothal.</p> + +<p>What the bride-elect, however, thought on the matter was more difficult +to fathom. She was certainly always polite to Cousin Thure; still this +politeness seemed expressive rather of indifference than friendship; and +she declined, with a decision amazing to many people, his pressing and +often repeated solicitations to make an excursion to Oestanvik in his +new landau, drawn by what he styled "his foxes—his four horses in one +rein." Many people asserted that the agreeable and cordial Jacobi was +much nearer to Louise's heart than the rich Landed-proprietor! but even +towards Jacobi her conduct was so equal, so tranquil, so unconstrained, +that nobody could exactly tell how it might be. Nobody knew so well as +we do, that Louise considered it consistent with the dignity of woman to +show only perfect indifference to the attentions or <i>doux-propos</i> of +men, until they had been openly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> and fully declared. Louise despised +coquetry so far as to dread anything which bordered on the very limits +of it. Her young female friends joked with her upon her strict notions +on this head, and fancied that she would remain unmarried.</p> + +<p>"That may be," said Louise, calmly.</p> + +<p>They told her one day of a gentleman who said "I will not stand up +before any girl who is not some little of a coquette."</p> + +<p>"Then he may remain sitting," answered Louise, with much dignity.</p> + +<p>Louise's views of the dignity of woman, her grave and decided +principles, and her manner of expressing them, amused her young friends, +whilst at the same time they inspired for her a true esteem, and gave +occasion for many little contentions and discussions, in which Louise +intrepidly, though not without some little warmth, maintained the rights +of the cause. These contentions, however, which began in merriment, did +not always terminate so.</p> + +<p>A young and rather coquettish lady was one day wounded by the severity +with which Louise spoke of the coquetry of her sex, and particularly of +married ladies, and in revenge she used an expression which excited +Louise's astonishment and anger. An explanation followed between the +two, the result of which was not only their perfect estrangement, but an +altered state of mind in Louise which she in vain endeavoured to +conceal.</p> + +<p>During the first days of her stay at Axelholm she had been uncommonly +joyous and lively; now she was quiet, thoughtful, often absent, and +towards the Candidate, as it seemed, less friendly than formerly, whilst +she lent a more willing ear to the Landed-proprietor, although she still +resolutely withstood his proposal of a drive to Oestanvik.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the day after this explanation, Elise was engaged in a +lively conversation with Jacobi on the balcony.</p> + +<p>"And if," said he, "I endeavour to win her heart, would her +parents—would her mother see it without displeasure? Ah, speak candidly +with me; the well-being of my life depends upon it."</p> + +<p>"You have my accordance, my good wishes, Jacobi," returned Elise. "I say +to you what I have already said to my husband, that I should willingly +call you son."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Jacobi, deeply moved, and falling on one knee, whilst he +pressed her hand to his lips—"oh that my whole life might evidence to +you my gratitude and my love—!"</p> + +<p>At this very moment, Louise, who had been seeking her mother, approached +the balcony; she saw Jacobi's action, and heard his words: she withdrew +quickly, as if she had been stung by a snake.</p> + +<p>From this time a great change was more and more perceptible in her. +Still, reserved, and very pale, she moved about like one in a dream, +amid the lively circles of Axelholm, and agreed willingly to the +proposition which her mother, who was uneasy on her account, made of +their stay being shortened. Jacobi, as much astonished as distressed by +the sudden unfriendliness of Louise towards him, began to think that the +place must in some kind of way be bewitched, and desired more than +anybody else to get away from it.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> A mile Swedish is equal to six English miles.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Merry, in Swedish.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>THE RETURN HOME.</h3> + + +<p>What was it that Jacobi and Henrik had so much to arrange together +before their departure from Axelholm, and even whilst they were there? +Petrea's curiosity was terribly excited, but she could not come at any +clue by which to satisfy it. Some kind of plot which concerned the +family, seemed to be in agitation.</p> + +<p>Henrik and his friend had long intended to give a little entertainment +to the family, and the opportunity to do so now seemed favourable, as +well as also to combine it with an agreeable surprise; the scene of +which should be a pretty and good Inn, half way between Axelholm and the +city. Here, on their return, they would halt under pretence of some +repair being necessary to one of the carriages, and the ladies should be +persuaded to enter the house, where, in the mean time, all should be +prepared.</p> + +<p>The two friends had greatly delighted themselves over this scheme, and +in order to obtain for Louise her favourite luxury of ices, Jacobi had +drained his already reduced purse.</p> + +<p>In going to Axelholm the family had so divided themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> that Louise +with Petrea went in what is called a Medewi-carriage, the Judge's own +equipage, which was driven by Jacobi, with whom Henrik sate on the +driving-box, whilst the mother and the other daughters went in a covered +hired carriage, driven by the Judge himself. On the return, the same +arrangement was to be observed, with the difference of Jacobi driving +the large carriage, and Henrik driving his sisters.</p> + +<p>The mother, and even the young gentlemen, declared with becoming +discretion that they would not confide the reins to less skilful hands, +because the road was rough and hilly, and moreover bad from rain. +Notwithstanding all this, however, Jacobi intrigued so that, contrary to +the established arrangement, he mounted the coach-box of the young +ladies, and Henrik that of his mother. But the Candidate had not much +pleasure from so doing, since "the object" was no longer such as she was +during the drive thither. At that time she was more cheerful than +common; rejoiced so heartily over the spring air, over the song of the +lark; over fields, and cows, and cottages, and over everything that she +saw, communicating all her delight to Jacobi, who sate all the way on +the driving-box with his face turned towards the carriage (Henrik +solemnly advised him to fix himself in this reversed position), and +their blue eyes then rested on each other with a spring of pure +devotion. Now, everything was otherwise: "the object" appeared to give +attention to nothing. She leaned back in the carriage with her veil over +her face, and a cathedral is far more conversable than she; for it +speaks through the tongue in its tower, but Louise's tongue was +perfectly dumb, and Petrea's, which once never ceased, enlivened her +not. In vain Jacobi sought to catch Louise's eye. She avoided him, and +he was quite cast down.</p> + +<p>After having been many times most properly jogged and shaken, they +arrived fortunately at the wayside inn; yet no! not so fortunately +either, one of the carriage-wheels was discovered to be somewhat broken: +it was not dangerously so, oh no, heaven forbid that! but it must of +necessity be mended before they could proceed further. Henrik prayed his +mother and sisters while this was doing to alight and enter the inn, the +host and hostess of which now stood at the door, and with bows and +curtseys besought the travellers to enter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> The host came himself and +opened the carriage-doors. Elise was startled, and uttered an +exclamation of surprise;—the host really and truly must be her husband; +and the hostess, the very prettiest hostess in the world, was bodily her +daughter Eva! The travelling daughters, too, were as much astonished, +made all kinds of exclamations, and recognised in host and hostess +father and sister. But neither host nor hostess were confounded, nor +allowed themselves to be confused by the confusion of the travellers; +they knew themselves too well who they were, and knew, too, how to +conduct themselves in their office. They led their guests, with many +apologies and politenesses, up to two large and handsome rooms, and here +the host, quite in despair, began to bustle about, and to summon both +maid and waiter. At last the waiter came in his blue apron. A new +miracle! He was a living image of the Candidate! And now came the maid. +A new amazement! A handsomer person, or one that more nearly resembled +Henrik it would have been impossible to find! But she went about +clumsily, and had nearly fallen down, stumbling first with this, and +then with that. The host scolded her vehemently on account of her +clumsiness, and scolded the waiter also till he made them both cry, at +least so it seemed; whereupon he chased them both out with the order to +return instantly with refreshments. The host, now again in brilliant, +excellent, polite humour, let fly with his own hand the corks of two +champagne bottles, poured out, and drank with the ladies. After they had +refreshed themselves with all kinds of delicious eating, amid the most +lively conversation, some person, who called himself Noah's grandson, +was announced, requesting permission to exhibit to the company various +strange animals and other beautiful curiosities, which had been found in +the ark. The grandson of Noah was called in by a great majority of +voices, and a face presented itself at the door which, with the +exception of a certain grey beard, bore a great resemblance to Jeremias +Munter. His menagerie, and his cabinet of art, were set out in another +room, into which the company were conducted; and there many +strangely-formed creatures were exhibited, and little scenes +represented, to which Noah's grandson gave explanations and made +speeches which were almost as humorous and witty (to be quite so was +impossible) as those of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Japhet, in that wonderful and exquisite book, +"Noah's Ark."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Two other grandsons of Noah, who bore no resemblance to +any acquaintance of the family, assisted at this exhibition, at the end +of which Noah's learned grandson gave to each of the spectators a little +souvenir from the contents of the ark, and that with so much tact, that +every one received precisely the thing which gave him pleasure. Louise, +moreover, received a remarkable sermon, which was preached by Father +Noah himself on the first Sunday of his abode in the ark. But near the +title-page of this same sermon she found a piece of poetry which +evidently bore a later date. Louise did not, however, read it then, but +blushing very deeply, put it carefully by.</p> + +<p>The whole affair might have been as merry as it was droll, had not +Louise—herself the most important person in the entertainment—been in +no state of mind to enjoy it. But although she used her utmost endeavour +to take part in all the diversion, and to appear cheerful, she became +every moment more depressed; and when at last the ices came, and the +waiter, with the utmost cordiality beaming from his eyes, urged her to +take a vanilla-ice, she was only just able to taste it, upon which she +set it down, rushed out of the room, and burst into a convulsive fit of +weeping. This was a thing so unusual with Louise, that it occasioned a +general perplexity. Host, hostess, maid, waiter, Noah's grandson, all +threw off their characters; and all illusion, as well as all reality of +festivity, were at an end. It is true that Louise composed herself +speedily, besought pardon, and assigned as the cause of her emotion +sudden spasm in the chest. Elise and Eva, and more particularly Petrea, +endeavoured, on account of Henrik and Jacobi, to jest back again the +former merriment, but it would not come, and nothing more could succeed. +Everybody, but more especially Jacobi, were out of tune, and they now +began to speak of returning home.</p> + +<p>But now all at once the heavy trampling of horses, and a bustle at the +inn door was heard, and at the same moment a splendid landau, drawn by +four prancing bays, drew up before it. It was the Landed-proprietor, +who, unacquainted with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> returning there after a short absence, and who +had drawn up at this inn for a moment's breathing-time for his horses, +and to order for himself a glass of the beer for which the place was +renowned. The company which he here so unexpectedly encountered +occasioned an alteration in his first plan. He determined to accompany +the family to the city, and besought his aunt and cousins to make use of +his landau. It would certainly please them so much; it went with such +unexampled ease; was so comfortable that one could sleep therein with +perfect convenience even on the heaviest roads, etc., etc. Elise, who +really had suffered from the merciless shaking of the hired carriage, +was inclined to accept the offer; and as it immediately began to rain, +and as the Judge preferred the carriage to the chaise in which he had +driven with Eva, the affair was quickly arranged. Elise and some of the +daughters were to go in the landau, which was turned in the mean time +into a coach; and the Judge and the rest of the company were to divide +themselves among the other carriages. As these were ready to receive the +company, Jacobi drove his Medewi-carriage close on the landau of the +Landed-proprietor, who looked more than once with a dark countenance to +see whether any profane or injurious contact had taken place between the +great and the little carriage.</p> + +<p>Jacobi's heart beat violently as Louise came out on the steps of the inn +door. The Landed-proprietor stood on one side offering her his hand, and +Jacobi on the other offering his also, to conduct her to her former +seat. She appeared faint, and moved slowly. She hesitated for one +moment, and then gave, with downcast eyes, her hand to the +Landed-proprietor, who assisted her triumphantly into the carriage to +her mother, and mounting the box himself, away the next moment dashed +the landau with its four prancing bays. Jacobi laid his hand on his +heart, a choking sensation seemed to deprive him of breath, and with +tears in his eyes he watched the handsome departing carriage. He was +roused out of his painful observations by the voice of Petrea, who +jestingly announced to him that the enviable happiness awaited him of +driving herself and the Assessor in the Medewi-carriage. He took his +former seat in silence; his heart was full of disquiet; and +intentionally he remained far behind the others, in order that he might +not have the least glimpse of the landau.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<p>Scarcely had the Medewi-carriage again made acquaintance with the ruts +of the road, than a violent shock brought off one of the fore wheels, +and the Candidate, Petrea, and the Assessor, were tumbled one over the +other into the mud. Quickly, however, they were all three once again on +their feet; Petrea laughing, and the Assessor scolding and fuming. When +Jacobi had discovered that all which had life was unhurt, he looked +lightly on the affair, and began to think how best it might be remedied. +A short council was held in the rain, and it was concluded that Jacobi +should remain with the carriage till some one came to his assistance, +and that in the mean time Petrea and the Assessor should make the best +of their way on foot towards the city, and send, as soon as possible, +some people to his help. A labourer, who came by immediately afterwards, +promised to do the same, and Petrea and Assessor Munter, who, however, +was anything but consistent with his name, began their walk through rain +and mud. All this while, however, Petrea became more joyful and happy: +firstly, all this was an adventure for her; secondly, she never before +had been out in such weather; thirdly, she felt herself so light and +unencumbered as she scarcely ever had done before; and because she +looked upon her clothes as given up to fate—to a power against which +none other on earth could contend, she walked on in joy of heart, +splashing through the puddles, and feeling with great delight how the +rain penetrated her dress, and seeing how the colour was washed away +both from shawl and bonnet. She held her nose high in the air, in order +to enjoy the glorious rain.</p> + +<p>Petrea had in all this a resemblance to her brother, and flattered +herself also that she might have some resemblance to Diogenes; and as +her inclination lay towards extremes, she would very willingly be +Diogenes, since she could not, as she very well knew, be Alexander. Now +she perceived that in reality she needed very little of outward comforts +to make her happy; she felt herself in her adverse circumstances so free +and rich; she had become on thee-and-thou terms with the rain-drops, +with the wind, with the shrubs and grass, with all nature in short; she +had not here the mishaps and the humiliations to fear which annoyed her +so often in company. If the magpies laughed at her, she laughed at them +in return. Long life to freedom!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>With all these feelings, Petrea got into such excessively high spirits, +that she infected therewith her companions in misfortune; or, according +to her vocabulary, good fortune. But now, however, came on a horrible +tempest, with hail, whose great stones made themselves <i>thou</i> to such a +degree with Petrea's nose as astonished and almost offended her. The +Assessor looked out for shelter; and Petrea, quite charmed that she was +nearly blown away, followed him along a narrow footpath that led into +the wood, onward in the direction of a smoke, which, driven towards them +by the storm, seemed to announce that a hospitable hut was at hand where +they might obtain shelter from the tempest. Whilst they were wandering +about to discover this, Petrea's fancy, more unrestrained than the +storm, busied itself with unbounded creations of robbers' castles, wise +hermits, hidden treasures, and other splendours, to which the smoke was +to conduct her. But ah! they were altogether built up of smoke, since it +arose from no other than a charcoal-burner's kiln, and Petrea had not +the smallest desire to make a nearer acquaintance with the hidden +divinity of which this smoke was the evidence. The small hut of the +charcoal-burner, in the form of a sugar-loaf, stood not far from the +kiln, the unbolted door of which was opened by the Assessor. No hermit, +nor even robber, had his abode therein; the hut was empty, but clean and +compact, and it was with no little pleasure that the Assessor took +possession of it, and seated himself with Petrea on the only bench which +it possessed. Petrea sighed. What a miserable metamorphosis of her +glorious castle in the air!</p> + +<p>The prospect which the open door of the hut presented, and which had no +interest for Petrea, appeared, on the contrary, captivating to her +companion. He was there deep in the wood, in a solitude wild, but still +of an elevating character. The hut stood in an open space, but round +about it various species of pine-trees stood boldly grouped, and bowed +themselves not before the storm which howled in their tops. Several lay +fallen on the ground, but evidently from age; grass and flowers grew on +the earth, which these patriarchs of the wood had torn up with their +powerful roots. Among others, two tall pine-trees stood together: the +one was decayed, and seemed about to separate itself from its root; but +the other, young, green, and strong, had so entwined it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> in its +branches, that it stood upright, mingling its withered arms with the +verdure of the other, and yielding not, although shook by the tempest. +The expressive glance of the Assessor rested long on these trees; his +eyes filled with tears; his peculiar, beautiful, but melancholy smile +played about his lips, and kindly sentiments seemed to fill his breast. +He spoke to Petrea of a people of antiquity who dwelt in deserts; he +spoke of the pure condition of the Essenes, a morning dawn of +Christendom, and his words ran thus:</p> + +<p>"A thirst after holiness drove men and women out of the tumult of the +world, out of great cities, into desert places, in order that they might +dedicate themselves to a pure and perfect life. There they built for +themselves huts, and formed a state, whose law was labour and devotion +to God. No earthly possession was enjoyed merely on account of pleasure, +but only as the means of a higher life. They strove after purity in soul +and body; tranquillity and seriousness characterised their demeanour. +They assembled together at sunrise, and lifted up hymns and prayers to +the Supreme Being. Seventeen hours of each day were devoted to labour, +study, and contemplation. Their wants were few, and therefore life was +easy. Their discourse was elevated, and was occupied by subjects of the +sublime learning which belonged to their sect. They believed on one +Eternal God, whose existence was light and purity. They sought to +approach him by purity of heart and action, by renunciation of the +pleasures of the world, and by humility of heart and mind to understand +the works of the allwise Creator. They believed in quiet abodes on the +other side of the desert pilgrimage, where clear waters ran and soft +winds blew, where spring and peace had their home; there they hoped to +arrive at the end of their journey through life."</p> + +<p>There is no want of rays of light on earth; they penetrate its misty +atmosphere in manifold directions, although human perception is not as +much aware of them at one time as at another. The words of the Assessor +made at this moment an indescribable impression on Petrea. She wept from +the sweet emotion excited by the description of a condition which was so +perfect, and of endeavours which were so holy. It appeared to her as if +she knew her own vocation, her own path through life; one which would +release her soul from all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> trifles, all vanities, all disquiets, and +which would speed her on to light and peace. Whilst these thoughts, or +rather sentiments, swelled in her breast, she looked through her tears +on her companion, as he sate there with his expressive countenance and +his large beautiful eyes fixed on the scene before him, and she saw in +him, not Jeremias Munter, but a wise hermit, with a soul full of sublime +and holy knowledge. She longed to throw herself at his feet, and beseech +his blessing; to propose to him that he should remain in this solitude, +in this hut, with her; that he should teach her wisdom; and she would +wait upon him as a daughter, or as a servant, would rise with him and +pray at sunrise, and do in all things like the Essenes. Thus would they +die to the world, and live only for heaven.</p> + +<p>Overpowered by her excited feelings, surrendered to the transports of +the moment, and nearly choked with tears, Petrea sank on the breast of +Jeremias, stammering forth her undefined wishes.</p> + +<p>If a millstone had fallen round his neck, our good Assessor could not +have been more confounded than he was at that moment. Deeply sunk in his +own thoughts, he had quite forgotten that Petrea was there, till +reminded of her presence in this unexpected manner. But he was a man, +nevertheless, who could easily understand the excitement of mind in a +young girl, and with a pure fervour of eye, whilst a good-humoured +satire played about his mouth, he endeavoured to tranquillise her +over-wrought feelings. Beautiful, then, was the discourse he held with +her on all that which calms and sanctifies life; on all that on which +man may found his abode whether in the desert or in the human crowd. He +spoke words then which Petrea never forgot, and which often, in a future +day, broke the chaotic state of her soul like beams of pure light.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the tempest had dispersed itself, and the Assessor +began to think of a return; for Petrea thought nothing about it, but +would willingly have seen herself compelled to pass the night in the +gloomy wood. But now the thought of relating her adventures at home +attracted her, and before she got out of the wood these adventures were +increased, since fate presented her with the good fortune of assisting, +with the help of her companion, an old woman, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> had fallen with her +bundle of sticks, upon her legs again, and of carrying the said bundle +to her cottage, and of lighting her fire for her; with releasing two +sparrows which a boy had made captive; and, last of all, with releasing +the Assessor himself from a thorn-bush, which, as it appeared, would +have held him with such force as vexed even himself. Petrea's hands bled +in consequence of this operation, but that only made her the livelier.</p> + +<p>When they came out of the wood, the rain had ceased altogether, the wind +had abated, and the setting sun illumined the heavens, and diffused over +the landscape a peculiar and beautiful radiance. The countenance of +Jeremias Munter was cheerful; he listened to the ascending song of the +lark, and said, "That is beautiful!" He looked upon the rain-drops which +hung on the young grass, and saw how heaven reflected itself in them, +and smiled, and said, "That is pure indeed!" Petrea gave to little +children that she met with all her savings from the feast at Axelholm, +and would willingly also have given them some of her clothes, had she +not had the fear of Louise and her mother before her eyes. She wished in +her bravery for more adventures, and more particularly for a longer way +than it at this time appeared to be; she thought she arrived at home too +soon; but the Assessor thought not, neither did the rest of the party, +who were beginning to be very uneasy on account of their long absence. +In the mean time Petrea and her companion had become very good friends +on the walk; Petrea was complimented for her courage, and Henrik +pathetically declaimed in her praise—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Not every one such height as Xenophon can gain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As scholar and as hero, a laurel-wreath obtain;<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>and they laughed.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> half-dramatic poem, remarkable for its wit and humour, from +the pen of the Swedish poet Fahlcrantz.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>FIRESIDE SCENES.</h3> + + +<p>"From home may be good, but at home is best!" said Elise from the bottom +of her heart, as she was once more in her own house, and beside her own +husband.</p> + +<p>The young people said nothing in opposition to this sentiment as they +returned to their comfortable every-day life,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> which they now enlivened +with recollections and relations out of the lately-past time. They hoped +that Louise would become pleasant and contented with her calm activity +in the house and family as formerly, but it was not so; a gnawing pain +seemed to consume her; she became perceptibly thinner; her good humour +had vanished, and her eyes were often red with weeping. In vain her +parents and sisters endeavoured, with the tenderest anxiety, to fathom +the occasion of the change; she would confess it to no one. That the +root of her grief lay at her heart she would not deny, but she appeared +determined to conceal it from the eye of day. Jacobi also began to look +pale and thin, since he lamented deeply her state of feeling, and her +altered behaviour, especially towards himself, which led him to the +belief that he unconsciously had wounded her, or in some other way that +he was the cause of her displeasure; and never had he felt more than now +what a high value he set upon her, nor how much he loved her. This +tension of mind, and his anxiety to approach Louise, and bring back a +friendly understanding between them, occasioned various little scenes, +which we will here describe.</p> + + +<h3>FIRST SCENE.</h3> + +<p>Louise sits by the window at her embroidery-frame: Jacobi seats himself +opposite to her.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi</span> (sighing). Ah, Mamselle Louise!</p> + +<p>Louise looks at her shepherdess, and works on in silence.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi</span>. Everything in the world has appeared to me for some time +wearisome and oppressive.</p> + +<p>Louise works on, and is silent.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi</span>. And you could so easily make all so different. Ah, Louise! only +one kind word, one friendly glance!—Cannot you bestow one friendly +glance on him who would gladly give everything to see you happy? +[<i>Aside.</i> She blushes—she seems moved—she is going to speak! Ah, what +will she say to me!]</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise</span>. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten +stitches to the nose—the pattern is here not very distinct.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi</span>. You will not hear me, will not understand me; you play with my +distress! Ah, Louise!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> I want some more wool;—I have left it in my room. [She goes.]</p> + + +<h3>SECOND SCENE.</h3> + +<p>The family is assembled in the library; tea is just finished. Louise, at +Petrea's and Gabriele's urgent request, has laid out the cards on a +little table to tell them their fortunes. The Candidate seats himself +near them, and appears determined to amuse himself with them, and to be +lively; but "the object" assumes all the more her "cathedral air." The +Landed-proprietor steps in, bows, snorts, and kisses the hand of the +"gracious aunt."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Landed-proprietor</span>. Very cold this evening; I fancy we shall have frost.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Elise</span>. It is a gloomy spring. We have lately read a most affecting +account of the famine in the northern provinces. It is the misfortune of +these late springs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Landed-proprietor.</span> Oh, yes, the famine up there. No, we'll talk of +something else—that's too gloomy. I've had my peas covered with straw. +Cousin Louise, are you fond of playing Patience? I am very fond of it +too; it is so composing. At my seat at Oestanvik I have little, little +patience-cards. I fancy really that they would please my cousin.</p> + +<p>The Landed-proprietor seats himself on the other side of Louise: the +Candidate gives some extraordinary shrugs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> This is not patience, but a little witchcraft, by which I read +Fate. Shall I prophesy to you, Cousin Thure?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Landed-proprietor.</span> Oh, yes! prophesy something to me. Nothing +disagreeable! If I hear anything disagreeable in an evening, I always +have bad dreams at night. Prophesy me prettily—a little wife—a wife as +lovely and as amiable as Cousin Louise.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Candidate</span> (with a look as if he would send the Landed-proprietor +head-over-heels to Oestanvik). I don't know whether Mamselle Louise +likes flattery.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Landed-proprietor</span> (who seems as if he neither heard nor saw his rival). +Cousin Louise, are you fond of blue?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> Blue? That is truly a lovely colour; but yet I prefer green.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Landed-proprietor.</span>. Nay, that is good! that is excellent!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> At Oestanvik +my dressing-room furniture is blue, beautiful light blue silk damask; +but in my sleeping-room I have green moreen. I fancy really, Cousin +Louise, that——</p> + +<p>The Candidate coughs, and then rushes out of the room. Louise looks +after him, sighs, and then examines the cards, in which she finds so +many misfortunes for Cousin Thure that he is quite terrified: the peas +frosted, conflagration in the dressing-room, and last of all a +rejection! The Landed-proprietor declares, notwithstanding, that he +finds nothing of this unpleasant. The sisters smile, and make remarks.</p> + + +<h3>THIRD SCENE.</h3> + +<p>The family assembled after supper:</p> + +<p>The Assessor puts the question—What is the bitterest affliction?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi.</span> Unreturned love.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Petrea.</span> Not to know what one shall be.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Eva.</span> To have offended some one that one loves beyond reconciliation.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Mother.</span> I am of Eva's opinion; I think nothing can be more painful.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> Ah! there is yet something more painful than that—something +more bitter—and that is to lose one's faith in those whom one has +loved; to doubt—(Louise's lip trembles, she can say no more, becomes +pale, rises, and goes out quickly; a general sensation ensues).</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Father.</span> What is amiss with Louise? Elise, we must know what it is! +She should, she must tell us! I cannot bear any longer to see her thus; +and I will go this moment and speak with her, if you will not rather do +it. But you must not be satisfied till you know her very inmost +feelings. The most horrible thing, I think, is mystery and vapours!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">The Mother.</span> I will go directly to her. I have now an idea what it is, +dearest Ernst; and if I am somewhat long with her, let the others go to +bed; I shall then find you alone. [She goes out.]</p> + + +<h3>FOURTH SCENE.</h3> + +<p><i>The Mother and Daughter.</i></p> + +<p>The daughter on her knees, her face buried in her hands;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> the mother +goes softly up to her and throws her arms around her.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> Louise, my good girl, what is amiss with you? I have never seen +you thus before. You must tell me what is at your heart—you must!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> I cannot! I ought not!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> You can! you ought! Will you make me, will you make all of us +wretched by going on in this way? Ah, Louise, do not let false shame, or +false tenderness mislead you. Tell me, do you break any oath, or violate +any sacred duty, by confessing what it is which depresses you?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> No oath; no sacred duty—and yet——yet——</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> Then speak, in heaven's name, my child! Unquestionably some +unfounded suspicion is the cause of your present state. What do the +words mean with which you left us this evening? You weep! Louise, I +pray, I beseech of you, if you love me, conceal nothing from me! Who is +it that you love, yet can no more have faith in—no longer highly +esteem? Answer me—is it your mother?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> My mother! my mother! Ah, while you look on me thus I feel a +pain, and yet a confidence! Ah, my God! all may be an error—a miserable +slander, and I——Well then, it shall out—that secret which has gnawed +my heart, and which I conceived it my duty to conceal! But forgive me, +my mother, if I grieve you; forgive me if my words disturb your peace; +forgive me, if in my weakness, if in my doubt I have done you injustice, +and remove the grief which has poisoned my life! Ah, do you see, mother, +it was mine, it was my sisters' happiness, to consider you so +spotless—so angelically pure! It was my pride that you were so, and +that you were my mother! And now——</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> And now, Louise?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> And now it has been whispered to me——Oh, I cannot speak the +words!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> Speak them—I demand it! I desire it from you! We both stand +before the Judgment-seat of God!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> I have been led to believe that even my mother was not +blameless—that she——</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> Go on, Louise!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> That she and Jacobi loved one another—that evil tongues had not +blamed them without cause, and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> still—I despised these words, I +despised the person who spoke them! I endeavoured to chase these +thoughts as criminal from my soul. On this account it happened that I +went one day to find you—and I found Jacobi on his knee before you—I +heard him speaking of his love. Now you know all, my mother!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> And what is your belief in all this?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> Ah, I know not what I ought to believe! But since that moment +there has been no peace in my soul, and I have fancied that it never +would return—that I should never lose the doubt which I could make +known to no one.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mother.</span> Let peace return to your soul, my child! Good God! how +unfortunate I should be at this moment if my conscience were not pure! +But, thank heaven, my child, your mother has no such fault to reproach +herself with; and Jacobi deserves your utmost esteem, your utmost +regard. I will entirely and freely confess to you the entire truth of +that which has made you so uneasy. For one moment, when Jacobi first +came to us, a warmer sentiment towards me awoke in his young, +thoughtless heart, and in part it was returned by me. But you will not +condemn me on account of an involuntary feeling which your father looked +on with pardoning eyes. In a blessed hour we opened to each other our +hearts, and it was his love, his strength and gentleness, which gave me +power to overcome my weakness. Jacobi, at the same moment, woke to a +consciousness of his error, struggled against it, and overcame it. We +separated soon after, and it was our mutual wish not to meet again for +several years. In the mean time Henrik was committed to his care, and +Jacobi has been for him an exemplary friend and instructor. Three years +later, when I again met him, I extended my hand to him as a sister; and +he——yes, my dear girl! and I err greatly if he did not then begin in +his heart to love me as a mother. But that which then had its beginning, +has since then had its completion—it was in the character of a son that +you saw him kneel to me; thanking me that I would favour his love to my +daughter—to my Louise, who, therefore, has so unnecessarily conjured up +a spectre to terrify herself and us all.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of this conversation the mother spoke in a quiet +jesting tone, which, perhaps, did more even than her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> simple explanation +to reassure the heart of her daughter. She pressed her hands on her +heart, and looked thankfully up to heaven.</p> + +<p>"And if," continued her mother, "you yet entertain any doubt, talk with +your father, talk with Jacobi, and their words will strengthen mine. But +I see you need it not—your heart, my child, is again at peace!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, thank God! thank God!" exclaimed Louise, sinking on her knees +before her mother, and covering her hands and even her dress with +kisses. "Oh, that I dared look up again to you, my mother! Oh, can you +forgive my being so weak: my being so easy of belief? Never, never shall +I forgive myself!"</p> + +<p>Louise was out of herself, her whole frame trembled violently; she had +never before been in a state of such agitation. Her mother was obliged +to apply remedies both for mind and body, tender words and soothing +drops—to tranquillise her excited state. She besought her therefore to +go to rest, seated herself beside her bed, took her hands in hers, and +then attempted to divert her mind from the past scene, endeavouring with +the utmost delicacy to turn her mind on the Candidate and on the +Landed-proprietor as lovers. But Louise had only one thought, one +sentiment—the happy release from her doubt, and thankfulness for it. +When her mother saw that she was calmer, she embraced her, "And now go +to sleep, my dear girl," said she; "I must now leave you, in order to +hasten to one who waits impatiently for me, and that is your father. He +has been extremely uneasy on your account, and I can now make him easy +by candidly communicating all that has passed between us. For the rest I +can assure you that you have said nothing that can make us uneasy. That +I was calumniated by one person, and am so still, he knows as well as I +do. He has assisted me to bear it calmly, he is truly so superior, so +excellent! Ah, Louise, it is a great blessing when husband and wife, +parents and children, cherish an entire confidence in each other! It is +so beautiful, so glorious, to be able to say everything to each other in +love!"</p> + + +<h3>FIFTH SCENE.</h3> + +<p>The garden. It is morning! the larks sing, the jonquils<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> fill the air +with odour; the bird's cherry-tree waves in the morning breeze; the +cherry blossoms open themselves to the bees which hum about in their +bosom. The sun shines on all its children.</p> + +<p>Louise is walking in the middle alley, Father Noah's sermon in her hand, +but with her eyes fixed on the little poem appended to it, which by no +means had anything to do with Father Noah. The Candidate comes towards +her from a cross walk, with a gloomy air, and with a black pansy in his +hand.</p> + +<p>The two meet, and salute each other silently.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi.</span> Might I speak one moment with you? I will not detain you long.</p> + +<p>Louise bows her head, is silent, and blushes.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi.</span> In an hour's time I shall take my departure, but I must beseech +of you to answer me one question before I say farewell to you!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Louise.</span> You going! Where? Why?</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Jacobi.</span> Where, is indifferent to me, so that I leave this place; why, +because I cannot bear the unkindness of one person who is dear to me, +and who, I once thought, cherished a friendship for me! For fourteen +days you have behaved in such a way to me as has embittered my life; and +why? Have I been so unfortunate as to offend you, or to excite your +displeasure? Why then delay explaining the cause to me? Is it right to +sentence any one unheard, and that one a friend—a friend from +childhood? Is it right—pardon me, Louise—is it Christian, to be so +severe, so immovable? In the sermons which you are so fond of rending, +do you find nothing said of kindness and reconciliation!</p> + +<p>Jacobi spoke with a fervour, and with such an almost severe seriousness, +as was quite foreign to his gentle and cheerful spirit.</p> + +<p>"I have done wrong," replied Louise, with a deep emotion, "very wrong, +but I have been misled; at some future time, perhaps, I may tell you +how. Since last evening, I know how deceived I have been, how I have +deceived myself; and now God be thanked and praised, I know that nobody +is to blame in this affair but myself. I have much, very much, to +reproach myself with, on account of my reserve towards my own family, +and towards you also. Forgive me, best Jacobi," continued she, offering +her hand with almost humility;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> "forgive me, I have been very unkind to +you; but believe me," added she, "neither have I been happy either!"</p> + +<p>"Thanks! thanks, Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, grasping her hand, and +pressing it to his breast and to his lips; "oh, how happy this kindness +makes me! Now I can breathe again! Now I can leave you with a cheerful +heart!"</p> + +<p>"But why will you leave us?" asked she, in a half-discontented tone.</p> + +<p>"Because," answered Jacobi, "it would not give me pleasure to witness a +betrothal which will soon be celebrated; because, from your late +behaviour, I must be convinced you cannot entertain any warmer +sentiments towards me."</p> + +<p>"If that were the case," replied she, in the same tone as before, "I +should not have been depressed so long."</p> + +<p>"How!" exclaimed Jacobi, joyfully. "Ah, Louise, what words! what bold +hopes may they not excite! Might I mention them to you? might I venture +to say to you what I some time have thought, and still now think?"</p> + +<p>Louise was silent, and Jacobi continued:</p> + +<p>"I have thought," said he, "that the humble, unprovided-for Jacobi could +offer you a better fortune than your rich neighbour of Oestanvik. I have +hoped that my love, the true dedication of my whole life, might make you +happy; that a smaller portion of worldly wealth might satisfy you, if it +were offered you by a man who know deeply your worth, and who desired +nothing better than to be ennobled by your hand. Oh, if this beloved +hand would guide me through life, how bright, how peaceful would not +life be! I should fear neither adversity nor temptation! and how should +I not endeavour to be grateful to Providence for his goodness to me! Ah, +Louise! it is thus that I have thought, and fancied, and dreamed! Oh, +tell me, was it only a dream, or may not the dream become a reality?"</p> + +<p>Louise did not withdraw the hand which he had taken, but looked upon the +speaker with infinite kindness.</p> + +<p>"One word," besought Jacobi, "only one word! Might I say <i>my</i> Louise? +Louise—mine?"</p> + +<p>"Speak with my parents," said Louise, deeply blushing, and turning aside +her head.</p> + +<p>"My Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, and, intoxicated with tenderness and joy, +pressed her to his heart.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Think of my parents," said Louise, gently pushing him back; "without +their consent I will make no promise. Their answer shall decide me."</p> + +<p>"We will hasten together, my Louise," said he, "and desire their +blessing."</p> + +<p>"Go alone, dear Jacobi," said Louise. "I do not feel myself calm enough, +nor strong enough. I will wait your return here."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>With this fifth scene we conjecture that the little drama has arrived at +the desired conclusion, and therefore we add no further scene to that +which naturally follows.</p> + +<p>As the Candidate hastened with lover's speed to Louise's parents he +struck hard against somebody in the doorway, who was coming out. The two +opponents stepped back each a few paces, and the Candidate and the +Landed-proprietor stared in astonishment on each other.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said the Candidate, and was advancing; but the +Landed-proprietor held him back, whilst he inquired with great +earnestness, and with a self-satisfied smile, "Hear you, my friend: can +you tell me whether Cousin Louise is in the garden? I came this moment +from her parents, and would now speak with her. Can you tell me where +she is?"</p> + +<p>"I—I don't know!" said Jacobi, releasing himself, and hastening with a +secret anxiety of mind up to her parents.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the Landed-proprietor had caught a glimpse of "Cousin +Louise's" person in the garden, and hastened up to her.</p> + +<p>It was, in fact, no surprise to Louise, when, after all the preliminary +questions, "Cousin, do you like fish? do you like birds?" there came at +last the principal question, "Cousin, do you like me?"</p> + +<p>To this question, it is true, she gave a somewhat less blunt, but +nevertheless a decided negative reply, although it was gilded over with +"esteem and friendship."</p> + +<p>The Candidate, on his side, in the fulness and warmth of his heart, laid +open to Louise's parents his love, his wishes, and his hopes. It is true +that Jacobi was now without any office, as well as without any property; +but he had many expectations, and amid these, like a sun and a support, +his Excellency O——. The Judge was himself no friend to such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> supports, +and Elise did not approve of long engagements: but then both of them +loved Jacobi; both of them wished, above all things, the true happiness +and well-being of their daughter; and so it happened that, after much +counsel, and after Louise had been questioned by her parents, and they +found that she had sincerely the same wishes as Jacobi, and that she +believed she should be happy with him, and after Jacobi had combated +with great fervency and effect every postponement of the +betrothal—that, after all this had been brought to a fortunate issue, +he received a formal yes, and he and Louise, on the afternoon of the +same day, whose morning sun had seen their explanation, were betrothed.</p> + +<p>Jacobi was beyond description happy; Louise tranquil but gentle. Henrik +declared that her Majesty appeared too merciful. Perhaps all this +proceeded from her thoughts being already occupied with the increasing +and arranging of Jacobi's wardrobe. She began already to think about +putting in hand a fine piece of linen-weaving. She actually had +consented to the quick betrothal, principally, as she herself confessed +to Eva, "in order to have him better under her hands."</p> + +<p>Good reader—and if thou art a Candidate, good Candidate—pardon "our +eldest" if she gave her consent somewhat in mercy. We can assure thee, +that our Jacobi was no worse off on that account; so he himself seemed +to think, and his joy and cordiality seemed to have great influence in +banishing "the cathedral" out of Louise's demeanour.</p> + +<p>This view of the connexion, and the hearty joy which Louise's brother +and sisters expressed over this betrothal, and which proved how beloved +Jacobi was by them all, smoothed the wrinkles from the brow of the +Judge, and let Elise's heart feel the sweetest satisfaction. Henrik, +especially, declared loudly his delight in having his beloved friend and +instructor for a brother-in-law—an actual brother.</p> + +<p>"And now listen, brother-in-law," said he, fixing his large eyes on +Louise; "assume your rights as master of the house properly, brother +dear; and don't let the slippers be master of the house. If you marry a +queen, you must be king, you understand that very well, and must take +care of your majesty; and if she look like a cathedral, why then do you +look like the last judgment, and thunder accordingly! You laugh;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> but +you must not receive my advice so lightly, but lay it seriously to +heart, and——but, dear friend, shall we not have a little bowl this +evening? shall we not, mamma dear? Yes, certainly we will! I shall have +the honour of mixing it myself. Shall we not drink the health of your +majesties? I shall mix a bowl—sugar and oranges!—a bowl! a bowl!"</p> + +<p>With this exclamation Henrik rushed with outstretched arms to the door, +which at that moment opened, and he embraced the worthy Mrs. Gunilla.</p> + +<p>"He! thou—good heaven! Best-beloved!" exclaimed she, "he, he, he, he! +what is up here? He never thought, did he, that he should take the old +woman in his arms! he, he, he, he!"</p> + +<p>Henrik excused himself in the most reverential and cordial manner, +explained the cause of his ecstasy, and introduced to her the +newly-betrothed. Mrs. Gunilla at first was astonished, and then affected +to tears. She embraced Elise, and then Louise, and Jacobi also. "God +bless you!" said she, with all her beautiful quiet cordiality, and then, +somewhat pale, seated herself silently on the sofa, and seemed to be +thinking sorrowfully how often anxious, dispiriting days succeed the +cheerful morning of a betrothal. Whether it was from these thoughts, or +that Mrs. Gunilla really felt herself unwell, we know not, but she +became paler and paler. Gabriele went out to fetch her a glass of water, +and as she opened the door ran against the Assessor, who was just then +entering.</p> + +<p>With a little cry of surprise she recovered from this unexpected shock. +He looked at her with an astonished countenance, and the next moment was +surrounded by the other young people.</p> + +<p>"Now, see, see! what is all this?" exclaimed he; "why do you overwhelm +me thus? Cannot one move any longer in peace? I am not going to dance, +Monsieur Henricus! Do not split my ears, Miss Petrea! What? betrothed! +What? Who? Our eldest? Body and bones! let me sit down and take a pinch +of snuff. Our eldest betrothed! that is dreadful! Usch!—usch! that is +quite frightful! uh, uh, uh, uh! that is actually horrible! Hu, u, u, +hu!"</p> + +<p>The Assessor took snuff, and blew his nose for a good while, during +which the family, who knew his way so well, laughed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> heartily, with the +exception of Louise, who reddened, and was almost angry at his +exclamations, especially at that of horrible.</p> + +<p>"Nay," said he, rising up and restoring the snuff-box again to his +pocket, "one must be contented with what cannot be helped. What is +written is written. And, as the Scripture says, blessed are they who +increase and multiply the incorrigible human race, so, in heaven's name, +good luck to you! Good luck and blessing, dear human beings!" And thus +saying, he heartily shook the hands of Jacobi and Louise, who returned +his hand-pressure with kindness, although not quite satisfied with the +form of his good wishes.</p> + +<p>"Never in all my life," said Henrik, "did I hear a less cheerful +congratulation. Mrs. Gunilla and good Uncle Munter to-day might be in +melancholy humour: but now they are sitting down by each other, and we +may hope that after they have had a comfortable quarrel together, they +will cheer up a little."</p> + +<p>But no; no quarrel ensued this evening between the two. The Assessor had +tidings to announce to her which appeared difficult for him to +communicate, and which filled her eyes with tears—Pyrrhus was dead!</p> + +<p>"He was yesterday quite well," said the Assessor, "and licked my hand as +I bade him good night. To-day he took his morning coffee with a good +appetite, and then lay down on his cushion to sleep. As I returned home, +well pleased to think of playing with my little comrade, he lay dead on +his cushion!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gunilla and he talked for a long time about the little favourite, +and appeared in consequence to become very good friends.</p> + +<p>Jeremias Munter was this evening in a more censorious humour than +common. His eyes rested with a sad expression on the newly betrothed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he, as if speaking to himself, "if one had only confidence +in oneself; if one was only clear as to one's own motives—then one +might have some ground to hope that one could make another happy, and +could be happy with them."</p> + +<p>"One must know oneself thus well, so far," said Louise, not without a +degree of confidence, "that one can be certain of doing so, before one +would voluntarily unite one's fate with that of another."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>Thus well!</i>" returned he, warmly. "Yes, prosit! Who knows thus well? +You do not, dear sister, that I can assure you. Ah!" continued he, with +bitter melancholy, "one may be horribly deceived in oneself, and by +oneself, in this life. There is no one in this world who, if he rightly +understand himself, has not to deplore some infidelity to his +friend—his love—his better self! The self-love, the miserable egotism +of human nature, where is there a corner that it does not slide into? +The wretched little <i>I</i>, how it thrusts itself forward! how thoughts of +self, designs for self, blot actions which otherwise might be called +good!"</p> + +<p>"Do you then acknowledge no virtue? Is there, then, no magnanimity, no +excellence, which you can admire?" asked some one. "Does not history +show us——"</p> + +<p>"History!" interrupted he, "don't speak of history—don't bring it +forward! No, if I am to believe in virtue, it is such as history cannot +meddle with or understand; it is only in that which plays no great part +in the world, which never, never could have been applauded by it, and +which is not acted publicly. Of this kind it is possible that something +entirely beautiful, something perfectly pure and holy, might be found. I +will believe in it, although I do not discover it in myself. I have +examined my own soul, and can find nothing pure in it; but that it <i>may</i> +be found in others, I believe. My heart swells with the thought that +there may exist perfectly pure and unselfish virtue. Good heaven, how +beautiful it is! And wherever such a soul may be found in the world, be +it in palace or in hut, in gold or in rags, in man or in woman, which, +shunning the praise of the world, fearing the flattery of its own heart, +fulfils unobserved and with honest zeal its duties, however difficult +they may be, and which labours and prays in secrecy and stillness—such +a being I admire and love, and set high above all the Cæsars and Ciceros +of the world!"</p> + +<p>During this speech the Judge, who had silently risen from his seat, +approached his wife, laid his hand gently on her shoulder, and looked +round upon his children with glistening eyes.</p> + +<p>"Our time," continued the Assessor, with what was an extraordinary +enthusiasm for him, "understands but very little this greatness. It +praises itself loudly, and on that account it is the less worthy of +praise. Everybody will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> remarkable, or at least will appear so. +Everybody steps forward and shouts I! I! Women even do not any longer +understand the nobility of their incognito; they also come forth into +notoriety, and shout out their <i>I!</i> Scarcely anybody will say, from the +feeling of their own hearts, <i>Thou!</i>—and yet it is this same <i>Thou</i> +which occasions man to forget that selfish <i>I</i>, and in which lies his +purest part; his best happiness! To be sure it may seem grand, it may be +quite ecstatic, even if it be only for a moment, to fill the world with +one's name; but as, in long-past times, millions and millions of men +united themselves to build a temple to the Supreme, and then themselves +sank silently, namelessly, to the dust, having only inscribed His name +and His glory; certainly that was greater, that was far worthier!"</p> + +<p>"You talk like King Solomon himself, Uncle Munter!" exclaimed Petrea, +quite enraptured. "Ah, you must be an author: you must write a book +of——"</p> + +<p>"Write!" interrupted he, "on what account should I write? Only to +increase the miserable vanity of men? Write!—Bah!"</p> + +<p>"Every age has its wise men to build up temples," said Henrik, with a +beautiful expression of countenance.</p> + +<p>"No!" continued the Assessor, with evident abhorrence, "I will not +write! but I will live! I have dreamed sometimes that I could live——"</p> + +<p>He ceased; a singular emotion was expressed in his countenance; he +arose, and took up a book, into which he looked without reading, and +soon after stepped quietly out of the house.</p> + +<p>The entertainment in the family this evening was, spite of all that had +gone before, very lively; and the result, which was expressed in jesting +earnestness, was, that every one, in the spirit which the Assessor had +praised, should secretly labour at the temple-building, every one with +his own work-tool, and according to his own strength.</p> + +<p>The Judge walked up and down in the room, and took only occasional part +in the entertainment, although he listened to all, and smiled +applaudingly. It seemed as if the Assessor's words had excited a +melancholy feeling in him, and he spoke warmly in praise of his friend.</p> + +<p>"There does not exist a purer human soul than his," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> he, "and he +has thereby operated very beneficially on me. Many men desire as much +good, and do it also; but few have to the same extent as he the pure +mind, the perfectly noble motive."</p> + +<p>"Ah! if one could only make him happier, only make him more satisfied +with life!" said Eva.</p> + +<p>"Will you undertake the commission?" whispered Petrea, waggishly.</p> + +<p>Rather too audible a kiss suddenly turned all eyes on the Candidate and +Louise; the latter of whom was punishing her lover for his daring by a +highly ungracious and indignant glance, which Henrik declared quite +pulverised him. As they, however, all separated for the night, the +Candidate besought and was permitted, in mercy, a little kiss, as a +token of reconciliation and forgiveness of his offence regarding the +great one.</p> + +<p>"My dear girl," said the mother to Louise as the two met, impelled by a +mutual desire to converse together that same night in her boudoir, "how +came Jacobi's wooing about so suddenly? I could not have believed that +it would have been so quickly decided. I am perfectly astonished even +yet that you should be betrothed."</p> + +<p>"So am I," replied Louise; "I can hardly conceive how it has happened. +We met one another this morning in the garden; Jacobi was gloomy, and +out of spirits, and had made up his mind to leave us because he fancied +I was about to be betrothed to Cousin Thure. I then besought him to +forgive my late unkindness, and gave him some little idea of my +friendliness towards him; whereupon he spoke to me of his own feelings +and wishes so beautifully, so warmly, and then—then I hardly know how +it was myself, he called me <i>his</i> Louise, and I—told him to go and +speak with my parents."</p> + +<p>"And in the mean time," said the mother, "your parents sent another +wooer to their daughter, in order for him to receive from her a yes or +no. Poor Cousin Thure! He seemed to have such certain hope. But I trust +he may soon console himself! But do you know, Louise, of late I have +fancied that Oestanvik and all its splendour might be a little +captivating to you! And now do you really feel that you have had no loss +in rejecting so rich a worldly settlement?"</p> + +<p>"Loss!" repeated Louise, "no, not now, certainly; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> yet I should say +wrong if I denied that it has had temptations for me; and for that +reason I never would go to Oestanvik, because I knew how improper it +would be if I allowed it to influence me, whilst I never could endure +such a person as Cousin Thure; and, besides that, I liked Jacobi so +much, and had done so for many years! Once, however, the temptation was +very powerful, and that was on our return from Axelholm. As I rode along +in Cousin Thure's easy landau, it seemed to me that it must be very +agreeable to travel through life so comfortably and pleasantly. But at +that time I was very unhappy in myself; life had lost its best worth for +me; my faith in all that I loved most was poisoned! Ah! there arose in +me then such a fearful doubt in all that was good in the world, and I +believed for one moment that it would be best to sleep out life, and +therefore the easy rocking of the landau seemed so excellent. But now, +now is this heavy dream vanished! now life is again bright, and I +clearly see my own way through, it. Now I trouble myself no more about a +landau than I do about a wheelbarrow; nay, I would much rather now that +my whole life should be a working day, for which I could thank God! It +is a delight to work for those whom one highly esteems and loves; and I +desire nothing higher than to be able to live and work for my own +family, and for him who is to-day become my promised husband before +God!"</p> + +<p>"God will bless you, my good, pure-hearted girl!" said the mother, +embracing her, and sweet affectionate tears were shed in the still +evening.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>YET MORE WOOING.</h3> + + +<p>Early on the following morning Eva received a nosegay of beautiful +moss-roses, among which was a letter to herself; she tore it open, and +red the following words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I have dreamed that I could live; and truly a life more beautiful +and more perfect than any romance makes one dream of. Little Miss +Eva, whom I have so often carried in my arms—good young girl, +whom I would so willingly sustain on my breast through, life, thou +must hear what I have dreamed, what I sometimes still dream.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I dreamed that I was a rough, unsightly rock, repulsive and +unfruitful. But a heart beat in the rock—a chained heart. It beat +against the walls of its prison till it bled, because it longed to +be abroad in the sunshine, but it could not break its bonds. I +could not free myself from myself. The rock wept because it was so +hard, because it was a prison for its own life. There came a +maiden, a light gentle angel, wandering through the wood, and laid +her warm lily-white hand on the rock, and pressed her pure lips +upon it, breathing a magical word of freedom. The rocky wall +opened itself, and the heart, the poor captive heart, saw the +light! The young girl went into the chamber of the heart, and +called it her home; and suddenly beautiful roses, which diffused +odours around, sprang forth from that happy heart towards its +liberator, whilst the chambers of the heart vaulted itself high +above her into a temple for her, clothing its walls with fresh +foliage and with precious stones, upon which the sunbeams played.</p> + +<p>"I awoke from a sense of happiness that was too great to be borne +on earth; I awoke, and ah! the roses were vanished, the lovely +girl was vanished, and I was once again the hard, unsightly, and +joyless rock. But do you see, young maiden, the idea will not +leave me, that those roses which I saw in my dream are hidden in +me; that they may yet bloom, yet rejoice and make happy. The idea +will remain with me that this reserved, melancholy heart might yet +expand itself by an affectionate touch; that there are precious +stones within it, which would beam brightly for those who called +them forth into light.</p> + +<p>"Good young maiden, will you not venture on the attempt? Will you +not lay your warm hand on the rock? Will you not breathe softly +upon it? Oh, certainly, certainly under your touch it would +soften—it would bring forth roses for you—it would exalt itself +into a temple for you, a temple full of hymns of thanksgiving, +full of love!</p> + +<p>"I know that I am old, old before my time; that I am ugly and +disagreeable, unpleasant, and perhaps ridiculous; but I do not +think that nature intended me to be so. I have gone through life +in such infinite solitude; neither father nor mother, brother nor +sister, have followed my path; no sunshine fell upon my childhood +or my youth; I have wandered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> solitarily through life, combating +with difficulties. Once I bound myself to a friend—he deserted +me, and thence grew the rock about my heart; thence became my +demeanour severe, unattractive, and rough. Is it to remain so +always? Will my life never bloom upon earth? Will no breath of +heaven call forth my roses?</p> + +<p>"Do you fear my melancholy temperament? Oh, you have not seen how +a glance, a word of yours chases every cloud from my brow; not +because you are beautiful, but because you are good and pure. Will +you teach me to be good? I will learn willingly from you! From you +I would learn to love mankind, and to find more good in the world +than I have hitherto done. I will live for you, if not for the +world. By my wish the world should know nothing of me till the +cross upon my grave told 'here rests——'</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is beautiful to live nameless under the poisoned glance of +the world; poisoned, whether it praise or blame; beautiful, not to +be polluted by its observation, but more beautiful to be +intimately known to one—to possess one gentle and honest friend, +and that one a wife! Beautiful to be able to look into her pure +soul as in a mirror, and to be aware there of every blot on one's +own soul, and to be able thus to purify it against the day of the +great trial.</p> + +<p>"But I speak only of myself and my own happiness. Ah, the +egotist—the cursed egotist! Can I make you happy also, Eva? Is it +not audacity in me to desire—ah, Eva, I love you inexpressibly!</p> + +<p>"I leave the egotist in your hand: do with him what you will, he +will still remain</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">"Yours."</span></p></div> + +<p>This letter made Eva very anxious and uneasy. She would so willingly +have said yes, and made so good a man happy, but then so many voices +within her said no!</p> + +<p>She spoke with her parents, with her brother and sisters. "He is so +good, so excellent!" said she. "Ah, if I could but properly love him! +But I cannot—and then he is so old; and I have no desire to marry; I am +so happy in my own home."</p> + +<p>"And do not leave it!" was the unanimous chorus of all the family. The +father, indeed, was actually desperate with all this courtship; and the +mother thought it quite absurd that her blooming Eva and Jeremias Munter +should go together.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> No one voice spoke for the Assessor but the little +Petrea's, and a silent sigh in Eva's own bosom. The result of all this +consideration was, that Eva wrote with tearful eyes the following answer +to her lover:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"My best, my truly good Friend!</p> + +<p>"Ah! do not be angry with me that I cannot become for you that +which you wish. I shall certainly not marry. I am too happy in my +own home for that. Ah! this to be sure is egotistical, but I +cannot do otherwise. Forgive me! I am so very much, so heartily +attached to you; and I should never be happy again if you love not +hitherto as formerly</p> + +<p>"Your little</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">"Eva."</span></p> + +</div> + +<p>In the evening Eva received a beautiful and costly work-box, with the +following lines:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Yes, yes, I can very well believe that the rough rock would be +appalling. You will not venture to lay your delicate white hand +upon it, little Miss Eva; will not trouble yourself to breathe +warmth upon my poor roses! Let them then remain in their grave!</p> + +<p>"I shall now make a journey, nor see you again for a year and a +day. But, good heavens! as you have given me a basket,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> you +shall receive in return a little box. I bought it for my—bride, +Eva! Yet now, after all, Eva shall have it; shall keep it for my +sake. She may return it when I cease to be</p> + +<p>"Her true and devoted Friend."</p></div> + +<p>"Do you think she is sorry for what she has done?" asked the Judge +anxiously from his wife, as he saw Eva's hot tears falling on the +work-box;—"but it cannot be helped. She marry! and that too with +Munter! She is indeed nothing but a child! But that is just the way; +when one has educated one's daughters, and taught them something of good +manners, just when one has begun to have real pleasure in them, that one +must lose them—must let them go to China if the lover chance to be a +Chinese! It is intolerable! It is abominable! I would not wish my worst +enemy the pain of having grown-up daughters. Is not Schwartz already +beginning to draw a circle about Sara? Good gracious! if we should yet +have the plague of another lover!"</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> To say that "a gentleman has received a basket," is the +same as saying he is a rejected lover.—M. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>MORE COURTSHIP STILL.</h3> + + +<p>Judge Frank had, unknown to himself, spoken a striking word. It was true +that Schwartz had drawn ever narrower and darker circles around Sara, +and at the very time when she would appear free from his influence her +temper became more uncertain and suspicious. The mother, uneasy about +this connexion, no longer allowed her to be alone with him during the +music lesson, and this watchfulness excited Sara's pride, as well as the +grave yet gentle remonstrances which were made on account of her +behaviour were received with much impatience and disregard. The Judge +was the only person before whom Sara did not exhibit the dark side of +her character. His glance, his presence, seemed to exercise a certain +power over her; besides which, she was, perhaps, more beloved by him +than by all the other members of the family, with the exception of +Petrea.</p> + +<p>One evening, Sara sate silent by one of the windows in the library, +supporting her beautiful head on her hand. Petrea sate at her feet on a +low stool; she also was silent, but every now and then looked up to Sara +with a tender troubled expression, whilst Sara sometimes looked down +towards her thoughtfully, and almost gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Petrea," said she, quickly, "what would you say if I should leave you +suddenly to go into the wide world, and should never return?"</p> + +<p>"What should I say?" answered Petrea, with a violent gush of tears: "ah, +I should say nothing at all, but should lie down and die of grief!"</p> + +<p>"Do you really love me then so, Petrea?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Do I love you!" returned Petrea; "ah, Sara, if you go away, take me +with you as maid, as servant—I will do everything for you!"</p> + +<p>"Good Petrea!" whispered Sara, laying her arm round her neck, and +kissing her weeping eyes, "continue to love Sara, but do not follow +her!"</p> + +<p>"It seems terribly sultry to me this evening!" said Henrik, wearily: "we +cannot manage any family assembling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> to-night; not a bit of music; not a +bit of entertainment. The air seems as if an earthquake were at hand. I +fancy that Africa sends us something of a tempest. Petrea is weeping +like the cataract of Trollhätten; and there go the people in +twos-and-twos and weep, and set themselves in corners and whisper and +mutter, and kiss one another, from my God-fearing parents down to my +silly little sisters! The King and Queen, they go and seat themselves +just has it happens, on living or dead things; they had nearly seated +themselves on me as I sate unoffensively on the sofa; but I made a turn +about <i>tout d'un coup</i>.—Betrothed! horribly wearisome folks! Are they +not, Gabriele? They cannot see, they cannot hear; they could not speak, +I fancy, but with one another!"</p> + +<p>A light was burning in Sara's chamber far into the night. She was busied +for a long time with her journal; she wrote with a flying but unsteady +hand.</p> + +<p>"So, to-morrow; to-morrow all will be said, and I——shall be bound.</p> + +<p>"I know that is but of little importance, and yet I have such a horror +of it! Oh, the power of custom and of form.</p> + +<p>"I know very well whom I could love; there is a purity in his glance, a +powerful purity which penetrates me. But how would he look on me if he +saw——</p> + +<p>"I must go! I have no choice left! S. has me in his net—the money which +I have borrowed from him binds me so fast!—for I cannot bear that they +should know it, and despise me. I know that they would impoverish +themselves in order to release me, but I will not so humiliate myself.</p> + +<p>"And why do I speak of release? I go hence to a life of freedom and +honour. I bow myself under the yoke but for a moment, only in order to +exalt myself the more proudly. Now there is no more time to tremble and +to waver—away with these tears! And thou, Volney, proud, strong +thinker, stand by me! Teach me, when all others turn away, how I may +rely on my own strength!"</p> + +<p>Sara now exchanged the pen for the book, and the hour of midnight struck +before she closed it, and arose tranquil and cold in order to seek the +quiet of sleep.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The earthquake of which Henrik had spoken came the next day, the signal +of which was a letter from Schwartz to the Judge, in which he solicited +the hand of Sara. His only wealth was his profession; but with this +alone he was convinced that his wife would want nothing: he was just +about to undertake a journey through Europe, and wished to be +accompanied by Sara, of whose consent and acquiescence he was quite +sure.</p> + +<p>A certain degree of self-appreciation in a man was not at any time +displeasing to Judge Frank, but this letter breathed a supercilious +assurance, a professional arrogance, which were extremely repugnant to +him. Besides this, he was wounded by the tone of pretension in which +Schwartz spoke of one who was as dear to him as his own daughter; and +the thought of her being united to a man of Schwartz's character was +intolerable to him. He was almost persuaded that Sara did not love him, +and burned with impatience to repel his pretensions, and to remove him +at the same time from his house.</p> + +<p>Elise agreed perfectly in the opinion of her husband, but was less +confident than he regarding Sara's state of feeling with respect to the +affair. She was summoned to their presence. The Judge handed to her +Schwartz's letter, and awaited impatiently her remarks upon it. Her +colour paled before the grave and searching glance which was riveted +upon her, but she declared herself quite willing to accept Schwartz's +proposal.</p> + +<p>Astonishment and vexation painted themselves on the countenance of her +adopted father.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sara," said the mother, after a short silence, "have you well +considered this? Do you think that Schwartz is a man who can make a wife +happy?"</p> + +<p>"He can make me happy," returned Sara; "happy according to my own mind."</p> + +<p>"You can never, never," said the mother, "enjoy domestic happiness with +him!"</p> + +<p>"He loves me," returned Sara, "and he can give me a happiness which I +never enjoyed here. I lost early both father and mother, and in the home +into which I was received out of charity, all became colder and colder +towards me!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, do not think so, Sara!" said the mother. "But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> even if this were +the case, may not some little of it be your own fault? Do you really do +anything to make yourself beloved? Do you strive against that which +makes you less amiable?"</p> + +<p>"I can renounce such love," said Sara, "as will not love me with my +faults. Nature gave me strong feelings and inclinations, and I cannot +bring them into subjection."</p> + +<p>"You will not, Sara," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I cannot! and it may be that I will not," said she, "submit myself to +the subjugation and taming which has been allotted as the share of the +woman. Why should I? I feel strength in myself to break up a new path +for myself. I will lead a fresh and an independent life! I will live a +bright artiste-life, free from the trammels and the Lilliputian +considerations of domestic life. I will be free! I will not, as now, be +watched and suspected, and be under a state of espionage! I will be free +from the displeasure and blame which now dog my footsteps! This +treatment it is, mother, which has determined my resolution."</p> + +<p>"If," answered the mother, in a tremulous voice, and deeply affected by +Sara's words and tone, "I have erred towards you—and I may have done +so—I know well that it has not been from temper, or out of want of +tenderness towards you. I have spoken to and warned you from the best +conviction; I have sincerely endeavoured and desired that which is best +for you, and this you will some time or other come to see even better +than now.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> You will perhaps come to see that it would have been good +for you if you had lent a more willing ear to my maternal counsellings; +will perhaps come to deplore that you rewarded the love I cherished for +you with reproaches and bitterness!"</p> + +<p>"Then let me go!" said Sara, with gentler voice; "we do not accord well +together. I embitter your life, and you make—perhaps you cannot make +mine happy. Let me go with him who will love me with all my faults, who +can and will open a freer scope to my powers and talents than I have +hitherto had."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Sara," returned Elise, "will you obtain in this freer field a +better happiness than can be afforded you by a domestic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> circle, by the +tenderness of true friends, and a happy domestic life?"</p> + +<p>"Are you then so happy, my mother?" interrupted Sara with an ironical +smile, and a searching glance; "are you then so happy in this circle, +and this domestic life, which you praise so highly, that you thus repeat +what has been said on the subject from the beginning of the world. Those +perpetual cares in which you have passed your days, those trifling cares +and thoughts for every-day necessities, which are so opposite to your +own nature, are they then so pleasant, so captivating? Have you not +renounced many of your beautiful gifts—your pleasure in literature and +music—nay, in short, what is the most lovely part of life, in order to +bury yourself in concealment and oblivion, and there, like the silkworm, +to spin your own sepulchre of the threads which another will wind off? +You bow your own will continually before that of another; your innocent +pleasures you sacrifice daily either to him or to others: are you so +very happy amid all these renunciations?"</p> + +<p>The Judge rose up passionately; went several times up and down the room, +and placed himself at last directly opposite to Sara, leaning his back +to the stove, and listening attentively for the answer of his wife.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sara, I am happy!" answered she, with an energy very unusual in +her; "yes, I am happy! Whenever I make any sacrifice, I receive a rich +return. And if there be moments when I feel painfully any renunciation +which I have made, there are others, and far more of them, in which I +congratulate myself on all that I have won. I am become improved through +the husband whom God has given to me; through my children, through my +duties, through the desires and the wants which I have overcome at his +side—yes, Sara, above all things, through him, his affection, his +excellence, am I improved, and feel myself happier every day. Love, +Sara, love changes sacrifice into pleasure, and makes renunciation +sweet! I thank God for my lot, and only wish that I were worthier of +it!"</p> + +<p>"It may be!" said Sara, proudly; "every one has his own sphere. But the +tame happiness of the dove suits not the eagle!"</p> + +<p>"Sara!" exclaimed the Judge, in a tone of severe displeasure.</p> + +<p>The mother, unable longer to repress the outbreak of excited feeling, +left the room with her handkerchief to her eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p>"For shame, Sara," said the Judge with severe gravity, and standing +before her with a reproving glance, "for shame! this arrogance goes too +far!"</p> + +<p>She trembled now before his eye as she had done once before; a +remembrance from the days of her childhood awoke within her; her eyelids +sunk, and a burning crimson covered her face.</p> + +<p>"You have forgotten yourself," continued he, calmly, but severely, "and +in your childish haughtiness have only shown how far you are below that +worth and excellence which you cannot understand, and which, in your +present state of mind, you never can emulate. Your own calm judgment +will make the sharpest reproaches on this last scene, and will, nay, +must lead you to throw yourself at the feet of your mother. All, +however, that I now ask from you is, that you think over your intentions +rationally. How is it possible, Sara, that you overlook your own +inconsistency? You argue zealously against domestic life—against the +duties of marriage, and yet, at the same time, wilfully determine to tie +those bonds with a man who will make them actual fetters for you."</p> + +<p>"He will not fetter me," returned she; "he has promised it—he has sworn +it! I shall not subject myself to him as a wife, but I shall stand at +his side as an equal, as an artiste, and step with him into a world +beautiful and rich in honours, which he will open to me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, mere talk!" exclaimed the Judge. "Folly, folly! How can you be so +foolish, and believe in such false show? The state gives your husband a +power over you which he will not fail to abuse—that I can promise you +from what I know of his character, and from what I now discover of +yours. No woman can withdraw from a connexion of this kind unpunished, +more especially under the circumstances in which you are placed. Sara, +you do not love the man to whom you are about to unite yourself, and it +is impossible that you can love him. No true esteem, no pure regard +binds you to him."</p> + +<p>"He loves me," answered Sara, with trembling lips; "I admire his power +and artistical genius;—he will conduct me to independence and honour! +It is no fault of mine that the lot of woman is so contracted and +miserable—that she must bind herself in order to become free!"</p> + +<p>"Only as a means?" asked he; "the holiest tie on earth only as a means, +and for what? For a pitiable and ephemeral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> chase after happiness, which +you call honour and freedom. Poor, deceived Sara! Are you so misled, so +turned aside from the right? Is it possible that the miserable book of a +writer, as full of pretension as weak and superficial, has been able +thus to misguide you?" and with these words he took Volney's Ruins out +of his pocket, and threw it upon the table.</p> + +<p>Sara started and reddened. "Ah," said she, "this is only another +instance of espionage over me."</p> + +<p>"Not so," replied the Judge, calmly. "I was this day in your room; you +had left the book lying on the table, and I took it, in order that I +might speak with you about it, and prevent Petrea's young steps from +treading this path of error without a guide."</p> + +<p>"People may think what they please," said Sara, "of the influence of the +book, but I conceive that author deserves least of all the epithet +weak."</p> + +<p>"When you have followed his counsel," returned he, "and resemble the +wreck which the waves have thrown up here, then you may judge of the +strength and skill of the steersman! My child, do not follow him. A more +mature, a more logical power of mind, will teach you how little he knows +of the ocean of life, of its breakers and its depths—how little he +understands the true compass."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Sara, "these storms, these dangers, nay, even shipwreck +itself, appear to me preferable to the still, windless water which the +so-much-be-praised haven of domestic life represents. You speak, my +father, of chimeras; but tell me, is not the so-lauded happiness of +domestic life more a chimera than any other? When the saloon is set in +order, one does not see the broom and the dusting-brush that have been +at work in it, and the million grains of dust which have filled the air; +one forgets that they have ever been there. So it is with domestic and +family life; one persists wilfully in only seeing its beautiful moments, +and in passing over, in not noticing at all, what are less beautiful, or +indeed are 'repulsive.'"</p> + +<p>"All depends upon which are the predominant," replied he, half smiling +at Sara's simile. "Thus, then, if it be more frequently disorderly than +orderly, if the air be more frequently filled with dust than it is pure +and fresh, then the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> devil may dwell there, but not I! I know very well +that there are homes enough on earth where there are dust-filled rooms, +but that must be the fault of the inhabitants. On them alone depends the +condition of the house; from those which may not unjustly be called +ante-rooms of hell, to those again which, spite of their earthly +imperfections, spite of many a visitation of duster and dusting-brush, +yet may deserve the names of courts of heaven. And where, Sara, where in +this world will you find an existence free from earthly dust? And is +that of which you complain so bitterly anything else than the earthly +husk which encloses every mortal existence of man as well as of +woman?—it is the soil in which the plant must grow; it is the chrysalis +in which the larva becomes ripe for its change of life! Can you actually +be blind to that higher and nobler life which never developes itself +more beautifully than in a peaceful home? Can you deny that it is in the +sphere of family and friendship where man lives most perfectly and best, +as citizen of an earthly and of a heavenly kingdom? Can you deny how +great and noble is the efficacy of woman in private life, be she married +or single, if she only endeavour——"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Sara, interrupting him, "the sphere of private life is too +narrow for me. I require a larger one, in order to breathe freely and +freshly."</p> + +<p>"In pure affection," replied the Judge, "in friendship, and in the +exercise of kindness, there is large and fresh breathing space; the air +of eternity plays through it. In intellectual development—and the very +highest may be arrived at in private life—the whole world opens itself +to the eye of man, and infinite treasures are offered to his soul, more, +far more, than he can ever appropriate to himself!"</p> + +<p>"But the artist," argued Sara—"the artist cannot form himself at +home—he must try himself on the great theatre of the world. Is his bent +only a chimera, my father? And are those distinguished persons who +present the highest pleasures to the world through their talents; to +whom the many look up with admiration and homage; around whom the great, +and the beautiful, and the agreeable collect themselves, are they +fools?—are they blind hunters after happiness? Ah, what lot can well be +more glorious than theirs! Oh, my father, I am young; I feel a power in +myself which is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> not a common one—my heart throbs for a freer and more +beautiful life! Desire not that I should constrain my own nature: desire +not that I should compress my beautiful talents into a sphere which has +no charms for me!"</p> + +<p>"I do not depreciate, certainly, the profession of the artist," replied +the Judge, "nor the value of his agency: in its best meaning, his is as +noble as any; but is it this pure bent, this noble view of it, which +impels you, which animates you? Sara, examine your own heart; it is +vanity and selfish ambition which impel you. It is the arrogance of your +eighteen years, and some degree of talent, which make you overlook all +that is good in your present lot, which make you disdain to mature +yourself nobly and independently in the domestic circle. It is a deep +mistake, which will now lead you to an act blamable in the eyes of God +and man, and which blinds you to the dark side of the life which you +covet. Nevertheless, there is none darker, none in which the changes of +fortune are more dependent on miserable accidents. An accident may +deprive you of your beauty, or your voice, and with these you lose the +favour of the world in which you have placed your happiness. Besides +this, you will not always continue at eighteen, Sara: by the time you +are thirty all your glory will be past, and then—then what will you +have collected for the remaining half of life? You will have rioted for +a short time in order then to starve; since, so surely as I stand here, +with this haughty and vain disposition, and with the husband whom you +will have chosen, you will come to want; and, too late, you will look +back in your misery, full of remorse, to the virtue and to the true life +which you have renounced."</p> + +<p>Sara was silent; she was shaken by the words and by the countenance of +her adopted father.</p> + +<p>"And how perfectly different it might be!" continued he, with warmth; +"how beautiful, how full of blessing might not your life and your +talents be! Sara! I have loved you, and love you still, like my own +daughter—will you not listen to me as to a father? Answer me—have you +had to give up anything in this house, which, with any show of reason, +you might demand? and have we spared any possible care for your +education or your accomplishments?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Sara, sighing; "all have been kind, very kind to me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, then," exclaimed the Judge, with increasing warmth and +cordiality, "depend upon your mother and me, that you will have no cause +of complaint. I am not without property and connexions. I will spare no +means of cultivating your talents, and then if your turn for art is a +true one, when it has been cultivated to its utmost it shall not be +concealed from a world which can enjoy and reward it. But remain under +our protection, and do not cast yourself, inexperienced as you are, on a +world which will only lead you more astray. Do not, in order to win an +ideal liberty, give your hand to a man inferior to you in +accomplishments; to a man whom you do not love, and whom, morally +speaking, you cannot esteem. Descend into your own heart, and see its +error while there is yet time to retrieve it, before you are crushed by +your own folly. Do not fly from affectionate, careful friends—do not +fly from the paternal roof in blind impatience of disagreeables, to +remove which depends perhaps only on yourself! Sara, my child! I have +not taken you under my roof in order to let you become the victim of +ruin and misfortune! Pause, Sara, and reflect, I pray you, I conjure +you! make not yourself wretched! When I took you from the death-bed of +your father, I threw my arms around <i>you</i> to shield you from the winds +of autumn—I clasp them once again around you, in order to shield you +from far more dangerous winds—Sara, my child, fly not from this house!"</p> + +<p>Sara trembled; she was violently agitated, and leaned her head with +indescribable emotion against her adopted father, who clasped her +tenderly to his bosom.</p> + +<p>It is not difficult to say whether they were good or bad angels who +triumphed in Sara, as she, after a moment of violent inward struggle, +pushed from her the paternal friend, and said, with averted countenance, +"It is in vain; my determination is taken. I shall become the wife of +Schwartz, and go where my fate leads me!"</p> + +<p>The Judge started up, stamped on the floor, and pale with anger, +exclaimed, with flashing eyes, "Obdurate one! since neither love nor +prayers have power over you, you must listen to another mode of speech! +I have the right of a guardian over you, and I forbid this unholy +marriage! I forbid you to leave my house! You hear me, and you shall +obey!"</p> + +<p>Sara stood up as pale as death, and with an insolent expression<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> riveted +her large eyes upon him, whilst he, too, fixed his upon her with all the +force of his peculiar earnestness and decision. It seemed as if each +would look the other through—as if each in this contest would measure +his strength against the other.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her arms were flung wildly round his neck, a burning kiss was +pressed upon his lips, and the next moment she was out of the room.</p> + +<p>Elise sate in her boudoir. She still wept bitter tears. It was twilight, +and her knees were suddenly embraced, and her hands and her dress were +covered with kisses and with tears. When she put forth her hands to +raise the one who embraced her, she had vanished. "Sara, Sara! where are +you?" exclaimed she, full of anxiety.</p> + +<p>Petrea came down from her chamber; she met some one, who embraced her, +pressed her lips to her forehead, and whispered, "Forget me!"</p> + +<p>"Sara, Sara! where are you going?" exclaimed she, terrified, and running +after her to the house door.</p> + +<p>"Where is Sara?" inquired the Judge, violently, above in the chambers of +his daughters. "Where is Sara?" inquired he, below in the library.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed Petrea, who now rushed in weeping, "she is this moment +gone out—out into the street; she almost ran. She forbade me to follow +her. Ah, she certainly never will come back again!"</p> + +<p>"The devil!" said the Judge, hastening from the room, and taking up his +hat, went out. Far off in the street he saw a female figure, which, with +only a handkerchief thrown over her head and shoulders, was hastening +onward, and who, spite of the twilight, he recognised to be Sara. He +hastened after her; she looked round, saw him, and fled. Certain now +that he was not mistaken, he followed, and was almost near enough to +take hold of her, when she suddenly turned aside, and rushed into a +house—it was that of Schwartz. He followed with the quickness of +lightning; followed her up the steps, and was just laying his hand on +her, when she vanished through a door. The next moment he too opened it, +and saw her—in the arms of Schwartz!</p> + +<p>The two stood together embracing, and evidently prepared to defy him. He +stood for some moments silent before them, regarding them with an +indescribable look of wrath,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> contempt, and sorrow. He looked upon the +pale breathless Sara, and covered his eyes with his hand; the next +moment, however, he seemed to collect himself, and with all the calm and +respect-commanding dignity of a parent, he grasped her hand, and said, +"You now follow me home. On Sunday the banns shall be proclaimed."</p> + +<p>Sara followed. She took his arm, and with a drooping head, and without a +word, accompanied him home.</p> + +<p>All there was disquiet and sorrow. But, notwithstanding the general +discontent with Sara and her marriage, there was not one of the family +who did not busy themselves earnestly in her outfit. Louise, who blamed +her more than all the rest, gave herself most trouble about it.</p> + +<p>Sara behaved as if she never observed how everybody was working for her, +and passed her time either over her harp, or solitary in her own room. +Any intercourse with the members of the family seemed to have become +painful to her, whilst Petrea's tenderness and tears were received with +indifference—nay, even with sternness.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> All mothers speak thus—but not all, nay, not many with the +same right as Elise.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>DEPARTURE.</h3> + + +<p>Sara's joyless marriage was over; and the hour was come in which she was +to leave that home and family which had so affectionately received her, +and which now with solicitude and the tenderest care provided for her +wants in her new position.</p> + +<p>In the hour of separation, the crust of ice which had hitherto +surrounded her being broke, she sank, weeping violently, at the feet of +her foster-parents.</p> + +<p>The Judge was deeply affected. "You have had your own will, Sara," said +he, in a firm but mournful voice, "may you be happy! Some few warnings I +have given you, do not forget them; they are the last! If you should be +deceived in the hopes which now animate you—if you should be +unfortunate—unfortunate, or criminal, then remember—then remember, +Sara, that here you have father and mother, and sisters, who will +receive you with open arms; then remember that you have here family and +home!"</p> + +<p>He ceased: drew her a little aside, took her hand, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> pressed a +bank-note in it. "Take this," said he, tenderly, "as a little help in +the hour of need. No, you must not refuse it from your foster-father. +Take it for his love's sake, you will some time need it!"</p> + +<p>It was with difficulty that the Judge had so far preserved his calmness; +he now pressed her violently to his breast; kissed her brow and lips, +whilst his tears flowed abundantly. The mother and sisters too +surrounded her weeping. At that moment the door opened, and Schwartz +entered.</p> + +<p>"The carriage waits," said he, with a dark glance on the mournful group. +Sara tore herself from the arms which would have held her fast, and +rushed out of the room.</p> + +<p>A few seconds more, and the travelling carriage rolled away.</p> + +<p>"She is lost!" exclaimed the Judge to his wife with bitter pain. "I feel +it in myself that she is lost! Her death would have been less painful to +me than this marriage."</p> + +<p>For many days he continued silent and melancholy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>LITTLE SCENES.</h3> + + +<p>The past episode had gone through the house like a whirlwind. When it +was over, the heaven cleared itself anew, and they were able to confess +that a more joyful tranquillity had diffused itself over all. There was +no one who did not think of Sara with sympathy, who did not weep +sometimes at her violent separation from the family; but there was no +one, with the exception of the Judge and Petrea, who did not feel her +absence to be a secret relief; for one unquiet temper, and one full of +pretension, can disturb a whole household, and make the most exquisite +natural gifts of no account.</p> + +<p>The Judge missed a daughter from the beloved circle; missed that +beautiful, richly-endowed girl, and could not think of her future +prospects without bitter anxiety. Petrea wept the object of her youthful +admiration and homage, but consoled herself with the romantic plans she +formed for seeing her again, in all of which she gave to herself the +province of guardian angel, either as the queen of a desert island, or +as a warrior bleeding for her, or as a disguised person who unloosed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +her bonds in the depths of a dungeon in order to put them on herself: in +short, in all possible ways in the world except the possible one.</p> + +<p>Sara wrote soon after her separation from her friends; she spoke of the +past with gratitude, and of the future with hope. The letter exhibited a +certain decision and calmness; a certain seriousness, which diffused +through the family a satisfactory ease of mind with regard to her future +fate. Elise was ever inclined to hope for the best, and young people are +always optimists: the Judge said nothing which might disturb the peace +of his family, whilst Louise alone shook her head and sighed.</p> + +<p>After the many disturbing circumstances which had lately occurred in the +family, all seemed now to long after repose, and the ability to enjoy a +quieter domestic life. Occupations of all kinds—those simple but +cheerful daughters of well-regulated life, went on cheerfully and +comfortably under the eye of Louise. There was no want in the house of +joyful hours, sunshine of every kind, and entertainment full of +interest. The newspapers which the Judge took in, and which kept the +family <i>au courant</i> of the questions of the day, furnished materials for +much development of mind, for much conversation and much thought, +especially among the young people. The father had great pleasure in +hearing thus their interchange of opinion, although he himself seldom +mingled in their discussions, with the exception of now and then a +guiding word.</p> + +<p>"I fancy all is going on quite right," said he, joyfully, to his wife +one day. "The children live gaily at home, and are preparing themselves +for life. Indeed, if they only once open their eyes and ears, they will +find subjects enough on which to use them; and will be astonished at all +that life will present them with. It is well when home furnishes +nourishment for mind as well as heart and body. I rejoice too, +extremely, over our new house. Every land, every climate, has its own +advantages as well as its own difficulties, and the economy of life must +be skilfully adjusted if it is to be maintained with honour and +advantage. Our country, which compels us to live so much in the house, +seems thereby to admonish us to a more concentrated, and at the same +time more quiet and domestic life, on which account we need, above all +things,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> comfortable houses, which are able to advance and advantage +soul as well as body. Thank God! I fancy ours is pretty good for that +purpose, and in time may yet be better; the children too look happy; +Gabriele grows now every day, and Louise has grown over all our heads!"</p> + +<p>The young people were very much occupied with plans for the future. Eva +and Leonore built all their castles in the air together. A great +intimacy had grown up between these two sisters since they were alone +during the absence of the others at Axelholm. One might say, that ever +since that evening, when they sate together eating grapes and reading a +novel, the seed of friendship which had long been sprouting in their +hearts, shot forth thence its young leaves. Their castles in the air +were no common castles of romance; they had for their foundation the +prosaic but beautiful thought of gaining for themselves an independent +livelihood in the future—for the parents had early taught their +daughters to direct their minds to this object—and hence beautiful +establishments were founded, partly for friendship and partly for +humanity: for young girls are always great philanthropists.</p> + +<p>Jacobi also had many schemes for the future of himself and his wife, and +Louise many schemes how to realise them. In the mean time there were +many processes about kisses. Louise wished to establish a law that not +more than three a day should be allowed, against which Jacobi protested +both by word and deed, on which occasions Gabriele always ran away +hastily and indignantly.</p> + +<p>Petrea read English with Louise, arranged little festivities for her and +the family; wept every evening over Sara, and beat her brains every +morning over "the Creation of the World," whilst the good parents +watched ever observantly over them all.</p> + +<p>No one, however, enjoyed the present circumstances of the family so much +as Henrik. After he had succeeded in inducing his sisters to use more +lively exercise and exhilaration, he devoted himself more exclusively to +his favourite studies, history and philosophy. Often he took his book +and wandered with it whole days in the country, but every evening at +seven he punctually joined the family circle, and was there the merriest +of the merry.</p> + +<p>"We live now right happily," said he one evening in confidential<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +discourse with his mother; "and I, for my part, never enjoyed life so +much. I feel now that my studies will really mend, and that something +can be made of me. And when I have studied for a whole day, and that not +fruitlessly either, and then come of an evening to you and my sisters, +and see all here so friendly, so bright and cheerful, life seems so +agreeable! I feel myself so happy, and almost wish it might always +remain as it is now."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes!" answered the mother, "if we could always keep you with us, my +Henrik! But I know that won't do; you must soon leave us again; and +then, when you have finished your studies, you must have your own +house."</p> + +<p>"And then, mother, you shall come to me!" This had been years before, +and still was Henrik's favourite theme, and the mother listened +willingly to it.</p> + +<p>Several poems which Henrik wrote about this time seemed to indicate the +most decided poetical talent, and gave his mother and sisters the +greatest delight, whilst they excited, at the same time, great attention +among the friends of the family. The Judge alone looked on gloomily.</p> + +<p>"You will spoil him," exclaimed he one evening to his wife and +daughters, "if you make him fancy that he is something extraordinary, +before he is in anything out of the common way. I confess that his +poetising is very much against my wish. When one is a man, one should +have something much more important to do than to sigh, and sing about +this and that future life. If he were likely to be a Thorild,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> or any +other of our greatest poets——but I see no signs of that! and this +poetasterism, this literary idleness, which perpetually either lifts +young people above the clouds, or places them under the earth, so that +for pure cloud and dust they are unable to see the good noble gifts of +actual life—I would the devil had it! The direction which Henrik is now +taking grieves me seriously. I had rejoiced myself so in the thought of +his being a first-rate miner; in his being instrumental in turning to +good account our mines, our woods and streams, those noblest foundations +of Sweden's wealth, and to which it was worth while devoting a good +head; and now, instead of that, he hangs his on one side; sits with a +pen in his hand,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> and rhymes 'face' and 'grace,' 'heart' and 'smart!' It +is quite contrary to my feelings! I wish Stjernhök would come here soon. +Now there's a fellow! he will turn out something first-rate! I wish he +were coming soon; perhaps he might influence Henrik, and induce him to +give up this verse-making, which, perhaps, at bottom, is only vanity."</p> + +<p>Elise and the daughters were silent. For a considerable time now, Elise +had accustomed herself to silence when her husband grumbled. But +often—whenever it was necessary—she would return to the subject of his +discontent at a time when he was calm, and then, talk it over with him; +and this line of tactics succeeded admirably. She made use of them on +the present occasion.</p> + +<p>"Ernst," said she to him in the evening, "it grieves me that you are so +displeased with Henrik's poetical bent. Ah! it has delighted me so much, +precisely because I fancied that it is real, and that in this case it +may be as useful as any other can be. Still I never will encourage +anything in him which is opposed to your wishes."</p> + +<p>"My dear Elise," returned he mildly, "manage this affair according to +your own convictions and conscience. It is very probable that you are +right, and that I am wrong. All that I beseech of you is, that you watch +over yourself, in order that affection to your first-born may not +mislead you to mistake for excellence that which is only mediocre, and +his little attempts for masterpieces. Henrik may be, if he can, a +distinguished poet and literary man; but he must not as yet imagine +himself anything; above all things, he must not suppose it possible to +be a distinguished man in any profession without preparing himself by +serious labour, and without first of all becoming a thinking being. If +he were this, I promise you that I should rejoice over my son, let him +be what profession he would—a worker in thought or a worker in +mountains. And for this very reason one must be careful not to value too +highly these poetical blossoms. If vanity remains in him he never will +covet serious renown in anything."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Ernst," said his wife, with all the cordiality of inward +conviction.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Henrik also longed earnestly for Stjernhök's arrival. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> wished to show +him his work; he longed to measure his new historical and philosophical +knowledge against that of his friend; he longed, in one word, to be +esteemed by him; for Henrik's gentle and affectionate nature had always +felt itself powerfully attracted by the energetic and, as one may say, +metallic nature of the other, and ever since the years of their boyhood +had the esteem and friendship of Stjernhök been the goal of Henrik's +endeavours, and of his warm, although till now unattainable, wishes. +Stjernhök had hitherto always behaved towards Henrik with a certain +friendly indifference, never as a companion and friend.</p> + +<p>Stjernhök came. He was received by the whole family with the greatest +cordiality, but by no one with a warmer heart than Henrik.</p> + +<p>There was even externally the greatest dissimilarity between these two +young men. Henrik was remarkable for extraordinary, almost feminine +beauty; his figure was noble but slender, and his glance glowing though +somewhat dreamy. Stjernhök, some years Henrik's senior, had become early +a man. All with him was muscular, firm, and powerful; his countenance +was intelligent without being handsome, and a star as it were gleamed in +his clear, decided eye; such a star as is often prophetic of fate, and +over whose path fortunate stars keep watch.</p> + +<p>Some days after Stjernhök's arrival Henrik became greatly changed. He +had become quiet, and there was an air of depression on his countenance. +Stjernhök now, as he had always done, did not appear unfriendly to +Henrik, but still paid but little attention to him. He occupied himself +very busily, partly with trying chemical experiments with Jacobi and the +ladies, and partly in the evening, and even into the night, in making +astronomical observations with his excellent telescope. One of the +beaming stars to which the observations of the young astronomer were +industriously directed was called afterwards in the family Stjernhök's +star. All gathered themselves around the interesting and well-informed +young man. The Judge took the greatest delight in his conversation, and +asserted before his family more than once his pleasure in him, and the +hopes which the nation itself might have of him. The young student of +Mining was a favourite with the Judge also because, besides his +extraordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> knowledge, he behaved always with the greatest respect +towards older and more experienced persons.</p> + +<p>"See, Henrik," said his father to him one day, after a conversation with +Stjernhök, "what <i>I</i> call poetry, real poetry; it is this—to tame the +rivers, and to compel their wild falls to produce wealth and comfort, +whilst woods are felled on their banks and corn-fields cultivated; human +dwellings spring up, and cheerful activity and joyful voices enliven the +country. Look! that may be called a beautiful creation!"</p> + +<p>Henrik was silent.</p> + +<p>"But," said Gabriele, with all her natural refinement, "to be happy in +these homes, they must be able to read a pleasant book or to sing a +beautiful song, else their lives, spite of all their waterfalls, would +be very dry!"</p> + +<p>The Judge smiled, kissed his little daughter, and tears of delight +filled his eyes.</p> + +<p>Henrik, in the mean time, had gone into another room and seated himself +at a window. His mother followed him.</p> + +<p>"How do you feel, my Henrik?" said she affectionately, gently taking +away the hand which shaded his eyes. His hand was concealing his tears. +"My good, good youth!" exclaimed she, her eyes also overflowing with +tears, and throwing her arms around him. "Now see!" began she +consolingly, "you should not distress yourself when your father speaks +in a somewhat one-sided manner. You know perfectly well how infinitely +good and just he is, and that if he be only once convinced of the +genuineness of your poetic talent, he will be quite contented. He is +only now afraid of your stopping short in mediocrity. He would be +pleased and delighted if you obtained honour in your own peculiar way."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Henrik, "if I only knew whether or not I had a peculiar +way—a peculiar vocation. But since Stjernhök has been here, and I have +talked with him, everything, both externally and internally, seems +altered. I don't any longer understand myself. Stjernhök has shown me +how very little I know of that which I supposed myself to know a great +deal, and what bungling my work is! I see it now perfectly, and it +distresses me. How strong-minded and powerful Stjernhök is! I wish I +were able to resemble him! But it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> is impossible, I feel myself such a +mere nothing beside him! And yet, when I am alone, either with my books, +or out in the free air with the trees, the rocks, the waters, the winds +around me, and with heaven above, thoughts arise in me, feelings take +possession of me, nameless sweet feelings, and then expressions and +words speak in me which affect me deeply, and give me inexpressible +delight; then all that is great and good in humanity is so present with +me; then I have a foretaste of harmony in everything, of God in +everything; and it seems to me as if words thronged themselves to my +lips to sing forth the gloriousness of that which I perceive. In such +moments I feel something great within me, and I fancy that my songs +would find an echo in every heart. Yes, it is thus that I feel +sometimes; but when I see Stjernhök all is vanished, and I feel so +little, so poor, I am compelled to believe that I am a dreamer and a +fool!"</p> + +<p>"My good youth," said the mother, "you mistake yourself. Your gifts and +Stjernhök's are so dissimilar: but if you employ your talents with +sincerity and earnestness, they will in their turn bring forth fruit. I +confess to you, Henrik, that it was, and still is, one of my most lively +wishes that one of my children might become distinguished in the fields +of literature. Literature has furnished to me my most beautiful +enjoyments; and in my younger years I myself was not without my ambition +in this way. I see in you my own powers more richly blossoming. I myself +bloom forth in them, my Henrik, and in my hopes of you. Ah! might I live +to the day in which I saw you honoured by your native land; in which I +saw your father proud of his son, and I myself able to gladden my heart +with the fruit of your genius, your work—oh, then I would gladly die!"</p> + +<p>Enthusiastic fire flamed in Henrik's looks and on his cheeks, as whilst, +embracing his mother, he said, "No, you shall live, mother, to be +honoured on account of your son. He promises that you shall have joy in +him!"</p> + +<p>The sunbeam which just then streamed into the room fell upon Henrik's +beautiful hair, which shone like gold. The mother saw it—saw silently a +prophesying in it, and a sun-bright smile diffused itself over her +countenance.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Petrea read the "Magic King." She ought properly to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> have read it aloud +to the family circle in an evening, and then its dangerous magic would +have been decreased; but she read it beforehand, privately to herself +during the night, and it drew her into the bewildering magic circle. She +thought of nothing, dreamed of nothing, but wonderful adventure; +wonderfully beautiful ladies, and wonderfully brave heroes! She was +herself always one of them, worshipped or worshipping; now combating, +cross in hand, against witches and dragons; now wandering in dreamy +moonlight among lilies in the Lady Minnetrost's Castle. It seemed as if +the chaotic confusion of Petrea's brain had here taken shape and +stature, and she now took possession with redoubled force of the +phantasy world, which once before, under the guise of the Wood-god, had +carried away her childish mind and conducted her into false tracks; and +it was so even now; for while she moved night and day in a dream-world +in which she luxuriated to exultation, in magnificent and wonderful +scenes, in which she herself always played a part, she got on but +lamentably in real and every-day life. The head in which so many +splendid pictures and grand schemes were agitating, looked generally +something like a bundle of flax; she never noticed the holes and specks +in her dress, nor her ragged stockings and trodden-down shoes; she +forgot all her little, every-day business, and whatever she had in her +hand she either lost or dropped.</p> + +<p>She had, besides, a passion for cracking almonds. "A passion," Louise +said, "as expensive as it was noisy, and which never was stronger than +when she went about under the influence of the magic ring; and that +perpetual crack! crack! which was heard wherever she went, and the +almond shells on which people trod, or which hung to the sleeve of +whoever came to the window, were anything but agreeable."</p> + +<p>Whenever Petrea was deservedly reproved or admonished for these things, +she fell out of the clouds, or rather out of her heaven, down to the +earth, which seemed to her scarcely anything else than a heap of nettles +and brambles, and very gladly indeed would she have bought with ten +years of her life one year of the magic power of the "Magic Ring," +together with beauty, magic charms, power, and such-like things, which +she did not possess, except in her dreams.</p> + +<p>Petrea's life was a cleft between an ideal and a real world,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> of both of +which she knew nothing truly, and which, therefore, could not become +amalgamated in her soul. Rivers of tears flowed into the separating +gulf, without being able to fill it or to clear her vision, while she +now complained of circumstances, and now of her own self, as being the +cause of what she endured.</p> + +<p>It was at this time that, partly at the wish of the parents, and partly +also out of his own kind-heartedness, Jacobi began seriously to occupy +himself with Petrea; and he occupied her mind in such a manner as +strengthened and practised her thinking powers, whereby the fermentation +in her feelings and imagination was in some measure abated. All this was +indescribably beneficial to her, and it would have been still more so +had not the teacher been too——but we will leave the secret to future +years.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Judge received one day a large letter from Stockholm, which, after +he had read, he silently laid before his wife. It came from the highest +quarter, contained most honourable and flattering praise of the services +of Judge Frank, of which the government had long been observant, and now +offered him elevation to the highest regal court of justice.</p> + +<p>When Elise had finished the letter she looked up inquiringly to her +husband, who stood beside her. "What think you of it, Ernst?" asked she, +with a constrained and uneasy glance.</p> + +<p>The Judge walked more quickly up and down the room, as was his custom +when anything excited him. "I cannot feel indifferent," said he; "I am +affected by this mark of confidence in my sovereign. I have long +expected this occurrence; but I feel, I see that I cannot leave my +present sphere of operation. My activity is suited to it; I know that I +am of service here, and the confidence of the Governor gives me +unrestrained power to work according to my ability and views. It is +possible that he, instead of me, may get the credit of the good which is +done in the province; but, in God's name, let it be so! I know that what +is good and beneficial is actually done, and that is enough; but there +is a great deal which is only begun which must be completed, and a great +deal, an infinite great deal, remains yet to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> done. I cannot leave a +half-finished work—I cannot and I will not! One must complete one's +work, else it is good for nothing! And I know that here I am—but I am +talking only of myself. Tell me, Elise, what you wish—what you would +like."</p> + +<p>"Let us remain here!" said Elise, giving her hand to her husband, and +seating herself beside him. "I know that you would have no pleasure in a +higher rank, in a larger income, if you on that account must leave a +sphere where you feel yourself in your place, and where you can work +according to the desire of your own heart, and where you are surrounded +by persons who esteem and love you! No; let us remain here!"</p> + +<p>"But you, you Elise," said he; "speak of yourself, not of me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you!" answered she, with the smile of a happy heart, "that is not +so easy to do—for you see all that belongs to the one is so interwoven +with what belongs to the other. But I will tell you something about +myself. I looked at myself this morning in the glass—no satirical +looks, my love!—and it seemed to me as if I appeared strong and +healthy. I thought of you, thought how good and kind you were, and how, +whilst I had walked by your side, I had been strengthened both in body +and mind; how I must still love you more and more, and how we had become +happier and happier together. I thought of your activity, so rich in +blessing both for home and for the general good; thought on the +children, how healthy and good they are, and how their characters have +unfolded so happily under our hands. I thought of our new house which +you have built so comfortable and convenient for us all, and just then +the sun shone cheerfully into my little, beloved boudoir, and I felt +myself so fortunate in my lot! I thanked God both for it and for you! I +would willingly live and die in this sphere—in this house. Let us then +remain here."</p> + +<p>"God bless you for these words, Elise!" said he. "But the children—the +children! Our decision will influence their future; we must also hear +what they have to say; we must lay the matter before them: not that I +fear their having, if they were aware of our mode of reasoning, any wish +different to ours, but at all events they must have a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> voice in the +business. Come, Elise! I shall have no rest till it is all talked over +and decided."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the Judge laid the affair before the family council, it occasioned +a great surprise; on which a general silence ensued, and attractive +visions began to swarm before the eyes of the young people, not exactly +of the highest Court of Judicature, but of the seat of the same—of the +Capital. Louise looked almost like a Counsellor of Justice herself. But +when her father had made known his and his wife's feelings on the +subject, he read in their tearful eyes gratitude for the confidence he +had placed in them, and the most entire acquiescence with his will.</p> + +<p>No one spoke, however, till "the little one"—the father had not said to +her, "Go out for awhile, Gabriele dear;" "Let her stop with us," he +said, on the contrary, "she is a prudent little girl!"—no, none spoke +till Gabriele threw her arms about her mother's neck, and exclaimed, +"Ah, don't let us go away from here—here we are so happy!"</p> + +<p>This exclamation was echoed by all.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, here we remain, in God's name!" said the Judge, rising up +and extending his arms, with tears in his eyes, towards the beloved +circle. "Here we remain, children! But this shall not prevent your +seeing Stockholm, and enjoying its pleasures and beauties! I thank God, +my children, that you are happy here; it makes me so, too. Do you +understand that?"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On this day, for the first time after a long interval, Leonore dined +with the family. Everybody rejoiced on that account; and as her +countenance had a brighter and more kindly expression than common, +everybody thought her pretty. Eva, who had directed and assisted her +toilet, rejoiced over her from the bottom of her heart.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see, Leonore," said she, pointing up to heaven, where light +blue openings were visible between clouds, which for the greater part of +the day had poured down rain—"don't you see it is clearing up, Leonore? +and then we will go out together, and gather flowers and fruit." And as +she said this her blue eyes beamed with kindness and the enjoyment of +life.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"What, in all the world, are these doing here?" asked Henrik, as he saw +his mother's shoes standing in the window in the pale sunshine; "they +ought to be warmed, I fancy, and the sun has no desire to come out and +do his duty. No, in this case, I shall undertake to be sun!"</p> + +<p>"That you are to me, my summer-child!" said the mother, smiling +affectionately as she saw Henrik had placed her shoes under his +waistcoat, to warm them on his breast.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"My sweet Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, "you can't think what lovely +weather it is! Should we not take a little walk? You come with us? You +look most charming—but, in heaven's name, not in the Court-preacher!"</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Thomas Thorild, born 1759, died 1808, an eminent Swedish +poet.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PART III.</h2> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>LEONORE TO EVA.</h3> + + +<p>"And so you are coming home? Coming really home soon, sweet Eva? Ah! I +am so happy, so joyful on that account, and yet a little anxious: but +don't mind that; come, only come, and all will be right! When I can only +look into your eyes, I feel that all will be clear. Your good +eyes!—Gabriele and I call them 'our blue ones'—how long it is that I +have not seen you—two long years! I cannot conceive, dear Eva, how I +have lived so long without you; but then it is true that we have not +been in reality separated. I have accompanied you into the great world; +I have been with you to balls and concerts; I have enjoyed with you your +pleasures and the homage which has been paid to you. Ah! what joy for me +that I have learned to love you! Since then I have lived twofold, and +felt myself so rich in you! And now you are coming back; and then, shall +we be as happy as before?</p> + +<p>"Forgive, forgive this note of interrogation! But sometimes a disquiet +comes over me. You speak so much of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> great world, of joys and +enjoyments, which—it is not in home to afford you. And your grand new +acquaintance—ah, Eva! let them be ever so agreeable and interesting, +they would not love you as we do, as I do! And then this Major R——! I +am afraid of him, Eva. It appears to me the most natural thing in the +world that he should love you, but—ah, Eva! it grieves me that you +should feel such affection for him. My dear, good Eva, attach yourself +not too closely to him before—but I distress you, and that I will not. +Come, only come to us; we have so much to talk to you about, so much to +hear from you, so much to say to you!</p> + +<p>"I fancy you will find the house yet more agreeable than formerly; we +have added many little decorations to it. You will again take breakfast +with us—that comfortable meal, and my best-beloved time; and tea with +us—your favourite hour, in which we were assembled for a merry evening, +and were often quite wild. This morning I took out your breakfast-cup, +and kissed that part of the edge on which the gold was worn off.</p> + +<p>"We will again read books together, and think about and talk about them +together. We will again go out together and enjoy all the freshness and +quiet of the woods. And would it not be a blessed thing to wander thus +calmly through life, endeavouring to improve ourselves, and to make all +those around us happier; to admire the works of God, and humbly to thank +Him for all that he has given to us and others? Should we not then have +lived and flourished enough on earth? Truly I know that a life quiet as +this might not satisfy every one; neither can it accord with all seasons +of life. Storms will come;—even I have had my time of unrest, of +suffering, and of combat. But, thank God! that is now past, and the +sensibility which destroyed my peace is now become as a light to my +path; it has extended my world; it has made me better: and now that I no +longer covet to enjoy the greater and stronger pleasures of life, I +learn now, each passing day, to prize yet higher the treasures which +surround me in this quiet every-day life. Oh, no one can be happy on +earth till he has learned the worth of little things, and to attend to +them! When once he has learned this, he may make each day not only +happy, but find in it cause of thankfulness. But he must have +peace—peace both within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> himself and without himself; for peace is the +sun in which every dewdrop of life glitters!</p> + +<p>"Would that I could but call back peace into a heart which—but I must +prepare you for a change, for a great void in the house. You will not +find Petrea here. You know the state of things which so much distressed +me for some time. It would not do to let it go on any longer either for +Louise or Jacobi's sake, or yet for her own, and therefore Petrea must +go, otherwise they all would have become unhappy. She herself saw it; +and as we had tidings of Jacobi's speedy arrival here, she opened her +heart to her parents. It was noble and right of her, and they were as +good and prudent as ever; and now our father has gone with her to his +friend Bishop B. May God preserve her, and give her peace! I shed many +tears over her; but I hope all may turn out well. Her lively heart has a +fresh-flowing fountain of health in it; and certainly her residence in +the country, which she likes so much, new circumstances, new +interests——</p> + +<p>"I was interrupted: Jacobi is come! It is a good thing that Petrea is +now whiling away her time in the shades of Furudal; good for her poor +heart, and good too for the betrothed pair, who otherwise could not have +ventured to have been happy in her presence. But now they are entirely +so.</p> + +<p>"Now, after six years' long waiting, sighing, and hoping, Jacobi sees +himself approaching the goal of his wishes—marriage and a parsonage! +And the person who helps him to all this, to say nothing of his own +individual deserts, is his beloved patron the excellent Excellency +O——. Through his influence two important landed-proprietors in the +parish of Great T. have been induced to give their votes to Jacobi, who, +though yet young, has been proposed; and thus he will receive one of the +largest and most beautiful livings in the bishopric, and Louise will +become a greatly honoured pastor's wife—'provost's wife' she herself +says prophetically.</p> + +<p>"The only <i>but</i> in this happiness is, that it will remove Jacobi and +Louise so far from us. Their highest wish had been to obtain the rural +appointment near this city; and thus we might in that case have +maintained our family unbroken, even though Louise had left her home; +but—'but,' says our good, sensible 'eldest,' with a sigh, 'all things +cannot be perfect here on earth.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The day of nomination falls early in the spring; and Jacobi, who must +enter upon his office immediately after his appointment, wishes to +celebrate his marriage at Whitsuntide, in order that he may conduct his +young wife into his shepherd's hut along flower-bestrewn paths, and by +the song of the lark. Mrs. Gunilla jestingly beseeches of him not to +become too nomadic: however, this is certain, that no living being has +more interest about cows and calves, sheep and poultry, than Louise.</p> + +<p>"The future married couple are getting their whole household in order +beforehand; and Gabriele heartily amuses herself with such fragments of +their entertaining conversation as reach her ear, while they sit on the +sofa in the library talking of love and economy. But it is not talking +<i>alone</i> that they do, for Jacobi's heart is full of warm human love; and +our father has not the less imparted to all his children somewhat of his +love for the general good, although Gabriele maintains that her portion +thereof is as yet very small.</p> + +<p>"It gives one great pleasure to see the betrothed go out to make +purchases, and then to see them return so cordially well pleased with +all they have bought. Louise discovers something so unsurpassably +excellent in everything with which she furnishes herself, whether it be +an earthen or a silver vessel. When I look at these two, like a pair of +birds carrying together straws to their nest, and twittering over them, +I cannot help thinking that it must be a greater piece of good fortune +to come to the possession of a humbly supplied habitation which one has +furnished oneself, than to that of a great and rich one for which other +people have cared. One is, in the first place, so well acquainted with, +so on thee-and-thou terms with one's things; and certainly nobody in +this world can be more so than Louise with hers.</p> + +<p>"We are all of us now working most actively for the wedding, but still +our father does not look with altogether friendly eyes on an occasion +which will withdraw a daughter from his beloved circle. He would so +gladly keep us all with him, for which I rejoice and am grateful. +Apropos! we have a scheme for him which will make him happy in his old +age, and our mother also. You remember the great piece of building-land +overgrown with bushes, which the people had not understanding enough +either to build upon or to give up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> to us, this we intend—but we will +talk about it mouth to mouth. Petrea has infected us all, even 'our +eldest,' with her desire for great undertakings; and then—truly it is a +joy to be able to labour for the happiness of those who have laboured +for us so affectionately and unweariedly.</p> + +<p>"Now something about friends and acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"All friends and acquaintance ask much after you. Uncle Jeremias +wrangles because you do not come, all the time he breakfasts with us +(generally on Wednesday and Saturday mornings), and while he abuses our +rusks, but notwithstanding devours a great quantity of them. For some +time he has appeared to me to have become more amiable than formerly; +his temper is milder, his heart always was mild. He is the friend and +physician of all the poor. A short time ago he bought a little villa, a +mile distant from the city; it is to be the comfort of his age, and is +to be called 'The Old Man's Rose,'—does not that sound comfortable?</p> + +<p>"Annette P. is very unhappy with her coarse sister-in-law. She does not +complain; but look, complexion, nay, even her whole being, indicate the +deepest discontent with life; we must attract her to us, and endeavour +to make her happier.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Gabriele, and insists upon it that I should leave some room +for her scrawl. A bold request! But then who says no to her? Not I, and +therefore I must make a short ending.</p> + +<p>"If a certain Baron Rutger L. be introduced to you when you return, do +not imagine that he is deranged, although he sometimes seems as if he +were so. He is the son of one of my father's friends; and as he is to be +educated by my father for a civil post, he is boarded in our family. He +is a kind of '<i>diamant brute</i>,' and requires polishing in more senses +than one; in the mean time I fancy his wild temper is in a fair way of +being tamed. One word from our mother makes impression upon him; and he +is actually more regardful of the ungracious demeanour of our little +lady, than of the moral preaching of our eldest. He is just nineteen. +Old Brigitta is quite afraid of him, and will hardly trust herself to +pass him lest he should leap over her. Oh, how happy she, like everybody +else, will be to see you back again! She fears lest you should get +married, and stop in 'the hole,' as she calls Stockholm.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Henrik will remain with us over Christmas, but you must come and help +to enliven him; he is not so joyous as formerly. I fancy that the +misunderstanding between him and Stjernhök distresses him. Ah! why would +not these two understand one another! For the rest, many things are now +at stake for Henrik; God grant that all may go well, both on his account +and mamma's!</p> + +<p>"We shall not see Petrea again till after Louise's marriage. When shall +we all be again all together at home? Sara! ah? it is now above four +years since we heard anything of her, and all inquiry and search after +her has been in vain. Perhaps she lives no longer! I have wept many +tears over her; oh! if she should return! I feel that we should be +happier together than formerly; there was much that was good and noble +in her, but she was misled—I hear my mother's light steps, and that +predicts that she has something good for me——</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes! she has! she has a letter from you, my Eva! You cannot fix the +day of your return, and that is very sad—but you come soon! You love +Stockholm; so do I also; I could embrace Stockholm for that reason.</p> + +<p>"I am now at the very edge of my paper. Gabriele has bespoken the other +side. I leave you now, in order to write to <i>her</i> who left us with +tears, but who, as I cordially hope, will return to us with smiles."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><h3>FROM GABRIELE.</h3> + +<p>In the Morning.</p> + +<p>"I could not write last evening, and am now up before the sun in +order to tell you that nothing can console me for Petrea's +absence, excepting your return. We are all of us terribly longing +after 'our Rose.' I know very well who beside your own family +longs for this same thing.</p> + +<p>"I must tell you that a little friendship has been got up between +Uncle Jeremias and me. All this came about in the fields, for he +is never particularly polite within doors; whilst in a walk, the +beautiful side of his character always comes out. Petrea and I +have taken such long excursions with him, and then he was mild and +lively; then he botanised with us, told us of the natural families +in the vegetable kingdom, and related the particular life and +history of many plants.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> Do you know it is the most agreeable +thing in the world to know something of all this; one feels +oneself on such familiar terms with these vegetable families. Ah! +how often when I feel thus am I made aware how indescribably rich +and glorious life is, and I fancy that every one must live happily +on earth who has only eyes and sense awakened to all that is +glorious therein, and then I can sing like a bird for pure +life-enjoyment. In the mean time, Uncle Jeremias and I cultivate +flowers in the house quite enthusiastically, and intend at +Christmas to make presents of both red and white lilacs; but, +indeed, I have almost a mind to cry that the nose of my Petrea +cannot smell them.</p> + +<p>"But I must come to an end, for you must know that occasionally I +have undertaken to have a watchful eye over the breakfast-table, +and therefore I go now to look after it. Bergström has fortunately +done all this, so that I have nothing now to do; next I must go +and look after my moss-rose, and see whether a new bud has yet +made its appearance; then I shall go and see after mamma; one +glance must I give through the window to the leaves in the garden, +which nod a farewell to me before they fall from the twigs; and to +the sun also, which now rises bright and beaming, must I send a +glance—a beam from the sun of my eyes and out of the depth of my +thankful heart; and therefore that I may be able, for the best +well-being of the community, to attend to all these important +matters, I must say to you, farewell! to you who are so dear to +me."</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>PETREA TO LEONORE.</h3> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>From the Inn at D——.</p> + +<p>"It is evening, and my father is gone out in order to make +arrangements for our to-morrow's voyage. I am alone: the mist +rises thick without, before the dirty inn-windows; my eyes also +are misty; my heart is heavy and full, I must converse with you.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Leonore! the bitter step has thus been taken—I am separated +from my own family, from my own home; and not soon shall I see +again their mild glances, or hear your consoling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> voice! and all +this—because I have not deserved—because I have destroyed the +peace of my home! Yes, Leonore! in vain will you endeavour to +excuse me, and reconcile me with myself! I know that I am +criminal—that I have desired, that I have wished, at least, for a +moment—oh, I would now press the hem of Louise's garment to my +lips and exclaim 'Forgive, forgive! I have passed judgment on +myself—I have banished myself; I fly—fly in order no more to +disturb your happiness or his!'</p> + +<p>"I was a cloud in their heaven; what should the cloud do there? +May the wind disperse it! Oh, Leonore, it is an indescribably +bitter feeling for a heart which burns with gratitude to be able +to do nothing more for the object of its love than to keep itself +at a distance, to make itself into nothing! But rather +that—rather a million-times hide myself in the bosom of the +earth, than give sorrow either to him or to her! Truly, if thereby +I could win anything for them; if I could moulder to dust like a +grain of corn, and then shoot forth for them into plentiful +blessing—that would be sweet and precious, Leonore! People extol +all those who are able to die for love, for honour, for religion, +for high and noble ends, and wherefore? Because it is, indeed, a +mercy from God to be able so to die—it is life in death!</p> + +<p>"I know a life which is death—which, endured through long +clinging years, would be a burden to itself, and a joy to no one. +Oh, how bitter! Wherefore must the craving after happiness, after +enjoyment, burn like an eternal thirst in the human soul, if the +assuaging fountain, Tantalus like——?</p> + +<p>"Leonore, my eyes burn, my head aches, and my heart is wildly +tempested! I am not good—I am not submissive—my soul is a +chaos—a little earth on forehead and breast, that might be good +for me.</p> + + +<p>On board the Steam-boat.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Leonore, thanks for your pillow; it has really been an +ear-comfort for me.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> Yesterday I thought that I was in the +direct way to become ill. I shivered; I burned; my head ached +fearfully: I felt as if torn to pieces. But when I laid my head +upon your little pillow, when my ear rested upon the delicate +cover which you had ornamented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> with such exquisite needlework, +then it seemed to me as if your spirit whispered to me out of it; +a repose came over me; all that was bad vanished so quickly, so +wonderfully; I slept calmly; I was quite astonished when they woke +me in the morning to feel that, bodily, I was quite well, and +mentally like one cured. This has been done by your pillow, +Leonore. I kissed it and thanked you.</p> + + +<p>"It is related in the Acts of the Apostles that they brought the +sick and laid them in the way on which the holy men went, that at +least their shadows might fall upon them, and make them sound. I +have faith in the power of such a remedy; yes, the good, the holy, +impart somewhat of their life, of their strength, to all that +belong to them: I have found that to-night.</p> + +<p>"We went on board. The 'Sea-Witch' thundered and flew over the +sea. I know that she conveyed me away from you all, and leaning +over the bulwarks I wept. I felt then a pair of arms tenderly and +gently surrounding me; they were my father's! He wrapped a warm +cloak around me, and leaning on his breast, I raised my head. The +morning was clear; white flame-like clouds chased by the morning +wind flew across the deep blue; the waves beat foaming against the +vessel; green meadows, autumnally beautiful parks, extended +themselves on either side of us; space opened itself. I stood with +my face turned towards the wind and space, let the sea-spray wet +my lips and my eyelids, a soft shudder passed through me, and I +felt that life was beautiful. Yes, in the morning hour, filled +with its beaming-light, in this pure fresh wind, I felt the evil +demons of my soul retreat, and disperse themselves like mist and +vapour. I drank in the morning winds; I opened my heart to life; I +might also have opened my arms to them, and at the same time to +all my beloved ones, that thus I might have expressed to them the +quiet prediction of my heart, that love to them will heal me, will +afford me strength some time or other to give them joy.</p> + + +<p>The second day on board.</p> + +<p>"I should like to know whether a deep heart-grief would resist the +influence of a long voyage. There is something wonderfully +strengthening, something renovating in this life, this voyaging, +this fresh wind. It chases the dust from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> eyes of the soul; +one sees oneself and others more accurately, and gets removed from +one's old self. One journeys in order to stand upon a new shore, +and amid new connexions. One begins, as it were, anew.</p> + +<p>"We had a storm yesterday, and with the exception of my father, I +was the only passenger who remained well, and on this account I +could help the sufferers. It is true it was not without its +discomforts; it is true that I reeled about sometimes with a glass +of water, and sometimes with a glass of drops in the hand; but I +saw many a laughable scene; many an odd trait of human nature. I +laughed, made my own remarks, forgot myself, and became friendly +with all mankind. Certainly it would be a very good thing for me +to be maid-servant on board a steam-boat.</p> + +<p>"Towards evening, the storm, as well within as without the vessel, +abated itself. I sate solitary on dock till midnight. The waves +still foamed around the agreeably rocking vessel; the wind +whistled in the rigging; and the full moon, heralded by one bright +little star, rose from the sea, and diffused her mild wondrous +light over its dark expanse. It was infinitely glorious! Nameless +thoughts and feelings arose in me, full of love and melancholy, +and yet at the same time elevating and strengthening; a certain +longing after that for which I knew no name. I desired I knew not +what.</p> + +<p>"But I fear and know that which I do not desire. I fear the quiet +measured life into which I am about again to +enter—conventionalities, forms, social life, all this cramps my +soul together, and makes it inclined to excesses. Instead of +sitting in select society, and drinking tea in 'high life,' would +I rather roam about the world in Viking expeditions—rather eat +locusts with John the Baptist in the wilderness, and go hither and +thither in a garment of camel's hair; and after all, such apparel +as this must be very convenient in comparison with our patchwork +toilet. Manifold are the changing scenes of life, and how shall I +find my way, and where shall I find my place in the magic circle +of the world. Forgive me, Leonore, that I talk so much about +myself. Thou good one, thou hast spoiled me in this respect.</p> + +<p>"We reached Furudal to-day in the afternoon.</p> + + +<p>Furudal.</p> + +<p>"Here are we on land; I would that I were at sea! I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> come even now +from the sitting-room, and in the sitting-room I always suffer +shipwreck. An evil genius always makes me say or do something +there unbecoming. This evening I entangled the reel of the +Bishop's lady, and told a stupid anecdote about a relation of +hers. I wished to be witty, and I succeeded badly, as I always do.</p> + +<p>"They are very neat people here. The Bishop is a small pale man, +with something angelic in voice and expression, but—he will not +have much time to bestow on me; he lives in his books and his +official duties, and moreover he is almost always in the city; and +his lady, who remains here perpetually, has very delicate health; +but I will wait upon her, and read aloud to her, and that will +give me pleasure. I only hope she may endure me.</p> + +<p>"Both husband and wife were amiable towards my father's daughter, +but I very well believe that they did not find me very loveable. +Intolerably hot, too, was their blessed drawing-room, and I was +tanned with the wind, and as red as a peony. Such things as these +are enough to make one a little desperate; all these things are +trifles, yet they are nevertheless annoying; and then it is +depressing, everlastingly to displease exactly where one wishes +most to please!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"I have unpacked the trunk which you all so carefully packed for +me; and now new and newly-repaired articles of clothing flew into +my arms one after another. Oh, sisters! it was you who have thus +brought my toilet in order for the whole winter! How good you are! +I recognised Louise's hand again. Oh, I must weep, my beloved +ones!—my home!</p> + + +<p>Some days later.</p> + +<p>"The pine-trees rustle fresh and still. I have been +out;—mountains, woods, solitude with nature—glorious!</p> + +<p>"Oh, Leonore, I will begin a new life; I will die to my ancient +self, to vanity, to error, to self-love. Every flattering token of +remembrance—notes, keepsakes—be they from man or woman, I have +destroyed. I send you herewith a little sum of money, which I +received for ornaments and for some of my own manufactures, which +I sold. Buy something with it which will give pleasure to Louise +and Jacobi; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> do not let them surmise, I earnestly beseech you, +that it comes from Petrea. If I could only sell myself for a +respectable price, and make them rich, then——</p> + +<p>"I shall have a deal of time for myself here, and I know how I +shall employ it. I will go out a great deal. I will wander through +wood and field, in storm, snow, and every kind of weather, till I +am, at least, bodily weary. Perhaps then it may be calmer in the +soul! I desire no longer to be happy. What does it matter if one +is not happy, if one is only pure and good? Were the probation-day +of life only not so long! Leonore, my good angel, pray for me!</p> + +<p>"May all be happy!</p> + +<p>"Greet all tenderly from your</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Petrea.</span></p> + +<p>"P. S.—My nose makes its compliments to Gabriele, and goes in the +accompanying picture to pay her a visit. She must not imagine that +I am cast down. I send also a little ballad or romance; the wood +sung it to me last evening, and every harmonious sound, which life +in my soul sings, must—go home! Oh, how I love you all!"</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>And now, whilst our Petrea appears in rural solitude to prepare herself +for a new life, whilst the snow fell upon the earth in order to prepare +it for now springs, we turn back to our well-known home in the town, and +describe the occurrences there.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Poor Petrea makes a little pun here. The Swedish word +örongodt (pillow) meaning literally good for the ear.—M. H.</p></div><br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>A CONVERSATION.</h3> + + +<p>Jacobi had left. October was come, with its storms and its long +twilight, which is so dark and heavy for all such as have it not cheered +by kindly glances and bright thoughts.</p> + +<p>One evening, as Henrik came down to tea, he was observed to look +uncommonly pale, and in answer to the inquiry of his sisters as to the +cause, he replied that he had headache, and added, half in jest, half in +earnest, that it would be very beautiful to be only once freed from this +heavy body—it was so sadly in one's way!</p> + +<p>"How you talk!" said Louise; "at all events, it is right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> to treat it +well and rationally; not to go sitting up all night and studying so that +one has headache all day!"</p> + +<p>"Thank your majesty most submissively for the moral!" said Henrik; "but +if my body will not serve my soul, but will subject it, I have a very +great desire to contend with it, and to quarrel with it!"</p> + +<p>"The butterfly becomes matured in the chrysalis," said Gabriele, smiling +sweetly, whilst she strewed rose-leaves upon some chrysalises which were +to sleep through the winter on her flower-stand.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," replied Henrik; "but how heavily does not the shell press +down upon the wings of the butterfly! The earthly chrysalis weighs upon +me! What would not the soul accomplish? how could it not live and enjoy, +were it not for this? In certain bright moments, what do we not feel and +think? what brilliancy in conception! what godlike warmth of feeling in +the heart!—one could press the whole world to one's bosom at such a +time, seeing, with a glance, through all, and penetrating all as with +fire. Oh, there is then an abundance, a clearness! Yes, if our Lord +himself came to me at such a moment, I should reach forth my hand to him +and say, 'Good day, brother!'"</p> + +<p>"Dear Henrik!" said Louise, somewhat startled, "now I think you do not +rightly know what you say."</p> + +<p>"Yes," continued he, without regarding the interruption, "so can one +feel, but only for a moment; in the next, the chrysalis closes heavily +again its earthly dust-mantle around our being, and we are stupified and +sleep, and sink deep below that which we so lately were. Then one sees +in books nothing but printed words, and in one's soul one finds neither +feeling nor thought, and towards man, for whom so shortly before the +very heart seemed to burn, one feels oneself stiff and disinclined. Ah, +it were enough to make one fall into despair!"</p> + +<p>"It would be far better," said Louise, "that such people went to sleep, +and then they would get rid of headache and heaviness."</p> + +<p>"But," said Henrik, smiling, "that is a sorrowful remedy according to my +notions. It is horrible to require so much sleep! How can any one who is +a seven-sleeper become great? 'Les hommes puissans veillent et veulent,' +says<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> Balzac with reason; and because my miserable heavy nature requires +so much sleep, so certainly shall I never turn out great in any way. +Besides, this entrancement, this glorification produces such wakeful +moments in the soul, that one feels poor and stripped when they are +extinguished. Ah! I can very well comprehend how so many make use of +external excitement to recal or to prolong them, and that they endeavour +through the fire of wine to wake again the fire of the soul."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Louise, "you comprehend something which is very bad and +irrational. They are precisely such excitements as these that we have to +thank for there being so many miserable men, and so many drunkards in +Sweden, that one can scarcely venture to go out in the streets for +them!"</p> + +<p>"I do not defend it, dear Louise," said Henrik, gently smiling at the +zeal of his sister, "but I can understand it, and in certain cases I can +excuse it. Life is often felt to be so heavy, and the moments of +inspiration give a fulness to existence; they are like lightning flashes +out of the eternal life!"</p> + +<p>"And so they certainly are," said Leonore, who had listened attentively +to her brother, and whose mild eyes had become moist by his words; "and +life will certainly," continued she, "feel thus clear, thus full, when +we shall have become ever entirely freed from the chrysalis; not from +the bonds of the body only, but of the soul also. Perhaps these moments +are given to us here on earth to allure us up to the Father's house, and +to let us feel its air."</p> + +<p>"A beautiful thought, Leonore," said her brother. "Thus these gleams of +light are truly revelations of our inward, actual, here-yet-enslaved +life. Good God! how glorious that—But ah! the long, long moments of +darkness, what are they?"</p> + +<p>"Trials of patience, times of preparation," replied Leonore, tenderly +smiling. "Besides, the bright moments come again and gladden us with +their light, and that so much the more frequently the further one +advances in perfection. But one must, at the same time, learn to have +patience with oneself, Henrik, and here, in this life, to wait for +oneself."</p> + +<p>"You have spoken a true word, sister. I must kiss your hand for it," +said Henrik. "Ah, yes, if——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Be now a little less sensible and æsthetic," exclaimed "our eldest," +"and come here and drink a cup of tea! See here, Henrik, a cup of strong +warm tea, which will do your head good. But this evening and to-morrow +morning you must take a table-spoonful of my elixir!"</p> + +<p>"From that defend us all, ye good—<i>Vi ringrazia carissima sorella!</i>" +said Henrik. "But—but charming Gabriele! a drop of port wine in the tea +would make it more powerful, without turning me into one of those +miserable beings of whom Louise is so afraid! Thanks, sister dear! +<i>Fermez les yeux</i>, O Mahomet!" and with an obeisance before Louise, +Henrik conveyed the cup to his lips.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening Henrik stood in one of the library windows looking +out into the moonlight. Leonore went up to him and looked into his face +with that mild, humbly questioning glance to which the heart so +willingly opened itself, and which was peculiar to her.</p> + +<p>"You are so pale, Henrik," said she, disquieted.</p> + +<p>"It is extraordinary," said he, half laughing at himself; "do you see, +Leonore, how the tops of the fir-trees there in the churchyard bow +themselves in the wind and beckon? I cannot conceive why, but this +nodding and beckoning distresses me wonderfully; I feel it in my very +heart."</p> + +<p>"That comes naturally enough, Henrik," returned she, "because you are +not well. Shall we not go out a little? It is such lovely moonshine! The +fresh air will perhaps do you good."</p> + +<p>"Will you go with me, Leonore?" said he. "Yes, that is a good idea!"</p> + +<p>Gabriele found it, however, rather poor, and called her brother and +sister Samoyedes, Laplanders, Esquimaux, and such like, who would go +wandering about in the middle of a winter's night. Nevertheless these +two went forth jestingly and merrily arm in arm.</p> + +<p>"Is it not too windy for you?" asked Henrik, whilst he endeavoured +carefully to shield his sister from the wind.</p> + +<p>"The wind is not cold," replied Leonore, "and it is particularly +charming to me to walk by your side while it roars around us, and while +the snow-flakes dance about in the moonshine like little elves."</p> + +<p>"Nay, you feel then like me!" said Henrik; "with you,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> sisters, I am +ever calm and happy; but I don't know how it is, but now for some time +other people often plague and irritate me——"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Henrik," remarked Leonore, "is not that someway your own fault?"</p> + +<p>"Are you thinking of Stjernhök, Leonore?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"So am I," continued he, "and perhaps you are right; yes, I will +willingly concede that I have often been unjust towards him, and +unreasonably violent, but he has excited me to it. Why has he made me so +often oppressively feel his superiority? so often taken away from me my +own joy in my own endeavours, and almost always treated me with coldness +and depreciation?"</p> + +<p>Leonore made no answer, the moonlight lit a quiet tear in her eye, and +Henrik continued with increasing violence:</p> + +<p>"I could have loved him so much! He had, through the originality of his +character, his strength, and his whole individuality, a great influence, +a great power over me; but he has misused it; he has treated me +severely, precisely in the instances in which I approached him nearest. +He has flung from him the devotion which I cherished for him. I will +tell you the whole truth, Leonore, and how this has happened between us. +You know that in the University, about three years ago, a sort of +literary society of young men gathered themselves about me. Perhaps they +esteemed my literary talents too highly, and might mislead me—I could +almost believe so myself, but I was the favourite of the day in the +circle in which my life moved; perhaps, on that account, I became +presumptuous; perhaps a tone of pretension betrayed itself in me, and a +false, one-sided direction was visible in the poems which I then +published: nevertheless, these poems made some little noise in the +world. Shortly, however, after their appearance a criticism on them came +out, which made a yet greater noise, on account of its power, its +severity, and also its satirical wit. Its acrimony spared neither my +work nor my character as a poet, and it produced almost universally a +re-action against me. It appeared to me severe and one-sided; and even +now, at this moment, it appears to me not otherwise, although I can now +see its justice much better than at the time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The anonymous author of the critique upon me was Stjernhök, and he did +not in the slightest deny it. He considered it as being much less +directed against me personally, than against the increasing influence of +the party of which I was a sort of chief. Even before this I had begun +to withdraw myself from his power, which I always felt to be oppressive; +and this new blow did not, by any means, tend to reunite us. His severe +criticism had made me observant of my faults; but yet I do not know +whether it would have produced any other effect than pain, had I not at +this time returned home to you; and at home, through the beneficial +influence of my own family, a new strength and a purer direction had +been aroused in me. That was the time in which my father, with +indescribable goodness, and in complot with you all, sold the half of +his library to furnish me with the means of foreign travel. Yes, you +have called forth a new being in me; and all my poems, and all my +writings, are now designed to prove to you that I am not unworthy of +you. Ah, yes! I love you warmly and deeply—but it is all over with +Stjernhök; the love which I cherished for him has changed itself into +bitterness."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Henrik, Henrik, do not let it be so!" said Leonore. "Stjernhök is +indeed a noble, a good man, even if, at the same time, too severe. But +really he loves you as well as we, but you two will not understand one +another; and Henrik, the last time you were really unjust to him—you +seemed as if you could hardly bear him."</p> + +<p>"I hardly can, Leonore," said he. "It is a feeling stronger than myself. +I don't know what evil spirit it is which now, for some time, has set +itself firmly in my heart; but there it is steadfastly rooted; and if I +am aware only of Stjernhök's presence, it is as if a sharp sword passed +through me; before him my heart contracts itself; and if he only touch +me, I feel as if burning lead went through my veins."</p> + +<p>"Henrik! dearest Henrik!" exclaimed Leonore with pain, "it is really +terrible! Ah! make only the attempt with yourself; conquer your +feelings, and extend the hand of reconciliation to him."</p> + +<p>"It is too late for that, Leonore," said Henrik. "Yes, if it were +necessary for him, it would be easy; but what does he trouble himself +about me? He never loved me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> never esteemed either my efforts or my +ability. And perhaps it may be with some justice that he does not think +so very highly of my talents. What have I done? And sometimes it seems +to me, even in the future, that I never shall do any thing great; that +my powers are limited, and that my spring-time is past. Stjernhök's, on +the contrary, is yet to come; he belongs to that class which mounts +slowly, but on that account all the more steadily. I see now, much +better than I did formerly, how far he stands beyond me, and how much +higher he will rise—and his knowledge is martyrdom to me."</p> + +<p>"But wherefore," pleaded Leonore, "these dark thoughts and feelings, +dear Henrik, when your future appears fuller of hope than ever before? +Your beautiful poetry; your prize essay, which is certain to bring you +honour; the prospect of an advantageous post, a sphere of action which +will be dear to you—all this, which in a few months will so animate +your heart—why has it at this time so lost its power over you?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell," replied he; "but for some time now I have been, and am +much changed; I have no faith in my good fortune; it seems to me as if +all my beautiful hopes will vanish like a dream."</p> + +<p>"And even if it were so," said Leonore questioningly, with humility and +tenderness, "could you not find happiness and peace at home; in the +occupation of your beloved studies; in the life with us, who love you +solely, and for your own sake?"</p> + +<p>Henrik pressed his sister's arm to his side, but answered nothing; and a +violent passing gust of wind compelled him to stand still for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Horrible weather!" said he, wrapping his cloak round his sister at the +same time.</p> + +<p>"But this is your favourite weather," remarked she jestingly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Was</i>, you should say," returned he; "now I do not like it, perhaps +because it produces a feeling in me which distresses me." With these +words he took his sister's hand and laid it on his heart. His heart beat +wildly and strongly; its beating was almost audible.</p> + +<p>"Heavens!" exclaimed Leonore, alarmed, "Henrik, what is this?—is it +often thus?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Only occasionally;—I have had it now for some time," replied he; "but +don't be uneasy on this account; and, above all things, say nothing to +my mother or Gabriele about it. I have spoken with Munter on the +subject; he has prescribed for me, and does not think it of much +consequence. To-day I have had it without intermission, and perhaps I am +from that cause somewhat hypochondriacal. Forgive me, dear Leonore, that +I have teased you about it. I am much better and livelier now; this +little walk has done me good—if you only don't get cold, Leonore, or +you would certainly be punished, or at all events be threatened, with +Louise's elixir. But does there not drive a travelling carriage towards +our door, exactly as if it would stop there? Can it be Eva? The carriage +stops—it is certainly Eva!"</p> + +<p>"Eva! Eva!" exclaimed Leonore, with cordial delight; and both brother +and sister ran so quickly to the gate that she was received into their +arms as she dismounted from the carriage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>EVA.</h3> + + +<p>Among the agreeable circumstances which occur in a happy home may +certainly be reckoned the return to its bosom of one of its beloved +members. So returns the bee to the safe hive with her harvest of honey, +after her flight abroad over the meadows of the earth. How much is there +not mutually to relate, to hear, to see, and to enjoy! Every cloud in +the heaven of home vanishes then; all is sunshine and joy; and it must +be bad indeed if they do not find one another lovelier and improved, for +when everything goes on right here, every advancing footstep in life +must tend in a certain manner to improvement.</p> + +<p>Bright, indeed, did Eva's return make the hours of sunshine in the Frank +family! The mutual love which demonstrated itself in embraces, smiles, +tears, laughter, sweet words of greeting, and a thousand tokens of joy +and tenderness, made the first hours vanish in a lively intoxication, +and then, when all had become quieter and they looked nearer about them, +all looks and thoughts gathered themselves still about Eva with rapture; +her beauty seemed now in its full bloom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> and a captivating life seemed +to prevail in her looks, in her behaviour, in her every motion, which +hitherto had not been seen. Her dress of the most modern fashion, a +certain development and style about her, a bewitching case of manner, +all evinced the elegant circles of the capital, and exerted their magic +over her friends, and charmed them all, but especially Gabriele, who +followed her beautiful sister with beaming looks.</p> + +<p>Bergström gave way to his feelings in the kitchen, and exclaimed, +"Mamselle Eva is quite divine!" Never had the blond Ulla so entirely +agreed with him before.</p> + +<p>Leonore was the only one who regarded Eva with a tender yet at the same +time troubled eye. She saw a something worldly in Eva's exterior and +demeanour, which was a presage to her that a great and not happy change +had taken place in her beloved sister. Nor was it long before Leonore's +foreboding proved itself to be right. Eva had not been many hours in the +house before it was plainly visible that domestic affairs had but little +interest for her, and that parents and family and friends were not to +her all that they had been before.</p> + +<p>Eva's soul was entirely occupied by one object, which laid claim to all +her thoughts and feelings, and this was Major R——. His handsome +person, his brilliant talents; his amiability, his love; the parties in +which she had met him, the balls in which she had danced with him; the +occasions on which they had played parts together—in short, all the +romantic unfoldings of their connexion, were the pictures which now +alone lived in her heart, and danced around her fancy, now heated by +worldly happiness.</p> + +<p>The grave expression of her father's countenance, as he heard her first +mention the Major, prevented her during this first evening from +repeating his name.</p> + +<p>But when afterwards she was alone with her sisters, when the sweet hour +of talk came, which between dear friends, on such occasions, generally +extends itself from night till morning, Eva gave free course to all with +which her soul was filled, and related to her sisters at large her +romance of the last year, in which several rival lovers figured, but of +which Major R—— was the hero. Nor was it without self-satisfaction +that Eva represented herself as the worshipped and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> conquering heroine +amid a crowd of rival ladies. Her soul was so occupied by all these +circumstances, her mind was so excited, that she did not observe the +embarrassment of her sisters during her relation; she saw neither their +disquiet, their constrained smiles, nor their occasionally depressed +looks.</p> + +<p>Nor was it till when, with eyes beaming with joy, she confided to them +that Major R—— would soon come to the city, where he had relatives; +that he would spend the Christmas with them, and then ask her hand from +her parents, that the veil fell from her eyes. Louise expressed herself +strongly against Major R——, wondered at her sister, and lamented that +she could endure such a man; it was not, she said, what she had expected +from her. Eva, very much wounded, defended the Major with warmth, and +talked of intolerance and prejudice. In consequence of this, Louise's +indignation was increased; Gabriele began to weep, and Louise bore her +company; she seemed to look upon Eva as on one lost. Leonore was calmer; +she spoke not one word which could wound her sister, but sighed deeply, +and looked with quiet grief upon the beloved but misguided sister; and +then seeing what a tragical turn the conversation was taking, said, with +all that expression of calm sincerity so peculiarly her own:</p> + +<p>"Do not let us this evening speak further on this subject; do not let us +disturb our joy. We have now Eva with us at home, and shall have time +enough to talk and to think—and then all will be cleared up. Is it not +quite for the best that we sleep on this affair? Eva must be weary after +her journey, and our 'blue-eyed one' must not weep on this first +evening."</p> + +<p>Leonore's advice was taken, and with a mutual "forgive," Louise, Eva, +and Gabriele embraced and separated for the night. Leonore was happy to +be alone with Eva, and listened undisturbedly through the whole night to +her relations. The good Leonore!</p> + +<p>Major Victor R. was universally known as one of those who make sport +with female hearts, and Judge Frank regarded sport of this kind with a +severity very uncommon among his sex, especially where, as was the case +in this instance, selfishness, and not thoughtlessness, led to it. The +Major, ten years before this time, had married a young and rich girl +connected with the Judge's family; and the only fault of the young wife, +then sixteen, had been that of loving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> her husband too tenderly—nay, +even in adoring one who repaid her love with relentless severity and +faithlessness, under which the poor Amelia drooped, and, in the second +year of her marriage, died; but not without having bequeathed to the +unworthy husband all the property over which she had any control.</p> + +<p>These were the very means by which R. now was enabled to pursue his +brilliant and reckless career. He always made his court to one of the +beauties of the day. He had been several times betrothed, but had broken +off the affair again without the smallest regard to the reputation or to +the feelings of the girl, upon whom by this means he had cast a +stain—nay, indeed, he secretly regarded it as an honour to himself to +make such victims, and to cause hearts to bleed for him—that cooled the +burning thirst of his self-love.</p> + +<p>The world did justice to his agreeable and splendid talents; but the +noble of his own sex, as well as of the other, esteemed him but very +lightly, inasmuch as they considered him a person without true worth. +The thoughts of a union between this man and his beloved daughter +occasioned a storm in the bosom of the Judge.</p> + +<p>Such was the information regarding the man whom she loved that met Eva +on her return home. Everybody was unanimously against him. What Eva +spoke in his excuse produced no effect; what she said of his true and +deep devotion to her, evidently nobody credited; and over her own love, +which had made the world so beautiful, which had produced the most +delicious feelings in her breast, and had opened to her a heaven of +happiness, people mourned and wept, and regarded it as a misfortune, +nay, even as a degradation. Wounded to the inmost of her soul, Eva drew +herself back, as it were, from her own family, and accused them to +herself of selfishness and unreasonableness. Louise, perhaps, deserved +somewhat of this reproach; but Leonore was pure, pure as the angels of +heaven; still Leonore mourned over Eva's love, and on that account Eva +closed her heart against her also.</p> + +<p>The variance, which in consequence of all this existed between Eva and +her family, became only yet greater when Major R. arrived, shortly after +her, at the city. He was a tall handsome man, of perhaps +five-and-thirty; of a haughty,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> but somewhat trifling exterior; his +countenance was gay and blooming, and his look clear and bold. Great +practice in the world, and an inimitable ease and confidence, gave to +his demeanour and conversation that irresistible power which these +qualities exercise so greatly in society.</p> + +<p>On his visit to the Franks, the Judge and he exchanged some glances, in +which both read that neither could endure the other. The Major, however, +let nothing of all this be seen; was perfectly candid and gay; and while +he directed his conversation especially to Elise, spoke scarcely one +word to Eva, though he looked much at her. After the first stiff +salutation, the Judge went again into his study, for the very appearance +of this man was painful to him. Leonore was polite, nay, almost friendly +to him, for she would willingly have loved one whom Eva loved. Assessor +Munter was present during this visit; but when he had seen, for a few +minutes, the glances which the Major cast upon Eva, and their magic +influence over her, and had observed and had read her whole heart in a +timid glance which she raised to her beloved, he withdrew silently and +hastily.</p> + +<p>The Major came but seldom to the house, for the eye of the Judge +appeared to have the power of keeping him at a distance; on the +contrary, he managed it so that he saw Eva almost daily out of the +house. He met her when she went out, and accompanied her home from +church. Invitations came; sledging-parties and balls were arranged; and +Eva, who formerly was so well pleased with home, who had often given up +the pleasures of the world for the domestic evening circle, Eva appeared +to find nothing now pleasing at home; appeared only to be able to live +in those circles and those pleasures in which Major R. shone, and where +she could see herself distinguished by him. Precisely, therefore, on +account of these rencontres of the two, the family went as little as +possible into society. Still, notwithstanding all this, Eva's wishes +upon the whole were favoured. Leonore accompanied her faithfully +wherever she wished. The Judge was gloomy and disturbed in temper; the +mother was mild and accommodating; and as to Eva, she was in a high +degree sensitive; whilst whatever concerned her love, or seemed to +oppose her wishes in the slightest degree, brought her to tears and +hysterical sobs, and her friends became ever more and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> more aware how +violent and exclusive her love was to Major R. The mere glimpse of him, +the sound of his steps, the tone of his voice, shook her whole frame. +All earlier affectionate relationships had lost their power over her +heart.</p> + +<p>It not unfrequently happens that people, whether it arises from physical +or moral causes, become wonderfully unlike themselves. Irritability, +violence, indiscretion, and unkindness, suddenly reveal themselves in a +hitherto gentle and amiable character, and, as if by a magic stroke, a +beautiful form has been transformed into a witch. It requires a great +deal, under such circumstances, to keep friends warm and unchanged. A +great demand of goodness, a great demand of clearness of vision, is made +from any one when, under these circumstances, he is required to remain +true in the same love, to persevere in the same faith, to wait patiently +for the time when the magic shall lose its power, when the changed one +shall come back again; and yet he, all the time, be able only to present +himself by quiet prayers, mild looks, and affectionate care! Probably +otherwise he never might have come back again. I say <i>great purity of +vision</i>, because the true friend never loses sight of the heavenly image +of his friend; but sees it through every veil of casualty, even when it +is concealed from all, nay, even from the faulty one's self! He has +faith in it; he loves it; he lives for it, and says, "Wait! have +patience! it will go over, and then he (or she) comes back again!" And +whoever has such a friend, comes back indeed!</p> + +<p>So stood the quiet, affectionate Leonore on the side of her altered +sister.</p> + +<p>All this time Henrik was beneficial to his whole family, and appeared to +have regained all his former amiable animation, in order therewith to +eradicate every disturbing sensation from the bosom of home. He +accompanied his family, more than he had ever done before, into society, +and had always a watchful eye on his sister and the Major.</p> + +<p>Before long the Major declared himself, and asked for Eva's hand. Her +parents had prepared themselves for this event, and had decided on their +line of conduct. They intended not to make their child unhappy by a +decided negative to the wishes of her heart; but they had determined to +demand a year of trial both from her and her lover, during which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> time +they should have no intercourse with each other, should exchange no +letters, and should consider themselves as free from every mutual +obligation; and that then again after this interval of time, if they +two, the Major and Eva, still wished it, the question of their union +might again he brought forward. This middle path had been proposed by +Elise, who, through a progressively inward, and more perfect fulfilment +of duties, had acquired an ever-increasing power over her husband, and +thus induced him to accede to it, at the same time that she endeavoured +to infuse into him the hope which she herself cherished, namely, either +that Eva, during the time of probation, would discover the unworthiness +of the Major, and won over by the wishes and the tenderness of her +family, would conquer her love, or, on the other hand, that the Major, +ennobled by love and constant to her, would become worthy of her. It was +one of the most favourite and cherished axioms of the Judge, that every +man had the power of improving himself, and he willingly conceded that +for this end there existed no more powerful means than a virtuous love.</p> + +<p>The Judge now talked energetically yet tenderly with his daughter; +explained clearly to her the terms of this connexion, without concealing +from her how bitter to him had been, and still was, the thought of this +union, and appealed to her own sense and reason whether too much had +been required in this prescribed time of trial.</p> + +<p>Eva shed many tears; but deeply affected by the goodness of her parents, +consented to their wishes, and promised, though not without pain, to +fulfil them. The Judge wrote to the Major, who had made his declaration +by letter, a candid and noble, but by no means sugared, answer; wherein +he required from him, as a man of honour, that he should by no means +whatever induce Eva to swerve from the promises which she had made to +her parents, and by this means disturb her hitherto so happy connexion +with her own family. This letter, which the father allowed his daughter +to read, and which occasioned her fresh tears, whilst she in vain +endeavoured to persuade him to remove expressions which she considered +too severe, but which he, on the contrary, considered too mild, was +despatched the same day, and all was again quieter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + +<p>Probably Eva would strictly have adhered to the wishes of her parents, +which they endeavoured to make pleasant to her by much kindness, had not +a letter from the Major been conveyed to her on the next evening, which +quite excited and unhinged her again. He complained violently therein of +her father's unreasonableness, injustice, and tyranny; and spoke, in the +most passionate terms, of his love, of his unbounded sufferings, and of +his despair. The consequence of this letter was that Eva was ill—but +more so, however, in mind than body, and that she demanded to have an +interview with Assessor Munter.</p> + +<p>The friend and physician of the house came immediately to her.</p> + +<p>"Do you love me?" was Eva's first question when they were alone.</p> + +<p>"Do I love you, Eva?" answered he, and looked at her with an expression +of eye which must have moved any heart to tenderness that had been +otherwise occupied than hers was.</p> + +<p>"If you love me, if you desire that I should not be really ill," +continued Eva, speaking with quickness and great warmth, "you must +convey this letter to Major R——, and bring his answer back into my +hands. My father is set against him, everybody is set against him; +nobody knows him as well as I do! I am in a state of mind which will +drive me to despair, if you have not compassion on me! But you must be +my friend in secret.—You will not? If you love me you must take this +letter and——"</p> + +<p>"Desire all things from me, Eva," interrupted he, "but not this! and +precisely because you are so dear to me. This man in fact is not worthy +of you; he does not deserve——"</p> + +<p>"Not a word about him!" interrupted Eva, with warmth: "I know him better +than you all—<i>I</i> alone know him; but you all are his enemies, and +enemies to my happiness. Once again I pray you—pray you with tears! Is +it then so much that I desire from you? My benefactor, my friend, will +you not grant this prayer of your Eva?"</p> + +<p>"Let me speak with your father," said he.</p> + +<p>"On this subject? No, no! impossible!" exclaimed she.</p> + +<p>"Then, Eva, I must refuse your prayer. It gives me more pain than I can +express to refuse you anything in this world; but I will not stain my +hand in this affair. I will not be a means of your unhappiness. +Farewell!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Stop, stop," cried Eva, "and hear me! What is it that you fear for me?"</p> + +<p>"Everything from a man of R——'s character."</p> + +<p>"You mistake him, and you mistake me," returned she.</p> + +<p>"I know him, and I know you," said he, "and on that account I would +rather go into fire than convey letters between him and you. This is my +last word."</p> + +<p>"You will not!" exclaimed she; "then you love me not, and I have not a +friend in this world!"</p> + +<p>"Eva, Eva, do not say so! you sin against yourself. You know not—ask +everything from me—ask my life—ah, through you, life has already lost +its worth for me!—ask——"</p> + +<p>"Empty words!" interrupted Eva, and turned impatiently away. "I desire +nothing more from you, Assessor Munter! Pardon me that I have given you +so much trouble!"</p> + +<p>Munter looked at her for some moments in silence, laid his hand hastily +on his heart as if he had a violent pain there, and went out more bowed +than commonly.</p> + +<p>Not long after this, an unexpected ray of light gladdened the painful +condition of affairs between Eva and her family. She was calmer. The +Major removed from the city into the country, to pass the Christmas with +a relation of his there; and on the same day Eva came down into the +library at the customary hour of tea, after she had passed several days +in her own room. Every one received her with joy. Her father went +towards her with open arms, called her sweet names, placed her on the +sofa by her mother, and took her tea to her himself: a lover could not +have been more tender or more attentive to her. One might see that Eva +was not indifferent to these marks of affection, and that yet she did +not receive them altogether with joy. A burning red alternated with +paleness on her cheek, and at times it seemed that a tear, a repentant +tear, filled her eyes.</p> + +<p>From this time, however, the old state of feeling, and the old quiet, +returned in part to the bosom of the family. Nobody named the Major; and +as, when spring-time comes, the grass grows and the leaves burst forth, +although the heaven is yet dark, and many a northern blast yet lingers +in the air, so did affectionate feelings and joyful hours spring up +again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> in the family of the Franks, from the spontaneous vernal spirit +which reigned there.</p> + +<p>You might have seen the mother there, like the heart of the family, +taking part in all that went forward, making every one so cheerful and +comfortable, as she moved about here and there, so rich in grace and joy +and consolation! Wherever she came, there came with her a something +pleasant or animating, either in word or deed; and yet all this time she +was very far from being herself calm. Care for her daughter was +accompanied by anxiety on account of Henrik's prospects and happiness. +She understood, better than any one else, his feelings, his wishes, and +his thoughts; and on this account glances of friendly understanding were +often exchanged between them, and from this cause also was it that on +those days on which the post came in from Stockholm, she became paler +and paler the nearer post-time came—for it perhaps might bring with it +important news for Henrik.</p> + +<p>"My dear Elise," said the Judge, jesting affectionately, "to what +purpose is all this unquiet, this incomprehensible anxiety? I grant that +it would be a happiness to us all, and a piece of good luck, if Henrik +could obtain the solicited situation—but if he do not get it—well, +what then?—he can get another in a little while. He is yet a mere +youngster, and can very well wait for some years. And his poem—suppose +it should now and never more be regarded as a masterpiece, and should +not obtain the prize—now, in heaven's name! what does it matter? He +would perhaps, from the very circumstance of his having less fortune as +a poet, be only the more practical man, and I confess that would not +mortify me. And I shall wish both the poem and the appointment at the +place where pepper grows if you are to become pale and nervous on its +account! Promise me now next post-day to be reasonable, and not to look +like the waning moon, else I promise you that I shall be downright +angry, and will keep the whole post-bag to myself!"</p> + +<p>To his children the father spoke thus: "Have you really neither genius +nor spirit of invention enough to divert and occupy your mother on the +unfortunate post-day? Henrik, it depends upon you whether she be calm or +not; and if you do not convince her that, let your luck in the world be +whatever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> it may, you can bear it like a man, I must tell you that you +have not deserved all the tenderness which she has shown you!"</p> + +<p>Henrik coloured deeply, and the Judge continued: "And you, Gabriele! I +shall never call you my clever girl again, if you do not make a riddle +against the next post-day which shall so occupy your mother that she +shall forget all the rest!"</p> + +<p>The following post-day was an exceedingly merry one. Never before had +more interesting topics of conversation been brought forward by Henrik; +never before had the mother been so completely seduced into the +discussions of the young people. At the very moment when the post-hour +arrived she was deeply busied in solving a riddle, which Henrik and +Gabriele endeavoured to make only the more intricate by their fun and +jokes, whilst they were pretending to assist her in the discovery.</p> + +<p>The riddle ran as follows:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Raging war and tumult<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Am I never nigh;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And from rain and tempest<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To far woods I fly.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In cold, worldly bosoms<br /></span> +<span class="i2">My deep grave is made;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And from conflagration<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Death has me affrayed.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No one e'er can find me<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the dungeon glooms;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I have no abiding,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Save where freedom blooms.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My morning sun ariseth,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Light o'er mind to fling;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O'er love's throbbing bosom<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rests my downy wing!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like our Lord in heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I am ever there<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And like him of children<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Have I daily care.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What though I may sever<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From thee now and then,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I forget thee never——<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I come back again!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the morning's brightness,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dear one, if thou miss me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the sunset's crimson<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Come I back and kiss thee!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>This riddle, which it must be confessed was by no means<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> one of +Gabriele's best, gave rise to a fund of amusement, and occasioned the +maddest propositions on Henrik's part. The mother, however, did not +allow herself to be misled; but exclaimed, whilst she laughingly +endeavoured to overpower the voices of her joking children,</p> + +<p>"The riddle is——"</p> + +<p>What the riddle was, the reader may see by the title of our next +chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>HAPPINESS.</h3> + + +<p>"Happiness!" repeated the Judge, as he entered the room at the same +moment, with letters and newspapers in his hand.</p> + +<p>"I fancy you have been busying yourselves here with prophesyings," said +he: "Gabriele, my child, you shall have your reward for it—read this +aloud to your mother!" laying a newspaper before her.</p> + +<p>Gabriele began to read—but threw the paper hastily down, gave a spring +for joy, clapped her hands, and exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Henrik's poetry has won the highest prize!"</p> + +<p>"And here, Henrik," said the father, "are letters—you are nominated +to——" The voice of the Judge was drowned in the general outbreak of +joy. Henrik lay in the arms of his mother, surrounded by his sisters, +who, amid all their jubilation, had tearful eyes.</p> + +<p>The Judge walked up and down the room with long strides; at length he +paused before the happy group, and exclaimed,</p> + +<p>"Nay, only see! let me also have a little bit! Elise—my thanks to thee +that thou hast given him to me—and thou boy, come here—I must tell +thee——" but not one word could he tell him.</p> + +<p>The father, speechless from inward emotion, embraced his son, and +returned in the same manner the affectionate demonstrations of his +daughters.</p> + +<p>Many private letters from Stockholm contained flattering words and +joyful congratulations to the young poet. All Henrik's friends seemed to +accord in one song of triumph.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was almost too much happiness for one time.</p> + +<p>During the first moments of this news the joy was calm and mingled with +emotion; afterwards, however, it was lively, and shot forth like rockets +in a thousand directions. Every thing was in motion to celebrate the day +and its hero; and while the father of the family set about to mix a +bowl—for he would that the whole house should drink Henrik's +health—the others laid plans for a journey to Stockholm. The whole +family must be witnesses of Henrik's receiving the great gold +medal—they must be present on the day of his triumph. Eva recovered +almost her entire liveliness as she described a similar festival which +she had witnessed in the Swedish Academy.</p> + +<p>Henrik talked a deal about Stockholm; he longed to be able to show his +mother and sisters the beautiful capital. How they would be delighted +with the gallery of mineralogy—how they would be charmed with the +theatres! how they would see and hear the lovely Demoiselle Högquist and +the captivating Jenny Lind!<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>—and then the castle!—the +promenades—the prospects—the churches—the beautiful statues in the +public places—Henrik would have been almost ready to have overthrown +some of them. Oh, there was so much that was beautiful and delightful to +see in Stockholm!</p> + +<p>The mother smiled in joy over——the occasion of the journey to +Stockholm; the father said "yes" to that and every thing; the +countenances of the young people beamed forth happiness; the bowl was +fragrant with good luck.</p> + +<p>The young Baron L., who liked Henrik extremely, and who liked still more +every lively excitement to every uproar, was possessed by a regular +frenzy to celebrate the day. He waltzed with everybody; Louise might not +sit still; "the little lady" must allow herself to be twirled about; but +the truth was that in her joy she was about as wild for dancing as he +was himself—the very Judge himself must waltz with him; and at last he +waltzed with chairs and tables, whilst the fire of the punch was not +very much calculated to abate his vivacious spirits.</p> + +<p>It was very hard for the Judge that he was compelled on this very day to +leave home, but pressing business obliged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> him to do so. He must make a +journey that same evening, which would detain him from home for three or +four days, and although he left his family in the full bloom of their +joy and prosperity, the short separation appeared to him more painful +than common.</p> + +<p>After he had taken his leave he returned—a circumstance very unusual +with him—to the room again; embraced his wife yet a second time, +flourished about with his daughters in his wolf's-skin cloak as if out +of liveliness, and then went out hastily, giving to the young Baron, +who, in his wild joy, had fallen upon his wolf's-skin like a dog, a +tolerably heavy cuff. A few minutes afterwards, as he cast from his +sledge a glance and a hand-greeting to his wife and daughters at the +library window, they saw with astonishment that his eyes were full of +tears.</p> + +<p>But the joy of the present, and the promises of the future, filled the +hearts of those who remained behind to overflowing, and the evening +passed amid gaiety and pleasure.</p> + +<p>Baron L. drank punch with the domestics till both he and they were quite +wrong in the head, and all Louise's good moral preaching was like so +many water-drops on the fire. Henrik was nobly gay, and the beaming +expression of his animated, beautiful head, reminded the beholder of an +Apollo.</p> + +<p>"Where now are all your gloomy forebodings?" whispered Leonore, tenderly +joyful; "you look to me as if you could even embrace Stjernhök."</p> + +<p>"The whole world!" returned Henrik, clasping his sister to his breast, +"I am so happy!"</p> + +<p>And yet there was one person in the house who was happier than Henrik, +and that was his mother. When she looked on the beautiful, glorified +countenance of her son, and thought of that which he was and on what he +would become; when she thought on the laurels which would engarland his +beloved head, on the future which awaited her favourite, her summer +child—Oh! then bloomed the high summer of maternal joy in her breast, +and she revelled in a nameless happiness—a happiness so great that she +was almost anxious, because it appeared to her too great to be borne on +earth!</p> + +<p>And yet for all that—and we say it with grateful joy—the earth can +bear a great degree of happiness; can bear it for long without its +either bringing with it a curse or a disappointment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> It is in stillness +and in retirement where this good fortune blooms the best, and on that +account the world knows little of it, and has little faith in it. But, +thank God! it may be abundantly found in all times and in all countries; +and it is—we whisper this to the blessed ones in order that we may +rejoice with them—it is of extremely rare occurrence when it happens in +actual life, as, for the sake of effect, it happens in books, that a +strong current of happiness carries along with it unhappiness as in a +drag-rope.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Emilie Högquist and Jenny Lind are two great ornaments of +the Stockholm theatre; the first an actress, the second a singer.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>UNHAPPINESS.</h3> + + +<p>Night succeeded the joyful evening, and the members of the Frank family +lay deep in the arms of sleep, when suddenly, at the hour of midnight, +they were awoke by the fearful cry of "Fire! fire!"</p> + +<p>The house was on fire, and smoke and flames met them at every turn; for +the conflagration spread with incredible speed. An inconceivable +confusion succeeded: one sought for another; one called on another; +mother and children, inmates and domestics!</p> + +<p>Only half-dressed, and without having saved the least thing, the +inhabitants of the house assembled themselves in the market-place, where +an innumerable crowd of people streamed together, and began to work the +fire-engines; whilst church bells tolled violently, and the alarm-drums +were beaten wildly and dully up and down the streets. Henrik dragged +with him the young Baron L——, who was speechless, and much injured by +the fire.</p> + +<p>The mother cast a wild searching look around among her children, and +suddenly exclaiming "Gabriele!" threw herself with a thrilling cry of +anguish into the burning house. A circle of people hastily surrounded +the daughters, in order to prevent their following her, and at the same +moment two men broke forth from them, and hastened with the speed of +lightning after her. The one was her beautiful, now more than ever +beautiful, son. The other resembled one of the Cyclops, as art has +represented them at work in their subterranean smithies, excepting that +he had two eyes, which in this moment flashed forth flames, as if +bidding defiance to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> those with which he was about to combat. Both +vanished amid the conflagration.</p> + +<p>A moment's silence ensued: the alarm-drum ceased to beat; the people +scarcely breathed; the daughters wrung their hands silently, and the +fire-bell called anxiously to the ineffectual engine-showers, for the +flames rose higher and higher.</p> + +<p>All at once a shout was sent from the mass of the people; all hearts +beat joyfully, for the mother was borne in the arms of her son from amid +the flames, which stretched forth their hissing tongues towards +her!—and—now another shout of exultation! The modern Cyclop, in one +word the Assessor, stood in a window of the second story, and, amid the +whirlwind of smoke, was seen a white form, which he pressed to his +bosom. A ladder was quickly raised, and Jeremias Munter, blackened and +singed, but nevertheless happy, laid the fainting but unhurt Gabriele in +the arms of her mother and sisters.</p> + +<p>After this, he and Henrik returned to the burning house, from which they +were fortunate enough to save the desk containing the Judge's most +valuable papers. A few trifles, but of no great importance, were also +saved. But this was all. The house was of wood, and spite of every +effort to save it, was burned, burned, burned to the ground, but, as it +stood detached, without communicating the fire to any other.</p> + +<p>When Henrik, enfeebled with his exertions, returned to his family, he +found them all quartered in the small dwelling of the Assessor, which +also lay in the market-place; while Jeremias seemed suddenly to have +multiplied himself into ten persons, in order to provide his guests with +whatever they required. His old housekeeper, what with the fire, and +what with so many guests who were to be provided for in that +simply-supplied establishment, was almost crazed. But he had help at +hand for everybody: he prepared coffee, he made beds, and seemed +altogether to forget his own somewhat severe personal injuries by the +fire. He joked about himself and his affairs at the same time that he +wiped tears from his eyes, which he could not but shed over the +misfortunes of his friends. Affectionate and determined, he provided for +everything and for every one; whilst Louise and Leonore assisted him +with quiet resolution.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wilt thou be reasonable, coffee-pot, and not boil over like a +simpleton, since thou hast to provide coffee for ladies!" said the +Assessor in jesting anger. "Here, Miss Leonore, are drops for the mother +and Eva. Sister Louise, be so good as to take my whole storeroom in +hand; and you, young sir," said he to Henrik, as he seized him suddenly +by the arm, and gazed sharply into his face, "come you with me, for I +must take you rather particularly in hand."</p> + +<p>There was indeed not a moment to lose; a violent effusion of blood from +the chest, placed the young man's life in momentary danger. Munter tore +off his coat, and opened a vein at the very moment in which he lost all +consciousness.</p> + +<p>"What a silly fellow!" said the Assessor, as Henrik breathed again, "how +can anybody be so silly when he is such—a clever fellow! Nay, now all +danger for the time is over. Death has been playing his jokes with us +to-night! Now, like polite knights, let us be again in attendance on the +ladies. Wait, I must just have a little water for my face, that I need +not look, any more than is necessary, like 'the Knight of the Rueful +Countenance!'"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE CONSEQUENCES.</h3> + + +<p>The sun of the next morning shone brightly on the glistening +snow-covered roofs round the market-place, and dyed the smoke-clouds, +which rose slowly from the ruins of the burnt-down house, with the most +gorgeous tints of purple, gold, and sulphur-blue, whilst hundreds of +little sparrows raked and picked about in the ashy flakes which were +scattered over the snow in the market-place and churchyard, with +exulting twitterings.</p> + +<p>Mother and daughters looked with tearful eyes towards the smoking place +where had so lately stood their dearly beloved home; but yet no one gave +themselves up to sorrow. Eva alone wept much, but that from a cause of +grief concealed in her own heart. She knew that Major R. had passed the +night in the city, and yet for all that—she had not seen him!</p> + +<p>With the morning came much bustle, and a crowd of people into the +dwelling of the Assessor. Families came who offered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> to the roofless +household both shelter and entertainment; young girls came with their +clothes; servants came with theirs for the servants of the family; +elegant services and furniture were sent in; the baker left great +baskets full of bread; the brewer, beer; another sent wine, and so on. +It was a scene in social life of the most beautiful description, and +which showed how greatly esteemed and beloved the Franks were.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gunilla came so good and zealous, ready to contend with anybody who +would contend with her, to convey her old friends in her carriage to the +dwelling which she had prepared for them in all haste. The Assessor did +not strive with her now, but saw in silence his guests depart, and with +a tear in his eye looked after the carriage which conveyed Eva away from +his house. It seemed now so dark and desolate to him.</p> + +<p>On the evening of this same day the father returned into his family +circle, and pressed them all to his breast with tears of joy. Yes, with +tears of joy, for all were left to him!</p> + +<p>A few days after this, he wrote thus to one of his friends:</p> + +<p>"Till now, till after this unfortunate occurrence, I knew not how much I +possessed in my wife and children; knew not that I had so many good +friends and neighbours. I thank God, who has given me such a wife, such +children, and such friends! These last have supplied, nay, over-supplied +all the necessities of my family. I shall begin in spring to rebuild my +house on the old foundation.</p> + +<p>"How the fire was occasioned I know not, and do not trouble myself to +discover. The misfortune has happened, and may serve as a warning for +the future, and that is enough. My house has not become impoverished in +love, even though it may be so in worldly goods, and that sustains and +heals all. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be +the name of the Lord!"</p> + +<p>Probably the Judge would listen to no conjectures respecting the origin +of the fire. We will venture, however, not the less on that account to +give our conjectures;—thus, it is very probable that the fire had its +origin in the chamber of the young Baron L., and that also he, in his +scarcely half sober state, might have been the occasion of it. Probably +he himself regarded the affair in this light; but this however<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> is +certain, that this event, in connexion with the behaviour of the Franks +towards him, occasioned a great change in the temper and character of +this young man. His father came for him shortly after this, and took him +to consult a celebrated oculist in Copenhagen, in consequence of his +eyes having suffered severely in the fire.</p> + +<p>Our eyes will see him again, only at a much later period of our history.</p> + +<p>The daughters of the house busied themselves earnestly with the +already-spoken-of plans for discovering a means of independent +subsistence for themselves, that they might lighten the anxieties of +their parents in their present adverse circumstances, and that without +being burdensome to anybody else. Eva wished at first to accept an +invitation to a country-seat in the neighbourhood, not far from that +where Major R. was at present. Axelholm opened itself, heart, arms, +main-building and wings, for the members of the Frank family. There were +wanting no opportunities for colonisation; but the Judge besought his +children so earnestly to decline all these, and for the present to +remain altogether.</p> + +<p>"In a few months," said he, "perhaps in spring, you can do what you +like; but now—let us remain together. It is needful to me to have you +now all around me, in order to feel that I really possess you all. I +cannot bear the thoughts of losing any one of you at present."</p> + +<p>The thought of parting appeared likewise soon to weigh heavily upon him. +Henrik, since the night of the conflagration, had scarcely had a moment +free from suffering; a violent, incessant beating of the heart had +remained since then, and the pain of this was accompanied by dangerous +attacks of spasms, which, notwithstanding all remedies, appeared rather +to increase than otherwise. This disturbed the Judge so much the more, +as now, more than ever, he loved and valued his son. Since the night of +the fire it might be said that, for the first time, affection was warm +between father and son.</p> + +<p>The Mahomedan says beautifully, that when the angel of death approaches +man, the shadow of his wings falls upon him from a distance. From the +beginning of his illness Henrik's soul appeared to be darkened by +unfriendly shadows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> and the first serious outbreak of disease revealed +itself in depression and gloom. Oh! it was not easy for the young man, +richly gifted as he was with whatever could beautify life on earth, +standing as he did at the commencement of a path where fresh laurels and +the roses of love beckoned to him, it was not easy to turn his glance +from a future like this, to listen to the words which night and day his +beating heart whispered to him—"Thou wilt descend to thy grave! nor +will I cease knocking till the door of the tomb opens to thee!"</p> + +<p>But to a mind like Henrik's the step from darkness to light was not +wide. There was that something in his soul which enables man to say to +the Lord of life and death—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The dreaded judgment-doom in thine own hand is writ,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We kiss it; bow our heads, and silently submit.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Henrik had one day a long conversation with his skilful and anxious +physician Munter, who when he left him had tears in his eyes; but over +Henrik's countenance, on the contrary, when he returned to his family, +although he was paler than usual, was a peculiarly mild and solemn +repose, which seemed to diffuse itself through his whole being. From +this moment his temper of mind was changed. He was now mild and calm, +yet at the same time more joyous and amiable than ever. His eyes had an +indescribable clearness and beauty; the shadow had passed away from his +soul altogether.</p> + +<p>But deeper and deeper lay the shadow over one person, who from the +beginning of Henrik's illness was no longer like herself—and that was +Henrik's mother. It is true that she worked and spoke as formerly, but a +gnawing anguish lived in her; she appeared absent from the passing +business of life; and every occupation which had not reference, in some +way or other, to her son, was indifferent or painful to her. The +daughters kept carefully from her any thing which might be disturbing to +her. She devoted herself almost exclusively to her son; and many hours +full of rich enjoyment were spent by these two, who soon, perhaps—must +separate for so long!</p> + +<p>Every strong mental excitement was interdicted to Henrik; his very +illness would not admit of it. He must renounce his beloved studies: but +his living spirit, which could not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> sleep, refreshed itself at the +youthful fountains of art. He occupied himself much with the works of a +poet who, during his short life, had suffered much and sung much also, +and from amid whose crown of thorns the loveliest "Lilies of Sharon" had +blossomed. The works of Stagnelius<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> were his favourite reading. He +himself composed many songs, and his mother sang them to him during the +long winter evenings. According to his opinion, his mother sang better +than his sisters; and he rejoiced himself in the pure strength which +triumphantly exalted him in this poet above the anguish and fever of +life.</p> + +<p>It was observed that about this time he often turned the conversation, +in the presence of his mother, to the brighter side of death. It seemed +as if he wished to prepare her gradually for the possibly near +separation, and to deprive it beforehand of its bitterness. Elise had +formerly loved conversations of this kind; had loved whatever tended to +diffuse light over the darker scenes of life: but now she always grew +pale when the subject was introduced; uneasiness expressed itself in her +eyes, and she endeavoured, with a kind of terror, to put an end to it.</p> + +<p>One evening as the family, together with the Assessor, were assembled in +the confidential hour of twilight, they began to speak about dreams, and +about the nature of sleep. Henrik mentioned the ancient comparison of +sleep and death, which he said he considered less striking as regarded +its unconsciousness than in its resemblance in the awaking.</p> + +<p>"And in what do you especially consider this resemblance to consist?" +asked Leonore.</p> + +<p>"In the perfect retention and re-animation of consciousness, of memory, +of the whole condition of the soul," replied he, "which is experienced +in the morning after the dark night."</p> + +<p>"Good," said the Assessor, "and possible; but what can we <i>know</i> about +it?"</p> + +<p>"All that revelation has made known to us," replied Henrik, with an +animated look: "do we really need any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> stronger light on this subject +than that afforded us by one of our own race, who was dead, and yet rose +again from the grave, and who exhibited himself after his sleep in the +dark dwelling with precisely the same dispositions, the same +friendships, and with the most perfect remembrance of the least as well +as the greatest events of his earthly existence? What a clear, what a +friendly light has not this circumstance diffused around the dark gates +of the tomb! It has united the two worlds! it has thrown a bridge over +the gloomy deep; it enables the drooping wanderer to approach it without +horror; it enables him to say to his friends on the evening of life, +'Good night!' with the same calmness with which he can speak those words +to them on the evening of the day."</p> + +<p>An arm was thrown convulsively round Henrik, and the voice of his mother +whispered, in a tone of despair, to him, "You must not leave us, Henrik! +you must not!" and with these words she sunk unconscious on his breast.</p> + +<p>From this evening Henrik never again introduced in the presence of his +mother a subject which was so painful to her. He sought rather to calm +and cheer her, and his sisters helped him truly in the same work. They +now had less desire than ever to leave home and to mingle in society +generally; yet notwithstanding they did so occasionally, because their +brother wished it, and it enabled them to have something to tell at +home, which could entertain and enliven both him and his mother. These +reports were generally made in Henrik's room, and how heartily did they +not laugh there! Ah! in a cordially united family, care can hardly take +firm footing there: if it come in for one moment, in the very next it +will be chased away! Eva appeared during this time to forget her own +trouble, that she also might be a flower in the garland of comfort and +tenderness which was bound around the favourite of the family; the Judge +too, tore himself more frequently than hitherto from his occupations, +and united himself to the family circle.</p> + +<p>A more attractive sick chamber than Henrik's can hardly be imagined. +That he himself felt. Enfeebled by the influence of disease, his +beautiful eyes often became filled with tears from slight causes, and he +would exclaim "I am happy—too happy! What a blessedness to be able to +live! That is happiness! that is the summer of the soul! Even now,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> amid +my sufferings, I feel myself made through you so rich, so happy!" and +then he would stretch forth his hand to those of his mother or his +sisters, and press them to his lips or his bosom.</p> + +<p>An interval of amendment occurred in Henrik's illness, and he suffered +much less. A sentiment of joy diffused itself through the house, and +Henrik himself appeared at times to entertain hopes of life. He could +now go out again and inhale the fresh winter air—his favourite air. The +Judge often accompanied him; it was then beautiful to see the powerful +vigorous father supporting with his arm the pale but handsome son, +whenever his steps became weary; to see him curbing his own peculiarly +hasty movements, and conducting him slowly homewards; it was beautiful +to see the expression in the countenance of each.</p> + +<p>People talk a great deal about the beauty of maternal love—paternal +love has perhaps something yet more beautiful and affecting in it; and +it is my opinion that he who has had the happiness of experiencing the +careful culture of a loving, yet at the same time upright father, can, +with fuller feeling and with more inward understanding than any other, +lift his heart to heaven in that universal prayer of the human race, +"Our Father which art in heaven!"</p> + +<p>Several weeks passed on. A lady, an intimate friend of the family, was +about this time undertaking a journey with her daughter to the city +where Petrea was visiting, and desired greatly to take Gabriele with +her, who was the dearest friend of the young Amalie. Gabriele would very +gladly have embraced this opportunity of visiting her beloved sister, +and of seeing at the same time something of the world, but now when +Henrik was ill, she could not think of it; she was quite resolved not to +separate herself from him. But Henrik was zealously bent upon Gabriele +making this journey, which would be so extremely agreeable to her.</p> + +<p>"Don't you see," said he, "that Gabriele sits here and makes herself +pale with looking at me? and that is so utterly unnecessary, especially +now I am so much better, and when I certainly in a little time shall be +quite well again. Journey, journey away, sweet Gabriele, I beseech you! +You shall cheer us in the mean time with your letters; and when at +Easter you return with Petrea, then—then you will no longer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> have an +ailing suffering brother; I will manage it so that I will be quite well +by that time!"</p> + +<p>She was talked to also on other sides, especially by the young, lively +Amalie, and at length Gabriele permitted herself to be persuaded. +Convinced that for the present all danger for her brother was over, she +commenced the journey with a jest on her lips, but with tears in her +eyes.</p> + +<p>It was the first flight of "our little lady" from home.</p> + +<p>Not a word was heard from Major R.; and although Eva continued reserved +towards her own family, she appeared to be so much calmer than formerly +that they all began to be easy on her account. The Judge, who, in +consequence of her behaviour evinced towards her a grateful tenderness, +endeavoured to gratify her slightest wishes, and gave his consent that +in the early commencement of spring she should go to M——s. He hoped +that by that time the Major would be far removed from the country; but +it was not long before a painful discovery was made.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On a dark evening at the beginning of March, two persons stood in deep +but low discourse under a tree in St. Mary's churchyard.</p> + +<p>"How childish you are, Eva!" said the one, "with your fears and your +doubts! and how pusillanimous is your love. If you would learn, lovely +angel! how true love speaks, listen to me:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Pourquoi fit on l'amour, si son pouvoir n'affronte,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et la vie et la mort, et la haine et la honte!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Je ne demande, je ne veux pas savoir<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Si rien a de ton cœur terni le pur miroir:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Je t'aime! tu le sais! Que l'importe tout le reste?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Oh Victor," answered the trembling voice of Eva, "my fault is not the +having too little love for you. Ah, I feel indeed, and I evince it by my +conduct, that my love to you is greater than my love for father and +mother and sisters, more than for all the world! And yet I know that it +is wrong! my heart raises itself against me—but I cannot resist your +power."</p> + +<p>"On that account am I called Victor, my angel," said he; "heaven itself +has sanctioned my power. And <i>your</i> Victor am I also, my sweet Eva; is +it not so?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah! only too much so," sighed Eva. "But now, Victor, spare my weakness; +do not desire to see me again till I go in spring in a month's time to +M——s. Do not demand——"</p> + +<p>"Demand no such promises from Victor, Eva," said he; "he will not bind +himself so! but you—you must do what your Victor wills, else he cannot +believe that you love him. What—you will refuse to take a few steps in +order to gladden his eyes and his heart—in order to see and to hear +him—in truth you do not love him!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, I love you, I adore you," returned Eva; "I could endure anything on +your account—even the pangs of my own conscience; but my parents, my +brother and sisters! ah, you know not what it costs me to deceive them! +they are so good, so excellent; and I! Yet sometimes the love which I +have for them contends with the love which I have for you. Do not string +the bow too tightly, Victor! And now—farewell, beloved, farewell! In a +month's time you will see me, your Eva, again, in M——s."</p> + +<p>"Stop!" said he, "do you think you are to leave me in that way? Where is +my ring?"</p> + +<p>"On my heart," returned she, "day and night it rests there—farewell! +ah, let me go!"</p> + +<p>"Say once more that you love me above every thing in this world!" said +he, "that you belong only to me!"</p> + +<p>"Only to you! farewell!" and with these words Eva tore herself away from +him, and hastened with flying feet, like one terrified, across the +churchyard. The Major followed her slowly. A dark form stepped at that +moment hastily forward, as if it had arisen from one of the graves, and +met the Major face to face. It seemed to him as if a cold wind passed +through his heart, for the form tall and silent, and at that dark hour, +and in the churchyard, had something in it ominous and spectre-like, and +as it had evidently advanced to him with design, he paused suddenly, and +asked, sharply, "Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Eva's father!" replied a suppressed but powerful voice, and by the +up-flaring light of a lamp which the wind drove towards them, the Major +saw the eyes of the Judge riveted upon him with a wrathful and +threatening expression. His heart sank for a moment; but in the next he +said, with all his accustomed haughty levity:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now there is no necessity for me to watch longer after her;" and so +saying he turned hastily aside, and vanished in the darkness.</p> + +<p>The Judge followed his daughter without nearing her. When he came home, +such a deep and painful grief lay on his brow as had never been observed +there before.</p> + +<p>For the first time in his life the powerful head of the Judge seemed +actually bowed.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>At this time Stjernhök came to the city quite unexpectedly. He had heard +of the misfortune which had befallen the Franks, as well as of the part +which Henrik acted on this occasion, and of the illness which was the +consequence of it, and he came now in order to see him before he +travelled abroad. This visit, which had occasioned Stjernhök to diverge +as much as sixty English miles out of his way, surprised and deeply +affected Henrik, who as he entered the room met him with the most candid +expression of cordial devotion. Stjernhök seized his outstretched hand, +and a sudden paleness overspread his manly countenance as he remarked +the change which a few weeks' illness had made in Henrik's appearance.</p> + +<p>"It is very kind of you to come to me—my thanks for it, Stjernhök!" +said Henrik from his heart; "otherwise," continued he, "you would +probably have seen me no more in this world; and I have wished so much +to say one word to you before we separated thus."</p> + +<p>Both were silent for some minutes.</p> + +<p>"What would you say to me, Henrik?" at length asked Stjernhök, whilst an +extraordinary emotion was depicted in his countenance.</p> + +<p>"I would thank you," returned Henrik, cordially, "thank you for your +severity towards me, and tell you how sincerely I now acknowledge it to +have been just, and wholesome for me also. I would thank you, because by +that means you have been a more real friend, and I am now perfectly +convinced how honestly and well you have acted towards me. This +impression, this remembrance of our acquaintance, is the only one which +I will take away with me when I leave this world. You have not been able +to love me, but that was my own fault. I have sorrowed over the +knowledge of that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> but now I have submitted to it. In the mean time it +would be very pleasant to me to know that my faults—that my late +behaviour towards you, had not left behind it too repulsive an +impression; it would be very pleasant for me to believe that you were +able to think kindly of me when I am no more!"</p> + +<p>A deep crimson flamed on Stjernhök's countenance, and his eyes glistened +as he replied, "Henrik, I feel more than ever in this moment that I have +not shown justice towards you. Several later circumstances have opened +my eyes, and now—Henrik, can you give me your friendship! mine you have +for ever!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, this is a happy moment!" said Henrik, with increasing emotion; +"through my whole life I have longed for it, and now for the first time +it is given me—now when—but God be praised even for this!"</p> + +<p>"But why," said Stjernhök, warmly, "why speak so positively about your +death? I will hope and believe that your condition is not so dangerous. +Let me consult a celebrated foreign physician on your case—or better +still, make the journey with me, and put yourself under the care of Dr. +K——. He is celebrated for his treatment of diseases of the heart; let +me conduct you to him; certainly you can and will recover!"</p> + +<p>Henrik shook his head mournfully. "There lies his work," said he, +pointing to an open book in the window, "and from it I know all +concerning my own condition. Do you see, Nils Gabriel," continued he, +with a beautiful smile, as he placed his arm on the shoulder of his +friend, and pointed with his other towards heaven, gazing on him the +while with eyes which seemed larger than ever—for towards death the +eyes increase in size and brilliancy—"do you see," said he, "there +wanders your star. It ascends! for certain a bright path lies before +you; but when it beams upon your renown it will look down upon my grave! +I have no doubt whatever on this point. Some time ago this thought was +bitter to me; it is so now no more! When the knowledge depresses me that +I have accomplished so very little on earth, I will endeavour to console +myself with the conviction that you will be able to do so much more, and +that either in this world or the next I shall rejoice over your +usefulness and your happiness!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span></p> + +<p>Stjernhök answered not a word; large tears rolled down his cheeks, and +he pressed Henrik warmly to his breast.</p> + +<p>On Henrik's account he endeavoured to give the conversation a calmer +turn, but the heart of his poor friend swelled high, and it was now too +full of life and feeling to find rest in anything but the communication +of these.</p> + +<p>The connexion between the two young men seemed now different to what it +had ever been before. It was Henrik who now led the conversation, and +Stjernhök who followed him, and listened to him with attention and the +most unequivocal sympathy, whilst the young man gave such free scope to +his thoughts and presentiments as he had never ventured to do before in +the presence of the severe critic. But the truth is, there belongs to a +dweller on the borders of the kingdom of death a peculiar rank, a +peculiar dignity, and man believes that the whispering of spirits from +the mysterious land reaches the ear which bows itself to them; on this +account the wise and the strong of earth listen silently like disciples, +and piously like little children, to the precepts which are breathed +forth from dying lips.</p> + +<p>The entrance of the Judge gave another turn to the conversation, which +Stjernhök soon led to Henrik's last works. He directed his discourse +principally to the Judge, and spoke of them with all the ability of a +real connoisseur, and with such entire and cordial praise as surprised +Henrik as much as it cheered him.</p> + +<p>It is a very great pleasure to hear oneself praised, and well praised +too, by a person whom one highly esteems, and particularly when, at the +same time, this person is commonly niggardly of his praise. Henrik +experienced at that moment this feeling in its highest degree; and this +pleasure was accompanied by the yet greater pleasure of seeing himself +understood, and in such a manner by Stjernhök as made himself more clear +to himself. In this moment he seemed, now for the first time, to +comprehend in a perfectly intelligible manner his own talents, and what +he wished to do, and what he was able to do. The fountain of life +swelled forth strongly in his breast.</p> + +<p>"You make me well again, Nils Gabriel!" exclaimed he; "you give me new +life. I will recover; recover in order again to live, in order to work +better and more confidently than I have hitherto done. As yet I have +done nothing; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> now, now I could—I feel new life in me—I have never +yet felt myself so well as now! Certainly I shall now recover, or +indeed—is the best wine reserved for me till the last?"</p> + +<p>The evening sped on agreeably, and with animation in the family circle. +The blessed angels of heaven were not more beautiful or more joyous than +Henrik. He joked with his mother and sisters, nay, even with Stjernhök, +in the gayest manner, and was one of the liveliest who partook of the +citron-soufflé which Louise served up for supper, and which she herself +had helped to prepare, and of which she was not a little proud. Yes, +indeed, she was almost ready to believe that it was this which had given +new life to Henrik, and the power of which she considered to be +wonderfully operative. But ah!——</p> + +<p>At the very moment when Henrik jested with Louise on this very subject, +he was seized by the most violent suffering.</p> + +<p>This suffering continued interruptedly for three days, and deprived the +sick young man of consciousness; whilst it seemed to be leading him +quickly to that bound which mercy has set to human sufferings. On the +second day after this paroxysm Henrik was seized with that desire for +change of resting-place which may be commonly regarded as the sign that +the soul is preparing for its great change of abode. The Judge himself +bore his son in his arms from room to room, and from bed to bed. No +sleep visited the eyes of his family during these terrible days; whilst +his mother, with eyes tearless and full of anguish riveted upon her son, +followed him from room to room, and from bed to bed; now hanging over +his pillow, now seated at the foot of his bed, and smiling tenderly upon +him when he appeared to know her, and articulating his name in a low and +almost inaudible voice.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the third day the poor youth regained his +consciousness. He recognised his family again, and spoke kindly to them. +He saw that they were pale and weary, and besought them incessantly to +go to rest. The Assessor, who was present, united earnestly in this +request, and assured them that, according to all appearances, Henrik +would now enjoy an easy sleep, and that he himself would watch by him +through the night. The father and daughters retired to rest; but when +they endeavoured to persuade the mother, she only waved with her hand, +whilst a mournful smile seemed to say, "It is of no use whatever to talk +to me about it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I may remain with you, Henrik?" said she, beseechingly.</p> + +<p>He smiled, took her hand, and laid it on his breast; and in the same +moment closing his eyes, a calm refreshing sleep stole over him. The +Assessor sate silently beside them, and observed them both: it was not +long, however, before he was obliged to leave them, being summoned +suddenly to some one who was dangerously ill. He left them with the +promise to return in the course of the night. Munter was called in the +city the night-physician, because there was no one like him who appeared +earnestly willing to give his help by night as by day.</p> + +<p>The mother breathed deeply when she saw herself alone with her son. She +folded her hands, and raised her eyes to heaven with an expression which +through the whole of the foregoing days had been foreign to them. It was +no longer restless, almost murmuring anxiety; it was a mournful, yet at +the same time, deep, perfect, nay, almost loving resignation. She bent +over her son, and spoke in a low voice out of the depths of her +affectionate heart.</p> + +<p>"Go, my sweet boy, go! I will no longer hold thee back, since it is +painful to thee! May the deliverer come! Thy mother will no longer +contend with him to retain thee! May he come as a friendly angel and +make an end of thy sufferings! I—will then be satisfied! Go then, my +first-born, my summer-child; go, and if there may never more come a +summer to the heart of thy mother—still go! that thou mayst have rest! +Did I make thy cradle sweet, my child! so would I not embitter by my +lamentations thy death-bed! Blessed be thou! Blessed be He also who gave +thee to me, and who now takes thee from me to a better home! Some time, +my son, I shall come home to thee; go thou beforehand, my child! Thou +art weary, so weary! Thy last wandering was heavy to thee; now thou wilt +rest. Come thou good deliverer, come thou beloved death, and give rest +to his heart; but easily, easily. Let him not suffer more—let him not +endure more. Never did he give care to his parents——"</p> + +<p>At this moment Henrik opened his eyes, and fixed them calmly and full of +expression on his mother.</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" said he, "I feel no more pain."</p> + +<p>"Thanks and praise be given to God, my child!" said she.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mother and son looked on each other with deep and cheerful love! they +understood each other perfectly.</p> + +<p>"When I am no more," said he, with a faint and broken voice, "then—tell +it to Gabriele, prudently; she has such tender feelings—and she is not +strong. Do not tell it to her on a day—when it is cold and +dull—but—on a day—when the sun shines warm—when all things look +bright and kindly—then, then tell her—that I am gone away—and greet +her—and tell her from me—that it is not difficult—to die!—that there +is a sun on the other side——"</p> + +<p>He ceased, but with a loving smile on his lips, and his eyes closed +their lids as if from very weariness.</p> + +<p>Presently afterwards he spoke again, but in a very low voice. "Sing me +something, mother," said he, "I shall then sleep more calmly, 'They +knock! I come!'"</p> + +<p>These words were the beginning of a song which Henrik had himself +written, and set to music some time before, during a night of suffering.</p> + +<p>The genius of poetry seemed to have deserted him during the latter part +of his illness; this was painful to him; but his mind remained the same, +and the spirit of poetry lived still in the hymn which his mother now, +at his request, sang in a trembling voice:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">They knock! I come! yet ere on the way<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the night of the grave I am pressing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou Angel of Death, give me yet one lay—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One hymn of thanksgiving and blessing.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Have thanks, O Father! in heaven high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thy gift, all gifts exceeding;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For life! and that grieved or glad I could fly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To thee, nor find thee unheeding.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh thanks for life, and thanks too for death,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The bound of all trouble and sighing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How bitter! yet sweet 't is to yield our breath<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When thine is the heart of the dying!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By our path of trial thou plantest still<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy lilies of consolation;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But the loveliest of all—to do thy will—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be it done in resignation!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Farewell, lovely earth, on whose bosom I lay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Farewell, all ye dear ones, mourning;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Farewell, and forgive all the faults of my day:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My heart now in death is burning!<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>"It is burning!" repeated Henrik in a voice of suffering. "It is +terrible! Mother! Mother!" said he, looking for her with a restless +glance.</p> + +<p>"Your mother is here!" said she, bending over him.</p> + +<p>"Ah! then all is right!" said he again, calmly. "Sing, my mother," added +he, again closing his eyes—"I am weary."</p> + +<p>She sang—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We part! but in parting our steps we bend<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Alone towards that glorious morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where friend no more shall part from friend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where none knoweth heart-ache or sorrow!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Farewell! all is dark to my failing sight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Your loved forms from my faint gaze rending,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'T is dark, but oh!—far beyond the night<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I see light o'er the darkness ascending!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Oh! if you only knew how serene it is! It is divine!" said the dying +one, as he stretched forth his arms, and then dropped them again.</p> + +<p>A change passed over the countenance of the young man; death had touched +his heart gently, and its pulsations ceased. At the same moment a +wonderful inspiration animated the mother; her eyes beamed brightly, and +never before had her voice had so beautiful, so clear a tone as whilst +she sang</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou callest, O Father! with glad accord<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I come!—Ye dear ones we sever!—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now the pang is past!—now behold I the Lord—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Praise be thine, O Eternal, for ever!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Judge Frank was awoke out of his uneasy sleep by the song, whose tone +seemed to have a something supernatural in it. A few moments passed +before he could convince himself that the voice which he heard was +really that of his wife.</p> + +<p>He hastened with indescribable anxiety to the sick room; Elise yet sang +the last verse as he entered, and casting his eyes on her countenance, +he exclaimed "My God!" and clasped his hands together.</p> + +<p>The song ceased: a dreadful consciousness thrust itself like a sword +through the heart of the mother. She saw before her the corpse of her +son, and with a faint cry of horror she sank, as if lifeless, upon the +bed of death.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Eric Stagnelius, who was born in 1793, and died in 1823, +would have been, it is probable, had a longer life been granted to him, +one of the most distinguished poets of the age. His poems, epic, +dramatic, and lyric, fill three volumes. "Liljor i Saron"—Lilies of +Sharon, is the general title of his lyrics.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>ELISE TO CECILIA.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><i>Two months later.</i><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"When I last wrote to you, my Cecilia, it was winter. Winter, severe icy +winter, had also gathered itself about my heart—my life's joy was +wrapped in his winding-sheet, and it seemed to me as if no more spring +could bloom, no more life could exist; and that I should never again +have the heart to write a cheerful or hopeful word. And now—now it is +spring! The lark sings again the ascension-song of the earth; the May +sun diffuses his warming beams through my chamber, and the grass becomes +already green upon the grave of my first-born, my favourite! And I——Oh +Lord! thou who smitest, thou also healest, and I will praise thee! for +every affliction which thou sendest becomes good if it be only received +with patience. And if thou concealest thyself for a season—as it +appears to our weak vision—thou revealest thyself yet soon again, +kinder and more glorious than before! For a little while and we see thee +not, and again for a little while and we see thee, and our hearts +rejoice and drink strength and enjoyment out of the cup which thou, +Almighty One! fillest eternally. Yes, every thing in life becomes good, +if that life be only spent in God!</p> + +<p>"But in those dark wintry hours it was often gloomy and tumultuous +within me. Ah, Cecilia, I would not that he should die! He was my only +son, my first-born child. I suffered most at his birth; I sang most +beside his cradle; my heart leapt up first and highest with maternal joy +at his childish play. He was my summer child, born in the midsummer of +nature and of my life and my strength, and then—he was so full of life, +so beautiful and good! No, I would not that he should die, or that my +beautiful son should be laid in the black earth! And as the time drew +nearer and nearer, and I saw that it must be—then it was dark in me. +But the last night—Oh, it was a most wonderful night!—then it was +otherwise. Do you know, Cecilia, that I sung gaily, triumphantly, by the +death-bed of my first-born! Now I cannot comprehend it. But this +night—he had during the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> foregoing day suffered much, and his +sufferings had reconciled me to his death. They abated as death +approached, and he besought of me, as he had often done in the years of +his childhood, to sing him to sleep. I sang—I was able to sing. He +received pleasure from the song, which increased in power, and with a +heavenly smile, whilst heavenly pictures seemed to float before his +eyes, he said, 'Ah, it is divine!' and I sang better and ever clearer. I +saw his eyes change themselves, his breath become suspended, and I knew +that then was the moment of separation between soul and body—between me +and him! but I did not then feel it, and I sang on. It seemed to me as +if the song sustained the spirit and raised it to heaven. In that moment +I was happy; for even I, as well as he, was exalted above every earthly +pain.</p> + +<p>"The exclamation of my name awoke me from my blessed dream, and I saw +the dead body of my son—after this I saw nothing more.</p> + +<p>"There was a long, deep stupor. When I recovered consciousness, I felt a +heart beating against my temples. I raised my eyes and saw my husband; +my head was resting on his breast, and with the tenderest words he was +calling me back to life. My daughters stood around me weeping, and +kissing my hands and my clothes. I also wept, and then I felt better. It +was then morning, and the dawn came into my chamber. I threw my arms +around my husband's neck, and said, 'Ernst, love me! I will +endeavour——'</p> + +<p>"I could say no more, but he understood me, thanked me warmly, and +pressed me close to his bosom.</p> + +<p>"I did endeavour to be calm, and with God's help I succeeded. For +several hours of the day I lay still on my bed. Eva, whose voice is +remarkably sweet, read aloud to me. I arose for tea, and endeavoured to +be as usual; my husband and my daughters supported me, and all was peace +and love.</p> + +<p>"But when the day was ended, and Ernst and I were alone in our chamber, +a fear of the night, of bed, and a sleepless pillow, seized hold of me; +I, therefore, seated myself on the sofa, and prayed Ernst to read to me, +for I longed for the consolations of the Gospel. He seated himself by me +and read; but the words, although spoken by his manly, firm voice, +passed at this time impressionless over my inward sense. I understood +nothing, and all within me was dark and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> vacant. All at once some one +knocked softly at the door, and Ernst, not a little astonished, said, +'Come in;' the door was opened, and Eva entered. She was very pale, and +appeared excited; but yet at the same time firm and determined. She +approached us softly, and sinking down on her knees between us, took our +hands between hers. I would have raised her, but Ernst held me back, and +said, mildly but gravely, 'Let her alone!'</p> + +<p>"'My father, my mother!' said Eva, with tremulous voice, 'I have given +you uneasiness—pardon me! I have grieved you—I will not do it again. +Ah! I will not now lay a stone on your burden. See, how disobedient I +have been—this ring, and these letters, I have received against your +will and against my promises from Major R. I will now send them back. +See here! read what I have written to him. Our acquaintance is for ever +broken! Pardon me, that I have chosen these hours to busy you with my +affairs, but I feared my own weakness when the force of this hour shall +have passed. Oh, my parents! I feel, I know, that he is not worthy to be +your son! But I have been as it were bewitched—I have loved him beyond +measure;—ah, I love him still—nay, do not weep, mother! You shall +never again shed a tear of grief over me—you have wept already enough +on my account. Since Henrik's death every thing in me is changed. Fear +nothing more for me; I will conquer this, and will become your obedient, +your happy child. Only require not from me that I should give my hand to +another—never will I marry, never belong to another! But for you, my +parents, will I live; I will love you, and with you be happy! Here, my +father, take this, and send it back to him whom I will no more see! +And—Oh, love me! Love me!'</p> + +<p>"Tears bedewed the face which she bowed down to her father's knee. Never +had she looked so lovely, so attractive! Ernst was greatly affected; he +laid his hand as if in blessing upon her head, which he raised, and +said:</p> + +<p>"'When you were born, Eva, you lay long as if dead; in my arms you first +opened your eyes to the light, and I thanked God. But I thank him +manifold more for you in this moment, in which I see in you the joy and +blessing of our age—in which you have been able to combat with your own +heart, and to do that which is right! God bless you! God reward you!'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He held her for a long time to his bosom, and his tears wetted her +forehead. I also clasped her in my arms, and let her feel my love and my +gratitude, and then, with a look which beamed through tears, she left +us.</p> + +<p>"We called her 'our blessed child' at that time, for she had blessed us +with a great consolation. She had raised again our sunken hearts.</p> + +<p>"Ernst went to the window and looked silently into the star-lighted +night; I followed him, and my glance accompanied his, which in this +moment was so beautiful and bright, and laying his arm around me he +spoke thus, as if to himself:</p> + +<p>"'It is good! It is so intended—and that is the essential thing! He is +gone! What more? We must all go; all, sooner or later. He might not +perfect his work; but he stood ready, ready in will and ability when he +was called to the higher work-place! Lord and Master, thou hast taken +the disciple to thyself. Well for him that he was ready! That is the +most important for us all!'</p> + +<p>"Ernst's words and state of mind produced great effect upon me. Peace +returned to my spirit. In the stillness of the night I did not sleep, +but I rested on his bosom. It was calm around me and in me. And in the +secret of my soul I wished that it might ever remain so, that no more +day might dawn upon me, and no more sun shine upon my weary, painful +eyes.</p> + +<p>"How the days creep on! On occasions of great grief it always appears as +if time stood still. All things appear to stand still, or slowly and +painfully to roll on, in dark circles; but it is not so! Hours and days +go on in an interminable chain; they rise and sink like the waves of the +sea; and carry along with them the vessel of our life: carry it from the +islands of joy it is true, but carry it also away from the rocky shores +of grief. Hours came for me in which no consolation would appease my +heart, in which I in vain combated with myself, and said—'Now I will +read, and then pray, and then sleep!' But yet anguish would not leave +me, but followed me still, when I read; prevented me from prayer, and +chased away sleep; yes, many such hours have been, but they too are +gone; some such may perhaps come yet, but I know also that they too will +go. The tenderness<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> of my husband and of my children—the peace of +home—the many pleasures within it—the relief of tears—the eternal +consolation of the Eternal Word—all these have refreshed and +strengthened my soul. It is now much, much better. And then—he died +pure and spotless, the youth with the clear glance and the warm heart! +He stood, as his father said, ready to go into the higher world. Oh! +more than ever have I acknowledged, in the midst of my deep pain, that +there is pain more bitter than this; for many a living son is a greater +grief to his mother than mine—the good one there, under the green +mound!</p> + +<p>"We have planted fir-trees and poplars around the grave, and often will +it be decorated with fresh flowers. No dark grief abides by the grave of +the friendly youth.—Henrik's sisters mourn for him deep and +still—perhaps Gabriele mourns him most of all. One sees it not by day, +for she is generally gay as formerly; a little song, a gay jest, a +little adornment of the house, all goes on just as before to enliven the +spirits of her parents. But in the night, when all rest in their beds, +she is heard weeping, often so painfully—it is a dew of love on the +grave of her brother; but then every morning is the eye again bright and +smiling.</p> + +<p>"On the first tidings of our loss Jacobi hastened to us. He took from +Ernst and me, in this time of heavy grief, all care upon himself, and +was to us as the tenderest of sons. Alas! he was obliged very soon to +leave us, but the occasion for this was the most joyful. He is about to +be nominated to the living of T——; and his promotion, which puts him +in the condition soon to marry, affords him also a respectable income, +and a sphere of action agreeable to his wishes and accordant with his +abilities, and altogether makes him unspeakably happy. Louise also looks +forward towards this union and establishment for life with quiet +satisfaction, and that, I believe, as much on account of her family as +for herself.</p> + +<p>"The family affection appears, through the late misfortune, to have +received a new accession: my daughters are more amiable than ever in +their quiet care to sweeten the lives of their parents. Mrs. Gunilla has +been like a mother to me and mine during this time; and many dear +evidences of sympathy, from several of the best and noblest in Sweden, +have been given to Henrik's parents;—the young poet's pure glory has +brightened their house of mourning. 'It is beautiful to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> have died as he +has died,' says our good Assessor, who does not very readily find any +thing beautiful in this world.</p> + +<p>"And I, Cecilia, should I shut my heart against so many occasions for +joy and gratitude, and sit with my sorrow in darkness? Oh no! I will +gladden the human circle in which I live; I will open my heart to the +gospel of life and of nature; I will seize hold on the moments, and the +good which they bring. No friendly glance, no spring-breeze, shall pass +over me unenjoyed or unacknowledged; out of every flower will I suck a +drop of honey, and out of every passing hour a drop of eternal life.</p> + +<p>"And then—I know it truly—be my life's day longer or shorter, bear it +a joyful or a gloomy colour,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The day will never endure so long<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But at length the evening cometh.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The evening in which I may go home—home to my son, my summer-child! And +then—Oh then shall I perhaps acknowledge the truth of that prophetic +word which has so often animated my soul: 'For behold I create new +heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered nor come +into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create.'</p> + +<p>"I have wept much whilst I have written this, but my heart has peace. It +is now late. I will creep in to my Ernst, and I feel that I shall sleep +calmly by his side.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, my Cecilia."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>NEW ADVERSITIES.</h3> + + +<p>It was afternoon. The sisters were busily quilting Louise's bridal +bed-cover; because at the end of May, as was determined in the family +council, that she was to be married. The coverlet was of green silk, and +a broad wreath of leafy oak branches formed its border. This pattern had +occasioned a great deal of care and deliberation; but now, also, what +joy did it not give rise to, and what ever-enduring admiration of the +tasteful, the distinguished, the indescribably good effect which it +produced, especially when seen from one side! Gabriele, to be sure, +would have made sundry little objections<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> relative to the connexion of +the leaves, but Louise would not allow that there was any weight in +them: "The border," said she, "is altogether charming!"</p> + +<p>Gabriele had placed a full-blown monthly rose in the light locks of the +bride, and had arranged with peculiar grace, around the plaited hair at +the back of her head, the green rose-leaves like a garland. The effect +was lovely, as at this time the sun-light fell upon her head, and her +countenance had more than ordinary charm; the cheeks a high colour; the +eyes a clearer blue, as they were often raised from the green +rose-wreath and directed towards the window. Jacobi, the new pastor, was +expected that evening.</p> + +<p>Gabriele went up to her mother, and besought her to notice how well +Louise looked, and the rose, how becoming it was to her! The mother +kissed her, but forgot to notice Louise in looking at the lovely face of +"the little lady."</p> + +<p>The industrious up-and-down picking of the needles accompanied the +joyful conversation of the sisters.</p> + +<p>Now they talked about the management of the living; now about the +school; now about milk, and now about cheese. They settled about +household matters; about mealtimes; the arrangement of the table, and +such like. In many things Louise intended to follow the example of home; +in others, she should do differently. "People must advance with the +age." She intended that there should be great hospitality in the +parsonage-house—that was Jacobi's pleasure. Some one of her own family +she hoped to have always with her;—an especial wing should be built for +beloved guests. She would go every Sunday to church, to hear her husband +preach or sing the service. If the old wives came to the parsonage with +eggs, or other little presents, they should always be well entertained, +and encouraged to come again. All sick people should be regaled with +Louise's elixir, and all misdoers should be more or less reproved by +her. She would encourage all, to the very best of her power, to read, to +be industrious, to go to church, and to plant trees. Every Sunday +several worthy peasants should be invited with their wives to dine at +the parsonage. If the ladies of the Captain and the Steward came to +visit her, the coffee-pot should be immediately set on, and the +card-table prepared. Every young peasant girl should live in service a +whole year at the parsonage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> before she was married, in order to learn +how to work, and how to behave herself.—N. B. This would be wages +enough for her. At all marriages the Pastor and his wife would always be +present, the same at christenings; they would extend their hand in +sponsorship over the youth, that all might grow up in good-breeding and +the fear of God. At Midsummer and in harvest-time there should be a +dance, and great merry-making at the parsonage for the people—but +without brandy;—for the rest, nothing should be wanting:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">None she forgets, the mistress of the feast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The beer flows free, the bunch of keys it jingles,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, without pause, goes on the stormy dance!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Work should be found for all beggars at the parsonage, and then food; +for lazy vagabonds a passing lecture, and then—march! And thus, by +degrees, would preparation be made for the Golden Age.</p> + +<p>Ah! Ruin to the golden plans and to the golden age which they planned! +Two letters which were delivered to Louise put a sudden end to them all! +One of the letters was from Jacobi, was very short, and said only that +the parsonage was quite gone from him; but that Louise would not blame +him on that account, as soon as she understood the whole affair.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I long for you inexpressibly," continued Jacobi, "but I must +postpone my arrival in X. in order to pay my respects to his +Excellency O——, who is detained in P. from an attack of gout, +which seized him on his journey from Copenhagen to Stockholm. But +by the 6th of May I hope certainly to be with you. I have new +plans, and I long to lay down all my feelings and all my thoughts +on your true breast. My Louise! I will no longer wait and seek. +Since fortune perpetually runs out of my way, I will now take a +leap and catch it, and in so doing trust in heaven, in you, and +lastly also—in myself. But you must give me your hand. If you +will do that, beloved, I shall soon be much happier than now, and +eternally, "Your tenderly devoted,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">J. Jacobi</span>."</p></div> + +<p>The other letter was from an unknown hand—evidently a woman's hand, and +was as follows:</p> + +<p>"Do not hate me, although I have stood in the way of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> your happiness. Do +not hate me—for I bless you and the noble man with whom you have united +your fate. He is my benefactor, and the benefactor of my husband and my +children. Oh, these children whose future he has made sure, they will +now call on heaven to give a double measure of happiness to him and you +for that which he has so nobly renounced. The object of my writing is to +obtain your forgiveness, and to pour forth the feelings of a grateful +heart to those who can best reward my benefactor. Will you be pleased on +this account to listen to the short, but uninteresting relation of a +condition, which, at the same time, is as common as it is mournful?</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Mr. Jacobi may at some time or other have mentioned my husband +to you. He was for several years Jacobi's teacher, and each was much +attached to the other. My husband held the office of schoolmaster in W., +with honour, for twenty years. His small income, misfortunes which befel +us, a quick succession of children, made our condition more oppressive +from year to year, and increased the debt which from the very time when +we settled down first we were obliged to incur. My husband sought after +a pastoral cure, but he could have recourse to none of those arts which +are now so almost universally helpful, and which often conduct the +hunter after fortune, and the mean-spirited, rather than the deserving, +to the gaol of their wishes; he was too simple for that, too modest, and +perhaps also too proud.</p> + +<p>"During the long course of years he had seen his just hopes deceived, +and from year to year the condition of his family become more and more +melancholy. Sickness had diminished his ability to work, and the fear of +not being able to pay his debts gnawed into his health, which was not +strong, and the prospect—of his nine unprovided-for children! I know I +should deeply affect your heart, if I were to paint to you the picture +of this family contending with want; but my tears would blot my writing. +Jacobi can do it—he has seen it, he has understood it; for this picture +which I have so carefully concealed from every other eye—this pale, +family misery I revealed to him, for I was in despair!</p> + +<p>"The name of my husband stood on the list of candidates for the living +of T——. He had three-fold the legally-demanded requisites of Jacobi, +and was, over and above, known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> and beloved by the parish; all the +peasants capable of voting, openly declared their intention of choosing +him. Two great landed proprietors, however, had the ultimate decision: +Count D., and Mr. B. the proprietor of the mines, could, if they two +were agreed, they two alone, elect the pastor. They also acknowledged +the esteem in which they held my husband, and declared themselves +willing to unite in the general choice.</p> + +<p>"For the first time in many years did we venture to look up to a +brighter future. Presently, however, we learnt that a powerful patron of +Mr. Jacobi had turned the whole scale in his favour, and that it would +be soon decided; the two great proprietors had promised their votes to +him, and our condition was more hopeless than ever.</p> + +<p>"The day of nomination approached. I did not venture to speak with my +strictly conscientious husband of the design which I cherished. I had +heard much said of Jacobi's excellent character; I was a distracted wife +and mother. I sought out Jacobi, and spoke to him out of the depths of +my heart, spoke to his sense of right—to his sense of honour; I showed +him how the affair stood for us before he disturbed it, by means which +could not be justly called honourable. I feared that my words were +bitter, but all the more angel-like was it in Jacobi to hear me with +calmness. I pictured to him our present condition; told him how he might +save us from misery, and besought him to do it.</p> + +<p>"My prayer at first was almost wild, and in the beginning Jacobi seemed +almost to think it so, but he heard me out; he let me conduct him to the +house of his former teacher, saw the consuming anxiety depicted on his +pale emaciated countenance; saw that I had exaggerated nothing; he wept, +pressed my hand with a word of consolation, and went out hastily.</p> + +<p>"The day of nomination came. Jacobi renounced all claims. My husband was +elected to the living in T——. Good God! how it sounded in our ears and +in our hearts! For a long time we could not believe it. After fifteen +years of deceived hopes we hardly dared to believe in such happiness. I +longed to embrace the knees of my benefactor, but he was already far +distant from us. A few friendly lines came from him, which reconciled my +husband to his happiness,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> and Jacobi's renunciation, and which made the +measure of his noble behaviour full. I have not yet been able to thank +him; but you, his amiable bride, say to him——"</p> + +<p>We omit the outpourings which closed this letter; they proceeded from a +warm, noble heart, overflowing with happiness and gratitude.</p> + +<p>The needles fell from the fingers of the sisters as the mother, at +Louise's request, read this letter aloud, and astonishment, sympathy, +and a kind of admiring pleasure might be read in their looks. They all +gazed one on the other with silent and tearful eyes.</p> + +<p>Gabriele was the first who broke silence: "So, then, we shall keep our +Louise with us yet longer," said she gaily, while she embraced her; and +all united cordially in the idea.</p> + +<p>"But," sighed Leonore, "it is rather a pity, on account of our wedding +and our parsonage; we had got all so beautifully arranged."</p> + +<p>Louise shed a few quiet tears, but evidently not merely over the +disappointed expectation. Later in the evening the mother talked with +her, and endeavoured to discover what were her feelings under these +adverse circumstances.</p> + +<p>Louise replied, with all her customary candour, that at first it had +fallen very heavily upon her. "I had now," continued she, "fixed my +thoughts so much on an early union with Jacobi; I saw so much in my new +condition which would be good and joyful for us all. But though this is +now—and perhaps for ever, at an end, yet I do not exactly know if I +wish it otherwise; Jacobi has behaved so right, so nobly right, I feel +that I now prize him higher, and love him more than ever!"</p> + +<p>It was difficult to the Judge not to be more cheerful than common this +evening. He was inexpressibly affectionate towards his eldest daughter; +he was charmed with the way in which she bore her fate, and it seemed to +him as if she had grown considerably.</p> + +<p>On the following day they quietly went on again with the quilting of the +bed-cover, whilst Gabriele read aloud; and thus "the childhood of Eric +Menved" diverted with its refreshing magic power all thoughts from the +parsonage and its lost paradise to the rich middle age of Denmark, and +to its young king Eric.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>NEW VIEWS AND NEW SCHEMES.</h3> + + +<p>Jacobi was come: Gabriele complained jestingly to her mother, "that the +brother-in-law-elect had almost overturned her, the little +sister-in-law-elect, in order to fly to his Louise."</p> + +<p>Louise received Jacobi with more than customary cordiality; so did the +whole family. That which Jacobi had lost in worldly wealth he seemed to +have won in the esteem and love of his friends; and it was the secret +desire of all to indemnify him, as it were, for the loss of the +parsonage. Jacobi on this subject had also his own peculiar views; and +after he had refreshed himself both with the earthly and the "angels' +food," which Louise served up to him in abundance, and after he had had +a conference of probably three hours' length with her, the result of the +same was laid before the parents, who looked on the new views thus +opened to them not without surprise and disquiet.</p> + +<p>It was Jacobi's wish and intention now immediately to celebrate his +marriage with Louise, and afterwards to go to Stockholm, where he +thought of commencing a school for boys. To those who knew that all +Jacobi's savings amounted to a very inconsiderable capital; that his +yearly income was only fifty crowns; that he had displeased his only +influential patron; that his bride brought him no dowry; and thus, that +he had nothing on which to calculate excepting his own ability to +work—to all those then who knew thus much, this sudden establishment +had some resemblance to one of those romances with their "<i>diner de man +cœur, et souper de mon âme</i>," which is considered in our days to be +so infinitely insipid.</p> + +<p>But Jacobi, who had already arranged and well considered his plans, laid +them with decision and candour before the parents, and besought their +consent that he might as soon as possible be able to call Louise his +wife. Elise gasped for breath; the Judge made sundry objections, but for +every one of these Jacobi had a reasonable and well-devised refutation.</p> + +<p>"Are Jacobi's plans yours also, Louise?" asked the Judge, after a +momentary silence; "are you both agreed?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p> + +<p>Louise and Jacobi extended a hand to each other; looked on each other, +and then on the father, with tearful, yet with calm and assured eyes.</p> + +<p>"You are no longer children," continued the father; "you know what you +are undertaking. But have you well considered?"</p> + +<p>Both assented that they had. Already, before there had been any +expectation of the living, they had thought on this plan.</p> + +<p>"It is a fatiguing life that you are stepping into," continued the +Judge, seriously, "and not the least so for you, Louise. The result of +your husband's undertaking will depend for the greatest part on you. +Will you joyfully, and without complaint, endure that which it will +bring with it; will you, from your heart, take part in his day's work?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, that I will!" replied Louise, with entire and hearty confidence.</p> + +<p>"And you, Jacobi," continued he, with unsteady voice, "will you be +father and mother and sisters to her? Will you promise me that she +neither now, nor in the future, so far as in you lies, shall miss the +paternal home?"</p> + +<p>"God help me! so certainly as I will exert myself to effect it, she +shall not!" answered Jacobi with emotion, and gave his hand to the +Judge.</p> + +<p>"Go then, children," exclaimed he, "and ask the blessing of your +mother—mine you shall have," and with tearful eyes he clasped them in +his arms.</p> + +<p>Elise followed the example of her husband. She felt now that Louise and +Jacobi's firm devotion to each other; their willingness to work; and +their characters, so excellent, and beyond this, so well suited to each +other, were more secure pledges of happiness than the greatest worldly +treasure. With respect to the time of the marriage, however, she made +serious objections. All that the parents could give to their daughter +was a tolerably handsome outfit; and this could not, by any possibility, +be so speedily prepared. Louise took her mother's view of the question, +and Jacobi saw himself, although reluctantly, compelled to agree that it +should remain as at first arranged, namely, for the second day in +Whitsuntide, which, in this year, fell at the end of May.</p> + +<p>After this the betrothed hastened to the sisters to communicate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> to them +the new views and schemes. There was many an "Oh!" and "Ah!" of +astonishment; many a cordial embrace; and then, of course, what industry +in the oak-leaf garland!</p> + +<p>But as the mother at the usual time came in, she saw plainly that "the +little lady" was somewhat impatient towards the brother-in-law-elect, +and but little edified by his plans.</p> + +<p>From that kind of sympathy which exists between minds, even when not a +single word is spoken, especially between persons who are dear to each +other, the dissatisfaction of Gabriele took possession also of the +mother, who began to discover that Jacobi's plans were more and more +idle and dangerous. Thus when Jacobi, not long afterwards, sought to +have a <i>tête-à-tête</i> with her, in order to talk about his and Louise's +plans, she could not help saying that the more she thought about the +undertaking the more foolish did it appear to be.</p> + +<p>To which Jacobi answered gaily, "Heaven is the guardian of all fools!"</p> + +<p>Elise recollected at that moment how it had fared with a person with +whom she was acquainted, who hoped for this guardianship in an +undertaking that in most respects resembled Jacobi's, yet nothing had +prevented all his affairs from going wrong altogether, and at length +ending in bankruptcy and misery. Elise related this to Jacobi.</p> + +<p>"Have you not read, mother," replied he, "a wise observation which +stands at the end of a certain medical work?"</p> + +<p>"No," said she; "what observation is it?"</p> + +<p>"That what cured the shoemaker killed the tailor," said Jacobi.</p> + +<p>Elise could not help laughing, and called him a conceited shoemaker. +Jacobi laughed too, kissed Elise's hand, and then hastened to mingle in +the group of young people, who assembled themselves round the tea-table +to see and to pass judgment on an extraordinary kind of tea-bread +wherewith Louise would welcome her bridegroom, and which, according to +her opinion, besides the freshest freshness, was possessed of many +wonderful qualities.</p> + +<p>Whilst at tea, the mother whispered slyly into Louise's ear as Jacobi +put sugar into his tea, "My dear child, there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> will be a deal of sugar +used in your house—your husband will not be frugal."</p> + +<p>Louise whispered back again, "But he will not grumble because too much +sugar is used in the house. So let him take it then, let him take it!"</p> + +<p>Both laughed.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening, as the mother saw Jacobi dance the gallopade with +Louise and Gabriele, whilst he made all happy with his joy, and his eyes +beamed with life and goodness, she thought to herself—even virtue has +her carelessness; and she was well satisfied with his plans.</p> + +<p>One day Jacobi related the particulars of his audience with his +Excellency O——, at P., to Louise and her mother; his relation was as +follows:</p> + +<p>"When I came up into the saloon the Bishop N. was coming backwards, with +low bows, out of the chamber of his Excellency. Within, a powerful voice +was heard speaking polite and jocular words, and immediately afterwards +his Excellency himself, with his foot wrapped in a woollen sock, +accompanied the Bishop out. The lofty figure, clothed now in a +dark-green morning coat, seemed to me more imposing than ever. He swung +a stick in his hand, upon which a grey parrot was sitting, which, while +it strove to maintain its balance, screamed with all its might after the +Bishop, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!'</p> + +<p>"The sunshine which was diffused over the expressive countenance of his +Excellency as he came out of his room, vanished the moment he saw me (I +had already informed him by letter of the use I had made of his +goodness), and a severe repulsive glance was the only greeting which I +received. When the Bishop at length, accompanied by the parting +salutations of the parrot, had left, his Excellency motioned the +servants out, and riveted upon me his strong, bright, grey eyes, and +with an actually oppressive look inquired short and sharp, 'What want +you, Sir?'</p> + +<p>"I had never seen him behave thus to me before, and whilst I endeavoured +to overcome a really choking sensation, I answered, 'I would thank your +Excellency for the goodness which—'</p> + +<p>"'Which you have thrown away as if it were a very trifle,' interrupted +his Excellency. 'You must have a confounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> many livings at command, I +think. You can, perhaps, throw such away on all sides.'</p> + +<p>"He spoke these words in a hard, ironical tone. I conjured him to hear +me, and laid before him shortly, but with the utmost clearness, the +reasons which had compelled me to give up the good fortune which his +favour had procured for me. I concluded by saying, that the only +consolation which I had for my loss, and the danger of having displeased +my benefactor, was the feeling that I had done my duty, and acted +according to my conscience, and the persuasion that I had acted right.</p> + +<p>"'You have acted like a fool!' interrupted his Excellency, with +violence, 'like a regular bedlamite have you behaved yourself! Things +like this, Sir, may do in novels, but in actual life they serve to no +other purpose than to make their actors and all that belong to them +beggars. But you have unpardonably compromised me! The thousand! you +should have thought over all these things and these feelings before you +had obtained my recommendation! Can I know of all supplicants with +poverty, merits, and nine children? On your account in this business I +have written letters, given dinners, made fine speeches, paid +compliments, in order to silence other claimants. I obtained for you +that living, one of the best in the whole bishoprick, and now you have +given it away as if it were a——It is really too bad! Don't come any +more to me, and don't mix me up again in your concerns, that I say to +you! I shall for the future meddle in nothing of the kind. Don't you ask +me ever again for anything!'</p> + +<p>"I was wounded, but still more distressed than wounded, and said, 'The +only thing which I shall ask from you, and shall ask for till I obtain +it, is the forgiveness of your Excellency! My error in this affair was +great; but after I had seen it, there was nothing for me to do but to +retrieve it as well as lay in my power, and then to bear the +consequences, even though they be as bitter as I now find them. Never +again shall I make any claim to your goodness—you have already done +more than enough for me. My intention is now to try if I cannot maintain +myself by my own powers as teacher. I intend to establish a school for +boys in Stockholm, whither I shall travel as soon as——'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Attempt, and travel, and do whatever you like!' interrupted his +Excellency, 'I don't trouble myself about it. I have occupied myself in +your affairs for the last time! If I were to get for you ten livings, +you would give all away the next moment to the first, best poor devil +that prayed you for them, with his full complement of wife and ten +children!</p> + +<p>"'Lundholm, wash me the glass! I never drink out of a glass from which a +Bishop has drunk!'</p> + +<p>"His Excellency had already turned his back upon me, and went again into +his chamber cursing his gout, without the slightest parting word to me. +The parrot, however, on the contrary, turned itself about on the stick, +and cried out with all its might, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!'</p> + +<p>"With this greeting, perhaps the last in the house of his Excellency, I +retired; but not without, I must confess, stopping a few moments on the +steps, and wetting the stones with my tears. It was not the loss of a +powerful patron which gave me so much pain, but—I had so admired this +man, I had loved him with such an actual devotion; I looked up to him as +to one of the noblest and most distinguished of men. He also seemed +really to like me—at least I thought so; and now all at once he was so +changed, so stern towards me, and as it seemed to me so unreasonable. It +actually gave me pain to find so little that was noble in him, so little +that was just! These were my feelings in those first bitter moments. +When I came to think over the whole event more calmly, I could almost +believe that he had received beforehand an unjust representation of the +whole affair, and that I encountered him while under its influence. Over +and above, he had reason to be dissatisfied with the whole thing, and +then just at that moment a fit of the gout seized him! I have written to +him from this place, and I feel it impossible to give up the hope of +seeing his sentiments mollified towards me."</p> + +<p>Louise, however, did not think so favourably of his sentiments; thought +Jacobi quite too indulgent, and was altogether irritated against his +Excellency.</p> + +<p>"It is quite the best not to trouble oneself about him," said she.</p> + +<p>Jacobi smiled. "His poor Excellency!" said he.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>A RELAPSE.</h3> + + +<p>Whilst May wrote its romance in leaves and life; whilst Jacobi and +Louise wrote many sweet chapters of theirs in kisses; whilst all the +house was in motion on account of the marriage, and joy and mirth sprang +up to life like butterflies in the spring sun, one glance was ever +darker, one cheek ever paler, and that was Eva's.</p> + +<p>People say commonly that love is a game for the man, and a +life's-business for the woman. If there be truth in this, it may arise +from this cause, that practical life makes commonly too great a demand +on the thoughts and activity of the man for him to have much time to +spend on love, whilst on the contrary the woman is too much occupied +with herself to have the power of withdrawing herself from the pangs of +love (may the Chamberlain's lady forgive us talking so much about man +and woman! It has not been our lot here in the world to scour either a +room or a kettle, though, to speak the truth, we do not consider +ourselves incapable of so doing). Eva found nothing in her peaceful home +which was powerful enough to abstract her from the thoughts and feelings +which for so long had been the dearest to her heart. The warm breezes of +spring, so full of love, fanned up that glimmering fire; so did also +that innocent life of the betrothed, so full of cordiality and +happiness; so did also a yet more poisonous wind. One piece of news +which this spring brought was the betrothal of Major R. with one of the +beauties of the capital, a former rival of Eva—news which caused a deep +wound to her heart. She wished to conceal, she wished to veil what was +yet remaining of a love which no one had favoured, and over which she +could not now do other than blush; she had determined never again to +burden and grieve her family with her weakness, her sorrows; she would +not disturb the peace, the cheerfulness, which now again began to reign +in the family after the misfortunes which had shaken it; but under the +endeavour to bear her burden alone, her not strong spirit gave way. She +withdrew more and more from the family circle; became ever more silent +and reserved; sought for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> solitude, and was unwilling to have her +solitude disturbed by any one. She even was reserved before Leonore; +although she, like a good angel, stood by her side, resting her soft +eyes upon her with a tender disquiet, endeavouring to remove from her +every annoyance, taking upon herself every painful occupation, and +evincing towards her all that anxious care which a mother shows to a +sick child. Eva permitted all this, and was daily more and more consumed +by her untold mental sufferings. The engrossing cares which at this time +occupied the family, prevented almost every one from paying attention to +Eva's state of mind, and thus she was often left to herself.</p> + +<p>For several of the last evenings Eva had gone down into her own chamber +directly after tea—for in their present dwelling some of the daughters +occupied the ground-floor—and on the plea of headache had excused +herself from again returning to her family during the evening. It was a +principle of the parents never to make use of any other means of +compulsion with their children, now that they were grown up, than love, +be it in great things or in small. But then love had a great power in +this family; and as the daughters knew that it was the highest delight +of their father to see them all round him in an evening, it became a +principle with them neither to let temper nor any other unnecessary +cause keep them away. As now, however, this was the third evening on +which Eva had been absent, the father became uneasy, and the mother went +down to her, whilst the rest of the family and some friends who were +with them were performing a little concert together. But Eva was not to +be found in her chamber, and the mother was hastening back again, full +of disquiet, when she met Ulla, who was going to make the beds.</p> + +<p>"Where is Eva?" asked she, with apparent indifference.</p> + +<p>Ulla started, was red and then pale, and answered hesitatingly, "She +is—gone out—I fancy."</p> + +<p>"Where is she gone?" asked Elise, suddenly uneasy.</p> + +<p>"I fancy—to the grave of the young master," returned Ulla.</p> + +<p>"To the grave?—so late! Has she gone there for several evenings?" +inquired the mother.</p> + +<p>"This is now the third evening," said Ulla: "ah, best<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> gracious lady, it +goes really to my heart—it is not justly right there!"</p> + +<p>"What is not justly right, Ulla?"</p> + +<p>"That Mamselle Eva goes out to the grave so late, and does not come back +again till it has struck ten, and that she will be so much alone," +returned Ulla. "Yesterday Mamselle Leonore even cried, and begged of her +not to go, or to allow her to go with her. But Mamselle Eva would not +let her, but said she would not go, and that Mamselle Leonore should go +up-stairs, and leave her alone; but as soon as Mamselle Leonore had left +her she went out for all that, with only a thin kerchief over her head. +And this evening she is gone out also. Ah! it must be a great grief +which consumes her, for she gets paler every day!"</p> + +<p>Greatly disturbed by what she had heard, Elise hastened to seek her +husband. She found him deeply engaged over his books and papers, but he +left all the moment he saw the troubled countenance of his wife. She +related to him what she had heard from Ulla, and informed him that it +was her intention to go now immediately to the churchyard.</p> + +<p>"I will go with you," said the Judge, "only tell Louise to defer supper +for us till we come back; I fancy nobody will miss us, they are so +occupied by their music."</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done. The husband and wife went out together; it was +half-past nine in the middle of May, but the air was cold, and a damp +mist fell.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" said the Judge softly, "she'll get her death of cold if +she stops in the churchyard so late, and in air like this!"</p> + +<p>As they approached the churchyard, they saw that a female form passed +hastily through the gate. It was not Eva, for she sat on the grave of +her brother! she sat there immovably upon the earth, and resembled a +ghost. The churchyard was, with this exception, deserted. The figure +which had entered before them, softly approached the grave, and remained +standing at the distance of a few paces.</p> + +<p>"Eva!" said a beseeching mournful voice; it was Leonore. The parents +remained standing behind some thick-leaved fir-trees. On precisely the +same spot had the father stood once before, and listened to a +conversation of a very different kind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Eva!" repeated Leonore, with an expression of the most heartfelt +tenderness.</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me, Leonore?" asked Eva impatiently, but without +moving. "I have already prayed you to let me alone."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I cannot leave you, dear Eva," replied her sister, "why do you sit +here on the ground, on this cold, wet evening? Oh, come home, come home +with me!"</p> + +<p>"Do you go home, Leonore! this air is not proper for you! Go home to the +happy, and be merry, with them," returned Eva.</p> + +<p>"Do you not remember," tenderly pleaded Leonore, "how I once, many years +ago, was sick both in body and mind? Do you know who it was then that +left the gay in order to comfort me? I prayed her to leave me—but she +went not from me—neither will I now go away from you."</p> + +<p>"Ah, go! leave me alone!" repeated Eva, "I stand now alone in the +world!"</p> + +<p>"Eva, you distress me!" said her sister, "you know that there is no one +in this world that I love like you: I mourned so much when you left us; +the house without you seemed empty, but I consoled myself with the +thought that Eva will soon come back again. You came, and I was so +joyful, for I believed that we should be so happy together. But I have +seen since then of how little consequence I am to you! still I love you +as much as ever, and if you think that I have not sympathised in your +sorrows, that I have not wept with you and for you, you do me certainly +injustice! Ah, Eva, many a night when you have believed perhaps that I +lay in sweet sleep, have I sat at your door, and listened how you wept, +and have wept for you, and prayed for you, but I did not dare to come in +to you because I imagined your heart to be closed to me!" And so saying, +Leonore wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>"You are right, Leonore," answered Eva, "much has become closed in me +which once was opened. This feeling, this love for him—oh, it has +swallowed up my whole soul! For some time I believed I should be able to +conquer it—but now I believe so no longer——"</p> + +<p>"Do you repent of your renunciation?" asked Leonore;—"it was so noble +of you! Would you yet be united to him!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No! no! the time for that is gone by," said Eva. "I would rather die +than that; but you see, Leonore, I loved him so—I have tasted love, and +have felt how rapturous, how divine life might be!—Oh, Leonore, the +bright sun-warm summer-day is not more unlike this misty evening hour, +than the life which I lived for a season is unlike the future which now +lies before me!"</p> + +<p>"It seems so to you now, Eva—you think so now," answered her sister; +"but let a little time pass over, and you will see that it will be quite +otherwise; that the painful feelings will subside, and life will clear +up itself before you. Think only how it has already afforded you +pleasure to look up to heaven when the clouds separated themselves, and +you said, 'see how bright it will be! how beautiful the heaven is!' and +your blue eyes beamed with joy and peace, because it was so. Believe me, +Eva, the good time will come again, in which you will thus look up to +heaven, and feel thus joyful, and thus gay!"</p> + +<p>"Never!" exclaimed Eva, weeping; "oh, never will that time return! Then +I was innocent, and from that cause I saw heaven above me clear;—now so +much that is bad, so much that is impure has stained my soul—stains it +yet!—Oh, Leonore, if you only knew all that I have felt for some time +you would never love me again! Would you believe it that Louise's +innocent happiness has infused bitterness into my soul; that the gaiety +which has again began to exist in the family has made me feel +bitterness—bitterness towards my own family—my own beloved ones! Oh, I +could detest myself! I have chastised myself with the severest words—I +have prayed with bitter tears, and yet——"</p> + +<p>"Dear Eva, you must have patience with yourself," said Leonore, "you +will not——"</p> + +<p>"Ah! I am already weary of myself—of my life!" hastily interrupted Eva; +"I am like some one who has already travelled far, who is already spent, +but who must still go on, and can never come to his journey's end. It +seems to me as if I should be a burden to all who belong to me; and when +I have seen you all so happy, so gay one with another, I have felt my +heart and my head burn with bitterness; then have I been obliged to go +out—out into the cold evening dew, and I have longed to repose in the +earth upon which it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> fell—I have longed to be able to hide myself from +every one—deep, deep in the grave below!"</p> + +<p>"But from me," said Leonore, "you will not be able to hide yourself—nor +to go from me, since where you go there will I follow. Oh, what were +life to me if you were to leave it in despair! You would not go alone to +the grave, Eva! I would follow you there—and if you will not allow that +I sit by your side, I will seat myself on the churchyard wall, that the +same evening damps which penetrate you may penetrate me also; that the +same night wind which chills your bosom may chill mine; that I may be +laid by your side and in the same grave with you! And willingly would I +die for you, if—you will not live for me, and for the many who love you +so much! We will try all things to make you happier! God will help us; +and the day will come in which all the bitter things of this time will +seem like a dream, and when all the great and beautiful feelings, and +all the agreeable impressions of life will again revive in you. You will +again become innocent—nay, become more, because virtue is a higher, a +glorified innocence! Oh, Eva! if he whose dust reposes beneath us, if +his spirit invisibly float around us—if he who was better and purer +than all of us, could make his voice audible to us at this moment, he +would certainly join with me in the prayer—'Oh, Eva! live—live for +those who love thee! Mortal life, with all its anguish and its joy, is +soon past—and then it is so beautiful that our life should have caused +joy to one another on earth—it causes joy in heaven! The great +Comforter of all affliction will not turn from thee—only do not thou +turn from <i>Him!</i> Have patience! tarry out thy time! Peace comes, comes +certainly——'"</p> + +<p>The words ceased; both sisters had clasped their arms around each other, +and mingled their tears. Eva's head rested on Leonore's shoulder as she, +after a long pause, spoke in a feeble voice:</p> + +<p>"Say no more, Leonore; I will do what you wish. Take me—make of me what +you will—I am too weak to sustain myself at this moment—support me—I +will go with you—you are my good angel!"</p> + +<p>Other guardian angels approached just then, and clasped the sisters in a +tender embrace. Conducted by them, Eva<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> returned home. She was +altogether submissive and affectionate, and besought earnestly for +forgiveness from all. She was very much excited by the scenes which had +just occurred, drank a composing draught which her mother administered, +and then listened to Leonore, who read to her, as she lay in bed, till +she fell asleep.</p> + +<p>The Judge paced up and down his chamber uneasily that night, and spoke +thus to his wife, who lay in bed:</p> + +<p>"A journey to the baths, and that in company with you, would be quite +the best thing for her. But I don't know how I can now do without you; +and more than that, where the money is to come from! We have had great +losses, and see still great expenses before us: in the first place +Louise's marriage—and then, without a little money in hand, we cannot +let our girls go from home; and the rebuilding of our house. But we must +borrow more money—I see no other way. Eva must be saved; her mind must +be enlivened and her body strengthened, let it cost what it may. I must +see and borrow——"</p> + +<p>"It is not necessary, Ernst," said Elise; and the Judge, making a sudden +pause, gazed at her with astonishment; whilst she, half raising herself +in bed, looked at him with a countenance beaming with joy. "Come," +continued she, "and I will recall something to your memory which +occurred fifteen years ago."</p> + +<p>"What sort of a history can that be?" said he, smiling gaily, whilst he +seated himself on the bed, and took the hand which Elise extended to +him.</p> + +<p>"Five-and-twenty years ago," began she.</p> + +<p>"Five-and-twenty years!" interrupted he, "Heaven help me! you promised +to go no farther back than fifteen."</p> + +<p>"Patience, my love!—this is part the first of my story. Do you not +remember, then," said she, "how, five-and-twenty years ago, at the +commencement of our married life, you made plans for a journey into the +beautiful native land of your mother? I see now, Ernst, that you +remember it. And how we should wander there you planned, and enjoy our +freedom and God's lovely nature. You were so joyful in the prospect of +this; but then came adversity, and cares, and children, and never-ending +labour for you, so that our Norwegian journey retreated year by year +more into the background.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> Nevertheless, it remained like a point of +light to you in the future; but now, for some time, you seem to have +forgotten it; yes, for you have given up all your own pleasures in +labouring for your family; have forsaken all your own enjoyments, your +own plans, for your own sphere of activity and your home. But I have not +forgotten the Norwegian journey, and in fifteen years have obtained the +means of its accomplishment."</p> + +<p>"In fifteen years!—what do you mean?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Now I am arrived," she answered, "at part the second of my history. Do +you still remember, Ernst, that fifteen years ago we were not so happy +as we are now? You have forgotten? Well, so much the better; I scarcely +remember it myself any more, for the expansive rind of love has grown +over the black scar. What I, however, know is, that at that time I was +not so properly at home in actual life, and did not rightly understand +all the good that it offered me, and that to console myself on that +account I wrote a romance. But now it happened that by reason of my +novel I neglected my duties to my lord and husband—for the gentlemen +are decidedly unskilled in serving themselves——"</p> + +<p>"Very polite!" interposed the Judge, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Be content!" continued she: "now it happened that one evening his tea +and my novel came into collision—a horrible history followed. But I +made a vow in my heart that one of these days the two rivals should +become reconciled. Now you see my manuscript—you had the goodness to +call it rubbish—I sent to a very enlightened man, to a man of +distinguished taste and judgment, and thus it befel, he found taste in +the rubbish; and, what say you to it? paid me a pretty little sum for +permission to bring it before the world. Do not look so grave, Ernst; I +have never again taken up the pen to write novels; my own family has +found me enough to do; and besides, I never again could wish to do +anything which was not pleasant to you. You have displaced all rivals, +do you see! But this one I decided should be the means of your taking +the Norwegian journey. The little sum of two hundred crowns banco which +it produced me have I placed in the savings' bank for this purpose; and +in fifteen years it has so much augmented itself, that it will perfectly +accomplish that object; and if ever the time for its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> employment will +come, it is now. The desire for travelling is gone from me—I covet now +only rest. But you and——"</p> + +<p>"And do you think," said the Judge, "that I shall take your——"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ernst! why should you not?" exclaimed she; "if you could but know +what joy the thought of this has prepared for me! The money, which from +year to year increased, in order to give you pleasure, has been to me +like a treasure of hidden delight, which has many a time strengthened +and animated my soul! Make me only perfectly happy by allowing yourself +to have enjoyment from it. Take it, my Ernst, and make yourself pleasure +with it, this summer; I pray you to do so, on account of our children. +Take Eva with you, and if possible Leonore also. Nothing would refresh +Eva's soul more than such a journey with you and Leonore in a +magnificent and beautiful country. The money can be obtained in a +month's time, and a few months' leave of absence cannot possibly be +denied to one who has spent more than thirty years in incessant service +for the state; and when Louise and her husband have left us, and spring +and nature are in their very loveliest, then you shall set out: you +shall be refreshed after so many years of painful labour, and the +wounded heart of our sick child shall be healed."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>PLANS AND COUNTER PLANS.</h3> + + +<p>Eva entered her father's study the next morning. He immediately left his +work, received her with the greatest tenderness, drew her to his side on +the sofa, and placing one arm round her waist, took her hand in his, and +inquired, with a searching glance, "Do you want anything from me, my +child? Can I do anything for you? Tell me!"</p> + +<p>Encouraged by his kindness, Eva described the state of her mind to her +father, and explained how she wished to commence a more active life in +order to overcome her weakness, and to regain strength and quiet. The +situation of teacher in a girl's school in the city was vacant, and she +wished immediately to take it, but only for the summer, during which +time she and Leonore would prepare themselves to open a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> school in +autumn. It was a plan of which they had long thought, and which would +afford them a useful and independent life. Eva besought the acquiescence +of her father to this proposition.</p> + +<p>"Leonore and I," continued she, "have this morning talked a deal on the +subject; we hope that with the counsel and countenance upon which we may +reckon, to be able to make it succeed. Ah, father! I am become quite +anxious about it on account of my own weakness. I must speedily resort +to external means, that I may overcome it. I will become active; I will +work; and whilst thus employed I shall forget the past and myself, and +only live for the happiness of those who love me, and to whom I have +caused so much trouble."</p> + +<p>"My child! my dear child, you are right; you do rightly!" said the +father, deeply affected, and clasping his daughter in his arms; "your +wish shall be granted, and whatever is in my power will I do to forward +your plans. What a many institutions for education will there not +proceed from our house! But there is no harm at all in that—there are +no more useful institutions on the face of the earth! One reservation, +however, I must make from your and Leonore's determination. You may +dedicate the autumn and the winter to your school—but the summer you +must devote to your father!—and Madame B. may find a teacher where she +can, only not from my family—for I am not now in a condition to furnish +her one."</p> + +<p>"Ah, father," said she, "every unemployed hour is a burden to me!"</p> + +<p>"We will bear the burden together, my child! Leonore, I, and you, in our +wanderings towards the west. In a few weeks I am thinking of undertaking +a journey, after which I have longed for these many years; I will visit +the beautiful native land of my mother. Will you, Eva, breathe this +fresh mountain air with me? I should have very little pleasure in the +journey alone, but in company with you and Leonore it will make me young +again! Our heads are become bowed, my child, but in God's beautiful +nature we will lift them up again! You will go with me—is it not so? +Good! Come then with me to your mother, for it is she alone who has +managed this journey!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span></p> + +<p>With an arm round the waist of his daughter the Judge now went to his +wife; they found Leonore with her; nor was ever a quartet of Mozart's +more harmonious than that which was now performed among them.</p> + +<p>Eva was uncommonly animated all day, but in the evening she was in a +burning fever. A feeling of anxiety went through the whole family; they +feared that a new grave was about to be opened, and disquiet was painted +on all countenances. Eva demanded, with a fervour which was not without +its feverish excitement, that the Assessor should be fetched. He came +immediately.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me!" exclaimed Eva, extending her hand to him, "I have been so +ungrateful to you! But my heart was so disordered that it was quite +changed; but it will recover itself again. Leonore has given it health. +I am very ill now; my hands burn, my head aches! Give me my little +work-box—that I may hold it between my hands—that I may lean my head +upon it—else I shall be no better! You, my friend, will cure me that I +may again make my family happy!"</p> + +<p>The Assessor dried his tears. As Eva leaned her head on the work-box, +she talked earnestly, but not quite coherently of the plans for the +future.</p> + +<p>"Very good, very good," said the physician, interrupting her; "I too +will be of the establishment; I will give instruction in botany to the +whole swarm of girls, and between us we will drive them out into the +woods and into the fields, that we may see them learn all that is +beautiful in the world. But now, Eva, you must not talk any more—but +you must empty this glass."</p> + +<p>Eva took the composing draught willingly, and was soon calmer. She was +the most obedient and amiable of patients, and showed a confidence in +her old friend which penetrated his heart. He would have sate night and +day by her bed.</p> + +<p>Eva's sickness was a violent fever, which confined her to her bed for +nearly three weeks, and occasioned her family great uneasiness. This +sickness was, however, very beneficial for herself and for the health of +her mind; but still more beneficial was the infinite love with which she +saw herself encompassed on all sides.</p> + +<p>One day in the beginning of her convalescence, as she sate up and saw +herself surrounded by all the comforts which love<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> and home could gather +about a beloved sufferer, she said to Leonore as she leaned upon her, +"Ah, who would not be willing to live when they see themselves so +beloved!"</p> + +<p>In the meantime Louise's wedding-day was approaching nearer.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>A SURPRISE.</h3> + + +<p>Three days before the wedding a grand travelling-carriage drawn by four +horses rolled through the streets of the town of X——, and from the +prodigious clatter which it made drew all the inquisitive among the +inhabitants to their windows.</p> + +<p>"Did you see, dear sister," cried the general shopkeeper Madame Suur to +Madame Bask, the wife of the postmaster, "the grand travelling-carriage +that has just gone by? Did you see the sweet youth that sate on the left +and looked so genteel, with his snow-white neck and open shirt-collar? +Lawk! how he looked at me—so sweet as he was! How like a real prince he +looked!"</p> + +<p>"Dear sister!" answered the postmistress, "then you did not see the +gentleman who sate on the right? He was a grand gentleman, that I can +positively assert! He sate so stately leaning back in the carriage, and +so wrapped up in grand furs that one could not see the least bit of his +face. Positively he is a great somebody!"</p> + +<p>"I got a shimmer of the youth," said the grey-brown handed and +complexioned Annette P——, as she glanced up from her coarse sewing, +with such a look as probably a captive casts who has glanced out of his +prison into a freer and more beautiful state of existence; "he looked so +calm, with large blue eyes, out of the plate-glass windows of the +carriage! as pure and grave he looked as one of God's angels!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, we know to be sure how the angels look!" said the postmistress, +snubbingly, and with a severe glance at Annette; "but that's absolutely +all one! Yet I should like to know what grandees they are. I should not +be a bit surprised if it were his royal highness or gracious +crown-prince, who with his eldest son is travelling <i>incondito</i> through +the country."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dear sister says what is true," returned Madame Suur. "Yes, it must be +so! for he looked like a regular prince, the sweet youth, as he sate +there and glanced at me through the window; really, he smiled at me!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, my ladies, we've got some genteel strangers in the city!" +exclaimed Mr. Alderman Nyberg as he came into the room.</p> + +<p>"Have they stopped here?" cried both ladies at once.</p> + +<p>"My wife saw the carriage draw up and——"</p> + +<p>"Nay, heaven defend us! Mr. Alderman what are you thinking about that +you don't make a stir in the city and send a deputation to wait upon +them? For goodness sake let the city-council come together!"</p> + +<p>"How? What? Who?" asked the Alderman, opening wide his grey eyes like +some one just awoke out of sleep; "can it indeed——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, very likely his royal highness himself in his own proper +person—possibly his majesty!"</p> + +<p>"Gracious heavens!" said the Alderman, and looked as if the town-house +had fallen.</p> + +<p>"But speed off in all the world's name, and run and look about you, and +don't stand here staring like a dead figure!" exclaimed the +postmistress, quite hoarse, while she shook up and down her great mass +of humanity on the creaking sofa. "Dear sister, cannot you also get on +your legs a little, and Annette too, instead of sitting there +hum-drumming with her sewing, out of which nothing comes. Annette run +quick, and see what it is all about—but come back in an instant-minute +and tell me, poor soul, whom our Lord has smitten with calamity and +sickness—nay, nay, march pancake!"</p> + +<p>The Alderman ran; dear Sister Suur ran; Mamselle Annette ran; we ran +also, dear reader, in order to see a large-made gentleman somewhat in +years, and a youth of eleven, of slender figure and noble appearance, +dismount from the travelling carriage. It was his Excellency O—— and +his youngest son.</p> + +<p>They alighted and went into the house of the Franks. His Excellency +entered the drawing-room without suffering himself to be announced, and +introduced himself to Elise, who though surprised by the visit of the +unexpected stranger,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> received him with all her accustomed graceful +self-possession; lamenting the absence of her husband, and thinking to +herself that Jacobi had not in the least exceeded the truth in his +description of the person of his Excellency.</p> + +<p>His Excellency was now in the most brilliant of humours, and discovered, +as by sudden revelation, that he and Elise were related; called her "my +cousin" all the time, and said the handsomest things to her of her +family, of whom he had heard so much, but more especially of a certain +young man on whom he set the highest value. Further he said, that +however much he must rejoice in having made the personal acquaintance of +his cousin, still he must confess that his visit at this time had +particular reference to the young man of whom he had spoken; and with +this he inquired after Jacobi.</p> + +<p>Jacobi was sent for, and came quickly, but not without evident emotion +in his countenance. His Excellency O——approached him, extended his +hand cheerfully, and said, "I rejoice to see you; my cursed gout has not +quite left me; but I could not pass so near the city without going a +little out of my way in order to wish you happiness on your approaching +marriage, and also to mention an affair—but you must introduce me to +your bride."</p> + +<p>Jacobi did it with glowing eyes. His Excellency took Louise's hand, and +said, "I congratulate you on your happiness, on being about to have one +of the best and the most estimable of men for your husband!" And with +these words he riveted a friendly penetrating glance upon her, and then +kissed her hand. Louise blushed deeply, and looked happier than when she +agreed to her own proposition of not troubling herself about his +Excellency.</p> + +<p>Upon the other daughters also who were present, his keen eyes were fixed +with a look which seemed rather to search into soul than body, and +rested with evident satisfaction on the beautifully blushing Gabriele.</p> + +<p>"I also have had a daughter," said he, slowly, "an only one—but she was +taken from me!"</p> + +<p>A melancholy feeling seemed to have gained possession of him, but he +shook it quickly from him, stood up, and went to Jacobi, to whom he +talked in a loud and friendly voice.</p> + +<p>"My best Jacobi," said he, "you told me the last time we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> were together +that you thought of opening a school for boys in Stockholm. I am pleased +with it, for I have proved that your ability as teacher and guide of +youth is of no ordinary kind. I wish to introduce to you a pupil, my +little boy. You will confer upon me a real pleasure if you will be able +to receive him in two months, at which time I must undertake a journey +abroad, which perhaps may detain me long, and would wish to know that +during this my absence my son was in good hands. I wish that he should +remain under your care at least two or three years. You will easily feel +that I should not place in your hands him who is dearest to me in the +world, if I had not the most perfect confidence in you, and therefore I +give you no prescribed directions concerning him. And if prayers can +obtain motherly regard," continued he, turning to Louise, "I would +direct myself with them to you. Take good care of my boy—he has no +longer a mother!"</p> + +<p>Louise drew the boy hastily to her, embraced him, and kissed him with +warmth. A smile as of sunshine diffused itself over the countenance of +the father, and certainly no words which Louise could have spoken would +have satisfied him more than this silent but intelligent answer of the +heart. Jacobi stood there with tears in his eyes; he could not bring +forth many words, but his Excellency understood him, and shook him +cordially by the hand.</p> + +<p>"May we not have the horses taken out? Will not your Excellency have the +goodness to stay to dine with us?" were the beseeching questions which +were repeated around him.</p> + +<p>But however willing his Excellency would have been to do it, it was +impossible. He had promised to dine at Strö with Count Y——, eighteen +miles distant from the town.</p> + +<p>"But breakfast? a little breakfast at least? It should be served in a +moment. The young Count Axel would certainly be glad of a little +breakfast!" asserted Louise, with friendly confidence, who seemed +already to have taken under her protection the future pupil of her +husband.</p> + +<p>The young Count Axel did not say no; and the father, whose behaviour +became every moment more cordial and gay, said that a little breakfast +in such company would eat excellently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span></p> + +<p>Bergström prepared with rapture and burning zeal the table for the lofty +guest, who in the mean time chatted with evident satisfaction with Elise +and Jacobi, directing often also his conversation to Louise as if +insensibly to test her; and from their inmost hearts did both mother and +bridegroom rejoice that with her calm understanding she could stand the +test so well.</p> + +<p>Gabriele entertained the young Count Axel in one of the windows by +listening to the repeater of his new gold watch, which set the grave and +naturally silent boy at liberty to lead the entertainment in another +way; and Gabriele, who entered into all his ideas, wondered very much +over the wonderful properties of the watch; and let it repeat over and +over again, whilst her lovely and lively smiles and her merry words +called forth more and more the confidence of the young Axel.</p> + +<p>Breakfast was ready; was brought in by the happy Bergström; was eaten +and praised by his Excellency, who was a connoisseur; a description of +the capitally preserved anchovies was particularly desired from Louise; +and then her health and that of her bridegroom was drunk in Madeira.</p> + +<p>Towards the conclusion of the breakfast the Judge came home. The trait +of independence, bordering on pride, which sometimes revealed itself in +Judge Frank's demeanour, and which perhaps was visible at the very time +of his respectful but simple greeting of his Excellency, called forth in +him also a momentary appearance of height. But this pride soon vanished +from both sides. These two men knew and valued each other mutually; and +it was not long before they were so deeply engrossed by conversation, +that his Excellency forgot his journey, not for one only, but for two +hours.</p> + +<p>"I lament over Strö and its dinner," said his Excellency, preparing to +take his departure; "how they must have waited there! But we could not +possibly help it."</p> + +<p>After his Excellency had departed, he left behind him a bright +impression on all the family of Franks, not one of whom did not feel +animated in a beneficial manner by his behaviour and his words. Jacobi +in his joy made a high <i>entre-chat</i>, and embracing Louise, said, "Now, +Louise, what say you to the man? And we have got a pupil that will draw +at least twenty after him!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p> + +<p>Louise was perfectly reconciled to his Excellency.</p> + +<p>From this day forth Bergström began a new era; whatever happened in the +family was either before or after the visit of his Excellency.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Ah, then, my goodness! that it should be Excellency O——!" said the +dear sister Bask to the dear sister Suur.</p> + +<p>"Yes, just think! That he should come solely, and for no other purpose, +than to visit the Franks, and breakfast there, and stop several hours +there! He is a cousin, of the Judge's lady."</p> + +<p>"Her cousin! Bah! no more her cousin than I am the king's cousin; +positively not!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! or why else should he have called her 'my gracious cousin?' +And one must confess that there is something refined and genteel about +her—and such hands as she has have I never seen!"</p> + +<p>"Hum! There's no art in looking genteel and having beautiful hands, when +one goes about the house like a foolish thing, washing one's hands in +rose-water, and all the livelong day doing not one sensible act. That I +know well enough!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! they who will be of any use in their house cannot keep such +hands, and sit the whole day and read romances! I should like to know +how it would have gone with the blessed Suur's baking business—to which +at last he added the grocery—if I had been a genteel lady! Not at all, +because I should not have done it. Sweet sister, know that I once had my +whims—yes, and a turn for scribbling and writing. Yes, so help me +heaven! if it had not been for my little bit of sound sense, which +showed me my folly in time, I might have become a regular learned lady, +another—what do you call her?—Madame de Staël! But when I married the +late Suur I determined to give up all that foolishness, and do honour to +the baking; and now I have quite let my little talent slip away from me, +so that it is as good as buried. But on that account I am, to be sure, +no fitting company for the Franks—think only!—and shall be only less +and less so, if they are always climbing higher and higher."</p> + +<p>"Let them climb as high as they will, I don't intend to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> make obeisances +before them, that I can promise them! that I absolutely will not! It +vexes me enough that Annette is so mad after them. Before one is aware +of it, they will be taking her away from me, skin and hair; and that's +my thanks for all I have lavished upon her! But I'll tell the gentry +that I'm positively determined to make no compliments to them or to +their Excellencies, and that one person is just as good as another! +Positively I'll tell them that!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE EVENING BEFORE THE WEDDING.</h3> + + +<p>"God bless the little ones! But when one considers how little of a +rarity children are in this world, one has only to open one's mouth to +say so, and people are all up in arms and make such a stir and such an +ado about their little ones! Heart's-dearest! People may call them +angels as much as ever they will, but I would willingly have my knees +free from them! But worst of all is it with the first child in a family! +Oh, it is a happiness and a miracle, and cannot be enough overloaded +with caresses and presents from father and mother, and aunts and +cousins, and all the world. Does it scream and roar—then it is a +budding genius; is it silent—then it is a philosopher in its cradle; +and scarcely is it eight days old but it understands Swedish and almost +German also! And—it bites, the sweet angel!—it has got a tooth! It +bites properly. Ah, it is divine! Then comes the second child:—it is by +far less wonderful already; its cry and its teeth are not half so +extraordinary. The third comes;—it is all over with miracles now! the +aunts begin to shake their heads, and say, 'no lack of heirs in the +house! Nay, nay, may there be only enough to feed them all.' After this +comes a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth—yes, then people's wits are +set in full play! The parents resign themselves, but the friends defend +themselves! Heart's-dearest, what is to become of it? The house full of +children, there's soon a dozen of them! Poor Mrs. This and This—it +makes one quite weak both in body and mind only to think of it! Yes, +yes, my friends, people don't put these things down in romances, but it +goes on in this way in real life! Yes!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was the Chamberlain's lady who preached this little sermon, in the +zeal of her spirit, to the young couple who the next day were to be man +and wife. She ate on this evening Whitsuntide-porridge<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> with the +Franks, and all the while gave sundry lessons for the future. Jacobi +laughed heartily over the history of the children, and endeavoured to +catch Louise's eye; but this was fixed upon the Postillion, which she +was arranging with a very important and grave aspect. The Judge and +Elise looked smilingly on each other, and extended to each other their +hands.</p> + +<p>The state of feeling in the family, for the rest of the evening, was +quite rose-coloured. Letters had been received from Petrea which gave +contentment to all her friends, and Eva sate in the family circle with +returning, although as yet pale roses on her cheeks. The Judge sate +between Eva and Leonore, laying out on the map the plan of the summer +tour. They would visit Thistedal, Ringerig, and Tellemark, and would go +through Trondhiem to Norland, where people go to salute the midnight +sun.</p> + +<p>Gabriele looked after her flowers, and watered the myrtle tree from +which next morning she would break off sprays wherewith to weave a crown +and garland for Louise. Jacobi sate near the mother, and seemed to have +much to say to her; what it was, however, nobody heard, but he often +conveyed her hand to his lips, and seemed as if he were thanking her for +his life's happiness. He looked gentle and happy. Every thing was +prepared for the morrow, so that this evening would be spent in quiet.</p> + +<p>According to Jacobi's wish the marriage was to take place in the church, +and after this they were all to dine <i>en famille</i>. In the evening, +however, a large company was to be assembled in the S. saloon, which +with its adjoining garden had been hired for the purpose. This was +according to the wish of the father, who desired that for the last time, +perhaps for many years, his daughter should collect around her all her +acquaintance and friends, and thus should show to them, at the same +time, welcome politeness. He himself, with the help of Jacobi and +Leonore, who was everybody's assistant, had taken upon himself the +arrangement of this evening's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> festival, that his wife might not be +fatigued and disturbed by it.</p> + +<p>At supper the betrothed sat side by side, and Jacobi behaved sometimes +as if he would purposely seize upon his bride's plate as well as his +own, which gave rise to many dignified looks, to settings-to-rights +again, and a deal of merriment besides.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening, when they all went to rest, Louise found her +toilet-table covered with presents from bridegroom, parents, sisters, +and friends. A great deal of work was from Petrea. These gifts awakened +in Louise mingled feelings of joy and pain, and as she hastened yet once +again to embrace the beloved ones from whom she was about so soon to +separate, many mutual tears were shed. But evening dew is prophetic of a +bright morrow—that was the case here.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> There is some new kind of porridge for almost every week in +the year in Sweden, with which the table is most religiously served.—M. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p>THE WEDDING-DAY.</p> + + +<p>The sun shone bright and warm on that morning of Whit-Monday. Flowers +and leaves glistened in the morning dew; the birds sang; the bells of +the city rang festively and gaily; the myrtle-crown was ready woven +early, and the mother and Leonore were present at the toilet of the +bride. They expected that Jacobi would make his appearance in the +highest state of elegance, and hoped that his appearance would not dim +that of the bride. Louise's sisters made her appearance on this occasion +of more importance than she herself did. Gabriele dressed her hair—she +possessed an actual talent for this art—half-blown rose-buds were +placed in the myrtle wreath; and what with one, and what with another +little innocent art of the toilet, a most happy effect was produced. +Louise looked particularly well in her simple, tasteful, bridal +dress—for the greatest part of the work of her own skilful hands—and +the content, and the beautiful repose which diffused itself over her +countenance, spread a glorification over all.</p> + +<p>"You look so pale to-day in your white dress, my little Eva," said +Leonore, as she helped her to dress—"you must have something pink on +your neck to brighten you up, else our bride will be anxious when she +sees you."</p> + +<p>"As you will, Leonore! I can put this handkerchief on,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> that it may give +a little reflected colour to my cheek. I will not distress any one."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the festally-arrayed family assembled for breakfast they presented +a beautiful appearance. The family-father, however, looked more gloomy +than gay; and as Jacobi entered they saw, with astonishment, that his +toilet was considerably negligent. He had been out; his hair was in +disorder, and he evidently was in an excited state of mind; but he was +handsome for all that. He kissed his bride tenderly on hand and lips, +and gave her a nosegay of beautiful wild-flowers, and several splendidly +bound books,—the sermons of Franzén and Wallin, which gift was very +valuable, and was received by "our sensible" and sermon-loving Louise +with the greatest pleasure.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Jacobi hastened to arrange his toilet, and then they all +went to church. The weather was uncommonly beautiful, and crowds of +festally-dressed people thronged about, in part to hear the Provost, who +was to preach that day, but principally to see the bridal pair.</p> + +<p>It was an agreeable surprise to the family when at the entrance of the +churchyard many young girls began to strew flowers before the bridal +couple the whole way to the church-door. The church also was decorated +with flowers and foliage.</p> + +<p>When the Judge took the hand of his daughter in the church, she +perceived that his was cold, and that it trembled. She looked at him, +and read in his countenance the disquiet with which his soul laboured.</p> + +<p>"My father," said she to him, "I feel so calm, so happy!"</p> + +<p>"Then I am so too, my child," said he, pressing her hand; and after this +moment his demeanour was calm and decided as usual.</p> + +<p>Jacobi, both before and after the ceremony, was excited in the highest +degree; he wept much. Louise, on the contrary, was externally quite +calm. She looked rather pale, but her eyes were bright and almost +joyous; an altogether unusual contrast in a bridal pair.</p> + +<p>On their return from the church a little circumstance occurred which +gave pleasure to all, but more especially to the Judge. As they went +past the remains of the burnt-down house, they saw a great swarm of bees +suddenly mount up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> from the trees of the garden; it flew several times +round the market-place as if seeking for a habitation, and at last +turning back, struck directly down among the ruins of the former kitchen +fireplace; it seemed as if it had selected the hearth for its abiding +home. This was regarded as the happiest omen, and no sooner had the +Judge conducted his daughter home, than he returned in order to remove +his bees to a convenient resting-place; Gabriele following him with +Baron L——'s treatise on the management of bees in her hand.</p> + +<p>When Louise was again locked in the arms of her mother—the mother and +Eva had remained at home—she was seized by a slight trembling fit which +lasted several hours, but which was unobserved by all excepting her +mother; and through the whole of the day she continued graver than +common. Jacobi, on the contrary, after his fit of weeping was over, and +he had embraced everybody, and kissed his bride on lips, hair, hand, and +foot, was seized with a real desire of dancing with the whole world. He +was so wildly joyous and happy, and at the same time so amiable, that he +imparted his state of mind to everybody else.</p> + +<p>At half-past four in the afternoon they assembled themselves in the +S—— garden, where the time was passed in the most agreeable manner, +with music, walking about, entertainment, and eating of ices and fruit, +to which also the Almighty added the brightest heaven and the calmest +air. Later in the evening they danced in the great saloon; no lady could +sit still, and scarcely a gentleman stand; all must dance! We have +nothing more to say of the ball, but we must not pass over in silence +that which occurred afterwards. When the company wished to go across the +garden to the eating-room, they perceived that it had rained +considerably, and that it still dropped; this occasioned a great +commotion among the ladies, because all the wrapping shawls and cloaks +were on the other side; they had quite forgotten to bring them over in +the fine weather. But it was, according to popular belief in Sweden, +fortunate, and quite according to the order of things, that rain-drops +should fall on the crown of the bride; but at the same time it was also +against all sense of prudence and propriety that she should wet her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +silken shoes. And then all the other ladies! They must have the wrapping +things fetched to this side!</p> + +<p>"I will provide for it!" exclaimed Jacobi, and with these words seized +his astonished bride in his arms and carried her across the garden. What +he whispered in her ear during this journey we know not, but thus far we +can say, that this action set Jacobi very high in the favour of the +ladies.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The new-married pair spent several days after the wedding under the +paternal roof, and joyful days they were, only rather too much given up +to dissipation, for all friends and acquaintance would see and entertain +the two young people. Mrs. Gunilla gave them a dinner, in which she +communicated to them that she should, at the same time with them, +journey to Stockholm, where important affairs would oblige her to stay a +considerable time. However much it grieved Elise to lose so excellent +and almost motherly a friend, she rejoiced very much over what Louise +and Jacobi would win thereby. Louise and Mrs. Gunilla, it is true, had +not perfectly harmonised together, because each would instruct the +other; but Jacobi and she agreed all the better, and she had already +invited the young people to dine with her as often as they would in +Stockholm.</p> + +<p>In the hour of parting she spoke thus to Elise and her husband with +tears in her eyes: "Who knows when we may meet again? The old woman is +in years—is not of much more use in the world—na, na! Our Lord will +care for her as he has hitherto done! And listen," continued she with an +arch, roguish air, "don't be uneasy on account of the young folks;—I +shall see that it all goes on right there. I invite myself as sponsor to +the first child. Perhaps we shall meet then! Yes, yes, I have a +presentiment that we shall see one another again in Stockholm! Nay! now +farewell, dear Elise! God bless you, my kind friends, and make all go +well with you! Think of the old woman sometimes! Adieu!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After the trouble of the packing was over—we mean packing Louise's +things, of course—and the still sorrow of parting, quiet returned back +into the house, and was only agreeably interrupted by preparations for +the journey to the West.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> The Judge seemed at this time to be young +again, and an increased union of heart showed itself between him and his +wife. So wear away, sometimes, the most beautiful summer days, even +after the autumn has made advances into the year. From what cause is +this? God knows.</p> + +<p>The invisible genius of our history leads us at this moment far from the +home of peace to a distant shore, in order to give us a glimpse +into—the subject of our next chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>A SICK CHAMBER.</h3> + + +<p>If the sun shine on the head of the crucified, if a bird lift up its +joyous song in presence of a broken heart, it seems to us cruel. But +beautiful is the unconscious irony of nature in comparison with that +which exists in human circumstances. We have here an example of this +before us. See these sparkling false diamonds, this red gauze finery, +these ruins of theatrical ornament. They seem to mock the misery of the +room about which they are strewn. In that wretched room is want of +light; want, not only of all the comforts of life, but also of its most +necessary things. And yet—where could they be more useful than here?</p> + +<p>Forlorn, upon a miserable bed lay a woman, who appeared to have seen +better days; still is she handsome, although passion and suffering seem +early to have wasted her yet young countenance. Fever burned on the +sunken cheek and in the dark eye, and her lips moved themselves wildly; +but no one was there to refresh with friendly hand the dry lips and the +hot brow; no cooling fever-draught stood near her bed. Two new-born +babes lay weeping near the mother. Uneasy phantoms seemed to agitate the +unhappy one: sometimes she raised herself in the bed with wild gestures, +but sunk back again powerless; whilst her pale, convulsed, and wandering +lips spoke from the depths of her torn heart the following incoherent +words:</p> + +<p>"It is a bitter, bitter path! but I must, must fly for help! My strength +is broken—I can do nothing—the children cry to be heard, hungry, +half-naked! Parents! sisters! help!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"It is night—the wind is cold—I freeze! The waves swell and +swell—they drive a wreck ashore—they strike on the rocks—ah! +wherefore did it not go down in the storm on the open sea? How dreadful +in full consciousness to be dashed to pieces! And thou, thou who art the +cause of all, thou sittest by and lookest coldly on me! Miserable +egotist! Dost thou bear a heart in thy breast? The temple is dashed to +pieces, and thou that has ruined it treadest upon its ruins! I knew not +how misfortune looked—I knew not what it really is! Misery! But thou +miserable one who——</p> + +<p>"Hush! is it she? Is it my foster-mother who comes here so lightly, so +gently, so softly? It becomes bright! She will lay her warm hands on my +little children, and wrap them in the warm coverlet which, she made for +me—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There sits a dove so fair and white<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All on the lily spray.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Is it she? No! it is the moon, which rises palely out of black clouds. +How coldly she looks on my misery! Away, away!</p> + +<p>"Sisters, I thirst! Will no one give me a drop of water? Have you all, +all left me? I thought I saw you again. It is so strange in my head. +Perhaps I shall become mad if I thirst much longer. It is dark—I am +afraid! I am afraid of the dark bird! If it come again it will begin to +rend my heart; but if I am ever again strong, fresh and strong, I will +kill it—with my own hands will I murder it! Day and night a wick burns +in my heart; its name is Hate, and the oil that supplies it is +bitterness!</p> + +<p>"When shall I be strong again? Do you see how he has misused me; has +fettered me to the sick-bed? Do you hear the children cry? the children +which, through the abuse of the father, have come into the world before +their time, and now will die? Give nourishment to the children, for the +mercy of God, sisters! Let me die, but help the children! Now they are +quiet! Thanks! thanks! Shall I die this morning? No, no, not yet!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"The gulf is so dark! Ah, what an abyss!</p> + +<p>"Again comes the black bird; I had fled from him, but he followed me, +tore off my wings, so that I can fly no longer!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Help me up, I must dress myself! Here, with my handsome attire! haste! +To-night I must appear anew before the public, and be admired; must hear +the clapping of hands and bravos; must see garlands showered before my +feet! See you, sisters; it is so glorious! It is an hour of life! It is +a real burst of joy! See how I glitter—how I beam forth! Listen to the +tempest of applause! How it thunders! But wherefore is it now again so +still?—still and dark as the grave? It was a short joy! Cursed be he +who made it so short!</p> + +<p>"Do not look so sternly upon me, foster-father! Am I not already +sufficiently cast down! Your stern look penetrates me. Give me your +hand, that I may lay it on my burning brow. You turn from me! You go! +Oh!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"It is so desolate! The strand has such sharp stones! It is so dreadful +to be wounded against them!</p> + +<p>"I will not die! I am so young, have so much strength of life in my +soul! I will not yet go down into eternity! No!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Who saves me? There come foaming waves!—or are they your white arms, +sisters, which you stretch out towards me? Is it you whom I see like +grey misty ghosts wandering on the corpse coast! Are you then dead? Do +you hear the noise? It is death—it is the black bird which comes!—now +I must fly—fly—fly—or die!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>With a violent effort the delirious woman rose from the bed—took a few +steps, and then fell down as if lifeless. Her head struck against the +bedstead, and a stream of blood gushed forth from her temples.</p> + +<p>At this moment a tall man habited in black entered the room softly; +light locks surrounded the noble but somewhat aged head; the mild, +serious expression of the countenance, and the affectionate look of the +blue eyes showed, still more than the dress, whose servant he was. A +lady, who was not handsome, but whose countenance bore the stamp of +beauty of the soul, like her husband's, followed him. With a look of the +deepest compassion this couple surveyed the room, and then drew near the +sick-bed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Merciful heaven!" whispered they, "we are come too late! The children +are dead—and so is the mother!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Let us now turn our eyes away from this dark picture that they may rest +upon a brighter one.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>A LANDSCAPE.</h3> + + +<p>On one of the heights of the Dofrine Mountains we see three +travellers—an elderly man and two young ladies. He seems neither afraid +of trouble for himself nor for them; he seems as if he were accustomed +to it and could play with it. But he does all so affectionately; he goes +before them so friendly and kind, reaches out his hand and encourages +them to yet another effort, and they would then enjoy the magnificent +view; they would then be able to rest, and obtain refreshment at the +"säter-hut"<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> above them! The daughters follow him smiling, and +overcome weakness and weariness for his sake! Now they are above on the +heights—and well are they rewarded for all the labour of climbing up +there! The earth lies below so rich, with its hills and valleys, dark +woods, fruitful plains—and there, in the far distance, sea and heaven +unite themselves in majestic repose!</p> + +<p>With an exclamation of rapture the father extended his arms towards the +magnificent prospect; and the mountain wind—not keen here, but mild +from the breath of spring, agreeably cooled the cheeks of the wanderers.</p> + +<p>The father went to the hut to obtain milk for himself and his daughters, +and in the mean time one of the daughters rested upon a moss-covered +stone and supported herself against a rock. Almond-scented linnea formed +a garland around her feet, and the joyous singing-birds ascended from +the valley. The sister, who stood near her and against whom she leaned +her lovely head whilst the wind played in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> brown tresses, looked on +the comfortable dwellings which gleamed forth below from amid green +trees and beside clear waters, and her affectionate but unimpassioned +heart rejoiced itself over the scene, which seemed to say to her, "Here +may one live calmly and happily!" At that moment she heard her name +spoken by a loving voice; it was Eva's, who, while she pointed with hand +and eye towards heaven, where the clouds began to divide themselves, and +stripes of blue light gleamed forth like friendly eyes, "Seest thou, +Leonore," said she, gently smiling, "it will be bright!"</p> + +<p>"Will it be bright? Ah, thank God!" whispered Leonore in reply, with +eyes full of joyful tears, as she laid her cheek against the brow of her +sister.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Säter-hütte among the mountains of Norway answer to the +Senne of the Swiss mountains. During the summer the inhabitants of many +parts of Norway withdraw from their villages to others, especially when +situated higher on the mountains, where they can fell wood and find +better pasturage for their cattle. They dwell with their herds in these +säters, which are generally abandoned in winter.—M. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>UPS AND DOWNS.</h3> + + +<p>When a new swarm is ready in a hive to attempt its own flight, warning +voices may be heard on still evenings in the little state, calling +forth, "Out! out!"</p> + +<p>People have interpreted it to be the old queen bee, which thus warns the +young ones forth into the world to fashion their own kingdom. I should +rather imagine it to be the young ones who in this manner sing forth +their longing. But let it be with them as it may, certain it is that in +the human hive, Home, a similar cry sometimes makes itself heard. Then +also there, when the young swarm is become strong with the honey and wax +of home, it finds the house too narrow and longs to get abroad. This is +common to all homes; but it is peculiar to the good and happy home, that +the same voice which exclaims, "Out! out!" exclaims afterwards yet more +animatedly, "In! in!"</p> + +<p>So was it in the home of the Franks.</p> + +<p>The period to which we must now cast our eyes conducts us several years +beyond the time when we saw father and daughters on the heights of the +Dofrine Mountains, and shows us our Petrea returned home after a long +absence.</p> + +<p>The mother, Petrea, and Gabriele, are deep in a conversation which +appears to interest them all three in a very lively manner, and the mild +voice of the mother is heard saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"You may freely decide for yourself, my good child, that you know +perfectly well; but as you describe Mr. M., and with the feelings, or +more properly speaking, the want of feeling you have for him, I can +never believe that you will be happy with him, and I cannot therefore +advise this marriage. See, here are some almonds in the shell, my dear +girl! We have not forgotten so soon your love for them—I set the basket +before you."</p> + +<p>"And the Countess Solenstråle," said the lively Gabriele, archly, "has +herself spoken for her nephew, and invited you to her house. Very polite +and handsome of her! And you, Petrea, no longer covet this exaltation?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, no, Gabriele!" answered Petrea, "this childish desire is long past; +it is another kind of exaltation than this, that I pine for."</p> + +<p>"And this is called?" asked Gabriele, with a light in her lovely eyes, +which showed her that she very well knew that, which however she had not +pronounced in words.</p> + +<p>"I do not know what I should call it; but there lives and moves here a +longing difficult to describe," said Petrea, laying her hand upon her +breast, and with eyes full of tears; "oh, if I could only rise upwards +to light—to a higher, freer life!"</p> + +<p>"You do not wish to die!" said Gabriele, warmly; "not that I now fear +death. Since Henrik has trod this path, I feel so entirely different to +what I used to do. Heaven is come quite near to the grave. To die is to +me to go to him, and to his home. But I am yet so happy to be living +here with my family, and you, my Petrea, must feel so too. Ah! life on +earth, with those that we love, may indeed be so beautiful!"</p> + +<p>"So I think, and so I feel, Gabriele," replied Petrea, "and more so than +ever when I am at home, and with my own family. On that account I will +gladly live on the earth, at least till I am more perfect. But I must +have a sense of this life having in it a certain activity, by which I +may arrive at the consciousness of that which lives within me—there +moves in me a fettered spirit, which longs after freedom!"</p> + +<p>"Extraordinary!" said Gabriele, half displeased, "how unlike people are +one to another. I, for my part, feel, not the least desire for activity. +I, unworthy mortal, would much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> rather do nothing." And so saying she +leaned her pretty head with half-shut eyes against her mother, who +looked on her with an expression that seemed to say, "live only; that is +enough for thee!"</p> + +<p>Petrea continued: "When I have read or heard of people who have lived +and laboured for some great object, for some development of human +nature, who have dedicated all their thoughts and powers to this +purpose, and have been able to suffer and to die for it; oh! then I have +wept for burning desire that it also might be granted to me to spend and +to sacrifice my life. I have looked around me, have listened after such +an occasion, have waited and called upon it; but ah! the world goes past +me on its own way—nobody and nothing has need of me."</p> + +<p>Petrea both wept and laughed as she spoke, and with smiles and tears +also did both Gabriele and the mother listen to her, and she continued—</p> + +<p>"As there was now an opportunity for my marrying, I thought that here +was a sphere in which I might be active—But, ah! I feel clearly that it +is not the right one for me, neither is it the one for which I am +suitable—especially with a husband whose tastes and feelings are so +different to mine."</p> + +<p>"But, my good girl," said the mother, disconcerted, "how came it then, +that he could imagine you sympathised so well together; it seems from +his letter that he makes himself quite sure of your consent, and that +you are very well suited to each other."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" replied Petrea, blushing, and not without embarrassment, "there +are probably two causes for that, and it was partly his fault and partly +mine. In the country, where I met him, he was quite left to himself; +nobody troubled themselves about him; he had <i>ennui</i>, and for that +reason I began to find pleasure for him."</p> + +<p>"Very noble," said Gabriele, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Not quite so much so as you think," replied Petrea, again blushing, +"because—at first I wished really to find pleasure for <i>him</i>, and then +also a little for myself. Yes, the truth is this—that—I—had nothing +to do, and while I busied myself about Mr. M., I did not think it so +very much amiss to busy him a little about me; and for this reason I +entered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> into his amusements, which turned upon all sorts of petty +social tittle-tattle; for this reason I preserved apricots for him, I +told stories to him, and sang to him in an evening in the +twilight—'Welcome, O Moon!' and let him think if he would, that he was +the moon. Mother, Gabriele, forgive me, I know how little edification +there is in all this, it is quite too——but you cannot believe how +dangerous it is to be idle, when one has an active spirit within one, +and an object before one that——You laugh! God bless you for it! the +affair is not worth anything more, for it is anything but tragic—yet it +might become so, if on account of my sins I were to punish myself by +marrying Mr. M. I should be of no worth to him, excepting as housekeeper +and plaything, and this would not succeed in the long run; for the rest +he does not love me, cannot love me seriously, and would certainly +easily console himself for my refusal."</p> + +<p>"Then let him console himself, and do not think any further on the +affair," cried Gabriele, with animation.</p> + +<p>"I am of Gabriele's opinion," said the mother; "for to marry merely to +be married; merely to obtain a settlement, an establishment, and all +that, is wrong; and, moreover, with your family relationships, the most +unnecessary thing in the world. You know, my dear child, that we have +enough for ourselves and for you, and a sphere of action suitable for +you will present itself in time. Your father will soon return home, and +then we can talk with him on the subject. He will assist us directly in +the best way."</p> + +<p>"I had, indeed, presentiments," said Petrea, with a sigh, "and hopes, +and dreams, perhaps—of a way, of an activity, which would have made me +useful and happy according to my own abilities. I make now much humbler +demands on life than formerly; I have a much less opinion of myself than +I had—but, oh! if I might only ally myself, as the least atom of light, +to the beams which penetrate humanity at the same time that they animate +the soul of man, I would thank God and esteem myself happy! I have made +an attempt—you know, mother, and Gabriele—to express in a book +somewhat of that which has lived in me and which still lives; you know +that I have sent the manuscript to an enlightened printer for his +judgment, and also—if his judgment be favourable—that he should +publish it. If this should succeed, if a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> sphere of action should open +itself to me in this way, oh! then some time or other I might become a +more useful and happy being; should give pleasure to my connexions, +and——"</p> + +<p>Petrea was here interrupted by the arrival of a large packet directed to +herself. A shuddering apprehension went through her; her heart beat +violently as she broke the seal, and—recognised her own manuscripts. +The enlightened, intelligent printer sent them back to her, accompanied +by a little note, containing the pleasant tidings that he would not +offer the merest trifle for the book, neither could he undertake the +printing of it at his own cost.</p> + +<p>"Then this path is also closed against me!" said Petrea, bowing her head +to her hand that nobody might see how deeply she felt this. Thus then +she had deceived herself regarding her talents and her ability. But now +that this way also was closed against her—what should she undertake? +Marriage with Mr. M. began again to haunt her brain. She stumbled about +in the dark.</p> + +<p>Gabriele would not allow, however, that the path of literature was +closed against her; she was extremely excited against the printer. "He +was certainly," she said, "a man without any taste."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Petrea, readily smiling, "I also will gladly flatter myself +with that belief, and that if the book could only be printed, then we +soon—but that is not to be thought of!"</p> + +<p>Gabriele thought it was quite worth while to think about it, and did not +doubt but that means might be found, some time or other, to make the +gentleman printer make a long face about it.</p> + +<p>The mother agreed; spoke of the return of her husband, who, she said, +would set all right. "Keep only quietly with us, Petrea, calmly, and +don't be uneasy about the means for bringing out your book; they will be +found without difficulty, if we only give ourselves time."</p> + +<p>"And here," added Gabriele, "you shall have as much quiet as you desire. +If you would like to spend the whole day in reading and writing, I will +take care that nobody disturbs you. I will attend to all your friends +and acquaintance, if it be needful, to insure your quiet. I will only +come in to you to tell you when breakfast is ready and when dinner; and +on the post-day, I'll only come at the post-hour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> and knock at your +door, and take your letters and send them off. And in the evening, +then—then we may see you amongst us—you cannot believe how welcome you +will be! Ah! certainly you will feel yourself happy among those who love +you so much! And your book! we will send it out into the world, and it +too shall succeed one of these days!"</p> + +<p>Loving voices! domestic voices in happy families, what adversity, what +suffering is there which cannot be comforted by you!</p> + +<p>Petrea felt their healing balsam. She wept tears of love and gratitude. +An hour afterwards, much calmer in mind, she stood at the window, and +noticed the scene without. Christmas was at hand, and every thing was in +lively motion, in order to celebrate the beautiful festival joyously. +The shops were ornamented, and people made purchases. A little bird came +and sate on the window, looked up to Petrea, twittered joyfully, and +flew away. A lively sentiment passed through Petrea's heart.</p> + +<p>"Thou art happy, little bird," thought she; "so many beings are happy. +My mishap grieves no one, hurts no one. Wherefore, then, should it +depress me? The world is large, and its Creator rich and good. If this +path will not succeed for me, what then? I will find out another."</p> + +<p>In the evening she was cheerful with her family. But when night came, +and she was alone; when the external world presented no longer its +changing pictures; when loving, sweet voices no more allured her out of +herself,—then anguish and disquiet returned to her breast. In no +condition to sleep, and urged by irresistible curiosity, she sate +herself down sighingly to go through her unlucky manuscripts. She found +many pencil-marks, notes of interrogation, and traces of the thumb on +the margin, which plainly proved that the reader had gone through the +manuscript with a censorious hand, and had had satisfaction in passing +his judgment of "good for nothing!"</p> + +<p>Ah! Petrea had built so many plans for herself and her family upon this, +which was now good for nothing; had founded upon it so many hopes for +her ascent upwards. Was nothing now to come out of them all?</p> + +<p>Petrea read; she acknowledged the justice of many marginal remarks, but +she found, more and more, that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> greater part of them had reference +to single expressions, and other trifles. Petrea read and read, and was +involuntarily captivated by that which she read. Her heart swelled, her +eyes glowed, and suddenly animated by that feeling which (we say it +<i>sans comparaison</i>) gave courage to Correggio, and which comforted +Galileo, she raised herself, and struck her hand upon the manuscript +with the exclamation, "It is good for something after all!"</p> + +<p>Animated to the depths of her heart, she ran to Gabriele, and laughing, +embraced her with the words, "You shall see that some fine day I'll +ascend upwards yet."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PART IV.</h2> +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>PETREA TO IDA.</h3> + + +<p>From my Hermitage in the Garret.</p> + +<p>"'Illusions! Illusions!' you cry over all joys, all faith, all love in +life. I shout back with all my might over your own words, 'Illusions! +Illusions!' All depends upon what we fix our faith and our affections. +Must the beauty of love and worth of life be at an end to woman when her +first spring, her bloom of love, her moments of romance are past? No, do +not believe that, Ida. Nothing in this world is such an illusion as this +belief. Life is rich; its tree blossoms eternally, because it is +nourished by immortal fountains. It bears dissimilar fruits, varies in +colour and glory, but all beautiful; let us undervalue none of them, for +all of them are capable of producing plants of eternal life.</p> + +<p>"Youthful love—the beaming passion-flower of earth! Who will belie its +captivating beauty, who will not thank the Creator that he gave it to +the children of earth? But ah! I will exclaim to all those who drink of +its nectar, and to those who must do without it—'There are flowers +which are as noble as this, and which are less in danger than it of +being paled by the frosts of the earth—flowers from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> whose chalices +also you may suck life from the life of the Eternal!'</p> + +<p>"Ah! if we only understood how near to us Providence has placed the +fountains of our happiness—if we had only understood this from the days +of our childhood upwards, acted upon it, and profited by it, our lives +would then seldom lead through dry wildernesses! Happy are those +children whose eyes are early opened by parents and home to the rich +activity of life. They will then experience what sweetness and joy and +peace can flow out of family relationships, out of the heartfelt union +between brothers and sisters, between parents and children: and they +will experience how these relations, carefully cherished in youth, will +become blessings for our maturer years.</p> + +<p>"You pray me to speak of my home and my family. But when I begin with +this subject, who can say, Ida, whether I shall know how to leave off! +This subject is so rich to me, so dear—and yet how weak will not my +description be, how lifeless in comparison with the reality!</p> + +<p>"The dwelling-house—which may be said to have the same relation to home +as the body has to the soul—arisen, now out of its ashes, stands on the +same place on which, twelve years ago, it was burnt down. I wish you had +been with me yesterday in the library at breakfast. It was Leonore's +birthday, and the family had occasioned her a surprise by a little gift +which was exactly according to her taste—ornament combined with +convenience. It was an insignificant gift—wherefore then did it give us +all so much pleasure? wherefore were there sweet tears in her pious +eyes, and in ours also? We were all so still, and yet we felt that we +were very happy—happy because we mutually loved one another, and +mutually pleased one another so much. The sun shone at that time into +the room—and see, Ida! this sunbeam which shines day by day into the +house is the best image of its state; it is that which chases hence all +darkness, and turns all shadows into the glorification of its light!</p> + +<p>"I will now, lively Ida, talk to you some little about the daughters of +the house, and in order that you may not find my picture too +sentimental, I will introduce first to you—'Honour to whom honour is +due!'—</p> + +<h3>'OUR ELDEST,'</h3> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p> + +<p>well known for industry, morality, moral lecturing, cathedral airs, and +many good properties. She married eleven years ago upon a much smaller +than common capital of worldly wealth; but both she and her husband knew +how to turn their pound to account, and so, by degrees, their house, +under her careful hands, came to be what people call a well-to-do house.</p> + +<p>"Eight wild Jacobis during this time sprung up in the house without +bringing about any revolution in it, so good were the morals which they +drew in with the mother's milk. I call them the 'Berserkers,' because +when I last saw them they were perfect little monsters of strength and +swiftness, and because we shall rely upon their prowess to overturn +certain planks—of which more anon; on which account I will inspire them +and their mother beforehand with a certain old-gothic ambition.</p> + +<p>"So now! After the married couple had kept school eleven years—he +instructing the boys in history, Latin, and such like; and she washing, +combing, and moralising the same, and in fact, becoming a mother to many +a motherless boy, it pleased the mercy of the Almighty to call them—not +directly to heaven, but through his angel the Consistorium to the +pastoral care of the rural parish adjoining this town—the highest goal +of their wishes ever since they began to have wishes one with another. +Their approaching journey here has given rise to great pleasure—it is +hard to say in which of the two families the greatest. Thus, then, +Louise will become a pastor's wife—perhaps soon also an archdeacon's, +and then she arrives at the desired situation in which she can impart +moral lectures with power—of which sister Petrea might have the benefit +of a good part, and pay it back with interest.</p> + +<p>"But the moral lectures of our eldest have a much milder spirit than +formerly, which is owing to the influence of Jacobi; for it has occurred +in their case, as in the case of many another happily-married couple, +they have ennobled one another; and it is a common saying in our family, +that she without him would not have become what she now is, neither +would he have been without her what he now is.</p> + +<p>"The Rose of the Family, the daughter Eva, had once in her life a great +sorrow—a bitter conflict; but she came forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> victorious. True it is +that an angel stood by her side and assisted her. Since then she has +lived for the joy of her family and her friends, beautiful, and amiable, +and happy, and has from time to time rejected lovers; but she may soon +be put out of the position to continue this course. I said that an angel +stood beside her in the bitter conflict. There was a time when this +angel was an ugly, uncomfortable girl, a trouble to herself, and +properly beloved by none. But there is no one in the family now who is +more beloved or more in favour than she is. Never, through the power of +God, did there take place a greater change than in her. Now it gives one +pleasure to look at her and to be near her. Her features, it is true, +have not improved themselves, nor has her complexion become particularly +red-and-white; but she has become lovely, lovely from the heartfelt +expression of affection and intelligence; beautiful from the quiet, +unpretending grace of her whole being. Her only pretension is that she +will serve all and help all; and thus has she attached every one, by +degrees, to her, and she is become the heart, the peace of the house; +and, for herself, she has struck deep root down into the family, and is +become happy through all these charms. She has attached herself, in the +closest manner, to her sister Eva, and these two could not live +separated from each other.</p> + +<p>"You know the undertaking which these two sisters, while yet young, +commenced together. You know also how well it succeeded; how it obtained +confidence and stability, and how it won universal respect for its +conductors, and how also, after a course of ten years—independent of +this institution—they had realised a moderate income; so that they can, +if they are so disposed, retire from it, and it will still continue to +prosper under the direction of Annette P., who was taken as assistant +from the beginning, and who in respect of character and ability has +proved herself a person of rare worth. The name of the sisters Frank +stood estimably at the head of this useful establishment; but it is a +question whether it would have prospered to such an extent, whether it +would have developed itself so beautifully and well without the +assistance of a person who, however, has carefully concealed his +activity from the eye of the public, and whose name, for that reason, +was never praised. Without Assessor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> Munter's unwearied care and +assistance—so say the sisters—the undertaking could never have gone +forward. What a wonderful affectionate constancy lies in the soul of +this man! He has been, and is still, the benefactor of our family; but +if you would see and hear him exasperated, tell him so, and see how he +quarrels with all thanks to himself. The whole city is now deploring +that it is about to lose him. He is going to reside on his estate in the +country, for it is impossible that he could sustain much longer the way +in which he is at present overworked both night and day. His health has +for some time evidently declined, and we rejoice that he can now take +some rest, by which he may regain new strength. We all love him from our +hearts; but one of us has set on foot a plot to oblige another of us +to—ally herself with him, and therefore our good Assessor is now +exposed to a secret proceeding, which—but I forget that I was to write +about the daughters of the family.</p> + +<p>"There is a peculiar little world in the house—a world into which +nothing bad can enter—where live flowers, birds, music, and Gabriele. +The morning would lose its sweetest charms, if during the same +Gabriele's birds and flowers did not play a part, and the evening +twilight would be duskier if it were not enlivened by Gabriele's guitar +and songs. Her flower-stand has extended itself by degrees into an +orangery—not large to be sure, but yet large enough to shelter a +beautiful vine, which is now covered with grapes, and many beautiful and +rare plants also, so as to present to the family a little Italy, where +they may enjoy all the charms of the south, in the midst of a northern +winter. A covered way leads from the dwelling-house down into the +orangery, and it is generally there that in winter they take their +afternoon coffee. The aviary is removed thither; and there upon a table +covered with a green cloth, lie works on botany, together with the +writings of the Swedish gardening society, which often contain such +interesting articles. There stand two comfortable armed chairs, on which +the most magnificent birds and flowers are worked, you can easily +imagine for whom. There my mother sits gladly, and reads or looks at her +'little lady' (she never grows out of this appellation) as she tends her +flowers in the sun, or plays with her tame<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> birds. One may say, in fact, +that Gabriele strews the evening of her mother's days with flowers.</p> + +<p>"A man dear to the Swedish heart has said, 'that the grand natural +feature of northern life is a conquered winter,' and this applies +equally to life individually, to family life, and to that of human +nature. It so readily freezes and grows stiff, snow so readily falls +upon the heart; and winter makes his power felt as much within as +without the house. In order to keep it warm within, in order that life +may flourish and bloom, it is needful to preserve the holy fire +everburning. Love must not turn to ashes and die out; if it do, then all +is labour and heaviness, and one may as well do nothing but—sleep. But +if fire be borrowed from heaven, this will not happen; then will house +and heart be warm, and life bloom incessantly, and a thousand causes +will become rich sources of joy to all. If it be so within the +house—then may it snow without—then winter thou mayst do thy worst!</p> + +<p>"But I return to Gabriele, whose lively wit and joyous temper, united to +her affectionate and innocent heart, make her deservedly the favourite +of her parents, and the joy of every one. She asserts continually her +own good-for-nothingness, her uselessness, and incorrigible love to a +sweet '<i>far niente</i>;' but nobody is of her opinion in this respect, for +nobody can do without her, and one sees that when it is necessary, she +can be as decided and as able as any one need be. It is now some time +since Gabriele made any charades. I almost fancy that the cause of this +is a certain Baron L., who was suspected for a long time of having set +fire to a house, and who now is suspected of a design of setting fire to +a heart, and who, with certain words and glances, has put all sorts of +whims into her head—I will not say heart.</p> + +<p>"And so then we have nothing bad to say of 'this Petrea,' as one of the +friends of the house still calls her, but no longer in anger. This +Petrea has had all kind of botherations in the world: in the first place +with her own nose, with which she could not get into conceit, and then +with various other things, as well within her as without her, and for a +long time it seemed as if her own world would never come forth out of +chaos.</p> + +<p>"It has however. With eyes full of grateful tears I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> dare to say +this, and some time I may perhaps more fully explain how this has been +done. And blessed be the home which has turned back her wandering steps, +has healed the wounds of her heart, and has offered her a peaceful +haven, an affectionate defence, where she has time to rest after the +storms, and to collect and to know herself. Without this home, without +this influence, Petrea certainly might have become a witch, and not, as +now, a tolerably reasonable person.</p> + +<p>"You know my present activity, which, whilst it conducts me deeper into +life, discovers to me more beauty, more poetry, than I had ever +conceived of it in the dreams of my youth. Not merely from this cause, +although greatly owing to it, a spring has began to blossom for me on +the other side of my thirty years, which, were it ever to wither, would +be from my own fault. And if even still a painful tear may be shed over +past errors or present faults; if the longing after what is yet +unattainably better, purer, and brighter, may occasion many a pang—what +matters it? What matter if the eye-water burn, so that the eye only +become clear; if heaven humiliate, so that it only draw us upwards?</p> + +<p>"One of Petrea's means of happiness is, to require very few of the +temporal things of earth. She regards such things as nearly related to +the family of illusions, and will, on that account, have as little as +possible to do with them. And thus has she also the means of obtaining +for herself many a hearty and enduring pleasure. I will not, however, be +answerable for her not very soon being taken by a frenzy of giving a +feast up in her garret, and thereby producing all kinds of illusions; +such, for example, as the eating little cakes, the favourite illusion of +my mother, and citron-soufflé, the almost perfect earthly felicity of +'our eldest,' in which a reconciliation skål with the frenzy-feast might +be proposed to her beloved 'eldest.'</p> + +<p>"Would you now make a <i>summa summarum</i> of Petrea's state, it stands +thus: that which was a fountain of disquiet in her is now become a +fountain of quiet. She believes in the actuality of life, and in her own +part therein. She does not allow her peace to be disturbed by accidental +troubles, be they from within or from without; she calls them +mist-clouds, passing storms, after which the sun will come forth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> again. +And should her little garret tumble to pieces one of these days, she +would regard even that as a passing misfortune, and hold herself ready, +in all humility—to mount up yet a little higher.</p> + +<p>"But enough of Petrea and her future ascension.</p> + +<p>"Yet one daughter dwelt in the family, and her lovely image lives still +in the remembrance of all, but a mourning veil hangs over it; for she +left home, but not in peace. She was not happy, and for many years her +life is wrapped in darkness. People think that she is dead; her friends +have long believed so, and mourned her as such; but one among them +believes it not. <i>I</i> do not believe that she is dead. I have a strong +presentiment that she will return; and it would gladden me to show her +how dear she is to me. I have built plans for her future with us, and I +expect her continually, or else a token where I may be able to find her; +and be it in Greenland or in Arabia Deserta whence her voice calls me, I +will find out a way to her.</p> + +<p>"I would that I could now describe to you the aged pair, to whom all in +the house look up with love and reverence, who soon will have been a +wedded couple forty years, and who appear no longer able to live the one +without the other—but my pen is too weak for that. I will only venture +upon a slight outline sketch. My father is nearly seventy years old—but +do you think he indulges himself with rest? He would be extremely +displeased if he were to sleep longer in a morning than usual: he rises +every morning at six, it being deeply impressed upon him to lose as +little of life as possible. It is unpleasant to him that his declining +sight compels him now to less activity. He likes that we should read +aloud to him in an evening, and that—romances. My mother smilingly +takes credit to herself for having seduced him to that kind of reading; +and he confesses, with smiles, that it is really useful for old people, +because it contributes to preserve the heart young. For the rest, he is +in all respects equally, perhaps more, good, more noble-hearted than +ever; and from that cause he is to us equally respect-inspiring and +dear. Oh, Ida, it is a happy feeling to be able intrinsically to honour +and love those who have given us life!</p> + +<p>"And now must I, with a bleeding heart, throw a mournful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> shadow over +the bright picture of the house, and that shadow comes at the same time +from a beautiful image—from my mother! I fear, I fear, that she is on +the way to leave us! Her strength has been declining for two years. She +has no decided malady, but she becomes visibly weaker and feebler, and +no remedy, as yet, has shown itself availing for her. They talk now of +the air of next spring—of Selzer-water, and a summer journey;—my +father would travel to the world's end with her—they hope with +certainty that she will recover; she hopes so herself, and says +smilingly yes, to the Selzer-water, and the journey, and all that we +propose; says she would gladly live with us, that she is happy with +us,—yet nevertheless there is a something about her, and even in her +smiles, that tells me that she herself does not cherish full faith in +the hope which she expresses. Ah! when I see daily her still paler +countenance; the unearthly expression in her gentle features—when I +perceive her ever slower gait, as she moves about, still arranging the +house and preparing little gratifications for her family; then comes the +thought to me that she perhaps will soon leave us, and it sometimes is +difficult to repress my tears.</p> + +<p>"But why should I thus despair? Why not hope like all the rest? Ah, I +will hope, and particularly for the sake of him who, without her, could +no more be joyful on earth. For the present she is stronger and livelier +than she has been for a long time. The arrival of Louise and her family +have contributed to this, as also another day of joy which is +approaching, and which has properly reference to my father. She goes +about now with such joy of heart, with the almanack in her hand, and +prepares everything, and thinks of everything for the joyful festival. +My father has long wished to possess a particular piece of building land +which adjoins our little garden, in order to lay it out for a great and +general advantage; but he has sacrificed so much for his children, that +he has nothing remaining wherewith to carry out his favourite plan. His +children in the mean time have, during the last twelve years, laid by a +sum together, and now have latterly borrowed together what was wanting +for the purchase of the land. On the father's seventieth birthday +therefore, with the joint help of the 'Berserkers,' will the wooden +fence be pulled down, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> genius of the new place, represented by +the graceful figure of Gabriele, will deliver over to him the +purchase-deed, which is made out in his name. How happy he will be! Oh, +it makes us all happy to think of it! How he will clear away, and dig, +and plant! and how it will gladden and refresh his old age. May he live +so long that the trees which he plants may shake their leafy branches +over his head, and may their rustling foretel to him the blessing, which +his posterity to the third and fourth generation will pronounce upon his +beneficent activity.</p> + +<p>"I would speak of the circle of friends which has ever enclosed our home +most cordially, of the new Governor Stejernhök and his wife, whom we +like so much, and whose removal here was particularly welcome to my +father, who almost sees a son in him. I would speak also of the servants +of the house, who are yet more friends than servants—but I fear +extending my letter to too great a length.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you blame me secretly for painting my picture in colours too +uniformly bright, perhaps you will ask, 'Come there then not into this +house those little knocks, disturbances, rubs, overhastinesses, +stupidities, procrastinations, losses, and whatever those spiritual +mosquitoes may be called, which occasion by their stings irritation, +unquiet, and vexation, and whose visits the very happiest families +cannot avoid?'</p> + +<p>"Yes, certainly. They come, but they vanish as quickly as they come, and +never leave a poisonous sting behind, because a universal remedy is +employed against them, which is called 'Forgive, forget, amend!' and +which the earlier applied the better, and which makes also the visits of +these ugly fiends of rarer occurrence; they come, indeed, in pure and +mild atmospheres never properly forth.</p> + +<p>"Would you, dearest Ida, be convinced of the truth of the picture, come +here and see for yourself. We should all like it so much. Come, and let +our house provide for you the divertisement, perhaps also the rest which +is so needful to your heart. Come, and believe me, Ida, that when one +observes the world from somewhat of an elevation—as for instance, a +garret—one sees illusions like mist, passing over the earth, but above +it heaven vaulting itself in eternal brightness."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A MORNING HOUR</h3> + + +<p>"Good morning!" said Jeremias Munter, as with his pockets full of books +he entered Petrea's garret, which was distinguished from all other rooms +merely by its perfect simplicity and its lack of all ornament. A glass +containing beautiful fresh flowers was its only luxury.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so heartily welcome!" exclaimed Petrea as she looked with beaming +eyes on her visitor and on his valuable appendages.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-day," said he, "I am of opinion that I am welcome! Here's a +treat for Miss Petrea. See here, and see here!"</p> + +<p>So saying, the Assessor laid one book after another upon the table, +naming at the same time their contents. They belonged to that class of +books which open new worlds to the eye of reflecting minds. Petrea took +them up with a delight which can only be understood by such as have +sought and thirsted after the same fountains of joy, and who have found +them. The Assessor rejoiced quietly in her delight, as she looked +through the books and talked about them.</p> + +<p>"How good, how cordially good of you," said Petrea, "to think about me. +But you must see that I also have expected you to-day;" and with eyes +that beamed with the most heartfelt satisfaction she took out of a +cupboard two fine china-plates, on one of which lay cakes of light +wheaten bread, and on the other, piled up, the most magnificent grapes +reposing amid a garland of their own leaves, which were tastefully +arranged in various shades against the golden border of the plate. These +Petrea placed upon a little table in the window, so that the sun shone +upon them.</p> + +<p>The Assessor regarded them with the eye of a Dutch fruit painter, and +appeared to rejoice himself over a beautiful picture after his own +manner.</p> + +<p>"You must not only look at your breakfast, but you must eat it," said +the lively Petrea; "the bread is home-baked, and—Eva has arranged the +grapes on the plate and brought them up here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Eva!" said he, "now, she could not know that I was coming here to-day?"</p> + +<p>"And precisely because she thought so as well as I, would she provide +your breakfast." With these words Petrea looked archly at the Assessor, +who did not conceal a pleasurable sensation—broke off a little grape, +seated himself, and—said nothing.</p> + +<p>Petrea turned herself to her books: "Oh," said she, "why is life so +short, when there is such an infinite deal to learn? Yet this is not +right, and it evidences ignorance to imagine the time of learning +limited; besides, this remark about the shortness of time and the length +of art proceeds from the heathen writer Hippocrates. But let us praise +God for the hope, for the certainty, that we may be scholars to all +eternity. Ah, Uncle Munter, I rejoice myself heartily over the +industrial spirit of our age! It will make it easy for the masses to +clothe and feed themselves, and then will they begin also to live for +mind. For true is that sentiment, which is about two thousand years old, +'When common needs are satisfied, man turns himself to that which is +more universal and exalted.' Thus when the great week of the world is +past, the Sabbath will commence, in which a people of quiet worshippers +will spread themselves over the earth, no more striving after decaying +treasures, but seeking after those which are eternal; a people whose +life will be to observe, to comprehend, and to adore, revering their +Creator in spirit and in truth. Then comes the day of which the angels +sung 'Peace on earth!'"</p> + +<p>"Peace on earth!" repeated Jeremias in a slow and melancholy voice, +"when comes it? It must first enter into the human heart; and there, +there live so many demons, so much disquiet and painful longing—but +what—what is amiss now?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, my God!" exclaimed Petrea wildly, "she lives! she lives!"</p> + +<p>"What her? who lives? No, really Petrea all is not right with you," said +the Assessor, rising.</p> + +<p>"See! see!" cried Petrea, trembling with emotion, and showing to the +Assessor a torn piece of paper, "see, this lay in the book!"</p> + +<p>"Well, what then? It is indeed torn from a sepia picture—a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> hand +strewing roses on a grave, I believe. Have I not seen this somewhere +already?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, certainly; yes, certainly! It is the girl by the rose-bush which +I, as a child, gave to Sara! Sara lives! see, here has she written!"</p> + +<p>The back of the picture seemed to have been scrawled over by a child's +hand; but in one vacant spot stood these words, in Sara's own remarkably +beautiful handwriting:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">No rose on Sara's grave!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh Petrea! if thou knew'st——<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The sentence was unfinished, whilst several drops seemed to prove that +it had been closed by tears.</p> + +<p>"Extraordinary!" said the Assessor: "these books which I purchased +yesterday were bought in U. Could she be there? But——"</p> + +<p>"Certainly! certainly she is there," exclaimed Petrea, "look at the book +in which the picture lay—see, on the first page is the name, Sara +Schwartz—although it has been erased. Oh! certainly she is in U., or +there we can obtain intelligence of her! Oh, Sara, my poor Sara! She +lives, but perhaps in want, in sorrow! I will be with her to-day if she +be in U.!"</p> + +<p>"That Miss Petrea will hardly manage," said the Assessor, "unless she +can fly. It is one hundred and two (English) miles from here to U."</p> + +<p>"Alas, that my father should at this time be absent, should have the +carriage with him; otherwise he would have gone with me! But he has an +old chaise, I will take it——"</p> + +<p>"Very pretty, indeed," returned he, "for a lady to be travelling alone +in an old chaise, especially when the roads are spoiled with rain;—and +see what masses of clouds are coming up with the south wind—you'll have +soaking rain the whole day through in the chaise."</p> + +<p>"And if it rain pokers," interrupted Petrea, warmly, "I must go. Oh, +heavens! she was indeed my sister, she is so yet, and she shall not call +on me in vain! I will run down to my mother in this moment and——" +Petrea took her bonnet and cloak in her hand.</p> + +<p>"Calm yourself a little, Miss Petrea," he said; "I tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> you, you could +not travel in this way. The chaise would not hold together. Alas, I have +tried it myself—you could not go in it!"</p> + +<p>"Now then," exclaimed Petrea determinately, "I will go; and if I cannot +go I'll creep—but go I will!"</p> + +<p>"Is that then your firm determination?"</p> + +<p>"My firm and my last."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I must creep with you!" said the Assessor, smiling, "if it +be only to see how it goes with you. I'll go home now, but will be back +in an hour's time. Promise me only to have patience for so long, and not +without me to set off—creep off, I should say!"</p> + +<p>The Assessor vanished, and Petrea hastened down to her mother and +sisters.</p> + +<p>But before her communications and consultations were at an end, a light +travelling carriage drew up at the door. The Assessor alighted from it, +came in, and offered Petrea his arm. Soon again was he seated in the +carriage, Petrea by his side, and was protesting vehemently against the +bag of provisions, and the bottle of wine, which Leonore thrust in, +spite of his protestations, and so away they went.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>ADVENTURES.</h3> + + +<p>It was now the second time in their life that the Assessor and Petrea +were out together in such a manner, and now as before it seemed as if no +favourable star would light their journey, for scarcely had they set out +when it began to rain, and clouds as heavy and dark as lead gathered +together above their heads. It is rather depressing when in answer to +the inquiring glances which one casts upwards at the commencement of an +important journey, to be met by a heaven like this. Other omens also +little less fortunate added themselves; the horses pranced about as if +they were unwilling to go farther, and an owl took upon itself to attend +the carriage, set itself on the tree-branches and points of the palings +by the wayside, and then on the coming up of the carriage flew a little +farther, there to await its coming up at a little distance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span></p> + +<p>As the travellers entered a wood, where on account of the deep road they +were compelled to travel slowly, they saw on the right hand a little +black-grey old woman step forth, as ugly, witch, and Kobold like in +appearance as an old woman ever can be. She stared at the travellers for +a moment, and then vanished among the trunks of the trees.</p> + +<p>The Assessor shuddered involuntarily at the sight of her, and remarked, +"What a difference is there between woman and woman—the loveliest upon +earth and the most horrible is yet—woman!"</p> + +<p>After he had seen the old witch he became almost gloomy. In the meantime +the owl vanished with her; perhaps, because "birds of a feather flock +together."</p> + +<p>Yet it may be that I am calumniating all this time the little old mother +in the most sinful manner; she may be the most good-tempered woman in +the world. It is well that our Lord understands us better than we do +ourselves.</p> + +<p>All this time Petrea sate silent, for however enlightened and +unprejudiced people may be, they never can perfectly free themselves +from the impression of certain circumstances, such as presentiments, +omens, apparitions, and forebodings, which, like owls on noiseless +wings, have flown through the world ever since the time of Adam, when +they first shouted their ominous "Too-who! too-whit!" People know that +Hobbes, who denied the resurrection in the warmest manner, never could +sleep in the neighbourhood of a room in which there had been a corpse. +Petrea, who had not the least resemblance in the world to Hobbes, was +not inclined to gainsay anything within the range of probability. Her +temperament naturally inclined her to superstition; and like most people +who sit still a great deal, she felt always at the commencement of a +journey a degree of disquiet as to how it would go on. But on this day, +under the leaden heaven, and the influence of discomforting forebodings, +this unquiet amounted to actual presentiment of evil; whether this had +reference to Sara or to herself she knew not; but she was disposed to +imagine the latter, and asked herself, as she often had done, whether +she were prepared for any occasion which might separate her for ever +from all those whom she loved on earth. By this means Petrea most +livingly discovered—discovered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> almost with horror, how strongly she +was fettered to her earthly existence, how dear life had become to her.</p> + +<p>All human souls have their heights, but then they have also their +morasses, their thickets, their pits (I will not speak of abysses, +because many souls are too shallow to have these). A frequent mounting +upwards, or a more constant abode upon these heights, is the stipulated +condition of man's proximity to heaven. Petrea's soul was an uneven +ground, as is the case with most people; but there existed in her +nature, as we have before seen, a most determined desire to ascend +upwards; and at this time, in which she found her affections too much +bound to earthly things, she strove earnestly to ascend up to one of +those heights where every limited attraction vanishes before more +extended views, and where every fettered affection will become free, and +will revive in what is loftier. The attempt succeeded—succeeded by +making her feel that whatever was most valuable in this life was +intimately connected with that life which only first begins when this +ends. Her lively imagination called forth, one after another, a great +variety of scenes of misfortune and death; and she felt that in the +moment before she resigned life, her heart would be able to raise itself +with the words, "God be praised in all eternity."</p> + +<p>With this feeling, and convinced by it that her present undertaking was +good and necessary, whatever its consequences might be, Petrea's heart +became light and free. She turned herself with lively words and looks to +her travelling companion, and drew him by degrees into a conversation +which was so interesting to them both, that they forgot weather and +ways, forebodings, evil omens, and preparations for death. The journey +prospered as well as any autumn journey could prosper. Not a trace of +danger met them by the way. The wind slumbered in the woods; and in the +public-houses they only heard one and another sleepy peasant open his +mouth with a "devil take me!"</p> + +<p>In the forenoon of the following day our travellers arrived happily at +U. Petrea scarcely allowed herself time to take any refreshments before +she commenced her inquiries. The result of all her and the Assessor's +labours we give shortly thus:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span></p> + +<p>It soon became beyond a doubt to them that Sara, together with a little +daughter, had been in the city, and had resided in the very inn in which +Petrea and the Assessor now were, although they travelled under a +foreign name. She was described as being in the highest degree weak and +sickly; and, as might be expected in her circumstances, it appeared that +she had besought the host to sell some books for her, which he had done. +One of these books it was which, with its forgotten mark, had fallen +into the hands of Petrea. Sara, on account of her debility, had been +compelled to remain several days in that place, but she had been gone +thence probably a week; and they saw by the Day-book<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> that it had been +her intention to proceed thence to an inn which lay on the road to +Petrea's native place; not, however, on the road by which they had +travelled to U., but upon one which was shorter, although much worse.</p> + +<p>Sara then also was on her way home—yes, perhaps might be there already! +This thought was an indescribable consolation for Petrea's heart, which +from the account she had received of Sara's condition, was anxious in +the highest degree. But when she thought on the long time which had +passed since Sara's journey from the city, she was filled with anxiety, +and feared that Sara might be ill upon the road.</p> + +<p>Willingly would Petrea have turned back again on the same evening to +seek out traces of Sara; but care for her old friend prevented her from +doing more than speaking of it. The Assessor, indeed, found himself +unwell, and required rest. The cold and wet weather had operated +prejudicially upon him, both mind and body. It was adopted as +unquestionable that they could not continue the journey till the +following morning.</p> + +<p>The Assessor had told Petrea that this was his birthday, and perhaps it +was this thought which caused him to be uncommonly melancholy the whole +day. Petrea, who was infinitely desirous of cheering him, hastened, +whilst he was gone out to seek an acquaintance, to prepare a little +festival for his return.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span></p> +<p>With flowers and foliage which Petrea obtained, heaven knows how!—but +when people are resolutely bent on anything they find out the means to +do it—with these, then, with lights, a good fire, with a table covered +with his favourite dishes and such like, although in a somewhat +disagreeably public-house room, such a picture of comfort and +pleasantness was presented as the Assessor much loved.</p> + +<p>Fathers and mothers, and all the members of happy families, are +accustomed to birthday festivals, flower-garlands, and well-covered +tables; but nobody had celebrated the birthday of the Assessor during +his solitary wandering; he had not been indulged with those little +flower-surprises of life—if one may so call them; hence it happened +that he entered from the dark, wet street into this festal room with an +exclamation of astonishment and heartfelt pleasure.</p> + +<p>Petrea, on her part, was inexpressibly cordial, and was quite happy when +she saw the pains which she had taken to entertain her old friend +succeed so well. The two spent a pleasant evening together. They made +each other mutually acquainted with the evil omens and the impressions +which they had occasioned, and bantered one another a little thereon; +but decided positively that such fore-tokenings for the most +part—betoken nothing at all.</p> + +<p>As they separated for the night the Assessor pressed Petrea's hand with +the assurance that very rarely had a day given him such a joyous +evening. Grateful for these words, and grateful for the hope of soon +finding again the lost and wept friend of her youth, Petrea went to +rest, but the Assessor remained up late—midnight saw him still writing.</p> + +<p>Man and woman! There is a deal, especially in novels, said about man and +woman, as of separate beings. However that may be, human beings are they +both—and as human beings, as morally sentient and thinking creatures, +they influence one another for life. Their ways and means are different; +and it is this very difference which, by mutual benefits, and mutual +endeavours to sweeten life to one another, produces what is so beautiful +and so perfect.</p> + +<p>The clearest sun brightened the following morning; but the eyes of the +Assessor were troubled, as if he had enjoyed but little repose. Whilst +he and Petrea were breakfasting, he was called out to inspect something +relative to the carriage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span></p> + +<p>Was it now the hereditary sin of mother Eve, or was it any other cause +which induced Petrea at this moment to approach the table on which the +Assessor's money lay, together with papers ready to be put into a +travelling writing-case. Enough! she did it—she did certainly what no +upright reader will pardon her for doing, quickly ran her eyes over one +of the papers which seemed just lately to have received from the pen +impressions of thought, and she took it. Shortly afterwards the Assessor +entered, and as it was somewhat late, he hastily put together his +papers, and they set off on their journey.</p> + +<p>The weather was glorious, and Petrea rejoiced like—nay, even more than +a child, over the objects which met her eyes, and which, after the rain, +stood in the bright sunshine, as if in the glory of a festive-day. The +world was to her now more than ever a magic ring; not the perplexing, +half-heathenish, but the purely Christian, in which everything, every +moment has its signification, even as every dewdrop receives its beaming +point of light from the splendour of the sun. Autumn was, above all, +Petrea's favourite season, and its abundance now made her soul overflow +with joyful thoughts. It is the time in which the earth gives a feast to +all her children, and joyous and changing scenes were represented by the +waysides. Here the corn-field raised to heaven its golden sheaves, and +the harvesters sang; there, around the purple berries of the +service-tree, circled beautiful flocks of the twittering silktails; +round the solitary huts, the flowering potato-fields told that the fruit +was ripe, and merry little barefooted children sprang into the wood to +gather bilberries. Petrea thanked heaven in her heart for all the +innocent joys of earth. She thought of her home, of her parents, of her +sisters, of Sara, who would soon again be one of their circle, and of +how she (Petrea) would cherish her, and care for her, and reconcile her +to life and to happiness. In the blessed, beautiful morning hour, all +thoughts clothed themselves in light. Petrea felt quite happy, and the +joke which she thought of playing on her friend the Assessor with the +stolen piece of paper, contributed not a little to screw up her life's +spirit to greater liveliness. "From the fulness of the heart the mouth +speaketh," and Petrea involuntarily influenced her travelling companion +so far that they both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> amused themselves with bombarding little children +on the waysides with apples and pears, whereby they were not at all +terrified.</p> + +<p>They had now taken the same road upon which Sara had travelled, and in +the first inn at which they stopped, their hopes were strengthened; for +Sara had been there, and had taken thence a horse to the next +public-house. All was on the way towards home. So continued it also at +the three following stations; but at the fifth, they suddenly lost all +traces of her. No one there had seen a traveller answering to her +description, nor was her name to be found in the Travellers' Day-book. +No! a great uneasiness for Petrea. After some deliberation, she and the +Assessor determined to return to the public-house whence they were just +come, in order to discover clearly in what direction Sara had gone +thence.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the evening had come on, and the sun was descending as +our friends were passing through one of the gloomiest woods in Sweden, +and one in such ill-report that not long ago a writer speaking of it, +said, "The forest shrouds memories as awful as itself, and monuments of +murder stand by the wayside. Probably the mantle of the mountains falls +not now in such thick folds as formerly, but yet there still are valleys +where the stroke of the axe has never yet been heard, and rocky ranges +which have never yet been smitten by the rays of the sun."</p> + +<p>"Here two men murdered the one the other," said the postilion with the +gayest air in the world, whilst the carriage stopped to give the horses +breath, on account of the heaviness of the road, and as he spoke he +pointed with his whip to a heap of twigs and pieces of wood which lay to +the left of the road, directly before the travellers, and which +presented a repulsive aspect. It is customary for every passer-by to +throw a stone or a piece of wood upon such a blood-stained spot, and +thus the monument of murder grows under the continued curse of society. +Thus it now stands there, hateful and repulsive amid the beautiful +fir-trees, and it seemed as if the earth had given forth the ugliest of +its mis-shaped boughs, and the most distorted of its twisted roots, +wherewith to build up the heap. From the very midst of this abomination, +however, a wild-rose had sprung<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> forth and shot upwards its living twigs +from among the dry boughs, whilst, like fresh blood-drops above the +pile, shone its berries illuminated by the sun, which now in its descent +threw a path of light over the broad road.</p> + +<p>"When this wild-rose is full of flowers," said Jeremias, as he regarded +it with his expressive glance, "it must awaken the thought, that that +which the state condemns with justice, a Higher Power can cover with the +roses of his love."</p> + +<p>The sun withdrew his beams. The carriage set itself again in motion, but +at the very moment when the horses passed the heap, they shyed so +violently that the carriage was backed into a ditch and overturned.</p> + +<p>"Farewell life!" cried Petrea, internally; but before she herself knew +how, she was out of the carriage, and found herself standing not at all +the worse upon the soft heather. With the Assessor, however, it did not +fare so well; a severe blow on the right leg made it impossible for him +to support himself upon it without great suffering. His old servant, +who had acted as coachman on the journey, lay in a fainting fit at +a few paces from him, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head, +whilst the little post-boy stood by his horses and cried. Time and +situation were not the most agreeable. But Petrea felt herself after +the fright of the first moment perfectly calm and collected. By the +help of the rain-water, which was there in abundance, she brought the +fainting man back to consciousness, and bound up his head with her +pocket-handkerchief. She then helped him to sit up—to stand he was not +able from dizziness. Soon sate master and man by each other, with their +backs by a strong fir-tree, and looked sadly troubled; for although the +Assessor was far more concerned on account of his servant than himself, +and asserted that his own accident was a mere trifle, still he was quite +pale from the pain which it occasioned him. What was to be done? Could +the carriage have been raised out of the ditch and the two wounded men +put into it, Petrea would have placed herself on the coach-box and have +driven them as well as anybody; nothing could be easier, she thought; +but the accomplishing of the two first conditions was the difficulty, +and in the present circumstances an impossibility, for our poor Petrea's +arms and hands were not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> able to second her good-will and courage. The +post-boy said that at about three-quarters of a mile (English) there lay +a peasant's hut in the wood by the road side; but it was impossible to +induce him to run there, or under any condition to leave his horses.</p> + +<p>"Let us wait," said the Assessor, patiently and calmly, "probably +somebody will soon come by from whom we can beg assistance." They +waited, but nobody came, and every moment the shades became darker; it +seemed as if people avoided this horrible wood at this hour.</p> + +<p>Petrea, full of anxiety for her old friend, if he must remain much +longer on the damp ground, and in the increasing coolness of evening, +determined with herself what she would do. She wrapped up the Assessor +and his old servant in every article of clothing of which she could gain +possession, amongst which was her own cloak, rejoicing that this was +unobserved by her friend, and then said to him decidedly, "Now I go +myself to obtain help! I shall soon be back again!" And without +regarding the prohibitions, prayers, and threats, with which he +endeavoured to recal her, she ran quickly away in the direction of the +hut, as the post-boy had described it. She hastened forward with quick +steps, endeavouring to remove all thoughts of personal danger, and only +to strengthen herself by the hope of procuring speedy help for her +friend.</p> + +<p>The haste with which she went compelled her after some time to stand +still to recover breath. The quick motion which set her blood in rapid +circulation, the freshness of the air, the beautiful and magnificent +repose of the wood, diffused through her, almost in opposition to her +own will and heart, an irresistible feeling of satisfaction and +pleasure, which however quickly left her as she heard a something +crackling in the wood. The wind it could not be? perhaps it was an +animal! Petrea held her panting breath. It crackled; it +whispered;—there were people in the wood! However bold, or more +properly speaking, rash, Petrea might be at certain moments, her heart +now drew itself together, when she thought on her solitary, defenceless +situation, and on the scenes of horror for which this wood was so +fearfully renowned. Beyond this, she was now no longer in those years +when one stands in life on a flying foot, careless and presumptuous:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> +she had planted herself firmly in life; had her own quiet room; her +peaceful sphere of activity, which she now loved more than the most +brilliant adventures in the world! It was not therefore to be wondered +at, that she recoiled tremblingly from the unlovely and hateful which is +at home by the road sides.</p> + +<p>Petrea listened with a strongly beating heart; the rustling came nearer +and nearer; for one moment she thought of concealing herself on the +opposite side of the way, but in the next she boldly demanded "Who is +there?"</p> + +<p>All was still. Petrea strained her eyes to discover some one in the +direction of the sound, but in vain: the wood was thick, and it had +become quite dark. Once again, exclaimed Petrea, "If any one be there +let him come to the help of unfortunate travellers!"</p> + +<p>Even the heart of robbers, thought she, would be mollified by +confidence; and prayers for help might remove thoughts of murder. The +rustling in the wood began afresh, and now were heard the voices +of—children. An indescribable sensation of joy went through Petrea's +heart. A whole army, with Napoleon at their head, could not at this +moment have given that feeling of security and protection which came +from those children's voices; and soon came issuing from the wood two +little barefooted human creatures, a boy and a girl, who stared on +Petrea with astonishment. She quickly made herself acquainted with them, +and they promised to conduct her to the cottage, which lay at a little +distance. On their way they gave Petrea bilberries out of their full +birch-wood measure, and related to her that the reason of their being +out so late was, that they had been looking for the cow which was lost +in the wood; that they should have driven her home, but had not been +able to find her; which greatly troubled the little ten-years-old girl, +because, she said, the sick lady could not have any milk that evening.</p> + +<p>Whilst Petrea, led by her little guardian-angels, wandered through the +wood, we will make a little flight, and relate what had occurred there a +few days before.</p> + +<p>A few days before, a travelling-car drove along this road, in which sate +a lady and a little girl. As they came within sight of a small cottage, +which with its blossoming potato-field looked friendly in the wood, the +lady said to the peasant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> boy who drove, "I cannot go farther! Stop! I +must rest!" She dismounted, and crawled with his help to the cottage, +and besought the old woman, whom she found there, for a glass of water, +and permission to rest upon the bed for a moment. The voice which prayed +for this was almost inaudible, and the countenance deathly pale. The +little girl sobbed and cried bitterly. Scarcely had the poor invalid +laid herself upon the humble and hardly clean bed, when she fell into a +deep stupor, from which she did not revive for three hours.</p> + +<p>On her return to consciousness she found that the peasant had taken her +things into the cottage; taken his horse out of the car, and left her. +The invalid made several ineffectual attempts during three days to leave +the bed, but scarcely had she taken a few steps when she sunk back upon +it; her lips trembled, and bitter tears flowed over her pale cheeks. The +fourth day she lay quite still; but in the afternoon besought the old +woman to procure her an honest and safe person, who, for a suitable sum, +would conduct the little girl to a place which would be made known to +him by a letter that would be given with her. The old woman proposed her +brother's son as a good man, and one to be relied on for this purpose, +and promised in compliance with the prayer of the sick woman to seek him +out that same day and speak with him; but as he lived at a considerable +distance she feared that she should only be able to return late in the +evening. After she was gone, the invalid took paper and a lead pencil, +and with a weak and trembling hand wrote as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I cannot arrive—I feel it! I sink before I reach the haven. Oh, +foster-parents, good sisters, have mercy on my little one, my +child, who knocks at your door, and will deliver to you my humble, +my last prayer! Give to her a warm home, when I am resting in my +cold one! See, how good she looks! Look at her young countenance, +and see that she is acquainted with want—she is not like her +mother! I fancy her mild features resemble hers whose name she +bears, and whose angelic image never has left my soul.</p> + +<p>"Foster-mother, foster-father! good sisters! I had much to say, +but can say only a little! Forgive me! Forgive me the grief which +I have occasioned you! Greatly have I erred, but greatly also have +I suffered. A wanderer have I been on the earth, and have had +nowhere a home since I left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> your blessed roof! My way has been +through the desert; a burning simoom has scorched, has consumed my +cheek——</p> + +<p>"About to leave the world in which I have erred so greatly and +suffered so much, I call now for your blessing. Oh, let me tell +you that that Sara, which you once called daughter and sister, is +yet not wholly unworthy! She is sunk deep, but she has endeavoured +to raise herself; and your forms, like good angels, have floated +around the path of her improvement.</p> + +<p>"It will do your noble hearts good to know that she dies now +repentant, but hopeful—she has fixed her humble hope upon the +Father of Mercy.</p> + +<p>"The hand of mercy cherished on earth the days of my +childhood—later, it has lifted my dying head, and has poured into +my heart a new and a better life; it has conducted me to hope in +the mercy of heaven. Foster-father, thou who wast His image to me +on earth, thou whom I loved much—gentle foster-mother, whose +voice perhaps could yet call forth life in this cold breast—have +mercy on my child—call it your child! and thanks and blessings be +upon you!</p> + +<p>"It never was my intention to come, as a burden, into your house. +No; I wished only to conduct my child to your door—to see it open +to her, and then to go forth—go forth quietly and die. But I +shall not reach so far! God guide the fatherless and the +motherless to you!</p> + +<p>"And now farewell! I can write no more—it becomes dark before my +eyes. I write these last words upon my knees. Parents, sisters, +take my child to you! May it make you some time forget the errors +of its mother! Pardon all my faults! I complain of no one.</p> + +<p>"God reward you, and be merciful to me!</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sara</span>."</p></div> + +<p>Sara folded her letter hastily, sealed it and directed it, and then, +enfeebled by the exertion, sank down beside her sleeping child, kissed +her softly, and whispered, "for the last time!" Her feet and hands were +like ice; she felt this icy coldness run through all her veins, and +diffuse itself over her whole body; her limbs stiffened; and it seemed +to her as if a cold wind blew into her face.</p> + +<p>"It is death!" thought Sara; "my death-bed is lonesome<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> and miserable; +yet—I have deserved no better." Her consciousness became ever darker; +but in the depths of her soul combated still the last, perhaps the +noblest powers of life—suffering and prayer. At length they too also +became benumbed, but not for long, for new impressions waked suddenly +the slumbering life.</p> + +<p>It appeared to Sara as if angel voices had spoken and repeated her name, +tender hands had rubbed her stiffened limbs with electrical fire; her +feet were pressed to a bosom that beat strongly; hot drops fell upon +them, and thawed the icy coldness. She felt a heart throbbing against +hers, and the wind of death upon her face vanished before warm summer +breath, kisses, tears. Oh! was it a dream? But the dream became ever +more living and clear. Life, loving, affectionate, warm life, contended +with death, and was the victor! "Sara, Sara!" cried a voice full of love +and anxiety, and Sara opened her eyes, and said, "Oh! Petrea, is it +you?"</p> + +<p>Yes, indeed, it was our poor Petrea, whose distress at Sara's condition, +and whose joy over her now returning life, can neither of them be +described. Sara took Petrea's hand, and conveyed it to her lips, and the +humility of this action, so unlike the former Sara, penetrated Petrea's +heart.</p> + +<p>"Give me something to drink," prayed Sara, with a feeble voice. Petrea +looked around for some refreshing liquid, but there was nothing to be +found in the cottage excepting a jug containing a little muddy water; +not a drop of milk, and the cow was lost in the wood! Petrea would have +given her heart's blood for a few drops of wine, for she saw that Sara +was ready to die from feebleness. And now, with feelings which are not +to be told, must she give Sara to drink from the muddy water, in which, +however, to make it more refreshing, she bruised some bilberries. Sara +thanked her for it as if it had been nectar.</p> + +<p>"Is there anywhere in this neighbourhood a place where one can meet with +people, and obtain the means of life?" asked Petrea from her little +guide.</p> + +<p>The little guide knew of none excepting in the village, and in the +public-house there they could obtain everything, "whatever they wished," +said the child; to be sure it was a good way there, but she knew a +footpath through the wood by which they might soon reach it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span></p> + +<p>Petrea did not stop thinking for a moment; and after she had encouraged +Sara to courage and hope, she set out most speedily with the little +nimble maiden on the way to the village.</p> + +<p>The girl went first: her white head-kerchief guided Petrea through the +duskiness of the wood. But the footway which the girl trod so lightly +and securely, was an actual way of trial for Petrea. Now and then +fragments of her clothes were left hanging on the thick bushes; now a +branch which shot outwards seized her bonnet and struck it flat; now she +went stumbling over tree-roots and stones, which, on account of the +darkness and the speed of her flight, she could not avoid; and now bats +flew into her face. In vain did the wood now elevate itself more +majestically than ever around her; in vain, did the stars kindle their +lights, and send their beams into the deep gullies of the wood; in vain +sang the waterfalls in the quiet evening as they fell from the rocks. +Petrea had now no thought for the beauty of nature; and the lights which +sparkled from the village were to her a more welcome sight than all the +suns and stars in the firmament.</p> + +<p>More lights than common streamed in pale beams through the misty windows +of the public-house as Petrea came up to it. All was fermentation within +it as in a bee-hive; violins were playing; the <i>polska</i> was being +danced; women's gowns swung round, sweeping the walls; iron-heeled shoes +beat upon the floor; and the dust flew up to the ceiling. After Petrea +had sought in vain for somebody outside the dancing-room, she was +compelled to go in, and then she saw instantly that there was a wedding. +The gilded crown on the head of the bride wavered and trembled amid the +attacks and the defence of the contending parties, for it was precisely +the hot moment of the Swedish peasant wedding, in which, as it is said, +the crown is danced off the head of the bride. The married women were +endeavouring to vanquish and take captive the bride, whilst the girls +were, on their part, doing their utmost to defend and hold her back. In +the other half of the great room, however, all went on more noisily and +more violently still, for there the married men strove to dance the +bridegroom from the unmarried ones, and they pulled and tore and pushed +unmercifully, amid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> shouts and laughter, whilst the <i>polska</i> went on its +whirling measure.</p> + +<p>It would be almost at the peril of her life that a delicate lady should +enter into such a tumult; but Petrea feared in this moment no other +danger than that of not being able to make herself heard in this wild +uproar. She called and demanded to speak with the host; but her voice +was perfectly swallowed up in the universal din. She then quickly turned +herself, amid the contending and round-about-swinging groups to the two +musicians, who were scraping upon their fiddles with a sort of frenzy, +and beating time with their feet. Petrea caught hold of one of them by +the arm, and prayed him in God's name to leave off for a moment, for +that her business was of life and death. But they paid not the slightest +attention to her; they heard not what she said; they played, and the +others danced with fury.</p> + +<p>"That is very mad!" thought Petrea, "but I will be madder still!" and so +thinking, she threw down, upon the musicians, a table which stood near +them covered with bottles and glasses. With this crash the music was +suddenly still. The pause in the music astonished the dancers; they +looked around them. Petrea took advantage of this moment, went into the +crowd and called for the host. The host, who was celebrating his +daughter's wedding, came forward; he was a fat, somewhat pursy man, who +evidently had taken a glass too much.</p> + +<p>Petrea related summarily that which had happened; prayed for people to +assist at the carriage, and for some wine and fine bread for an invalid. +She spoke with warmth and determination; but nevertheless the host +demurred, and the crowd, half intoxicated with drink and dancing, +regarded her with a distrustful look, and Petrea heard it whispered +around her—"The mad lady!" "It is the mad lady!" "No, no, it is not +she!" "Yes, it is she!"</p> + +<p>And we must confess that Petrea's excited appearance, and the condition +of her toilet after the fatigues of her wandering, gave some occasion +for her being taken for a little crazy; this, and the circumstance of +her being mistaken for another person, may explain the disinclination to +afford her assistance, which otherwise does not belong to the character +of the Swedish peasantry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again Petrea exhorted host and peasant to contribute their help, and +promised befitting reward.</p> + +<p>The host set himself now in a commanding attitude, cleared his throat, +and spoke with a self-satisfied air.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said he, "that's all right-good and handsome, but I should +like to see something of this befitting reward before I put myself out +of the way about overturned carriages. In the end, maybe, one shall find +neither one nor the other. One cannot believe everything that people +say!"</p> + +<p>Petrea recollected with uneasiness that she had no money with her; she, +however, let nothing of that be seen, but replied calmly and +collectedly, "You shall receive money when you come to the carriage. But +for heaven's sake, follow me immediately; every moment's delay may cost +a life!"</p> + +<p>The men looked undecidedly one on another; but no one stirred from the +place; a dull murmur ran through the crowd. Almost in despair, Petrea +clasped her hands together and exclaimed, whilst tears streamed from her +eyes, "Are you Christians, and yet can hear that fellow-creatures are in +danger without hastening to help them."</p> + +<p>She mentioned the name and office of her father, and then went from +prayers to threats.</p> + +<p>Whilst all this was going on in the house, something was going on at the +door, of which, in all speed, we will give a glimpse.</p> + +<p>There drew up at the inn-door a travelling-calash, accompanied by a +small Holstein carriage in which sate four boys, the eldest of whom, +probably ten years of age, and who, evidently greatly to his +satisfaction, had managed with his own hands a pair of thin travelling +horses. From the coach-box of the calash sprang nimbly a somewhat stout, +jovial-looking gentleman, and out of the carriage came, one after +another, other four little boys, with so many packets and bundles as was +perfectly wonderful; among all these moved a rather thin lady of a good +and gay appearance, who took with her own hands all the things out of +the carriage, and gave them into the care of a maid and the eldest of +the eight boys; the youngest sate in the arms of his father.</p> + +<p>"Can you yet hold something, Jacob?" asked the lady from one of the +boys, who stood there loaded up to the very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> chin. "Yes, with my nose," +replied he, merrily; "nay, nay, mamma dear, not the whole +provision-basket—that's quite impossible!"</p> + +<p>The mother laughed, and instead of the provision-basket, two or three +books were put under the protection of the little nose.</p> + +<p>"Take care of the bottles, young ones!" exhorted the mother, "and count +them exactly; there should be ten of them. Adam, don't stand there with +your mouth open, but hold fast, and think about what you have in your +hand, and what you are doing! Take good care of the bottle of mamma's +elixir. What a noise is there within! Does nobody come out? Come here my +young ones! Adam, look after David! Jonathan, stand here! Jacob, +Solomon, where are you? Shem and Seth, keep quiet!"</p> + +<p>This was the moment when, by the opening of the door of the +dancing-room, they became aware of the arrival of the travellers, and +when the host hastened out to receive them. Many followed him, and among +the rest Petrea, who quickly interrupted her address to the peasants, in +order, through the interposition of the travellers, as she hoped, to +obtain speedier help.</p> + +<p>"Good gentlefolks," cried she, in a voice which showed her agitation of +mind; "I know not, it is true, who you are" (and the darkness prevented +her from seeing it), "but I hope you are Christians, and I beseech of +you, for heaven's sake——"</p> + +<p>"Whose voice is that?" interrupted a cheerful, well-toned, manly voice.</p> + +<p>"Who speaks?" exclaimed Petrea in astonishment.</p> + +<p>A few words were exchanged, and suddenly the names "Petrea! Jacobi! +Louise!" flew exultantly from the lips of the three, and they locked one +another in a heartfelt and affectionate embrace.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Petrea! Aunt Petrea!" cried the eight boys in jubilation, and +hopped around her.</p> + +<p>Petrea wept for joy that she had not alone met with good Christians, but +had hit upon her most Christian brother-in-law and court-preacher, and +upon "our eldest," who, with her hopeful offspring, "the Berserkers," +were upon their journey to the paternal house and the new parsonage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few minutes afterwards the carriage, containing Petrea, Louise, and +Jacobi, accompanied by peasants on horseback, drove away at full gallop +into the wood, into whose gullies, as well as into Petrea's imploring +eyes, the half-moon, which now ascended, poured its comfortable light.</p> + +<p>We leave Petrea now with her relatives, who, on their homeward journey, +fell in with her at the right moment to save her from a situation in the +highest degree painful. We are perfectly sure that the Assessor received +speedy assistance; that Sara was regaled with wine as well as with +Louise's elixir; that Petrea's heart was comforted, and her toilet +brought into order; and in confirmation of this our assurance we will +quote the following lines from a letter of Louise, which on the next day +was sent off home.</p> + +<p>"I am quite convinced that Sara, with careful attention, befitting diet, +and above all, by being surrounded with kindness, may be called back to +life and health. But for the present she is so weak that it is +impossible to think of her travelling under several days. And in any +case, I doubt if she will come with us, unless my father come to fetch +her. She says that she will not be a burden to our family. Ah! now it is +a pleasure to open house and heart to her. She is so changed! And her +child is—a little angel! For the Assessor it might be necessary, on +account of his leg, that he go to the city; but he will not leave Sara, +who requires his help so greatly (his servant is out of all danger). +Petrea, spite of all fatigues and adventures, is quite superb. She and +Jacobi enliven us all. As things now stand we cannot fix decidedly the +day of our arrival; but if Sara continue to improve, as appearances +promise, Jacobi sets out to-morrow with the children to you. It is so +dear with them all here in the public-house. God grant that we may all +soon meet again in our beloved home!"</p> + +<p>An hour after the receipt of this letter the Judge set off with such +haste as if his life were concerned. He journeyed from home to the +forest-village; we, on the contrary, reverse the journey, and betake +ourselves from the public-house to——</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> A Day-book (Dagbok) is kept at every inn in Sweden. The +name of every traveller who takes thence horses, and the name of the +next town to which he proceeds, are entered in it; and thus when once on +the trace, nothing could be easier than to discover such a traveller. +The day-book is renewed each month.—M. H.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>THE HOME.</h3> + + +<p>Lilies were blossoming in the house on the beautiful morning of the +twentieth of September. They seemed to shoot up of themselves under +Gabriele's feet. The mother, white herself as a lily, went about softly +in her fine morning-dress, with a cloth in her hand, wiping away from +mirror or table the smallest particle of dust. A higher expression of +joy than common animated her countenance; a fine crimson tinged her +otherwise pale cheeks, and the lips moved themselves involuntarily as if +they would speak loving and joyful words.</p> + +<p>Bergström adorned ante-room and steps with foliage and splendid flowers, +so that they represented a continuation of garlands along the white +walls; and not a little delighted was he with his own taste, which +Gabriele did not at all omit to praise. But although an unusually great +deal of occupation pervaded the house this morning, still it was +nevertheless unusually quiet; people only spoke in low voices, and when +the least noise was made, the mother said, "Hush! hush!"</p> + +<p>The cause of this was, that the lost but again-found child slept in the +house of her parents.</p> + +<p>Sara had arrived there the evening before, and we have passed over this +scene, for the great change in her, and her shaken condition, had made +it sorrowful; yet we wish indeed that the feeling reader had seen the +manly tears which flowed down the cheeks of the Judge, as he laid the +found-again daughter on the bosom of her mother. We should like to have +shown him the unfortunate one, as she rested with her hands crossed over +her breast on the snow-white couch, over which the mother herself had +laid the fine coverlet; have shown him how she looked upon the child, +whose bed stood near her own; upon the beloved ones, who full of +affection surrounded her—and then up to heaven, without being able to +utter one word! And how glad should we have been could he have seen the +Jacobian pair this evening in the paternal home, and how there sate +eating around them, Adam and Jacob, the twin brothers Jonathan and +David, ditto<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> Shem and Seth, together with Solomon and little Alfred. +They were well-trained children, and looked particularly well, all +dressed alike in a blouse of dark stuff, over which fell back the white +shirt collar, leaving free the throat with its lively tint of health, +whilst the slender waist was girded with a narrow belt of white leather. +Such was the light troop of "the Berserkers."</p> + +<p>But we return to our bright morning hour. Eva and Leonore were in the +garden, and gathered with their own hands some select Astracan apples +and pears, which were to ornament the dinner table. They were still +glittering with dew, and for the last time the sun bathed them with +purple by the song of the bulfinch. The sisters had spoken of Sara; of +the little Elise, whom they would educate; of Jacobi—and their +conversation was cheerful; then they went to other subjects.</p> + +<p>"And to-day," said Leonore, "your last answer goes to Colonel R——, +your last, no! And you feel quite satisfied that it should be so?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, quite!" returned Eva; "how the heart changes! I cannot now +conceive how I once loved him!"</p> + +<p>"It is extraordinary how he should still solicit your hand, and this +after so long a separation. He must have loved you much more than any of +the others to whom he made court."</p> + +<p>"I do not think so, but—ah, Leonore! do you see the beautiful apple +there? It is quite bright. Can you reach it? No? Yes, if you climb on +this bough."</p> + +<p>"Must I give myself so much trouble?" asked Leonore; "that is indeed +shocking! Well, but I must try, only catch me if I should fall!"</p> + +<p>The sisters were here interrupted by Petrea, whose appearance showed +that she had something interesting to communicate.</p> + +<p>"See, Eva," said she, giving to her a written piece of paper, "here you +have something for morning-reading. Now you must convince yourself of +something of which till now you would not believe. And I shall call you +a stock, a stone, an automaton without heart and soul, if you do +not—yes, smile! You will not laugh when you have read it. Leonore! +come, dear Leonore, you must read it also, you will give me credit for +being right. Read, sisters, read!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sisters read the following remarks, in the handwriting of the +Assessor.</p> + +<p>"'Happy is the lonely and the lowly! He may ripen and refresh himself in +peace!' Beautiful words, and what is better, true.</p> + +<p>"The foundling has proved their truth. He was sick in mind, heart, and +sick of the world and of himself, but he belonged to the lowly and to +the unnoticed, and so he could be alone; alone, in the fresh, quiet +wood, alone with the Great Physician, who only can heal the deep wounds +of the heart—and it is become better with him.</p> + +<p>"Now I begin to understand the Great Physician, and the regimen which he +has prescribed for me. I feared the gangrene selfishness, and would +drink myself free therefrom by the nectar of love; but he said, +'Jeremias, drink not this draught, but that of self-denial—it is more +purifying.'</p> + +<p>"I have drunk it. I have loved her for twenty years without pretension +and without hope.</p> + +<p>"To-day I have passed my three-and-sixtieth year; the increasing pain in +my side commands me to leave the steps of the patients, and tells me +that I have not many more paces to count till I reach my grave. May it +be permitted to me to live the remainder of my days more exclusively for +her!</p> + +<p>"At the 'Old Man's Rose' will I live for her—for it stands in my will +that it belongs to her, it belongs to Eva Frank.</p> + +<p>"I will beautify it for her. I will cultivate there beautiful trees and +flowers for her; vines and roses will I bring there. Old age will some +time seize on her, wither her, and consume her. But then 'the rose of +age' will bloom for her, and the odour of my love bless her, when the +ugly old man wanders on the earth no more. She will take her dear +sisters to her there; there hear the songs of the birds, and see the +glory of the sun upon the lovely objects of nature.</p> + +<p>"I will repose on these thoughts during the solitary months or years +that I must pass there. Truly, many a day will be heavy to me; and the +long solitary evenings; truly, it were good to have there a beloved and +gentle companion, to whom one might say each day, 'Good morning, the sun +is beautiful;' or in whose eyes—if it were not so—one could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> see a +better sun;—a companion with whom one could enjoy books, nature—all +that God has given us of good; whose hand, in the last heavy hour one +could press, and to whom one could say, 'Good night! we meet +again—to-morrow—with love itself—with God!'</p> + +<p>"But—but—the foundling shall find no home upon earth!</p> + +<p>"Now he will soon find another home, and will say to the master there, +'Father, have mercy on my rose!' and to the habitation of men will he +say, 'Wearisome wast thou to me, O world! but yet receive my thanks for +the good which thou hast given me!'"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When the sisters had ceased to read, several bright tears lay upon the +paper, and shone in the light of the sun. Leonore dried her tears, and +turning herself to Petrea, inquired, "But, Petrea, how came this paper +into your hands?"</p> + +<p>"Did I not think that would come?" said Petrea. "You should not ask such +difficult questions, Leonore. Nay, now Eva's eyes are inquiring too—and +so grave. Do you think that the Assessor has put it into my hands? Nay, +he must be freed from that suspicion even at my expense. You want to +know how I came by this paper? Well then—I stole it, sisters—stole it +on our journey—on the very morning after it was written."</p> + +<p>"But, Petrea!"</p> + +<p>"But, Petrea! yes, you good ones! it is too late now to cry, 'but, +Petrea!' now you know the Assessor's secret; you now may do what your +consciences command, mine is hardened—you may start before my act, and +be horrified; I don't ask about it. The whole world may excommunicate +me—I don't trouble myself!—Eva! Leonore! Sisters!"</p> + +<p>Petrea laid an arm round the neck of each sister, kissed them, smiling +with a tear in her eye, and vanished.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Somewhat later in the morning we find Eva and Gabriele on a visit at the +beautiful parsonage-house immediately in the vicinity of the town, where +Mrs. Louise is in full commotion with all her goods and chattels, whilst +the little Jacobis riot with father and grandfather over fields and +meadows. The little four-years-old Alfred, an uncommonly lively and +amiable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> child, is alone with the mother at home; he pays especial court +to Gabriele, and believing that he must entertain her, he brings out his +Noah's Ark to introduce to her, in his low, clear, young voice, Ham and +Hamina, Shem and Shemina, Japhet and Japhetina.</p> + +<p>After all how-do-ye-do's between the sisters had been answered, Gabriele +loosened the paper from a basket which Ulla had brought in, and asked +Louise to be pleased to accept some roast veal and patties. "We +thought," said she, "that you would need something fresh after the +journey, before you get your store-room in order. Just taste a patty! +they are filled with mince-meat, and I assure you are baked since the +Flood."</p> + +<p>"Really!" replied Louise, laughing, "they are delicate too! See, there's +one for you, my little manikin; but another time don't come and set +yourself forward and look so hungry! Thanks! thanks, dear sister! Ah, +how charming that we are come again into your neighbourhood! How fresh +and happy you all look! And Petrea! how advantageously she has altered; +she is come to have something quiet and sensible about her; she has +outgrown her nose, and dresses herself neatly; she is just like other +people now. And see—here I have a warm, wadded morning-dress for her, +that will keep her warm up in her garret; is it not superb? And it cost +only ten thalers courant."</p> + +<p>"Oh, extraordinary!—out of the common way!—quite unheard of!" said +they, "is it not so?—why it is a piece of clothing for a whole life!"</p> + +<p>"What a beautiful collar Eva has on! I really believe she is grown +handsomer," said Louise. "You were and are still the rose of the family, +Eva; you look quite young, and are grown stout. I, for my part, cannot +boast of that; but how can anybody grow stout when they have eight +children to work for! Do you know sisters, that in the last week before +I left Stockholm, I cut out a hundred and six shirts! I hope I can meet +with a good sempstress here; at home; look at my finger, it is quite +hard and horny with sewing. God bless the children! one has one's +trouble with them. But tell me, how is it with our mother? They have +always been writing to me that she was better—and yet I find her +terribly gone off; it really grieves me to see her. What does the +Assessor say?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh," replied Gabriele warmly, "he says that she will recover. There is +really no danger; she improves every day."</p> + +<p>Eva did not look so hopeful as Gabriele, and her eyes were filled with +tears as she said, "When autumn and winter are only over, I hope that +the spring——"</p> + +<p>"And do you know," interrupted Louise, with animation, "what I have been +thinking of? In the spring she shall come to us and try the milk cure: +she shall occupy this room, with the view towards the beautiful birch +grove, and shall enjoy the country air, and all the good things which +the country affords and which I can obtain for her—certainly this will +do her good. Don't you think that then she will recover? Don't you think +that it is a bright idea of mine?"</p> + +<p>The sisters thought that really it was bright, and Louise continued:</p> + +<p>"Now I must show you what I have brought for her. Do you see these two +damask breakfast cloths, and these six breakfast napkins?—all spun in +the house. I have had merely to pay for the weaving. Now, how do they +please you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, excellently! excellently!" said one sister.</p> + +<p>"How very handsome! How welcome they will be!" said the other.</p> + +<p>"And you must see what I have bought for my father—ah! Jacobi has it in +his carpet-bag—one thing lies here and another there—but you will see +it, you will see it."</p> + +<p>"What an inundation of things!" said Gabriele, laughing. "One can see, +however, that there is no shortness of money."</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" said Louise, "all is comfortable in that respect, though +you may very well believe that it was difficult at first; but we began +by regulating the mouths according to the dishes. Ever since I married I +have had the management of the money. I am my husband's treasurer; he +gives over to me whatever comes in, and he receives from me what he +wants, and in this way all has gone right. Thank God, when people love +one another all does go right! I am happier than I deserve to be, with +such a good, excellent husband, and such well-disposed children. If our +little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> girl, our little Louise, had but lived! Ah! it was a happiness +when she was born, after the eight boys; and then for two years she was +our greatest delight. Jacobi almost worshipped her; he would sit for +whole hours beside her cradle, and was perfectly happy if he only had +her on his knee. But she was inexpressibly amiable—so good, so clever, +so quiet; an actual little angel! Ah! it was hard to lose her. Jacobi +grieved as I have never seen a man grieve; but his happy temperament and +his piety came to his help. She has now been dead above a year. Ah! +never shall I forget my little girl!"</p> + +<p>Louise's tears flowed abundantly; the sisters could not help weeping +with her. But Louise soon collected herself again, and said, whilst she +wiped her eyes, "Now we have also anxiety with little David's ankles; +but there is no perfect happiness in this world, and we have no right to +expect it. Pardon me that I have troubled you; and now let us speak of +something else, whilst I get my things a little in order. Tell me +something about our acquaintance—Aunt Evelina is well?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and sits as grandmother of five nephews at Axelholm, beloved and +honoured by all. It is a very sweet family that she sees about her, and +she has the happiest old age."</p> + +<p>"That is pleasant to hear. But she really deserved to be loved and +honoured. Is her Karin also married?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, no! Karin is dead! and this has been her greatest sorrow; they were +so happy together."</p> + +<p>"Ah, thou heaven! Is she dead? Ah, yes, now I remember you wrote to me +that she was dead——Look at this dress, sisters—a present from my dear +husband; is it not handsome? and then quite modern. Yes, yes, dear +Gabriele, you need not make such an ambiguous face; it is very handsome, +and quite in the fashion, that I can assure you. But, <i>à propos</i>, how is +the Court-preacher? Exists still in a new form, does it? Now that is +good! I'll put it on this afternoon on purpose to horrify Jacobi, and +tell him that for the future I intend to wear it in honour of his +nomination to the office of court-preacher."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span></p> + +<p>All laughed.</p> + +<p>"But tell me," continued Louise, "how will our 'great astonishment' go +on? how have you arranged it?"</p> + +<p>"In this manner," returned one of the sisters. "We shall all meet for a +great coffee-drinking in the garden, and during this we shall lead the +conversation in a natural sort of way to the piece of ground on the +other side the fence, and then peep through the cracks in it, and then +express that usual wish that this fence might come down. And then, at +this signal, your eight boys, Louise, are to fall on the fence and——"</p> + +<p>"How can you think," said Louise—"to be sure my boys are nimble and +strong, but it would require the power of Berserkers to——"</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed," answered the sisters, laughing, "the fence is sawn +underneath, and stands only so firm that a few pushes will produce the +effect—the thing is not difficult. Besides, we'll all run to the +attack, if it be needful."</p> + +<p>"Oh, heaven help us! if it be only so, my young ones will soon manage +the business—and <i>à propos</i>! I have a few bottles of select white +sugar-beer with me, which would certainly please my father, and which +will be exactly the right thing if we, as is customary on such +occasions, have to drink healths."</p> + +<p>During this conversation little Alfred had gone round ineffectually +offering two kisses, and was just on the point of growing angry because +his wares found no demand, when all at once, summoning resolution, he +threw his arms round Gabriele's neck, and exclaimed, "Now I see really +and thoroughly, that Aunt Gabriele has need of a kiss!" And it was not +Aunt Gabriele's fault if the dear child was not convinced how wholly +indispensable his gift was.</p> + +<p>But Louise still turned over her things. "Here," said she, "I have a +waistcoat-piece for Bergström, and here a neck-kerchief for Ulla, as +well as this little brush with which to dust mirrors and tables. Is it +not superb? And see, a little pair of bellows, and these trifles for +Brigitta."</p> + +<p>"Now the old woman," said the sisters, "will be happy! She is now and +then out of humour, but a feast of coffee, and some little present, +reconcile her with all the world; and to-day she will get both."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And see," continued Louise, "how capitally these bellows blow: they can +make the very worst wood burn—see how the dust flies!"</p> + +<p>"Uh! one can be blown away oneself," said Gabriele, laughing.</p> + +<p>While the sisters were still occupied with cleaning and dusting, and +Louise was admiring her own discoveries, the Judge came in, happy and +warm.</p> + +<p>"What a deal of business is going forward!" exclaimed he, laughing. "I +must congratulate you," said he, "Louise; your boys please me entirely. +They are animated boys, with, intellects all alive—but, at the same +time, obedient and polite. Little David is a regular hairbrain, and a +magnificent lad—what a pity it is that he will be lame!"</p> + +<p>Louise crimsoned from heartfelt joy over the praise of her boys, and +answered quickly to the lamentation over the little David, "You should +hear, father, what a talent he has for the violoncello; he will be a +second Gehrman."</p> + +<p>"Nay, that is good," returned the Judge; "such a talent as that is worth +his two feet. But I have hardly had time to notice you properly yet, +Louise. Heavens! it's glorious that you are come again into our +neighbourhood; now I think I shall be able to see you every day! and you +can also enjoy here the fresh air of the country. You have got thin, but +I really think you have grown!"</p> + +<p>Louise said laughingly, that the time for that was over with her.</p> + +<p>The sisters also, among themselves, made their observations on Louise. +They were rejoiced to see her, among all her things, so exactly herself +again.</p> + +<p>Handsomer she certainly had not become—but people cannot grow handsomer +to all eternity. She looked well and she looked good, had no more of the +cathedral about her; she was an excellent Archdeacon's lady.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We transport ourselves now to Sara's chamber.</p> + +<p>When a beloved and guiltless child returns, after sufferings overcome, +to the bosom of parents into a beloved home, who can describe the sweet +delight of its situation? The pure enjoyment of all the charms of home; +the tenderness of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> the family; the resigning themselves to the heavenly +feeling of being again at home? But the guilty——</p> + +<p>We have seen a picture of the prodigal son which we shall never forget! +It is the moment of reconciliation: the father opens his arms to the +son; the son falls into them and hides his face. Deep compunction of the +heart bows down his head, and over his pale cheek—the only part of his +countenance which is visible, runs a tear—a tear of penitence and pain, +which says everything. The golden ring may be placed upon his hand; the +fatted calf may be killed and served up before him—he cannot feel gay +or happy—embittering tears gush forth from the fountains of memory.</p> + +<p>Thus was it with Sara, and exactly to that degree in which her heart was +really purified and ennobled. As she woke out of a refreshing sleep in +her new home, and saw near her her child sleeping on the soft snow-white +bed; as she saw all, by the streaming in light of the morning sun, so +festally pure and fresh; as she saw how the faithful memory of affection +had treasured up all her youthful predilections; as she saw her +favourite flowers, the asters, beaming upon the stove, in an alabaster +vase; and as she thought how all this had been—and how it now was—she +wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>Petrea, who was reading in the window of Sara's room waiting for her +awaking, stood now with cordial and consoling words near her bed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Petrea!" said Sara, taking her hand and pressing it to her breast, +"let me speak with you. My heart is full. I feel as if I could tell you +all, and you would understand me. I did not come here of my own +will—your father brought me. He did not ask me—he took me like a +child, and I obeyed like a child. I was weak; I thought soon to die; but +this night under this roof has given me strength. I feel now that I +shall live. Listen, to me, Petrea, and stand by me, for as soon as my +feet will carry me I must go away from here. I will not be a burden to +this house. Stained and despised by the world, as I am, I will not +pollute this sanctuary! Already have I read aversion towards me in +Gabriele's look. Oh, my abode here would be a pain to myself! Might my +innocent little one only remain in this blessed house. I must away from +here! These charms of life; this abundance, they are not for me—they +would wake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> anguish in my soul! Poverty and labour beseem me! I will +away hence. I must!—but I will trouble nobody: I will not appear +ungrateful. Help me, Petrea—think for me; what I should do and where I +should go!"</p> + +<p>"I have already thought," replied Petrea.</p> + +<p>"Have you?" said Sara, joyfully surprised, and fixed upon her +searchingly her large eyes.</p> + +<p>"Come and divide my solitude," continued Petrea, in a cordial voice. +"You know that I, although in the house of my parents, yet live for +myself alone, and have the most perfect freedom. Next to my room is +another, a very simple but quiet room, which might be exactly according +to your wishes. Come and dwell there! There you can live perfectly as +you please; be alone, or see only me, till the quiet influence of calm +days draw you into the innocent life of the family circle."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Petrea," returned Sara, "you are good—but you cannot approach a +person of ill-report—and you do not know——"</p> + +<p>"Hush! hush!" interrupted Petrea; "I know very well—because I see and +hear you again! Oh, Sara! who am I that I should turn away from you? God +sees into the heart, and he knows how weak and erring mine is, even if +my outward life remain pure, and if circumstances and that which +surrounds me have protected me, and have caused my conduct to be +blameless. But I know myself, and I have no more earnest prayer to God +than that: 'Forgive me my trespasses!' May I not pray by your side? +Cannot we tread together the path which lies before us? Both of us have +seen into many depths of life—both of us now look up humbly to the +cheerful heaven! Give me your hand—you were always dear to me, and now, +even as in the years of childhood do I feel drawn to you! Let us go; let +us try together the path of life. My heart longs after you; and does not +yours say to you that we are fit for one another, and that we can be +happy together?"</p> + +<p>"Should I be a burden to you?" said Sara: "were I but stronger, I would +wait upon you; could I only win my bread by my hands, as in the latter +years I have done—but now!"</p> + +<p>"Now give yourself up to me blindly," said Petrea. "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> have enough for +us both. In a while, when you are stronger, we will help one another."</p> + +<p>"Will not my wasted life—my bitter remembrances make my temper gloomy +and me a burden?" asked Sara; "and do not dark spirits master those who +have been so long in their power?"</p> + +<p>"Penitence," said Petrea, "is a goddess—she protects the erring. And if +a heathen can say this, how much more a Christian!—Oh, Sara! +annihilating repentance itself—I know it—can become a strength for +him, by which he can erect himself. It can raise up to new life; it can +arouse a will which can conquer all things—it has raised me erect—it +will do the same for you! You stand now in middle life—a long future is +before you—you have an amiable child; have friends; have to live for +eternal life! Live for these! and you will see how, by degrees, the +night vanishes, the day ascends, and all arranges itself and becomes +clear. Come, and let us two unitedly work at the most important business +of life—improvement!"</p> + +<p>Sara, at these words, raised herself in the bed, and new beams were +kindled in her eyes. "I will," said she, "Petrea; an angel speaks +through you; your words strengthen and calm me wonderfully—I will begin +anew——"</p> + +<p>Petrea pressed Sara to her breast, and spoke warm and heartfelt +"thanks," and then added softly, "and now be a good child, Sara!—all +weak and sick people are children. Now submit, calmly and resignedly, to +be treated and guided like such a one; gladden by so doing those who are +around you, and who all wish you well! We cannot think of any change +before you are considerably better—it would trouble every one."</p> + +<p>At this moment the door was opened, and the mother looked in +inquiringly; she smiled so affectionately as she locked Sara in her +arms. Leonore followed her; but as she saw Sara's excited state, she +went quickly back and returned with a breakfast-tray covered with all +kinds of good things; and now cheerful and merry words emulated one +another to divert the again-found-one, old modes of speech were again +reverted to, and old acquaintances renewed.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Madame Folette again? She has been lately repaired. Can she +have the honour of giving you a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> cup of coffee? There is your old cup +with the stars; it was saved with Madame Folette from the fire, and the +little one here with the rose-buds is allotted to our little Elise. You +must really taste these rusks—they never were in the Ark—they came +with the blushing morning out of the oven. Our 'little lady' has herself +selected and filled the basket with the very best for you; you shall see +whether these home-baked would not please even the Assessor;"—and so +on.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the little Elise had awoke, and looked with bright blue +eyes up to great Elise, who bent down to her. They were really like each +other, as often daughter's daughters and grandmothers are, and appeared +to feel related already. When Sara saw her child in Elise's arms, tears +of pure joy filled her eyes for the first time.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I do not know whether my lady-readers have nerves to stand by while "the +Berserkers" overthrow the garden-fence. I fancy not; and therefore, with +my reader's permission, I make a little leap over the great event of the +day—the thrown-down wooden fence, which fell so hastily that the +Berserkers themselves tumbled all together over it,—and go into the new +piece of land, where we shall find the family-party assembled, sitting +on a flower-decorated moss-seat, under a tall birch-tree, which waved +over them its crown, tinged already with autumnal yellow. The September +sun, which was approaching its setting, illuminated the group, and +gleamed through the alders on the brook, which softly murmuring among +blue creeks, flowed around the new piece of land, and at once beautified +and bounded it.</p> + +<p>Tears shone in the eyes of the family-father; but he spoke not. To see +himself the object of so much love; the thoughts on the future; on his +favourite plan; fatherly joy and pride; gratitude towards his +children—towards heaven, all united themselves to fill his heart with +the most pleasurable sensations which can bless a human bosom.</p> + +<p>The mother, immediately after the great surprise, and the explosion of +joy which followed it, had gone into the house with Eva and Leonore. +Among those who remained behind, we see the friend of the family +Jeremias Munter, who wore on the occasion the grimmest countenance in +the world; the Baron L., who was no more the wild extravagant youth, +but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span> a man, and beyond this, a landed-proprietor, whose grave demeanour +was beautified by a certain, agreeable sobriety, particularly visible +when he spoke with "our little lady," at whose feet he was seated.</p> + +<p>Louise handed about white-sugar beer, which nobody praised more highly +than herself. She found that it had something unearthly in it, something +positively exalting; but when Gabriele, immediately after she had drank +a half glass, gave a spring upwards, "our eldest" became terrified, for +such a strong working of her effervescing white-beer she had by no means +expected. Nevertheless she was soon surrounded by the eight, who cried +altogether, "Mamma, may I have some beer?" "And I too?" "And I?" "And I +too?" "And I?" "And I?" "Send a deal of foam for me, mamma dear!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, nay, nay, dear boys! people must not come clamouring and storming +thus—you don't see that I or the father do so. Solomon must wait to the +very last now. Patience is a good herb. There, you have it; now drink, +but don't wet yourselves!"</p> + +<p>After the little Jacobis had all enjoyed the foaming, elevating liquor, +they became possessed by such a buoyant spirit of life, that Louise was +obliged to command them to exhibit their mighty deeds at a distance. +Hereupon they swarmed forth on journeys of discovery, and began to +tumble head over heels round the place. David hobbled along with his +little crutch over stock and stone, whilst Jonathan gathered for him all +sorts of flowers, and plucked the bilberry plants, to which he pointed +with his finger; little nosegays were then made out of them, with which +they overwhelmed their aunts, especially Gabriele, their chosen friend +and patron. The serious Adam, the eldest of the eight, a boy of +exceedingly staid demeanour, sate quietly by the side of his +grandfather, and appeared to consider himself one of the elderly people; +the little Alfred hopped about his mother.</p> + +<p>The Judge looked around him with an animated countenance; he planted +alleys and hedges; set down benches and saw them filled with happy +people, and communicated his plans to Jacobi.</p> + +<p>Jeremias observed the scene with a bitter, melancholy, and, to him, +peculiar smile. As little David came limping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> up to him with the +fragrant wood-flowers, he exclaimed suddenly, "Why not rather make here +a botanic garden than a common park? Flowers are indeed the only +pleasant thing here in the world, and because people go all about +snuffing with the nose, it might be as well to provide them with +something to smell at. A water-establishment also could be united with +it, and thus something miserable might get washed away from the pitiable +wretches here in this world."</p> + +<p>The Judge seized on the idea with joy. "So we will," said he; "we will +unite pleasure with profit. This undertaking will cost more than a +simple public pleasure-ground, but that need not prevent it. In this +beautiful time of peace, and with the prospect of its long continuance, +people may take works in hand, and hope to complete them, even if they +should require a long time."</p> + +<p>"And such works," said Jacobi, "operate ennoblingly on life in times of +peace. Peace requires even as great a mass of power as war, but against +another kind of foe. Every ennobling of this earthly existence, +everything which exalts the mind to a more intellectual life, is a +battery directed against the commoner nature in man, and is a service +done to humanity and one's native land."</p> + +<p>"Bah!" cried Jeremias with vexation, "humanity and native land! You have +always large words in the mouth; if a fence is thrown down or a bush +planted, it is immediately called a benefit for one's native land. Plant +your fields and throw down your fences, but let the native land rest in +peace! for it troubles itself just as little about you, as you about it. +For one's country and humanity!—that should sound very affecting—all +mere talk!"</p> + +<p>"No, now you are in fact too severe," said the Judge, smiling at the +outbreak of his friend; "and I, as far as regards myself," continued he, +gravely, but cheerfully, "wish that a clearer idea of one's country +accompanied every step of human activity. If there be a love which is +natural and reasonable, it is the love of one's country. Have I not to +thank my country for everything that I have? Are they not its laws, its +institutions, its spiritual life, which have developed my whole being, +as man and as a citizen? And are they not the deeds of my fathers which +have fashioned these; which have given them their power and their +individual life?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> In fact, love and gratitude towards one's parents is +no greater duty than love and gratitude towards one's native land; and +there is no one, be he man or woman, high or low, but who, according to +his own relationships, can and must pay this holy debt. And this is +exactly the signification of a christianly constituted state, that every +one shall occupy with his pound so as to benefit, at the same time, both +the individual and the community at large."</p> + +<p>"Thus," added Petrea, "do the rain-drops swell the brook, which pours +its water into the river, and may, even though it be nameless, +communicate benefit in its course."</p> + +<p>"So it is, my dear child," said her father, and extended to her his +hand.</p> + +<p>"It is a gladdening thought," said Louise, with tearful eyes. "Pay +attention, Adam, to what grandfather and aunt say, and keep it in your +mind;—but don't open your mouth so wide; a whole frigate could sail +into it."</p> + +<p>At these words little Alfred began to laugh so shrilly and so heartily +that all the elderly folks irresistibly bore him company. Adam laughed +too; and at the sound of this peal of laughter came bounding forward +from all ends and corners Shem and Seth, Jacob and Solomon, Jonathan and +David, just as a flock of sparrows comes flying down over a handful of +scattered corn. They came laughing because they heard laughter, and +wished to be present at the entertainment.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the sun had set, and the cool elves of evening began to +wander over the place as the family, amid the most cheerful talk, arose +in order to return to the house. As they went into the city the ball on +St. Mary's church glimmered like fire in the last beams of the sun, and +the moon ascended like a pale but gentle countenance over the roof of +their house. There was a something in this appearance which made a +sorrowful impression on Gabriele. The star of the church tower glittered +over the grave of her brother, and the look of the moon made her +involuntarily think on the pale, mild countenance of her mother. For the +rest, the evening was so lovely, the blackbird sang among the alders by +the brook, and the heaven lay clear and brightly blue over the earth, +whilst the wind and every disturbing sound became more and more hushed.</p> + +<p>Gabriele walked on, full of thought, and did not observe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> that Baron L. +had approached her; they were almost walking together as he said, "I am +very glad; it was very pleasant to me to see you all again so happy!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," answered Gabriele, "now we can all be together again. It is a +great happiness that Louise and her family are come here."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," continued the Baron—"perhaps it might be audacity to disturb +such a happily united life, and to wish to separate a daughter and +sister from such a family—but if the truest——"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" hastily interrupted Gabriele, "don't speak of disturbing anything, +of changing anything—everything is so good as it now is!"</p> + +<p>He was silent, with an expression of sorrow.</p> + +<p>"Let us be all happy together," said Gabriele, bashfully and cordially; +"you will stop some time with us. It is so charming to have friends and +sisters—this united life is so agreeable with them."</p> + +<p>The Baron's countenance brightened. He seized Gabriele's hand, and would +have said something, but she hastened from him to her father, whose arm +she took.</p> + +<p>Jacobi conducted Petrea; they were cheerful and confidential together, +as happy brother and sister. She spoke to him of her present happiness, +and of the hope which made up her future. He took the liveliest interest +in it, and spoke with her of his plans; of his domestic happiness; and +with especial rapture of his boys; of their obedience to the slightest +word of their parents; of their mutual affection to each other—and +see—all this was Louise's work! And Louise's praise was sung forth in a +harmonious duet—ever a sweet scent for "our eldest," who appeared, +however, to listen to no one but her father.</p> + +<p>They soon reached home. The mother stood with the silver ladle in her +hand, and the most friendly smile on her lips, in the library, before a +large steaming bowl of punch, and with look and voice bade the entering +party welcome.</p> + +<p>"My dear Elise," said the Judge, embracing her, "you are become twenty +years younger to-day."</p> + +<p>"Happiness makes one young," answered she, looking on him +affectionately.</p> + +<p>People seated themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't make so much noise, children!" said Louise to her eight, seating +herself with the little Elise on her knees; "can't you seat yourselves +without so much noise and bustle."</p> + +<p>Jeremias Munter had placed himself in a corner, and was quiet, and +seemed depressed.</p> + +<p>On many countenances one saw a sort of tension, a sort of consciousness +that before long a something uncommon was about to happen. The Judge +coughed several times; he seemed to have an unusual cause for making his +throat clear. At length he raised his voice and spoke, but not without +evident emotion, "Is it true that our friend Jeremias Munter thinks of +soon leaving us, in order to seat himself down in solitude in the +country? Is it true, as report says, that he leaves us so soon as +to-morrow morning, and that this is the last evening which brings him +into our circle as a townsman of ours?"</p> + +<p>The Assessor made an attempt to reply, but it was only a sort of low +grunting tone without words. He looked fixedly upon the floor, and +supported his hands upon his stick.</p> + +<p>"In this case," continued the Judge, "I am desired to ask him a +question, which I would ask from no one else, and which nearly sticks in +my throat,—Will our friend Munter allow that any one—any one of us +should follow him into his solitude?"</p> + +<p>"Who would accompany me?" snorted Jeremias grumblingly and doubtingly.</p> + +<p>"I!" answered a soft, harmonious voice; and Eva, as beautiful and +graceful at this moment as ever, approached him, conducted by her +father. "I," repeated she, blushing and speaking softly but sincerely, +"I will accompany you if you will."</p> + +<p>On the countenances of the family it might be read that this to the +members of it was no surprise. Louise had gentle tears in her eyes, and +did not look the least in the world scandalised at this step—so +contrary to the dignity of woman. The Assessor drew himself together, +and looked up with a sharp and astonished look.</p> + +<p>"Receive from my hand," said the Judge, with a voice which showed his +feeling, "a companion for whom you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> long wished. Only to you, +Munter, would I so resign my beloved child."</p> + +<p>"Do you say no to me?" asked Eva, blushing and smiling, as she extended +her white hand to the still stupified Jeremias.</p> + +<p>He seized the extended hand hastily, pressed it with both hands to his +breast, and said softly as he bent over it, "Oh, my rose!" When he +raised his head, his eyes were wet; but there was anxiety and disquiet +in his whole being. "Brother," said he to the Judge, "I cannot yet thank +you—I don't know—I don't understand—I must first prove her."</p> + +<p>He took Eva by the hand and conducted her into the boudoir adjoining the +library, seated himself opposite to her, and said warmly, "Whence +proceeds this? What jokes are these? How does it arise? Tell me, in +God's name, Eva, with what sentiments do you thus come and woo me? Is it +with true love?—yes, I say, true love; don't be startled at the word! +You can take it as I mean it. Is it love, or is it—pity? As a gift of +mercy I cannot take you. Thus much I can tell you. Do not deceive +yourself—do not deceive me! In the name of God, who proves all hearts, +answer me, and speak the truth. Is it from the full and entire heart +that you come thus to me? Do you think, Eva, angel of God, that I, the +ugly, infirm, ill-tempered old man can make you happy?"</p> + +<p>He spoke with a heartfelt anxiety, yet he now looked handsome with love +and feeling.</p> + +<p>"My friend, my benefactor," answered Eva, and wiped away some tears +which rolled down her cheeks, "see into—read my inmost heart. Gratitude +led me to the acknowledgment of your worth, and both have led me to +love; not the passionate love which I once felt—but never more can +feel—but a deep inward devotion, which will make me and, as I also +hope, you happy, and which nothing further can disturb. To live for you, +and next to you for my family, is the highest wish that I have on earth. +I can candidly say that in this moment there is no one whom I love more +than you. Is that enough for you?"</p> + +<p>The Assessor riveted his deep eyes searchingly and penetratingly on Eva. +"Kiss me!" said he, at once short and sharp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span></p> + +<p>With an indescribably charming submission, Eva bowed her blushing face +and kissed him.</p> + +<p>"Lord God!" said Jeremias, "and you are mine! In his name then!" and +with unspeakable emotion clasped he his long beloved to his heart. He +held her long, and only deep sighs arose from his heart overflowing with +happiness. At length he tore himself from her, and as if animated with +new youth he sprang forward, and exclaimed to the company assembled in +the library, "Nay, now it is all made up—I take her—she shall have +me—she shall have me! She is worthy to be my wife, and I am worthy to +be her husband! Now then, you without there, will not you drink our +healths?"</p> + +<p>All gathered around the bowl—Louise with the rest—the eight following +her—it was all a joyful bustle. Leonore and Petrea kept back the little +tumultuous ones amid laughter, and promised to carry the glasses to them +if they would only keep their places.</p> + +<p>At length quiet returned to the assembly, the glasses were filled, and +the skål began.</p> + +<p>No. 1, which the Judge proposed, was "for the newly betrothed."</p> + +<p>No. 2, which Jacobi spoke eloquently, was "for the Parents; for their +happiness and well-being," said he, with emotion, "through which I, and +so many others as well as I, are blessed!"</p> + +<p>No. 3, was drunk to "the prosperity of the new Pastor's family."</p> + +<p>No. 4, for "the new purchased land."</p> + +<p>No. 5, for "the old—ever-new Home."</p> + +<p>No. 6, was "the health of all good children!" The eight seemed as if +they could not return thanks enough.</p> + +<p>After this yet a many other particular toasts were given. The young +Jacobis drank incessantly to the aunts—Gabriele must continually make +her glass clink against those of her little nephews.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Jeremias Munter made with love-warm looks the following +speech to his bride. "That was a joke now! that you should have made me +of such consequence! How did she know that I would have her? To woo me +yourself, and to take me so by surprise! To give me no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> time to think. +What then? It is quite unheard of! Was the thing arranged beforehand? +No, that is too troublesome. Nay, nay, nay, nay then, nay say I! But now +I think about it, it was quite for the best that I accept you—but +indeed you were a little hasty; I've a good mind to——What now? What is +fresh in hand? Comes her little grace, the little sister-in-law, without +any ceremony and kisses me. Heavens! the world is very merry!"</p> + +<p>But nobody in the whole circle found the world so merry as Petrea.</p> + +<p>"Are you now satisfied with me, Petrea?" asked Eva, archly laughing. +Petrea clasped her warmly in her arms.</p> + +<p>Now the voice of Mother Louise was heard saying, "Nay, nay, children, +you must not drink a drop more! What do you say, my little David? A +thee-and-thou toast with Uncle Munter? No, thank you greatly, my dear +fellow, you can propose that another time. You have drunk to-day toasts +enough—more, perhaps, than your little heads can carry."</p> + +<p>"I beg for the boys, sister Louise," said the Assessor; "I will propose +a skål, and they must drink it with me. Fill, yet once more, the +glasses, little carousers!—I propose a skål for peace! peace in our +country, and peace in our homes! A skål for love and knowledge, which +alone can make peace a blessing! A skål, in one word, for—Peace upon +Earth!"</p> + +<p>"Amen! amen!" cried Jacobi, drank off his glass, and threw it behind +him. Louise looked at her mother somewhat astonished, but the mother +followed Jacobi's example; she too was carried away.</p> + +<p>"All glasses to the ground after this skål!" cried the Judge, and sent +his ringing against the ceiling. With an indescribable pleasure the +little Jacobis threw their glasses up, and endeavoured to make the skål +for Peace as noisy and tumultuous as possible.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We leave now the joyful circle, from which we have seen the mother +softly steal away. We see her go into the boudoir, where reposing in +comfortable quiet she writes the following lines to her friend and +sister:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have left them now for a few minutes, in order to rest, and to say a +few words to you, my Cecilia. Here it is good and quiet; and joyful +voices—truly festival voices, echo to me here. The heart of my Ernst +enjoys the highest pleasure, for he sees all his children happy around +him. And the children, Cecilia, he has reason to be joyful over them and +proud; they stand all around him, good and excellent human beings; they +thank him that existence has been given to them, and that they have +learned its worth; They are satisfied with their lot. The lost and +again-found-one has come home, in order to begin a new life, and her +charming child is quite established on the knees of the grandfather.</p> + +<p>"I hear Gabriele's guitar accompanied by a song. I fancy now they dance. +Louise's eight boys make the floor shake. Jacobi's voice is heard above +all. The good, ever-young man. I also should be joyful, for all in my +house is peaceful and well-arranged. And I am so; my heart is full of +thankfulness, but my body is weary—very weary.</p> + +<p>"The fir-trees on the grave wave and beckon me. I see their tops +saluting me in the clear moonlight, and pointing upwards. Dost thou +beckon me, my son? Dost thou call me to come home to thee? My +first-born, my summer-child! Let me whisper to thee that this is my +secret wish. The earth was friendly towards me; friendly was my home: +when thou wast gone, my favourite! I began to follow. Perhaps the day of +my departure is at hand. I feel in myself as if I were able to go to +rest. And might a really bright and beautiful moment be enjoyed by me +before my last sleep, I would yet once more press my husband's hand to +my lips, look around me on earth with a blessing, and upwards towards +heaven with gratitude, and say as now, out of the depths of my heart, +'Thank God for the home here, and the home there.'"</p> + + +<h4>END OF THE HOME.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="bold">Transcriber's Notes:</p> +<p>I inserted 'a' into sentence, Never did I envy [a] human being as I +envied her, on <a href="#Page_90">Page 90</a>.</p> + +<p>In <a href="#Footnote_3_3">Footnote 3</a>, the word appears to be Niflhem, but the more common +spelling is Niflheim.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Home, by Fredrika Bremer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOME *** + +***** This file should be named 20746-h.htm or 20746-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/4/20746/ + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/20746-page-images.zip b/20746-page-images.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e72f1bd --- /dev/null +++ b/20746-page-images.zip diff --git a/20746.txt b/20746.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0018f2a --- /dev/null +++ b/20746.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16366 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Home, by Fredrika Bremer + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Home + +Author: Fredrika Bremer + +Translator: Mary Howitt + +Release Date: March 5, 2007 [EBook #20746] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOME *** + + + + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +FREDRIKA BREMER'S WORKS. + +THE HOME + +OR, LIFE IN SWEDEN. + + + TRANSLATED + BY MARY HOWITT. + + LONDON: + HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. + 1853. + + + + +C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE. + + + + +THE HOME: + +OR, LIFE IN SWEDEN. + +PART I. + +CHAPTER I. + +MORNING DISPUTE AND EVENING CONTENTION. + + +"My sweet friend," said Judge Frank, in a tone of vexation, "it is not +worth while reading aloud to you if you keep yawning incessantly, and +looking about, first to the right and then to the left;" and with these +words he laid down a treatise of Jeremy Bentham, which he had been +reading, and rose from his seat. + +"Ah, forgive me, dear friend!" returned his wife, "but really these good +things are all somewhat indigestible, and I was thinking about----Come +here, dear Brigitta!" said Mrs. Elise Frank, beckoning an old servant to +her, to whom she then spoke in an under tone. + +Whilst this was going on, the Judge, a handsome strong-built man of +probably forty, walked up and down the room, and then suddenly pausing +as if in consideration, before one of the walls, he exclaimed to his +wife, who by this time had finished her conversation with the old +servant, "See, love, now if we were to have a door opened here--and it +could very easily be done, for it is only a lath-and-plaster wall--we +could then get so conveniently into our bedroom, without first going +through the sitting-room and the nursery--it would indeed be capital!" + +"But then, where could the sofa stand?" answered Elise, with some +anxiety. + +"The sofa?" returned her husband; "oh, the sofa could be wheeled a +little aside; there is more than room enough for it." + +"But, my best friend," replied she, "there would come a very dangerous +draft from the door to every one who sat in the corner." + +"Ah! always difficulties and impediments!" said the husband. "But cannot +you see, yourself, what a great advantage it would be if there were a +door here?" + +"No, candidly speaking," said she, "I think it is better as it is." + +"Yes, that is always the way with ladies," returned he; "they will have +nothing touched, nothing done, nothing changed, even to obtain +improvement and convenience; everything is good and excellent as it is, +till somebody makes the alteration for them, and then they can see at +once how much better it is; and then they exclaim, 'Ah, see now that is +charming!' Ladies, without doubt, belong to the stand-still party!" + +"And the gentlemen," added she, "belong to the movement party; at least +wherever building and molestation-making comes across them!" + +The conversation, which had hitherto appeared perfectly +good-humoured, seemed to assume a tone of bitterness from that word +"molestation-making;" and in return the voice of the Judge was somewhat +austere, as he replied to her taunt against the gentlemen. "Yes," said +he, "they are not afraid of a little trouble whenever a great advantage +is to be obtained. But----are we to have no breakfast to-day? It is +twenty-two minutes after nine! It really is shocking, dear Elise, that +you cannot teach your maids punctuality! There is nothing more +intolerable than to lose one's time in waiting; nothing more useless; +nothing more insupportable; nothing which more easily might be +prevented, if people would only resolutely set about it! Life is really +too short for one to be able to waste half of it in waiting! +Five-and-twenty minutes after nine! and the children--are they not ready +too? Dear Elise----" + +"I'll go and see after them," said she; and went out quickly. + +It was Sunday. The June sun shone into a large cheerful room, and upon a +snow-white damask tablecloth, which in soft silken folds was spread over +a long table, on which a handsome coffee-service was set out with +considerable elegance. The disturbed countenance with which the Judge +had approached the breakfast-table, cleared itself instantly as a +person, whom young ladies would unquestionably have called "horribly +ugly," but whom no reflective physiognomist could have observed without +interest, entered the room. This person was tall, extremely thin, and +somewhat inclining to the left side; the complexion was dark, and the +somewhat noble features wore a melancholy expression, which but seldom +gave place to a smile of unusual beauty. The forehead elevated itself, +with its deep lines, above the large brown extraordinary eyes, and above +this a wood of black-brown hair erected itself, under whose thick stiff +curls people said a multitude of ill-humours and paradoxes housed +themselves; so also, indeed, might they in all those deep furrows with +which his countenance was lined, not one of which certainly was without +its own signification. Still, there was not a sharp angle of that face; +there was nothing, either in word or voice, of the Assessor, Jeremias +Munter, however severe they might seem to be, which at the same time did +not conceal an expression of the deepest goodness of heart, and which +stamped itself upon his whole being, in the same way as the sap clothes +with green foliage the stiff resisting branches of the knotted oak. + +"Good day, brother!" exclaimed the Judge, cordially offering him his +hand, "how are you?" + +"Bad!" answered the melancholy man; "how can it be otherwise? What +weather we have! As cold as January! And what people we have in the +world too: it is both a sin and shame! I am so angry to-day that----Have +you read that malicious article against you in the----paper?" + +"No, I don't take in that paper; but I have heard speak of the article," +said Judge Frank. "It is directed against my writing on the condition of +the poor in the province, is it not?" + +"Yes; or more properly no," replied the Assessor, "for the extraordinary +fact is, that it contains nothing about that affair. It is against +yourself that it is aimed--the lowest insinuations, the coarsest abuse!" + +"So I have heard," said the Judge; "and on that very account I do not +trouble myself to read it." + +"Have you heard who has written it?" asked the visitor. + +"No," returned the other; "nor do I wish to know." + +"But you should do so," argued the Assessor; "people ought to know who +are their enemies. It is Mr. N. I should like to give the fellow three +emetics, that he might know the taste of his own gall!" + +"What!" exclaimed Judge Frank, at once interested in the Assessor's +news--"N., who lives nearly opposite to us, and who has so lately +received from the Cape his child, the poor little motherless girl?" + +"The very same!" returned he; "but you must read this piece, if it be +only to give a relish to your coffee. See here; I have brought it with +me. I have learned that it would be sent to your wife to-day. Yes, +indeed, what pretty fellows there are in the world! But where is your +wife to-day? Ah! here she comes! Good morning, my lady Elise. So +charming in the early morning; but so pale! Eh, eh, eh; this is not as +it should be! What is it that I say and preach continually? Exercise, +fresh air--else nothing in the world avails anything. But who listens to +one's preaching? No--adieu my friends! Ah! where is my snuff-box? Under +the newspapers? The abominable newspapers; they must lay their hands on +everything; one can't keep even one's snuff-box in peace for them! +Adieu, Mrs. Elise! Adieu, Frank. Nay, see how he sits there and reads +coarse abuse of himself, just as if it mattered nothing to him. Now he +laughs into the bargain. Enjoy your breakfasts, my friends!" + +"Will you not enjoy it with us?" asked the friendly voice of Mrs. Frank; +"we can offer you to-day quite fresh home-baked bread." + +"No, I thank you," said the Assessor; "I am no friend to such home-made +things; good for nothing, however much they may be bragged of. +Home-baked, home-brewed, home-made. Heaven help us! It all sounds very +fine, but it's good for nothing." + +"Try if to-day it really be good for nothing," urged she. "There, we +have now Madame Folette on the table; you must, at least, have a cup of +coffee from her." + +"What do you mean?" asked the surprised Assessor; "what is it? What +horrid Madame is it that is to give me a cup of coffee? I never could +bear old women; and if they are now to come upon the coffee-table----" + +"The round coffee-pot there," said Mrs. Frank, good-humouredly, "is +Madame Folette. Could you not bear that?" + +"But why call it so?" asked he. "What foolery is that?" + +"It is a fancy of the children," returned she. "An honest old woman of +this name, whom I once treated to a cup of coffee, exclaimed, at the +first sight of her favourite beverage, 'When I see a coffee-pot, it is +all the same to me as if I saw an angel from heaven!' The children heard +this, and insisted upon it that there was a great resemblance in figure +between Madame Folette and this coffee-pot; and so ever since it has +borne her name. The children are very fond of her, because she gives +them every Sunday morning their coffee." + +"What business have children with coffee?" asked the Assessor. "Cannot +they be thin enough without it; and are they to be burnt up before their +time? There's Petrea, is she not lanky enough? I never was very fond of +her; and now, if she is to grow up into a coffee wife, why--" + +"But, dear Munter," said Mrs. Frank, "you are not in a good humour +to-day." + +"Good humour!" replied he: "no, Mrs. Elise, I am not in a good humour; I +don't know what there is in the world to make people good-humoured. +There now, your chair has torn a hole in my coat-lap! Is that pleasant? +That's home-made too! But now I'll go; that is, if your doors--are they +home-made too?--will let me pass." + +"But will you not come back, and dine with us?" asked she. + +"No, I thank you," replied he; "I am invited elsewhere; and that in this +house, too." + +"To Mrs. Chamberlain W----?" asked Mrs. Frank. + +"No, indeed!" answered the Assessor: "I cannot bear that woman. She +lectures me incessantly. Lectures me! I have a great wish to lecture +her, I have! And then, her blessed dog--Pyrrhus or Pirre; I had a great +mind to kill it. And then, she is so thin. I cannot bear thin people; +least of all, thin old women." + +"No?" said Mrs. Frank. "Don't you know, then, what rumour says of you +and poor old Miss Rask?" + +"That common person!" exclaimed Jeremias. "Well, and what says malice of +me and poor old Miss Rask?" + +"That, not many days since," said Mrs. Frank, "you met this old lady on +your stairs as she was going up to her own room; and that she was +sighing, because of the long flight of stairs and her weak chest. Now +malice says, that, with the utmost politeness, you offered her your arm, +and conducted her up the stairs with the greatest possible care; nor +left her, till she had reached her own door; and further, after all, +that you sent her a pound of cough lozenges; and----" + +"And do you believe," interrupted the Assessor, "that I did that for her +own sake? No, I thank you! I did it that the poor old skeleton might not +fall down dead upon my steps, and I be obliged to climb over her ugly +corpse. From no other cause in this world did I drag her up the stairs. +Yes, yes, that was it! I dine to-day with Miss Berndes. She is always a +very sensible person; and her little Miss Laura is very pretty. See, +here have we now all the herd of children! Your most devoted servant, +Sister Louise! So, indeed, little Miss Eva! she is not afraid of the +ugly old fellow, she--God bless her! there's some sugar-candy for her! +And the little one! it looks just like a little angel. Do I make her +cry? Then I must away; for I cannot endure children's crying. Oh, for +heaven's sake! It may make a part of the charm of home: that I can +believe;--perhaps it is home-music! Home-baked, home-made, +home-music----hu!" + +The Assessor sprang through the door; the Judge laughed; and the little +one became silent at the sight of a kringla,[1] through which the +beautiful eye of her brother Henrik spied at her as through an +eye-glass; whilst the other children came bounding to the +breakfast-table. + +"Nay, nay, nay, my little angels, keep yourselves a little quiet," said +the mother. "Wait a moment, dear Petrea; patience is a virtue. Eva dear, +don't behave in that way; you don't see me do so." + +Thus gently moralised the mother; whilst, with the help of her eldest +daughter, the little prudent Louise, she cared for the other children. +The father went from one to another full of delight, patted their little +heads, and pulled them gently by the hair. + +"I ought, yesterday, to have cut all your hair," said he. "Eva has quite +a wig; one can hardly see her face for it. Give your papa a kiss, my +little girl! I'll take your wig from you early to-morrow morning." + +"And mine too, and mine too, papa!" exclaimed the others. + +"Yes, yes," answered the father, "I'll shear every one of you." + +All laughed but the little one; which, half frightened, hid its +sunny-haired little head on the mother's bosom: the father raised it +gently, and kissed, first it, and then the mother. + +"Now put sugar in papa's cup," said she to the little one; "look! he +holds it to you." + +The little one smiled, put sugar in the cup, and Madame Folette began +her joyful circuit. + +But we will now leave Madame Folette, home-baked bread, the family +breakfast, and the morning sun, and seat ourselves at the evening lamp, +by the light of which Elise is writing. + + +TO CECILIA. + +I must give you portraits of all my little flock of children; who now, +having enjoyed their evening meal, are laid to rest upon their soft +pillows. Ah! if I had only a really good portrait--I mean a painted +one--of my Henrik, my first-born, my summer child, as I call +him--because he was born on a Midsummer-day, in the summer hours both of +my life and my fortune; but only the pencil of a Correggio could +represent those beautiful, kind, blue eyes, those golden locks, that +loving mouth, and that countenance all so perfectly pure and beautiful! +Goodness and joyfulness beam out from his whole being; even although his +buoyant animal life, which seldom allows his arms or legs to be quiet, +often expresses itself in not the most graceful manner. My +eleven-years-old boy is, alas! very--his father says--very unmanageable. +Still, notwithstanding all this wildness, he is possessed of a deep and +restless fund of sentiment, which makes me often tremble for his future +happiness. God defend my darling, my summer child, my only son! Oh, how +dear he is to me! Ernst warns me often of too partial an affection for +this child; and on that very account will I now pass on from portrait +No. 1 to + +No. 2.--Behold then the little Queen-bee, our eldest daughter, just +turned ten years; and you will see a grave, fair girl, not handsome, but +with a round, sensible face; from which I hope, by degrees, to remove a +certain ill-tempered expression. She is uncommonly industrious, silent +and orderly, and kind towards her younger sisters, although very much +disposed to lecture them; nor will she allow any opportunity to pass in +which her importance as "eldest sister" is not observed; on which +account the little ones give her the titles of "Your Majesty" and "Mrs. +Judge." The little Louise appears to me one of those who will always be +still and sure; and who, on this account, will go fortunately though the +world. + +No. 3.--People say that my little nine-years-old Eva will be very like +her mother. I hope it will prove a really splendid fac-simile. See, +then, a little, soft, round-about figure, which, amid laughter and +merriment, rolls hither and thither lightly and nimbly, with an +ever-varying physiognomy, which is rather plain than handsome, although +lit up by a pair of beautiful, kind, dark-blue eyes. Quickly moved to +sorrow, quickly excited to joy; good-hearted, flattering, +confection-loving, pleased with new and handsome clothes, and with dolls +and play; greatly beloved too by brothers and sisters, as well as by all +the servants; the best friend and playfellow, too, of her brother. Such +is little Eva. + +No. 4.--Nos. 3 and 4 ought not properly to come together. Poor Leonore +had a sickly childhood, and this rather, I believe, than nature, has +given to her an unsteady and violent temper, and has unhappily sown the +seeds of envy towards her more fortunate sisters. She is not deficient +in deep feeling, but the understanding is sluggish, and it is extremely +difficult for her to learn anything. All this promises no pleasure; +rather the very opposite. The expression of her mouth, even in the +uncomfortable time of teething, seemed to speak, "Let me be quiet!" It +is hardly possible that she can be other than plain, but, with God's +help, I hope to make her good and happy. + +"My beloved, plain child!" say I sometimes to her as I clasp her +tenderly in my arms, for I would willingly reconcile her early to her +fate. + +No. 5.--But whatever will fate do with the nose of my Petrea? This nose +is at present the most remarkable thing about her little person; and if +it were not so large, she really would be a pretty child. We hope, +however, that it will moderate itself in her growth. + +Petrea is a little lively girl, with a turn for almost everything, +whether good or bad; curious and restless is she, and beyond measure +full of failings; she has a dangerous desire to make herself observed, +and to excite an interest. Her activity shows itself in destructiveness; +yet she is good-hearted and most generous. In every kind of foolery she +is a most willing ally with Henrik and Eva, whenever they will grant her +so much favour; and if these three be heard whispering together, one may +be quite sure that some roguery or other is on foot. There exists +already, however, so much unquiet in her, that I fear her whole life +will be such; but I will early teach her to turn herself to that which +can change unrest into rest. + +No. 6.--And now to the pet child of the house--to the youngest, the +loveliest, the so-called "little one"--to her who with her white hands +puts the sugar into her father's and mother's cup--the coffee without +that would not taste good--to her whose little bed is not yet removed +from the chamber of the parents, and who, every morning, creeping out of +her own bed, lays her bright curly little head on her father's shoulder +and sleeps again. + +Could you only see the little two-years-old Gabriele, with her large, +serious brown eyes; her refined, somewhat pale, but indescribably lovely +countenance; her bewitching little gestures; you would be just as much +taken with her as the rest are,--you would find it difficult, as we all +do, not to spoil her. She is a quiet little child, but very unlike her +eldest sister. A predominating characteristic of Gabriele is love of the +beautiful; she shows a decided aversion to what is ugly and +inconvenient, and as decided a love for what is attractive. A most +winning little gentility in appearance and manners, has occasioned the +brother and sisters to call her in sport "the little young lady," or +"the little princess." Henrik is really in love with his little sister, +kisses her small white hands with devotion, and in return she loves him +with her whole heart. Towards the others she is very often somewhat +ungracious; and our good friend the Assessor calls her frequently "the +little gracious one," and frequently also "the little ungracious one," +but then he has for her especially so many names; my wish is that in the +end she may deserve the surname of "the amiable." + +Peace be with my young ones! There is not one of them which is not +possessed of the material of peculiar virtue and excellence, and yet not +also at the same time of the seed of some dangerous vice, which may ruin +the good growth of God in them. May the endeavours both of their father +and me be blessed in training these plants of heaven aright! But ah! the +education of children is no easy thing, and all the many works on that +subject which I have studied appear to me, whether the fault be in me +or in them I cannot tell, but small helps. Ah! I often find no other +means than to clasp the child tenderly in my arms, and to weep bitterly +over it, or else to kiss it in the fulness of my joy; and it often has +appeared to me that such moments are not without their influence. + +I endeavour as much as possible not to scold. I know how perpetually +scolding crushes the free spirit and the innocent joyousness of +childhood; and I sincerely believe that if one will only sedulously +cultivate what is good in character, and make in all instances what is +good visible and attractive, the bad will by degrees fall away of +itself. + +I sing a great deal to my children. They are brought up with songs; for +I wished early, as it were, to bathe their souls in harmony. Several of +them, especially my first-born and Eva, are regular little enthusiasts +in music; and every evening, as soon as twilight comes on, the children +throng about me, and then I sit down to the piano, and either accompany +myself, or play to little songs which they themselves sing. It is my +Henrik's reward, when he has been very good for the whole day, that I +should sit by his bed, and sing to him till he sleeps. He says that he +then has such beautiful dreams. We often sit and talk for an hour +instead, and I delight myself sincerely in his active and pure soul. +When he lays out his great plans for his future life, he ends +thus:--"And when I am grown up a man, and have my own house, then, +mother, thou shalt come and live with me, and I will keep so many maids +to wait on thee, and thou shalt have so many flowers, and everything +that thou art fond of, and shalt live just like a queen; only of an +evening, when I go to bed, thou shalt sit beside me and sing me to +sleep; wilt thou not?" Often too, when in the midst of his plans for the +future and my songs, he has dropped asleep, I remain sitting still by +the bed with my heart full to overflowing with joy and pride in this +angel. Ernst declares that I spoil him. Ah, perhaps I do, but +nevertheless it is a fact that I earnestly endeavour not to do so. After +all, I can say of every one of my children what a friend of mine said of +hers, that they are tolerably good; that is to say, they are not good +enough for heaven. + +This evening I am alone. Ernst is away at the District-Governor's. It +is my birthday to-day; but I have told no one, because I wished rather +to celebrate it in a quiet communion with my own thoughts. + +How at this moment the long past years come in review before me! I see +myself once more in the house of my parents: in that good, joyful, +beloved home! I see myself once more by thy side, my beloved and only +sister, in that large, magnificent house, surrounded by meadows and +villages. How we looked down upon them from high windows, and yet +rejoiced that the sun streamed into the most lowly huts just as +pleasantly as into our large saloons--everything seemed to us so well +arranged. + +Life then, Cecilia, was joyful and free from care. How we sate and wept +over "Des Voeux Temeraires," and over "Feodor and Maria,"--such were +our cares then. Our life was made up of song, and dance, and merriment, +with our so many cheerful neighbours; with the most accomplished of whom +we got up enthusiasms for music and literature. We considered ourselves +to be virtuous, because we loved those who loved us, and because we gave +of our superfluity to those who needed it. Friendship was our passion. +We were ready to die for friendship, but towards love we had hearts of +stone. How we jested over our lovers, and thought what fun it would be +to act the parts of austere romance-heroines! How unmerciful we were, +and--how easily our lovers consoled themselves! Then Ernst Frank came on +a visit to us. The rumour of a learned and strong-minded man preceded +him, and fixed our regards upon him, because women, whether +well-informed or not themselves, are attracted by such men. Do you not +remember how much he occupied our minds? how his noble person, his calm, +self-assured demeanour, his frank, decided, yet always polite behaviour +charmed us at first, and the awed us? + +One could say of him, that morally as well as physically he stood +firmly. His deep mourning dress, together with an expression of quiet +manly grief, which at times shaded his countenance, combined to make him +interesting to us; nevertheless, you thought that he looked too stern, +and I very soon lost in his presence my accustomed gaiety. Whenever his +dark grave eyes were fixed upon me, I was conscious that they possessed +a half-bewitching, half-oppressive power over me; I felt myself happy +because of it, yet at the same time filled with anxiety; my very action +was constrained, my hands became cold and did everything blunderingly, +nor ever did I speak so stupidly as when I observed that he listened. +Aunt Lisette gave me one day this maxim: "My dear, remember what I now +tell thee: if a man thinks that thou art a fool, it does not injure thee +the least in his opinion; but if he once thinks that thou considerest +him a fool, then art thou lost for ever with him!" With the last it may +be just as it will--I have heard a clever young man declare that it +would operate upon him like salt on fire--however, this is certain, that +the first part of Aunt Lisette's maxim is correct, since my stupidity in +Ernst's presence did not injure me at all in his opinion, and when he +was kind and gentle, how inexpressibly agreeable he was! + +His influence over me became greater each succeeding day: I seemed to +live continually under his eyes; when they beamed on me in kindness, it +was as if a spring breeze passed through my soul; and if his glance was +graver than common, I became still, and out of spirits. It seemed to me +at times--and it is so even to this very day--that if this clear and +wonderfully penetrating glance were only once, and with its full power, +riveted upon me, my very heart would cease to beat. Yet after all, I am +not sure whether I loved him. I hardly think I did; for when he was +absent I then seemed to breathe so freely, yet at the same time, I would +have saved his life by the sacrifice of my own. + +In several respects we had no sympathies in common. He had no taste for +music, which I loved passionately; and in reading too our feelings were +so different. He yawned over my favourite romances, nay he even +sometimes would laugh when I was at the point of bursting into tears; I, +on the contrary, yawned over his useful and learned books, and found +them more tedious than I could express. The world of imagination in +which my thoughts delighted to exercise themselves, he valued not in the +least, whilst the burdensome actuality which he always was seeking for +in life, had no charm for me. Nevertheless there were many points in +which we accorded--these especially were questions of morals--and +whenever this was the case, it afforded both of us great pleasure. + +And now came the time, Cecilia, in which you left me; when our fates +separated themselves, although our hearts did not. + +One day there were many strangers with us; and in the afternoon I played +at shuttlecock with young cousin Emil, to whom we were so kind, and who +deserved our kindness so well. How it happened I cannot tell, but before +long Ernst took his place, and was my partner in the game. He looked +unusually animated, and I felt myself more at ease with him than common. +He threw the shuttlecock excellently, and with a firm hand, but always +let it fly a little way beyond me, so that I was obliged to step back a +few paces each time to catch it, and thus unconsciously to myself was I +driven, in the merry sport, through a long suite of rooms, till we came +at last to one where we were quite alone, and a long way from the +company. All at once then Ernst left off his play, and a change was +visible in his whole countenance. I augured something amiss, and would +gladly have sprung far, far away, but I felt powerless; and then Ernst +spoke so from his heart, so fervently, and with such deep tenderness, +that he took my heart at once to himself. I laid my hand, although +tremblingly, in his, and, almost without knowing what I did, consented +to go through life by his side. + +I had just then passed my nineteenth year; and my beloved parents +sanctioned the union of their daughter with a man so respectable and so +universally esteemed, and one, moreover, whom everybody prophesied would +one day rise to the highest eminences of the state--and Ernst, whose +nature it was to accomplish everything rapidly which he undertook, +managed it so that in a very short time our marriage was celebrated. + +At the same time some members of my family thought that by this union I +had descended a step. I thought not; on the contrary, the very reverse. +I was of high birth, had several not undistinguished family connexions, +and was brought up in a brilliant circle, in all the superficial +accomplishments of the day, amid superfluity and thoughtlessness. He was +a man who had shaped out his own course in life, who, by his own honest +endeavours, and through many self-denials, had raised his father's house +from its depressed condition, and had made the future prospects of his +mother and sister comfortable and secure: he was a man self-dependent, +upright, and good--yes, GOOD, and that I discover more and more the +deeper knowledge I obtain of his true character, even though the outward +manner may be somewhat severe--in truth, I feel myself very inferior +beside him. + +The first year of our marriage we passed, at their desire, in the house +of my parents; and if I could only have been less conscious of his +superiority, and could only have been more certain that he was satisfied +with me, nothing would have been wanting to my happiness. Everybody +waited upon me; and perhaps it was on this account that Ernst, in +comparison, seemed somewhat cold; I was the petted child of my too kind +parents; I was thankless and peevish, and ah, some little of this still +remains! Nevertheless, it was during this very time that, under the +influence of my husband, the true beauty and reality of life became more +and more perceptible to my soul. Married life and family ties, one's +country and the world, revealed their true relationships, and their holy +signification to my mind. Ernst was my teacher; I looked up to him with +love, but not without fear. + +Many were the projects which we formed in these summer days, and which +floated brightly before my romantic fancy. Among these was a journey on +foot through the beautiful country west of Sweden, and this was one of +the favourite schemes of my Ernst. His mother--from whom our little +Petrea has derived her somewhat singular name--was of Norway, and many a +beloved thought of her seemed to have interwoven itself with the valleys +and mountains, which, as in a wonderfully-beautiful fairy tale, she had +described to him in the stories she told. All these recollections are a +sort of romantic region in Ernst's soul, and thither he betakes himself +whenever he would refresh his spirit, or lay out something delightful +for the future. "Next year," he would then exclaim, "will we take a +journey!" And then we laid out together our route on the map, and I +determined on the dress which I would wear as his travelling-companion +when we would go and visit "that sea-engarlanded Norway." Ah! there soon +came for me other journeys. + +It was during these days also that my first-born saw the light; my +beautiful boy! who so fettered both my love and my thoughts that Ernst +grew almost jealous. How often did I steal out of bed at night in order +to watch him while he slept! He was a lively, restless child, and it +therefore was a peculiar pleasure for me to see him at rest; besides +which, he was so angelically lovely in sleep! I could have spent whole +nights bending over his cradle. + +So far, Cecilia, all went with us as in the romances with which we in +our youth nourished heart and soul. But far other times came. In the +first place, the sad change in the circumstances of my parents, which +operated so severely on our position in life; and then for me so many +children--cares without end, grief and sickness! My body and mind must +both have given way under their burden, had Ernst not been the man he +is. + +It suited his character to struggle against the stream; it was a sort of +pleasure to him to combat with it, to meet difficulties, and to overcome +them. With each succeeding year he imposed more business upon himself, +and by degrees, through the most resolute industry, he was enabled to +bring back prosperity to his house. And then how unwearingly kind he was +to me! How tenderly sustaining in those very moments, when without him I +must have found myself so utterly miserable! How many a sleepless night +has he passed on my account! How often has he soothed to sleep a sickly +child in his arms! And then, too, every child which came, as it were +only to multiply his cares, and increase the necessity for his labour, +was to him a delight--was received as a gift of God's mercy--and its +birth made a festival in the house. How my heart has thanked him, and +how has his strength and assurance nerved me! + +When little Gabriele was born I was very near death; and it is my firm +belief that, without Ernst's care for me, I must then have parted from +my little ones. During the time of great weakness which succeeded this, +my foot scarcely ever touched the ground. I was carried by Ernst himself +wherever I would. He was unwearied in goodness and patience towards the +sick mother. Should she not now, that she is again in health, dedicate +her life to him? Ah, yes, that should she, and that will she! Alas, were +but my ability as strong as my will! + +Do you know one thing, Cecilia, which often occasions me great trouble? +It is that I am not a clever housewife; that I can neither take pleasure +in all the little cares and details which the well-being of a house +really requires, nor that I have memory for these things; more +especially is the daily caring for dinner irksome to me. I myself have +but little appetite; and it is so unpleasing to me to go to sleep at +night, and to get up in the morning with my head full of schemes for +cooking. By this means, it happens that sometimes my husband's domestic +comforts are not such as he has a right to demand. Hitherto my weak +health, the necessary care of the children, and our rather narrow +circumstances, have furnished me with sufficient excuses; but these now +will avail me no longer; my health is again established, and our greater +prosperity furnishes the means for better household management. + +On this account, I now exert myself to perform all my duties well; but, +ah! how pleasant it will be when the little Louise is sufficiently grown +up, that I may lay part of the housekeeping burdens on her shoulders. I +fancy to myself that she will have peculiar pleasure in all these +things. + +I am to-day two-and-thirty years old. It seems to me that I have entered +a new period of my life: my youth lies behind me, I am advanced into +middle age, and I well know what both this and my husband have a right +to demand from me. May a new and stronger being awake in me! May God +support me, and Ernst be gentle towards his erring wife! + +Ernst should have married a more energetic woman. My nervous weakness +makes my temper irritable, and I am so easily annoyed. His activity of +mind often disturbs me more than it is reasonable or right that it +should; for instance, I get regularly into a state of excitement, if he +only steadfastly fixes his eyes on a wall, or on any other object. I +immediately begin to fancy that we are going instantly to have a new +door opened, or some other change brought about. And oh! I have such a +great necessity for rest and quiet! + +One change which is about to take place in our house I cannot anticipate +without uneasiness. It is the arrival of a candidate of Philosophy, +Jacob Jacobi, as tutor for my children. He will this summer take my wild +boy under his charge, and instruct the sisters in writing, drawing, and +arithmetic; and in the autumn conduct my first-born from the maternal +home to a great educational institution. I dread this new member in our +domestic circle; he may, if he be not amiable, so easily prove so +annoying; yet, if he be amiable and good, he will be so heartily welcome +to me, especially as assistant in the wearisome writing lessons, with +their eternal "Henrik, sit still!"--"Hold the pen properly, +Louise!"--"Look at the copy, Leonore!"--"Don't forget the points and +strokes, Eva!"--"Little Petrea, don't wipe out the letters with your +nose!" Besides this, my first-born begins to have less and less esteem +for my Latin knowledge; and Ernst is sadly discontented with his wild +pranks. Jacobi will give him instruction, together with Nils Gabriel, +the son of the District-Governor, Stjernhoek, a most industrious and +remarkably sensible boy, from whose influence on my Henrik I hope for +much good. + +The Candidate is warmly recommended to us by a friend of my husband, the +excellent Bishop B.; yet, notwithstanding this, his actions at the +University did not particularly redound to his honour. Through credulity +and folly he has run through a nice little property which had been left +him by three old aunts, who had brought him up and spoiled him into the +bargain. Indeed, his career has hitherto not been quite a correct one. +Bishop B. conceals nothing of all this, but says that he is much +attached to the young man; praises his heart, and his excellent gifts as +a preceptor, and prays us to receive him cordially, with all parental +tenderness, into our family. We shall soon see whether he be deserving +of such hearty sympathy. For my part, I must confess that my motherly +tenderness for him is as yet fast asleep. + +Yet, after all, this inmate does not terrify me half as much as a visit +with which I am shortly threatened. Of course you have heard of the lady +of the late Colonel S., the beautiful Emilie, my husband's "old flame," +as I call her, out of a little malice for all the vexation her +perfections, which are so very opposite to mine, have occasioned me. She +has been now for several years a widow, has lived long abroad, and now +will pay us a visit on her return to her native land. Ernst and she have +always kept up the most friendly understanding with each other, although +she refused his hand; and it is a noble characteristic of my Ernst, and +one which, in his sex, is not often found, that this rejection did not +make him indifferent to the person who gave it. On the contrary, he +professes the most warm admiration of this Emilie, and has not ceased to +correspond with her; and I, for I read all their letters, cannot but +confess her extraordinary knowledge and acuteness. But to know all this +near is what I would indeed be very gladly excused, since I cannot help +thinking that my husband's "old flame" has something of cold-heartedness +in her, and my heart has no great inclination to become warm towards +her. + +It strikes ten o'clock. Ernst will not come home before twelve. I shall +leave you now, Cecilia, that----shall I confess my secret to you? You +know that one of my greatest pleasures is the reading of a good novel, +but this pleasure I have almost entirely renounced, because whenever I +have a really interesting one in my hand, I find the most cruel +difficulty in laying it down before I reach the last page. That, +however, does not answer in my case; and since the time when through the +reading of Madame De Stael's Corinne, two dinners, one great wash, and +seventeen lesser domestic affairs all came to a stand-still, and my +domestic peace nearly suffered shipwreck, I have made a resolution to +give up all novel-reading, at least for the present. But still it is so +necessary for me to have some literary relaxation of the kind, that +since I read no more novels, I have myself--begun to write one. Yes, +Cecilia, my youthful habits will not leave me, even in the midst of the +employments and prosaic cares of every-day life; and the flowers which +in the morning-tide cast their fragrance so sweetly around me, will yet +once more bloom for me in remembrance, and encircle my drooping head +with a refreshing garland. The joyful days which I passed by your side; +the impressions and the agreeable scenes--now they seem doubly so--which +made our youth so beautiful, so lively, and so fresh,--all these I will +work out into one significant picture, before the regular flight of +years has made them perish from my soul. This employment enlivens and +strengthens me; and if, in an evening, my nervous toothache, which is +the certain result of over-exertion or of vexation, comes on, there is +nothing which will dissipate it like the going on with my little +romance. For this very reason, therefore, because this evening my old +enemy has plagued me more than common, I have recourse to my innocent +opiate. + +But Ernst shall not find me awake when he returns: this I have promised +him. Good night, sweet Cecilia! + +We will now, in this place, give a little description of the +letter-writer--of the mother of Henrik, Louise, Eva, Leonore, Petrea, +and Gabriele. + +Beautiful she certainly was not, but nature had given to her a noble +growth, which was still as fine and delicate as that of a young girl. +The features were not regular, but the mouth was fresh and bewitching, +the lips of a lovely bright red, the complexion fair, and the clear blue +eyes soft and kind. All her actions were graceful: she had beautiful +hands--which is something particularly lovely in a lady--yet she was not +solicitous to keep them always in view, and this beautified them still +more. She dressed with much taste, almost always in light colours; this +and the soft rose scent which she loved, and which always accompanied +her, lent to her whole being a something especially mild and agreeable. +One might compare her to moonlight; she moved softly, and her voice was +low and sweet, which, as Shakspeare says, is "an excellent thing in +woman." Seeing her, as one often might do, reclining on a soft couch, +playing with a flower or caressing a child, one could scarcely fancy her +the superintendent of a large household, with all its appertaining +work-people and servants; and beyond this, as the instructor of many +children: yet love and sense of duty had led her to the performance of +all this, had reconciled her to that which her natural inclinations were +so averse to; nay, by degrees indeed, had made these very cares dear to +her--whatever concerned the children lay near to her heart, whilst +order, pleasantness, and peace, regulated the house. The contents of the +linen-press were dear to her; a snow-white tablecloth was her delight; +grey linen, dust, and flies, were hated by her, as far as she could hate +anything. + +But let us now proceed with our historical sketches. + +We left Elise at her manuscript, by which she became soon so deeply +occupied that the clock struck twelve unperceived by her; nor was she +aware of the flight of time till a sudden terror thrilled her as she +heard her husband return. To throw her manuscript into her drawer, and +quickly undress, had been an easy thing for her, and she was about to do +so, when the thought occurred, "I have never hitherto kept my +proceedings secret from Ernst, and to-day I will not begin to do so;" +and she remained at her writing-table till he entered the room. + +"What! yet up, and writing?" said he, with a displeased glance. "Is it +thus you keep your promise, Elise?" + +"Pardon me, Ernst," said she; "I had forgotten myself." + +"And for what?" asked he. "What are you writing? No, let me see! What! a +novel, as I live! Now, what use is this?" + +"What use is it?" returned Elise. "Ah, to give me pleasure." + +"But people should have sense and reason in their pleasures," said the +Judge. "Now it gives me no pleasure at all that you should sit up at +night ruining your eyes on account of a miserable novel;--if there were +a fire here I would burn the rubbish!" + +"It would be a great deal better," returned Elise, mildly, "if you went +to bed and said your prayers piously, rather than thought about such an +_auto-da-fe_. How have you amused yourself at the Governor's?" + +"You want now to be mixing the cards," said he. "Look at me, Elise; you +are pale; your pulse is excited! Say my prayers, indeed! I have a great +mind to give you a lecture, that I have! Is it reasonable--is it +prudent--to sit up at night and become pale and sleepless, in order to +write what is good for nothing? It really makes me quite angry that you +can be so foolish, so childish! It certainly is worth while your going +to baths, sending to the east and to the west to consult physicians, and +giving oneself all kind of trouble to regain your health, when you go +and do every possible thing you can in the world to destroy it!" + +"Do not be angry, Ernst," besought Elise; "do not look so stern on me +to-night, Ernst; no, not to-night." + +"Yes, indeed!" replied he, but in a tone which had become at once +milder, "because it is two-and-thirty years to-day since you came into +the world, do you think that you have a right to be absolutely +childish?" + +"Put that down to my account," said Elise, smiling, yet with a tear in +her eye. + +"Put it down! put it down!" repeated the Judge. "Yes, I suppose so. +People go on putting down neck or nothing till it's a pretty fool's +business. I should like to pack all novels and novel-writers out of the +world together! The world never will be wise till that is done; nor will +you either. In the mean time, however, it is as well that I have found +you awake, else I must have woke you to prove that you cannot conceal +from me, not even for once, how old you are. Here then is the punishment +for your bad intention." + +"Ah! Walter Scott's romances!" exclaimed Elise, receiving a set of +volumes from her husband; "and such a magnificent edition! Thanks! +thanks! you good, best Ernst! But you are a beautiful lawgiver; you +promote the very things which you condemn!" + +"Promise me, only," returned he, "not to spend the night in reading or +writing novels. Think only how precious your health is to so many of us! +Do you think I should be so provoked, if you were less dear to me? Do +you comprehend that? In a few years, Elise," added he, "when the +children are older, and you are stronger, we will turn a summer to +really good account, and take our Norwegian journey. You shall breathe +the fresh mountain air, and see the beautiful valleys and the sea, and +that will do you much more good than all the mineral waters in the +world. But come now, let us go and see the children; we will not wake +them, however, although I have brought with me some confectionery from +the lady hostess, which I can lay on their pillows. There is a rennet +for you." + +The married pair went into the children's room, where the faithful old +Fin-woman, Brigitta, lay and guarded, like the dragon, her treasures. +The children slept as children sleep. The father stroked the beautiful +curling hair of the boy, but impressed a kiss on the rosy cheek of each +girl. After this the parents returned to their own chamber. Elise lay +down to rest; her husband sate down to his desk, but so as to shade the +light from his wife. The low sounds of a pen moving on paper came to her +ear as if in sleep. As the clock struck two she awoke, and he was still +writing. + +Few men required and allowed themselves so little rest as Ernst Frank. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] A kind of fine curled cake. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE CANDIDATE. + + +It was in the twilight. The children were playing at "lana eld"[2] in +the great hall, swarming about in holes and corners, when the sudden +stopping of a travelling carriage before the door operated upon the wild +little flock much as a stream of cold water on a swarm of Lees. The +Queen-bee of the children-swarm, the wise little Louise, sate herself +down at the window, and four other little heads clustered themselves +about her, fervent and inquisitive, and almost pushing her away in their +impatient zeal to get a peep at the arrival. + +It was a gentleman who stepped lightly out of that travelling carriage, +but whether young or old, the children could not see; this, however, +they saw, that their father came quickly to the door, shook the +traveller by the hand, and conducted him into the house; whilst a very +small portmanteau was carried after him. Seeing this, the little swarm +hastened to their mother; to whom they gave, in all possible degrees of +tone, from a low whisper to a loud annunciation, the information that +for certain "the tutor was come." + +Elise, who had company with her, calmed with a "yes, yes!" and "so, +indeed!" the excited state of the children. The Queen-bee composed +herself quickly; and with mildly silencing looks seemed to observe that +she had somewhat forgotten her own dignity, and seated herself quietly +and becomingly among the "grown people," as one of them, whilst the +other children gathered themselves in a little group in one corner of +the room, whispering and wondering; and whoever had looked at them might +have seen many a time Petrea's nose peering forth from the little group. + +Judge Frank sent to announce to his wife the arrival of the expected +guest, who would be introduced to her as soon as he had completed his +toilet. Presently afterwards another messenger came, desiring +curling-irons for the Candidate. + +"It is a blessed long toilet!" thought Elise, many a time during a full +hour which elapsed in waiting; and it must be confessed that her nose +more than once during the hour took the same direction as Petrea's. + +At last the steps of two gentlemen were heard on the hall floor, and +there advanced through the parlour door a well-shod foot and a handsome +leg, belonging to a well-formed though somewhat compressed figure, which +carried gracefully a twenty-year-old head, of a jovial, comely +appearance, with the hair dressed after the newest mode. It was the +Candidate. He cast a glance first at his foot, and then at the lady of +the house, whom he approached with the most unconstrained +self-possession, exhibiting the while a row of dazzlingly white teeth. +Odour of _eau de Portugal_ diffused itself though the room. + +The Judge, who followed, and whose bearing and simple demeanour +contrasted with those of the new guest, introduced the Candidate Jacobi. +Various unimportant polite speeches were made by everybody, and then +they all took their seats. The children then came forward, and made +their bows and curtseys. Henrik eyed his future preceptor with a joyous, +confiding glance; the Queen-bee curtseyed very becomingly, and then made +several steps backward as the young man seemed inclined to take the +great liberty of kissing her; whilst Petrea turned up her nose with an +inquisitive saucy air. The Candidate took the kindest notice of them +all; shook all of them by the hand; inquired all their names; looked at +himself in the glass, and arranged his curls. + +"Whom have we here?" thought Elise, with secret anxiety. "He is a fop--a +perfect fop! How in all the world could Bishop B. select him as teacher +for my poor little children? He will think much more of looking at +himself in the glass than of looking after them. The fine breast-pin +that he is wearing is of false stones. He laughs to show his white +teeth. An actual fop--a fool, perhaps! There, now, he looks at himself +again in the glass!" + +Elise sought to catch her husband's eye, but he evidently avoided +meeting hers; yet something of discontent, and something of trouble too, +showed itself in his manner. The Candidate, on the contrary, appeared +not in the slightest degree troubled, but reclined perfectly at his ease +in an armchair, and cast searching glances on three ladies, who +evidently were strangers in the company. The eldest of these, who kept +on sewing incessantly, appeared to be upwards of forty, and was +distinguished by a remarkably quiet, bright, and friendly aspect. Judge +Frank and she talked much together. The other two appeared neither of +them to have attained her twentieth year: the one was pale and fair; the +other a pretty brunette; both of them were agreeable, and looked good +and happy. These ladies were introduced to Jacobi as Miss Evelina +Berndes and her adopted daughters, Laura and Karin. Laura had always one +of the children on her knee, and it was upon her that his eyes were most +particularly fixed. It was indeed a very pretty picture, which was +formed by Laura, with the lovely little Gabriele on her knee, decorated +with the flowers, bracelets, necklace, in short, with all the pretty +things that just before had ornamented herself. + +The conversation soon became general, and was remarkably easy, and the +Candidate had an opportunity of taking his part well and interestingly +in it whilst speaking of certain distinguished men in the University +from which he was just come. Elise mentioned one celebrated man whom she +had a great desire to see, upon which Jacobi said he had lately made a +little sketch of him, which, on her expressing a wish to see, he +hastened to fetch. + +He returned with a portfolio containing many drawings and pictures; +partly portraits, and partly landscapes, from his own pencil; they were +not deficient in talent, and afforded pleasure. First one portrait was +recognised and then another, and at last the Candidate himself. The +children were quite enchanted, and thronged with enthusiasm round the +table. The Candidate placed some of them on his knee, and seemed +particularly observant of their pleasure, and it was not long, +therefore, before they appeared entirely to forget that he was only a +new acquaintance--all at least excepting Louise, who held herself rather +_fiere_, and "the baby," which was quite ungracious towards him. + +Above all the pictures which the portfolio contained, were the children +most affected and enchanted by one in sepia, which represented a girl +kneeling before a rose-bush, from which she was gathering roses, whilst +a lyre lay against a gravestone near her. + +"Oh, how sweet! how divinely beautiful!" exclaimed they. Petrea seemed +as if she actually could not remove her eyes from the charming picture, +which the Candidate himself also seemed to regard with a fatherly +affection, and which was the crown of his little collection. + +It was the custom at the Franks, that every evening, as soon as the +clock had struck eight, the little herd of children, conducted by the +Queen-bee, withdrew to their bed-chamber, which had once occasioned the +wakeful Petrea to say that night was the worst thing God had ever made: +for which remark she received a reproving glance from the Queen-bee, +accompanied by the maxim, "that people should not talk in that way." + +In order, however, to celebrate the present day, which was a remarkable +one, the children were permitted to take supper with their parents, and +even to sit up as late as they did. The prospect of this indulgence, the +Candidate, the pictures, all combined to elevate the spirits of the +children in no ordinary degree; so much so indeed that Petrea had the +boldness, whilst they were regaling on roast chicken, to propose to the +Candidate that the picture of the girl and the rose-bush should be put +up for a prize on the breaking of a merrythought between them; +promising, that if she had the good fortune to win it, she would give as +a recompense a picture of her own composition, which should represent +some scene in a temple. The Queen-bee appeared scandalised at her +sister's proposal, and shook her little wise head at her. + +The mother also violently opposed Petrea's proposition; and she, poor +girl, became scarlet, and deeply abashed, before the reproving glances +which were cast upon her; yet the Candidate was good-natured enough, +after the first astonishment was over, to yield in the most cheerful +manner to Petrea's proposal, and zealously to declare that the affair +should be managed just as she would. He accordingly set himself, with an +appearance of great accuracy and solemnity, to measure the length of +both limbs of the merrythought, and then counted three; the mother all +this time hoping within herself that he would so manage it that he +himself should retain the head--but no! the head remained in Petrea's +hand, and she uttered a loud cry of joy. After supper, the parents again +opposed what had taken place; but the Candidate was so cheerful and so +determined that it should remain as it was settled already, that Petrea, +the happiest of mortals, ventured to carry out the girl and rose-bush; +yet, she did not miss a motherly warning by the way, which mingled some +tears with her joy. The Candidate had, in the mean time, on account of +his kindness towards the children, and his good-nature towards Petrea, +made a favourable impression on the parents. + +"Who knows," said Elise to her husband, "but that he may turn out very +well. He has, probably, his faults, but he has his good qualities too; +there is something really very agreeable in his voice and countenance; +but he must leave off that habit of looking at himself so continually in +the glass." + +"I feel assured that he must have worth," said the Judge, "from the +recommendation of my friend B. This vanity, and these foppish habits of +his, we shall soon know how to get rid of; the man himself is +unquestionably good; and, dear Elise, be kind to him, and manage so that +he shall feel at home with us." + +The children also, in their place of rest, made their observations on +the Candidate. + +"I think he is much handsomer than my father," said little Petrea. + +"I think," said the Queen-bee, in a tone of correction, "that nobody can +be more perfect than my father." + +"That is true, excepting mamma," exclaimed Eva, out of her little bed. + +"Ah," said Petrea, "I like him so much; he has given me that lovely +picture. Do you know what I shall call that girl? I shall call her Rosa; +and I'll tell you a long story about her. There was once upon a +time----" + +All the sisters listened eagerly, for Petrea could relate better and +prettier stories than any of them. It was therefore said among +themselves that Petrea was very clever; but as the Queen-bee was +desirous that Petrea should not build much on this opinion, she now +listened to her history without bestowing upon it one token of applause, +although it was found to be sufficiently interesting to keep the whole +little auditorium awake till midnight. + +"What will become of my preserves?" thought Elise, one day as she +remarked the quantity which vanished from the plate of the Candidate; +but when that same evening she saw the little Gabriele merrily, and +without reproof, pulling about his curls; when she saw him join the +children at their play, and make every game which they played +instructive to them; when she saw him armed with a great paper weapon, +which he called his sword, and deal about blows to those who counted +false, thereby exciting greater activity of mind as well as more mirth, +she thought to herself, "he may eat just as much preserves as he likes; +I will take care that he never goes short of them." + +If, however, the Candidate rose higher in the regards of one party, +there still was another with which his actions did not place him in the +best point of view. Brigitta, to whom the care of some few things in the +house was confided, began to look troubled, and out of sorts. For +several days, whatever her cause of annoyance might be, she preserved +silence, till one evening, when expanding the nostrils of her little +snubby nose, she thus addressed her mistress: + +"The gracious lady must be so good as to give out to the cook just twice +as much coffee as usual; because if things are to go on in this way, we +cannot do with less. He, the master there, empties the little coffee-pot +himself every morning! Never, in all my life, have I seen such a +coffee-bibber!" + +The following evening came a new announcement of trouble. + +"Now it is not alone a coffee-bibber," said poor Brigitta, with a gloomy +countenance and wide-staring eyes, "but a calf it is, and a devourer of +rusks! What do you think, gracious lady, but the rusk-basket, which I +filled only yesterday, is to-day as good as empty--only two rusks and +two or three crumbs remaining! Then for cream! Why every morning he +empties the jug!" + +"Ah, it is very good," said Elise, mildly, yet evasively, "that he +enjoys things so much." + +"And only look, in heaven's name!" lamented poor Brigitta another day, +"he is also quite a sugar-rat! Why, dear, gracious lady, he must put in +at least twenty pieces of sugar into one cup of coffee, or he never +could empty a sugar-basin as he does! I must beg you to give mo the key +of the chest, that I may fill it again. God grant that all this may have +a good ending!" + +Brigitta could venture to say much, for she had grown old in the house; +had carried Elise as a child in her arms; and from affection to her, had +followed her when she left her father's house: besides this, she was a +most excellent guardian for the children; but as now these complaints of +hers were too frequently repeated, Elise said to her seriously: "Dear +Brigitta, let him eat and drink as much as he likes, without any +observation: I would willingly allow him a pound of sugar and coffee a +day, if he only became, as I hope he may, a good friend and preceptor +for the children." + +Brigitta walked away quite provoked, and grumbling to herself: "Well, +well!" said she, "old Brita can be silent, yes, that she can;--well, +well! we shall see what will be the end of it. Sugar and rusks he eats, +and salt-fish he can't eat!--well, well!" + +All this time Jacobi was passing his days in peace, little dreaming of +the clouds which were gathering over his head, or of his appellations of +coffee-bibber, calf, rusk-devourer, and sugar-rat; and with each +succeeding day it became more evident that Elise's hopes of him were +well grounded. He developed more and more a good and amiable +disposition, and the most remarkable talents as teacher. The children +became attached to him with the most intense affection; nor did their +obedience and reverence for him as preceptor prevent them, in their +freer hours, from playing him all kind of little pranks. Petrea was +especially rich in such inventions; and he was too kind, too much +delighted with their pleasure, not willingly to assist, or even at times +allow himself to be the butt of their jokes. + +Breakfast, which for the elder members of the family was commonly served +at eleven o'clock, furnished the children with an excellent opportunity +for their amusement. The Candidate was particularly fond of eggs, and +therefore, when under a bulky-looking napkin he expected to find some, +and laid hasty hands on it, he not unfrequently discovered, instead of +eggs, balls of worsted, playing-balls, and other such indigestible +articles; on which discovery of his, a stifled laughter would commonly +be heard at the door, and a cluster of children's heads be visible, +which he in pretended anger assailed with the false eggs, and which +quickly withdrew amid peals of laughter. Often too, when, according to +old Swedish usage, he would take a glass of spirits, he found pure water +instead of Cognac in his mouth; and the little advocates of temperance +were always near enough to enjoy his astonishment, although sufficiently +distant, also, that not one drop of the shower which was then sent at +them should reach them, though it made them leap high enough for +delight. And really it was wonderful how often these little surprises +could be repeated, and how the Candidate let himself so constantly be +surprised. But he was too much occupied by his own thoughts (the +thoughts of course of a student of philosophy!) in order to be on his +guard against the tricks of these young merry-andrews. One day---- + +But before we proceed further we must observe, that although the +toilette of the Candidate seemed externally to be always so well +supplied, yet still it was, in fact, in but a very indifferent +condition. No wonder, therefore, was it, that though his hat outwardly +was always well brushed, and was apparently in good order, yet that it +had within a sadly tattered lining. + +One day, therefore, as the Candidate had laid his hat in a corner of the +room, and was sitting near the sofa in a very earnest conversation, +Henrik, Petrea, and Eva gathered themselves about that symbol of freedom +with the most suspicious airs and gestures of conspiracy. Nobody paid +any attention to them, when after awhile the Candidate rose to leave the +room, and going through the door would have put on his hat--but, behold, +a very singular revolution had taken place within it, and a mass of tin +soldiers, stones, matches, and heaven knows what besides, came rattling +down upon his head; and even one little chimney-sweeper fell astride on +his nose. Nothing could compare with the immeasurable delight of the +children at the astonishment of the Candidate, and the comic grimaces +and head-shakings with which he received this their not very polite +jest. + +No wonder was it, therefore, that the children loved the Candidate so +well. + +The little Queen-bee, however, who more and more began to reckon herself +as one of the grown people, and only very rarely took part in the +conspiracies against the Candidate, shook her head at this prank of her +brother and sisters, and looked out a new piece of dark silk from her +drawer (Louise was a hoarder by nature), possessed herself secretly of +the Candidate's hat, and with some little help from her mother, had then +her secret pleasure also, and could laugh in her own sleeve at his +amazement when he discovered a bran new lining in his hat. + +"Our little Queen-bee is a sensible little girl," said the Judge, +well-pleased, to his wife, who had made him a third in this plot; and +after that day she was called both by father and mother "our sensible +little Queen-bee." + +Scarcely had Jacobi been three weeks in the family of the Franks, +before Elise felt herself disposed to give him a new title, that of +Disputer-General, so great was the ability he discovered to dispute on +every subject, from human free-will to rules for cookery; nay, even for +the eating of eggs. + +On this subject Elise wrote thus to her sister Cecilia:--"But however +polite and agreeable the Candidate may be generally, still he is just as +wearisome and obstinate in disputation; and as there is nobody in the +house that makes any pretension to rival him in certain subtleties of +argument, he is in great danger of considering himself a miracle of +metaphysical light, which he is not, I am persuaded, by any means, since +he has much more skill in rending down than in building up, in +perplexing than in making clear. Ernst is no friend of metaphysical +hair-splitting, and when Jacobi begins to doubt the most perceptible and +most certain things--'what is perceptible, what is certain?' the +Candidate will inquire--he grows impatient, shrugs his shoulders, goes +to his writing-table, and leaves me to combat it out, although, for my +part, I would gladly have nothing to do with it. Should I, however, for +awhile carry on the contest boldly, the scholar then will overwhelm me +with learned words and arguments, and then I too flee, and leave him +_maitre du champ de bataille_. He believes then that I am convinced, at +least of his power, which yet, however, is not the case; and if fortune +do not bestow upon me a powerful ally against him, he may imagine so. +Nevertheless, I am not without some curiosity to hear a system which he +has promised to explain to me this evening, and according to which +everything in the world ought to be so good and consistent. These +subjects have always an interest for me, and remind me of the time when +you and I, Cecilia, like two butterflies, went fluttering over the +earth, pausing about its flowers, and building up for ourselves pretty +theories on the origin of life and all things. Since then I had almost +forgotten them. Think only if the mythology of our youth should present +itself again in the system of the Candidate!" + +Here Elise was interrupted by the entrance of the troop of children. + +"Might we borrow Gabriele?" "Mother, lend us Gabriele!" besought several +coaxing little voices. + +"Gabriele, wilt thou not come and play with us? Oh, yes, certainly thou +wilt!" and with these words Petrea held up a gingerbread heart, winch +so operated on the heart of the little one, that she yielded to the +wishes of brother and sisters. + +"Ah, but you must take great care of her, my little angel!" said the +mother; "Louise, dear, take her under your charge; look after her, and +see that no harm befal her!" + +"Yes, of course," said Louise, with a consequential countenance; and the +jubilant children carried off the borrowed treasure, and quickly was +their sport in full operation in the hall. + +Elise took her work, and the Candidate, with a look of great importance, +seated himself before her, in order to initiate her into the mysteries +of his system. Just, however, at the moment when he had opened his mouth +to begin, after having hemmed a few times, a shrill little barking, and +the words "your most devoted servant," were heard at the door, and a +person entered curtseying with an air of conscious worth, said with a +little poodle in her arms--a person with whom we will have the honour to +commence a new chapter. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] Borrowing fire; a Swedish child's play. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE CHAMBERLAIN'S LADY. + + +Where is there not _haute volee_? Above the heavenly hosts are outspread +the wings of cherubim and seraphim; and in the poultry-yards of earth +the geese exalt their wings high over the other lesser feathered +creatures. It belongs to the ordination of the world. + +The Chamberlain's lady, Gunilla W., belonged incontestibly to the +highest _haute volee_ in the excellent city of X., where we have had the +honour of making the acquaintance of the family of the Franks. She was +the sister of Governor Stjernhoek, and inhabited the third story of the +house of which the Franks inhabited the second, and Evelina Berndes the +first. + +This lady had spent her youth at court, and passed many a day of +wearisome constraint, and many a night in making those clothes which +were to conceal from the world how poor Miss Gunilla was; yet neither +night nor day did she complain either of constraint or of poverty, for +she possessed under a plain exterior a strong and quiet spirit. + +An old aunt used to preach to her thus: "Eat, that thou mayst grow fat; +if thou art fat, thou wilt grow handsome; and if thou art handsome, thou +wilt get married." + +Miss Gunilla, who never ate much, and who did not eat one mouthful more +for this warning, grew neither fat nor handsome; yet on account of her +excellent disposition she was beloved by every one, and especially by a +young rich Chamberlain of the court, who, through his own good qualities +and excellent heart, won her affections, and thus Miss Gunilla became +Mistress. After this, in the circle of her friends she was accustomed to +be called Mrs. Gunilla; which freedom we also shall sometimes take with +her here. + +Shortly after her marriage, and in consequence of cold, her husband +became a sad invalid. For thirty years she lived separated from the +world, a faithful and lonely attendant of the sick man; and what she +bore and what she endured the world knew not, for she endured all in +silence. For several years her husband could not bear the light; she +learned, therefore, to work in darkness, and thus made a large +embroidered carpet. "Into this carpet," said she, as she once spoke +accidentally of herself, "have I worked many tears." + +One of the many hypochondriacal fancies of her husband was, that he was +about to fall into a yawning abyss, and only could believe himself safe +so long as he held the hand of his wife. Thus for one month after +another she sate by his couch. + +At length the grave opened for him; and thanking his wife for the +happiness he had enjoyed in the house of sickness on earth, he sank to +rest, in full belief of a land of restoration beyond. When he was gone, +it seemed to her as if she were as useless in the world as an old +almanack; but here also again her soul raised itself under its burden, +and she regulated her life with peace and decision. In course of years +she grew more cheerful, and the originality of her talents and +disposition which nature had given to her, and which, in her solitude, +had undisturbedly followed their own bent, brought a freshness with them +into social life, into which she entered at first rather from resolution +than from feeling at ease in it. + +"The Lord ordains all things for the best;" that had always been, and +still remained, the firm anchorage of her soul. But it was not this +alone which gave to her the peace and gentleness which announced +themselves in her voice, and diffused a true grace over her aged and +not handsome countenance; they had yet another foundation: for even as +the sunken sun throws the loveliest light upon the earth which it has +left, so does the holy memory of a beloved but departed human being on +the remaining solitary friend. Mrs. Gunilla herself lived in such a +remembrance: she knew it not, but after the death of her husband the +dark pictures of his suffering vanished more and more, and his own form, +purified by patience and suffering, rose continually higher in its noble +glorification; it beamed into her soul, and her soul became brightened +thereby. Seldom mentioned she the name of her husband; but when she did +so, it was like a breath of summer air in voice and countenance. + +She collected good people about her, and loved to promote their +happiness; and whenever there was a young couple whose narrow +circumstances, or whose fears for the future, filled them with anxiety, +or a young but indigent man who was about to fall into debt and +difficulty, Mrs. Gunilla was ever at hand, although in most cases behind +others. She had nevertheless her faults; and these, as we proceed, we +shall become acquainted with. + +We now hastily sketch her portrait the size of life. Age between fifty +and sixty; figure tall, stiff, well-made, not too thin--beside Jeremias +Muntor she might be called stout--complexion, pale yellow; the nose and +chin coming together, the mouth fallen in; the eyes grey and small, +forehead smooth, and agreeably shaded by silver hair; the hands still +handsome, and between the thumb and delicate tip of the forefinger a +pinch of snuff, which was commonly held in certain perspective towards +the nose, whilst with an elbow resting on the arm of sofa or easy-chair +she gave little lectures, or read aloud, for it was one of her +weaknesses to suppose that she knew everything. + +During her long hermit-life she had been accustomed wholly to neglect +her toilet, and this neglect she found it difficult afterwards to +overcome; and her old silk gown, from which the wadding peeped out from +many a hole, especially at the elbows; her often-mended collar, and her +drooping cap, the ribbons of which were flecked with many a stain of +snuff, were always a trouble to Elise's love of order and purity. +Notwithstanding all this, there was a certain air about Mrs. Gunilla +which carried off all; and with her character, rank, property, and +consideration, she was _haute volee_, spite of torn gown and +snuff-beflecked ribbons, and had great influence among the best society +of the city. + +She considered herself somewhat related to Elise, was very fond of her, +and used very often to impart to her opinions on education (N. B.--Mrs. +Gunilla never had children), on which account many people in the city +accused Elise of weakness towards the _haute volee_, and the +postmistress Bask and the general-shopkeeper Suur considered it quite as +much a crime as a failing. + +There was in Mrs. Gunilla's voice, manners, and bearing, a something +very imposing; her curtsey was usually very stately and low, and this +brings us again to her entrance into Elise's room. Elise, the moment she +entered, quickly rose and welcomed her, introducing Jacobi at the same +time. + +At the first glance Jacobi uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise, +approached her with an appearance of the greatest cordiality, seized her +hand, which he kissed reverentially, and felicitated himself on the +happiness of seeing her again. + +The little eyes of the Chamberlain's lady twinkled, and she exclaimed, +"Oh, heavens! my heart's dearest! Nay, that is very pleasant! He, he, +he, he!" + +"How!" exclaimed Elise, in astonishment, "Mr. Jacobi, do you +know----Aunt W., do you know Mr. Jacobi?" + +The Candidate appeared about to give an explanation of the acquaintance, +but this Mrs. Gunilla, with a faint crimson overspreading the pale +yellow cheek, and a twitch of the eyebrow, prevented, and with a quick +voice she said, "We once lived in the same house." + +She then desired that the conversation which her entrance had +interrupted, and which appeared to have been very important, might +proceed. "At least," added she, with a penetrating glance on Elise and +the Candidate, "if I should not disturb you." + +"Certainly not!" + +The Candidate needed only the sixteenth of a hint to rush armed with +full fervour into the mysteries of his system. Mrs. Gunilla took up a +packet of old gold thread, which she set herself to unravel, whilst the +Candidate coughed and prepared himself. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +MONADS AND NOMADS. + + +"All beings," commenced the Candidate, "have, as their most intrinsic +foundation and substance, a simple unity, a soul, a--in one word, a +monad." + +"A--a what?" asked the Chamberlain's lady, fixing her eyes upon him. + +"A monad, or a simple unity," continued he. "The monads have a common +resemblance in substance one with another; but in respect of qualities, +of power, and size, they are substantially unlike. There are the monads +of people; there are human monads, animal monads, vegetable monads; in +short, the world is full of monads--they compose the world----" + +"Heart's dearest!" interrupted the old lady, in a tone of displeasure, +"I don't understand one word of all this! What stuff it is! What are +monads?--fill the world, do they?--I see no monads!" + +"But you see me, dear lady," said Jacobi, "and yourself. You are +yourself a monad." + +"I a monad!" exclaimed she, in disgust. + +"Yes, certainly," replied he, "your Honour, just the same as any other +living creature----" + +"But," interrupted she, "I must tell you, dear friend, that I am neither +a monad nor a creature, but a human being--a sinful human being it is +true--but one that God, in any case, created in his own image." + +"Yes, certainly, certainly," acceded the Candidate. "I acknowledge a +principal monad, from which all other monads emanate----" + +"What!" exclaimed she, "is our Lord God to be a monad also?" + +"He may be so designated," said the Candidate, "on account of oneness, +and also to preserve uniformity as to name. For the rest, I believe that +the monads, from the beginning, are gifted with a self-sustaining +strength, through which they are generated into the corporeal world; +that is to say, take a bodily shape, live, act, nay even strive--that is +to say, would remove themselves from one body into another without the +immediate influence of the Principal Monad. The monads are in perpetual +motion--perpetual change, and always place and arrange themselves +according to their power and will. If, now, we regard the world from +this point of view, it presents itself to us in the clearest and most +excellent manner. In all spheres of life we see how the principal monad +assembles all the subject monads around itself as organs and members. +Thus are nations and states, arts and sciences, fashioned; thus every +man creates his own world, and governs it according to his ability; for +there is no such thing as free-will, as people commonly imagine, but the +monad in man directs what he shall become, and what in regard to----" + +"That I don't believe," interrupted Mrs. Gunilla; "since, if my soul, or +monad, as you would call it, had guided me according to its pleasure, it +would have led me to do many wicked things; and if our Lord God had not +chastised me, and in his mercy directed me to something that was +good--be so good as to let alone my cotton-balls--it would have gone mad +enough with my nomadic soul--that I can tell you." + +"But, your Honour," said Jacobi, "I don't deny at all the influence of a +principal monad; on the contrary, I acknowledge that; and it is +precisely this influence upon your monad which----" + +"And I assert," exclaimed she, warming, and again interrupting him, +"that we should do nothing that was right if you could establish your +nomadic government, instead of the government of our Lord God. What good +could I get from your nomads?" + +"Monads," said the Candidate, correcting her. + +"And supposing your monads," continued Mrs. Gunilla, "do keep in such +perpetual movement, and do arrange themselves so properly, what good +will that do me in moments of temptation and need? It is far wiser and +better that I say and believe that our Lord God will guide us according +to his wisdom and good, than if I should believe that a heap of your +nomads----" + +"Monads, monads!" exclaimed the Candidate. + +"Monads or nomads," answered angrily Mrs. Gunilla, "it is all one--be so +good as to let my cotton alone, I want it myself--your nomads may be as +magnificent and as mighty as they please, and they may govern +themselves, and may live and strive according to their own wisdom; yet I +cannot see how the world, for all that, can be in the least the more +regular, or even one little grain the more pleasant, to look at. And why +are things so bad here? Why, precisely for this very reason, because you +good people fancy yourselves such powerful monads, and think so much of +your own strength, without being willing to know that you are altogether +poor sinners, who ought to beseech our Lord God to govern their poor +nomadic souls, in order that they might become a little better. It is +precisely such nomadic notions as these that we have to thank for all +kind of rapscallion pranks, for all uproars and broken windows. If you +had only less of nomads, and more of sensible men in you, one should +live in better peace on the earth." + +The Candidate was quite confounded; he had never been used to argument +like this, and stared at Mrs. Gunilla with open mouth; whilst little +Pyrrhus, excited by the warmth of his mistress, leapt upon the table, +and barking shrilly seemed disposed to spring at the Candidate's nose. +All this appeared so comic, that Elise could no longer keep back the +merriment which she had felt during the former part of the dispute, and +Jacobi himself accompanied her hearty laugh. Mrs. Gunilla, however, +looked very bitter; and the Candidate, nothing daunted, began again. + +"But, in the name of all the world," said he, "your Honour will not +understand me: we speak only of a mode of observing the world--a mode by +which its phenomena can be clearly expounded. Monadology, rightly +understood, does not oppose the ideas of the Christian religion, as I +will demonstrate immediately. Objective revelation proves to us exactly +that the subject-objective and object-subjective, which----" + +"Ah!" said Mrs. Gunilla, throwing herself back, "talk what nonsense you +will for me, I know what I know. Nomads may be just what they please for +me: but I call a man, a man; I call a cat, a cat, and a flower, a +flower; and our Lord God remains to me our Lord God, and no nomad!" + +"Monad, monad!" cried the Candidate, in a sort of half-comic despair; +"and as for that word, philosophy has as good a right as any other +science to make use of certain words to express certain ideas." + +During the last several minutes suspicious movements had been heard at +the parlour door, the cause of which now became evident; the children +had stolen in behind the Candidate, and now cast beseeching glances +towards their mother that she should let all go on unobserved. Petrea +and Eva stole in first, carrying between them a heavy pincushion, +weighted with lead, five pounds in weight at least. The Candidate was +standing; and at the very moment when he was doing his best to defend +the rights of philosophy, the leaden cushion was dropped down into his +coat-pocket. A motion backwards was perceptible through his whole body, +and his coat was tightly pulled down behind. A powerful twitching showed +itself at the corners of his mouth, and a certain stammering might be +noticed in his speech, although he stood perfectly still, and appeared +to observe nothing; while the little rascals, who had expected a +terrible explosion from their well-laid train, stole off to a distance; +but oh, wonder! the Candidate stood stock-still, and seemed not at all +aware that anything was going on in his coat-laps. + +All this while, however, there was in him such a powerful inclination to +laugh that he hastened to relate an anecdote which should give him the +opportunity of doing so. And whether it was the nomads of Mrs. Gunilla +which diverted him from his system, or the visit of the little herd of +nomads to his pockets, true it is there was an end of his philosophy for +that evening. Beyond this, he appeared now to wish by cheerful discourse +to entertain Mrs. Gunilla, in which he perfectly succeeded; and so mild +and indulgent was he towards her, that Elise began to question with +herself whether Mrs. Gunilla's mode of argument were not the best and +the most successful. + +The children stood not far off, and observed all the actions of Jacobi. +"If he goes out, he will feel the cushion," said they. "He will fetch a +book! Now he comes--ah!" + +The Candidate really went out for a book from his room, but he stepped +with the most stoical repose, though with a miserably backward-pulled +coat, through the astonished troop of children, and left the room. + +When he returned, the coat sate quite correctly; the cushion evidently +was not there. The astonishment of the children rose to the highest +pitch, and there was no end to their conjectures. The Queen-bee imagined +that there must be a hole in his pocket, through which the pincushion +had fallen on the stairs. Petrea, in whose suggestion the joke +originated, was quite dismayed about the fate of the cushion. + +Never once did it enter into the innocent heads of the children that the +Candidate had done all this in order to turn their intended surprise on +him into a surprise on themselves. + +"How came you to be acquainted with Mrs. Gunilla W.?" asked Elise from +Jacobi when the lady was gone. + +"When I was studying in----," replied he, "I routed a small room on the +ground-floor of the same house where she lived. As I at that time was in +very narrow circumstances, I had my dinner from an eating-house near, +where all was supplied at the lowest price; but it often was so +intolerably bad, that I was obliged to send it back untasted, and +endeavour, by a walk in the fresh air instead, to appease my hunger. I +had lived thus for some time, and was, as may be imagined, become meagre +enough, when Mrs. W., with whom I was not personally acquainted, +proposed to me, through her housekeeper, that she should provide me with +a dinner at the same low charge as the eating-house. I was astonished, +but extremely delighted, and thankfully accepted the proposal. I soon +discovered, however, that she wished in this way to become my benefactor +without its appearing so, and without my thanks being necessary. From +this day I lived in actual plenty. But her goodness did not end here. +During a severely cold winter, in which I went out in a very thin +great-coat, I received quite unexpectedly one trimmed with fur. From +whom it came I could not for some time discover, till chance gave me a +clue which led me to the Chamberlain's lady. But could I thank her for +it? No; she became regularly angry and scolded me if I spoke of the +gratitude which I felt and always shall feel for her kindness." + +Tears filled the eyes of Jacobi as he told this, and both Elise's eyes +and those of her husband beamed with delight at this relation. + +"It is," said Judge Prank, "a proof how much goodness there is in the +world, although at a superficial glance one is so disposed to doubt it. +That which is bad usually noises itself abroad, is echoed back from +side to side, and newspapers and social circles find so much to say +about it; whilst that which is good likes best to go--like +sunshine--quietly through the world." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +DISAGREEABLE NEWS. + + +The "skirmish"--as Mrs. Gunilla called the little strift she had with +the Candidate, about monads and nomads--appeared to have displeased +neither of them, but rather, on the contrary, to have excited in them a +desire for others of the same kind; and as Elise, who had no great +inclination to spend her evenings alone with him, used frequently to +invite Mrs. Gunilla to drink tea with them, it was not long before she +and the Candidate were again in full disputation together. If the +Assessor happened also to come in, there was a terrible noise. The +Candidate screamed, and leapt about almost beside himself, but was +fairly out-talked, because his voice was weak, and because Mrs. Gunilla +and the Assessor, who between them two selves never were agreed, leagued +themselves nevertheless against him. Jacobi, notwithstanding this, had +often the right side of an argument, and bore his overthrow with the +best temper in the world. Perhaps he might have lost his courage, +however, as well as his voice in this unequal contest--he himself +declared he should--had he not suddenly abandoned the field. He vanished +almost entirely from the little evening circle. + +"What has become of our Candidate?" sometimes asked Mrs. Gunilla. "I +shall be much surprised if his monad or nomad has not carried him off to +the land of the nomads! He, he, he, he!" + +Judge Frank and wife also began to question with some anxiety, "What has +become of our Candidate?" + +Our Candidate belonged to that class of persons who easily win many +friends. His cheerful easy temper, his talents, and good social +qualifications, made him much beloved and sought after, especially in +smaller circles. It was here, therefore, as it had been in the +University--he was drawn into a jovial little company of good fellows, +where, in a variety of ways, they could amuse themselves, and where the +cheerful spirit and talents of Jacobi were highly prized. He allowed +himself, partly out of good-nature and partly out of his own folly, to +be led on by them, and to take part in a variety of pranks, which, +through the influence of some members of the Club, went on from little +to more, and our Candidate found himself, before he was aware of what he +was about, drawn into a regular carouse--all which operated most +disadvantageously upon his affairs--kept him out late at night, and only +permitted him to rise late in the morning, and then with headache and +disinclination to business. + +There was, of course, no lack of good friends to bring these tidings to +Judge Frank. He was angry, and Elise was seriously distressed, for she +had begun to like Jacobi, and had hoped for so much from his connexion +with the children. + +"It won't do, it won't do," grumbled Judge Frank. "There shall very soon +be an end to this! A pretty story indeed! I shall tell him--I, if +he----But, my sweet friend, you yourself are to blame in this affair; +you should concern yourself a little about him; you are so _fiere_ and +distant to him; and what amusement do you provide for him here of an +evening? The little quarrels between Mrs. Gunilla and Munter cannot be +particularly amusing to him, especially when he is always out-talked by +them. It would be a thousand times better for the young man if you would +allow him to read aloud to you; yes, if it were romances, or whatever in +the world you would. You should stimulate his talent for music; it would +give yourself pleasure, and between whiles you could talk a little sound +reason with him, instead of disputing about things which neither he nor +you understand! If you had only begun in that way at first, he would +perhaps never have been such a swashbuckler as he is, and now to get +order and good manners back into the house one must have scenes. I'll +not allow such goings on!--he shall hear about it to-morrow morning! +I'll give that pretty youth something which he shall remember!" + +"Ah!" said Elise, "don't be too severe, Ernst! Jacobi is good; and if +you talk seriously yet kindly to him, I am persuaded it will have the +best effect." + +Judge Frank made no reply, but walked up and down the room in very ill +humour. + +"Would you like to hear some news of your neighbour the +pasquinade-writer?" asked Assessor Munter, who just then entered with a +dark countenance. "He is sick, sick to death of a galloping +consumption--he will not write any more pasquinades." + +"Who looks after his little girl?" asked Elise; "I see her sometimes +running about the street like a wild cat." + +"Yes, there's a pretty prospect for her," snorted out the Assessor. +"There is a person in the house--a person they call her, she ought to be +called reptile, or rather devil--who is said to look after the +housekeeping, but robs him, and ruins that child. Would you believe it? +she and two tall churls of sons that she has about her amuse themselves +with terrifying that little girl by dressing themselves up whimsically, +and acting the goblins in the twilight. It is more than a miracle if +they do not drive her mad!" + +"Poor wretch!" exclaimed Judge Frank, in rage and abhorrence. "Good +heavens! how much destruction of character there is, how much crime, +which the arm of the law cannot reach! And that child's father, can he +bear that it is so treated?" + +"He is wholly governed by that creature--that woman," said Munter; +"besides, sick in bed as he now is, he knows but little of what goes on +in the house." + +"And if he die," asked the Judge, "is there nobody who will look after +that girl? Has he a relation or friend?" + +"Nobody in this world," returned Jeremias. "I have inquired +particularly. The bird in the wood is not more defenceless than that +child. Poverty there will be in the house; and what little there is, +that monster of a housekeeper will soon run through." + +"What can one do?" asked the Judge, in real anxiety. "Do you know +anything, Munter, that one could do?" + +"Nothing as yet," returned he; "at present things must take their own +course. I counsel nobody to interfere; for he is possessed of the woman, +and she is possessed of the devil: and as for the girl, he will have her +constantly with him, and lets her give way to all her petulances. But +this cannot long endure. In a month, perhaps, he will be dead; and he +who sees the falling sparrow will, without doubt, take care of the poor +child. At present nobody can save her from the hands of these harpies. +Now, good night! But I could not help coming to tell you this little +history, because it lay burning at my heart; and people have the very +polite custom of throwing their burdens upon others, in order to lighten +themselves. Adieu!" + +The Judge was very much disturbed this evening. "What he had just heard +weighed heavily on his heart. + +"It is singular," said he, "how often Mr. N.'s course and mine have +clashed. He has really talent, but bad moral character; on that account +I have opposed his endeavours to get into office, and thus operated +against his success. It was natural that he should become my enemy, and +I never troubled myself about it! but now I wish--the unhappy man, how +miserably he lies there! and that poor, poor child! Stroem," said he, +calling to his servant, "is the Candidate at home? No? and it is nearly +eleven! The thousand! To-morrow he shall find out where he is at home!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +HERO-DEEDS. + + +On the following morning, as Judge Frank drew aside his window-curtains, +the sun--the sun, so powerful in its beams and its silence--shone into +his chamber, lighting it with its glorious splendour. Those sunbeams +went directly to his heart. + +"Dear Elise," said he, when his wife was awake, "I have a great deal to +do to-day. Perhaps it would be better if you would speak with Jacobi, +and give him his lecture. Ladies, in such circumstances, have more +influence on men than we men can have. Besides this, what can be bent +must not be broken. I--in short, I fancy you will manage the affair +best. It is so beautiful to-day! Could you not take the children a long +walk? It would do both them and you good, and upon the way you would +have an excellent opportunity for an explanation. Should this be of no +avail, then I will--but I would gladly avoid being angry with him; one +has things enough to vex one without that." + +The Judge was not the only person in the house whom the sun inspired +with thoughts of rambling. The Candidate had promised the children on +some "very fine day" to take them to a wood, where there were plenty of +hazel-bushes, and where they would gather a rich harvest of nuts. +Children have an incomparable memory for all such promises; and the +little Franks thought that no day could by any possibility be more +beautiful or more suitable for a great expedition than the present, and +therefore, as soon as they discovered that the Candidate and their +parents thought the same, their joy rose actually as high as the roof. +Brigitta had not hands enough for Petrea and Eva, so did they skip about +when she wished to dress them. + +Immediately after noon the procession set forth; Henrik and the +Queen-bee marched first, next came Eva and Leonore, between whom was +Petrea, each one carrying a little basket containing a piece of cake, as +provision for their journey. Behind the column of children came the +mother, and near her the Candidate, drawing a little wicker-carriage, in +which sate little Gabriele, looking gravely about with her large brown +eyes. + +"Little Africa"--so the children called their little dark-eyed neighbour +from the Cape--stood at her door as the little Franks tripped forth from +theirs. Petrea, with an irresistible desire to make her acquaintance, +rushed across the street and offered her the piece of cake which she had +in her basket. The little wild creature snatched the piece of cake with +violence, showed her row of white teeth, and vanished in the doorway, +whilst Elise seized Petrea's hand, in order to keep her restless spirit +in check. + +As soon as they had passed the gate of the city the children were +permitted full freedom, and they were not much more composed in their +demeanour than a set of young calves turned out for the first time into +a green meadow. We must even acknowledge that the little Queen-bee fell +into a few excesses, such as jumping over ditches where they were the +broadest, and clapping her hands and shouting to frighten away +phlegmatical crows. It was not long, however, before she gave up these +outbreaks, and turned her mind to a much sedater course; and then, +whenever a stiff-necked millifolium or gaudy hip came in her way, she +carefully broke it off, and preserved it in her apron, for the use of +the family. Henrik ran back every now and then to the wicker-carriage, +in order to kiss "the baby," and give her the very least flowers he +could find. Petrea often stumbled and fell, but always sprang up +quickly, and then unaffrightedly continued her leaping and springing. + +The Candidate also, full of joyous animal spirits, began to sing aloud, +in a fine tenor voice, the song, "Seats of the Vikings! Groves old and +hoary," in which the children soon joined their descant, whilst they +marched in time to the song. Elise, who gave herself up to the full +enjoyment of the beautiful day and the universal delight, had neither +inclination nor wish to interrupt this by any disagreeable explanation; +she thought to herself that she would defer it a while. + +"Nay, only look, only look, sisters! Henrik, come here!" exclaimed +little Petrea, beckoning with the hand, leaping, and almost out of +herself for delight, whilst she looked through the trellis-work of a +tall handsome gate into pleasure-grounds which were laid out in the +old-fashioned manner, and ornamented with clipped trees. Many little +heads soon looked with great curiosity through the trellis-gate; they +seemed to see Paradise within it; and then up came the Candidate, not +like a threatening cherub with a flaming sword, but a good angel, who +opened the door of this paradise to the enraptured children. This +surprise had been prepared for them by Elise and the Candidate, who had +obtained permission from the Dowager Countess S * * * to take the +children on their way to the nut-wood through her park. + +Here the children found endless subject for admiration and inquiry, nor +could either the Candidate or their mother answer all their questions. +Before long the hearts of the children were moved at sight of a little +leaden Cupid, who stood weeping near a dry fountain. + +"Why does he cry?" asked they. + +"Probably because the water is all gone," answered the Candidate, +smiling. + +Presently again they were enchanted by sight of a Chinese temple, which +to their fancy contained all the magnificence in the world--instead of, +as was the case, a quantity of fowls; then they were filled with +astonishment at trees in the form of pyramids--they never had seen +anything so wonderful, so beautiful! But the most wonderful thing was +yet to come. + +They reached a gloomy part of the grounds. Melancholy sounds, +incoherent, yet pleasurable, became audible, accompanied by an +uninterrupted splashing of water. The children walked slower and closer +together, in a state of excited expectation, and a kind of shuddering +curiosity. The melancholy tones and the falling water became more and +more distinct, as they found themselves inclosed in a thick fir-wood; +presently, however, an opening to the right showed itself, and then +thickly wreathed with a wild growth of plants and heavily-leaved trees, +the vault of a grotto revealed itself, within which, and in the +distance, stood a large white figure, with aged head, long beard, +crooked back, and goat's legs. To his lips he held a pandean pipe, from +which the extraordinary sounds appeared to proceed. Little waterfalls +leapt here and there from the rocks around, and then collected +themselves at the foot of the statue in a large basin, in which the +figure seemed, with a dreamy countenance, to contemplate himself and the +leaf-garlanded entrance of the grotto. + +The Candidate informed them that this was the Wood-god Pan; but what +further information he gave respecting the faith of the ancients in this +deity of nature was listened to by nobody but the Queen-bee, who, +however, shook her wise head over the want of wisdom in the Grecians who +could believe on such a god; and by Elise, who loved to discover in the +belief of antiquity a God of nature, which makes itself felt also in our +days, but in a truer and, as we think, a diviner sense. + +The exhibition in the grotto had produced its effect upon all the +spectators, great as well as small; but the brain of the little Petrea +seemed quite intoxicated, not to say crazed by it. The Wood-god, with +his music, his half-animal, half-human figure, although only of gypsum, +and, as the Candidate declared, the offspring only of a dim fancy, as +well as that it was without life or actuality, still remained to her +imagination a living existence, as real as wonderful. She could see +nothing, think of nothing, but the Wood-god; and the foreboding of a new +and wonderful world filled her soul with a delicious terror. + +In the mean time the Candidate conducted Elise, by a path which wound +among alders and birches, up the mountain in which the grotto was. When +they reached the top, all was sunny and cheerful; and behold upon a +mound was set out, so pleasantly in the sunshine, a little collation of +berries and fruit. It was the Candidate, who had great pleasure in being +the kind-hearted host on such occasions, who had provided this little +surprise for Elise and the children; and never, indeed, was a surprise +more welcome or more joyous. It is the most thankful thing in the world +to give pleasure to children; and, moreover, the goodwill of the mother +is always obtained thereby. + +The Candidate spread his cloak upon a green slope under a hedge of +roses, on which Elise's favourite flowers were still blooming, as a seat +for herself and "the baby," which now, lifted out of the +wicker-carriage, had its green silk bonnet taken off, and its golden +locks bathed in sunshine. He chose out the best fruit for her and her +mother; and then seating himself on the grass near her, played with her, +and drove away the flies from her and her mother with a spray of roses, +whilst the other children ran about at a distance, enjoying with all the +zest of childhood, gooseberries and freedom. The trees soughed in the +soft south wind, whilst the melodious sighs of the Wood-god, and the +splash of the water, mingled gently with the whispering leaves. It was a +delicious time, and its soft influence stole into the soul of Elise. The +sun, the scent of the roses, the song of the wood and of the water, and +the Syrinx, the beautiful scene before her, the happy children--all +these called up suddenly into her breast that summer of the heart, in +which all sentiments, all thoughts, are like beautiful flowers, and +which makes life seem so light and so lovely: she conceived a friendship +for that young man who had occasioned it, and whose good heart beamed +forth from his eyes, which at one moment were fixed on the blue heavens, +and then on her own soft blue eyes, with an expression of devotion and a +certain pure earnestness, which she had never observed in him before. +Elise felt that she could now undertake the explanation with him; she +felt that she could talk with him openly and warmly as a sister, and +that the truth would flow from her lips, without wounding him or giving +him pain. + +Scarcely, however, had she with cordial, though with tremulous voice, +began to speak, when an uneasy movement among the children interrupted +her. Some looked in the hedges, some ran about under the trees, and the +name "Petrea! Petrea!" was repeated in every variety of tone. The mother +looked uneasily around, and the Candidate sprang up to see what was +amiss. It was nothing uncommon for Petrea to separate herself from the +rest of the children, and occupied by her own little thoughts, to lag +behind; on that account, therefore, nobody had at first troubled +themselves because she was not with them at the collation, for they +said, "she will soon come." Afterwards, Elise and the Candidate were too +much occupied by their own thoughts; and the children said as usual, +"she'll soon come." But when she did not come, they began to seek for +her, and Elise and the Candidate came to their assistance. They ran back +to the grotto; they sought and called, but all in vain--Petrea was +nowhere to be found! and uneasiness very soon changed itself into actual +anxiety. + +We will now ourselves go in quest of Petrea. So enchanted was she with +the Wood-god and his music, that no sooner had she, with the others, +begun to climb the hill, than she turned back to the grotto, and there, +transported by its wonderful world, she was suddenly possessed by a +desire to acquaint her father and Brigitta, with her having seen the +Wood-god. Resolve and action are much more one with children than with +women. To be the first who should carry to the father the important +tidings, "Father, I have seen the Wood-god!" was a temptation too strong +for Petrea's ambition and craving for sympathy. + +She had heard them say that they should rest on the hill; and as her +organ of locality was as feeble as her imagination was powerful, she +never doubted for a moment of being able to run home and back before +they were aware even of her absence. As for the rest, to confess the +truth, she thought nothing at all about it; but with a loudly-beating +heart, and the words, "Oh, father! we have seen the Wood-god!" on her +lips, she made a spring, and rushed forward on the wings of fancy as +fast as her little legs would carry her in a direction exactly the +opposite of that which led homeward, and which at the same time removed +her from the grotto; never thinking, the poor Petrea! that in this world +there are many ways. Before long, however, she found it necessary to +stand still, in order to rest herself: it was all so beautiful around +her; delicious odours breathed from the wild flowers; the birds sang; +the heaven was cloudless; and here, where no Cupids nor Chinese temples +dazzled her thoughts, the very remembrance of the god Pan vanished from +her soul, and instead of it a thought, or more properly speaking a +sentiment, took possession of it--a holy and beautiful sentiment, which +the mother had early instilled into the hearts of her children. Petrea +saw herself solitary, yet at the same time she felt that she was not so; +in the deliciousness of the air, in the beauty of nature, she perceived +the presence of a good spirit, which she had been taught to call Father; +and filled, as her heart seemed to be, by a sense of his goodness and +affection, which appeared never to have been so sensibly impressed upon +her mind as then, her heart felt as if it must dissolve itself in love +and happiness. She sank down on the grass, and seemed to be on the way +to heaven. But, ah! the way thither is not so easy; and these heavenly +foretastes remain only a short time in the souls of children, as well as +of grown people. + +That which brought Petrea from her heavenly journey back to the earth +again was a squirrel, which sprang directly across her path, and sent +her forth immediately in chase of it. To catch such game, and to carry +it home, would be indeed in the highest degree a memorable action. "What +would Henrik and my sisters say? What would all the city say? Perhaps it +will get into the newspapers!--perhaps the king may get to hear of +it!"--thought Petrea, whilst, out of herself with ambition and +earnestness, she pursued the little squirrel over stock and stone. + +Her frock was torn; her hands and feet were bruised; but that was a mere +nothing! She felt it not, more particularly--oh, height of felicity!--as +she fell down, and at that same moment grasped in her trembling hands +her little prey. Petrea cried for delight, and shouted to her mother and +sisters, who--could not hear her. + +"Oh, thou little most loveable creature!" said Petrea, endeavouring at +the same time to kiss her little captive, in return for which that most +loveable little creature bit her by the chin. Surprised, and sorely +smarting from the pain, Petrea began to cry; yet for all that would not +let go the squirrel, although the blood flowed from the wound. Petrea +ran forward, wondering that she never came to the great trellis-gate, +through which she knew she must pass in order to reach home. Whilst she +thus wondered with herself, and ran, and struggled with her little +untractable prisoner, she saw a gentleman coming towards her. It never +once occurred to her that this could be any other than her father, and +almost transported for joy, she exclaimed, "Father, I have seen the +Wood-god!" + +Greatly astonished to hear himself thus parentally addressed, the young +man looked up from the book in which he read, gazed at Petrea, smiled, +and replied, "Nay, my child, he is gone in that direction," pointing +with his finger towards that quarter whence Petrea had come. Imagining +at once that he meant the Candidate, Petrea replied with anxiety and a +quick foreboding that she was on a wrong track, "Oh, no, it is not he!" +and then turned suddenly back again. + +She abandoned now all thoughts of running home, and was only desirous of +finding those whom she had so thoughtlessly left. She ran back, +therefore, with all her speed, the way she had come, till she reached +where two roads branched off, and there unfortunately taking the wrong +one, came into a wild region, where she soon perceived how entirely +confused she had become. She no longer knew which way to go, and in +despair threw herself into the grass and wept. All her ambition was +gone; she let the squirrel run away, and gave herself up to her own +comfortless feelings. She thought now of the uneasiness and anxiety of +her mother, and wept all the more at the thought of her own folly. But, +however, consoling thoughts, before long, chased away these desponding +ones. She dried her eyes with her dress--she had lost her +pocket-handkerchief--and looking around her she saw a quantity of fine +raspberries growing in a cleft of the hill. "Raspberries!" exclaimed +she, "my mother's favourite berries!" And now we may see our little +Petrea scrambling up the cliff with all her might, in order to gather +the lovely fruit. She thought that with a bouquet of raspberries in her +hand, she could throw herself at the feet of her mother, and pray for +forgiveness. So thought she, and tore up the raspberry bushes, and new +courage and new hope revived the while in her breast. If, thought she, +she clambered only a little way higher, could she not discover where +her home was? should she not see her mother, father, sisters, nay, the +whole world? Certainly. What a bright idea it was! + +With one hand full of raspberries, the other assisted her to climb; but, +ah! first one foot slipped on the dry smooth grass, and then the other. +The left hand could no longer sustain the whole weight of her body; the +right hand would not let go the raspberries. A moment of anguish, a +violent effort, and then Petrea rolled down the cliff into a thicket of +bushes and nettles, where for the present we will leave her, in order to +look after the others. + +The anxiety of the mother is not to be described, as after a whole hour +spent with Jacobi and Henrik (the little Queen-bee watched over the +other children near Pan's grotto), in seeking and calling for Petrea, +all was in vain. There were many ponds in the park, and they could not +conceal from themselves that it was possible she might have fallen into +one. It was a most horrible idea for Elise, and sent an anguish like +death into her heart, as she thought of returning in the evening to her +husband with one child missing, and that one of his favourites--missing +through her own negligence. Death itself seemed to her preferable. + +Breathless, and pale as a corpse, she wandered about, and more than once +was near sinking to the earth. In vain the Candidate besought her to +spare herself; to keep herself quiet, and leave all to him. In vain! She +heard him not; and restless and unhappy, she sought the child herself. +Jacobi was afraid to leave her long alone, and kept wandering near her; +whilst Henrik ran into other parts of the park, seeking about and +calling. + +It was full two hours of fruitless search after the lost one, when the +Candidate had again joined the despairing mother, that at the very same +moment their glances both fell suddenly on the same object--it was +Petrea! She lay in a thicket at the foot of the hill; drops of blood +were visible on her face and dress, and a horrible necklace--a yellow +spangled snake!--glittered in the sun around her neck. She lay +motionless, and appeared as if sleeping. The mother uttered a faint cry +of terror, and would have thrown herself upon her, had not the Candidate +withheld her. + +"For heaven's sake," said he, fervently, and pale as death, "be still; +nothing perhaps is amiss; but it is the poisonous snake of our +woods--the aspic! An incautious movement, and both you and Petrea may be +lost! No, you must not; your life is too precious--but I--promise me to +be still, and----" + +Elise was scarcely conscious of what she did. "Away! away!" she said, +and strove to put Jacobi aside with her weak hands; she herself would +have gone, but her knees supported her no longer--she staggered, and +fell to the ground. + +In that same moment the Candidate was beside Petrea, and seizing the +snake by the neck with as much boldness as dexterity, he slung it to a +distance. By this motion awakened, Petrea shuddered, opened her +sleep-drunken eyes, and looking around her, exclaimed, "Ah, ah, father! +I have seen the Wood-god!" + +"God bless thee and thy Wood-god!" cried the delighted Candidate, +rejoicing over this indisputable token of life and health; and then +clasping her to his breast he bore her to her mother. But the mother +neither heard nor saw anything; she lay in a deep swoon, and was first +recalled to consciousness by Henrik's kisses and tears. For a while she +looked about her with anguishful and bewildered looks. + +"Is she dead?" whispered she. + +"No, no! she lives--she is unhurt!" returned Jacobi, who had thrown +himself on his knees beside her; whilst the little Petrea, kneeling +likewise, and holding forth the bunch of raspberries, sobbed aloud, and +besought her, "Forgive! oh, mamma, forgive me!" + +Light returned to the eyes of the mother; she started up, and, with a +cry of inexpressible joy, clasped the recovered child to her breast. + +"God be praised and blessed!" cried she, raising her folded hands to +heaven; and then silently giving her hand to Jacobi, she looked at him +with tears, which expressed what was beyond the power of words. + +"Thank God! thank God!" said Jacobi, with deep emotion, pressing Elise's +hand to his lips and to his breast. He felt himself happy beyond words. + +They now hastened to remove from the dangerous neighbourhood of the +snake, after Jacobi and Henrik had given up, at the desire of the +mother, the probably ineffectual design of seeking out the poisonous but +blameless animal, and killing it on the spot. + +All this time the little Queen-bee had sate alone by the grotto, +endeavouring to comfort her sisters, whilst she herself wept bitter +tears over Petrea, whom she never expected to see again: on that very +account her joy was all the greater and louder, when she saw her carried +in the arms of the Candidate; and no sooner did she learn from her +mother how he had rescued her from the fangs of death, than she threw +her arms round his neck in inexpressible gratitude. All this Petrea +heard and saw with the astonishment and curiosity of one who meets with +something unheard of; and then, thus seeing the distress which her +inconsiderateness had occasioned, she herself melted into such +despairing tears, that her mother was obliged to console and cheer her. +Of her fall into the thicket Petrea knew no more than that her head had +felt confused, that she could not get up again, had slept, and then +dreamed of the Wood-god. + +In the mean time it had become so late, that the harvest of nuts was not +to be thought of, and as much on the mother's as on Petrea's account, it +was necessary to hasten home. The other children probably would have +grieved more over the unfortunate pleasure journey, had they not felt an +extraordinary desire to relate at home the remarkable occurrences of the +day. New difficulties arose on the return. Petrea--who, besides that she +was weary, was bruised and sadly dirtied by her fall--could not walk, +and therefore it was determined that she must ride in the little +carriage, while the Candidate carried Gabriele. When, however, the +little one saw that Jacobi was without gloves, she would neither allow +him to carry her nor to take hold of her, and set up the most pitiable +cry. Spite of her crying, however, he took up the "little mother," as he +called her; and what neither his nor the mother's persuasion could +effect, was brought about by Henrik's leaps and springs, and +caresses--she was diverted: the tears remained standing half-way down +her cheeks, in the dimples which were suddenly made by her hearty +laughter. + +Petrea, after the paroxysm of sorrow and penitence was in measure +abated, began to think herself and her adventures particularly +interesting, and sate in her little carriage a very important personage, +surrounded by her sisters, who could not sufficiently listen to her +relation, and who emulated each other in drawing the little equipage. +As for Jacobi, he drew the carriage; he carried the baby, which soon +fell asleep on his shoulder; he sang songs; told stories, in order to +entertain Elise, who remained a long time pale and depressed, from the +danger which had threatened her, and the anxiety which she had endured. + +At length they reached home. They poured forth their adventures: +Brigitta shed tears over her "Little angel-sweet Mamselle Petrea;" and +the father, from the impulse of his feelings, pressed Jacobi to his +heart. + +After Petrea's scratches and bruises had been washed with Riga-balsam, +the mother permitted the children to have a supper of pancakes and +raspberry-cream, in order to console them for the unfortunate +expedition. Hereupon the children danced for joy about the table; and +Petrea, who, on account of her misfortunes, received a Benjamin's +portion, regarded it as certain that they always eat such cream in +heaven, wherefore she proposed that it should be called "Angels' food." +This proposition met with the highest approbation, and from this day +"Angels' food" became a well-known dish in the Frank family. + +Yet Petrea wept some bitter tears on the breast of her father over the +gentle admonition she received from him; but spite of tears, she soon +slept sweetly in his arms. + +And the lecture of the Candidate? + +"Stay at home with us this evening," said Elise to him, with a kind, +beseeching glance. + +The Candidate stayed with them. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BREAKERS. + + +"Stay at home with us this evening," prayed Elise the next day, and for +several other days, and the Candidate stayed. + +Never before had he seen Elise so kind, so cordial towards him; never +before had she shown him so much attention as now; and this attention, +this cordiality from a lady who, in her intercourse with men, was +generally only polite and indifferent, flattered his vanity, at the same +time that it penetrated his good heart. All occasion for explanation +and lectures vanished, for the Candidate had entirely renounced his +dissipated friends and companions, and now nobody could talk more +edifying than he on the subject. He agreed so cordially with Elise, that +the fleeting champagne of the orgies foamed only for the moment, leaving +nothing but emptiness and flatness behind. "For once, nay, for a few +times," he was of opinion, "such excesses might be harmless, perhaps +even refreshing; but often repeated--ah! that would be prejudicial, and +demoralising in the highest degree!" + +All this seemed to the little Queen-bee, who had heard it, remarkably +well expressed. + +Nobody seemed now better pleased at home than Jacobi; he felt himself so +well in the regular course of life which he led, and there seemed so +much that was genuine and fresh in the occupations and pleasures of +those quiet days at home. + +In the mean time, the fresh life of the Candidate began to develop its +weak side. Gratitude had, in the first instance, warmed Elise's heart +towards him, and then his own real amiability made it so easy to gratify +the wish of her husband respecting her behaviour towards him, and thus +it soon happened that her intercourse with Jacobi enlivened her own +existence. In many respects their tastes were similar, especially in +their love of music and polite literature, whilst his youthful +enthusiasm gave to their common occupations a higher life and interest. +Discussion lost all character of dispute, and became merely an agreeable +interchange of thought: it was no longer now of any importance to him to +be always right; there was a peculiar kind of pleasure in giving up his +opinion to hers. He knew more out of books than she did, but she knew +more of life--the mother of books, than he; and on this account she, on +her part, proceeded as the older and guiding friend. He felt himself +happy from the influence and gentle guidance of an agreeable woman, and +became more and more devoted to her from his soul. + +Still there was a quietness and a charm about this connexion that made +him never forbode danger in it. He loved to be treated as a child by +Elise, and he gave, therefore, free play to his naturally +unsophisticated feelings. Her gentle reproofs were a sort of luxury to +him; he had a delight in sinning, in order to deserve them; and then, +whilst listening to them, how gladly would he have pressed her dress, +or her white and beautiful hand to his lips; there was even a sort of +painfully agreeable sensation to him in his not daring to do so. +Whenever she approached, and he heard her light footsteps, or when he +perceived the soft rose-odour which always accompanied her, it seemed to +become infinitely warm around his heart. But that which, above all the +rest, was the strongest bond between Jacobi and Elise, was her +sufferings. Whenever nervous pain, or domestic unpleasantness, depressed +her spirits; when she bore the not unfrequent ill-humour of her husband +with patience, the heart of Jacobi melted in tenderness towards her, and +he did all that lay in his power to amuse and divert her thoughts, and +even to anticipate her slightest wishes. She could not be insensible to +all this--perhaps also it flattered her vanity to observe the power she +had over this young man--perhaps even she might willingly deceive +herself as to the nature of his sentiments, because she would not +disturb the connexion which lent a sweet charm to her life. + +"He loves the children and their mother," said she; "he is their friend +and mine! May he only continue such!" + +And certain it is that the children had never been better conducted, +never had learned better, never been happier, than they were now, whilst +Jacobi himself developed a more and more happy ability to teach and +guide. + +Adverse fate barricades the shore which the vessel is on the point of +approaching, by dangerous breakers, and interrupts the bond between the +dearest friends, which is just about to be cemented eternally. It was +this fate which, at the very time when Jacobi was exhibiting his +character in the fairest point of view, occasioned the Judge to exhibit +the darker side of his. + +Judge Frank belonged to that class of persons who are always in the best +humour the more they have to do, and the more active is the life they +lead. And just now there had occurred a pause in an undertaking for the +country's good, which lay much at the Judge's heart; and delay, +occasioned by a number of little circumstances which he willingly would, +but could not, dissipate, put him into an ill humour. At home he was +often exacting and quarrelsome, particularly towards his wife; thus +placing himself, beside the kind and cheerful Jacobi, in a very +disadvantageous light. He felt this, and was displeased with himself, +and displeased with his wife too, because she seemed to pay but little +regard to his grumbling; occupying herself instead by her +singing-practice with Jacobi. This very singing-practice, too, of which +he himself had been the occasion, began to appear to him too much of a +thing. He seemed to think scolding more agreeable for the ear; in fact, +he was in that edifying state of mind which excites and angers itself +about that which a few good words alone would easily put an end to. + +The reading, likewise, which at first he had so zealously recommended, +became now to him another cause of vexation. Precisely at this very time +he wished to have more of the society of his wife of an evening, and +wished her to take more interest in his undertakings and his annoyances; +but whenever he came into the parlour he found them reading, or occupied +by music; and if these ceased at his entrance, there was still an +evident damp on the spirits of all--the entertainment could not proceed; +and if, on the contrary, he said, "Go on with your music (or reading), +go on," and they did so, he was still dissatisfied; and if he did not +very soon return to his own room, he walked up and down like a +snowstorm. + +It was precisely this fate, of which we have just now spoken, which +managed it so, that one evening as Judge Frank, the prey of ill humour, +was walking up and down the room, a letter was put into his hand, at +sight of which he burst into an exclamation of joyful surprise. "Nay, +that is indeed delightful," said he, in a very cheerful voice, as soon +as he had read the letter. "Elise! Mrs. S----, Emelie, is here. She is +only just this evening arrived; I must hasten to her directly. Sweet +Elise, will you not come with me? It would be polite." + +"Oh, it is so late!" said Elise, much less pleased than her husband; +"and I fancy it rains. Cannot you go alone to-night? to-morrow morning I +will----" + +"Well, well, then," said the Judge, suddenly breaking off; and somewhat +offended at her refusal, hastening away. + +It was rather late when he returned from his visit, but he was in high +spirits. "She is a most interesting lady," said he; "my best Elise, it +certainly would give you great pleasure to know her intimately." + +"Ah! I question that," thought Elise. + +"She talks," continued he, "of locating herself here in the city. I hope +we shall decide her to do so." + +"I hope not," thought Elise. + +"We will do all that we possibly can," said he, "to make her residence +here agreeable. I have invited her to dinner to-morrow." + +"To-morrow!" exclaimed Elise, half terrified. + +"Yes, to-morrow," answered her husband, peremptorily. "I told her that +to-morrow morning you would pay her a visit, but she insists on first +coming to you. You need not trouble yourself much about the dinner +to-morrow. Emelie will not expect much from an improvised dinner. At all +events, it may be just as good as there is any need for, if people will +only give themselves a little trouble. I hope Emelie will often come and +take up with our simple way of living." + +Elise went to rest that night with a depressed heart, and with an +indefinite but most unpleasant feeling, thought of the next day's +dinner, and then dreamed that her husband's "old flame" had set the +house on fire, and robbed the whole family of its shelter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE IMPROVISED DINNER. + + +You housewives who know the important meaning of a roast, who know the +difficulties which sometimes overwhelm you, especially when you must +improvise a dinner; you who know that notwithstanding all inspiration, +both of understanding and inclination--yet inspiration is necessary to +all improvisation--one cannot inspire either chickens or heath-cocks to +come flying into the important dish, when the crust is ready to put on +it;--you housewives who have spent many a long morning in thoughts of +cookery and in anguish, without daring to pray the Lord for help, +although continually tempted to do so; you can sympathise in Elise's +troubles, as she, on the morning of this important dinner, saw the +finger of the clock approach twelve without having been able to +improvise a roast. + +It is true that an improvised dinner might do without a roast: this we +grant as a general law; but in the case of this particular dinner, we +deny it altogether, in proof of which we might easily give the +arrangement of the whole dinner, did we not flatter ourselves that we +are believed on our bare word. Beyond this, the Judge was a declared +lover of a roast, and of all kinds of animal food, which circumstance +increased still more Elise's difficulty; and as if to make difficulty +still greater, Elise, on this very day, was remarkably in want of +assistants, for her husband had sent out, on his own business, those +servants who, on extraordinary occasions, Elise found very good help. +The cook, too, was confused to-day in a remarkable manner; the children +were in a fermentation; Eva and Leonore quarrelled; Petrea tore a hole +in her new frock; Henrik broke a water-bottle and six glasses; the baby +cried and screamed for nothing; the clock was on the stroke of twelve, +and no roast would come! + +Elise was just on the point of falling into despair over roasts, cooks, +the dinner, the child, nay, over the whole world, when the door opened, +and the words, "your most devoted servant," were spoken out shrilly and +joyously, and the widow of the Court Chamberlain--to Elise she seemed an +angel of light from heaven--stood in the room, with her beaming friendly +countenance, took out of her monstrous reticule one chicken after +another, and laid them upon the table, fixing her eye on Elise, and +making with each one a little curtsey to her, upon which she laughed +heartily. Enraptured by the sight, Elise embraced first the lady +Chamberlain, then the chickens, with which she hastily sprang into the +kitchen, and returning, poured forth her thanks and all her cares to +this friend in need. + +"Well, well, patience!" exhorted Mrs. Gunilla, kindly and full of +cordial sympathy, and somewhat touched by Elise's communication. +"Best-beloved, one should not take it so much to heart--such troubles as +these soon pass away--yes, indeed, they soon pass. Now listen, and I'll +tell you something, 'when need is greatest, help is nearest.' Yes, yes, +remember that! As for the chickens, I saw them in a peasant's cart, as I +crossed the market, and as I knew what was going on here, I lost no time +in buying them and bringing them, under my cloak, and I have nearly run +myself out of breath, in my haste. He, he, he! And so now I must go, +for the dear lady must dress herself nicely, and so must I too. Adieu, +dear Elise; I wish you the happiness of getting both the dinner and the +young folks in order. He, he, he!" + +Gunilla went, dinner-time came, and with it the guests and the Judge, +who had spent the whole morning in the business of his own office, out +of the house. + +Emelie, the Colonel's widow, was elegant in the highest degree; looked +handsome, and distinguished, and almost outdid herself in politeness; +but still Elise, spite even of herself, felt stiff and stupid by the +side of her husband's "old flame." Beyond this, she had now a great +distraction. + +"Oh, that the chickens may be nicely done!" was the incessant +master-thought of Elise's soul; and it prevailed over the Pope, the +Church of St. Peter's, Thorwaldsen and Pasta, and over every subject on +which they talked. + +The hour of dinner was come, and yet the dinner kept the company +waiting. The Judge, who expected from everybody else the punctuality +which he himself practised, began to suffer from what Elise called his +"dinner-fever," and threw uneasy glances first at the dining-room door, +and then at his wife, whose situation, it must be confessed, was not a +very enviable one. She endeavoured to look quite calm, but often +whispered something to the little Louise, which sent her very +importantly in and out of the room. Elise's entertainment, both that +part which was audible, and that which was inaudible, was probably at +the moment carried on something after the following fashion: + +"It must be inexpressibly pleasant to know," (ah, how unbearably long it +is!) "it must be very interesting." (I wish Ernst would fire again on +his "old flame," and forget dinner.) "Yes, indeed, that was very +remarkable." (Now are those chickens not roasted!) "Poor Spain!" (Now, +thank goodness, dinner is ready at last--if the chickens are only well +done!) + +And now to dinner! A word which brightens all countenances, and enlivens +all tempers. Elise began to esteem the Colonel's widow very highly, +because she kept up such a lively conversation, and she hoped this would +divert attention from any of the dishes which were not particularly +successful. The Judge was a polite and agreeable host, and he was +particularly fond of dinner-time, when he would willingly have made all +men partakers of his good appetite, good humour, and even of his good +eating--N. B. if this really was good--but if the contrary happened to +be the case, his temper could not well sustain it. + +During the dinner Elise saw now and then little clouds come over her +husband's brow, but he himself appeared anxious to disperse them, and +all went on tolerably till the chickens came. As the Judge, who adhered +to all old customs, was cutting them up, he evidently found them tough, +whereupon a glance was sent across the table to his wife which went to +her heart like the stab of a knife; but no sooner was the first pang +over than this reproachful glance aroused a degree of indignation in her +which determined her to steel herself against a misfortune which in no +case was her fault; she, therefore, grew quite lively and talkative, and +never once turned her eyes to her husband, who, angry and silent, sate +there with a very hot brow, and the knife sticking still in the fowls. + +But, after all, she felt as if she could again breathe freely when the +dinner was over, and on that very account longed just to speak one word +of reconciliation with her husband; but he now seemed to have only eyes +and ears for Emelie; nor was it long before the two fell into a lively +and most interesting conversation, which certainly would have given +Elise pleasure, and in which she might have taken part, had not a +feeling of depression stolen over her, as she fancied she perceived a +something cold and depreciating in the manners of her husband towards +her. She grew stiller and paler; all gathered themselves round the +brilliant Emelie; even the children seemed enchanted by her. Henrik +presented her with a beautiful flower, which he had obtained from Louise +by flattery. Petrea seemed to have got up a passion for her father's +"old flame," took a footstool and sat near her, and kissed her hand as +soon as she could possess herself of it. + +The lady devoted herself exclusively to her old worshipper, cast the +beams of her beautiful eyes upon him, and smiled bewitchingly. + +"This is a great delight!" thought Elise, as she wiped away a traitorous +tear; "but I will keep a good face on it!" + +The Candidate, who perceived all this, quickly withdrew from the lady's +enchanted circle, in which he also had been involved, and taking "the +baby" on his knee, began to relate a story which was calculated as much +to interest the mother as the child. The children were soon around him: +Petrea herself forsook her new flame to listen, and even Elise for the +moment was so amused by it that she forgot everything else. That was +precisely what Jacobi wanted, but it was not that which pleased the +Judge. He rose for a moment, in order to hear what it was which had so +riveted the attention of his wife. + +"I cannot conceive," said he to her in a half-whisper, "how you can take +delight in such absurdity; nor do I think it good for the children that +they should be crammed with such nonsense!" + +At length Emelie rose to take her leave, overwhelming Elise with a flood +of polite speeches, which she was obliged to answer as well as she +could, and the Judge, who had promised to show her the lions of the +place, accompanied her; on which the rest of the guests dispersed +themselves. The elder children accompanied the Candidate to the +school-room to spend an hour in drawing; the younger went to play; +Petrea wished to borrow Gabriele, who at the sight of a gingerbread +heart could not resist, and as a reward received a bit of it; Elise +retired to her own chamber. + +Poor Elise! she dared not at this moment descend into her own heart; she +felt a necessity to abstain from thought--a necessity entirely to forget +herself and the troubling impressions with which to-day had overwhelmed +her soul. A full hour was before her, an hour of undisturbed repose, and +she hastened to her manuscript, in order to busy herself with those rich +moments of life which her pen could call up at pleasure, and to forget +the poor and weary present--in one word, to lose the lesser in the +higher reality. The sense of suffering, of which the little annoyances +of life gave her experience, made her alive to the sweet impressions of +that beauty and that harmonious state of existence which was so dear to +her soul. + +She wrote and wrote and wrote, her heart was warm, her eyes filled with +tears, the words glowed upon her page, life became bright, the moments +flew. An hour and a half passed. Her husband's tea-time came; he had +such delight in coming home at this hour to find his wife and his +children all assembled round the tea-table in the family room. It very +rarely happened that Elise had not all in readiness for him; but now the +striking of seven o'clock roused her suddenly from her writing; she laid +down her pen, and was in the act of rising when her husband entered. + +A strong expression of displeasure diffused itself over his countenance +as he saw her occupation. + +"You gave us to-day a very bad dinner, Elise," said he, going up to her +and speaking with severity; "but when this novel-writing occupies so +much of your time, it is no wonder that you neglect your domestic +duties; you get to care really just as little about these, as you +trouble yourself about my wishes." + +It would have been easy for Elise to excuse herself, and make all right +and straight; but the severe tone in which her husband spoke, and his +scornful glance, wounded her deeply. "You must have patience with me, +Ernst," said she, not without pride and some degree of vexation; "I am +not accustomed to renounce all innocent pleasures; my education, my +earlier connexions, have not prepared me for this." + +This was like pricking the Judge in the eye, and with more bitterness +and severity than usual he replied: + +"You should have thought about that before you gave me your hand; before +you had descended into so humble and care-full a circle. It is too late +now. Now I will----" but he did not finish his sentence, for he himself +perceived a storm rising within him, before which he yielded. He went to +the door, opened it, and said in a calm voice, yet still with an +agitated tone and glance, "I would just tell you that I have taken +tickets for the concert to-morrow, if you would wish to go. I hoped to +have found you at the tea-table; but I see that is not at all thought +of--it is just as desolate and deserted there as if the plague were in +the house. Don't give yourself any trouble, I shall drink my tea at the +club!" and thus saying he banged the door and went away. + +Elise seated herself--she really could not stand--and hid her face in +her trembling hands. "Good heavens! is it come to this? Ernst, Ernst! +What words! what looks! And I, wretched being, what have I said?" + +Such were Elise's broken and only half-defined thoughts, whilst tears +streamed down her cheeks. + +"Words, words, words!" says Hamlet, disparagingly. But God preserve us +from the destructive power of words! There are words which can separate +hearts sooner than sharp swords--there are words whose sting can remain +in the heart through a whole life! + +Elise wept long and violently; her whole soul was in excitement. + +In moments of violent struggle, bad and good spirits are at hand; they +surrounded Elise and spoke to her thus: + +Bad Spirits.--"Think on that which thou hast given up! think on thy own +merits! Recollect the many little acts of injustice which thou hast had +to bear, the bitter moments which the severity of thy husband has +occasioned thee! Why shouldst thou humbly crawl in the dust? Raise +thyself, depressed one! raise thyself, offended wife! think of thy own +worth, of thy own rights! Do not allow thyself to be subjected; show +some character. Requite that which thou hast endured. Thou also canst +annoy; thou also canst punish! Take refuge in thy nerves, in unkindness; +make use of thy power, and enjoy the pleasure of revenge!" + +Good Spirits.--"Think on thy wants, on thy faults! Recollect all the +patience, all the kindness, all the tenderness which has been shown +thee! Think on the many beautiful moments! Think on thy husband's worth, +on his beautiful noble qualities! Think also on life, how short it is; +how much unavoidable bitterness it possesses; how much which it is easy +either to bear or to chase away; and think on the all-rectifying power +of affection. Tremble before the chains of selfish feeling; free thyself +from them by a new sacrifice of love, and purify the heaven of home. +Ascending clouds can easily expand into a destructive tempest, or can +disperse and leave not a trace in the air. Oh, chase them hence with the +powerful breath of love!" + +The happiness of a long life depends, not unfrequently, upon which of +these invisible counsellors in such moments we give ear to. On this it +depends whether the gates of heaven or of hell shall be opened upon +earth to men. Elise listened to the good counsellors; she conversed long +with them, and the more pure recollections they sent into her soul the +lighter it became therein. The light of love was kindled in her, and in +its light she became clear-sighted in many directions. She saw now what +it was right for her to do respecting her novel, and this revelation +warmed her heart. She knew also that this was the only one she should +ever write, and that her husband should never again miss her from the +tea-table, and therefore be obliged to drink his tea at the club (but he +should be reconciled sometime with the sinner--the novel); and she +would, moreover, prepare a dinner for the Colonel's widow, which should +compensate for the unlucky one of this day; and--"Would that Ernst would +but come home soon," thought she, "I would endeavour to banish all his +displeasure, and make all right between us." + +It was the bathing-day of the children, and the message that the hour of +bathing was come interrupted Elise's solitude. She ordered Brigitta to +commence her preparations, and when she had somewhat composed herself, +and washed away the traces of her tears with rose-water, she herself +went down into the chamber. + +"God be praised for water!" thought Elise, at the first view of the +scene which presented itself. The soft glowing young forms in the clear +warm water, the glimmering of the open fire, the splashing and +jubileering of the children in their unspeakable comfort, their innocent +sport one with another in the peaceful little lake of the bath, in which +they had no fear of raising stormy waves; nay, even Brigitta's happy +face, under her white cap, her lively activity, amid the continual +phrases of "best-beloved," "little alabaster arm," "alabaster foot," +"lily-of-the-valley bosom," and such like, whilst over the +lily-of-the-valley bosom, and the alabaster arm, she spread soap-foam +scarcely less white, or wrapped them in snowy cloths, out of which +nothing but little lively, glowing, merry faces peeped and played with +one another at bo-peep--all this united to present a picture full of +life and pleasure. + +Elise, however, could not fully enjoy it; the thought of what had just +occurred, longings for reconciliation with her husband, fear that he +might remain long, that he might return too much displeased for her +easily to make all straight again--these thoughts occupied her mind; yet +still she could not help smiling as Gabriele, who had sunk down into the +bath alone, exclaimed, almost beside herself for fright, "I am drowning! +I am drowning!" In order to re-assure her, her mother stretched out her +white hands to her, and under their protection she laughed and splashed +about like a little fish in water. + +A shower of flowers streamed suddenly over both mother and child, and +Gabriele screamed aloud for joy, and stretched forth her little arms to +catch gilly-flowers, roses, and carnations, which fell upon and around +her. Elise turned herself round in surprise, and her surprise changed +itself into the most delightful sensation of joy, as the lips of her +husband were pressed to her forehead. + +"Ah, you!" exclaimed Elise, and threw her arms round his neck, and +caressingly stroked his cheek. + +"I shall get wet through with all this," said he, laughing, yet without +leaving the bath, nay, he even stooped down his head to little Gabriele, +kissed her, and allowed her to splash him with water. + +"Thank God! all is right again! and perhaps it will be best to take no +further notice of this unpleasant affair!" thought she, and prepared to +follow her husband into the parlour. + +The Judge had, probably, during his bad tea at the club, held with the +invisible speakers the same conversation, with some variations, as his +wife during his absence, the consequence whereof was his visit to the +bathing-room, and the shower of flowers from the nosegay he had brought +with him for her, and the kiss of reconciliation which effaced every +thoughtless and wounding word. He felt now quite pleased that everything +was as it should be, and that the gentle and yielding temper of his wife +would require nothing further. But, perhaps, on that very account, he +was dissatisfied with himself, her eyes red with weeping grieved him, +especially as they beamed so kindly upon him, he felt that he misused +the power which circumstances had given him over his wife; he felt that +he had behaved harshly to her, and therefore he had no peace with +himself, therefore he felt a necessity to pronounce one word--one word, +which it is so hard for the lips of a man to pronounce, yet, which Ernst +Frank was too manly, too firm to shrink from. + +When, therefore, his wife entered, he offered her his hand; "Forgive me, +Elise," said he, with the deepest feeling; "I have behaved severely, +nay, absurdly to-day!" + +"Oh, forgive me, Ernst!" said Elise, deeply affected, whilst she pressed +his hand to her heart and---- + +Accursed be all disturbers of peace in this world! Such a one entered at +that moment, and undid that which would otherwise have bound them so +closely to each other. It was a messenger from the Colonel's widow with +a note, together with a book for the Judge, and two little bottles of +select Eau de rose for Elise, "of which, I know," said the note, "she is +very fond." + +The Judge's cheek grew crimson as he read the note, which he did not +show to his wife. + +"An extremely polite and interesting person," said he; "I will +immediately answer it." + +"Ernst," said Elise, "should we not invite her to dinner to-morrow? I +thought of something very nice, which is sure to succeed; then we could +go altogether to the concert, and afterwards she might sup with us." + +"Now that is a good idea, and I thank you for it, my sweet Elise," said +he, extremely pleased. + +Yes, if the Colonel's widow had not been there--if the Candidate had not +been there--and if there had been no _if_ in the case, all might have +gone on quite smoothly. But it was quite otherwise. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ONE SWALLOW MAKES NO SUMMER. + + +Too many chaotic elements had collected together in the family of the +Franks for one sun-gleam to dissipate. Even the married pair did not +clearly understand their own actions. + +The Judge, truly, was too much enchanted by his former beloved one; and +the beautiful Emelie did all that was in her power to enslave again her +early adorer. + +Judge Frank, who would have been as cold and proud as possible, if he +had been assailed by coarse and direct flattery, was yet by no means +steeled against the refined and almost imperceptible flattery of Emelie, +who, with all her peculiar gifts of soul and understanding, made herself +subordinate to him, in order to be enlightened and instructed by him. + +"An extraordinarily amiable and interesting lady," thought he still with +greater animation, although he seldom asserted so much; and exactly in +the proportion in which he found Emelie interesting, it was natural that +he should find Elise less so, especially as he found in Emelie precisely +those very qualities, the want of which he had so much regretted in his +wife; namely, an interest in his activity as a citizen, and in general +for the objects connected with which he occupied himself in the +liveliest manner. + +Elise, on her part, was neither calm nor clear. The connexion between +her husband and Emelie was painful to her; and she felt a sort of +consolation from the devotion of Jacobi, even when it was beginning to +assume that passionate character which made her seriously uneasy. + +A letter, which she wrote to her sister about this time, exhibits her +state of feeling: + +"It is long since I wrote to you, Cecilia--I hardly know why; I hardly +know, indeed, my own feelings--all is so unquiet, so undefined. I wish +it were clear! + +"Do you know she is very lovely, this 'old flame' of my husband's, and +very brilliant. I fancy I am jealous of her. Last evening I went out to +a supper-party--the first for several years. I dressed myself with great +care, for I wished to please Ernst, and had flowers in my hair. I was +greatly satisfied with my appearance when I went. My husband was to come +later. I found Emelie already there; she was beautiful, and looked most +elegant. They placed me beside her; a looking-glass was before us, on +which I threw stolen glances, and saw opposite to me--a shadow! I +thought at first it was some illusion, and looked again: but again it +revealed unmercifully to me a pale ghost beside the beautiful and +dazzling Emelie. 'It is all over, irremediably over,' thought I, 'with +my youth and my bloom! But if my husband and children only can love me, +I can then resign youth and beauty.' + +"But again I felt compelled to look at the shadow in the glass, and grew +quite melancholy. Emelie also cast glances at the mirror, and drew +comparisons, but with feelings far different to mine. Then came Ernst, +and I saw that he too made comparisons between us. + +"He was, all this evening, very much occupied with Emelie. I felt unwell +and weak; I longed so to support myself on his arm; but he did not come +near me the whole time: perhaps he imagined I was out of +humour--perhaps I looked so. Ah! I returned home before supper, and he +remained. As I drove home through those deserted streets in the wretched +hackney-coach, a sense of misery came over my heart such as I cannot +describe; many a bitter thought was awakened within me, before which I +trembled. + +"At the door of my own home I met Jacobi; he had sate up for me, and +wished to tell me something amusing about my children. He seemed to have +foreboded my feelings this evening. My favourite fruit, which he had +provided for me, should have refreshed me. His friendship and his +devotion cheered me. There is something so beautiful in feeling oneself +beloved. + + * * * * * + +"Every new emotion, every new connexion, among men, has its danger, its +temptation; the most beautiful, the most noble, may have their dangerous +tendency. Oh! how is this to be prevented without a separation?--how is +the poison to be avoided without deadening the sting? Oh, Cecilia! at +this moment I need a friend; I need you, to whom I could turn, and from +whom, in these disquieting circumstances, I in my weakness could derive +light and strength. I am discontented with myself; I am discontented +with----Ah! he alone it is who, if he would, could make all right! + + * * * * * + +"Oh, Cecilia, this is a mist-enveloped hour of my life!--does it +announce day or night? My glance is dark; I see the path no longer! But +I will resign myself into the hand of Him who said, 'let there be +light.' + + * * * * * + +"All is now better and clearer! God be praised! In a few hours this day +will be over;--I long vehemently for it! + +"This evening we have a children's dance at our house. Emelie will be +here also. There is not a good understanding between us two. She is cold +to me, too witty, and too----, but I will do my best to be a good +hostess; and when the day is ended, I will sit and look at my beautiful +sleeping boy, and be happy in my children." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE END OF THE DAY. + + +Evening came, and with it lights and guests. A strong, self-sacrificing +amiability governed Elise's manner this evening. She was almost cordial +towards Emelie; cared for the comfort of every one, played the piano for +the children's dance, and appeared to exist only in order to serve +others. The beautiful Emelie, on the contrary, thought of herself; was +livelier and more brilliant than ever, and, as usual, assembled all the +gentlemen around her. The conversation was lively in this group; it +turned from politics to literature, and then dwelt awhile on +theatricals, in which Emelie, equally animated and sarcastic, +characterised the Scribe and Mellesville school as a dramatic +manufactory. + +"For the rest," added she, "the stage acts very prudently and sensibly +in letting the curtain fall the moment the hero and heroine approach the +altar; novels do the same, and that, also, with good reason, otherwise +nobody would be able to read them." + +"How so?" asked the Judge, with great earnestness. + +"Because," answered Emelie, "the illusion of life is extinguished on the +other side of this golden moment, and reality steps forward then in all +its heaviness and nakedness. Look at a young couple in the glowing +morning of their union, how warm love is then; how it penetrates and +beautifies everything; how it glows and speaks in glance and word, and +agreeable action; how its glory changes the whole of life into poetry! +'Thou, thou!' is the one thought of the young people then. But observe +the same couple a few years later--'I, I!' and 'my pleasure,' is the +phrase now. The adoring all-resigning lover is then become the exacting +married man, who will be waited on and obeyed. And the loving +all-sacrificing bride, she is become the unwieldy and care-burdened +housewife, who talks of nothing but trouble, bad saltings, and negligent +maid-servants. And what are _tete-a-tete_ communications between these +two? 'How, my dear! is the butter really used up already? Why, I gave +you money only the other day for butter! You really must look better +after things, and see what the cook does with the butter; I will not +allow such extravagance in the house! Do you want something more?' 'Yes, +indeed, my love, I and the children must have new over-dresses. Little +Peter's coat is worn out, and little Paul has grown out of his; and my +old cloak cannot last to eternity!' People," continued the sarcastic +Emilie, "may thank their stars, too, if out of such interesting +communications as these no hateful quarrels arise; and if, in the happy +repose of their homes, harmless yawnings have only taken place of the +kisses which have left it. Contracted circumstances, meannesses, and +domestic trials, destroy the happiness of marriage, even as the worm +destroys the flower, bringing bitterness and sourness into the temper; +and though the married pair may continue to the very day of their death +to address each other as 'My sweet friend,' yet, very often, _in petto_, +it is 'My sour friend.' Yet, after all, this is nothing, in fact, but +what is perfectly natural; and, in this respect, marriage only follows +the eternal law of nature in all earthly existence. Every form of life +carries in itself decay and dissolution--a poisonous snake-king[3] gnaws +even at the root of the world's tree." + +Several of the listeners, and among them the Candidate, had laughed +loudly at Emelie's descriptions; but the Judge had not once moved his +lips, and replied, when she had done, with an earnestness that +confounded even her satire. + +"If all this were true, Emelie," said he, "then were life, even in the +best point of view, good for nothing; and with justice might it indeed +be called an illusion. But it is not so; and you have only described +marriage in its lowest, and not either in its best or its truest sense. +I do not deny the difficulties which exist in this as in every other +circumstance of life; but I am confident that they may and must be +overcome; and this will be done if the married pair bring only right +intentions into the house. Then want and care, disturbing, nay even +bitter hours, may come, but they will also go; and the bonds of love and +truth will be consolation, nay, even will give strength. You have +spoken, Emelie, of death and separation as the end of the drama of life; +you have forgotten the awaking again, and the second youth, of which +the ancient northern Vala sings. Married life, like all life, has such a +second youth; yes, indeed, a progressive one, because it has its +foundation in the life which is eternal; and every contest won, every +danger passed through, every pain endured, change themselves into +blessings on home and on the married pair, who have thus obtained better +knowledge, and who are thus more closely united." + +He spoke with unusual warmth, and not without emotion, and his +expressive glance sought and dwelt upon his wife, who had approached +unobserved, and who had listened to Emelie's bitter satire with stinging +pain, because she knew that there was a degree of truth in it. + +But as her husband spoke, she felt that he perceived the full truth, and +her heart beat freer and stronger, and all at once a clearness was in +her soul. With her head bent forward, she gazed on him with a glance +full of tenderness and confidence, forgetting herself, and listening +with fervour to every word which he uttered. In this very moment their +eyes met, and there was much, inexpressibly much, in their glance; a +clear crimson of delight flushed her cheek, and made her beautiful. The +gentle happiness which now animated her being, together with her lovely +figure, her graceful movements, and the purity of her brow, made her far +more fascinating than her lovely rival. Her husband followed her with +his eyes, as kindly and attentively she busied herself among her guests, +or with the little Gabriele in her arms mingled in the children's dance, +for which Evelina's foster-daughters were playing a four-handed piece. +He had suddenly cooled towards his "old flame," nor was he at all warmed +again by the sharp tone with which the little caressing Petrea was +reproved for being too obtrusive. + +"Our little Louise in time will dance very well," remarked the Judge to +his wife, as he noticed with great pleasure the little _brisees_ and +_chassees_ of his daughter whom the twelve-years-old Nils Gabriel +Stjernhoek twirled round, and with whom he conversed with great gravity, +and a certain knightly politeness. + +In the mean time Mrs. Gunilla was instructing Emelie on the manners and +character of the French; and Emelie, whose countenance since the +discussion of the marriage question had worn a bitter expression, +endeavoured with a tolerably sharp tone to make her superior +information felt, and in return was mown down, as it were, at one stroke +by Mrs. Gunilla, who--had never been in France. + +The Candidate followed Elise everywhere with glances of devotion, and +appeared this evening perfectly enchanted by her amiability. + +"Fie, for shame!--to take all the confections to yourself!" moralised +the little Queen-bee to the little S----ne,--a fat, quiet boy, who took +the confections and the reproof with the same stoical indifference. +Louise cast a look of high indignation upon him, and then gave her share +of sweetmeats to a little girl, who complained that she had had none. + +Supper came, and Emelie, whose eyes flashed unusual fire, seemed to wish +fervently to win back that regard which she, perhaps, feared to have +lost already, and with her playful and witty conversation electrified +the whole company. Jacobi, who was excited in no ordinary manner, drank +one glass of wine after another, talked and laughed very loud, and +looked between whiles upon Elise with glances which expressed his +sentiments in no doubtful manner. These glances were not the first of +the kind which the quick eye of Elise's rival observed. + +"That young man," said she, in a low but significant whisper to the +Judge, and with a glance on Jacobi, "seems to be very charming; he has +really remarkably attractive talents--is he nearly related to Elise?" + +"No," returned he, looking at her rather surprised; "but he has been for +nearly three months a member of our family." + +"Indeed!" said she, in a significant and grave manner; "I should have +thought--but as for that," added she, in an apparently careless +tone--"Elise is really so kind and so amiable, that for him who is with +her daily, it must be very difficult not to love her." + +The Judge felt the sting of the viper, and with a glance which flashed a +noble indignation, he replied to his beautiful neighbour, "You are +right, Emelie; I know no woman who deserves more love or esteem than +she!" + +Emelie bit her lip and grew pale; and she would assuredly have grown yet +paler, could she only have understood the sentiment which she had +awakened in the breast of her former admirer. + +Ernst Frank had a keen sense of moral meanness, and when this displayed +itself no gifts of genius or of nature had power to conceal it. He +clearly understood her intentions, and despised her for them. In his +eyes, at this moment, she was hateful. In the mean time his composure +was destroyed. He looked on Jacobi, and observed his glances and his +feelings; he looked on Elise, and saw that she was uneasy, and avoided +his eye. + +A horrible spasmodic feeling thrilled through his soul; in order to +conceal what he felt he became more than usually animated, yet there was +a something hostile, a something sternly sarcastic in his words, which +still, on account of the general gaiety, remained unobserved by most. + +Never before was Assessor Munter so cheerful, so comically cross with +all mankind. Mrs. Gunilla and he shouted as if desperate against each +other. The company rose from the supper-table in full strife, and +adjourned to the dancing-room. + +"Music, in heaven's name! music!" exclaimed the Assessor with a gesture +of despair, and Elise and the Colonel's widow hastened to the piano. It +was a pleasant thought, after the screaming of that rough voice had been +heard, to play one of Blangini's beautiful night-pieces, which seem to +have been inspired by the Italian heaven, and which awaken in the soul +of the hearer a vision of those summer nights, with their flowery +meadows, of their love, of their music, and of all their unspeakable +delights. + +"_Un' eterna constanza in amor!_" were the words which, repeated several +times with the most bewitching modulations, concluded the song. + +"_Un' eterna constanza in amor!_" repeated the Candidate, softly and +passionately pressing his hand to his heart, as he followed Elise to a +window, whither she had gone to gather a rose for her rival. As Elise's +hand touched the rose, the lips of Jacobi touched her hand. + +Emelie sang another song, which delighted the company extremely; but +Ernst Frank stood silent and gloomy the while. Words had been spoken +this evening which aroused his slumbering perception; and with the look +he cast upon Jacobi and his wife, he felt as if the earth were trembling +under his feet. He saw that which passed at the window, and gasped for +breath. A tempest was aroused in his breast; and at the same moment +turning his eyes, he encountered, those of another person, which were +riveted upon him with a questioning, penetrating expression. They were +those of the Assessor. Such a glance as that from any other person had +been poison to the mind of Frank, but from Jeremias Munter it operated +quite otherwise; and as shortly afterwards he saw his friend writing +something on a strip of paper, he went to him, and looking over his +shoulder, read these words: + +"Why regardest thou the mote in thy brother's eye, yet seest not the +beam in thine own eye?" + +"Is this meant for me?" asked he, in a low but excited voice. + +"Yes," was the direct reply. + +The Judge took the paper, and concealed it in his breast. + +He was pale and silent, and began to examine himself. The company broke +up; he had promised Emelie to accompany her home; but now, while she, +full of animation, jested with several gentlemen, and while her servant +drew on her fur-shoes, he stood silent and cold beside his "old flame" +as a pillar of ice. Mrs. Gunilla and the Assessor quarrelled till the +last moment. Whilst all this was going on, Elise went quietly to Jacobi, +who stood somewhat apart, and said to him in a low voice, "I wish to +speak with you, and will wait for you in the parlour, when they are all +gone." Jacobi bowed; a burning crimson flashed to his cheek; the Judge +threw a penetrating glance upon them, and passed his hand over his pale +countenance. + +"It gives me great pleasure," cried Mrs. Gunilla, speaking shrilly and +_staccato_--"it gives me great pleasure to see my fellow-creatures, and +it gives me great pleasure if they will see me. If they are not always +agreeable, why I am not always agreeable myself! Heart's-dearest! in +this world one must have patience one with another, and not be +everlastingly requiring and demanding from others. Heaven help me! I am +satisfied with the world, and with my own fellow-creatures, as our Lord +has been pleased to make them. I cannot endure that people should be +perpetually blaming, and criticising, and mocking, and making sour faces +at everything, and saying 'I will not have this!' and 'I will not have +that!' and 'I will not have it so! It is folly; it is unbearable; it is +wearisome; it is stupid!' precisely as if they themselves only were +endurable, agreeable, and clever! No, I have learned better manners than +that. It is true that I have no genius, nor learning, nor talents, as so +many people in our day lay claim to, but I have learned to govern +myself!" + +During this moral lecture, and endeavouring all the time to overpower +it, the Assessor exclaimed, "And can you derive the least pleasure from +your blessed social life? No, that you cannot! What is social life, but +a strift to get into the world in order to discover that the world is +unbearable? but a scheming and labouring to get invited, to be offended +and put out of sorts if not invited; and if invited, then to complain of +weariness and vexation, and thus utter their lamentations. Thus people +bring a mass of folks together, and wish them--at Jericho! and all this +strift only to get poorer, more out of humour, more out of health; in +one word, to obtain the perfectly false position, _vis-a-vis_, of +happiness! See there! Adieu, adieu! When the ladies take leave, they +never have done." + +"There is not one single word of truth in all that you have said," was +the last but laughing salutation of Mrs. Gunilla to the Assessor, as, +accompanied by the Candidate, she left the door. The Judge, too, was +gone; and Elise, left alone, betook herself to the parlour. + +Suddenly quick steps were heard behind her--she thought "Jacobi"--turned +round, and saw her husband; but never before had she seen him looking as +then; there was an excitement, an agitation, in his countenance that +terrified her. He threw his arm violently round her waist, riveted his +eyes upon her with a glance that seemed as if it would penetrate into +her inmost soul. + +"Ernst, Ernst, be calm!" whispered she, deeply moved by his state of +mind, the cause of which she imagined. He seized her hand and pressed it +to his forehead--it was damp and cold; the next moment he was gone. + +We will now return to the Candidate. + +Wine and love, and excited expectation, had so inflamed the imagination +of the young man, that he hardly knew what he did--whether he walked, or +whether he flew; and more than once, in descending the stairs, had he +nearly precipitated Mrs. Gunilla, who exclaimed with kindness, but some +little astonishment, "The Cross preserve me! I cannot imagine, +heart's-dearest, how either you or I go to-night! I think we are all +about to--see, now again, all's going mad.--No, I thank you, I'll take +care of my nose, crooked as it is. I think I can go safer by myself. I +can hold by----" + +"A thousand thousand times pardon," interrupted the Candidate, whilst he +pressed Mrs. Gunilla's arm tightly; "it is all my fault. But now we will +go safely and magnificently; I was a little dizzy!" + +"Dizzy!" repeated she. "Heart's-dearest, we should take care on that +very account; one should take care of one's head as well as one's heart; +one should take care of that, or it may go still more awry than it now +is with us! He, he, he, he--but listen to me, my friend," said Mrs. +Gunilla, suddenly becoming very grave: "I will tell you one thing, and +that is----" + +"Your most gracious Honour, pardon me," interrupted he, "but I think--I +feel rather unwell--I--there, now we are at your door! Pardon me!" and +the Candidate tumbled up-stairs again. + +In the hall of the Franks' dwelling he drew breath. The thought of the +mysterious meeting with Elise filled him at the same time with joy and +uneasiness. He could not collect his bewildered thoughts, and with a +wildly-beating heart went into the room where Elise awaited him. + +As soon as he saw her white lovely figure standing in the magical +lamplight his soul became intoxicated, and he was just about to throw +himself at her feet, when Elise, hastily, and with dignity, drew back a +few paces. + +"Listen to me, Jacobi," said she, with trembling but earnest voice. + +"Listen to you!" said he, passionately--"oh, that I might listen to you +for ever!--oh, that I----" + +"Silence!" interrupted Elise, with a severity very unusual to her; "not +one word more of this kind, or our conversation is at an end, and we are +separated for ever!" + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed Jacobi, "what have----" + +"I beseech you, listen to me!" continued Elise; "tell me, Jacobi, have I +given you occasion to think thus lightly of me?" + +Jacobi started. "What a question!" said he, stammering, and pale. + +"Nevertheless," continued Elise, with emotion, "I must have done so; +your behaviour to me this evening has proved it. Could you think, +Jacobi, that I, a wife, the mother of many children, could permit the +sentiment which you have been so thoughtless as to avow this evening? +Could you imagine that it would not occasion me great uneasiness and +pain? Indeed, it is so, Jacobi; I fear that you have gone sadly wrong; +and if I myself, through any want of circumspection in my conduct, have +assisted thereto, may God forgive me! You have punished me for it, +Jacobi--have punished me for the regard I have felt for you and shown to +you; and if I now must break a connexion which I hoped would gladden my +life, it is your own fault. Only one more such glance--one more such +declaration, as you have made this evening, and you must remove from +this house." + +The crimson of shame and indignation burned on Jacobi's cheek. "In +truth," said he, "I have not deserved such severity." + +"Ah! examine yourself, Jacobi," said she, "and you will judge yourself +more severely than I have done. You say that you love me, Jacobi, and +you do not dread to destroy the peace and happiness of my life. Already, +perhaps, are poisonous tongues in activity against me. I have seen this +evening glances directed upon me and upon you, which were not mild; and +thoughts and feelings are awakened in my husband's soul, which never +ought to have been awakened there. You have disturbed the peace of a +house, into which you were received with friendship and confidence. But +I know," continued she, mildly, "that you have not intended anything +criminal!--no bad intentions have guided your behaviour; folly only has +led you to treat so lightly that relationship which is the holiest on +earth. You have not reflected on your life, on your duty, and your +situation, in this family, with seriousness." + +Jacobi covered his face with his hands, and a strong emotion agitated +him. + +"And seriousness," again began Elise, with warmth and deep +earnestness--"seriousness! how it clothes--how it dignifies the +man!--Jacobi, the saviour of my child--my young friend! I would not have +spoken thus to you if I had not had great faith on your better--your +nobler self;--if I had not hoped to have won a friend in you--a friend +for my whole life, for myself and my Ernst. Oh, Jacobi, listen to my +prayer!--you are thrown among people who are willing from their very +hearts to be your friends! Act so that we may love and highly esteem +you; and do not change into grief that hearty goodwill which we both +feel for you! Combat against, nay, banish from your heart, every foolish +sentiment which you, for a moment, have cherished for me. Consider me as +a sister, as a mother! Yes," continued she, pausing over this word, and +half prophetically, "perhaps you may even yet call me mother; and if you +will show me love and faith, Jacobi, as you have said, I will accept +it--from my son! Oh, Jacobi! if you would deserve my blessing, and my +eternal gratitude, be a faithful friend, a good instructor of my boy--my +Henrik! Your talents as a teacher are of no common kind. Your heart is +good--your understanding is capable of the noblest cultivation--your +path is open before you to all that which makes man most estimable and +most amiable. Oh, turn not away from it, Jacobi--tread this path with +seriousness----" + +"Say not another word!" exclaimed Jacobi. "Oh, I see all! forgive me, +angelic Elise! I will do all, everything, in order to deserve hereafter +your esteem and your friendship. You have penetrated my heart--you have +changed it. I shall become a better man. But tell me that you forgive +me--that you can be my friend, and that you will!" + +Jacobi, in the height of his excitement, had thrown himself on his knee +before her; Elise also was deeply affected; tears streamed from her +eyes, whilst she extended her hand to him, and bending over him said, +from the very depths of her heart, "Your friend, for ever!" + +Calmly, and with cheerful countenances, both raised themselves; but an +involuntary shudder passed through both as they saw the Judge standing +in the room, with a pale and stern countenance. + +Jacobi went towards him: "Judge Frank," said he, with a firm but humble +voice, "you behold here a----" + +"Silence, Jacobi!" interrupted Elise, quickly; "you need not blush on +account of your bended knee, nor is any explanation needful. It is not, +is it, Ernst?" continued she, with the undaunted freshness of innocence: +"you desire no explanation; you believe me when I say that Jacobi now, +more than ever, deserves your friendship. A bond is formed between us +three, which, as I hope before God, nothing will disturb, and no +poisonous tongues censure. You believe me, Ernst?" + +"Yes," said he, giving her his hand; "if I could not, then----" he did +not finish his sentence, but fixed his eyes with a stern expression +immovably on her. "I will speak with you," said he, after a moment, and +in a calmer voice. "Good night, Mr. Jacobi." + +Jacobi bowed, withdrew a few steps, and then returned. "Judge Frank," +said he, in a voice which showed the excitement of his feelings, "give +me your hand; I will deserve your friendship." + +The outstretched hand was grasped firmly and powerfully, and Jacobi left +the room in haste. + +"Come here, Elise," said the Judge, with warmth, leading his wife to the +sofa, and enclosing her in his arms. "Speak to me! Tell me, has anything +in my behaviour of late turned your heart from me!" + +Elise's head sunk upon the breast of her husband, and she was silent. +"Ah, Ernst!" said she at length, with a painful sigh, "I also am +dissatisfied with myself. But, oh!" added she more cheerfully, "when I +lean myself on you thus, when I hear your heart beating, and know what +is within that heart, then, Ernst, I feel how I love you--how I believe +on you! Then I reproach myself with being so weak, so unthankful, so +ready to take offence, then--oh, Ernst! love me! Look on me always as +now, then life will be bright to me; then shall I have strength to +overcome all--even my own weakness; then I shall feel that only a cloud, +only a shadow of mist, and no reality can come between us. But now all +is vanished. Now I can lay open to you all the innermost loopholes of my +heart--can tell you all my weaknesses----" + +"Be still, be still now," said the Judge, with a bright and affectionate +look, and laying his hand on her mouth. "I have more failings than you; +but I am awake now. Weep not, Elise; let me kiss away your tears! Do you +not feel, as I do now, that all is right? Do we not believe in the +Eternal Good, and do we not believe in each other? Let us forgive and +forget, and have peace together. Hereafter, when the error of this time +has in some measure passed from our remembrance, we will talk it over, +and wonder how it ever came between us. Now, all is so bright between +us, and we both of us see our way clearly. Our errors will serve us for +warnings. Wherefore do we live in the world, unless to become better? +Look at me, Elise. Are you friendly towards me? Can you have confidence +in me?" + +"I can! I have!" said she; "there is not a grain of dust any longer +between us." + +"Then we are one!" said he, with a joyful voice. "Let us, then, in God's +name, go thus together through life. What He has united, let no man, no +accident, nothing in this world, separate!" + +Night came; but light had arisen in the breast both of husband and wife. + + * * * * * + +The furrow of disunion bears commonly thorns and thistles, but it may +likewise bear seed for the granary of heaven. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] According to the Northern mythology, Nidhoegg, the snake-king, lives +in Niflhem, the nether world. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +JACOBI. + + +When Jacobi entered his room, he found a letter lying on the table near +his bed. He recognised the handwriting as that of Judge Frank, and +quickly opened it. A bank-note of considerable value fell out; and the +letter contained the following words: + + "You are indebted to several persons in the city, Jacobi, with + whom I wish, for your own sake, that you should have as little to + do as possible. Within, you will find the means of satisfying + their demands. Receive it as from a paternal friend, who sincerely + wishes you to regard him as such, and who embraces with pleasure + an opportunity of making an acknowledgment to the friend and + instructor of his children. To the preserver of my child I shall + always remain indebted; but should you desire anything, or need + anything, do not apply to any other than + + "Your friend, E. Frank." + +"He! and he, too!" exclaimed Jacobi, deeply agitated. "Oh, the kind, +noble, excellent man! And I--I shall, I will become worthy of him! From +this day I am a new man!" + +He pressed the letter to his breast, and looked up to the star-lighted +heaven with silent but fervent vows. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +TIME GOES. + + +Life has its moments of strength and bloom; its bright moments of +inspiration, in which the human artist (the painter of earthly life) +seizes on, and utters the supremely pure, the supremely beautiful, the +divine. If, in such moments, everything in human life were executed; if +then sacrifices were made, work accomplished, victories won, there would +be but little difficulty in life. But the difficult part is to preserve, +through a long course of years, the flame which has been kindled by +inspiration! to preserve it while the storms come and go, while the +everlasting dust-rain of the moments falls and falls; to preserve it +still and uniform, amidst the uniform changing of uniform days and +nights. To do this, strength from above is required; repeated draughts +from the fountain of inspiration; both for the great and the small--for +all labourers on earth. + +It was the good fortune of Ernst and Elise that they knew this; and knew +also how to avail themselves of it. On this account they succeeded more +and more in conquering their natural failings; on this account they came +nearer to each other by every little step, which in itself is so +unobservable, but which yet, at the same time, twines so firmly and +lovingly together the human heart and life, and which may be contained +in the rubric--_regard for mutual inclinations, interest for mutual +interests_. + +Through this new-born intimacy of heart, this strengthening and pure +affection, Elise assumed a secure and noble standing with regard to +Jacobi. Her heart was vanquished by no weakness, even when she saw +suffering expressed in his youthful countenance; nay, she remained firm, +even when she saw that his health was giving way, and only besought her +husband to name an earlier day for his and Henrik's departure. This was +also her husband's wish. Like a good angel, at once gentle, yet strong, +he stood at this time by her side. No wonder was it, therefore, that, +with his support, Elise went forward successfully; no wonder was it, +therefore, that from the firm conduct of her husband, and from the +contemplation of the good understanding which existed between the +married pair, the whispered blame, which had already begun to get +abroad at their expense, died of itself, like a flame wanting +nourishment. + +Of Judge Frank's "old flame," which Elise had feared so much, we must +relate how that she found herself so wounded, and so cooled likewise, by +the ice-cold behaviour of her former adorer, that she quickly left the +town, which was too monotonous for her, and abandoned all thoughts of +settling there. + +"Life there would be too uniform for me, would possess too little +interest," said she, yawning, to the Judge, who was warmly counselling +her return either to France or Italy. + +"In our good North," added he, "we must find that which can give +interest and enjoyment to life in ourselves and our own means,--from our +families, from our own breasts." + +"She is, nevertheless, extremely beautiful and interesting," said Elise, +with a kindly feeling towards her when she was gone. The Judge made no +reply; he never was heard to speak again of his former beloved one. + +Days went by. The Judge had much to do. Elise occupied herself with her +little girls, and the Candidate with Henrik and his own studies. + +The children grew like asparagus in June, and the father rejoiced over +them. "The Queen-bee will grow over all our heads," prophesied he many a +time; and when he heard Eva playing "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre," on +the piano, his musical sense awoke, and he said, "what a deal of feeling +there is already in her music!--is there not, Elise?" + +The evenings, on which all the members of the family assembled, assumed +constantly a livelier and more comfortable character for every one; +often they played and danced with the children. + +The children! What a world of pleasure and pain do they not bring with +them into a house! Of a truth all is not of as rosy a hue as their +cheeks. Elise discovered that in her children which was not always +exactly good. "Do not to others what thou wouldst not that they should +do to thee." "People should think of what they do." "Patience is a good +root." "You do not see that your father and mother do so; look at me, +and do as I do." These standing and going speeches, which have travelled +through the world from the time when "Adam delved and Eve span," down to +the present day, and which to the very end of time will be ever in +use--together with assurances to the children, whenever they were +punished, or when they must learn their lessons yet more--that all this +was done for their benefit, and that the time would come when they would +be thankful for it--which the children very seldom, if ever +believed--this citizen-of-the-world, patriarchal household-fare, which +was dealt out in the family of the Franks, as in every other worthy +family, did not always produce its proper effect. + +Perhaps Elise troubled herself too much sometimes about the perpetual +recurrence of the same fault in her children--perhaps she calculated too +little on the invisible but sun-like and powerful influence of paternal +love on the little human-plants. True it is that she often was in great +anxiety on their account, and that the development and future prospects +of her daughters awoke in her soul much disquiet and trouble. + +One day, when such thoughts had troubled her more than usual, she felt +the necessity of a prudent, and, in this respect, experienced female +friend, to whom she could open her mind. + +"Ernst," said she, as her husband prepared himself to go out immediately +after dinner, "I shall go below for a few minutes to Evelina, but I will +be back again by the time you return." + +"Don't trouble yourself about that, dear Elise," said he; "remain as +long as you like; I'll fetch you. Take my arm, and let us go down +together, that I may see exactly where you go, and whence I must fetch +you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A LITTLE EDUCATION AND COFFEE COMMITTEE. + + +As Elise entered Evelina's room, Pyrrhus sprang, barking, towards her, +and wagging his tail. Mrs. Gunilla was there, and she and the hostess +emulated each other in welcoming their friend. + +"Nay! best-beloved, that is charming!" exclaimed Mrs. Gunilla, embracing +Elise cordially. "Now, how does the little lady?--somewhat +pale?--somewhat out of spirits, I fancy? I will tell confidentially that +I know we shall presently get some magnificent coffee, which will cheer +up little Elise." + +Evelina took Elise's hand, and looked kindly and sympathising at her +with her calm sensible eyes. Pyrrhus touched her foot gently with his +nose, in order to call her attention, and then seated himself on his +hind legs before her, began growling, in order to express his sympathy +also. Elise laughed, and she and Mrs. Gunilla vied with each other in +caressing the little animal. + +"Ah, let me sit down here and chat with you, where everything seems so +kind," said Elise, in reply to Evelina's glance, which spoke such a kind +"How do you do?" "Here all is so quiet and so comfortable. I do not know +how you manage, Evelina, but it seems to me as if the air in your room +were clearer than elsewhere; whenever I come to you it seems to me as if +I entered a little temple of peace." + +"Yes, and so it seems to me," said Mrs. Gunilla, cordially. + +"Yes, thank God," said Evelina, smiling gratefully, and with tears in +her eyes; "here is peace!" + +"And at our little lady's, the young folks raise dust sometimes in the +temper, as well as in the rooms. Is it not so?" said Mrs. Gunilla, with +facetiousness. "Well, well," added she, by way of consolation, +"everything has its time, all dust will in time lay itself, only have +patience." + +"Ah, teach me that best thing, Aunt," said Elise, "for I am come here +precisely with the hope of gaining some wisdom--I need it so much. But +where are your daughters to-day, Evelina?" + +"They are gone to-day to one of their friends," replied she, "to a +little festival, which they have long anticipated with pleasure; and I +also expect to have my share, from their relation of it to me." + +"Ah! teach me, Evelina," said Elise, "how I can make my daughters as +amiable, as good, and as happy, as your Laura and Karin. I confess that +it is the anxiety for the bringing up of my daughters which ever makes +me uneasy, and which lies so heavy on my heart this very day. I distrust +my own ability--my own artistical skill, rightly to form their +minds--rightly to unfold them." + +"Ah, education, education!" said Mrs. Gunilla, angrily; "people are +everlastingly crying out now for education. One never can hear anything +now but about education. In my youth I never heard talk and outcry for +education, and yet, thank God, a man was a man in those days for all +that. I confess that when I first heard this talk of education, I +supposed that there would be two sorts, as of everything in the world. I +thought so! But now, ever since _le tiers etat_ have pushed themselves +so much forward, have made so much of themselves, and have esteemed +themselves as something exclusive in the world with their education--now +the whole world cries out, 'educate! educate!' Yes, indeed, they even +tell us now that we should educate the maid-servants. I pray God to +dispense with my living in the time when maid-servants are educated; I +should have to wait myself on them, instead of their waiting on me. Yes, +yes! things are going on towards that point at a pretty rate, that I can +promise you! Already they read Frithiof and Axel; and before one is +aware, one shall hear them talk of 'husband and wife,' and 'wife and +husband;' and that they fancy themselves 'to be vines, which must wither +if they are not supported;' and 'sacrifices,' and other such affecting +things, until they become quite incapable of cleaning a room, or +scouring a kettle. Yes, indeed, there would be pretty management in the +world with all their education! It is a frenzy, a madness, with this +education! It is horrible!" + +The longer Mrs. Gunilla talked on this subject, the more she excited +herself. + +Elise and Evelina laughed heartily, and then declared that they +themselves, as belonging to the _tiers etat_, must take education, nay, +even the education of maid-servants, under their protection. + +"Ah," said Mrs. Gunilla, impatiently, "you make all so artistical and +entangled with your education; and you cram the heads of children full +of such a many things, that they never get them quite straight all the +days of their life. In my youth, people learned to speak 'the language,' +as the French was then called, just sufficient to explain a motto; +enough of drawing to copy a pattern, and music enough to play a _contre +danse_ if it were wanted; but they did not learn, as now, to gabble +about everything in the world; but they learned to think, and if they +knew less of art and splendour, why, they had the art to direct +themselves, and to leave the world in peace!" + +"But, your best Honour," said Evelina, "education in its true meaning, +as it is understood in our time, teaches us to take a clearer view of +ourselves and of the world at large, so that we may more correctly +understand our own allotted station, estimate more properly that of +others, and, in consequence, that every one may be fitted for his own +station, and contented therewith." + +"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Gunilla, "all that may be very good, but----" But +just then the coffee came in, with biscuits and gingerbread, which made +an important diversion in the entertainment, which now took a livelier +character. Mrs. Gunilla imparted to Elise, with jesting seriousness, a +variety of good counsel on the education of her children. She sent for +and recommended particularly a certain _Orbis Pictus_, which she herself +had studied when a child, and which began with the words, "Come here, +boy, and learn wisdom from my mouth," and in which one could see clearly +how the soul was fashioned, and how it looked. It looked like a pancake +spread out on a table round and smooth, with all the five senses +properly numbered. Mrs. Gunilla assured Elise, that if her children paid +attention to this picture, it would certainly develop and fashion their +ideas of the human soul. Furthermore, she proposed the same educational +course as had been used with such distinguished success upon her +deceased father and his brother, when they went to school, and which +consisted in every boy being combed with a fine comb every Saturday, and +well whipped, whilst an ounce of English salt was allowed per boy, in +order to drive the bad spirits out of him. Beyond this, they had, too, +on the same day, a diet of bread and beer, in which was a dumpling +called "Grammatica," so that the boys might be strengthened for the +learning of the following week. + +During the merriment which these anecdotes occasioned, the Judge came +in: delighted with the merriment, and delighted with his wife, he seated +himself beside her, quite covetous of an hour's gossip with the ladies. +Mrs. Gunilla served him up the human soul in the _Orbis Pictus_, and +Elise instigated her still further to the relation of the purification +of the boys. The Judge laughed at both from the bottom of his heart, and +then the conversation turned again on the hard and disputable ground of +education; all conceding, by general consent, the insufficiency of rules +and methods to make it available. + +Evelina laid great stress on the self-instruction of the teacher. "In +the degree," said she, "in which man developes in himself goodness, +wisdom, and ability, he succeeds commonly in calling out these in +children." + +All the little committee, without exception, gave their most lively +approval; and Elise felt herself quite refreshed, quite strengthened by +the words which showed her so clearly the path to her great object. She +turned now, therefore, the conversation to Evelina's own history and +development. It was well known that her path through life had been an +unusual one, and one of independence, and Elise wished now to know how +she had attained to that serenity and refreshing quiet which +characterised her whole being. Evelina blushed, and wished to turn the +conversation from herself--a subject which she least of all would speak +about, and that probably because she was in harmony with herself--but as +the Judge with his earnest cordiality united in the wish of his wife and +Mrs. Gunilla, that Evelina would relate to them some passages in the +history of her life, she acceded, remarking only that what she had to +relate was in no way extraordinary; and then, after she had bethought +herself for a moment, she began, addressing herself more especially to +Elise, and in the mean time Mrs. Gunilla hastily jotted down the +narrative, which we will here designate + + +EVELINA'S HISTORY. + +Have you ever been conscious, while listening to a beautiful piece of +music, of a deep necessity, an indescribable longing, to find in your +own soul, in your own life, a harmony like that which you perceived in +the tune?--if so, you have then an idea of the suffering and the release +of my soul. I was yet a little child when, for the first time, I was +seized upon by this longing, without at that time comprehending it. +There was a little concert in the house of my parents; the harp, piano, +horn, and clarionette, were played by four distinguished artists. In one +part of the symphony the instruments united in an indescribably sweet +and joyous melody, in the feeling of which my childish soul was seized +upon by a strong delight, and at the same time by a deep melancholy. It +seemed to me as if I had then an understanding of heaven, and I burst +into tears. Ah! the meaning of these I have learned since then. Many +such, and many far more painful, tears of longing, have fallen upon the +dark web of my life. + +To what shall I compare the picture of my youthful years? All that it, +and many other such family pictures exhibit, is unclear, indefinite, in +one word, blotted as it were in the formation. It resembled a dull +autumn sky, with its grey, shapeless, intermingling cloud-masses; full +of those features without precision, of those contours without meaning, +of those shadows without depth, of those lights without clearness, which +so essentially distinguish the work of a bungler from that of a true +master. + +My family belonged to the middle class, and we were especially well +content to belong to this noble class; and as we lived from our rents, +and had no rank in the state, we called ourselves, not without some +self-satisfaction, people of condition. We exhibited a certain genteel +indifference towards the _haute volee_ in the citizen society, not only +in words but sometimes also in action; yet, nevertheless, in secret we +were extremely wounded or flattered by all those who came in contact +with us from this circle; and not unfrequently too the family +conversation turned, quite accidentally as it were, on the subject of +its being ennobled on the plea of the important service which our father +could render to the state in the House of Knights; and in the hearts of +us young girls it excited a great pleasure when we were addressed as "my +lady." Beyond this agitation of the question nothing came. + +The daughters of the house were taught that all pomp and pleasure of +this world was only vanity, that nothing was important and worth +striving after but virtue and inward worth; yet for all this, it so +happened that their most lively interest and endeavours, and the warmest +wishes of the hearts of all, were directed to wealth, rank, and worldly +fortune of every kind. The daughters were taught that in all things the +will of God must alone direct them; yet in every instance they were +guided by the fear of man. They were taught that beauty was nothing, and +of no value; yet they were often compelled to feel, and that painfully, +in the paternal house, that they wore not handsome. They were allowed to +cultivate some talents, and acquire some knowledge, but God forbid that +they should ever become learned women; on which account they learned +nothing thoroughly, though in many instances they pretended to +knowledge, without possessing anything of its spirit, its nourishing +strength, or its pure esteem-inspiring earnestness. But above all +things they learned, and this only more and more profoundly the more +their years increased, that marriage was the goal of their being; and in +consequence (though this was never definitely inculcated in words, but +by a secret, indescribable influence), to esteem the favour of men as +the highest happiness, denying all the time that they thought so. + +We were three sisters. As children, it was deeply impressed upon us that +we must love one another; but in consequence of partiality on the side +of our teachers, in consequence of praise and blame, rewards and +punishments, which magnified little trifles into importance, envy and +bitterness were early sown among the sisters. It was said of my eldest +sister and myself, that we were greatly attached to each other; that we +could not live asunder. We were cited as examples of sisterly love; and +from constantly hearing this, we at last came to believe it. We were +compared to the carriage-horses of the family; and we were in the habit, +almost of our own accord, of seating ourselves every day after dinner on +each side of our good father, who caressed us, and called us his +carriage-horses. Yet, in fact, we did not pull together. My sister was +more richly endowed by nature than I, and won favour more easily. Never +did I envy a human being as I envied her, until in later years, and +under altered circumstances, I learned to love her rightly, and to +rejoice over her advantages. + +We were not very rich, and we cast a philosophically compassionate +glance upon all who were richer than we, who lived in a more liberal +manner, had more splendid equipages, or who dressed themselves more +elegantly. "What folly--what pitiable vanity!" said we: "poor people, +who know nothing better!" We never thought that our philosophy was +somewhat akin to the fox and the grapes. + +If we looked in this manner upon the advantages of the great, we +despised still more the pleasures of the crowd. (We ought to be so +all-sufficient for ourselves. Ah, alas!) And if ever a theatrical piece +was much talked of and visited, we had a kind of pride in saying, with +perfect indifference, that we never had seen it; and whenever there was +a popular festival, and the crowd went towards Haga or the Park, it was +quite as certain that our calesche--if it went out at all--would drive +on the road to Sabbatsberg, or in some other direction equally deserted +at the time; for all which, we prided ourselves on our philosophy. Yet +with all this in our hearts we really never were happy. + +The daughters came out into society. The parents wished to see them +loved and wooed; the daughters wished it no less--but they were not +handsome--were dressed without any pretension. The parents saw very +little company; and the daughters remained sitting at balls, and were +nearly unobserved at suppers. Yet from year to year they slid on with +the stream. + +The daughters approached to ripened youth. The parents evidently wished +them married; they wished it likewise, which was only natural, +especially as at home they were not happy; and it must be confessed that +neither did they themselves do much to make it pleasant there. They were +peevish and discontented--no one knew exactly what to do or what she +wanted; they groped about as if in a mist. + +It is customary to hear unmarried ladies say that they are satisfied +with their condition, and do not desire to change it. In this pretension +there lies more truth than people in general believe, particularly when +the lively feelings of early youth are past. I have often found it so; +and above all, wherever the woman, either in one way or another, has +created for herself an independent sphere of action, or has found in a +comfortable home that freedom, and has enjoyed that pure happiness of +life, which true friendship, true education, can give. + +A young lady of my acquaintance made what was with justice called a +great match, although love played but a subordinate part. As some one +felicitated her on her happiness, she replied, quite calmly, "Oh, yes! +it is very excellent to possess something of one's own." People smiled +at her for her thus lightly esteeming what was universally regarded so +great a good fortune; but her simple words, nevertheless, contain a +great and universal truth. It is this "one's own," in the world, and in +his sphere of action, which every man unavoidably requires if he would +develop his own being, and win for himself independence and happiness, +self-esteem, and the esteem of others. Even the nun has her own cell, +where she can prepare herself in peace for heaven, and in which she +possesses her true home. But in social life, the unmarried woman has +often not even a little cell which she can call her own; she goes like a +cloud of mist through life, and finds firm footing nowhere. Hence, +therefore, are there often marriages the genuine children of necessity, +which ought never to have taken place, and that deep longing after the +deep quiet of the grave, which is experienced by so many. But there is +no necessity for this, and in times, in which the middle classes are so +much more enlightened, it becomes still less so; we need, indeed, only +contemplate the masses of people who strive for a subsistence, the +crowds of neglected and uncared-for children that grow up in the world, +in order to see that whatever is one-sided in the view of the +destination of woman vanishes more and more, and opens to her a freer +sphere of action. + +But I return to the _pros_ and _cons_ of my own life, one feature of +which I must particularly mention. If young ladies of our acquaintance +connected themselves by marriage with men who were rather above than +below them in property or station, we considered it, without exception, +reasonable and estimable. But if a man, whose connexions and prospects +were similar to our own, looked round him for a wife in our house, we +considered it great audacity, and treated it accordingly. We were +secretly looking out for genteeler and richer individuals, who again, on +their part, were looking out for genteeler and richer individuals than +we.--N. B. This _looking-out_ in the great world is a very useful thing, +both for gentlemen and ladies, although anybody who would be _naive_ +enough to acknowledge as much, would not be greatly in favour either +with those who looked-out or those who did not. + +In the mean time, a spirit was developed within me, which full of living +energy woke to the sense of its nonentity--to a sense of the enslaving +contradictions in which it moved, and to the most vehement desire to +free itself from them. As yet, however, I did not understand what I was +to do with my restless spirit. By contemplation, however, of noble works +of art, it appeared to me frequently that the enigma of my inner self +became clear to me. When I observed the antique vestal, so calm, so +assured, and yet so gentle--when I saw how she stood, self-possessed, +firm, and serene--I had a foretaste of the life which I needed, and +sought after, both outwardly and inwardly, and I wept tears of +melancholy longing. + +Tortured by the distorted circumstances (many of which I have not +mentioned) under which I moved in my own family connexion, I began, as +years advanced, to come in contact with the world in a manner which, for +a temper like mine, was particularly dangerous. + +We have heard of the daughters of the Husgafvel family, who grew old +yawning over the spinning-wheel and the weaving-stool; but, better so to +grow old, yes, better a thousand times to grow grey over the +spinning-wheel and the ashes of the cooking-stove, than with artificial +flowers--oh, how artificial!--in the hair, on the benches of the +ball-room, or the seat of the supper-room, smiling over the world, which +smiles over us no longer. This was the case with me. + +There are mild, unpretending beings, who bow themselves quietly under +the yoke which they cannot break; move, year after year, through the +social circle, without any other object than to fill a place there--to +ornament or to disfigure a wall. Peace to such patient souls! There, +too, are joyous, fresh, ever youthful natures, who, even to old age, and +under all circumstances, bring with them cheerfulness and new life into +every circle in which they move. These belong to social life, and are +its blessings. Many persons--and it is beautiful that it should be +so--are of this description. I, however, belonged neither to the joyous +and enlivening, nor yet to the patient and unpretending. On this account +I began to shun social life, which occasioned in me, still more and +more, a moral weariness; yet, nevertheless, I was driven into it, to +avoid the disquiet and discomfort which I experienced at home. I was a +labourer who concealed his desire for labour, who had buried his talent +in the earth, as was the hereditary custom of the circle in which I +lived. + +The flower yields odour and delight to man, it nourishes the insect with +its sweetness; the dewdrop gives strength to the leaf on which it falls. +In the relationships in which I lived, I was less than the flower or the +dewdrop; a being endowed with power and with an immortal soul! But I +awoke at the right time to a consciousness of my position. I say at the +right time, because there may be a time when it is too late. There is a +time when, under the weight of long wearisome years, the human soul has +become inflexible, and has no longer the power to raise itself from the +slough into which it has sunk. + +I felt how I was deteriorating; I felt clearly how the unemployed and +uninterested life which I led, nourished day after day new weeds in the +waste field of my soul. Curiosity, a desire for gossip, an inclination +to malice and scandal, and an increasing irritability of temper, began +to get possession of a mind which nature had endowed with too great a +desire for action for it blamelessly to vegetate through a passive life +as so many can. Ah! if people live without an object, they stand as it +were on the outside of active life, which gives strength to the inward +occupation, even if no noble endeavour or sweet friendship give that +claim to daily life which makes it occasionally, at least, a joy to +live; disquiet rages fiercely and tumultuously in the human breast, +undermining health, temper, goodness, nay, even the quiet of conscience, +and conjuring up all the spirits of darkness: so does the corroding rust +eat into the steel-plate and deface its clear mirror with a tracery of +disordered caricatures. + +I once read these words of that many-sided thinker, Steffen:--"He who +has no employment to which he gives himself with true earnestness, which +he does not love as much as himself and all men, has not discovered the +true ground on which Christianity even here brings forth fruit. Such an +occupation becomes a quiet and consecrated temple in all hours of +affliction, into which the Saviour pours out his blessing; it unites us +with all other men, so that we can sympathise in their feelings, and +makes our actions and our wills administer to their wants; it teaches us +rightly to weigh our own circumscribed condition and the worth of +others. It is the true, firm, and fruit-bearing ground of real +Christianity." + +These words came like a breath of air on glowing sparks. A light was +kindled in my soul, and I knew now what I wanted, and what I ought to +do. After I had well considered all this with myself, I spoke with my +parents, and opened my whole heart to them. They were surprised, opposed +me, and besought me to think better of it. I had foreseen this; but as I +adhered firmly and decidedly to my wishes and my prayers, they surprised +me by their kindness. + +I was very fond of children; my plan was, therefore, to begin +housekeeping for myself, and to undertake some work or occupation which +should, by degrees, enable me to take two or three children, for whom I +would provide, whom I would educate, and altogether adopt as my own. I +was well persuaded that I needed many of the qualifications which make a +good teacher; but I hoped that that new fountain of activity would, as +it were, give to my whole being a new birth. My goodwill, my affection +for children would, I believed, be helpful to make me a good guide to +them; and thus, though I could not become a wife, I might yet enjoy the +blessing of a mother. + +"And why could you not--why could you not?" interrupted Elise. + +"People say," returned Evelina, smiling, "that you had to make your +selection of a husband from many adorers; you cannot then understand a +case in which there should not even be one choice. But truly, indeed, +that was my case. But do not look at me so amazed--don't look at me as +if I were guilty of high treason. The truth is, sweet Elise, that I +never had an opportunity to say either yes or no to a lover. With my +sisters, who were much more agreeable and much more attractive than I, +it was otherwise." + +But now I must return to that moment of my life when I released myself +from every-day paths--but, thank God! not with violence, not amid +discontent; but with the blessing of those who had given me life, for +which I now, for the first time, blessed them. + +Touched by my steadfastness of purpose, and by the true goodwill which +they had perceived in me, my parents determined--God reward them for +it!--to bestow upon my desired domestic establishment the sum of money +which they had put aside for my dowry, in case I married. Indeed, their +and my sisters' kindness made them find pleasure in arranging all for me +in the best and most comfortable manner; and when I left the paternal +roof for my own new home, it was with tears of real pain. Yet I had too +clearly studied my own character and position to be undecided. + +It was a day in April, my thirtieth birthday, when, accompanied by my +own family, I went to take possession of my new, small, but pretty +dwelling. Two young father-and-motherless girls, not quite without +means, followed me to my new habitation. They were to become my +children, I their mother. + +I never shall forget the first morning of my waking in my new abode. At +this very moment it is as if I saw how the day dawned in the chamber; +how all the objects gradually assumed, as it seemed to me, an +unaccustomed definiteness. From the near church ascended the morning +hymn with its pleasant serious melody, which attuned the soul to +harmonious peace. I rose early; I had to care for house and children. +All was cheerful and festival-like in my soul; a sweet emotion +penetrated me like the enlivening breeze of spring. Also without spring +breathed. I saw the snow melt from the roofs, and fall down in +glittering drops, yet never had I seen the morning light in them so +clear as now. I saw the sparrows on the edge of the chimneys twittering +to greet the morning sun. I saw without, people going joyfully about +their employments: I saw the milk-woman going from door to door, and she +seemed to me more cheerful than any milk-woman I had ever seen before; +and the milk seemed to me whiter and more nutritious than common. It +seemed to me as if I now saw the world for the first time. I fancied +even myself to be altered as I looked in the glass; my eyes appeared to +me larger; my whole appearance to have become better, and more +important. In the chamber near me the children awoke--the little +immortals whom I was to conduct to eternal life. Yes, indeed, this was a +beautiful morning! In it the world first beamed upon me, and at the same +time my own inner world, and I became of worth and consequence in my own +estimation. + +The active yet quiet life which I led from this time forth, suited me +perfectly well. From this time I became more thoroughly in harmony with +myself, and altogether happier. The day was often wearisome, but then +the evening rest was the sweeter, and the thought that I had passed a +useful day refreshed my soul. The children gave me many cares, many +troubles; but they gave likewise an interest to my life, and happiness +to my heart, and all the while, in pleasure and want, in joy and sorrow, +they became dearer and dearer to me. I cannot imagine that children can +be dearer to their own mother than Laura and Karin are to me. + +In this new position I also became a better daughter, a more tender +sister than I had hitherto been; and I could now cheer the old age of my +parents far more than if I had remained an inactive and superfluous +person in their house. Now for the first time I had advantage of all +that was good in my education. Amid lively activity, and with a distinct +object in life, and in affectionate relationships, that which was vain +and false fell gradually away from my disposition; and the knowledge +which I had obtained, the truths which I had known, were productive in +heart and deed since I had, so to say, struck root in life. + + * * * * * + +Evelina ceased. All had heard her with sympathy, but no one more than +Ernst Frank. A new picture of life was opened to his view, and the +truest sympathy expressed itself on his manly features. He suffered by +this picture of so contracted a world, in so oppressive and gloomy a +condition, and his thoughts already busied themselves with plans for +breaking open doors, for opening windows in these premises, to free this +oppressed and captive life. + +"Ah, yes!" said Mrs. Gunilla, with a gentle sigh, "everybody here in +this world has their difficult path, but if every one walks in the fear +and admonition of the Lord, all arrive in the end at their home. Our +Lord God helps us all!" And Mrs. Gunilla took a large pinch of snuff. + +"Don't forget the _Orbis Pictus_," exclaimed she to Elise, who with her +husband was preparing to go; "don't forget it, and let the children be +educated from it, that they may observe how the soul looks. He, he, he, +he!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE ORPHAN. + + +The day was declining, and Ernst and Elise sate in one of the parlour +windows. Mutual communications received with mutual sympathy, had made +them have joy in each other--had let them feel at peace with life. They +were now silent; but a presentiment that for the future they should be +ever happier with each other, like a harmonious tone, responded in their +hearts, and brightened their countenances. In the mean time, the shadows +of evening began to grow broader, and a soft rain pattered on the +window. The sonorous voice of the Candidate, as he told stories to the +children, interrupted occasionally by their questions and exclamations, +was heard in the saloon. A feeling of home-peace came over the heart of +the father; he took the hand of his wife affectionately between his, and +looked joyfully into her gentle countenance, whilst she was projecting +little domestic arrangements. In the midst of this sense of happiness a +cloud suddenly passed over the countenance of the Judge, and tears +filled his eyes. + +"What is it, Ernst?--what is amiss, Ernst?" asked his wife tenderly, +whilst she wiped away the tears with her hand. "Nothing," said he, "but +that I feel how happy we are. I see you, I hear our children without +there, and I cannot but think on that unfortunate child opposite, which +will be ruined in that wretched home." + +"Ah, yes!" sighed Elise; "God help all unfortunate little ones on the +earth!" + +Both cast their eyes involuntarily towards the nearest window of the +before-mentioned house. Something was moving before the window; a female +figure mounted on the window ledge, a dark child's head peeped out from +between her feet, was kicked away, and a large white cloth, which was +quickly unrolled, hid all within. + +"He is dead!" said both husband and wife, looking at each other. + +The Judge sent over to inquire how it was; the messenger returned with +the tidings that Mr. N. had been dead some hours. + +Lights were now kindled behind the blind, and people appeared to be busy +within the chamber. The Judge walked up and down his room, evidently +much affected. "The poor child!--the poor little girl! what will become +of her? Poor child!" were his broken exclamations. + +Elise read the soul of her husband. She had now for some time, in +consequence of a wish which she had perceived in his heart, accustomed +herself to a thought, which yet at this moment her lips seemed unwilling +to express: "Ernst," at length, suppressing a sigh, she began, "the pot +which boils for six little mouths will boil also for seven." + +"Do you think so?" asked he, with pleasure, and with beaming eyes. He +embraced his wife tenderly, placed her beside him, and inquired--"Have +you proved your own strength? The heaviest part of this adoption would +rest upon you. Yet if you feel that you have courage to undertake it, +you would fulfil the wish of my heart." + +"Ernst," said she, repressing a tear, "my strength is small, and nobody +knows that better than you do; but my will is good;--I will undertake +the trouble--you will support me?" + +"Yes, we will help one another," said he, rising up joyfully. "Thank +you, Elise--thank you, my sweet friend," continued he, kissing her hand +affectionately. "Shall I go to fetch the child immediately?--but perhaps +it will not come with me." + +"Shall I go with you?" + +"You!" said he; "but it gets dark--it rains." + +"We can take an umbrella," replied she; "and besides that, I will put on +a wrapping cloak, and will soon be ready." + +Elise went to dress herself, and her husband went to help her, put on +her cloak for her, and paid her a thousand little affectionate +attentions. + +After Elise had given sundry orders to Brigitta, she and her husband +betook themselves to the house, whilst the children set their little +heads together full of curiosity and wonder. + +The two crossed the street in wind and rain; and after they had ascended +the dark staircase, they arrived at the room which Mr. N. had inhabited. +The door stood half open; a small candle, just on the point of going +out, burned within, spreading an uncertain and tremulous light over +everything. No living creature was visible within the room, which had a +desolate, and, as one might say, stripped appearance, so naked did it +seem. The dead man lay neglected on his bed, near to which was no trace +of anything which might have mitigated the last struggle. A cloth +covered his face. Ernst Frank went towards the bed, and softly raising +the cloth, observed for a moment silently the terrible spectacle, felt +the pulse of the deceased, and then covering again the face, returned +silently, with a pale countenance, to his wife. + +"Where can we find the child?" said she, hastily. They looked +searchingly around; a black shadow, in a human form, seemed to move +itself in one corner of the room. It was the orphan who sate there, like +a bird of night, pressing herself close to the wall. Elise approached +her, and would have taken her in her arms, when the child suddenly +raised her hand, and gave her a fierce blow. Elise drew back astonished, +and then, after a moment, approached again the half-savage girl with +friendly words; again she made a threatening demonstration, but her +hands were suddenly grasped by a strong manly hand, and a look so +serious and determined was riveted upon her, that she trembled before +it, and resigned herself to the power of the stronger. + +The Judge lifted her up, and set her on his knee, whilst she trembled +violently. + +"Do not be afraid of us," said Elise, caressingly; "we are your good +friends. If you will come with me this evening to my little children, +you shall have sweet milk and wheaten bread with them, and then sleep in +a nice little bed with a rose-coloured coverlet." + +The white milk, the rose-coloured coverlet, and Elise's gentle voice, +seemed to influence the child's mind. + +"I would willingly go with you," said she, "but what will my father say +when he wakes?" + +"He will be pleased," said Elise, wrapping a warm shawl about the +shoulders of the child. + +At that moment a sound was heard on the stairs; little Sara uttered a +faint cry of terror, and began to tremble anew. Mr. N.'s housekeeper +entered, accompanied by two boys. The Judge announced to her his +determination to take the little Sara, as well as the effects of her +deceased father, under his care. At mention of the last word, the woman +began to fume and swear, and the Judge was obliged to compel her to +silence by severe threats. He then sent one of the boys for the +proprietor of the house, and after he had in his presence taken all +measures for the security of the effects of the deceased, he took the +little Sara in his arms, wrapped her in his cloak, and, accompanied by +his wife, went out. + +All this time an indescribable curiosity reigned among the little +Franks. Their mother had said, in going out, that perhaps, on her +return, she should bring them another sister. It is impossible to say +the excitement this occasioned, and what was conjectured and counselled +by them. The Candidate could not satisfy all the questions which were +let loose upon him. In order, therefore, somewhat to allay their +fermentation, he sent them to hop through the room like crows, placing +himself at the head of the train. A flock of real crows could not have +fluttered away with greater speed than did they as the saloon door +opened and the father and mother entered. Petrea appeared curious in +the highest degree, as her father, opening his wide cloak, softly set +down something which, at the first moment, Petrea, with terror, took for +a chimney-sweeper; but which, on closer inspection, seemed to be a very +nice thin girl of about nine years old, with black hair, dark +complexion, and a pair of uncommonly large black eyes, which looked +almost threateningly on the white and bright-haired little ones which +surrounded her. + +"There, you have another sister," said the father, leading the children +towards each other;--"Sara, these are your sisters--love one another, +and be kind to one another, my children." + +The children looked at each other, somewhat surprised; but as Henrik and +Louise took the little stranger by the hand, they soon all emulated each +other in bidding her welcome. + +Supper was served up for the children, more lights were brought in, and +the scene was lively. Everything was sacrificed to the new comer. Louise +brought out for her two pieces of confectionery above a year old, and a +box in which they might be preserved yet longer. + +Henrik presented her with a red trumpet, conferring gratuitous +instruction on the art of blowing it. + +Eva gave her her doll Josephine in its new gauze dress. + +Leonore lighted her green and red wax tapers before the dark-eyed Sara. + +Petrea--ah, Petrea!--would so willingly give something with her whole +heart. She rummaged through all the places where she kept anything, but +they concealed only the fragments of unlucky things; here a doll without +arms; here a table with only three legs; here two halves of a sugar-pig; +here a dog without head and tail. All Petrea's playthings, in +consequence of experiments which she was in the habit of making on them, +were fallen into the condition of that which had been--and even that +gingerbread-heart with which she had been accustomed to decoy Gabriele, +had, precisely on this very day, in an unlucky moment of curiosity, gone +down Petrea's throat. Petrea really possessed nothing which was fit to +make a gift of. She acknowledged this with a sigh; her heart was tilled +with sadness, and tears were just beginning to run down her cheeks, when +she was consoled by a sudden idea--The Girl and the Rose-bush! That +jewel she still possessed; it hung still, undestroyed, framed and behind +glass, over her bed, and fastened by a bow of blue ribbon. Petrea +hesitated only a moment; in the next she had clambered up to her little +bed, taken down the picture, and hastened now with beaming eyes and +glowing cheeks to the others, in order to give away the very loveliest +thing she had, and to declare solemnly that now "Sara was the possessor +of the Girl and the Rose-bush." + +The little African appeared very indifferent about the sacrifice which +the little European had made to her. She received it, it is true, but +she soon laid it down again without caring any more about it, which +occasioned Louise to propose that she should keep it for her. + +In the midst of these little occurrences the Assessor came in. He looked +with an inquisitive glance round the room, showed his white teeth, and +said to himself, "Yes, it's all right; it is what I expected. So, +indeed," added he aloud, in his angry manner, whilst he cordially shook +the hand of his friend, "I see you thought you had not children enough +of your own in the house, but you must drag in those of other people! +How many do you mean to burden yourselves with? Will there not be +another to-morrow? Were you not satisfied with a whole half-dozen girls +of your own? And what will become of them? One shall presently not be +able to get into the house for children! I suppose that you have such a +superfluity of money and property, that you must go and squander it on +others! Nay! good luck to you!--good luck to you!" + +The Judge and his wife replied only by smiles to the grumbling of their +friend, and by the request that he would spend the evening with them. +But he said he had not time; and then, after he had laid large pears, +which he took from his pocket, under the napkins on the children's +plates, he went out. + +Every one of those pears had its own distinctive sign: round Sara's was +a gold-coloured ribbon; and upon her plate, under the pear, was found a +bank-note of considerable value. It was his gift to the fatherless, yet +he never would acknowledge it. That was his way. + +As the mother took Sara by the hand, in order to conduct her to rest, +Petrea had the indescribable delight of seeing that, from all the little +presents which had been made to her, she only took with her the girl and +the rose-bush, which she appeared to regard with pleasure. + +Sara was seized with violent grief in the comfortable bedroom; tears +streamed with wonderful violence from her eyes, and she called loudly +for her father. Elise held her quietly in her arms, and let her weep out +her grief on her bosom, and then gently undressing her, and laying the +weary child in bed, had the pleasure of feeling how affectionately she +clasped her arms around her neck. + +The girl and the rose-bush hung over her bed, but still there seemed to +be no rest on the snow-white couch for the "little African." Her dark +eyes glanced wildly about the room, and her hands grasped convulsively +Elise's white dress. + +"Don't go," whispered she, "or else they will come and murder me." + +Elise took the child's hands in hers, and repeated a simple and pious +little prayer, which she had taught to all her own children. Sara said +the words after her; and though it was only mechanically, she seemed to +become calmer, though shudderings still shook her frame, and she hold +fast by Elise's dress. Elise seated herself by her, and at the request +of the other children, "Mother, sing the song of the Dove--oh, the song +of the Dove!" she sang, with a pleasant low voice, that little song +which she herself had made for her children: + + There sitteth a dove so white and fair, + All on the lily-spray, + And she listeneth how, to Jesus Christ, + The little children pray. + + Lightly she spreads her friendly wings, + And to heaven's gate hath sped, + And unto the Father in heaven she bears + The prayers which the children said. + + And back she comes from heaven's gate, + And brings--that dove so mild-- + From the Father in heaven, who hears her speak, + A blessing for every child. + + Then, children, lift up a pious prayer, + It hears whatever you say, + That heavenly dove, so white and fair, + That sits on the lily-spray. + +During this song, the dove of peace descended on the soul of the child. +Pleasant images passed before her mind: the girl and the rose-bush and +the singing Elise were the same person--the rose diffused pleasant +odour; and whilst the long dark lashes approached her cheek yet nearer +and nearer, it seemed to her as if a white lovely singing-bird spread +out his wings caressingly and purifyingly over her breast. By degrees +the little hand opened itself, and let go the dress which it had +grasped, the tearful eyes closed, and the sweetness of repose came over +the fatherless and the motherless. + +Elise raised herself gently, and went to the beds of the other children. +The dove on the lily-spray sent sleep also to them; and after the mother +had pressed her lips to their cheeks, had spoken with Brigitta about the +new comer, and had received from the child-loving, good-natured old +woman, the most satisfactory promises, she hastened back to her husband. + +He listened with curiosity to what she had to relate of Sara. This new +member of the family, this increase of his cares, seemed to have +expanded and animated his soul. His eyes beamed with a gentle emotion as +he spoke of the future prospects of the children. Evelina's history, +which was still fresh in his and Elise's mind, seemed to spur him on to +call forth for his family quite another picture of life. + +"We will bring up our children," said he warmly, "not for ourselves, but +for themselves. We will seek for their good, for their happiness; we +will rightly consider what may conduce to this, as much for one child as +for another; we will endeavour to win and to maintain their full +confidence; and should there, dear Elise, be any harshness or severity +in me, which would repel the children from me, you must assist me; let +their secret desires and cares come to me through you!" + +"Yes! where else could they go?" returned she, with the deepest feeling; +"you are my support, my best strength in life! Without you how weak +should I be!" + +"And without you," said he, "my strength would become sternness. Nature +gave me a despotic disposition. I have had, and have still, many times +the greatest difficulty to control it; but with God's help I shall +succeed! My Elise, we will improve ever. On the children's account, in +order to make them happy, we will endeavour to ennoble our own nature." + +"Yes, that we will, Ernst!" said she; "and may the peace in the house +make betimes the spirit of peace familiar to their bosoms!" + +"We will make them happy," began the father again, with yet increasing +warmth; "with God's help, not one of them shall wander through life +unhappy and infirm of spirit. My little girls! you shall not grow up +like half-formed human beings; no illusions shall blind your eyes to +what are the true riches of life; no noble desires shall you experience +unsatisfied. Ah, life is rich enough to satisfy all the birds under +heaven, and no one need be neglected on earth! Your innocent life shall +not fail of strength and joy; you shall live to know the actuality of +life, and that will bring a blessing on every day, interest on every +moment, and importance on every occupation. It will give you repose and +independence in sorrow and in joy, in life and in death!" + +Whilst Elise listened to these words, she felt as if a refreshing breeze +passed through her soul. Nothing more seemed to her difficult. All the +troubles of life seemed light, on account of the bright end to be +attained. And then, as she thought on the manly warm heart which lived +so entirely for her good and the children's, she felt a proud joy that +she could look up to her husband; and at the same time a sense of +humility slid into her heart, she bowed herself over his hand, and +kissed it fervently. + +This did not please the Judge, because, like every other decided and +powerful man, it gratified him rather to pay homage to woman than, at +least by outward bearing, to receive homage from her. He therefore +withdrew his hand with some displeasure. + +"Why may I not kiss your hand," inquired Elise, "if it give me +pleasure?" + +"Because it gives me no pleasure, and you must not do it again." + +"Well, well, dear friend, you need not forbid it so sternly. Perhaps I +shall never again have the desire to do it." + +"All the better," said he. + +"Perhaps not!" returned Elise. "But let us now go to rest." + + + + +PART II. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE NEW HOUSE. + + +"Farewell, oh house of my childhood! Farewell, you walls, insensible +witnesses of my first tears, my first smiles, and my first false steps +on the slippery path of life--of my first acquaintance with water-gruel +and A B C! Thou corner, in which I stood with lessons difficult to be +learned; and thou, in which I in vain endeavoured to tame the most +thankless of all created things, a fly and a caterpillar!--you floors, +which have sustained me sporting and quarrelling with my beloved brother +and sisters!--you papers, which I have torn in my search after imagined +treasures;--you, the theatre of my battles with carafts and +drinking-glasses--of my heroic actions in manifold ways, I bid you a +long farewell, and go to live in new scenes of action--to have new +adventures and new fate!" + +Thus spake Petrea Frank, whilst, with dignified gestures, she took a +tragic-comic farewell of the home which she and her family were now +about to leave. + +It was a rainy day, in the middle of April. A black silk cloak, called +merrily the "Court-preacher," a piece of property held in common by the +Frank family, and a large red umbrella, called likewise the +"Family-roof," which was common property too, were on this day seen in +active promenade on the streets of the city of X----. What all this +passing to and fro denoted might probably be conjectured if one had seen +them accompanied by a tall, fair, blue-eyed maid-servant, and a little +brown, active, servant-man, carrying bandboxes, baskets, packages, etc., +etc. + +Towards twilight might have been seen, likewise, the tall thin figure of +Jeremias Munter, holding the "family-roof" over the heads of himself and +Petrea Frank. Petrea seemed to be carrying something under her cloak, +laughed and talked, and she and the Assessor seemed to be very much +pleased with each other. Alas! this satisfaction did not endure long; +on the steps of the front-door Petrea accidentally trod on the dangling +lace of her boot, made a false step, and fell. A large paper case of +confectionery suddenly proceeded from under the "court-preacher," and +almond-wreaths, "brown sugar-candy, and iced fruits rolled in all +directions. Even amid the shock and the confusion of the first moment it +was with difficulty that Petrea restrained a loud laugh from bursting +forth when she saw the amazement of the Assessor, and the leaps which he +made, as he saw the confections hopping down the steps towards the +gutter. It was the Assessor's own tribute to the festival of the day +which was thus unluckily dispersed abroad. + +"Yes, indeed, if there were no ladies," said the Assessor, vexed, "one +should be able to accomplish something in this world. But now they must +be coming and helping, and on that account things always go topsy-turvy. +'Let me only do it--let me only manage it,' say they; and they manage +and make it, so that----'Did one ever see anything so foolish!--To fall +over your foot-lace!'--but women have order in nothing; and yet people +set up such to govern kingdoms!--To govern kingdoms!!! I would ask +nothing more from them than that they should govern their feet, and keep +their boot and shoe strings tied. But from the queen down to the +charwoman, there is not a woman in this world who knows how to fasten +her boot-lace!" + +Such was the philippic of Jeremias Munter, as he came into the room with +Petrea, and saw, after the great shipwreck, that which remained of the +confectionery. Petrea's excuses, and her prayers for forgiveness, could +not soften his anger. True it is, that an unfortunate disposition to +laugh, which overcame her, gave to all her professions of distress a +very doubtful appearance. Her distress, however, for all that, was real; +and when Eva came, and said, with a beseeching, flattering voice, "Dear +uncle, do not be angry any longer; poor Petrea is really quite cast +down--besides which she really has hurt her knee," the good man replied +with a very different voice: + +"But has she, indeed? But why are people so clumsy--so given to tripping +and stumbling, that one----" + +"One can get some more confections at any time," said Eva. + +"Can one!" exclaimed Jeremias; "do they grow on trees, then? How? Shall +one then throw away one's money for confectionery, in order to see it +lie about the streets? Pretty management that would be, methinks!" + +"Yet just say one kind word to Petrea," besought Eva. + +"A kind word!" repeated Jeremias: "I would just tell her that another +time she should be so good as to fasten her shoestrings. Nay, I will go +now after some more confectionery; but only on your account, little Miss +Eva. Yes, yes; say I--I will now go: I can dance also, if it be +for----But how it rains! lend me the 'family-roof,' and the cloak there +I need also. Give it here handsomely! Well then, what is there to gape +at? How! will the people gape at me?--all very good; if it gives them +any pleasure, they may laugh at me, I shall not find myself any the +worse for it. Health and comfort are above all things, and one dress is +just as good as another." + +The young girls laughed, and threw the "court-preacher," which hardly +reached to his knees, over the shoulders of the Assessor; and thus +apparelled he went forth with long strides. + +The family had this day removed into a new house. Judge Frank had bought +it, together with a small garden, for the lifetime of himself and his +wife, and for the last two years he had been pulling down, building up, +repairing, and arranging: some doors he had built up, others he had +opened, till all was as convenient and as comfortable as he wished. His +wife, in full confidence, had left all to his good judgment, well +pleased for her own part to be spared the noise of bricklayers and +carpenters, which she escaped not without difficulty; to be spared from +going among shavings and under scaffoldings, and from clambering over +troughs full of mortar, etc. Papers for the walls and other ornamental +things had been left to the choice of herself and her daughters. + +And now he went, full of pleasure, with his wife's arm in his, from one +story to another, and from one room into another, greatly pleased with +the convenient, spacious, and cheerful-looking habitation, and yet even +more so with his wife's lively gratification in all his work. And thus +she was obliged to promenade through the whole house, from the cellar up +to the roof; into the mangling-room, the wood-chamber, etc. + +We will not weary the reader by following them in this promenade, but +merely make him acquainted with some of the rooms in which he will often +meet the family. We merely pass through the saloon and best parlour; +they were handsome, but resembled all such apartments; but the room +which the Judge had arranged with the most especial love, which was +designed for daily use, and as the daily assembling place of the family, +and which deserves our most intimate acquaintance, was the library, so +called. It was a large, very lively room, with three windows on one side +looking into a spacious market-place. Louise rejoiced especially over +this, for thus they could look out of the windows on market-days, and +see at once what they wished to buy; directly opposite lay the church, +with its beautiful churchyard well planted with trees; these objects +pleased Elise greatly. The side of the room opposite to the windows was +entirely covered with books; the shelves consisted of several divisions, +each one of which contained the literature of a different country. In +niches between the several divisions stood, on simple but tasteful +pedestals, busts of distinguished men, great for their heroic and +peaceful actions--standing there, said the Judge, not because they +separated the different nations of the earth, but because they united +them. Ernst Frank's library was truly a select one; it had been the +pleasure of his life, and still it was his delight to be increasing his +collection of book's. Now, for the first time, they were collected and +arranged all in one place. He rejoiced over these treasures, and +besought his daughters freely to make use of them (on this one express +condition, that every book should be restored again to its right place). +To Louise was consigned the office of librarian; to Petrea that of +amanuensis. Both mother and daughters were delighted with this room, and +began to consider where the work-table, the flower-table, and the +bird-cage should stand, and when all were arranged, they were found to +suit their places admirably. Against one of the short walls stood the +green sofa, the appointed place for the mother; and against the opposite +one the piano, and the harp, which was Sara's favourite instrument, +together with a guitar, whose strings were touched by Eva, as she sang +"Mamma mia." + +An agreeable surprise awaited Elise as she was led through a curtained +door which conducted from the library into a sort of boudoir, whose one +window had the same prospect as the library--this was solely and +entirely her own consecrated room. She saw with emotion that the +tasteful furniture of the room was the work of her daughters; her +writing-table stood by the window; several beautiful pictures and a +quantity of very pretty china adorned the room. Elise saw, with thankful +delight, that all her favourite tastes, and all her little fancies, had +been studied and gratified both by husband and children. + +A small curtained door, likewise, on the other side, conducted Elise +into her sleeping-room; and her husband made her observe how smoothly +these doors turned on their hinges, and how easily she, from either +side, could lock herself in and remain in quiet. + +After this room, nothing gave Elise greater delight than the +arrangements for bathing, which the Judge had made particularly +convenient and comfortable; and he now turned the white taps with +remarkable pleasure, to exhibit how freely the warm water came out of +this, and the cold--no, out of this came the warm water, and out of the +other the cold. The cheerfulness and comfort of the whole arrangement +were intended to give to the bathing-day--which was almost as +religiously observed in this family as the Sunday--a double charm. In a +room adjoining that which was appropriated to dressing, the old cleanly +Brigitta had already her fixed residence. Here was she and the great +linen-press to grow old together. Here ticked her clock, and purred her +cat; here blossomed her geraniums and balsams, with the Bible and +Prayer-book lying between them. + +The three light and pleasant rooms intended for the daughters lay in the +story above, and were simply but prettily furnished. + +"Here they will feel themselves quite at home," said the father, as he +looked round with beaming eyes; "don't you think so, Elise? We will make +home so pleasant to our children that they shall not wish to leave it +without a really important and deserving cause. No disquiet, no +discontent with home and the world within it, shall drive them from the +paternal roof. Here they can have leisure and quiet, and be often alone, +which is a good thing. Such moments are needed by every one in order to +strengthen and collect themselves, and are good for young girls as well +as for any one else." + +The mother gave her applause fully and cordially; but immediately +afterwards she was a little absent, for she had something of importance +to say to her eldest daughter; and as at that very moment Louise came +in, an animated conversation commenced between them, of which the +following reached the father's ear: + +"And after them, pancakes; and, my good girl, take care that six of them +are excellently thick and savoury; you know, indeed, how Henrik likes +them." + +"And should we not," suggested Louise, "have whipped cream and raspberry +jam with the pancakes?" + +"Yes, with pleasure," returned the mother,--"Jacobi would unquestionably +recommend that." + +Louise blushed, and the Judge besought with animation that there might +be something a little more substantial than "angels' food" for supper, +which was promised him. + +The Assessor shook out the "family-roof" in the hall in indignation. +"The most miserable roof in all Christendom," said he; "it defends +neither from wind nor rain, and is as heavy as the ark! and----" + +But at the very moment when he was shaking and scolding his worst, he +perceived a sound----exclamations and welcomes, in every possible +variety of joyous and cordial tones. The "court-preacher" was thrown +head and shoulders over the "family-roof," and with great leaps hastened +Jeremias forward to shake hands with the son and the friend of the +house, who were just now returned home from the University. + +Tokens of condolement mingled themselves with welcomes and +felicitations. + +"How wet, and pale, and cold you are!" + +"Oh, we have had a magnificent shower!" said Henrik, shaking himself, +and casting a side glance on Jacobi, who looked both downcast and +doleful in his wet apparel. "Such weather as this is quite an affair of +my own. In wind and rain one becomes so--I don't know rightly how--do +you, _mon cher_?" + +"A jelly, a perfect jelly!" said Jacobi, in a mournful voice; "how can +one be otherwise, knocked about in the most infamous of peasant-cars, +and storm, and pouring rain, so that one is perfectly battered and +melted! Hu, hu, u, u, u, uh!" + +"Oh, according to my opinion," said Henrik, laughing heartily at the +gestures of his travelling companion, "it is a hardening sort of +weather; there is a proud exalting feeling in it, sitting there quite +calm under the raging of the elements; especially when one looks down +from one's elevation on other fellow-mortals, who go lamenting, and full +of anxiety, under their umbrellas. Thus one sits on one's car as on a +throne; nay, indeed, one gets quite a flattering idea of oneself, as if +one were a little, tiny philosopher. Apropos! I bethink myself now, as +if we had seen, as we came this way, a philosopher in a lady's cloak +walking hither. But, how are you all, sweet, sweet sisters? How long it +is since I saw you!" and he pressed their hands between his cold and wet +ones. + +This scene, which took place in twilight, was quickly brought to an end +by the ladies resolutely driving the gentlemen out to their own chamber +to change their clothes. Jacobi, it is true, on his own account, did not +require much driving, and Louise found Henrik's philosophy on this +occasion not so fully adopted. Louise had already taken care that a good +blazing fire should welcome the travellers in their chamber. + +In the mean time, the ladies quartered themselves in the library; lights +were kindled, the table spread; the Judge helped all, and was highly +delighted if people only called to him. The Assessor looked enraptured, +as Eva arranged his confections on little plates. Petrea did not venture +to look at them, much less to touch them. + +"By Jove, my dear girls, how comfortable it is here!" exclaimed the +Judge in the joy of his heart, as he saw the library thus peopled, and +in its for-the-future every-day state. "Are you comfortable there, on +the sofa, Elise? Let me get you a footstool. No; sit still, my friend! +what are men for in the world?" + +The Candidate--we beg his pardon, the Master of Arts, Jacobi--appeared +no longer to be the same person who had an hour before stood there in +his wet dress, as he made his appearance, handsomely apparelled, with +his young friend, before the ladies, and his countenance actually beamed +with delight at the joyful scene which he there witnessed. + +People now examined one another nearer. They discovered that Henrik had +become considerably paler as well as thinner, which Henrik received as a +compliment to his studies. Jacobi wished also a compliment on his +studies, but it was unanimously refused to him on account of his +blooming appearance. He protested that he was flushed with the weather, +but that availed nothing. Louise thought privately to herself that +Jacobi had decidedly gained in manly bearing; that he had a simpler and +more vigorous demeanour; he was become, she thought, a little more like +her father. Her father was Louise's ideal of manly perfection. + +Little Gabriele blushed deeply, and half hid herself behind her mother, +as her brother addressed her. + +"How is your highness, my most gracious Princess Turandotte!" said he; +"has your highness no little riddle at hand with which to confuse weak +heads?" + +Her little highness looked in the highest degree confused, and tried to +withdraw the hand which her brother kissed again and again. Gabriele was +quite bashful before the tall student. + +Henrik had a little _tete-a-tete_ with every sister, but it was somewhat +short and cold with Sara; after which he seated himself by his mother, +took her hand in his, and a lively and general conversation began, +whilst Eva handed about the confectionery. + +"But what is amiss now?" asked Henrik, suddenly. "Why have the sisters +all left us to take council together there, with such important +judge-like faces? Is the nation in danger? May not I go, in order to +save the native land?--If one could only first of all have eaten one's +supper in peace," added he, speaking aside, after the manner of the +stage. + +But it was precisely about the supper that they were talking. There was +a great danger that the pancakes would not succeed; and Louise could not +prevent Henrik and Jacobi running down into the kitchen, where, to the +greatest amusement of the young ladies, and to the tragi-comic despair +of the cook, they acted their parts as cooks so ridiculously that Louise +was obliged at length, with an imposing air, to put an end to the +laughter, to the joking, and to the burnt pancakes, in order that she +herself might put her hand to the work. Under her eye all went well; the +pancakes turned out excellently. Jacobi besought one from her own hand, +as wages for his work; graciously obtained it, and then swallowed the +hot gift with such rapture that it certainly must have burnt him +inwardly, had it not been for another species of warmth (which we +consider very probable)--a certain well-known spiritual fire, which +counteracted the material burning, and made it harmless. Have we not +here, in all simplicity, suggested something of a homoeopathic nature? + +But we will leave the kitchen, that we may seat ourselves with the +family at the supper-table, where the mother's savoury, white pancakes, +and the thick ones for Henrik, were found to be most excellent, and +where the "angels' food" was devoured with the greatest earthly +enjoyment. + +After this, they drank the health of the travellers, and sang a merry +little song, made by Petrea. The father was quite pleased with his +Petrea, who, quite electrified, sang too with all her might, although +not with a most harmonious voice, which, however, did not annoy her +father's somewhat unmusical ear. + +"She sings louder than they all," said he to his wife, who was +considerably less charmed than he with Petrea's musical accompaniment. + +Although every one in the company had had an exciting and fatiguing day, +the young people began immediately after supper, as if according to a +natural law, to arrange themselves for the dance. + +Jacobi, who appeared to be captivated by Sara's appearance, led her in +the magic circle of the waltz. + +"Our sensible little Queen-bee," a rather broad-set, but very well-grown +blonde of eighteen, distinguished herself in the dance by her beautiful +steps, and her pleasing though rather too grave carriage. Everybody, +however, looked with greater admiration on Eva, because she danced with +heart and soul. Gabriele, with her golden curls, flew round like a +butterfly. But who did not dance this evening?--Everybody was actually +enthusiastic--for all were infected with the joyous animal spirits of +Henrik. Even Jeremias Munter, to the amazement of everybody, led Eva, +with most remarkable skill, through the Polska,[4] the most artificial +and perplexing of dances. + +It was only at midnight that the dance was discontinued, at the +suggestion of Elise. But before they separated, the Judge begged his +wife to sing the well-known little song--"The First Evening in the New +House." She sang it in her simple, soul-touching manner, and the joy +full of peace which this song breathed penetrated every heart; even the +grave countenance of the Judge gleamed with an affectionate emotion. A +quiet glory appeared to rest on the family, and beautified all +countenances; for it is given to song, like the sun, to throw its +glorifying light upon all human circumstances, and to lend them beauty, +at least for a moment. "The spinner," and "the aged man by the +road-side," are led by song into the kingdom of beauty, even as they are +by the Gospel into the kingdom of heaven. + +On taking leave for the night, all agreed upon a rendezvous the next +morning after breakfast in the orchard, in order to see what was to be +made of it. + +The father conducted the daughters up into their chambers. He wanted to +see yet once more how they looked, and inquired from them again and +again--"Are you satisfied, my girls? Do they please you? Would you wish +anything besides? If you wish anything, speak out right Swedishly." + +As now his daughters, assuring him of their contentment, gratefully and +affectionately hung about him, there was not a happier man on the face +of the earth than Judge Frank. + +The mother, on her part, had taken her first-born with her into her +little boudoir. She had as yet not been able to speak one word to him +alone. Now she questioned him on everything, small and great, which +concerned him, and how freely and entirely he opened his whole heart to +her! + +They talked of the circumstances of the family; of the purchase of this +new property; of the debt which they had thereby contracted; of the +means through which, by degrees, it would be paid off, and of the +necessity there was for greater economy on all sides. They talked, too, +of the daughters of the house. + +"Louise is superb," said Henrik, "but her complexion is rather muddy; +could she not use some kind of wash for it? She would be so much +handsomer if she had a fresher complexion; and then she looks, the least +in the world, cathedral-like. What a solemn air she had to-night, as +Jacobi made some polite speech to her! Do you know, mother, I think the +sisters sit too much; it is in that way that people get such grave +cathedral-like looks. We must make them take more exercise; we must find +out some lively exhilarative exercise for them. And Eva! how she is +grown, and how kind and happy she looks! It is a real delight to see +her--one can actually fall in love with her! But what in all the world +is to be done with Petrea's nose? It does, indeed, get so large and +long, that I cannot tell what is to be done! It is a pity, though, for +she is so good-hearted and merry. And Leonore! How sickly and unhappy +she looks at times! We must endeavour to cheer her up." + +"Yes, that we will," said the mother; "if she were but healthy, we could +soon manage that; but how does little Gabriele please you?" + +"Ah! she is very lovely, with her high-bred little airs--quite +fascinating," said Henrik. + +"And Sara!" asked she. + +"Yes," said he, "she is lovely--very lovely, I think; but still there is +something, at least to my taste, very unpleasant in her. She is not like +my sisters; there is something about her so cold, so almost repulsive." + +"Yes," said the mother, sighing; "there is at times something very +extraordinary about her, more particularly of late. I fear that a +certain person has too great, and that not a happy, influence over her. +But Sara is a richly gifted and truly interesting girl, out of whom +something very good may be made, if--if----She gives us, indeed, anxiety +at times, for we are as much attached to her as if she were our own +child. She has a most extraordinary talent for music--you must hear her. +There really is much that is very distinguished and truly amiable in +her; you will see it, as you remain so much longer time with us." + +"Yes, thank God!" said Henrik, "I can now reckon on that, on remaining +some months at home." + +The conversation now turned on Henrik's future prospects. His father +wished him to devote himself to mining, and with this end in view he had +studied, but he felt ever, more and more, a growing inclination to +another profession, and this had become a ground of dissatisfaction in +the family. The mother now besought her first-born to prove himself +carefully and seriously before he deserted the path to which his father +was attached, and which Henrik himself had selected in common council +with his father. Henrik promised this solemnly. His soul was warm and +noble. His young heart possessed every fine sentiment, a pure enthusiasm +for virtue and for his country, a glowing desire to live for them, this +belonged to his heart in the richest measure. The wish to be useful to +the community generally, united itself with all his views of +self-advantage, and he only saw his own prosperity in connexion with +that of his family. These thoughts and sentiments poured themselves +forth in that sweet confidential hour freely and fully to his +mother--the happy mother, whose heart beat with joy and with proudest +hope of her first-born, the favourite of her soul, her summer child! + +"And when I have made my own way in the world," added Henrik, joyfully +kissing the hand of his mother, "and have a house of my own, then, +mother, you shall come to me, and live with me, will you not?" + +"And what would your father say to that?" said she, in a tone like his +own. + +"Oh! he has all the sisters who can keep house for him," said Henrik, +"and----" + +"Do you intend to sit up here the whole night?" asked a voice at the +door. It was the voice of the Judge, and both mother and son rose up as +if they had been caught in the fact of conspiracy. The conspiracy, +however, was immediately imparted to the Judge, whereupon he declared +that all this would lead to such fearful consequences that they had +better say no more about it. + +Both mother and son laughed, and said "Good night" to each other. But as +Henrik conveyed the hand of his mother towards his lips, he fell into a +sort of ecstasy over it. + +"Heavens! what a white hand! and what small fingers! nay, how can people +have such small fingers?" And with a sort of comic devotion he kissed +the little finger of that beautiful hand. + +"I see I must carry you off forcibly, if I would have you to myself," +said the Judge merrily, and taking his wife's arm in his, led her out. + +But her thoughts still hovered around her first-born, her handsome and +richly endowed son. She uttered a glowing prayer for his perfecting in +all good, whilst all were sleeping sweetly the first night in the new +house. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] A wild and animated Swedish national dance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE MORROW. + + +How pleasant it must have been to the family the next morning to +assemble round the amply-supplied breakfast-table in a handsome and +spacious drawing-room. But drawing-room, and breakfast-table, and all +outward comforts, signify nothing, if the inward are wanting; if +affectionate dispositions and kind looks do not make the room bright, +and the breakfast well-flavoured. But nothing was wanting on this +morning to the family of the Franks--not even the sun. It shone in +brightly to illumine the bright scene. + +Henrik made a speech to Madame Folette, in testimony of his love and +reverence for her, and of his joy on meeting her again in so good a +state of preservation. + +Louise, with the help of Eva, served tea and coffee, bread and butter, +etc., taking particular care that everybody had just what they liked +best. The basket which held sugar-biscuits was constantly in the +neighbourhood of Jacobi. + +"How glorious this is!" exclaimed Henrik, rubbing his hands, and casting +a glance of pleasure around on his parents and sisters, "it is quite +paradisiacal! What does your Majesty desire? Ah, your most devoted +servant! Coffee, if I might ask it, excellent Madame Folette!" + +"After breakfast," said the mother, "I have something for you to guess." + +"Something to guess?" said Henrik, "what can it be? Tell me, what is it +like, sweet mamma? what name does it bear?" + +"A wedding," replied she. + +"A wedding? A most interesting novelty! I cannot swallow another morsel +till I have made it out! Jacobi, my best fellow, can I possess myself of +a biscuit? A wedding! Do I know the parties?" + +"Perfectly well." + +"It cannot possibly be our excellent Uncle Munter, himself?" suggested +he. "He seems to me very odd, and, as it were, a little touched in the +heart." + +"Oh, no, no! He'll not marry." + +"He is already so horribly old," said Eva. + +"Old!" exclaimed the Judge. "He is something above forty, I fancy; you +don't call that so horribly old, my little Eva. But it is true he has +always had an old look." + +"Guess better," said the mother. + +"I have it! I have it!" said Petrea, blushing. "It is Laura! Aunt +Evelina's Laura!" + +"Ah, light breaks in," said Henrik; "and the bridegroom is Major Arvid +G. Is it not?" + +"Precisely," said his mother. "Laura makes a very good match. Major G. +is a very good-looking, excellent young man; and beyond this, has a good +property. He has persuaded Evelina to remove with Karin to his beautiful +seat at Axelholm, and to consider Laura's and his home as theirs for the +future. Eva dear, set the ham before Henrik. What do you want, my angel +Gabriele? Another rusk? Heavens! how quick you are! Leonore, may I give +you some more bread and butter, my child? No?" + +"But I hope," exclaimed Henrik, "that we shall be invited to the +wedding. Evelina, who is such a sensible woman, must have the good sense +to invite us. Most gracious sister Queen-bee, these rolls--very +nourishing and estimable rolls--were they baked before or after the +Flood?" + +"After," replied Louise, a little piqued, yet with a smile. + +"Oh! I humble myself in the dust," said he. "I pray your Majesty most +graciously to pardon me--[_aside_--but after all they taste remarkably +either of the ark or of a cupboard]. But what in all the world sort of +breakfast are you making, Petrea? Nay, dear sister, such, a superfluity +in eating never can prosper. I pray you do not eat yourself ill!" + +Petrea, who had her curious fancies, or as Louise called them, +her "raptures," had now for some time had the fancy to take only a +glass of cold water and a piece of dry bread for her breakfast. On +account of this abstinence, Henrik now jested, and Petrea answered +him quite gaily; Louise, on the contrary, took up the matter quite +seriously, and thought--as many others did--that this whim of Petrea's +had a distant relationship to folly; and folly, Louise--the sensible +Louise--considered the most horrible of horrors; Louise, who was so very +sensible! + +"Now, really, you must not sit gossiping any longer!" exclaimed the +father, when he saw their mouths only put in motion by conversation, +"else I must go away and leave you; and I should very much like to go +into the garden with you first." + +A general rising followed these words, and all betook themselves to the +garden, with the exception of Leonore, who was unwell, and the little +Gabriele, who had to be careful on account of the damp. + +In the mean time the garden had its own extraordinary circumstances, and +all here did not go on in the usual mode; for although the place was yet +not laid out, and the April snow covered the earth, and still hung in +great masses on the low fruit-trees, which were the only wealth of the +garden, yet these, not at all according to the commonly established laws +of nature, were covered with fruit the most beautiful; rennets and +oranges clustered the twigs, and shone in the sun. Exclamations were +uttered in every variety of tone; and although both Jacobi and Henrik +protested that they could not discover any way of accounting for this +supernatural phenomenon, still they did not escape the suspicion of +being instrumental in the witchcraft, spite of all the means they used +to establish their innocence. The opinion, however, was universally +adopted, that good and not bad elves had been thus busily at work; and +the fruit, therefore, was gathered without fear of bad consequences, and +laid in baskets. The elves were praised both in prose and verse; and +there never was a merrier harvest-feast. + +The Judge had some trouble to get anybody to listen to all his plans of +lilac-hedges, strawberry-beds, of his arbour, and his garden-house. The +narrow space, however, in which he had to work troubled him. + +"If one could only get possession of the piece of land beyond this!" +said he, striking with his stick upon the tall red-boarded fence which +bounded one side of the garden. "Look here, Elise, peep through that +gap; what a magnificent site it is for building--it extends down to the +river!--what a magnificent promenade it would make, properly laid out +and planted! It might be a real treasure to the whole city, which needs +a regular walk in its neighbourhood; and now it lies there desolate, and +useful to nobody, but only for a few cows, because the proprietor does +not know how to make use of it; and our good men of the city have not +public spirit enough to purchase it out of the common fund for the +general good. If I were but rich enough to buy the place, it should soon +have a different appearance, and instead of cows human beings should be +walking there; these boards should be torn down, and our garden should +be united to the great promenade. What a situation it would be!" + +"Would not beehives answer very well here?" asked our sensible +Queen-bee; "the sun strikes directly on these boards." + +"You are perfectly right, Louise," said her father, well pleased; "that +is a good thought; this is an excellent place for beehives: to-morrow +I'll see about some. Two or three we must have, and that directly, that +the bees may have the advantage of the apple and cherry bloom. Thus we +can see them working altogether, and learn wisdom from them, and watch +how they collect honey for us. That will be a pleasure--don't you think +so, Elise?" + +Elise rejoiced sincerely over the bees, and over the garden. It would +give her great pleasure to lay it out. She would set Provence-roses as +soon as possible; and forcing houses also should be erected. Eva thought +she should give herself up to gardening. + +But it was necessary to leave for the present the future home of +radishes and roses, because it was wet and uncomfortable out of doors. + +Gabriele made large eyes when she saw the basketful of fruit which had +been gathered in the garden. But the little Princess Turandotte could +not unravel the riddle respecting them, as Henrik presented it to her. + +The forenoon was spent in clearing away, and in arranging things in the +house. Sara alone took no part in it, but took lessons on the harp from +a distinguished young musician of the name of Schwartz, who had come a +stranger to the city. She sate the whole morning at her music, which she +loved passionately; in the mean time, Petrea had promised to enact the +part of lady's-maid to her, and to put all her clothes and things in +order. + +Henrik sate perfectly happy in his sisters' rooms, and nearly killed +himself with laughing while he watched in part their clearing away and +bustling about, and in part taking a share in all. The quantities of +bundles of pieces, old bonnets, cloaks, dresses, etc., which were here +in motion, and played their parts, formed a singular contrast to his +student-world, in which such a thing as a piece of printed cotton or a +pin might be reckoned quite a curiosity. Then the seriousness with which +all these things were treated, and the jokes and merriment which arose +out of all this seriousness, were for him most delicious things. + +Nothing, however, amused him more than Louise and all her "properties," +as well as the great care which, with a half-comic, half-grave +earnestness, she took of them; but he declared solemnly that he would +disclaim all relationship with her if ever he should see her wearing a +certain pale green shawl, called jokingly "spinage," and a pale grey +dress, with the surname of "water-gruel." None of the sisters had so +many possessions as Louise, and none treated them with so much +importance; for she had in the highest degree that kind of passion which +we will call property-passion. Her bandboxes and bundles burst +themselves out of the space in which she wished to stow them, and came +tumbling down upon her head. She accused Henrik of being guilty of these +accidents; and certain it is that he helped her, not without some +mischievous pleasure, to put them up again in their places. + +Louise was well known in the family for her love of what was old; the +more shabby a dress was, the more distinguished she seemed to think it; +and the more faded a shawl, the more, according to her, it resembled a +Cashmere. This affection for old things extended itself sometimes to +cakes, biscuits, creams, etc., which often occasioned Henrik to inquire +whether an article of a doubtful date had its origin before or after the +Flood. We will here add to the description of Louise a few touches, +which may make the reader more fully acquainted with her character. + +Pure was she both in Heart and intention, with great love of truth, and +a high moral sense, although too much given to lecturing, and sometimes +a little wanting in charity towards erring fellow-mortals. She had much +of her father's understanding and prudence, but came, of course, far +short of him in knowledge of mankind and in experience, although now, in +her eighteenth year, she considered herself to have a perfect knowledge +of mankind. The moral worth of her soul mirrored itself in her exterior, +which, without her being handsome, pleased, and inspired a degree of +confidence in her, because good sense expressed itself in her calm +glance, and her whole demeanour was that of a decided and well-balanced +character. A certain comic humour in her would often dissolve her solemn +mien and important looks into the most hearty laughter; and when Louise +laughed, she bore a charming resemblance to her mother, for she +possessed Elise's beautiful mouth and teeth. + +She was as industrious as an ant, and in the highest degree helpful to +those who were deserving of help, but less merciful than Lafontaine's +ants were to thoughtless crickets and their fellows. Louise had three +hobby-horses, although she never would confess that she had a single +one. The first was to work tapestry; the second, to read sermons; and +the third, to play Patience, and more especially Postillion. A fourth +had of late began to discover itself, and that was for medicine--for the +discovering and administering of useful family medicines; nay, she had +herself decocted a certain elixir from nine bitter herbs, which Henrik +declared would be very serviceable in sending people to the other world. +Louise was no way disturbed by all this, for she did not allow herself +to be annoyed by remarks. + +She prized, enjoyed, and sought, above all things, after "the right;" +but she also set a high value on "respectability" and "property," and +seemed to think that these were hers of course. She had the excellent +peculiarity of never undertaking anything that she could not creditably +get through with; but she had a great opinion of her own ability, in +which her family participated, although they sometimes attempted to set +her down. In the mean time she was in many instances the adviser and +support of the family; and she had a real genius for the mighty +department of housekeeping. + +The parents called her, with a certain satisfaction--the father with a +secret pride--"our eldest daughter." The sisters styled her rather +waggishly "our eldest sister," and sometimes simply "our eldest;" and +"our eldest" knew exceedingly well how to regard her own dignity in +respect to rank and priority. Beyond this, she had a high idea of the +value of woman. + +Louise had an album, in which all her friends and acquaintance had +written down their thoughts or those of others. It was remarkable what a +mass of morality this book contained. + +We fear that our readers may be somewhat weary of hearing the names of +Sara, Louise, Eva, Leonore, Petrea, Gabriele, repeated so often one +after another, and we are very sorry that we find it unavoidable yet +once more to present the whole array in connexion with Louise. But we +will see what little variety we can make by taking them at hap-hazard, +and therefore now steps forward + + +PETREA. + +We are all of us somewhat related to chaos; Petrea was very closely so. +Momentary bursts of light and long periods of confusion alternated in +her. There was a great dissimilarity between Louise and Petrea. While +Louise required six drawers and more to contain her possessions, there +needed scarcely half a one for the whole wardrobe of Petrea; and this +said wardrobe too was always in such an ill-conditioned case, that it +was, according to Louise, quite lamentable, and she not unfrequently +lent a helping hand to its repair. Petrea tore her things, and gave away +without bounds or discrimination, and was well known in the sisterly +circle for the bad state of her affairs. Petrea had no turn for +accumulation; on the contrary, she had truly, although Louise would not +allow it, a certain turn for art. + +She was always occupied by creations of one kind or another, either +musical, or architectural, or poetical. But all her creations contained +something of that which is usually called trash. At twelve years old she +wrote her first romance: "Annette and Belis loved each other tenderly; +they experienced adversity in their love; were at last, however, united, +and lived henceforth in a charming cottage, surrounded with hedges of +roses, and had eight children in one year," which we may call a very +honourable beginning. A year afterwards she began a tragedy, which was +to be called "Gustavus Adolphus and Ebba Brahe," and which opened with +these verses spoken by one Delagardie: + + Now from Germania's coast returned, + I see again the much-loved strand; + From war I come, without a wound, + Once more into my native land. + Say, Banner say, what woe has caused these tears, + Am I not true to thee, or is it idle hope alone that will befool my years? + +Whether no sheet of paper was broad enough to contain the lengthened +lines, or any other cause interfered to prevent the completion of the +piece, we know not; but certain it is that it was soon laid aside. +Neither did a piece of a jocular nature, which was intended to emulate +the fascinating muse of Madame Lenngren,[5] advance much further--the +beginning was thus: + + Within the lordly castle Elfvakolastie, + Which lay, in sooth, somewhere in Sverge,[6] + There lived of yore the lovely Melanie, + The only daughter of Count Stjerneberge. + +At the present time Petrea was engaged on a poem, the title of which, +written in large letters, ran thus--"The Creation of the World!" + +The Creation of the World began thus: + + CHAOS. + + Once in the depths etern of darkness lying, + This mighty world + Waited expectantly the moments flying + When light should be unfurled. + The world was nothing then, which now is given + To crowds of busy men; + And all our beautiful star-spangled heaven + Was desolate darkness then; + Yet He was there, who before time existed, + Who will endure for ever. + +The creation of the world ceased with this faint glimmering of light, +and was probably destined under Petrea's hand never to be brought forth +from chaos. Petrea had an especially great inclination for great +undertakings, and the misfortune to fail in them. This want of success +always wounded her deeply, but in the next moment the impulse of an +irresistibly vigorous temperament raised her above misfortune in some +new attempt. The blood rushed up to her young head, and filled it with a +mass of half-formed thoughts, fancies, and ideas; her mind and her +character were full of disquiet. At times joyous and wild beyond bounds, +she became on the other hand wretched and dispirited without reason. +Poor Petrea! She was wanting in every kind of self-regulation and +ballast, even outwardly; she walked ill--she stood ill--she curtseyed +ill--sate ill--and dressed ill; and occasioned, in consequence, much +pain to her mother, who felt so acutely whatever was unpleasing; and +this also was very painful to Petrea, who had a warm heart, and who +worshipped her mother. + +Petrea also cherished the warmest affection and admiration for Sara, but +her manner even of evidencing her affection was commonly so entirely +without tact, as rather to displease than please the object of it. The +consciousness of this fact embittered much of Petrea's life; but it +conducted her by degrees to a love in which tact and address are of no +consequence, and which is never unreturned. + +Sometimes Petrea was seized with a strong consciousness of the +chaoticness of her state; but then, again, at other times she would have +a presentiment that all this would clear itself away, and then that +something which was quite out of the common way would come forth; and +then she was accustomed to say, half in jest and half in earnest, to her +sisters, "You'll see what I shall turn out sometime!" But in what this +extraordinary turning out should consist nobody knew, and least of all +poor Petrea herself. She glanced full of desire towards many suns, and +was first attracted by one and then by another. + +Louise had for Petrea's prophesyings great contempt, but the little +Gabriele believed in them all. She delighted herself, moreover, so +heartily in all that her sister began, that Petrea sacrificed to her her +most beautiful gold-paper temple; her original picture of shepherdesses +and altars; and her island of bliss in the middle of peaceful waters, +and in the bay of which lay a little fleet of nut-shells, with rigging +of silk, and laden with sugar-work, and from the motion of which, and +the planting of its wonderful flowers, and glorious fruit-bearing trees, +Petrea's heart had first had a foretaste of bliss. + +Petrea's appearance imaged her soul;--for this too was very variable; +this too had its "raptures;" and here too at times also a glimmering +light would break through the chaos. If the complexion were muddled, and +the nose red and swollen, she had a most ordinary appearance; but in +cooler moments, and when the rose-hue confined itself merely to the +cheeks, she was extremely good-looking; and sometimes too, and that even +in her ugly moments, there would be a gleam in her eye, and an +expression in her countenance, which had occasioned Henrik to declare +that "Petrea was after all handsome!" + +To a chaotic mind, the desire for controversy is in-born; it is the +conflict of the elements with each other. There was no subject upon +which Petrea had not her conjectures, and nothing upon which she was not +endeavouring to get a clear idea; on this account she discussed all +things, and disputed with every one with whom she came in contact; +reasoned, or more properly made confusion, on politics, literature, +human free-will, the fine arts, or anything else; all which was very +unpleasant to the tranquil spirit of her mother, and which, in connexion +with want of tact, especially in her zeal to be useful, made poor Petrea +the laughing-stock of every one; a bitter punishment this, on earth, +although before the final judgment-seat of very little, or of no +consequence at all. + + +LEONORE. + +Spite of the mother's embraces, and the appellation, "thou beloved, +plain child!" the knowledge by degrees had come painfully to Leonore +that she was ugly, and that she was possessed of no charm--of no fine +endowment whatever; she could not help observing what little means she +had of giving pleasure to others, or of exciting interest; she saw very +plainly how she was set behind her more gifted sisters by the +acquaintance and friends of the family; this, together with feeble +health, and the discomfort which her own existence occasioned to her, +put her in a discordant state with life and mankind. She was prone to +think everything troublesome and difficult; she fell easily into a state +of opposition to her sisters, and her naturally quick temper led her +often into contentions which were not without their bitterness. All this +made poor Leonore feel herself very unhappy. + +But none, no! none, suffer in vain, however for a while it may appear +so. Suffering is the plough which turns up the field of the soul, into +whose deep furrows the all-wise Husbandman scatters his heavenly seed; +and in Leonore, also, it already began to sprout, although, as yet, only +under the earth. She was not aware of it herself yet; but all that she +experienced in life, together with the spirit which prevailed in her +family, had already awakened the beauty of her soul. She was possessed +of deep feeling, and the consciousness of her many wants made her, by +degrees, the most unpretending and humble of human beings; and these are +virtues which, in private life, cannot be exceeded. If you come near a +person of this character, the influence on you is as if you came out of +the sun's heat into refreshing shadow: a soft coolness is wafted over +your soul, which refreshes and tranquillises you at the same time. + +In the period at which we have now to meet Leonore, she had just +recovered from the scarlet fever, which had left behind it such an +obstinate and oppressive headache as compelled her almost constantly to +remain in her own room; and although her parents and her sisters visited +her there, it afforded her but little pleasure, for as yet she had not +learned how, by goodness and inward kindness, to make herself agreeable +to others. + +But, poor Leonore! when I see thee sitting there in deep thought, thy +weak head supported by thy hand, sunk in sorrowful reflections, I am +ready to lay thy head on my bosom, and to whisper a prophesying in thy +ear--but this may as well remain to a future time. We leave thee now, +but will return another time to thy silent chamber. + +And now step forth, thou, the joy and ornament of home, the beautiful + + +EVA! + +Eva was called in the family, "our rose," "our beauty." There are many +in the world like Eva, and it is well that it is so; they are of a +pleasing kind. It is delightful to look upon these blooming young girls, +with smiles on their lips, and goodness and joy of life beaming from +their beautiful eyes. All wish them so well, and they wish so well to +all; everything good in life seems as if it came from themselves. They +have favourable gales in life--it was so with Eva. Even her weakness, a +desire to please, which easily went too far, and an instability of +character which was very dangerous to her, exhibited themselves only on +their pleasing side, within the circle of her family and of her +acquaintance, and helped to make her more beloved. + +Eva, although perhaps, strictly speaking, not beautiful, was yet +bloomingly lovely. Her eyes were not large, but were of the most +exquisite form, and of the clearest dark blue colour, and their glance +from under their long black lashes was at once modest, lively, and +amiable. The silky chestnut brown hair was parted over a not lofty but +classically-formed brow. Her skin was white, fine, and transparent, and +the mouth and teeth perfectly beautiful; add to all this, Eva had the +fine figure of her mother, with her light and graceful action. Excellent +health, the happiest temper, and a naturally well-tuned soul, gave a +beautiful and harmonious expression to her whole being. Whatever she +did, she did well, and with grace; and whatever she wore became her; it +was a kind of proverb in the family, that if Eva were to put a black cat +on her head it would be becoming. + +A similarity in understanding and talent, as well as companionship +together, had made Louise and Eva hitherto "_les inseparables_," both at +home and abroad; of late, however, without separating herself from +Louise, Eva had been drawn, as it were, by a secret power to Leonore. +Louise, with all her possessions, was so sufficient for herself. Leonore +was so solitary, so mournful, up there, that the good heart of Eva was +tenderly drawn towards her. + +But it seems to us as if Gabriele looks rather poutingly, because she +has been so long, as it were, pushed aside. _We_ will therefore hastily +turn to + + +THE LITTLE LADY. + +It did not please "our little lady" to be neglected at all. Gabriele +was, in truth, a spoiled child, and often made "_la pluie_" and the +"_beau temps_" in the house. She was defended from cold, and wind, and +rain, and vexation, and faddled with and indulged in all possible ways, +and praised and petted as if for the best behaviour, if she were only +gracious enough to take a cup of bouillon, or the wing of a chicken for +dinner. She herself is still like the chicken under the mother's wing; +yet she will sometimes creep from under, and attempt little flights on +her own account. Then she is charming and merry, makes enigmas and +charades, which she gives mostly to her mother and Petrea to guess. It +gives her particular pain to be treated as a little girl; and nothing +worse can happen to her than for the elder sisters to say, "Go out just +for a little while, Gabriele, dear!" in order that they may then impart +to each other some important affair, or read together some heart-rending +novel. She will willingly be wooed and have homage paid to her; and the +Assessor is always out of favour with her, because he jokes with her, +and calls her "little Miss Curlypate," and other such ugly names. + +Learning and masters are no affairs of hers. She loves a certain "_far +niente_," and on account of delicate health her tastes are indulged. Her +greatest delight is in dancing, and in the dance she is captivating. In +opposition to Petrea, she has a perfect horror of all great +undertakings; and in opposition to Louise, a great disinclination to +sermons, be they by word of mouth or printed. The sun, the warm wind, +flowers, but above all, beloved and amiable human beings, make Gabriele +feel most the goodness of the Creator, and awaken her heart to worship. + +She has a peculiar horror of death, and will neither hear it, nor indeed +anything else dark or sorrowful, spoken of; and, happily for Gabriele, +true parental love has a strong resemblance to the Midsummer sun of the +North, which shines as well by night as by day. + +If we turn from the bright-haired Gabriele to Sara, to "that Africa," as +the Assessor called her, we go from day to night. Sara was like a +beautiful dark cloud in the house--like a winter night with its bright +stars, attractive, yet at the same time repulsive. To us, nevertheless, +she will become clear, since we possess the key to her soul, and can +observe it in the following + + +NOTICES FROM SARA'S JOURNAL. + +"Yesterday evening Macbeth was read aloud; they all trembled before Lady +Macbeth: I was silent, for she pleased me. There was power in the +woman." + +"Life! what is life? When the tempest journeys through space on strong +free pinions, it sings to me a song which finds an echo in my soul. When +the thunder rolls, when the lightning flames, then I divine something of +life in its strength and greatness. But this tame every-day life--little +virtues, little faults, little cares, little joys, little +endeavours--this contracts and stifles my spirit. Oh, thou flame which +consumest me in the silent night, what wilt thou? There are moments in +which thou illuminest, but eternities in which thou tormentest and +burnest me!" + +"This narrow sphere satisfies _them_; they find interest in a thousand +trifles; they are able to exert themselves in order to obtain little +enjoyments for each other. Well for them! I was made for something +different." + +"Why should I obey? Why should I submit my inclination--my will, to +gratify others?--Why? Ah, freedom--freedom!" + +"I have obtained 'Volney's Ruins' from S----. I conceal the book from +these pious fearful people, who tremble at shadows; but +to-night!--to-night!--when their eyes are closed in sleep, mine shall +wake and read it. The frontispiece to this book gives me extraordinary +pleasure. A wreck combats with stormy waves; the moon goes down amid +black clouds; on the shore, among the ruins of a temple, sits a +Mussulman--a beautiful and thoughtful figure--and surveys the scene. I +likewise observe it, and an agreeable shudder passes through me. A vast +ruin is better and far more beautiful than a small and an empty +happiness." + +"The book pleases me. It expresses what has long lain silent in me. It +gives clear light to my dark anticipations. Ah! what a day dawns upon +me! A dazzling light that clears away all misty illusions, but my eyes +are strong enough to bear it! Let the net of prejudice, let the +miserable bond of custom be rent asunder, let the fettering supports +fall! My own strength is sufficient for me." + +"Why am I a woman? As a man my life and my conduct would have been clear +and easy; as a woman, I must bow myself in order to clear myself. +Miserable dependence! Miserable lot of woman!" + +"I do not love S----, but he makes a certain impression upon me. The +dark strength in his eye pleases me, the reckless strong will that will +bow itself only to me; and when he takes the harp in his arms, with what +powerful strength he compels it to express all that which the heart has +dreamt and dreams. Then he grasps the strings of my heart--then I +acknowledge in him my master; but never, he shall never govern me. + +"His spirit is not powerful enough for that. He never can be other to me +than as a means to my end. Nor will I herein deceive him. I am too proud +for a hypocrite. I know well whom I could love. I know well the man who +could be the aim of my ambition." + +"Nature never created me for this narrow sphere--for this narrow +foot-track through life. S---- shows me another, which captivates my +mind; I feel that I am created for it. + +"I have observed myself in the glass, and it tells me, as well as the +glance of mankind, that I am handsome. My growth is strong, and accords +with the character of my countenance. I cannot doubt the assurance of +S----. My person, in connexion with the powers of my mind, and my +talent, will ensure me a brilliant future." + +"What purpose would it serve to create illusions? Away with all +illusions! I stand upon a higher point than those around me--than they +who consider themselves entitled to censure my faults, to exalt +themselves in secret above me, perhaps because they have taken me out of +compassion. Taken me out of compassion! Subjecting, humiliating thought! + +"Yet, at the same time, they are good; yes, angelically good to me. I +wish they were less so!" + +"To-night, now for the second time in my life, I have had the same +extraordinary dream. It appeared to me that I was in my chamber, and saw +in heaven vast masses of black cloud above my head driving towards the +horizon, accompanied with a strong rushing sound in the air. + +"'Save thyself, Sara!' cried the voices of my sisters; 'come, come with +us!' But I felt in my limbs that peculiar sluggishness which one +perceives in dreams when one wishes to hasten. My chamber-window flew +open before the tempest, and impelled by a strong curiosity I looked +out. The sun stood opposite to me, pale, watery, without beams; but the +whole firmament around me seemed to burn; a glow of fire passed over all +things. Before me stood a tall aspen, whose leaves trembled and +crackled, whilst sparks of fire darted forth from them. Upon one twig of +the tree sate a huge black bird, looking on me with a fiery glance, and +singing hoarsely and tunelessly, while the tempest and flame rioted +around him. I heard the voices of my adopted mother and sisters +anxiously calling on me from a distance ever further and further +removed. + +"I leaned myself out of the window to hear what the black bird with the +wonderful voice sang. I no longer had any fear. I awoke; but the dream +has a charm for me." + +"The black bird sings to me, out of my dream. My adopted mother has wept +to-day on my account. I am sorry for it, but----it is best that I go. +They do not love me here--they cannot do it. They do not need me, nor I +them any longer. It is best that we separate." + +Thus Sara. + +We will now cast a glance on the parents themselves, who were not +greatly altered, excepting that Elise's whole appearance exhibited much +more health and strength than formerly. The energetic countenance of the +Judge had more wrinkles, but it had, besides, an expression of much +greater gentleness. A slight, but perhaps not wholly unpardonable, +weakness might be observed in him. He was completely captivated with his +daughters. God bless the good father! + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] Anna Lenngren, a distinguished Swedish poetess, admired especially +for her Idyls. She died in 1817. + +[6] Sweden. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE OBJECT. + + +We must now say how the family grouped themselves in the new house. +Since the arrival of Henrik and Jacobi, the liveliness of the family had +visibly increased, Henrik zealously followed up his purpose of making +his sisters take more active exercise, and Jacobi assisted him with his +whole heart. Long walks were arranged, but, to Henrik's annoyance, it +seldom was possible to induce Louise to take exercise of that kind +which, according to his opinion, she needed so much. Louise had always +such a vast deal to do at home; Sara lived only for her harp and her +singing; Leonore was not strong enough; and for Gabriele, it was +generally either too cold, or too dirty, or too windy, or she was not in +the humour to walk. Eva, on the contrary, was always in the humour, and +Petrea had always the desire to speed away. It was Henrik's greatest +pleasure to give one of his sisters his arm, especially when they were +well and handsomely dressed. + +At seven o'clock in the evening all the members of the family assembled +themselves in the library, where the tea-table was prepared, at which +Louise presided. The evenings were uncommonly cheerful, particularly +when the family were alone. Between tea and supper they either talked, +or read aloud, or had music; after supper they mostly danced, and then +Louise exercised herself with remarkable grace. Sometimes they had +charades or social games. Henrik and Petrea had always some new flash of +merriment or other. It was the greatest delight of the Judge to see all +his children around him, especially in an evening, and to see them happy +too. The door of his study, which adjoined the library, always stood +open, in an evening, and, whether he read or wrote there, he still was +conscious of all that went forward among them. Sometimes he would come +out and take part in their entertainment, or would sit on the green sofa +beside his wife, and watch the dance, rejoicing himself over his +daughters, and sometimes was even taken out into the dance, where he was +in much request. + +The young people remarked, that whatever might for the time occupy +Jacobi, he was somewhat absent and incomprehensible; he sighed +frequently, and seemed rather to enjoy quiet conversation with the +ladies than charades and other amusements. It was discovered, between +Henrik and Petrea, that these fits of absence, and these sighs, must +have an object; but it was a long time, that is to say, three or four +days, before they could decide who it really was. + +"It cannot be our mamma," said Petrea, "because she is married; and +besides this, she is so much older than any of us, although, prettier +than all of us together; and though Master Jacobi has such pleasure in +talking with her, and conducts himself towards her as if he were her +son, still it cannot be she. Do you know, Henrik, I fancy Sara is the +object--he looks at her so much; or perhaps Eva, for he is always so +lively with her; and I heard him say yesterday to Uncle Munter, that she +was so uncommonly charming. But it is rather improper that he should +pass 'our eldest' so!" + +Henrik was greatly amused by Petrea's difficulty and conjectures, for he +had his own peculiar notions about the object, and by degrees Petrea +herself began to have a clearer foreknowledge, and to think that +perhaps, after all, the true object might be no other than "our eldest" +herself. After this insight into things, which Petrea was not slow in +circulating among her sisters, Louise was called, in their jocular +phraseology, "the object." All this while, however, "the object" +herself appeared to pay very little attention to the speculations which +had thus reference to herself. Louise was at the present time greatly +occupied by setting up a piece of weaving, and had in consequence, +greatly to Henrik's horror, brought again into use the dress surnamed +"water-gruel." She had absolutely a sort of rage to wear out her old +clothes--and as it happened, moreover, that the piece of weaving was of +a pattern which was much perplexed and difficult to arrange, she assumed +almost constantly the "cathedral demeanour," which occasioned her to +look all the less attractive. But so it happened, Jacobi looked a great +deal at Sara, joked with Eva, and remained sitting beside Louise, as if +he found by her side only true happiness and satisfaction. + +In vain did Petrea draw him into all kind of controversial subjects, in +order to make him, during the contest, somewhat forgetful of "the +object." He did not become abstracted; and it was particularly +observable that the Master had much less desire for disputation than the +Candidate had had; and when Mrs. Gunilla took the field against him more +than once with a whole host of monads and nomads, he only laughed. Now, +indeed, Jacobi had a favourite topic of conversation, and that was his +Excellency O----. The distinguished personal qualities of his +Excellency, his noble character, his goodness, his spirit, his +commanding carriage, his imposing exterior, could not be sufficiently +celebrated and exalted by Jacobi; nay, even his broad lion-like +forehead, his strong glance, and his beautiful patrician hands, were +many a time described. + +Jacobi had for some time been attached to his Excellency as his +secretary, and he had now the hope of his assistance in his future +prospects. In the mean time his Excellency had shown him the greatest +kindness; had given him many opportunities of increasing his knowledge, +and had offered to take him with him on a journey to foreign countries; +besides all which, he had himself practised him in French. In one word, +Excellency O---- was the most excellent excellency in all the world, an +actual excellentissimus. Jacobi was devoted to him heart and soul, was +rich in anecdotes about Excellency O----, and in anecdotes which he had +heard of his Excellency. + +Louise, more than any member of the family, had the property of being a +good listener, and therefore she heard more than any one else of his +Excellency O----, but yet not alone of him; Jacobi had always a +something to relate to her, a something on which he wanted her +consideration, and if Louise were not too much occupied with her +thoughts about the weaving, he was always quite sure, not only of her +sincere sympathy, but of her most deliberate judgment, as well on moral +questions as on questions of economical arrangement, dress, plans for +the future, and so forth. He himself imparted to her good advice--which, +however, was not often followed--for playing Postillion. He drew +patterns for her embroidery, and read aloud to her gladly, and that +novels in preference to sermons. + +But he was not long permitted to sit in peace by her side, for very soon +the seat on the other side of her was occupied by a person whom we will +call "the Landed-proprietor," from the circumstance of his most eminent +distinction being the possession of an estate in the neighbourhood of +the town. + +The Landed-proprietor appeared to the Candidate--we will for the future +adhere to this our old appellation, for, in a certain sense, in this +world, all men are Candidates--quite disposed to make a quarrel about +the place he was inclined to take. + +Beside his large estate, the Landed-proprietor was possessed of a large +portly body, round cheeks, plump from excess of health, a pair of large +grey eyes remarkable for their unmeaning expression, a little ruddy +mouth, which, preferred eating rather than speaking, which laughed +without meaning, and which now directed to Cousin Louise--he considered +himself related to her father--sundry speeches which we will string +together in our next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +STRANGE QUESTIONS. + + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of fish? for example, bream?" asked the +Landed-proprietor one evening as he seated himself beside Louise, who +was industriously working a landscape in her embroidery-frame. + +"Oh, yes! bream is good fish," replied she, very phlegmatically, and +without looking up from her work. + +"Oh, with red-wine sauce," said the Landed-proprietor, "delicate! I +have magnificent fishing on my estate at Oestanvik. Big fellows of +bream! I catch them myself." + +"Who is that great fish there?" asked Jacobi from Henrik, with an +impatient sneer, "and what matters it to him whether your sister Louise +likes bream or not?" + +"Because in that case she might like him, _mon cher_," replied Henrik; +"a most respectable and substantial fellow is my Cousin Thure of +Oestanvik. I advise you to cultivate his acquaintance. Well, now, +Gabriele dear, what wants your highness?--Yes, what is it?--I shall lose +my head about the riddle.--Mamma dear, come and help your stupid son!" + +"No, no, mamma knows it already! Mamma must not tell," exclaimed +Gabriele, terrified. + +"What king do you set up above all other kings, Master Jacobi?" for the +second time asked Petrea, who this evening had a sort of question mania. + +"Charles the Thirteenth," replied he, and listened to Louise's answer to +the Landed-proprietor. + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of birds?" asked the Landed-proprietor. + +"Oh, yes, particularly of fieldfares," answered Louise. + +"Nay, that's capital!" said the Landed-proprietor. "There are +innumerable fieldfares on my estate of Oestanvik. I often go out myself +with my gun and shoot them for my dinner; piff-paff! with two shots I +have killed a whole dishful!" + +"Don't you imagine, Master Jacobi, that the people before the Flood were +much wickeder than those of our time?" asked Petrea, who wished to +occupy the Candidate, nothing deterred by his evident abstraction, and +whom nobody had asked if she liked fieldfares. + +"Oh, much--much better," answered Jacobi. + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of roast hare?" asked the +Landed-proprietor. + +"Master Jacobi, are you fond of roast hare?" whispered Petrea, +waggishly, to the Candidate. + +"Bravo, Petrea!" whispered her brother to her. + +"Cousin Louise, are you fond of cold meat?" asked the Landed-proprietor, +as he handed Louise to the supper-table. + +"Should you like to be a landed-proprietor?" whispered Henrik to her as +she left it. + +Louise answered exactly as a cathedral would have answered--looked very +solemn, and was silent. + +Petrea, like something let quite loose, after supper would not let +anybody remain quiet who by any possibility could be made to answer her. +"Is reason sufficient for mankind?" asked she. "What is the foundation +of morals? What is the proper meaning of revelation? Why is the nation +always so badly off? Why must there be rich and poor?" etc., etc. + +"Dear Petrea," said Louise, "what can be the use of asking such +questions?" + +It was an evening for questions; there was not even an end to them when +people separated for the night. + +"Do you not think," asked the Judge from his wife when they were alone +together, "that our little Petrea begins to be quite disagreeable with +her perpetual questions and disputations? She leaves nobody at peace, +and is at times in a sort of unceasing disquiet. She will, some time or +other, make herself quite ridiculous if she goes on so." + +"Yes," replied Elise, "_if_ she goes on so; but I think she will not. I +have observed Petrea narrowly for some time, and do you know I fancy +there is something out of the common way in that young girl." + +"Yes, yes," said he, "in the common way she certainly is not; the +merriment and the everlasting joviality which she occasions, and the +comical devices that she has----" + +"Yes," replied the mother, "do they not indicate a decided turn for art? +And then she has a remarkable thirst for knowledge. Every morning she is +up between three and four, in order to read or write, or to work at her +Creation. It is, in fact, quite uncommon; and may not this unrest, this +zeal to question and dispute, arise from a sort of intellectual hunger? +Ah! from such hunger, which many a woman for want of fitting aliment +suffers through the whole of her life! From such an emptiness of the +soul proceed unrest, discontentedness, nay, innumerable faults!" + +"I believe you are right, Elise," said her husband; "and no condition in +life is more melancholy, particularly in advanced years. But this shall +not be the lot of my Petrea--that we will prevent. What do you think now +would be good for her?" + +"I fancy," said Elise, "that a course of serious and well-directed +study would assist in regulating her mind. She is too much left to +herself, with her disarranged bent--with her enthusiasm and her +attempts. I myself have too little knowledge to instruct her, you have +too little time, and there is no one here who would undertake the +guidance of her young unsettled mind. I am sometimes extremely grieved +about her; for her sisters do not understand the workings of her mind, +which I must confess sometimes give me pain. I wish I were better able +to help her. Petrea requires a ground on which to take her stand--as yet +she has none; her thoughts require some firm holding-place; from the +want of this comes her unrest. She is like a flower without roots, which +is driven about by wind and wave." + +"She shall be firmly rooted; she shall find firm ground to stand upon, +if such is to be found in the world!" said the Judge, with a grave yet +beaming eye, and striking his hand at the same time with such violence +on a volume of West-Gotha law, that it fell to the ground. "We will +think about it," continued he; "Petrea is yet too young for one to say +with certainty what is her decided bent; but we will strengthen her +powers! she shall no longer know hunger of any kind, so long as I live +and can get my own bread. You know my friend, the excellent Bishop +B----. Perhaps we can at first confide Petrea to his guidance. After a +few years we shall see----as yet she is only a child. But don't you +think we might speak with Jacobi, whether he could not read with her and +talk with her--apropos! how is it with Jacobi? I fancy he begins to +think about Louise." + +"Yes, yes, you are not wrong," said Elise; "and our Cousin Thure of +Oestanvik--have you remarked nothing there?" + +"Yes, I did remark something," replied he. "The thousand! What stupid +questions were those that he put to her! 'Does Cousin like this?' or, +'Does Cousin like that?' But I don't like that! not I! Louise is not yet +grown up, and already shall people come and ask her, does Cousin like? +Nay, perhaps, after all it means nothing; that would please me best. +What a pity it is, however, that our Cousin Thure is not more of a man! +A most beautiful estate he has, and so near us." + +"Yes, a pity," said Elise; "because such as he is now, I am quite +convinced Louise would find it impossible to endure him." + +"You do not think she would like Jacobi?" asked the father. + +"To tell the truth," returned she, "I think it probable she might." + +"Nay," said he, "that would be very unpleasant, and very imprudent: I am +very fond of Jacobi, but he has nothing, and he is nothing." + +"But, my love," reasoned his wife, "he may become something, and he may +get something. I confess, dear Ernst, that he would suit Louise better +for a husband than almost any one else, and I would willingly call him +son." + +"Would you, Elise!" exclaimed the Judge, "then I suppose I must prepare +myself to do the same. You have had most trouble, most labour, with the +children, and you have, therefore, most to say in their affairs." + +"You are so good, Ernst," said Elise. + +"Say reasonable--nothing more than reasonable," said he; "beyond this I +have the belief that our thoughts and our inclinations do not differ +much. I confess that I consider Louise as a great treasure, and I know +nobody whom, of my own will, I would confer her upon; still, if Jacobi +obtains her affections, I could not find in my heart to oppose a union +between them, although, on account of his uncertain prospects, it would +make me anxious. I am much attached to Jacobi, and on Henrik's account +we have much to thank him for. His excellent heart, his honesty, his +good qualities, will make him as good a citizen as husband and father, +and he belongs at the same time to that class of persons with whom it is +most pleasant to have daily intercourse. But, God forbid! I am talking +just as if I wished the union, and I am a long way from that yet. I +would much rather keep my daughters with me as long as they could feel +themselves happy with me; but when girls grow up, one cannot reckon on +peace. I wish all wooers and question-askers at Jericho! Now, we could +live here as in a kingdom of heaven, since we have got all into such +nice order--some little improvements, it is true, I could yet make, +though things are well enough, if we could be at peace. I have been +thinking that we could so easily make a wardrobe. See on this side, in +the wall; don't you think that if we here opened----Heavens! are you +already asleep, my dear?" + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN INVITATION. + + +About this time the sisters of the house began to dream a great deal +about conflagrations, and there was no end of the meanings of dreams, +hints, little jokes, and communications among the sisters, none of whom +dreamt more animated or more significant dreams than Petrea. Gabriele, +who, in her innocence, did not dream at all, wondered what all this +extraordinary talk about conflagration meant; but she could not learn +much, for as often as she desired to have her part in the mysteries, it +was said, "Go out for a little while, Gabriele dear." + +One evening Sara, Louise, Eva, and Petrea were sitting together at a +little table, where they were deep in the discussion of something which +seemed to possess extraordinary interest for them, when Gabriele came +and asked just for a little place at the table for herself and her +books; but it was impossible, there was no room for the little one. +Almost at the same moment Jacobi and Henrik came up; they too sought for +room at the circle of young ladies, and now see! there was excellent +room for them both, whereupon Gabriele stuck her little head between +Louise and Petrea, and prayed her sisters to solve the following riddle: + +"What is that at which six places may be found, but not five?" + +The sisters laughed; Louise kissed the little refined moralist; and +Petrea left the table, the gentlemen, and a political discussion, which +she had begun with Henrik, in order to sit on one side and relate to +Gabriele the Travels of Thiodolf, which was one of the greatest +enjoyments of our little lady. + +"Apropos!" cried Henrik, "will there not be a wedding celebrated the day +after to-morrow, to which we ought naturally to be invited.--N. B. +According to my reckoning, Aunt Evelina has far less genius than I gave +her credit for, if----" + +"Aunt Evelina stands here now ready, if possible, to vindicate her +genius," said a friendly voice, and to the amazement of all Aunt Evelina +stood in the middle of the room. + +After the first salutations and questions, Evelina presented an +invitation, not as Henrik expected for the marriage, but for the +entertainment after the marriage.[7] + +Laura's marriage with Major G. was to be celebrated in the quietest +manner, at her adopted mother's house, and only in the presence of a few +relations. But the mother of the bridegroom, one of those joyous persons +who in a remarkable manner lightens the world of its cares--and for +which the world thanks them so little--one of those who, if possible, +would entertain and make glad all mankind, and whom mankind on that +account very willingly slanders;--she, the stout and cordial widow of a +Councillor of War, was determined to celebrate the marriage of her only +and beloved son in a festive and cheerful manner, and to make the whole +country partakers of the joy which she herself felt. + +The great marriage-festival was to last eight days, and already the +great doors of Axelholm were standing wide open to receive a +considerable party of the notables of the place. The bride and +bridegroom were to invite their respective friends and acquaintances, +and commissioned now by the bride and her future mother-in-law, Evelina +brought a written invitation from her; she came now to beseech the +family--the whole family, Jacobi included, to honour the festivity with +their presence; above all things, desiring that _all_ the daughters +might come--every one of them was wanted for one thing or another. They +reckoned on Petrea, she said, who had a great turn for theatricals, to +take a character in a play which was to be acted; and the others were +wanted for dancing and for _tableaux vivants_. Gabriele must allow +herself to be made an angel of--and naturally they hoped, that out of +all this the young people would find amusement. + +They wished and prayed that the whole family would establish themselves +at Axelholm, where everything was prepared for them during the whole +time of the festival, and, if possible, longer, which would contribute +so much to their friends' satisfaction there. + +Pitt, Fox, Thiers, Lafitte, Platen, Anckarsvaerd, nay, one may even +assert that all the orators in the world never made speeches which were +considered more beautiful by their hearers, nor which were received with +warmer or more universal enthusiasm than this little oration of Aunt +Evelina. Henrik threw himself on his knee before the excellent, eloquent +Aunt; Eva clapped her hands, and embraced her; Petrea cried aloud in a +fit of rapture, and in leaping up threw down a work-table on Louise; +Jacobi made an _entrechat_, freed Louise from the work-table, and +engaged her for the first _anglaise_ of the first ball. + +The Judge, glad from his heart that his children should have so much +enjoyment, was obliged, for his part, to give up the joyful festivity. +Business! Judge Frank had seldom time for anything but business! yet he +would manage it so that at least he would take them there, and on the +following day he would return. Elise sent back her compliments, but +could not take more than two, or at most three, of her daughters with +her; Evelina, however, overruled this, as did also her husband, who +insisted that they _all_ should go. + +"Perhaps," said he, "they may never have such another opportunity to +enjoy themselves." + +Seldom, indeed, does it happen that people beg and pray and counsel a +mother to take all her six daughters with her. Long may such counsellors +live! But then it must be acknowledged, that the daughters of the Franks +were universally beloved on account of their kind, agreeable manners, +and their many good qualities. + +Elise must promise to take them all with her--Sara, Louise, Eva, +Leon----no! It is true Leonore could not go with her; the poor Leonore +must remain at home, on account of indisposition; and very soon, +therefore, Eva and Petrea emulated each other as to which should remain +with her. Leonore declared coldly and peevishly that nobody should stay +at home on her account; she needed nobody; she would much rather be +alone; the sisters might all go, without hesitation; there was no fear +of her not living through it! Poor Leonore had become changed by her +sickness and her sedentary life;--her better self had become hidden +under a cloud of vexation and ill-humour, which chilled the kindliness +and friendliness that people otherwise would have shown to her. + +In the mean time there was a stir among the young people of the family; +for much had to be bought, much to be made, and much to be put in order, +that they might be able to make an honourable appearance at the marriage +festival. What a review was there then of dresses, flowers, ribbons, +gloves, etc.! what counsel-takings and projects regarding the new +purchases! what calculations, so that the present of money which the +good father had, all unsolicited, made to each daughter might not be +exceeded. Louise was invaluable to everybody; she had counsel and +contrivance for everybody; besides all this, she was unwearied in +shopping, and never disheartened in buying. She made very few +compliments--would let them in a shop open all they had, if she wanted +only an ell of cloth; and would go to twelve places in order to get a +piece of ribbon cheaper or of better quality--she paid great regard to +_quality_. According to her own opinion, as well as that of her family, +she was an excellent hand at getting good bargains; that is, for +obtaining good wares at unheard-of low prices. With all this our Louise +was held in great consideration in all the shops of the city, and was +served with the greatest zeal and respect; whilst, on the contrary, +Petrea, who never bargained about anything, and always took that which +was first offered to her, at all events when she was alone, was not +esteemed in the least, and always obtained bad, and at the same time +dear goods. True it is that Petrea went a-shopping as little as +possible; whilst Louise, on the contrary, who took the difficult part of +commissioner for all her friends and acquaintance, was about as much at +home in a shop as in her own wardrobe. + +It was unanimously decided that Sara, Louise, and Eva should all wear +the same dress on the evening of the great ball at Axelholm, which would +be given on the day they arrived there; namely, that they should wear +white muslin dresses, with pale pink sashes, and roses in their hair. +Petrea was enraptured by this project, and did not doubt but that her +sisters would be universally known by the appellation of "the three +Graces." For her own part, she would willingly have been called Venus, +but, alas! that was not to be thought of. She studied her face in all +the glasses in the house--"It is not so very bad-looking," thought she, +"if the nose were only different." Petrea was to appear at the ball in +sky-blue; and "the little lady" was quite enraptured by the +rose-coloured gauze dress which her mother was making for her. + +The toilet occupied every one, body and soul. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] Hemkommeoel, literally, coming-home-ale. The names of many of the +domestic festivities of Sweden remind us very much of those of our own +old festivities; as church-ales, christening-ales, etc.: thus, barnsoel, +the christening-feast; grafoel, burial-feast; arfoel, the feast given by +the heir on descent of property, etc.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CONFUSION. + + +A fine mizzling rain fell without; and Jacobi, with secret horror, +beheld Louise equipped in the "court-preacher," which became her so ill, +ready to go out with Eva, under shelter of the "family-roof," in order +to make good bargains. In the mean time Sara took her music lesson with +Schwartz, but had promised Petrea to go out with her in the afternoon, +in order to make good bargains likewise. + +"Henrik!" said Jacobi to his young friend, "I fancy that we too are +going out on a 'good bargain' expedition. I want a pair of gloves, +and----" + +"And perhaps we shall meet the sisters in the shop," said Henrik, +waggishly. + +"Quite right," returned Jacobi, smiling; "but, Henrik, cannot you tell +your sister Louise that she should not wear that horrible black cloak? I +declare she does not look as----indeed she does not look well in it." + +"Don't you think that I have told her so already?" replied Henrik. "I +have preached so long against the 'court-preacher,' that he ought long +ago to have been banished from respectable society; but it is all to no +purpose. He has worked himself so completely into the good graces of our +gracious oldest, that depend upon it, my brother, we must endure him all +our lives long. And what think you? I almost fancy our Cousin of +Oestanvik likes him!" + +"Nay," said Jacobi, "one can very well see that that creature has a +wretched taste--a true Hottentot taste!" + +"And is that the reason," remarked Henrik, "that he likes Louise?" + +"Hum!" said Jacobi. + +At dinner-time the bargaining young ladies came back, attended by the +bargaining gentlemen, who had, after all, gone about peacefully with the +"court-preacher." Louise was quite full of glory; never in her whole +life before had she made more lucky bargains. + +"Look, sisters," said she, "this muslin for a crown-banco[8] the ell! Is +it not a charming colour? I have saved in it alone twelve shillings.[9] +And see these ribbons which I have got for four-and-twenty shillings the +ell--thirty were asked. Are they not beautiful?--will they not look +magnificently?--is it not a real discovery?--did you ever hear of +anything like it? Sara, if you will go to the same shop as I do, you +will get all at the same price. I have made that agreement for you at +three places: at Bergvall's, and at Astroem's, and Madame Florea's for +the flowers." + +Sara thanked her, but said she had altered her plans; she did not intend +to have the same dress as Louise and Eva, but another, which pleased her +better. + +The sisters were astonished, and rather vexed; Louise quite offended. +Had they not already agreed about it? What was to become of the Three +Graces? + +Sara answered, that the third Grace might be whoever she would, but for +her part she should not have that honour. + +The sisters thought her very ungracious. + +Eva ran up to Leonore in order to show her her purchases. + +"Look at this rose, Leonore," said she, "is it not very pretty? just as +if it were natural! And these ribbons!" + +"Yes, yes," said Leonore, with a depressed voice, regarding these +ornaments with a gloomy look; and then pushing them from her so hastily +that they fell on the floor, burst into tears. Eva was quite concerned; +a book had fallen on her beautiful rose and had crushed it. For one +moment Eva shed tears over her flower, the next over her sister. + +"Why have you done so, Leonore?" said she; "you must be very ill, or are +you displeased with me?" + +"No, no!" said poor Leonore; "forgive me, and leave me." + +"Why?" asked Eva. "Ah, do not weep--do not distress yourself. It was +quite thoughtless of me to come here and----But I will bid farewell to +all the magnificence; I will not go to the ball; I will stop at home +with you, only tell me that you love me, and that you would like me to +do so. Just say so--say so!" + +"No, no!" said Leonore, passionately, and turning away from the +affectionate comforter; "I do not like it! You teaze me, all of you, +with this talk of stopping at home on my account. I know very well that +I am not such as any one would wish to please--I am neither merry nor +good. Go, Eva, to those who are merry, and follow them. Leave me, leave +me in peace, that is all that I desire." + +Eva retired weeping, and with the crushed rose in her hand. + +In the afternoon, when Petrea was ready to go out on the promised +expedition, she found Sara also was in an ill-humour. She would go, but +only on Petrea's account; she had no intention of buying anything; she +had not money enough wherewith to make purchases; she would not go to +the festival; she could not have any pleasure if she did; nothing in the +world gave one any pleasure when one had not things exactly to one's own +wishes. + +Petrea was quite confounded by this sudden change, and sought in all +possible ways to discover the cause of it. + +"But why," asked she, with tears in her eyes, "will you not go with us?" + +"Because I will not go," answered Sara, "if I cannot go with honour, and +in my own way! I will not be mixed up in a mass of every-day mediocre +people! It is in my power to become distinguished and uncommon. That is +now, for once, my humour. I will not live to be trammelled. I would +rather not live at all!" + +"Ah!" exclaimed Petrea, who now comprehended what was working in Sara, +whilst her eyes flashed with sudden joy--"ah, is it nothing more than +that? Dear Sara, take all that I possess; take it, I beseech you! Do you +not believe that it gives me a thousand times the pleasure if I see you +happy and beautiful, than if I possessed the most glorious things in the +world? Take it, best, dearest Sara! I pray you, on my knees, to take it, +and then if there be enough you can buy what you like and go with +us--else the whole splendour will be good for nothing!" + +"Ah, Petrea, and you?" asked Sara. + +"Ah," said Petrea, "I'll just furbish up my gauze dress, and keep a +little money for some ribbon, and then all is done; and as for the rest, +it does not matter how I look. Be only contented, Sara, and do as I bid +you." + +"But ought I? Can I?" asked Sara. "Ah, no, Petrea, I could not do it! +Your little all! And then it would not be sufficient." + +"Ah, yes," said Petrea, "make it sufficient. We can go to Louise's +shops, and one gets everything so cheap there. I shall never be happy +again if you do not do as I pray you. See now, you are my good, dear +Sara! Thank you, thank you! Ah, now am I so light at heart! Now I need +not trouble myself about the blessed toilet. And that is a great gain +for me!" + +The bird that sits on the swinging bough is not lighter of mood than +Petrea was as she went out with Sara, who was far less cheerful, but who +still had never been more friendly towards Petrea. + +It went thus with Petrea's purchase of ribbon:--In passing a +gingerbread-booth she saw a little chimney-sweeper, who was casting the +most loving glances on some purple-red apples, and Petrea, with the +money in her hand, could not resist the desire of making him a present +of them, and felt more than rewarded as she saw the boy's white teeth +shining forth from their black neighbourhood, first in smiles at her, +and then as they attacked the juicy fruit. Her own mouth watered at it, +and as she now cast her eyes round the booth, and saw such beautiful +bergamotte-pears--the favourite fruit of her mother--and such +magnificent oranges, that would please Leonore so much!--the result was, +that Petrea's reticule was filled with fruit, and the ribbon--for that +there was not now money enough. + +"But," consoled herself Petrea, "Louise has such a deal of old +ribbon--she can very well lend me some." Petrea thought like all bad +managers. + +When Sara and Petrea returned from the shopping expedition, Louise saw +directly that the things which Sara had bought must far have exceeded +her means; and besides this, Louise justly thought that they were +unseemly for a young girl of her station. She saw without saying one +word the white silk; the blue gauze for the tunic; the beautiful white +and yellow asters for the hair, and the other ornaments which Sara, not +without vanity, displayed. + +"And what have you bought, Petrea?" now asked Louise; "let us see your +bargains." + +Petrea replied, with a blush, that she--had bought nothing yet. + +Not long afterwards Petrea came to Louise, and besought her, with a +certain bashfulness, to lend her some ribbon. + +"Good Petrea," said Louise, displeased, "I want my ribbons myself, and +you have had money just as well as I or any of the others, to buy what +you may want." + +Petrea was silent, and tears were in her eyes. + +"I did not think, Louise," said Sara, hotly, "that you would have been +so covetous as to refuse Petrea some old ribbons which you are certain +not to want yourself." + +"And I, Sara," returned Louise in the same tone, "I could not have +believed that you would have so abused Petrea's good-nature and weakness +towards you as to take from her her little share, just to indulge your +own vanity! It appears to me especially blameworthy, as it has led to +expenses which far exceed the means of our parents." + +"Sara did not desire anything from me," said Petrea, with warmth; "I +insisted upon it; I compelled her." + +"And above all, Sara," continued Louise, with stern seriousness, "I must +tell you that the dress you have chosen appears to me neither modest nor +becoming. I am quite persuaded that Schwartz has induced you to deviate +from our first project; and I must tell you, dear Sara, that were I in +your place I would not allow such a person to have such an influence +with me; nor is this the only instance in which your behaviour to him +has not appeared to me what it ought to be, not such as becomes the +dignity of a woman, or what I should wish in a sister _of mine_. I am +very sorry to say this." + +"Oh, you are quite too good!" returned Sara, throwing back her head, and +with a scornful smile; "but don't trouble yourself, Louise, for I assure +you that it gives me very little concern what pleases you or what does +not." + +"So much the worse for you, Sara," said Louise, "that you concern +yourself so little for those who are your true friends. I, besides, am +not the only one whom your behaviour to Schwartz displeases. Eva----" + +"Yes, Sara," interrupted Eva, blushing, "I think too that you do not +conduct yourself towards him as is becoming, for----" + +"Sisters," said Sara, with warmth and pride, "you cannot judge of what +is seemly for me. You have no right to censure my conduct, and I will +not endure----" + +"I think, too," said Petrea, warmly, "that if our mother has said +nothing, nobody else has any right----" + +"Silence, dear Petrea," said Louise; "you are silly and blind to----" + +At this moment of disunion and confusion, when all the sisters were +beginning to speak at once, and that with the tongues of indignation and +reproof, a deep and mournful sigh was suddenly heard, which silenced +all, and turned every eye to the door of the little boudoir. The mother +stood there, with her hands clasped against her breast, pale, and with +an expression of pain on her countenance, which sent a quick pang of +conscience through the hearts of the daughters. As all remained silent, +she came softly forward, and said, with a voice of emotion: + +"Why? ah, why, my dear girls, is all this? No! Now, no explanations; +there is error and blame on one side, perhaps also on more. But why this +bitterness, this incautious outbreak of injurious words? Ah, you know +not what you are doing! You know not what a hell sisters can make for +one another, if they cherish such tempers. You know not how bitterness +and harshness may grow among you to a dreadful habit; how you may become +tormenting spirits to each other, and embitter each others' lives. And +it could be so different! Sisters might be like good angels the one to +the other, and make the paternal home like a heaven upon earth! I have +seen both the one and the other in families: a greater contrast is not +to be found on earth. Ah, think, think only that every day, nay, every +hour, you are working to shape the future. Reflect that you may gladden +and beautify your lives, or embitter them, according as you now act. My +dear girls, bethink you that it is in your power to make your parents, +your family, yourselves, either very happy or very unhappy!" + +The daughters were silent, and were penetrated by the deep emotion which +expressed itself in the words of their mother, in her pale countenance, +and in her tearful looks. They felt strongly the truth of all that she +had said. With a torrent of tears, Petrea ran out of the room; Sara +followed her silently; Eva threw herself caressingly on her mother's +neck; but Louise said: + +"I have only spoken the truth to Sara. It is not my fault if it be +unpleasant for her to hear it." + +"Ah, Louise!" returned her mother, "this is constantly said in the +world, and yet so much division and hatred prevail between those who say +it. It is the blind belief in our own faultlessness, it is the hard and +assuming spirit of correction, which excite the temper, and make the +truth unproductive of good. Why should we present truth in a disfiguring +dress, when she is in herself so pure and beautiful? I know, my dear +girl, that you only wish to do that which is right and good, and whoever +aims rightly at that object will not fail of the means also." + +"Must I then dissimulate?" asked Louise. "Must I conceal my thoughts, +and be silent respecting that which I think wrong? That may indeed be +prudent, but it certainly is not Christian." + +"Become Christian in temper, my child," said the mother, "and you will +easily discover the means of doing what is right in a proper and +effectual manner. You will learn to speak the truth without wounding; a +truly pure, truly affectionate spirit wounds no one, not even in +trifles. For that reason, one need not to be silent when one should +speak, but----" + +"'_C'est le ton qui fait la chanson!_' Is it not so? he, he, he!" +interposed the shrill voice of Mrs. Gunilla, who had come in unobserved, +and who thus put an end to the discourse. Soon afterwards the Assessor +made his appearance, and they two fell into conversation, though not, as +commonly, into strife with each other. Mrs. Gunilla lamented to him +respecting Pyrrhus; she was quite in trouble about the little animal, +which had now for some time had a pain in the foot, which it always lay +and licked, and which, spite of that and of other means, got rather +worse than better. She did not know what she was to do with the little +favourite. The Assessor besought her, in the kindest manner, to allow +him to undertake his treatment. He said he had always been much more +successful in curing dogs than men, and that dogs were far more +agreeable, and far nicer patients than their masters. Mrs. Gunilla +thanked him much, and was heartily glad of his offer, and the following +morning, she said, Pyrrhus should be conveyed to him. + +The family assembled themselves for tea, and the quick eyes of Mrs. +Gunilla soon discovered that all was not quite as it should be. + +"Listen, now," said she, "my little Elise. I know that there will be +festivities, and balls, and banquets, given there at----_chose_! what do +they call it? and of course the young people here should all be at them +and figure a little. If there be any little embarrassments about the +toilet in which I can help, tell me candidly. Good heavens! one can +imagine that easily. Young girls!--a rosette is wanted here, and a +rosette is wanted there, and one thing and another--heart's-dearest! it +is so natural. I know it all so well. Now tell me----" + +Elise thanked her cordially, but must decline this offer; her daughters, +she said, must learn betimes to moderate their desires to their means. + +"Yes, yes," said Mrs. Gunilla, "but I must tell you, my dear friend, +there is no rule without its exception, and if any trifles are wanted, +so--think on me." + +Mrs. Gunilla was to-day in such a happy humour; she looked like somebody +who was determined to make some fellow-creature happy. The Assessor +could not get into dispute with her. She rejoiced herself in the +country, to which she should soon remove; in the spring which was at +hand, and in the greenness which was approaching. The Assessor rejoiced +himself not at all. "What had one to rejoice about in such a hateful +spring? It was quite impossible to live in such a climate, and it must +be the will of our Lord God that man should not live, or he would not +have sent such springs. How could people plant potatoes in ice? and how +otherwise could they be planted at all this year? And if people could +get no potatoes, they must die of hunger, which was then perhaps the +best part of the history of life." + +On her side, Mrs. Gunilla bethought herself that she would willingly +live. "Our Lord God," she said, "would take care that people had +potatoes!" and then she looked with an expression of cordial sympathy on +the troubled and distressed countenances of the young girls. + +"When Eva, dear, is as old as I," said she, patting her gently on her +white neck, "she will know nothing more of all that which so distresses +her now." + +"Ah! to be sixty years old!" exclaimed Eva, smiling, though with a tear +in her eye. + +"You'll get well on to sixty--well on; he, he, he, he!" said Mrs. +Gunilla, consolingly. "Heart's-dearest! it goes before one thinks of it! +But only be merry and cheerful. Amuse yourselves at----_chose_! what do +you call it? and then come and tell me all about it. Do that nicely, and +then I shall get my share of the fun though I am not there. That comes +of the so-to-be envied sixty years, Eva, dear! he, he, he, he!" + +The sun set bright and glorious. Mrs. Gunilla went to the window, and +sent a little greeting towards the sun, whose beams, glancing through +the trees of the opposite churchyard, seemed to salute her in return. + +"It looks as if one should have a fine day to-morrow," said Mrs. Gunilla +to herself, gently, and looking very happy. + +People place youth and age opposite to each other, as the light and +shade in the day of life. But has not every day, every age, its own +youth--its own new attractive life, if one only sets about rightly to +enjoy them? Yes, the aged man, who has collected together pure +recollections for his evening companions, is many degrees happier than +the youth who, with a restless heart, stands only at the beginning of +his journey. No passions disturb the coffee-cup of the other--no +restless endeavours disturb the cheerful gossip of the evening twilight; +all the little comforts of life are then so thoroughly enjoyed; and we +can then, with more confidence, cast all our cares and anxieties on God. +We have then proved Him. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] Crown-banco, equal to one shilling and sixpence English money. + +[9] A shilling Swedish is equal to about one farthing English. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +DISENTANGLING. + + +"There are certainly too many bitter almonds in this almond-mass; +nothing tastes good to me this afternoon," said Elise, who set down a +glass of almond-milk, and sighed--but not for the almond-milk. + +"Be pleased with us, dear mother," whispered Eva, tenderly; "we are all +friends again!" + +The mother saw it in their beautiful beaming eyes; she read it in +Louise's quiet glance as she turned round from the table, where she was +helping Sara with her tunic, and looked at her mother. Elise nodded +joyfully both to her and Eva, and drank to them the glass of +almond-milk, which now appeared to have become suddenly sweet, so +pleased did she look as she again set down the glass. + +"Mamma, dear," said Gabriele, "we must certainly do something towards +poor Petrea's toilet, otherwise she will not be presentable." + +But Louise took Petrea's gauze-dress secretly in hand, and sate up over +it till midnight, and adorned it so with her own ribbons and lace that +it was more presentable than it had ever been before. + +Petrea kissed her skilful hands for all that they had done. Eva--yet we +will, for the present, keep silent on her arrangements. + +But dost thou know, oh, reader!--yes, certainly thou dost!--the zephyrs +which call forth spring in the land of the soul--which call forth +flowers, and make the air pure and delicious? Certainly thou knowest +them--the little easy, quiet, unpretending, almost invisible, and yet +powerful--in one word, human kindnesses. + +Since these have taken up their abode in the Franks' family we see +nothing that can prevent a general joyful party of pleasure. But +yes!--it is true-- + + +PETREA'S NOSE! + +This was, as we have often remarked, large and somewhat clumsy. Petrea +had great desire to unform it, particularly for the approaching +festivities. + +"What _have_ you done to your nose? What is amiss with your nose?" were +the questions which assailed Petrea on all sides, as she came down to +breakfast on the morning of the journey. + +Half laughing and half crying, Petrea related how she had made use of +some innocent machinery during the night, by which she had hoped +somewhat to alter the form of this offending feature, the consequence of +which had unfortunately been the fixing a fiery red saddle across it, +and a considerable swelling beside. + +"Don't cry, my dear girl," said her mother, bathing it with +oatmeal-water, "it will only inflame your nose the more." + +"Ah," burst forth poor Petrea, "anybody is really unfortunate who has +such a nose as mine! What in the world can they do with it? They must go +into a convent." + +"It is very much better," said the mother, "to do as one of my friends +did, who had a very large nose, much larger than yours, Petrea." + +"Ah, what did she do?" asked Petrea, eagerly. + +"She made herself so beloved, that her nose was beloved too," said her +mother. "Her friends declared that they saw nothing so gladly as her +nose as it came in at the door, and that without it she would have been +nothing." + +Petrea laughed, and looked quite cheerful. "Ah," said she, "if my nose +can but be beloved, I shall be quite reconciled to it." + +"You must endeavour to grow above it!" said the good, prudent mother, +jestingly, but significantly. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE DAY OF THE JOURNEY. + + +On the morning of the important day all was in lively motion. The +Assessor sent Eva a large bouquet of most remarkably beautiful natural +flowers, which she immediately divided among her sisters. The Judge +himself, in a frenzy of activity, packed the things of his wife and +daughters, and protested that nobody could do it better than he, and +that nobody could make so many things go into one box as he could. The +last was willingly conceded to him, but a little demur arose as to the +excellency of the packing. The ladies asserted that he rumpled their +dresses; the Judge asserted that there was no danger on that account, +that everything would be found remarkably smooth, and stood zealous and +warm in his shirt-sleeves beside the travelling-case, grumbling a little +at every fresh dress that was handed to him, and then exclaiming +immediately afterwards, "Have you more yet, girls? I have more room. Do +give me more! See now! that? and that? and that? and----now, in the name +of all weathers, is there no end of your articles? Give them here, my +girls! Let that alone, child! I shall soon lay it straight! What? +rumple them, shall I? Well, they can be unrumpled again, that's all! Are +there no smoothing-irons in the world? What? so, so, my girls! Have you +any more? I can yet put something more in." + +They were to set off immediately after dinner, in order to be at +Axelholm, which lay about two miles[10] from the city, ready for the ball +in the evening. By dinner-time all boxes were packed, and all tempers +cleared, more especially that of the Judge, who was so contented with +his morning's work that he almost imparted his delight to those who at +first were not altogether satisfied with it. + +Petrea ate nothing but a pancake, with a little snow milk to it, in +order that she might dance all the lighter. + +"Above all things, my friends," prayed the Judge, "be precise, and be +ready at half-past three; the carriages come then to the door, do not +let me have to wait for you." + +Precisely at half-past three the Judge went to the doors of his wife and +daughters. + +"Mamma! girls! it is time to go!" said he. "The clock has struck +half-past three! The carriages are here!" + +"Directly, directly!" was answered from all sides. The Judge waited; he +knew from experience what this "directly" meant. + +In the fever of his punctuality his blood began to boil, and he walked +up and down the hall with great steps, talking with himself: "It is +shocking, though," argued he, "that they never are ready! but I won't be +angry! Even if they make me angry, I will not spoil their pleasure. But +patience is necessary, more than Job had!" + +Whilst he was thus moralising with himself, he heard the voice of his +wife saying, with decision, in the library, "Come now, dear girls! In +heaven's name, don't keep the father waiting! I know, indeed, how it +annoys him----!" + +"But he said nothing the day before yesterday," Petrea's voice was heard +to return, "though he had then to wait for us. (I can't think what I +have done with my gloves!)" + +"And precisely on that account he shall not wait a moment longer for +us," said the mother; "and never again, if I can help it; so, if you are +not ready girls, I shall run away without you!" + +The mother ran, and all the daughters ran merrily after her. + +The father remarked with pleasure, that love has a far more effectual +power than fear, and all were soon seated in the carriage. + +We will allow them to roll away, and will now pay a little visit to + + +LEONORE'S CHAMBER. + +Leonore sate solitary. She supported her sick head on her hand. She had +impelled herself to answer kindly the leave-taking kiss of her mother +and sisters; she had seen how they sought to repress their joy before +her; and she had particularly remarked a sort of half-concealed roguish +joy in the glance which was exchanged between Eva and her mother, which +had pained her. She had heard their happy voices on the stairs, and then +the driving away of the carriages. Now they were gone; now all was still +and desolate in the house, and large tears traced their way down +Leonore's cheeks. She seemed to herself so forlorn, so uncared for, so +solitary in the world! + +At that moment the door was softly opened, a smiling face looked in, and +a light fascinating figure sprang forward through the chamber towards +her, kissed her, laughed, and glanced with roguish and ardent affection +into her astonished face. + +"Eva!" exclaimed Leonore, scarcely trusting her eyes; "Eva, are you +here? How! whither came you? Are you not gone with the others?" + +"No, as you see," returned Eva, embracing her, laughing, and looking +quite happy; "I am here, and mean to stay here." + +"But why? What is the meaning of it?" asked Leonore. + +"Because I would much rather remain here with you than go anywhere +else," said Eva. "I have bid Axelholm with all its splendours good day." + +"Ah! why have you done so? I would much rather you had not!" said +Leonore. + +"See you! I knew that," returned her sister, "and therefore I put on a +travelling dress, like the rest, and took leave of you with them. I +wanted to take you by surprise, you see. You are not angry with me, are +you? You must now be contented with it--you can't get rid of me! Look a +little happy on me, Leonore!" + +"I cannot Eva," said Leonore, "because you have robbed yourself of a +great pleasure on my account, and I know that it must have been +difficult for you. I know that I am neither agreeable nor pleasing, and +that you cannot love me, nor yet have pleasure with me, and on that +account I cannot have pleasure in your sacrifice. It becomes you to be +with the joyful and the happy. Ah! that you had but gone with them!" + +"Do not talk so, unless you would make me weep," said Eva; "you do not +know how the thought of giving up all these festivities in order to +remain alone with you has given me pleasure for many days, and this +precisely because I love you, Leonore! yes, because I feel that I could +love you better than all the rest! Nay, do not shake your head--it is +so. One cannot help one's feelings." + +"But why should you love me?" argued the poor girl; "I am, indeed, so +little amiable, nobody can endure me, nobody has pleasure in me; I would +willingly die. Ah! I often think it would be so beautiful to die!" + +"How can you talk so, Leonore?" said her sister; "it is not right! Would +you wish such horrible grief to papa and mamma, and me, and all of us?" + +"Ah!" said Leonore, "you and the sisters would soon comfort yourselves. +Mamma does not love me as much as any of you others; nor papa either. +Ottil R. said the other day that everybody talked of it--that I was +beloved neither by father nor mother." + +"Fie!" exclaimed Eva, "that was wicked and unjust of Ottil. I am quite +certain that our parents love us all alike. Have you ever observed that +they unjustly make any difference between us?" + +"That I never have," said Leonore; "they are too good and perfect for +that. But, do you think I have not observed with how different an +expression my father regards me to that with which he looks on you or +Louise? Do you think that I do not feel how cold, and at times +constrained, is the kiss which my mother gives me, to the two, the +three, yes, the many, which, out of the fulness of her heart, she gives +to you or to Gabriele? But I do not complain of injustice. I see very +well that it cannot be otherwise. Nature has made me so disagreeable, +that it is not possible people can bear me. Ah! fortunate indeed are +they who possess an agreeable exterior! They win the good-will of people +if they only show themselves. It is so easy for them to be amiable, and +to be beloved! But difficult, very difficult is it for those who are +ill-favoured as I!" + +"But, dear Leonore, I assure you, you are unjust towards yourself. Your +figure, for example, is very good; your eyes have something so +expressive, something at the same time so soft and so earnest; your hair +is fine, and is of a beautiful brown;--it would become you so if it were +better dressed; but wait awhile, when you are better I will help you to +do it, and then you shall see." + +"And my mouth," said poor Leonore, "that goes from ear to ear, and my +nose is so flat and so long--how can you mend that?" + +"Your mouth?" replied Eva, "why yes, it is a little large; but your +teeth are regular, and with a little more care, would be quite white. +And your nose?--let me see--yes, if there were a little elevation, a +little ridge in it, it would be quite good, too! Let me see, I really +believe it begins to elevate itself!--yes, actually, I see plainly +enough the beginning of a ridge! and do you know, if it come, and when +you are well, and have naturally a fresh colour, I think that you will +be really pretty!" + +"Ah! if I can ever believe that!" said Leonore, sighing, at the same +time that an involuntary smile lit up her countenance. + +"And even if you are not so very lovely," continued Eva, "you know that +yet you can be infinitely agreeable; you have something peculiarly so in +your demeanour. I heard papa say so this very day to mamma." + +"Did he really say so?" said Leonore, her countenance growing brighter +and brighter. + +"Yes, indeed he did!" replied her sister. "But, ah! Leonore, after all, +what is beauty? It fades away, and at last is laid in the black earth, +and becomes dust; and even whilst it is blooming, it is not +all-sufficient to make us either beloved or happy! It certainly has not +an intrinsic value." + +Never was the power of beauty depreciated by more beautiful lips! +Leonore looked at her and sighed. + +"No, Leonore," continued she, "do not trouble yourself to be beautiful. +This, it is true, may at times be very pleasant, but it certainly is not +necessary to make us either beloved or happy. I am convinced that if you +were not in the least prettier than you are, yet that you might if you +would, in your own peculiar way, be as much in favour and as much +beloved as the prettiest girls in the world." + +"Ah!" said Leonore, "if I were only beloved by my nearest connexions! +What a divine thing it must be to be beloved by one's own family!" + +"But that you can be--that you will be, if you only will! Ah! if you +only were always as you are sometimes--and you are more and more so--and +I love you more and more--infinitely I love you!" + +"Oh, beloved Eva," said Leonore, deeply affected, whilst she leaned +herself quietly on her sister, "I have very little deserved this from +you; but, for the future, I will be different--I will be such as you +would have me. I will endeavour to be good and amiable." + +"And then you will be so lovely, so beloved, and so happy!" said Eva, +"that it would be a real delight. But now you must come down into +Louise's and my room. There is something there for you; you must change +the air a little. Come, come!" + +"Ah, how charming!" was Leonore's exclamation as she entered Eva's +chamber; and in fact nothing could be imagined more charming than that +little abode of peace, adorned as it now was by the coquetry of +affection. The most delicious odour of fruit and flowers filled the air, +and the sun threw his friendly beams on a table near the sofa, on which +a basket filled with beautiful fruit stood enticingly in the midst of +many pretty and tastefully arranged trifles. + +"Here, dear Leonore," said Eva, "you will remain during this time. It +will do you good to leave your room a little. And look, they have all +left you an offering! This gothic church of bronze is from Jacobi. It is +a lamp! do you see? Light comes through the church window;--how +beautiful! We will light it this evening. And this fruit here--do you +see the beautiful grapes? All these are a plot between Henrik and +Petrea. The copperplate engravings are from my father; Louise has worked +you the slippers; and the little lady, she----" + +Leonore clasped her hands. "Is it possible," said she, "that you all +have thought so much about me! How good you are--ah, too good!" + +"Nay, do not weep, sweet Leonore," said Eva; "you should not weep, you +should be joyful. But the best part of the entertainment remains yet +behind. Do you see this new novel of Miss Edgeworth's? Mamma has given +us this, for us to read together. I will read to you aloud till +midnight, if you will. A delicate little supper has been prepared for us +by Louise, and we shall sup up here. We'll have a banquet in our own +way. Take now one of those big grapes which grow two on one stem, and I +will take the other. The king's health! Oh, glorious!" + +Whilst the two sisters are banqueting at their own innocent feast, we +will see how it goes on in the great company at + + +AXELHOLM. + +Things are not carried on in so enviably easy and unconstrained a manner +at every ball as at that of the citizens in the good little city of +* * * ping, where one saw the baker's wife and the confectioner's wife +waltzing together, but altogether in a wrong fashion, to which the rest +only said, "It does not signify, if they only go on!" Oh, no! such +simplicity as that is very rarely met with, and least of all among those +of whom we write. + +At Axelholm, as at other great balls, the rocky shores of +conventionality made it impossible to move without a thousand +ceremonies, proprieties, dubiosities, formalities, and all the rest, +which, taken together, make up a vast sum of difficulties. The great +ball at Axelholm was not without pretension, and on that account not +without its stiff difficulties. Among these may be reckoned that several +of the young gentlemen considered themselves too old, or too----to dance +at all, and that, in consequence, many of the dance-loving ladies could +not dance at all either, because, on account of the threatening +eye-glasses of the gentlemen, they had not courage to dance with one +another. Nevertheless the scene looked like one of pure delight. The +great saloon so splendidly lighted, and a vast assembly collected there! + +It is now the moment just before the dancing begins; the gentlemen stand +in a great group in the middle of the room, spreading themselves out in +direct or wavy lines towards the circle of ladies. These sit, like +flowers in the garden beds, on the benches round the room, mostly in +bashful stillness; whilst a few, in the consciousness of zephyr-like +lightness, float about the room like butterflies. All look happy; all +talk one with another, with all that animation, that reciprocal +good-will, which the sight of so much beauty, united to the +consciousness that they themselves are wearing their best looks, as well +as the expectation of pleasure, infuses. + +Now the music begins to sound; now young hearts beat with more or less +disquiet; now go the engaged ones, amid the jostlings of the servants, +who are perpetually soliciting the young ladies to partake of the now +disdained tea. There one saw several young girls numerously surrounded, +who were studying the promised dances which were inscribed on the ivory +of their fans, declining fervent solicitations for the third, fourth, +fifth--nay, even up to the twelfth dance; but, fascinatingly-gracious, +promising themselves for the thirteenth, which perhaps may never be +danced; whilst others in their neighbourhood sit quiet and undisturbed, +waiting for the first invitation, in order thereto to say a willing and +thankful yes. Among the many-surrounded and the much-solicited, we may +see Sara and even Louise. With these emulated the three Misses +Aftonstjerna--Isabella, Stella, and Aurora--who stood constantly round +the chair of the Countess Solenstrale, which was placed before the great +mirror at the far end of the saloon. Among those who sat expectantly, in +the most beautiful repose, we shall discover our Petrea, who +nevertheless, with her bandeau of pearls in her hair, and a certain +bloom of innocence and goodness in her youthful countenance, looked +uncommonly well. Her heart beat with an indescribable desire to be +engaged. + +"Ah!" sighed she, as she saw two most elegant young men, the two +brothers B----, walking round the circle of ladies, with their +eye-glasses in their hands. Their eye-glasses rested for a moment on +Petrea; the one whispered something in the ear of the other; both +smiled, and went on. Petrea felt humiliated, she knew not why. + +"Now!" thought she, as Lieutenant S---- approached her quickly. But +Lieutenant S---- came to engage Miss T----, and Petrea remained sitting. +The music played the liveliest _anglaise_, and Petrea's feet were all in +agitation to be moving. + +"Ah!" thought she, "if I were but a man I would engage Petrea." + +The _anglaise_ streamed past Petrea's nose. + +"Where is Eva?" asked Jeremias Munter, in a hasty and displeased tone, +from Louise, in the pause between the _anglaise_ and the waltz. + +"She has remained at home with Leonore," said Louise; "she was +determined upon it." + +"How stupid!" exclaimed he; "why did I come here then." + +"Nay, that I really cannot tell!" returned Louise, smiling. + +"Not!" retorted the Assessor. "Now then I will tell you, sister Louise, +I came here entirely to see Eva dance--solely and altogether on that +account, and for nothing else. What a stupid affair it was that she +should stop at home! You had a great deal better, all the rest of you, +have stopped at home together; you yourself, dear sister, reckoned into +the bargain! Petrea, there! what has she to do here? She was always a +vexation to me, but now I cannot endure her, since she has not +understanding enough to stay at home in Eva's place; and this little +curly-pate, which must dance with grown people just as if she were a +regular person; could not she find a piece of sugar to keep her at home, +instead of coming here to be in a flurry! You are all wearisome +together; and such entertainments as these are the most horrible things +I know." + +Louise floated away in the waltz with Jacobi, laughing over this sally; +and the Countess Solenstrale, the sun of the ball, said as she passed +her chair, "Charmant, charmant!" + +Besides this couple, who distinguished themselves by their easy +harmonious motion, there was another, which whirled past in wild +circles, and drew all eyes upon them likewise: this was Sara and the +boisterous Schwartz. Her truly beaming beauty, her dress, her haughty +bearing, her flashing eyes, called forth a universal ah! of astonishment +and admiration. Petrea forgot that she was sitting while she looked upon +her. She thought that she had never seen anything so transporting as +Sara in the whirl of the dance. But the Countess Solenstrale, as she +sate in her chair, said of this couple--nothing; nay, people even +imagined that they read an expression of displeasure in her countenance. +The Misses Aftonstjerna sailed round with much dignity. + +"My dear girl," said Elise kindly, but seriously, to Sara after the +waltz, "you must not dance thus; your chest will not allow it. How warm +you are! You really burn!" + +"It is my climate," answered Sara; "it agrees with me excellently." + +"I beseech you sit this dance. It is positively injurious to you to heat +yourself thus," said Elise. + +"This dance?" returned Sara; "impossible! I am engaged for it to Colonel +H----." + +"Then, do not dance the next," besought Elise; "if you would do me a +pleasure, do not dance it with Schwartz. He dances in such a wild manner +as is prejudicial to the health; besides which, it is hardly becoming." + +"It gives me pleasure to dance with him," answered Sara, both with pride +and insolence, as she withdrew; and the mother, wounded and displeased, +returned to her seat. + +The Countess Solenstrale lavished compliments on Elise on account of her +children. "They are positively the ornament of the room," said +she;--"_charmant!_ and your son a most prepossessing young man--so +handsome and _comme il faut_! A charming ball!" + +Isabella Aftonstjerna threw beaming glances on the handsome Henrik. + +"What madness this dancing is!" said Mr. Munter, as with a strong +expression of weariness and melancholy he seated himself beside Evelina. +"_Nay_, look how they hop about and exert themselves, as if without this +they could not get thin enough; then, good heavens! how difficult it +seems, and how ugly it is! As if this could give them any pleasure! For +some of them it seems as if it were day-labour, and as if it were a +frenzy to others; and for a third, a kind of affectation; nay, I must go +my ways, for I shall become mad or splenetic if I look any longer on +this super-extra folly!" + +"If Eva Frank were dancing too, you would not think it so," said +Evelina, with a well-bred smile. + +"Eva!" repeated he, whilst a light seemed to diffuse itself over his +countenance, and his eyes suddenly beamed with pleasure--"Eva! no! I +believe so too. To see her dance is to see living harmony. Ah! it +enlivens my mind if I only see her figure, her gait, her slightest +movement; and then to know that all this harmony, all this beauty, is +not mere paint--not mere outside; but that it is the true expression of +the soul! I find myself actually better when I am near her; and I have +often a real desire to thank her for the sentiments which she instils +into me. In fact, she is my benefactress; and I can assure you that it +reconciles me to mankind and to myself, that I can feel thus to a +fellow-creature. I cannot describe how agreeable it is, because commonly +there is so much to vex oneself about in this so-called masterpiece of +the Creator!" + +"But, best friend," said Evelina, "why are you so vexed? Most people +have still----" + +"Ah, don't go and make yourself an _ange de clemence_ for mankind," said +he, "in order to exalt secretly yourself over me, otherwise I shall be +vexed with you; and you belong to the class that I can best endure. Why +do I vex myself? What a stupid question! Why are people stupid and +wearisome, and yet make themselves important with their stupidity? And +wherefore am I myself such a melancholy personage, worse than anybody +else, and should have withal such a pair of quick eyes, as if only on +purpose to see the infirmities and perversions of the world? There may, +however, in my case be sufficient reason for all this. When one has had +the fancy to come into the world against all order and Christian usage; +has seen neither father nor mother beside one's cradle; heard nothing, +seen nothing, learned nothing, which is in the least either beautiful or +instructive--one has not entered upon life very merrily. And then, after +all, to be called Munter![11] Good heavens! Munter! Had I been called +Blannius, or Skarnius, or Brummerius, or Grubblerius, or Rhabarberius, +there might have been some sense in the joke; but Munter! I ask you now, +is it not enough to make a man splenetic and melancholy all the days of +his life? And then, to have been born into the world with a continual +cold, and since then never to have been able to look up to heaven +without sneezing--do you find that merry or edifying. Well, and then! +after I had worked my way successfully through the schools, the dust of +books, and the hall of anatomy, and had come to hate them all +thoroughly, and to love that which was beautiful in nature and in art, +am I to thank my stars that I must win my daily bread by studying and +caring for all that is miserable and revolting in the world, and hourly +to go about among jaundice, and colic, and disease of the lungs? On this +account I never can be anything but a melancholy creature! Yes, indeed, +if there were not the lilies on the earth, the stars in heaven, and +beyond all these some one Being who must be glorious--and were there not +among mankind the human-rose Eva--the beautiful, fascinating Eva, +then----" + +He paused; a tear stood in his eye; but the expression of his +countenance soon was changed when he perceived no less than five young +girls--they danced now the "free choice"--and among them the three +enchanting Miss Aftonstjernas, who, all locked together, came dancing +towards him with a roguish expression. He cast towards them the very +grimmest of his glances, rose up suddenly, and hastened away. + +Sara danced the second waltz with Schwartz, yet wilder than the first. +Elise turned her eyes away from her with inward displeasure; but +Petrea's heart beat with secret desire for a dance as wild, and she +followed their whirlings with sparkling eyes. + +"Oh," thought she, "if one could only fly through life in a joyful whirl +like that!" + +It was the sixth dance, and Petrea was sitting yet. She felt her nose +red and swollen. "See now!" thought she, "farewell to all hopes of +dancing! It must be that I am ugly, and nobody will look at me!" At the +same moment she was aware of the eye of her mother fixed upon her with a +certain expression of discomfort, and that glance was to her like a stab +at the heart; but the next moment her heart raised itself in opposition +to that depressing feeling which seemed about to overcome her. "It is +unpleasant," thought she, "but it cannot be altered, and it is no fault +of mine! And as nobody will give me any pleasure, I will even find some +for myself." + +Scarcely had Petrea made this determination, than she felt herself quite +cheered; a spring of independence and freedom bubbled up within her; she +felt as if she were able even to take down the chandelier from the +ceiling, and all the more so when she saw so many life-enjoying people +skipping around her. + +At this moment an old gentleman rose up from a bench opposite Petrea, +with a tea-cup in his hand. In a mania of officiousness she rushed +forward in order to assist him in setting it aside. He drew himself +back, and held the cup firmly, whilst Petrea, with the most firm and +unwearying "Permit me, sir," seemed determined to take it. The strife +about the cup continued amid the unending bows of the gentleman, and the +equally unending curtseys of Petrea, until a passing waltzing couple +gave a jostle, without the least ceremony whatever to the +compliment-makers, which occasioned a shake of the tea-cup, and revealed +to Petrea the last thing in the world which she had imagined, that the +cup was not empty! Shocked and embarrassed, she let go her hold, and +allowed the old gentleman, with what remained of his cup of tea, to go +and find out for himself a securer place. Petrea seated herself, she +hardly knew how, on a bench near an elderly lady, who looked at her very +good-naturedly, and who helped very kindly to wipe off the ablution of +tea which she had received. Petrea felt herself quite confidential with +this excellent person, and inquired from her what was her opinion of +Swedenborg, beginning also to give her own thoughts on spectral visions, +ghosts, etc. The lady looked at her, as if she thought she might be a +little deranged, and then hastened to change her place. + +A stout military gentleman sat himself down ponderously, with a deep +sigh, on the seat which the old lady had left, as if he were saying to +himself, "Ah, thank God! here I can sit in peace!" But, no! he had not +sate there three minutes and a half when he found himself called upon by +Petrea to avow his political faith, and invited by her to unite in the +wish of speedy war with Russia. Lieutenant-Colonel Uh----turned rather a +deaf ear to the battery by which his neighbour assailed him, but for all +that he probably felt it not the less heavy, because after several +little sham coughs he rose up, and left our Petrea alone with her +warlike thoughts. + +She also rose, from the necessity she felt of looking elsewhere for more +sympathy and interest. + +"In heaven's name, dear Petrea, keep your seat!" whispered Louise, who +encountered her on her search for adventures. + +Petrea now cast her eyes on a young girl who seemed to have had no +better dancing fortune than herself, but who seemed to bear it much +worse, appeared weary of sitting, and could hardly refrain from tears. +Petrea, in whose disposition it lay to impart to others whatever she +herself possessed--sometimes overlooking the trifling fact that what she +possessed was very little desired by others--and feeling herself now in +possession of a considerable degree of prowess, wished to impart some of +the same to her companion in misfortune, and seated herself by her for +that purpose. + +"I know not a soul here, and I find it so horribly wearisome," was the +unasked outpouring of soul which greeted Petrea, and which went directly +to her sympathising heart. + +Petrea named every person she knew in the company to the young +unfortunate, and then, in order to escape from the weight of the +present, began to unfold great plans and undertakings for the future. +She endeavoured to induce her new acquaintance to give her her _parole +d'honneur_ that she would sometime conduct a social theatre with her, +which would assist greatly to make social life more interesting; and +further than that, that they should establish together a society of +Sisters of Charity in Sweden, and make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; +furthermore, that they would write novels together; and that on the +following day, or more properly in the night, they would rise at +half-past two o'clock, and climb to the top of a high mountain in order +to see the sun rise; and finally, after all these, and sundry other +propositions, Petrea suggested to her new acquaintance a thee-and-thou +friendship between them! But, ah! neither Petrea's great prowess, nor +her great plans; neither the social theatre, nor the pilgrimage to +Jerusalem, least of all the thee-and-thou friendship, availed anything +towards enlivening the churlish young girl. Petrea saw plainly that an +invitation to dance would avail more than all her propositions, so, +sighing deeply because she was not a man to offer so great a pleasure, +she rose up, and left the object of her vain endeavours. + +She looked round for a new subject, and her eye fell on the Countess +Solenstrale. Petrea was dazzled, and became possessed of the frenzied +desire to become acquainted with her, to be noticed by her; in short, in +some kind of way to approach the sun of the ball, fancying thereby that +a little glory would be reflected upon herself. But how was she to +manage it? If the Countess would but let fall her handkerchief, or her +fan, she might dart forward and pick it up, and then deliver it to her +with a compliment in verse. Petrea, hereupon, began to improvise to +herself; there was something, of course, about the sun in it. +Undoubtedly this would delight the Countess, and give occasion to more +acquaintance, and perhaps--but, ah! she dropped neither handkerchief nor +fan, and no opportunity seemed likely to occur in which she could make +use of her poem with effect. In the mean time she felt drawn as by a +secret influence (like the planet to the sun) ever nearer and nearer to +the queen of the saloon. The Aftonstjernas were now standing, beaming +around her, bending their white and pearl-ornamented necks to listen to +her jesting observations, and between whiles replying with smiles to the +politeness and solicitations of elegant gentlemen. It looked magnificent +and beautiful, and Petrea sighed from the ardent longing to ascend to +the _haute volee_. + +At this moment Jacobi, quite warm, came hastening towards her to engage +her for the following quadrille. + +Petrea joyfully thanked him; but suddenly reddening to the resemblance +of a peony with her mania of participation, she added, "Might I accept +your invitation for another person? Do me the great pleasure to ask that +young girl that sits there in the window at our left." + +"But why?" asked Jacobi; "why will not you?" + +"I earnestly beseech you to do it!" said Petrea. "It would give me +greater pleasure to see her dancing than if I danced myself." + +Jacobi made some friendly objections, but did in the end as she +requested. + +It was a great pleasure to Petrea to perceive the influence of this +engagement on her young friend. But Fate and the Candidate seemed +determined to make Petrea dance this quadrille; and a young officer +presented himself before her in splendid uniform, with dark eyes, dark +hair, large dark moustache, martial size, and very martial mien. Petrea +had no occasion, and no disposition either, to return anything but a +"yes" to this son of Mars. In fact, she never expected to receive a more +honourable invitation; and a few minutes later she found herself +standing close beside the chair of the Countess Solenstrale, dancing in +the same quadrille with the Aftonstjernas, and _vis-a-vis_ with the +Candidate. Petrea felt herself highly exalted, and would have been +perfectly prosperous had it not been for her restless demon, which +incessantly spurred her with the desire of coming in closer contact with +the beautiful, magnificent lady to whom she stood so near. To tread upon +her foot or her dress, might, it is true, have furnished an easy +occasion for many fine and reverential excuses; but, at the same time, +this would be neither polite nor agreeable. To fall in some kind of way +before her feet, and then, when graciously raised by the Countess, to +thank her in a verse, in which the _sun_ played a conspicuous part, +would have been incontestibly better; but now--Petrea must dance on! + +Was it that our Petrea really was so addled (if people will graciously +allow us such an expression) that she had no right power over her limbs, +or did it happen from want of ballast, in consequence of the slender +dinner she had eaten, or was it the result of her usual distraction--we +know not; but this much is certain, that she in _chassee_-ing on the +right hand, on which she had to pass her _vis-a-vis_, made an error, and +came directly up to him. He withdrew to the other side, but Petrea was +already there: and as the Candidate again withdrew to the right, there +was she again; and amid all this _chassee_-ing her feet got so entangled +with his, that as he made a despairing attempt to pass her, it so +happened that both fell down in the middle of the quadrille! + +When Petrea, with tears in her eyes, again stood upright, she saw before +her the eye-glass gentlemen, the two brothers B., who were nearly dying +with laughter. A hasty glance convinced Petrea that her mother saw +nothing of it; and a second glance, that she had _now_ attracted the +attention of the Countess Solenstrale, who was smiling behind her fan. +The first observation consoled her for the last; and she fervently +assured Jacobi, who was heartily distressed on her account, that she had +not hurt herself; that it signified nothing; that it was her fault, +etc., etc.; cast a tranquil glance on the yet laughing gentlemen, and +_chasseed_ boldly back again. But what, however, made the deepest +impression on Petrea, was the conduct of her partner, and his suddenly +altered behaviour. He brought the continued and unbecoming merriment of +the brothers B. to an end by one determined glance; and he who hitherto +had been parsimonious of words, and who had only answered all her +attempts at being entertaining by a yes or a no, now became quite +conversable, polite, and agreeable, and endeavoured in every possible +way to divert her attention from the unpleasant accident which had just +occurred, engaging her moreover for the _anglaise_ after supper. + +Petrea understood his kindness; tears came into her eyes, and her heart +beat for joy at the thought of hastening to her mother after the +quadrille, and saying, "Mamma, I am engaged for the _anglaise_ after +supper." + +But no thought, no feeling, could remain in tranquillity with the poor +little "Chaos;" so many others came rushing in, that the first were +quite effaced. Her first impression of the kindness of Lieutenant Y. +was, "how good he is!" the second was, "perhaps he may endure me!" And +hereupon a flood of imagined courtesy and courtship poured in, which +almost turned her head. But she would not marry, heaven forbid! yet +still it would be a divine thing to have a lover, and to be oneself "an +object" of passion, like Sara and Louise. Perhaps the young Lieutenant +Y. might be related to the Countess Solenstrale, and, oh heavens! how +well it would sound when it was said, "A nephew of the Countess +Solenstrale is a passionate admirer of Petrea Frank!" What a coming +forth that would be! A less thing than that might make one dizzy. Petrea +was highly excited by these imaginings, and was suddenly changed by them +into an actual coquette, who set herself at work by all possible means +to enslave "her object;" in which a little, and for the moment very +white, hand (for even hands have their moments), figuring about the +head, played a conspicuous part. Petrea's amazing animation and +talkativeness directed the eye-glass of her mother--for her mother was +somewhat short-sighted--often in this direction, and called forth +glances besides from Louise, which positively would have operated with a +very subduing effect, had not Petrea been too much excited to remark +them. The observations and smiles of her neighbours Petrea mistook for +tokens of applause; but she deceived herself, for they only amused +themselves with the little coquetting, but not very dangerous lady. +Lieutenant Y., nevertheless, seemed to find pleasure in her liveliness, +for when the quadrille was ended, he continued a dispute which had +commenced during it, and for this purpose conducted her into one of the +little side rooms, which strengthened her in the idea of having made a +conquest. Isabella Aftonstjerna was singing there a little French song, +the refrain of which was-- + + Hommage a la plus belle, + Honneur au plus vaillant! + +The world was all brightness to Petrea: the song carried her back to the +beautiful days of knighthood: Lieutenant Y. appeared to her as the ideal +of knightly honour, and the glass opposite showed her own face and nose +in such an advantageous light, that she, meeting herself there all +beaming with joy, fancied herself almost handsome. A beautiful rose-tree +was blossoming in the window, and Petrea, breaking off a flower, +presented it to the Lieutenant, with the words-- + + Honneur au plus vaillant. + +Petrea thought that this was remarkably striking and apropos, and +secretly expected that her knight would lay the myrtle-spray with which +he was playing at her feet, adding very appropriately-- + + Hommage a la plus belle. + +"Most humble thanks!" said Lieutenant Y., taking the rose with +misfortune-promising indifference. But Fate delivered Petrea from the +unpleasantness of waiting in vain for a politeness she desired, for +suddenly there arose a disturbance in the ball-room, and voices were +heard which said, "She is fainting! Gracious heaven! Sara!" + +Myrtle-spray, knight, conquest, all vanished now from Petrea's mind, and +with a cry of horror she rushed from Lieutenant Y. into the ball-room at +the very moment when Sara was carried out fainting. The violent dancing +had produced dizziness; but taken into a cool room, and sprinkled with +eau de Cologne and water, she soon recovered, and complained only of +horrible headache. This was a common ailment of Sara's, but was quickly +removed when a certain remedy was at hand. + +"My drops!" prayed Sara, in a faint voice. + +"Where? where?" asked Petrea, with a feeling as if she would run to +China. + +"In the little box in our chamber," said Sara. + +Quick as thought sped the kind Petrea across the court to the east wing. +She sought through the chamber where their things were, but the box was +not to be found. It must have been left in the carriage. But where was +the carriage? It was locked up in the coach-house. And where was the key +of the coach-house? + +Great was Petrea's fatigue before she obtained this; before she reached +the coach-house; and then before, with a lantern in her hand, she had +found the missing box. Great also, on the other hand, was her joy, as +breathless, but triumphant, she hastened up to Sara with the little +bottle of medicine in her hand, and for reward she received the not less +agreeable commission of dropping out sixty drops for Sara. Scarcely, +however, was the medicine swallowed, when Sara exclaimed with violence: + +"You have killed me, Petrea! You have given me poison! It is +unquestionably Louise's elixir!" + +It was so! The wrong bottle had been brought, and great was the +perplexity. + +"You do everything so left-handedly, Petrea!" exclaimed Sara, in +ill-humour; "you are like the ass in the fable, that would break the +head of his friend in driving away a fly!" + +These were hard words for poor Petrea, who was just about to run off +again in order to redeem her error. This, added to other agitation of +mind, brought tears to her eyes, and blood to her head. Her nose began +violently to bleed. Louise, excited against Sara by her severity to +Petrea, and some little also by her calling her elixir poison, threw +upon her a look of great displeasure, and devoted herself to the weeping +and bleeding Petrea. + +Whether it was the spirit of anger that dispersed Sara's headache, or +actually Louise's elixir (Louise was firmly persuaded that it was the +latter), we know not; but certain it was that Sara very soon recovered +and returned to the company, without saying one consoling word to +Petrea. + +Petrea was in no condition to appear at the supper-table, and Louise +kindly remained with her. Aunt Evelina, Laura, Karin, and even the lady +of the War-Councillor herself, brought them delicacies. Amid so much +kindness, Petrea could not do otherwise than become again tranquil and +lively. She should, she thought, after all, dance the _anglaise_ after +supper with "le plus vaillant," as she called the Lieutenant, who had +truly captivated her evidently not steeled heart. + +The _anglaise_ had already begun as the sisters entered the ball-room. +The Candidate hastened to meet them quite in an uneasy state of mind; he +had engaged Louise for this dance, and they now stood up together in the +crowd of dancers. Petrea expected, likewise, that "le plus vaillant" +would rush up to her and seize her hand; but as she cast a hasty glance +around, she perceived him, not rushing towards her, but dancing with +Sara, who was looking more beautiful and brilliant than ever. The rose +which Petrea had given him--faithless knight!--together with the +myrtle-sprig on which she had speculated, were both of them placed in +Sara's bosom. The eyes of "le plus vaillaut" were incessantly riveted +upon "la plus belle," as Sara was then unanimously declared to be. The +glory of the Aftonstjernas paled in the night, as they were too much +heated by dancing, but Sara's star burned brighter and brighter. She was +introduced to the Countess Solenstrale, who paid her charming +compliments, and called her "la reine du bal," at which the +Aftonstjernas looked displeased. + +"Thousand devils, how handsome she is!" exclaimed the old gentleman who +had striven with Petrea about the tea-cup, and who now, without being +aware of it, trod upon her foot as he thrust himself before her to get a +better view of "la reine du bal." + +Overlooked, humiliated, silent, and dejected, Petrea withdrew into +another room. The scenes of the evening passed in review before her +soul, and appeared now quite in an altered light. The mirror which a few +hours before had flattered her with the notion that she might be called +_la plus belle_, now showed her her face red and unsightly; she thought +herself the most ridiculous and unfortunate of human beings. She felt at +this moment a kind of hostility against herself. She thought on +something which she was preparing for Sara, and which was to be an +agreeable surprise to her, and which was to be made known to her in a +few days--she thought of this, and in that moment of trouble the thought +of it, like a sunbeam on dark clouds, brightened the night in her soul. +The thought of gratifying one, who on this evening had so deeply +wounded her, gave a mild and beneficial turn to her mind. + +After supper, a balcony in the saloon adjoining the ball-room was +opened, in order somewhat to cool the heated atmosphere of the room. + +Two persons, a lady and gentleman, stepped into the balcony; a light +white shawl was thrown over the lady's shoulders; stars garlanded her +dark hair; stars flashed in her black eyes, which glanced fiercely +around into free space. + +There lay over the landscape the deliciously mysterious half-darkness of +a May-night, a magical veil which half hides and half reveals its +beauty, and which calls forth mysterious forebodings. A mighty and +entrancing revelation of the gloriousness of life seemed to sing in the +wind, which passed tranquilly murmuring through space, shone in the +stars, and wandered high above earth. + +"Ah, life! life!" exclaimed she, and stretched forth her arms towards +space, as if she would embrace it. + +"Enchanting girl!" said he, while he seized her hand, "my life belongs +to you!" + +"Conduct me forth into free, fresh life," said she, without withdrawing +her hand, and looking haughtily at him all the while, "and my hand +belongs to you! But remember you this, that I will be free--free as the +wind which now kisses your forehead, and lifts those topmost branches of +the tree! I love freedom, power, and honour! Conduct me to these, help +me to obtain these, and my gratitude will secure to you my love; will +fetter me to you with stronger bonds than those of ceremony and +prejudice, to which I only submit out of regard to those who otherwise +would weep over me, and whom I would not willingly distress more than +there is need for. It shall not bind us more than we ourselves wish. +Freedom shall be the knitting and the loosening of our bond!" + +"Beautiful woman!" answered he, "raised above the hypocrisy of +weakness--above the darkness of prejudice--I admire you and obey you! +Only to such a woman can my will submit! My beautiful scholar is become +my teacher! Well, then, let the hand of the priest unite us; my hand +shall conduct you up to that brilliant throne which your beauty and your +talents deserve! I will only elevate you in order, as now, to fall +before your feet the most devoted of your servants!" + +He dropped upon one knee before her; and she, bending herself towards +him, let her lips touch his forehead. He threw his arms round her, and +held her for one moment bent towards him. A supercilious, scornful +expression, unobserved by her, played upon his lips. + +"Release me, Hermann! some one comes," said she; he did so, and as she +raised her proud neck against his will, a dark flash of indignation +burned in her eyes. + +They withdrew, and another couple stepped out into the balcony. + +He. Wait, let me wrap my cloak better round you; the wind is cool. + +She. Ah, how beautiful to feel how it wraps us both! Do you see how we +are here standing between heaven and earth, separated from all the +world? + +He. I do not see it--I see my lovely world in my arms! I have you, +Laura! Laura, tell me, are you happy? + +She. Ah, no! + +He. How? + +She. Ah, I am not happy because I am too happy! I fancy I never can have +deserved this happiness. I cannot conceive how it came to my share. Ah, +Arvid! to live thus with you, with my mother, my sister, all that I most +love--and then to be yours ever, ever! + +He. Say eternally, my Laura! Our union belongs as much to heaven as to +earth, here as there; to all eternity I am yours, and you are mine! + +She. Hush, my Arvid! I hear my mother's voice--she calls me. Let us go +to her. + +They returned into the room, and presently another couple stepped on the +balcony. + +He. Cousin Louise, do you like evening air? Cousin Louise, I fancy, is +rather romantic. Cousin, do you like the stars? I am a great friend of +the stars too; I think on what the poet sings: + + ----silently as Egypt's priests + They move. + +Look, Cousin Louise, towards the corner, in the west there lies +Oestanvik. If it would give you any pleasure to make a little tour +there, I would beg that I might drive you there in my new landau. I +really think, Cousin Louise, that Oestanvik would please you: the +peaches and the vines are just now in full bloom; it is a beautiful +sight. + +A deep sigh is heard. + +She. Who sighs so? + +A Voice. Somebody who is poor, and who now, for the first time, envies +the rich. + +He. Oh rich! rich! God forbid! rich I am not exactly. One has one's +competency, thank God! One has wherewith to live. I can honestly +maintain myself and a family. I sow two hundred bushels of wheat; and +what do you think, Cousin Louise--but where is Cousin Louise? + +A Voice. It seemed to her, no doubt, as if a cold wind came over here +from Oestanvik. + +At the moment when the gentlemen returned to the room, a girl came into +the balcony. She was alone. The misfortunes of the evening depressed her +heart, and were felt to be so much more humiliating because they were of +such a mean kind. Some burning tears stole quickly and silently over her +cheeks. The evening wind kissed them gently away. She looked up to +heaven; never had it seemed to her so high and glorious. Her soul raised +itself, mounted even higher than her glance, up to the mighty friend of +human hearts; and He gave to hers a presentiment that a time would come, +when, in his love, she would be reconciled to and forget all adversities +of earth. + + * * * * * + +The days at Axelholm wore on merrily amid ever-varying delights. Petrea +wrote long letters, in prose and in verse, to her sisters at home, and +imparted to them all that occurred here. Her own misfortunes, which she +even exaggerated, she described in such a comic manner that those very +things which were at first distressing to her, were made a spring of +hearty merriment both to herself and to her family. + +She received one day a letter from her father, which contained the +following words: + + "My good Child, + + "Your letters, my dear child, give me and your sisters great + pleasure; not merely on account of the lively things which they + contain, but more especially on account of your way of bearing + that which is anything but lively. Continue to do thus, my child, + and you--my heart rejoices in the thought--will advance on the way + to wisdom and happiness, and you will have joyfully to acknowledge + the blessed truth which the history of great things, as well as of + small, establishes, that there is nothing evil which may not be + made conducive to good; and thus our own errors may be made steps + on our way to improvement. + + "Greet your sisters cordially from their and your tenderly devoted + + "Father." + +Petrea kissed these lines with tears of grateful joy. She wore them for +several days near her heart; she preserved them through her whole life +as one of the endeared means by which she had gone happily through the +chromatic scale of existence. + +Louise was joked much about Cousin Thure; Cousin Thure was joked much +about Louise; it pleased him very much to be joked about her, to be told +that Oestanvik wanted a mistress, that he himself wanted a pretty wife, +and that without doubt Louise Frank was one of the most sensible as well +as one of the prettiest girls in the country; and more than this, was +besides of such a respectable family! The Landed-proprietor received +already felicitations on his betrothal. + +What the bride-elect, however, thought on the matter was more difficult +to fathom. She was certainly always polite to Cousin Thure; still this +politeness seemed expressive rather of indifference than friendship; and +she declined, with a decision amazing to many people, his pressing and +often repeated solicitations to make an excursion to Oestanvik in his +new landau, drawn by what he styled "his foxes--his four horses in one +rein." Many people asserted that the agreeable and cordial Jacobi was +much nearer to Louise's heart than the rich Landed-proprietor! but even +towards Jacobi her conduct was so equal, so tranquil, so unconstrained, +that nobody could exactly tell how it might be. Nobody knew so well as +we do, that Louise considered it consistent with the dignity of woman to +show only perfect indifference to the attentions or _doux-propos_ of +men, until they had been openly and fully declared. Louise despised +coquetry so far as to dread anything which bordered on the very limits +of it. Her young female friends joked with her upon her strict notions +on this head, and fancied that she would remain unmarried. + +"That may be," said Louise, calmly. + +They told her one day of a gentleman who said "I will not stand up +before any girl who is not some little of a coquette." + +"Then he may remain sitting," answered Louise, with much dignity. + +Louise's views of the dignity of woman, her grave and decided +principles, and her manner of expressing them, amused her young friends, +whilst at the same time they inspired for her a true esteem, and gave +occasion for many little contentions and discussions, in which Louise +intrepidly, though not without some little warmth, maintained the rights +of the cause. These contentions, however, which began in merriment, did +not always terminate so. + +A young and rather coquettish lady was one day wounded by the severity +with which Louise spoke of the coquetry of her sex, and particularly of +married ladies, and in revenge she used an expression which excited +Louise's astonishment and anger. An explanation followed between the +two, the result of which was not only their perfect estrangement, but an +altered state of mind in Louise which she in vain endeavoured to +conceal. + +During the first days of her stay at Axelholm she had been uncommonly +joyous and lively; now she was quiet, thoughtful, often absent, and +towards the Candidate, as it seemed, less friendly than formerly, whilst +she lent a more willing ear to the Landed-proprietor, although she still +resolutely withstood his proposal of a drive to Oestanvik. + +On the evening of the day after this explanation, Elise was engaged in a +lively conversation with Jacobi on the balcony. + +"And if," said he, "I endeavour to win her heart, would her +parents--would her mother see it without displeasure? Ah, speak candidly +with me; the well-being of my life depends upon it." + +"You have my accordance, my good wishes, Jacobi," returned Elise. "I say +to you what I have already said to my husband, that I should willingly +call you son." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Jacobi, deeply moved, and falling on one knee, whilst he +pressed her hand to his lips--"oh that my whole life might evidence to +you my gratitude and my love--!" + +At this very moment, Louise, who had been seeking her mother, approached +the balcony; she saw Jacobi's action, and heard his words: she withdrew +quickly, as if she had been stung by a snake. + +From this time a great change was more and more perceptible in her. +Still, reserved, and very pale, she moved about like one in a dream, +amid the lively circles of Axelholm, and agreed willingly to the +proposition which her mother, who was uneasy on her account, made of +their stay being shortened. Jacobi, as much astonished as distressed by +the sudden unfriendliness of Louise towards him, began to think that the +place must in some kind of way be bewitched, and desired more than +anybody else to get away from it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[10] A mile Swedish is equal to six English miles. + +[11] Merry, in Swedish. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE RETURN HOME. + + +What was it that Jacobi and Henrik had so much to arrange together +before their departure from Axelholm, and even whilst they were there? +Petrea's curiosity was terribly excited, but she could not come at any +clue by which to satisfy it. Some kind of plot which concerned the +family, seemed to be in agitation. + +Henrik and his friend had long intended to give a little entertainment +to the family, and the opportunity to do so now seemed favourable, as +well as also to combine it with an agreeable surprise; the scene of +which should be a pretty and good Inn, half way between Axelholm and the +city. Here, on their return, they would halt under pretence of some +repair being necessary to one of the carriages, and the ladies should be +persuaded to enter the house, where, in the mean time, all should be +prepared. + +The two friends had greatly delighted themselves over this scheme, and +in order to obtain for Louise her favourite luxury of ices, Jacobi had +drained his already reduced purse. + +In going to Axelholm the family had so divided themselves that Louise +with Petrea went in what is called a Medewi-carriage, the Judge's own +equipage, which was driven by Jacobi, with whom Henrik sate on the +driving-box, whilst the mother and the other daughters went in a covered +hired carriage, driven by the Judge himself. On the return, the same +arrangement was to be observed, with the difference of Jacobi driving +the large carriage, and Henrik driving his sisters. + +The mother, and even the young gentlemen, declared with becoming +discretion that they would not confide the reins to less skilful hands, +because the road was rough and hilly, and moreover bad from rain. +Notwithstanding all this, however, Jacobi intrigued so that, contrary to +the established arrangement, he mounted the coach-box of the young +ladies, and Henrik that of his mother. But the Candidate had not much +pleasure from so doing, since "the object" was no longer such as she was +during the drive thither. At that time she was more cheerful than +common; rejoiced so heartily over the spring air, over the song of the +lark; over fields, and cows, and cottages, and over everything that she +saw, communicating all her delight to Jacobi, who sate all the way on +the driving-box with his face turned towards the carriage (Henrik +solemnly advised him to fix himself in this reversed position), and +their blue eyes then rested on each other with a spring of pure +devotion. Now, everything was otherwise: "the object" appeared to give +attention to nothing. She leaned back in the carriage with her veil over +her face, and a cathedral is far more conversable than she; for it +speaks through the tongue in its tower, but Louise's tongue was +perfectly dumb, and Petrea's, which once never ceased, enlivened her +not. In vain Jacobi sought to catch Louise's eye. She avoided him, and +he was quite cast down. + +After having been many times most properly jogged and shaken, they +arrived fortunately at the wayside inn; yet no! not so fortunately +either, one of the carriage-wheels was discovered to be somewhat broken: +it was not dangerously so, oh no, heaven forbid that! but it must of +necessity be mended before they could proceed further. Henrik prayed his +mother and sisters while this was doing to alight and enter the inn, the +host and hostess of which now stood at the door, and with bows and +curtseys besought the travellers to enter. The host came himself and +opened the carriage-doors. Elise was startled, and uttered an +exclamation of surprise;--the host really and truly must be her husband; +and the hostess, the very prettiest hostess in the world, was bodily her +daughter Eva! The travelling daughters, too, were as much astonished, +made all kinds of exclamations, and recognised in host and hostess +father and sister. But neither host nor hostess were confounded, nor +allowed themselves to be confused by the confusion of the travellers; +they knew themselves too well who they were, and knew, too, how to +conduct themselves in their office. They led their guests, with many +apologies and politenesses, up to two large and handsome rooms, and here +the host, quite in despair, began to bustle about, and to summon both +maid and waiter. At last the waiter came in his blue apron. A new +miracle! He was a living image of the Candidate! And now came the maid. +A new amazement! A handsomer person, or one that more nearly resembled +Henrik it would have been impossible to find! But she went about +clumsily, and had nearly fallen down, stumbling first with this, and +then with that. The host scolded her vehemently on account of her +clumsiness, and scolded the waiter also till he made them both cry, at +least so it seemed; whereupon he chased them both out with the order to +return instantly with refreshments. The host, now again in brilliant, +excellent, polite humour, let fly with his own hand the corks of two +champagne bottles, poured out, and drank with the ladies. After they had +refreshed themselves with all kinds of delicious eating, amid the most +lively conversation, some person, who called himself Noah's grandson, +was announced, requesting permission to exhibit to the company various +strange animals and other beautiful curiosities, which had been found in +the ark. The grandson of Noah was called in by a great majority of +voices, and a face presented itself at the door which, with the +exception of a certain grey beard, bore a great resemblance to Jeremias +Munter. His menagerie, and his cabinet of art, were set out in another +room, into which the company were conducted; and there many +strangely-formed creatures were exhibited, and little scenes +represented, to which Noah's grandson gave explanations and made +speeches which were almost as humorous and witty (to be quite so was +impossible) as those of Japhet, in that wonderful and exquisite book, +"Noah's Ark."[12] Two other grandsons of Noah, who bore no resemblance to +any acquaintance of the family, assisted at this exhibition, at the end +of which Noah's learned grandson gave to each of the spectators a little +souvenir from the contents of the ark, and that with so much tact, that +every one received precisely the thing which gave him pleasure. Louise, +moreover, received a remarkable sermon, which was preached by Father +Noah himself on the first Sunday of his abode in the ark. But near the +title-page of this same sermon she found a piece of poetry which +evidently bore a later date. Louise did not, however, read it then, but +blushing very deeply, put it carefully by. + +The whole affair might have been as merry as it was droll, had not +Louise--herself the most important person in the entertainment--been in +no state of mind to enjoy it. But although she used her utmost endeavour +to take part in all the diversion, and to appear cheerful, she became +every moment more depressed; and when at last the ices came, and the +waiter, with the utmost cordiality beaming from his eyes, urged her to +take a vanilla-ice, she was only just able to taste it, upon which she +set it down, rushed out of the room, and burst into a convulsive fit of +weeping. This was a thing so unusual with Louise, that it occasioned a +general perplexity. Host, hostess, maid, waiter, Noah's grandson, all +threw off their characters; and all illusion, as well as all reality of +festivity, were at an end. It is true that Louise composed herself +speedily, besought pardon, and assigned as the cause of her emotion +sudden spasm in the chest. Elise and Eva, and more particularly Petrea, +endeavoured, on account of Henrik and Jacobi, to jest back again the +former merriment, but it would not come, and nothing more could succeed. +Everybody, but more especially Jacobi, were out of tune, and they now +began to speak of returning home. + +But now all at once the heavy trampling of horses, and a bustle at the +inn door was heard, and at the same moment a splendid landau, drawn by +four prancing bays, drew up before it. It was the Landed-proprietor, +who, unacquainted with returning there after a short absence, and who +had drawn up at this inn for a moment's breathing-time for his horses, +and to order for himself a glass of the beer for which the place was +renowned. The company which he here so unexpectedly encountered +occasioned an alteration in his first plan. He determined to accompany +the family to the city, and besought his aunt and cousins to make use of +his landau. It would certainly please them so much; it went with such +unexampled ease; was so comfortable that one could sleep therein with +perfect convenience even on the heaviest roads, etc., etc. Elise, who +really had suffered from the merciless shaking of the hired carriage, +was inclined to accept the offer; and as it immediately began to rain, +and as the Judge preferred the carriage to the chaise in which he had +driven with Eva, the affair was quickly arranged. Elise and some of the +daughters were to go in the landau, which was turned in the mean time +into a coach; and the Judge and the rest of the company were to divide +themselves among the other carriages. As these were ready to receive the +company, Jacobi drove his Medewi-carriage close on the landau of the +Landed-proprietor, who looked more than once with a dark countenance to +see whether any profane or injurious contact had taken place between the +great and the little carriage. + +Jacobi's heart beat violently as Louise came out on the steps of the inn +door. The Landed-proprietor stood on one side offering her his hand, and +Jacobi on the other offering his also, to conduct her to her former +seat. She appeared faint, and moved slowly. She hesitated for one +moment, and then gave, with downcast eyes, her hand to the +Landed-proprietor, who assisted her triumphantly into the carriage to +her mother, and mounting the box himself, away the next moment dashed +the landau with its four prancing bays. Jacobi laid his hand on his +heart, a choking sensation seemed to deprive him of breath, and with +tears in his eyes he watched the handsome departing carriage. He was +roused out of his painful observations by the voice of Petrea, who +jestingly announced to him that the enviable happiness awaited him of +driving herself and the Assessor in the Medewi-carriage. He took his +former seat in silence; his heart was full of disquiet; and +intentionally he remained far behind the others, in order that he might +not have the least glimpse of the landau. + +Scarcely had the Medewi-carriage again made acquaintance with the ruts +of the road, than a violent shock brought off one of the fore wheels, +and the Candidate, Petrea, and the Assessor, were tumbled one over the +other into the mud. Quickly, however, they were all three once again on +their feet; Petrea laughing, and the Assessor scolding and fuming. When +Jacobi had discovered that all which had life was unhurt, he looked +lightly on the affair, and began to think how best it might be remedied. +A short council was held in the rain, and it was concluded that Jacobi +should remain with the carriage till some one came to his assistance, +and that in the mean time Petrea and the Assessor should make the best +of their way on foot towards the city, and send, as soon as possible, +some people to his help. A labourer, who came by immediately afterwards, +promised to do the same, and Petrea and Assessor Munter, who, however, +was anything but consistent with his name, began their walk through rain +and mud. All this while, however, Petrea became more joyful and happy: +firstly, all this was an adventure for her; secondly, she never before +had been out in such weather; thirdly, she felt herself so light and +unencumbered as she scarcely ever had done before; and because she +looked upon her clothes as given up to fate--to a power against which +none other on earth could contend, she walked on in joy of heart, +splashing through the puddles, and feeling with great delight how the +rain penetrated her dress, and seeing how the colour was washed away +both from shawl and bonnet. She held her nose high in the air, in order +to enjoy the glorious rain. + +Petrea had in all this a resemblance to her brother, and flattered +herself also that she might have some resemblance to Diogenes; and as +her inclination lay towards extremes, she would very willingly be +Diogenes, since she could not, as she very well knew, be Alexander. Now +she perceived that in reality she needed very little of outward comforts +to make her happy; she felt herself in her adverse circumstances so free +and rich; she had become on thee-and-thou terms with the rain-drops, +with the wind, with the shrubs and grass, with all nature in short; she +had not here the mishaps and the humiliations to fear which annoyed her +so often in company. If the magpies laughed at her, she laughed at them +in return. Long life to freedom! + +With all these feelings, Petrea got into such excessively high spirits, +that she infected therewith her companions in misfortune; or, according +to her vocabulary, good fortune. But now, however, came on a horrible +tempest, with hail, whose great stones made themselves _thou_ to such a +degree with Petrea's nose as astonished and almost offended her. The +Assessor looked out for shelter; and Petrea, quite charmed that she was +nearly blown away, followed him along a narrow footpath that led into +the wood, onward in the direction of a smoke, which, driven towards them +by the storm, seemed to announce that a hospitable hut was at hand where +they might obtain shelter from the tempest. Whilst they were wandering +about to discover this, Petrea's fancy, more unrestrained than the +storm, busied itself with unbounded creations of robbers' castles, wise +hermits, hidden treasures, and other splendours, to which the smoke was +to conduct her. But ah! they were altogether built up of smoke, since it +arose from no other than a charcoal-burner's kiln, and Petrea had not +the smallest desire to make a nearer acquaintance with the hidden +divinity of which this smoke was the evidence. The small hut of the +charcoal-burner, in the form of a sugar-loaf, stood not far from the +kiln, the unbolted door of which was opened by the Assessor. No hermit, +nor even robber, had his abode therein; the hut was empty, but clean and +compact, and it was with no little pleasure that the Assessor took +possession of it, and seated himself with Petrea on the only bench which +it possessed. Petrea sighed. What a miserable metamorphosis of her +glorious castle in the air! + +The prospect which the open door of the hut presented, and which had no +interest for Petrea, appeared, on the contrary, captivating to her +companion. He was there deep in the wood, in a solitude wild, but still +of an elevating character. The hut stood in an open space, but round +about it various species of pine-trees stood boldly grouped, and bowed +themselves not before the storm which howled in their tops. Several lay +fallen on the ground, but evidently from age; grass and flowers grew on +the earth, which these patriarchs of the wood had torn up with their +powerful roots. Among others, two tall pine-trees stood together: the +one was decayed, and seemed about to separate itself from its root; but +the other, young, green, and strong, had so entwined it in its +branches, that it stood upright, mingling its withered arms with the +verdure of the other, and yielding not, although shook by the tempest. +The expressive glance of the Assessor rested long on these trees; his +eyes filled with tears; his peculiar, beautiful, but melancholy smile +played about his lips, and kindly sentiments seemed to fill his breast. +He spoke to Petrea of a people of antiquity who dwelt in deserts; he +spoke of the pure condition of the Essenes, a morning dawn of +Christendom, and his words ran thus: + +"A thirst after holiness drove men and women out of the tumult of the +world, out of great cities, into desert places, in order that they might +dedicate themselves to a pure and perfect life. There they built for +themselves huts, and formed a state, whose law was labour and devotion +to God. No earthly possession was enjoyed merely on account of pleasure, +but only as the means of a higher life. They strove after purity in soul +and body; tranquillity and seriousness characterised their demeanour. +They assembled together at sunrise, and lifted up hymns and prayers to +the Supreme Being. Seventeen hours of each day were devoted to labour, +study, and contemplation. Their wants were few, and therefore life was +easy. Their discourse was elevated, and was occupied by subjects of the +sublime learning which belonged to their sect. They believed on one +Eternal God, whose existence was light and purity. They sought to +approach him by purity of heart and action, by renunciation of the +pleasures of the world, and by humility of heart and mind to understand +the works of the allwise Creator. They believed in quiet abodes on the +other side of the desert pilgrimage, where clear waters ran and soft +winds blew, where spring and peace had their home; there they hoped to +arrive at the end of their journey through life." + +There is no want of rays of light on earth; they penetrate its misty +atmosphere in manifold directions, although human perception is not as +much aware of them at one time as at another. The words of the Assessor +made at this moment an indescribable impression on Petrea. She wept from +the sweet emotion excited by the description of a condition which was so +perfect, and of endeavours which were so holy. It appeared to her as if +she knew her own vocation, her own path through life; one which would +release her soul from all trifles, all vanities, all disquiets, and +which would speed her on to light and peace. Whilst these thoughts, or +rather sentiments, swelled in her breast, she looked through her tears +on her companion, as he sate there with his expressive countenance and +his large beautiful eyes fixed on the scene before him, and she saw in +him, not Jeremias Munter, but a wise hermit, with a soul full of sublime +and holy knowledge. She longed to throw herself at his feet, and beseech +his blessing; to propose to him that he should remain in this solitude, +in this hut, with her; that he should teach her wisdom; and she would +wait upon him as a daughter, or as a servant, would rise with him and +pray at sunrise, and do in all things like the Essenes. Thus would they +die to the world, and live only for heaven. + +Overpowered by her excited feelings, surrendered to the transports of +the moment, and nearly choked with tears, Petrea sank on the breast of +Jeremias, stammering forth her undefined wishes. + +If a millstone had fallen round his neck, our good Assessor could not +have been more confounded than he was at that moment. Deeply sunk in his +own thoughts, he had quite forgotten that Petrea was there, till +reminded of her presence in this unexpected manner. But he was a man, +nevertheless, who could easily understand the excitement of mind in a +young girl, and with a pure fervour of eye, whilst a good-humoured +satire played about his mouth, he endeavoured to tranquillise her +over-wrought feelings. Beautiful, then, was the discourse he held with +her on all that which calms and sanctifies life; on all that on which +man may found his abode whether in the desert or in the human crowd. He +spoke words then which Petrea never forgot, and which often, in a future +day, broke the chaotic state of her soul like beams of pure light. + +In the mean time the tempest had dispersed itself, and the Assessor +began to think of a return; for Petrea thought nothing about it, but +would willingly have seen herself compelled to pass the night in the +gloomy wood. But now the thought of relating her adventures at home +attracted her, and before she got out of the wood these adventures were +increased, since fate presented her with the good fortune of assisting, +with the help of her companion, an old woman, who had fallen with her +bundle of sticks, upon her legs again, and of carrying the said bundle +to her cottage, and of lighting her fire for her; with releasing two +sparrows which a boy had made captive; and, last of all, with releasing +the Assessor himself from a thorn-bush, which, as it appeared, would +have held him with such force as vexed even himself. Petrea's hands bled +in consequence of this operation, but that only made her the livelier. + +When they came out of the wood, the rain had ceased altogether, the wind +had abated, and the setting sun illumined the heavens, and diffused over +the landscape a peculiar and beautiful radiance. The countenance of +Jeremias Munter was cheerful; he listened to the ascending song of the +lark, and said, "That is beautiful!" He looked upon the rain-drops which +hung on the young grass, and saw how heaven reflected itself in them, +and smiled, and said, "That is pure indeed!" Petrea gave to little +children that she met with all her savings from the feast at Axelholm, +and would willingly also have given them some of her clothes, had she +not had the fear of Louise and her mother before her eyes. She wished in +her bravery for more adventures, and more particularly for a longer way +than it at this time appeared to be; she thought she arrived at home too +soon; but the Assessor thought not, neither did the rest of the party, +who were beginning to be very uneasy on account of their long absence. +In the mean time Petrea and her companion had become very good friends +on the walk; Petrea was complimented for her courage, and Henrik +pathetically declaimed in her praise-- + + Not every one such height as Xenophon can gain, + As scholar and as hero, a laurel-wreath obtain; + +and they laughed. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[12] half-dramatic poem, remarkable for its wit and humour, from the pen +of the Swedish poet Fahlcrantz. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +FIRESIDE SCENES. + + +"From home may be good, but at home is best!" said Elise from the bottom +of her heart, as she was once more in her own house, and beside her own +husband. + +The young people said nothing in opposition to this sentiment as they +returned to their comfortable every-day life, which they now enlivened +with recollections and relations out of the lately-past time. They hoped +that Louise would become pleasant and contented with her calm activity +in the house and family as formerly, but it was not so; a gnawing pain +seemed to consume her; she became perceptibly thinner; her good humour +had vanished, and her eyes were often red with weeping. In vain her +parents and sisters endeavoured, with the tenderest anxiety, to fathom +the occasion of the change; she would confess it to no one. That the +root of her grief lay at her heart she would not deny, but she appeared +determined to conceal it from the eye of day. Jacobi also began to look +pale and thin, since he lamented deeply her state of feeling, and her +altered behaviour, especially towards himself, which led him to the +belief that he unconsciously had wounded her, or in some other way that +he was the cause of her displeasure; and never had he felt more than now +what a high value he set upon her, nor how much he loved her. This +tension of mind, and his anxiety to approach Louise, and bring back a +friendly understanding between them, occasioned various little scenes, +which we will here describe. + + +FIRST SCENE. + +Louise sits by the window at her embroidery-frame: Jacobi seats himself +opposite to her. + +Jacobi (sighing). Ah, Mamselle Louise! + +Louise looks at her shepherdess, and works on in silence. + +Jacobi. Everything in the world has appeared to me for some time +wearisome and oppressive. + +Louise works on, and is silent. + +Jacobi. And you could so easily make all so different. Ah, Louise! only +one kind word, one friendly glance!--Cannot you bestow one friendly +glance on him who would gladly give everything to see you happy? +[_Aside._ She blushes--she seems moved--she is going to speak! Ah, what +will she say to me!] + +Louise. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten +stitches to the nose--the pattern is here not very distinct. + +Jacobi. You will not hear me, will not understand me; you play with my +distress! Ah, Louise! + +Louise. I want some more wool;--I have left it in my room. [She goes.] + + +SECOND SCENE. + +The family is assembled in the library; tea is just finished. Louise, at +Petrea's and Gabriele's urgent request, has laid out the cards on a +little table to tell them their fortunes. The Candidate seats himself +near them, and appears determined to amuse himself with them, and to be +lively; but "the object" assumes all the more her "cathedral air." The +Landed-proprietor steps in, bows, snorts, and kisses the hand of the +"gracious aunt." + +Landed-proprietor. Very cold this evening; I fancy we shall have frost. + +Elise. It is a gloomy spring. We have lately read a most affecting +account of the famine in the northern provinces. It is the misfortune of +these late springs. + +Landed-proprietor. Oh, yes, the famine up there. No, we'll talk of +something else--that's too gloomy. I've had my peas covered with straw. +Cousin Louise, are you fond of playing Patience? I am very fond of it +too; it is so composing. At my seat at Oestanvik I have little, little +patience-cards. I fancy really that they would please my cousin. + +The Landed-proprietor seats himself on the other side of Louise: the +Candidate gives some extraordinary shrugs. + +Louise. This is not patience, but a little witchcraft, by which I read +Fate. Shall I prophesy to you, Cousin Thure? + +Landed-proprietor. Oh, yes! prophesy something to me. Nothing +disagreeable! If I hear anything disagreeable in an evening, I always +have bad dreams at night. Prophesy me prettily--a little wife--a wife as +lovely and as amiable as Cousin Louise. + +The Candidate (with a look as if he would send the Landed-proprietor +head-over-heels to Oestanvik). I don't know whether Mamselle Louise +likes flattery. + +Landed-proprietor (who seems as if he neither heard nor saw his rival). +Cousin Louise, are you fond of blue? + +Louise. Blue? That is truly a lovely colour; but yet I prefer green. + +Landed-proprietor.. Nay, that is good! that is excellent! At Oestanvik +my dressing-room furniture is blue, beautiful light blue silk damask; +but in my sleeping-room I have green moreen. I fancy really, Cousin +Louise, that---- + +The Candidate coughs, and then rushes out of the room. Louise looks +after him, sighs, and then examines the cards, in which she finds so +many misfortunes for Cousin Thure that he is quite terrified: the peas +frosted, conflagration in the dressing-room, and last of all a +rejection! The Landed-proprietor declares, notwithstanding, that he +finds nothing of this unpleasant. The sisters smile, and make remarks. + + +THIRD SCENE. + +The family assembled after supper: + +The Assessor puts the question--What is the bitterest affliction? + +Jacobi. Unreturned love. + +Petrea. Not to know what one shall be. + +Eva. To have offended some one that one loves beyond reconciliation. + +The Mother. I am of Eva's opinion; I think nothing can be more painful. + +Louise. Ah! there is yet something more painful than that--something +more bitter--and that is to lose one's faith in those whom one has +loved; to doubt--(Louise's lip trembles, she can say no more, becomes +pale, rises, and goes out quickly; a general sensation ensues). + +The Father. What is amiss with Louise? Elise, we must know what it is! +She should, she must tell us! I cannot bear any longer to see her thus; +and I will go this moment and speak with her, if you will not rather do +it. But you must not be satisfied till you know her very inmost +feelings. The most horrible thing, I think, is mystery and vapours! + +The Mother. I will go directly to her. I have now an idea what it is, +dearest Ernst; and if I am somewhat long with her, let the others go to +bed; I shall then find you alone. [She goes out.] + + +FOURTH SCENE. + +_The Mother and Daughter._ + +The daughter on her knees, her face buried in her hands; the mother +goes softly up to her and throws her arms around her. + +Mother. Louise, my good girl, what is amiss with you? I have never seen +you thus before. You must tell me what is at your heart--you must! + +Louise. I cannot! I ought not! + +Mother. You can! you ought! Will you make me, will you make all of us +wretched by going on in this way? Ah, Louise, do not let false shame, or +false tenderness mislead you. Tell me, do you break any oath, or violate +any sacred duty, by confessing what it is which depresses you? + +Louise. No oath; no sacred duty--and yet----yet---- + +Mother. Then speak, in heaven's name, my child! Unquestionably some +unfounded suspicion is the cause of your present state. What do the +words mean with which you left us this evening? You weep! Louise, I +pray, I beseech of you, if you love me, conceal nothing from me! Who is +it that you love, yet can no more have faith in--no longer highly +esteem? Answer me--is it your mother? + +Louise. My mother! my mother! Ah, while you look on me thus I feel a +pain, and yet a confidence! Ah, my God! all may be an error--a miserable +slander, and I----Well then, it shall out--that secret which has gnawed +my heart, and which I conceived it my duty to conceal! But forgive me, +my mother, if I grieve you; forgive me if my words disturb your peace; +forgive me, if in my weakness, if in my doubt I have done you injustice, +and remove the grief which has poisoned my life! Ah, do you see, mother, +it was mine, it was my sisters' happiness, to consider you so +spotless--so angelically pure! It was my pride that you were so, and +that you were my mother! And now---- + +Mother. And now, Louise? + +Louise. And now it has been whispered to me----Oh, I cannot speak the +words! + +Mother. Speak them--I demand it! I desire it from you! We both stand +before the Judgment-seat of God! + +Louise. I have been led to believe that even my mother was not +blameless--that she---- + +Mother. Go on, Louise! + +Louise. That she and Jacobi loved one another--that evil tongues had not +blamed them without cause, and that still--I despised these words, I +despised the person who spoke them! I endeavoured to chase these +thoughts as criminal from my soul. On this account it happened that I +went one day to find you--and I found Jacobi on his knee before you--I +heard him speaking of his love. Now you know all, my mother! + +Mother. And what is your belief in all this? + +Louise. Ah, I know not what I ought to believe! But since that moment +there has been no peace in my soul, and I have fancied that it never +would return--that I should never lose the doubt which I could make +known to no one. + +Mother. Let peace return to your soul, my child! Good God! how +unfortunate I should be at this moment if my conscience were not pure! +But, thank heaven, my child, your mother has no such fault to reproach +herself with; and Jacobi deserves your utmost esteem, your utmost +regard. I will entirely and freely confess to you the entire truth of +that which has made you so uneasy. For one moment, when Jacobi first +came to us, a warmer sentiment towards me awoke in his young, +thoughtless heart, and in part it was returned by me. But you will not +condemn me on account of an involuntary feeling which your father looked +on with pardoning eyes. In a blessed hour we opened to each other our +hearts, and it was his love, his strength and gentleness, which gave me +power to overcome my weakness. Jacobi, at the same moment, woke to a +consciousness of his error, struggled against it, and overcame it. We +separated soon after, and it was our mutual wish not to meet again for +several years. In the mean time Henrik was committed to his care, and +Jacobi has been for him an exemplary friend and instructor. Three years +later, when I again met him, I extended my hand to him as a sister; and +he----yes, my dear girl! and I err greatly if he did not then begin in +his heart to love me as a mother. But that which then had its beginning, +has since then had its completion--it was in the character of a son that +you saw him kneel to me; thanking me that I would favour his love to my +daughter--to my Louise, who, therefore, has so unnecessarily conjured up +a spectre to terrify herself and us all. + +In the latter part of this conversation the mother spoke in a quiet +jesting tone, which, perhaps, did more even than her simple explanation +to reassure the heart of her daughter. She pressed her hands on her +heart, and looked thankfully up to heaven. + +"And if," continued her mother, "you yet entertain any doubt, talk with +your father, talk with Jacobi, and their words will strengthen mine. But +I see you need it not--your heart, my child, is again at peace!" + +"Ah, thank God! thank God!" exclaimed Louise, sinking on her knees +before her mother, and covering her hands and even her dress with +kisses. "Oh, that I dared look up again to you, my mother! Oh, can you +forgive my being so weak: my being so easy of belief? Never, never shall +I forgive myself!" + +Louise was out of herself, her whole frame trembled violently; she had +never before been in a state of such agitation. Her mother was obliged +to apply remedies both for mind and body, tender words and soothing +drops--to tranquillise her excited state. She besought her therefore to +go to rest, seated herself beside her bed, took her hands in hers, and +then attempted to divert her mind from the past scene, endeavouring with +the utmost delicacy to turn her mind on the Candidate and on the +Landed-proprietor as lovers. But Louise had only one thought, one +sentiment--the happy release from her doubt, and thankfulness for it. +When her mother saw that she was calmer, she embraced her, "And now go +to sleep, my dear girl," said she; "I must now leave you, in order to +hasten to one who waits impatiently for me, and that is your father. He +has been extremely uneasy on your account, and I can now make him easy +by candidly communicating all that has passed between us. For the rest I +can assure you that you have said nothing that can make us uneasy. That +I was calumniated by one person, and am so still, he knows as well as I +do. He has assisted me to bear it calmly, he is truly so superior, so +excellent! Ah, Louise, it is a great blessing when husband and wife, +parents and children, cherish an entire confidence in each other! It is +so beautiful, so glorious, to be able to say everything to each other in +love!" + + +FIFTH SCENE. + +The garden. It is morning! the larks sing, the jonquils fill the air +with odour; the bird's cherry-tree waves in the morning breeze; the +cherry blossoms open themselves to the bees which hum about in their +bosom. The sun shines on all its children. + +Louise is walking in the middle alley, Father Noah's sermon in her hand, +but with her eyes fixed on the little poem appended to it, which by no +means had anything to do with Father Noah. The Candidate comes towards +her from a cross walk, with a gloomy air, and with a black pansy in his +hand. + +The two meet, and salute each other silently. + +Jacobi. Might I speak one moment with you? I will not detain you long. + +Louise bows her head, is silent, and blushes. + +Jacobi. In an hour's time I shall take my departure, but I must beseech +of you to answer me one question before I say farewell to you! + +Louise. You going! Where? Why? + +Jacobi. Where, is indifferent to me, so that I leave this place; why, +because I cannot bear the unkindness of one person who is dear to me, +and who, I once thought, cherished a friendship for me! For fourteen +days you have behaved in such a way to me as has embittered my life; and +why? Have I been so unfortunate as to offend you, or to excite your +displeasure? Why then delay explaining the cause to me? Is it right to +sentence any one unheard, and that one a friend--a friend from +childhood? Is it right--pardon me, Louise--is it Christian, to be so +severe, so immovable? In the sermons which you are so fond of rending, +do you find nothing said of kindness and reconciliation! + +Jacobi spoke with a fervour, and with such an almost severe seriousness, +as was quite foreign to his gentle and cheerful spirit. + +"I have done wrong," replied Louise, with a deep emotion, "very wrong, +but I have been misled; at some future time, perhaps, I may tell you +how. Since last evening, I know how deceived I have been, how I have +deceived myself; and now God be thanked and praised, I know that nobody +is to blame in this affair but myself. I have much, very much, to +reproach myself with, on account of my reserve towards my own family, +and towards you also. Forgive me, best Jacobi," continued she, offering +her hand with almost humility; "forgive me, I have been very unkind to +you; but believe me," added she, "neither have I been happy either!" + +"Thanks! thanks, Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, grasping her hand, and +pressing it to his breast and to his lips; "oh, how happy this kindness +makes me! Now I can breathe again! Now I can leave you with a cheerful +heart!" + +"But why will you leave us?" asked she, in a half-discontented tone. + +"Because," answered Jacobi, "it would not give me pleasure to witness a +betrothal which will soon be celebrated; because, from your late +behaviour, I must be convinced you cannot entertain any warmer +sentiments towards me." + +"If that were the case," replied she, in the same tone as before, "I +should not have been depressed so long." + +"How!" exclaimed Jacobi, joyfully. "Ah, Louise, what words! what bold +hopes may they not excite! Might I mention them to you? might I venture +to say to you what I some time have thought, and still now think?" + +Louise was silent, and Jacobi continued: + +"I have thought," said he, "that the humble, unprovided-for Jacobi could +offer you a better fortune than your rich neighbour of Oestanvik. I have +hoped that my love, the true dedication of my whole life, might make you +happy; that a smaller portion of worldly wealth might satisfy you, if it +were offered you by a man who know deeply your worth, and who desired +nothing better than to be ennobled by your hand. Oh, if this beloved +hand would guide me through life, how bright, how peaceful would not +life be! I should fear neither adversity nor temptation! and how should +I not endeavour to be grateful to Providence for his goodness to me! Ah, +Louise! it is thus that I have thought, and fancied, and dreamed! Oh, +tell me, was it only a dream, or may not the dream become a reality?" + +Louise did not withdraw the hand which he had taken, but looked upon the +speaker with infinite kindness. + +"One word," besought Jacobi, "only one word! Might I say _my_ Louise? +Louise--mine?" + +"Speak with my parents," said Louise, deeply blushing, and turning aside +her head. + +"My Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, and, intoxicated with tenderness and joy, +pressed her to his heart. + +"Think of my parents," said Louise, gently pushing him back; "without +their consent I will make no promise. Their answer shall decide me." + +"We will hasten together, my Louise," said he, "and desire their +blessing." + +"Go alone, dear Jacobi," said Louise. "I do not feel myself calm enough, +nor strong enough. I will wait your return here." + + * * * * * + +With this fifth scene we conjecture that the little drama has arrived at +the desired conclusion, and therefore we add no further scene to that +which naturally follows. + +As the Candidate hastened with lover's speed to Louise's parents he +struck hard against somebody in the doorway, who was coming out. The two +opponents stepped back each a few paces, and the Candidate and the +Landed-proprietor stared in astonishment on each other. + +"Pardon me," said the Candidate, and was advancing; but the +Landed-proprietor held him back, whilst he inquired with great +earnestness, and with a self-satisfied smile, "Hear you, my friend: can +you tell me whether Cousin Louise is in the garden? I came this moment +from her parents, and would now speak with her. Can you tell me where +she is?" + +"I--I don't know!" said Jacobi, releasing himself, and hastening with a +secret anxiety of mind up to her parents. + +In the mean time the Landed-proprietor had caught a glimpse of "Cousin +Louise's" person in the garden, and hastened up to her. + +It was, in fact, no surprise to Louise, when, after all the preliminary +questions, "Cousin, do you like fish? do you like birds?" there came at +last the principal question, "Cousin, do you like me?" + +To this question, it is true, she gave a somewhat less blunt, but +nevertheless a decided negative reply, although it was gilded over with +"esteem and friendship." + +The Candidate, on his side, in the fulness and warmth of his heart, laid +open to Louise's parents his love, his wishes, and his hopes. It is true +that Jacobi was now without any office, as well as without any property; +but he had many expectations, and amid these, like a sun and a support, +his Excellency O----. The Judge was himself no friend to such supports, +and Elise did not approve of long engagements: but then both of them +loved Jacobi; both of them wished, above all things, the true happiness +and well-being of their daughter; and so it happened that, after much +counsel, and after Louise had been questioned by her parents, and they +found that she had sincerely the same wishes as Jacobi, and that she +believed she should be happy with him, and after Jacobi had combated +with great fervency and effect every postponement of the +betrothal--that, after all this had been brought to a fortunate issue, +he received a formal yes, and he and Louise, on the afternoon of the +same day, whose morning sun had seen their explanation, were betrothed. + +Jacobi was beyond description happy; Louise tranquil but gentle. Henrik +declared that her Majesty appeared too merciful. Perhaps all this +proceeded from her thoughts being already occupied with the increasing +and arranging of Jacobi's wardrobe. She began already to think about +putting in hand a fine piece of linen-weaving. She actually had +consented to the quick betrothal, principally, as she herself confessed +to Eva, "in order to have him better under her hands." + +Good reader--and if thou art a Candidate, good Candidate--pardon "our +eldest" if she gave her consent somewhat in mercy. We can assure thee, +that our Jacobi was no worse off on that account; so he himself seemed +to think, and his joy and cordiality seemed to have great influence in +banishing "the cathedral" out of Louise's demeanour. + +This view of the connexion, and the hearty joy which Louise's brother +and sisters expressed over this betrothal, and which proved how beloved +Jacobi was by them all, smoothed the wrinkles from the brow of the +Judge, and let Elise's heart feel the sweetest satisfaction. Henrik, +especially, declared loudly his delight in having his beloved friend and +instructor for a brother-in-law--an actual brother. + +"And now listen, brother-in-law," said he, fixing his large eyes on +Louise; "assume your rights as master of the house properly, brother +dear; and don't let the slippers be master of the house. If you marry a +queen, you must be king, you understand that very well, and must take +care of your majesty; and if she look like a cathedral, why then do you +look like the last judgment, and thunder accordingly! You laugh; but +you must not receive my advice so lightly, but lay it seriously to +heart, and----but, dear friend, shall we not have a little bowl this +evening? shall we not, mamma dear? Yes, certainly we will! I shall have +the honour of mixing it myself. Shall we not drink the health of your +majesties? I shall mix a bowl--sugar and oranges!--a bowl! a bowl!" + +With this exclamation Henrik rushed with outstretched arms to the door, +which at that moment opened, and he embraced the worthy Mrs. Gunilla. + +"He! thou--good heaven! Best-beloved!" exclaimed she, "he, he, he, he! +what is up here? He never thought, did he, that he should take the old +woman in his arms! he, he, he, he!" + +Henrik excused himself in the most reverential and cordial manner, +explained the cause of his ecstasy, and introduced to her the +newly-betrothed. Mrs. Gunilla at first was astonished, and then affected +to tears. She embraced Elise, and then Louise, and Jacobi also. "God +bless you!" said she, with all her beautiful quiet cordiality, and then, +somewhat pale, seated herself silently on the sofa, and seemed to be +thinking sorrowfully how often anxious, dispiriting days succeed the +cheerful morning of a betrothal. Whether it was from these thoughts, or +that Mrs. Gunilla really felt herself unwell, we know not, but she +became paler and paler. Gabriele went out to fetch her a glass of water, +and as she opened the door ran against the Assessor, who was just then +entering. + +With a little cry of surprise she recovered from this unexpected shock. +He looked at her with an astonished countenance, and the next moment was +surrounded by the other young people. + +"Now, see, see! what is all this?" exclaimed he; "why do you overwhelm +me thus? Cannot one move any longer in peace? I am not going to dance, +Monsieur Henricus! Do not split my ears, Miss Petrea! What? betrothed! +What? Who? Our eldest? Body and bones! let me sit down and take a pinch +of snuff. Our eldest betrothed! that is dreadful! Usch!--usch! that is +quite frightful! uh, uh, uh, uh! that is actually horrible! Hu, u, u, +hu!" + +The Assessor took snuff, and blew his nose for a good while, during +which the family, who knew his way so well, laughed heartily, with the +exception of Louise, who reddened, and was almost angry at his +exclamations, especially at that of horrible. + +"Nay," said he, rising up and restoring the snuff-box again to his +pocket, "one must be contented with what cannot be helped. What is +written is written. And, as the Scripture says, blessed are they who +increase and multiply the incorrigible human race, so, in heaven's name, +good luck to you! Good luck and blessing, dear human beings!" And thus +saying, he heartily shook the hands of Jacobi and Louise, who returned +his hand-pressure with kindness, although not quite satisfied with the +form of his good wishes. + +"Never in all my life," said Henrik, "did I hear a less cheerful +congratulation. Mrs. Gunilla and good Uncle Munter to-day might be in +melancholy humour: but now they are sitting down by each other, and we +may hope that after they have had a comfortable quarrel together, they +will cheer up a little." + +But no; no quarrel ensued this evening between the two. The Assessor had +tidings to announce to her which appeared difficult for him to +communicate, and which filled her eyes with tears--Pyrrhus was dead! + +"He was yesterday quite well," said the Assessor, "and licked my hand as +I bade him good night. To-day he took his morning coffee with a good +appetite, and then lay down on his cushion to sleep. As I returned home, +well pleased to think of playing with my little comrade, he lay dead on +his cushion!" + +Mrs. Gunilla and he talked for a long time about the little favourite, +and appeared in consequence to become very good friends. + +Jeremias Munter was this evening in a more censorious humour than +common. His eyes rested with a sad expression on the newly betrothed. + +"Yes," said he, as if speaking to himself, "if one had only confidence +in oneself; if one was only clear as to one's own motives--then one +might have some ground to hope that one could make another happy, and +could be happy with them." + +"One must know oneself thus well, so far," said Louise, not without a +degree of confidence, "that one can be certain of doing so, before one +would voluntarily unite one's fate with that of another." + +"_Thus well!_" returned he, warmly. "Yes, prosit! Who knows thus well? +You do not, dear sister, that I can assure you. Ah!" continued he, with +bitter melancholy, "one may be horribly deceived in oneself, and by +oneself, in this life. There is no one in this world who, if he rightly +understand himself, has not to deplore some infidelity to his +friend--his love--his better self! The self-love, the miserable egotism +of human nature, where is there a corner that it does not slide into? +The wretched little _I_, how it thrusts itself forward! how thoughts of +self, designs for self, blot actions which otherwise might be called +good!" + +"Do you then acknowledge no virtue? Is there, then, no magnanimity, no +excellence, which you can admire?" asked some one. "Does not history +show us----" + +"History!" interrupted he, "don't speak of history--don't bring it +forward! No, if I am to believe in virtue, it is such as history cannot +meddle with or understand; it is only in that which plays no great part +in the world, which never, never could have been applauded by it, and +which is not acted publicly. Of this kind it is possible that something +entirely beautiful, something perfectly pure and holy, might be found. I +will believe in it, although I do not discover it in myself. I have +examined my own soul, and can find nothing pure in it; but that it _may_ +be found in others, I believe. My heart swells with the thought that +there may exist perfectly pure and unselfish virtue. Good heaven, how +beautiful it is! And wherever such a soul may be found in the world, be +it in palace or in hut, in gold or in rags, in man or in woman, which, +shunning the praise of the world, fearing the flattery of its own heart, +fulfils unobserved and with honest zeal its duties, however difficult +they may be, and which labours and prays in secrecy and stillness--such +a being I admire and love, and set high above all the Caesars and Ciceros +of the world!" + +During this speech the Judge, who had silently risen from his seat, +approached his wife, laid his hand gently on her shoulder, and looked +round upon his children with glistening eyes. + +"Our time," continued the Assessor, with what was an extraordinary +enthusiasm for him, "understands but very little this greatness. It +praises itself loudly, and on that account it is the less worthy of +praise. Everybody will be remarkable, or at least will appear so. +Everybody steps forward and shouts I! I! Women even do not any longer +understand the nobility of their incognito; they also come forth into +notoriety, and shout out their _I!_ Scarcely anybody will say, from the +feeling of their own hearts, _Thou!_--and yet it is this same _Thou_ +which occasions man to forget that selfish _I_, and in which lies his +purest part; his best happiness! To be sure it may seem grand, it may be +quite ecstatic, even if it be only for a moment, to fill the world with +one's name; but as, in long-past times, millions and millions of men +united themselves to build a temple to the Supreme, and then themselves +sank silently, namelessly, to the dust, having only inscribed His name +and His glory; certainly that was greater, that was far worthier!" + +"You talk like King Solomon himself, Uncle Munter!" exclaimed Petrea, +quite enraptured. "Ah, you must be an author: you must write a book +of----" + +"Write!" interrupted he, "on what account should I write? Only to +increase the miserable vanity of men? Write!--Bah!" + +"Every age has its wise men to build up temples," said Henrik, with a +beautiful expression of countenance. + +"No!" continued the Assessor, with evident abhorrence, "I will not +write! but I will live! I have dreamed sometimes that I could live----" + +He ceased; a singular emotion was expressed in his countenance; he +arose, and took up a book, into which he looked without reading, and +soon after stepped quietly out of the house. + +The entertainment in the family this evening was, spite of all that had +gone before, very lively; and the result, which was expressed in jesting +earnestness, was, that every one, in the spirit which the Assessor had +praised, should secretly labour at the temple-building, every one with +his own work-tool, and according to his own strength. + +The Judge walked up and down in the room, and took only occasional part +in the entertainment, although he listened to all, and smiled +applaudingly. It seemed as if the Assessor's words had excited a +melancholy feeling in him, and he spoke warmly in praise of his friend. + +"There does not exist a purer human soul than his," said he, "and he +has thereby operated very beneficially on me. Many men desire as much +good, and do it also; but few have to the same extent as he the pure +mind, the perfectly noble motive." + +"Ah! if one could only make him happier, only make him more satisfied +with life!" said Eva. + +"Will you undertake the commission?" whispered Petrea, waggishly. + +Rather too audible a kiss suddenly turned all eyes on the Candidate and +Louise; the latter of whom was punishing her lover for his daring by a +highly ungracious and indignant glance, which Henrik declared quite +pulverised him. As they, however, all separated for the night, the +Candidate besought and was permitted, in mercy, a little kiss, as a +token of reconciliation and forgiveness of his offence regarding the +great one. + +"My dear girl," said the mother to Louise as the two met, impelled by a +mutual desire to converse together that same night in her boudoir, "how +came Jacobi's wooing about so suddenly? I could not have believed that +it would have been so quickly decided. I am perfectly astonished even +yet that you should be betrothed." + +"So am I," replied Louise; "I can hardly conceive how it has happened. +We met one another this morning in the garden; Jacobi was gloomy, and +out of spirits, and had made up his mind to leave us because he fancied +I was about to be betrothed to Cousin Thure. I then besought him to +forgive my late unkindness, and gave him some little idea of my +friendliness towards him; whereupon he spoke to me of his own feelings +and wishes so beautifully, so warmly, and then--then I hardly know how +it was myself, he called me _his_ Louise, and I--told him to go and +speak with my parents." + +"And in the mean time," said the mother, "your parents sent another +wooer to their daughter, in order for him to receive from her a yes or +no. Poor Cousin Thure! He seemed to have such certain hope. But I trust +he may soon console himself! But do you know, Louise, of late I have +fancied that Oestanvik and all its splendour might be a little +captivating to you! And now do you really feel that you have had no loss +in rejecting so rich a worldly settlement?" + +"Loss!" repeated Louise, "no, not now, certainly; and yet I should say +wrong if I denied that it has had temptations for me; and for that +reason I never would go to Oestanvik, because I knew how improper it +would be if I allowed it to influence me, whilst I never could endure +such a person as Cousin Thure; and, besides that, I liked Jacobi so +much, and had done so for many years! Once, however, the temptation was +very powerful, and that was on our return from Axelholm. As I rode along +in Cousin Thure's easy landau, it seemed to me that it must be very +agreeable to travel through life so comfortably and pleasantly. But at +that time I was very unhappy in myself; life had lost its best worth for +me; my faith in all that I loved most was poisoned! Ah! there arose in +me then such a fearful doubt in all that was good in the world, and I +believed for one moment that it would be best to sleep out life, and +therefore the easy rocking of the landau seemed so excellent. But now, +now is this heavy dream vanished! now life is again bright, and I +clearly see my own way through, it. Now I trouble myself no more about a +landau than I do about a wheelbarrow; nay, I would much rather now that +my whole life should be a working day, for which I could thank God! It +is a delight to work for those whom one highly esteems and loves; and I +desire nothing higher than to be able to live and work for my own +family, and for him who is to-day become my promised husband before +God!" + +"God will bless you, my good, pure-hearted girl!" said the mother, +embracing her, and sweet affectionate tears were shed in the still +evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +YET MORE WOOING. + + +Early on the following morning Eva received a nosegay of beautiful +moss-roses, among which was a letter to herself; she tore it open, and +red the following words: + + "I have dreamed that I could live; and truly a life more beautiful + and more perfect than any romance makes one dream of. Little Miss + Eva, whom I have so often carried in my arms--good young girl, + whom I would so willingly sustain on my breast through, life, thou + must hear what I have dreamed, what I sometimes still dream. + + "I dreamed that I was a rough, unsightly rock, repulsive and + unfruitful. But a heart beat in the rock--a chained heart. It beat + against the walls of its prison till it bled, because it longed to + be abroad in the sunshine, but it could not break its bonds. I + could not free myself from myself. The rock wept because it was so + hard, because it was a prison for its own life. There came a + maiden, a light gentle angel, wandering through the wood, and laid + her warm lily-white hand on the rock, and pressed her pure lips + upon it, breathing a magical word of freedom. The rocky wall + opened itself, and the heart, the poor captive heart, saw the + light! The young girl went into the chamber of the heart, and + called it her home; and suddenly beautiful roses, which diffused + odours around, sprang forth from that happy heart towards its + liberator, whilst the chambers of the heart vaulted itself high + above her into a temple for her, clothing its walls with fresh + foliage and with precious stones, upon which the sunbeams played. + + "I awoke from a sense of happiness that was too great to be borne + on earth; I awoke, and ah! the roses were vanished, the lovely + girl was vanished, and I was once again the hard, unsightly, and + joyless rock. But do you see, young maiden, the idea will not + leave me, that those roses which I saw in my dream are hidden in + me; that they may yet bloom, yet rejoice and make happy. The idea + will remain with me that this reserved, melancholy heart might yet + expand itself by an affectionate touch; that there are precious + stones within it, which would beam brightly for those who called + them forth into light. + + "Good young maiden, will you not venture on the attempt? Will you + not lay your warm hand on the rock? Will you not breathe softly + upon it? Oh, certainly, certainly under your touch it would + soften--it would bring forth roses for you--it would exalt itself + into a temple for you, a temple full of hymns of thanksgiving, + full of love! + + "I know that I am old, old before my time; that I am ugly and + disagreeable, unpleasant, and perhaps ridiculous; but I do not + think that nature intended me to be so. I have gone through life + in such infinite solitude; neither father nor mother, brother nor + sister, have followed my path; no sunshine fell upon my childhood + or my youth; I have wandered solitarily through life, combating + with difficulties. Once I bound myself to a friend--he deserted + me, and thence grew the rock about my heart; thence became my + demeanour severe, unattractive, and rough. Is it to remain so + always? Will my life never bloom upon earth? Will no breath of + heaven call forth my roses? + + "Do you fear my melancholy temperament? Oh, you have not seen how + a glance, a word of yours chases every cloud from my brow; not + because you are beautiful, but because you are good and pure. Will + you teach me to be good? I will learn willingly from you! From you + I would learn to love mankind, and to find more good in the world + than I have hitherto done. I will live for you, if not for the + world. By my wish the world should know nothing of me till the + cross upon my grave told 'here rests----' + + "Oh, it is beautiful to live nameless under the poisoned glance of + the world; poisoned, whether it praise or blame; beautiful, not to + be polluted by its observation, but more beautiful to be + intimately known to one--to possess one gentle and honest friend, + and that one a wife! Beautiful to be able to look into her pure + soul as in a mirror, and to be aware there of every blot on one's + own soul, and to be able thus to purify it against the day of the + great trial. + + "But I speak only of myself and my own happiness. Ah, the + egotist--the cursed egotist! Can I make you happy also, Eva? Is it + not audacity in me to desire--ah, Eva, I love you inexpressibly! + + "I leave the egotist in your hand: do with him what you will, he + will still remain + + "Yours." + +This letter made Eva very anxious and uneasy. She would so willingly +have said yes, and made so good a man happy, but then so many voices +within her said no! + +She spoke with her parents, with her brother and sisters. "He is so +good, so excellent!" said she. "Ah, if I could but properly love him! +But I cannot--and then he is so old; and I have no desire to marry; I am +so happy in my own home." + +"And do not leave it!" was the unanimous chorus of all the family. The +father, indeed, was actually desperate with all this courtship; and the +mother thought it quite absurd that her blooming Eva and Jeremias Munter +should go together. No one voice spoke for the Assessor but the little +Petrea's, and a silent sigh in Eva's own bosom. The result of all this +consideration was, that Eva wrote with tearful eyes the following answer +to her lover: + + "My best, my truly good Friend! + + "Ah! do not be angry with me that I cannot become for you that + which you wish. I shall certainly not marry. I am too happy in my + own home for that. Ah! this to be sure is egotistical, but I + cannot do otherwise. Forgive me! I am so very much, so heartily + attached to you; and I should never be happy again if you love not + hitherto as formerly + + "Your little "Eva." + +In the evening Eva received a beautiful and costly work-box, with the +following lines: + + "Yes, yes, I can very well believe that the rough rock would be + appalling. You will not venture to lay your delicate white hand + upon it, little Miss Eva; will not trouble yourself to breathe + warmth upon my poor roses! Let them then remain in their grave! + + "I shall now make a journey, nor see you again for a year and a + day. But, good heavens! as you have given me a basket,[13] you + shall receive in return a little box. I bought it for my--bride, + Eva! Yet now, after all, Eva shall have it; shall keep it for my + sake. She may return it when I cease to be + + "Her true and devoted Friend." + +"Do you think she is sorry for what she has done?" asked the Judge +anxiously from his wife, as he saw Eva's hot tears falling on the +work-box;--"but it cannot be helped. She marry! and that too with +Munter! She is indeed nothing but a child! But that is just the way; +when one has educated one's daughters, and taught them something of good +manners, just when one has begun to have real pleasure in them, that one +must lose them--must let them go to China if the lover chance to be a +Chinese! It is intolerable! It is abominable! I would not wish my worst +enemy the pain of having grown-up daughters. Is not Schwartz already +beginning to draw a circle about Sara? Good gracious! if we should yet +have the plague of another lover!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[13] To say that "a gentleman has received a basket," is the same as +saying he is a rejected lover.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MORE COURTSHIP STILL. + + +Judge Frank had, unknown to himself, spoken a striking word. It was true +that Schwartz had drawn ever narrower and darker circles around Sara, +and at the very time when she would appear free from his influence her +temper became more uncertain and suspicious. The mother, uneasy about +this connexion, no longer allowed her to be alone with him during the +music lesson, and this watchfulness excited Sara's pride, as well as the +grave yet gentle remonstrances which were made on account of her +behaviour were received with much impatience and disregard. The Judge +was the only person before whom Sara did not exhibit the dark side of +her character. His glance, his presence, seemed to exercise a certain +power over her; besides which, she was, perhaps, more beloved by him +than by all the other members of the family, with the exception of +Petrea. + +One evening, Sara sate silent by one of the windows in the library, +supporting her beautiful head on her hand. Petrea sate at her feet on a +low stool; she also was silent, but every now and then looked up to Sara +with a tender troubled expression, whilst Sara sometimes looked down +towards her thoughtfully, and almost gloomily. + +"Petrea," said she, quickly, "what would you say if I should leave you +suddenly to go into the wide world, and should never return?" + +"What should I say?" answered Petrea, with a violent gush of tears: "ah, +I should say nothing at all, but should lie down and die of grief!" + +"Do you really love me then so, Petrea?" asked she. + +"Do I love you!" returned Petrea; "ah, Sara, if you go away, take me +with you as maid, as servant--I will do everything for you!" + +"Good Petrea!" whispered Sara, laying her arm round her neck, and +kissing her weeping eyes, "continue to love Sara, but do not follow +her!" + +"It seems terribly sultry to me this evening!" said Henrik, wearily: "we +cannot manage any family assembling to-night; not a bit of music; not a +bit of entertainment. The air seems as if an earthquake were at hand. I +fancy that Africa sends us something of a tempest. Petrea is weeping +like the cataract of Trollhaetten; and there go the people in +twos-and-twos and weep, and set themselves in corners and whisper and +mutter, and kiss one another, from my God-fearing parents down to my +silly little sisters! The King and Queen, they go and seat themselves +just has it happens, on living or dead things; they had nearly seated +themselves on me as I sate unoffensively on the sofa; but I made a turn +about _tout d'un coup_.--Betrothed! horribly wearisome folks! Are they +not, Gabriele? They cannot see, they cannot hear; they could not speak, +I fancy, but with one another!" + +A light was burning in Sara's chamber far into the night. She was busied +for a long time with her journal; she wrote with a flying but unsteady +hand. + +"So, to-morrow; to-morrow all will be said, and I----shall be bound. + +"I know that is but of little importance, and yet I have such a horror +of it! Oh, the power of custom and of form. + +"I know very well whom I could love; there is a purity in his glance, a +powerful purity which penetrates me. But how would he look on me if he +saw---- + +"I must go! I have no choice left! S. has me in his net--the money which +I have borrowed from him binds me so fast!--for I cannot bear that they +should know it, and despise me. I know that they would impoverish +themselves in order to release me, but I will not so humiliate myself. + +"And why do I speak of release? I go hence to a life of freedom and +honour. I bow myself under the yoke but for a moment, only in order to +exalt myself the more proudly. Now there is no more time to tremble and +to waver--away with these tears! And thou, Volney, proud, strong +thinker, stand by me! Teach me, when all others turn away, how I may +rely on my own strength!" + +Sara now exchanged the pen for the book, and the hour of midnight struck +before she closed it, and arose tranquil and cold in order to seek the +quiet of sleep. + + * * * * * + +The earthquake of which Henrik had spoken came the next day, the signal +of which was a letter from Schwartz to the Judge, in which he solicited +the hand of Sara. His only wealth was his profession; but with this +alone he was convinced that his wife would want nothing: he was just +about to undertake a journey through Europe, and wished to be +accompanied by Sara, of whose consent and acquiescence he was quite +sure. + +A certain degree of self-appreciation in a man was not at any time +displeasing to Judge Frank, but this letter breathed a supercilious +assurance, a professional arrogance, which were extremely repugnant to +him. Besides this, he was wounded by the tone of pretension in which +Schwartz spoke of one who was as dear to him as his own daughter; and +the thought of her being united to a man of Schwartz's character was +intolerable to him. He was almost persuaded that Sara did not love him, +and burned with impatience to repel his pretensions, and to remove him +at the same time from his house. + +Elise agreed perfectly in the opinion of her husband, but was less +confident than he regarding Sara's state of feeling with respect to the +affair. She was summoned to their presence. The Judge handed to her +Schwartz's letter, and awaited impatiently her remarks upon it. Her +colour paled before the grave and searching glance which was riveted +upon her, but she declared herself quite willing to accept Schwartz's +proposal. + +Astonishment and vexation painted themselves on the countenance of her +adopted father. + +"Ah, Sara," said the mother, after a short silence, "have you well +considered this? Do you think that Schwartz is a man who can make a wife +happy?" + +"He can make me happy," returned Sara; "happy according to my own mind." + +"You can never, never," said the mother, "enjoy domestic happiness with +him!" + +"He loves me," returned Sara, "and he can give me a happiness which I +never enjoyed here. I lost early both father and mother, and in the home +into which I was received out of charity, all became colder and colder +towards me!" + +"Ah, do not think so, Sara!" said the mother. "But even if this were +the case, may not some little of it be your own fault? Do you really do +anything to make yourself beloved? Do you strive against that which +makes you less amiable?" + +"I can renounce such love," said Sara, "as will not love me with my +faults. Nature gave me strong feelings and inclinations, and I cannot +bring them into subjection." + +"You will not, Sara," was the reply. + +"I cannot! and it may be that I will not," said she, "submit myself to +the subjugation and taming which has been allotted as the share of the +woman. Why should I? I feel strength in myself to break up a new path +for myself. I will lead a fresh and an independent life! I will live a +bright artiste-life, free from the trammels and the Lilliputian +considerations of domestic life. I will be free! I will not, as now, be +watched and suspected, and be under a state of espionage! I will be free +from the displeasure and blame which now dog my footsteps! This +treatment it is, mother, which has determined my resolution." + +"If," answered the mother, in a tremulous voice, and deeply affected by +Sara's words and tone, "I have erred towards you--and I may have done +so--I know well that it has not been from temper, or out of want of +tenderness towards you. I have spoken to and warned you from the best +conviction; I have sincerely endeavoured and desired that which is best +for you, and this you will some time or other come to see even better +than now.[14] You will perhaps come to see that it would have been good +for you if you had lent a more willing ear to my maternal counsellings; +will perhaps come to deplore that you rewarded the love I cherished for +you with reproaches and bitterness!" + +"Then let me go!" said Sara, with gentler voice; "we do not accord well +together. I embitter your life, and you make--perhaps you cannot make +mine happy. Let me go with him who will love me with all my faults, who +can and will open a freer scope to my powers and talents than I have +hitherto had." + +"Ah, Sara," returned Elise, "will you obtain in this freer field a +better happiness than can be afforded you by a domestic circle, by the +tenderness of true friends, and a happy domestic life?" + +"Are you then so happy, my mother?" interrupted Sara with an ironical +smile, and a searching glance; "are you then so happy in this circle, +and this domestic life, which you praise so highly, that you thus repeat +what has been said on the subject from the beginning of the world. Those +perpetual cares in which you have passed your days, those trifling cares +and thoughts for every-day necessities, which are so opposite to your +own nature, are they then so pleasant, so captivating? Have you not +renounced many of your beautiful gifts--your pleasure in literature and +music--nay, in short, what is the most lovely part of life, in order to +bury yourself in concealment and oblivion, and there, like the silkworm, +to spin your own sepulchre of the threads which another will wind off? +You bow your own will continually before that of another; your innocent +pleasures you sacrifice daily either to him or to others: are you so +very happy amid all these renunciations?" + +The Judge rose up passionately; went several times up and down the room, +and placed himself at last directly opposite to Sara, leaning his back +to the stove, and listening attentively for the answer of his wife. + +"Yes, Sara, I am happy!" answered she, with an energy very unusual in +her; "yes, I am happy! Whenever I make any sacrifice, I receive a rich +return. And if there be moments when I feel painfully any renunciation +which I have made, there are others, and far more of them, in which I +congratulate myself on all that I have won. I am become improved through +the husband whom God has given to me; through my children, through my +duties, through the desires and the wants which I have overcome at his +side--yes, Sara, above all things, through him, his affection, his +excellence, am I improved, and feel myself happier every day. Love, +Sara, love changes sacrifice into pleasure, and makes renunciation +sweet! I thank God for my lot, and only wish that I were worthier of +it!" + +"It may be!" said Sara, proudly; "every one has his own sphere. But the +tame happiness of the dove suits not the eagle!" + +"Sara!" exclaimed the Judge, in a tone of severe displeasure. + +The mother, unable longer to repress the outbreak of excited feeling, +left the room with her handkerchief to her eyes. + +"For shame, Sara," said the Judge with severe gravity, and standing +before her with a reproving glance, "for shame! this arrogance goes too +far!" + +She trembled now before his eye as she had done once before; a +remembrance from the days of her childhood awoke within her; her eyelids +sunk, and a burning crimson covered her face. + +"You have forgotten yourself," continued he, calmly, but severely, "and +in your childish haughtiness have only shown how far you are below that +worth and excellence which you cannot understand, and which, in your +present state of mind, you never can emulate. Your own calm judgment +will make the sharpest reproaches on this last scene, and will, nay, +must lead you to throw yourself at the feet of your mother. All, +however, that I now ask from you is, that you think over your intentions +rationally. How is it possible, Sara, that you overlook your own +inconsistency? You argue zealously against domestic life--against the +duties of marriage, and yet, at the same time, wilfully determine to tie +those bonds with a man who will make them actual fetters for you." + +"He will not fetter me," returned she; "he has promised it--he has sworn +it! I shall not subject myself to him as a wife, but I shall stand at +his side as an equal, as an artiste, and step with him into a world +beautiful and rich in honours, which he will open to me." + +"Ah, mere talk!" exclaimed the Judge. "Folly, folly! How can you be so +foolish, and believe in such false show? The state gives your husband a +power over you which he will not fail to abuse--that I can promise you +from what I know of his character, and from what I now discover of +yours. No woman can withdraw from a connexion of this kind unpunished, +more especially under the circumstances in which you are placed. Sara, +you do not love the man to whom you are about to unite yourself, and it +is impossible that you can love him. No true esteem, no pure regard +binds you to him." + +"He loves me," answered Sara, with trembling lips; "I admire his power +and artistical genius;--he will conduct me to independence and honour! +It is no fault of mine that the lot of woman is so contracted and +miserable--that she must bind herself in order to become free!" + +"Only as a means?" asked he; "the holiest tie on earth only as a means, +and for what? For a pitiable and ephemeral chase after happiness, which +you call honour and freedom. Poor, deceived Sara! Are you so misled, so +turned aside from the right? Is it possible that the miserable book of a +writer, as full of pretension as weak and superficial, has been able +thus to misguide you?" and with these words he took Volney's Ruins out +of his pocket, and threw it upon the table. + +Sara started and reddened. "Ah," said she, "this is only another +instance of espionage over me." + +"Not so," replied the Judge, calmly. "I was this day in your room; you +had left the book lying on the table, and I took it, in order that I +might speak with you about it, and prevent Petrea's young steps from +treading this path of error without a guide." + +"People may think what they please," said Sara, "of the influence of the +book, but I conceive that author deserves least of all the epithet +weak." + +"When you have followed his counsel," returned he, "and resemble the +wreck which the waves have thrown up here, then you may judge of the +strength and skill of the steersman! My child, do not follow him. A more +mature, a more logical power of mind, will teach you how little he knows +of the ocean of life, of its breakers and its depths--how little he +understands the true compass." + +"Ah!" said Sara, "these storms, these dangers, nay, even shipwreck +itself, appear to me preferable to the still, windless water which the +so-much-be-praised haven of domestic life represents. You speak, my +father, of chimeras; but tell me, is not the so-lauded happiness of +domestic life more a chimera than any other? When the saloon is set in +order, one does not see the broom and the dusting-brush that have been +at work in it, and the million grains of dust which have filled the air; +one forgets that they have ever been there. So it is with domestic and +family life; one persists wilfully in only seeing its beautiful moments, +and in passing over, in not noticing at all, what are less beautiful, or +indeed are 'repulsive.'" + +"All depends upon which are the predominant," replied he, half smiling +at Sara's simile. "Thus, then, if it be more frequently disorderly than +orderly, if the air be more frequently filled with dust than it is pure +and fresh, then the devil may dwell there, but not I! I know very well +that there are homes enough on earth where there are dust-filled rooms, +but that must be the fault of the inhabitants. On them alone depends the +condition of the house; from those which may not unjustly be called +ante-rooms of hell, to those again which, spite of their earthly +imperfections, spite of many a visitation of duster and dusting-brush, +yet may deserve the names of courts of heaven. And where, Sara, where in +this world will you find an existence free from earthly dust? And is +that of which you complain so bitterly anything else than the earthly +husk which encloses every mortal existence of man as well as of +woman?--it is the soil in which the plant must grow; it is the chrysalis +in which the larva becomes ripe for its change of life! Can you actually +be blind to that higher and nobler life which never developes itself +more beautifully than in a peaceful home? Can you deny that it is in the +sphere of family and friendship where man lives most perfectly and best, +as citizen of an earthly and of a heavenly kingdom? Can you deny how +great and noble is the efficacy of woman in private life, be she married +or single, if she only endeavour----" + +"Ah," said Sara, interrupting him, "the sphere of private life is too +narrow for me. I require a larger one, in order to breathe freely and +freshly." + +"In pure affection," replied the Judge, "in friendship, and in the +exercise of kindness, there is large and fresh breathing space; the air +of eternity plays through it. In intellectual development--and the very +highest may be arrived at in private life--the whole world opens itself +to the eye of man, and infinite treasures are offered to his soul, more, +far more, than he can ever appropriate to himself!" + +"But the artist," argued Sara--"the artist cannot form himself at +home--he must try himself on the great theatre of the world. Is his bent +only a chimera, my father? And are those distinguished persons who +present the highest pleasures to the world through their talents; to +whom the many look up with admiration and homage; around whom the great, +and the beautiful, and the agreeable collect themselves, are they +fools?--are they blind hunters after happiness? Ah, what lot can well be +more glorious than theirs! Oh, my father, I am young; I feel a power in +myself which is not a common one--my heart throbs for a freer and more +beautiful life! Desire not that I should constrain my own nature: desire +not that I should compress my beautiful talents into a sphere which has +no charms for me!" + +"I do not depreciate, certainly, the profession of the artist," replied +the Judge, "nor the value of his agency: in its best meaning, his is as +noble as any; but is it this pure bent, this noble view of it, which +impels you, which animates you? Sara, examine your own heart; it is +vanity and selfish ambition which impel you. It is the arrogance of your +eighteen years, and some degree of talent, which make you overlook all +that is good in your present lot, which make you disdain to mature +yourself nobly and independently in the domestic circle. It is a deep +mistake, which will now lead you to an act blamable in the eyes of God +and man, and which blinds you to the dark side of the life which you +covet. Nevertheless, there is none darker, none in which the changes of +fortune are more dependent on miserable accidents. An accident may +deprive you of your beauty, or your voice, and with these you lose the +favour of the world in which you have placed your happiness. Besides +this, you will not always continue at eighteen, Sara: by the time you +are thirty all your glory will be past, and then--then what will you +have collected for the remaining half of life? You will have rioted for +a short time in order then to starve; since, so surely as I stand here, +with this haughty and vain disposition, and with the husband whom you +will have chosen, you will come to want; and, too late, you will look +back in your misery, full of remorse, to the virtue and to the true life +which you have renounced." + +Sara was silent; she was shaken by the words and by the countenance of +her adopted father. + +"And how perfectly different it might be!" continued he, with warmth; +"how beautiful, how full of blessing might not your life and your +talents be! Sara! I have loved you, and love you still, like my own +daughter--will you not listen to me as to a father? Answer me--have you +had to give up anything in this house, which, with any show of reason, +you might demand? and have we spared any possible care for your +education or your accomplishments?" + +"No," replied Sara, sighing; "all have been kind, very kind to me." + +"Well, then," exclaimed the Judge, with increasing warmth and +cordiality, "depend upon your mother and me, that you will have no cause +of complaint. I am not without property and connexions. I will spare no +means of cultivating your talents, and then if your turn for art is a +true one, when it has been cultivated to its utmost it shall not be +concealed from a world which can enjoy and reward it. But remain under +our protection, and do not cast yourself, inexperienced as you are, on a +world which will only lead you more astray. Do not, in order to win an +ideal liberty, give your hand to a man inferior to you in +accomplishments; to a man whom you do not love, and whom, morally +speaking, you cannot esteem. Descend into your own heart, and see its +error while there is yet time to retrieve it, before you are crushed by +your own folly. Do not fly from affectionate, careful friends--do not +fly from the paternal roof in blind impatience of disagreeables, to +remove which depends perhaps only on yourself! Sara, my child! I have +not taken you under my roof in order to let you become the victim of +ruin and misfortune! Pause, Sara, and reflect, I pray you, I conjure +you! make not yourself wretched! When I took you from the death-bed of +your father, I threw my arms around _you_ to shield you from the winds +of autumn--I clasp them once again around you, in order to shield you +from far more dangerous winds--Sara, my child, fly not from this house!" + +Sara trembled; she was violently agitated, and leaned her head with +indescribable emotion against her adopted father, who clasped her +tenderly to his bosom. + +It is not difficult to say whether they were good or bad angels who +triumphed in Sara, as she, after a moment of violent inward struggle, +pushed from her the paternal friend, and said, with averted countenance, +"It is in vain; my determination is taken. I shall become the wife of +Schwartz, and go where my fate leads me!" + +The Judge started up, stamped on the floor, and pale with anger, +exclaimed, with flashing eyes, "Obdurate one! since neither love nor +prayers have power over you, you must listen to another mode of speech! +I have the right of a guardian over you, and I forbid this unholy +marriage! I forbid you to leave my house! You hear me, and you shall +obey!" + +Sara stood up as pale as death, and with an insolent expression riveted +her large eyes upon him, whilst he, too, fixed his upon her with all the +force of his peculiar earnestness and decision. It seemed as if each +would look the other through--as if each in this contest would measure +his strength against the other. + +Suddenly her arms were flung wildly round his neck, a burning kiss was +pressed upon his lips, and the next moment she was out of the room. + +Elise sate in her boudoir. She still wept bitter tears. It was twilight, +and her knees were suddenly embraced, and her hands and her dress were +covered with kisses and with tears. When she put forth her hands to +raise the one who embraced her, she had vanished. "Sara, Sara! where are +you?" exclaimed she, full of anxiety. + +Petrea came down from her chamber; she met some one, who embraced her, +pressed her lips to her forehead, and whispered, "Forget me!" + +"Sara, Sara! where are you going?" exclaimed she, terrified, and running +after her to the house door. + +"Where is Sara?" inquired the Judge, violently, above in the chambers of +his daughters. "Where is Sara?" inquired he, below in the library. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Petrea, who now rushed in weeping, "she is this moment +gone out--out into the street; she almost ran. She forbade me to follow +her. Ah, she certainly never will come back again!" + +"The devil!" said the Judge, hastening from the room, and taking up his +hat, went out. Far off in the street he saw a female figure, which, with +only a handkerchief thrown over her head and shoulders, was hastening +onward, and who, spite of the twilight, he recognised to be Sara. He +hastened after her; she looked round, saw him, and fled. Certain now +that he was not mistaken, he followed, and was almost near enough to +take hold of her, when she suddenly turned aside, and rushed into a +house--it was that of Schwartz. He followed with the quickness of +lightning; followed her up the steps, and was just laying his hand on +her, when she vanished through a door. The next moment he too opened it, +and saw her--in the arms of Schwartz! + +The two stood together embracing, and evidently prepared to defy him. He +stood for some moments silent before them, regarding them with an +indescribable look of wrath, contempt, and sorrow. He looked upon the +pale breathless Sara, and covered his eyes with his hand; the next +moment, however, he seemed to collect himself, and with all the calm and +respect-commanding dignity of a parent, he grasped her hand, and said, +"You now follow me home. On Sunday the banns shall be proclaimed." + +Sara followed. She took his arm, and with a drooping head, and without a +word, accompanied him home. + +All there was disquiet and sorrow. But, notwithstanding the general +discontent with Sara and her marriage, there was not one of the family +who did not busy themselves earnestly in her outfit. Louise, who blamed +her more than all the rest, gave herself most trouble about it. + +Sara behaved as if she never observed how everybody was working for her, +and passed her time either over her harp, or solitary in her own room. +Any intercourse with the members of the family seemed to have become +painful to her, whilst Petrea's tenderness and tears were received with +indifference--nay, even with sternness. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] All mothers speak thus--but not all, nay, not many with the same +right as Elise. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +DEPARTURE. + + +Sara's joyless marriage was over; and the hour was come in which she was +to leave that home and family which had so affectionately received her, +and which now with solicitude and the tenderest care provided for her +wants in her new position. + +In the hour of separation, the crust of ice which had hitherto +surrounded her being broke, she sank, weeping violently, at the feet of +her foster-parents. + +The Judge was deeply affected. "You have had your own will, Sara," said +he, in a firm but mournful voice, "may you be happy! Some few warnings I +have given you, do not forget them; they are the last! If you should be +deceived in the hopes which now animate you--if you should be +unfortunate--unfortunate, or criminal, then remember--then remember, +Sara, that here you have father and mother, and sisters, who will +receive you with open arms; then remember that you have here family and +home!" + +He ceased: drew her a little aside, took her hand, and pressed a +bank-note in it. "Take this," said he, tenderly, "as a little help in +the hour of need. No, you must not refuse it from your foster-father. +Take it for his love's sake, you will some time need it!" + +It was with difficulty that the Judge had so far preserved his calmness; +he now pressed her violently to his breast; kissed her brow and lips, +whilst his tears flowed abundantly. The mother and sisters too +surrounded her weeping. At that moment the door opened, and Schwartz +entered. + +"The carriage waits," said he, with a dark glance on the mournful group. +Sara tore herself from the arms which would have held her fast, and +rushed out of the room. + +A few seconds more, and the travelling carriage rolled away. + +"She is lost!" exclaimed the Judge to his wife with bitter pain. "I feel +it in myself that she is lost! Her death would have been less painful to +me than this marriage." + +For many days he continued silent and melancholy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +LITTLE SCENES. + + +The past episode had gone through the house like a whirlwind. When it +was over, the heaven cleared itself anew, and they were able to confess +that a more joyful tranquillity had diffused itself over all. There was +no one who did not think of Sara with sympathy, who did not weep +sometimes at her violent separation from the family; but there was no +one, with the exception of the Judge and Petrea, who did not feel her +absence to be a secret relief; for one unquiet temper, and one full of +pretension, can disturb a whole household, and make the most exquisite +natural gifts of no account. + +The Judge missed a daughter from the beloved circle; missed that +beautiful, richly-endowed girl, and could not think of her future +prospects without bitter anxiety. Petrea wept the object of her youthful +admiration and homage, but consoled herself with the romantic plans she +formed for seeing her again, in all of which she gave to herself the +province of guardian angel, either as the queen of a desert island, or +as a warrior bleeding for her, or as a disguised person who unloosed +her bonds in the depths of a dungeon in order to put them on herself: in +short, in all possible ways in the world except the possible one. + +Sara wrote soon after her separation from her friends; she spoke of the +past with gratitude, and of the future with hope. The letter exhibited a +certain decision and calmness; a certain seriousness, which diffused +through the family a satisfactory ease of mind with regard to her future +fate. Elise was ever inclined to hope for the best, and young people are +always optimists: the Judge said nothing which might disturb the peace +of his family, whilst Louise alone shook her head and sighed. + +After the many disturbing circumstances which had lately occurred in the +family, all seemed now to long after repose, and the ability to enjoy a +quieter domestic life. Occupations of all kinds--those simple but +cheerful daughters of well-regulated life, went on cheerfully and +comfortably under the eye of Louise. There was no want in the house of +joyful hours, sunshine of every kind, and entertainment full of +interest. The newspapers which the Judge took in, and which kept the +family _au courant_ of the questions of the day, furnished materials for +much development of mind, for much conversation and much thought, +especially among the young people. The father had great pleasure in +hearing thus their interchange of opinion, although he himself seldom +mingled in their discussions, with the exception of now and then a +guiding word. + +"I fancy all is going on quite right," said he, joyfully, to his wife +one day. "The children live gaily at home, and are preparing themselves +for life. Indeed, if they only once open their eyes and ears, they will +find subjects enough on which to use them; and will be astonished at all +that life will present them with. It is well when home furnishes +nourishment for mind as well as heart and body. I rejoice too, +extremely, over our new house. Every land, every climate, has its own +advantages as well as its own difficulties, and the economy of life must +be skilfully adjusted if it is to be maintained with honour and +advantage. Our country, which compels us to live so much in the house, +seems thereby to admonish us to a more concentrated, and at the same +time more quiet and domestic life, on which account we need, above all +things, comfortable houses, which are able to advance and advantage +soul as well as body. Thank God! I fancy ours is pretty good for that +purpose, and in time may yet be better; the children too look happy; +Gabriele grows now every day, and Louise has grown over all our heads!" + +The young people were very much occupied with plans for the future. Eva +and Leonore built all their castles in the air together. A great +intimacy had grown up between these two sisters since they were alone +during the absence of the others at Axelholm. One might say, that ever +since that evening, when they sate together eating grapes and reading a +novel, the seed of friendship which had long been sprouting in their +hearts, shot forth thence its young leaves. Their castles in the air +were no common castles of romance; they had for their foundation the +prosaic but beautiful thought of gaining for themselves an independent +livelihood in the future--for the parents had early taught their +daughters to direct their minds to this object--and hence beautiful +establishments were founded, partly for friendship and partly for +humanity: for young girls are always great philanthropists. + +Jacobi also had many schemes for the future of himself and his wife, and +Louise many schemes how to realise them. In the mean time there were +many processes about kisses. Louise wished to establish a law that not +more than three a day should be allowed, against which Jacobi protested +both by word and deed, on which occasions Gabriele always ran away +hastily and indignantly. + +Petrea read English with Louise, arranged little festivities for her and +the family; wept every evening over Sara, and beat her brains every +morning over "the Creation of the World," whilst the good parents +watched ever observantly over them all. + +No one, however, enjoyed the present circumstances of the family so much +as Henrik. After he had succeeded in inducing his sisters to use more +lively exercise and exhilaration, he devoted himself more exclusively to +his favourite studies, history and philosophy. Often he took his book +and wandered with it whole days in the country, but every evening at +seven he punctually joined the family circle, and was there the merriest +of the merry. + +"We live now right happily," said he one evening in confidential +discourse with his mother; "and I, for my part, never enjoyed life so +much. I feel now that my studies will really mend, and that something +can be made of me. And when I have studied for a whole day, and that not +fruitlessly either, and then come of an evening to you and my sisters, +and see all here so friendly, so bright and cheerful, life seems so +agreeable! I feel myself so happy, and almost wish it might always +remain as it is now." + +"Ah, yes!" answered the mother, "if we could always keep you with us, my +Henrik! But I know that won't do; you must soon leave us again; and +then, when you have finished your studies, you must have your own +house." + +"And then, mother, you shall come to me!" This had been years before, +and still was Henrik's favourite theme, and the mother listened +willingly to it. + +Several poems which Henrik wrote about this time seemed to indicate the +most decided poetical talent, and gave his mother and sisters the +greatest delight, whilst they excited, at the same time, great attention +among the friends of the family. The Judge alone looked on gloomily. + +"You will spoil him," exclaimed he one evening to his wife and +daughters, "if you make him fancy that he is something extraordinary, +before he is in anything out of the common way. I confess that his +poetising is very much against my wish. When one is a man, one should +have something much more important to do than to sigh, and sing about +this and that future life. If he were likely to be a Thorild,[15] or any +other of our greatest poets----but I see no signs of that! and this +poetasterism, this literary idleness, which perpetually either lifts +young people above the clouds, or places them under the earth, so that +for pure cloud and dust they are unable to see the good noble gifts of +actual life--I would the devil had it! The direction which Henrik is now +taking grieves me seriously. I had rejoiced myself so in the thought of +his being a first-rate miner; in his being instrumental in turning to +good account our mines, our woods and streams, those noblest foundations +of Sweden's wealth, and to which it was worth while devoting a good +head; and now, instead of that, he hangs his on one side; sits with a +pen in his hand, and rhymes 'face' and 'grace,' 'heart' and 'smart!' It +is quite contrary to my feelings! I wish Stjernhoek would come here soon. +Now there's a fellow! he will turn out something first-rate! I wish he +were coming soon; perhaps he might influence Henrik, and induce him to +give up this verse-making, which, perhaps, at bottom, is only vanity." + +Elise and the daughters were silent. For a considerable time now, Elise +had accustomed herself to silence when her husband grumbled. But +often--whenever it was necessary--she would return to the subject of his +discontent at a time when he was calm, and then, talk it over with him; +and this line of tactics succeeded admirably. She made use of them on +the present occasion. + +"Ernst," said she to him in the evening, "it grieves me that you are so +displeased with Henrik's poetical bent. Ah! it has delighted me so much, +precisely because I fancied that it is real, and that in this case it +may be as useful as any other can be. Still I never will encourage +anything in him which is opposed to your wishes." + +"My dear Elise," returned he mildly, "manage this affair according to +your own convictions and conscience. It is very probable that you are +right, and that I am wrong. All that I beseech of you is, that you watch +over yourself, in order that affection to your first-born may not +mislead you to mistake for excellence that which is only mediocre, and +his little attempts for masterpieces. Henrik may be, if he can, a +distinguished poet and literary man; but he must not as yet imagine +himself anything; above all things, he must not suppose it possible to +be a distinguished man in any profession without preparing himself by +serious labour, and without first of all becoming a thinking being. If +he were this, I promise you that I should rejoice over my son, let him +be what profession he would--a worker in thought or a worker in +mountains. And for this very reason one must be careful not to value too +highly these poetical blossoms. If vanity remains in him he never will +covet serious renown in anything." + +"You are right, Ernst," said his wife, with all the cordiality of inward +conviction. + + * * * * * + +Henrik also longed earnestly for Stjernhoek's arrival. He wished to show +him his work; he longed to measure his new historical and philosophical +knowledge against that of his friend; he longed, in one word, to be +esteemed by him; for Henrik's gentle and affectionate nature had always +felt itself powerfully attracted by the energetic and, as one may say, +metallic nature of the other, and ever since the years of their boyhood +had the esteem and friendship of Stjernhoek been the goal of Henrik's +endeavours, and of his warm, although till now unattainable, wishes. +Stjernhoek had hitherto always behaved towards Henrik with a certain +friendly indifference, never as a companion and friend. + +Stjernhoek came. He was received by the whole family with the greatest +cordiality, but by no one with a warmer heart than Henrik. + +There was even externally the greatest dissimilarity between these two +young men. Henrik was remarkable for extraordinary, almost feminine +beauty; his figure was noble but slender, and his glance glowing though +somewhat dreamy. Stjernhoek, some years Henrik's senior, had become early +a man. All with him was muscular, firm, and powerful; his countenance +was intelligent without being handsome, and a star as it were gleamed in +his clear, decided eye; such a star as is often prophetic of fate, and +over whose path fortunate stars keep watch. + +Some days after Stjernhoek's arrival Henrik became greatly changed. He +had become quiet, and there was an air of depression on his countenance. +Stjernhoek now, as he had always done, did not appear unfriendly to +Henrik, but still paid but little attention to him. He occupied himself +very busily, partly with trying chemical experiments with Jacobi and the +ladies, and partly in the evening, and even into the night, in making +astronomical observations with his excellent telescope. One of the +beaming stars to which the observations of the young astronomer were +industriously directed was called afterwards in the family Stjernhoek's +star. All gathered themselves around the interesting and well-informed +young man. The Judge took the greatest delight in his conversation, and +asserted before his family more than once his pleasure in him, and the +hopes which the nation itself might have of him. The young student of +Mining was a favourite with the Judge also because, besides his +extraordinary knowledge, he behaved always with the greatest respect +towards older and more experienced persons. + +"See, Henrik," said his father to him one day, after a conversation with +Stjernhoek, "what _I_ call poetry, real poetry; it is this--to tame the +rivers, and to compel their wild falls to produce wealth and comfort, +whilst woods are felled on their banks and corn-fields cultivated; human +dwellings spring up, and cheerful activity and joyful voices enliven the +country. Look! that may be called a beautiful creation!" + +Henrik was silent. + +"But," said Gabriele, with all her natural refinement, "to be happy in +these homes, they must be able to read a pleasant book or to sing a +beautiful song, else their lives, spite of all their waterfalls, would +be very dry!" + +The Judge smiled, kissed his little daughter, and tears of delight +filled his eyes. + +Henrik, in the mean time, had gone into another room and seated himself +at a window. His mother followed him. + +"How do you feel, my Henrik?" said she affectionately, gently taking +away the hand which shaded his eyes. His hand was concealing his tears. +"My good, good youth!" exclaimed she, her eyes also overflowing with +tears, and throwing her arms around him. "Now see!" began she +consolingly, "you should not distress yourself when your father speaks +in a somewhat one-sided manner. You know perfectly well how infinitely +good and just he is, and that if he be only once convinced of the +genuineness of your poetic talent, he will be quite contented. He is +only now afraid of your stopping short in mediocrity. He would be +pleased and delighted if you obtained honour in your own peculiar way." + +"Ah!" said Henrik, "if I only knew whether or not I had a peculiar +way--a peculiar vocation. But since Stjernhoek has been here, and I have +talked with him, everything, both externally and internally, seems +altered. I don't any longer understand myself. Stjernhoek has shown me +how very little I know of that which I supposed myself to know a great +deal, and what bungling my work is! I see it now perfectly, and it +distresses me. How strong-minded and powerful Stjernhoek is! I wish I +were able to resemble him! But it is impossible, I feel myself such a +mere nothing beside him! And yet, when I am alone, either with my books, +or out in the free air with the trees, the rocks, the waters, the winds +around me, and with heaven above, thoughts arise in me, feelings take +possession of me, nameless sweet feelings, and then expressions and +words speak in me which affect me deeply, and give me inexpressible +delight; then all that is great and good in humanity is so present with +me; then I have a foretaste of harmony in everything, of God in +everything; and it seems to me as if words thronged themselves to my +lips to sing forth the gloriousness of that which I perceive. In such +moments I feel something great within me, and I fancy that my songs +would find an echo in every heart. Yes, it is thus that I feel +sometimes; but when I see Stjernhoek all is vanished, and I feel so +little, so poor, I am compelled to believe that I am a dreamer and a +fool!" + +"My good youth," said the mother, "you mistake yourself. Your gifts and +Stjernhoek's are so dissimilar: but if you employ your talents with +sincerity and earnestness, they will in their turn bring forth fruit. I +confess to you, Henrik, that it was, and still is, one of my most lively +wishes that one of my children might become distinguished in the fields +of literature. Literature has furnished to me my most beautiful +enjoyments; and in my younger years I myself was not without my ambition +in this way. I see in you my own powers more richly blossoming. I myself +bloom forth in them, my Henrik, and in my hopes of you. Ah! might I live +to the day in which I saw you honoured by your native land; in which I +saw your father proud of his son, and I myself able to gladden my heart +with the fruit of your genius, your work--oh, then I would gladly die!" + +Enthusiastic fire flamed in Henrik's looks and on his cheeks, as whilst, +embracing his mother, he said, "No, you shall live, mother, to be +honoured on account of your son. He promises that you shall have joy in +him!" + +The sunbeam which just then streamed into the room fell upon Henrik's +beautiful hair, which shone like gold. The mother saw it--saw silently a +prophesying in it, and a sun-bright smile diffused itself over her +countenance. + + * * * * * + +Petrea read the "Magic King." She ought properly to have read it aloud +to the family circle in an evening, and then its dangerous magic would +have been decreased; but she read it beforehand, privately to herself +during the night, and it drew her into the bewildering magic circle. She +thought of nothing, dreamed of nothing, but wonderful adventure; +wonderfully beautiful ladies, and wonderfully brave heroes! She was +herself always one of them, worshipped or worshipping; now combating, +cross in hand, against witches and dragons; now wandering in dreamy +moonlight among lilies in the Lady Minnetrost's Castle. It seemed as if +the chaotic confusion of Petrea's brain had here taken shape and +stature, and she now took possession with redoubled force of the +phantasy world, which once before, under the guise of the Wood-god, had +carried away her childish mind and conducted her into false tracks; and +it was so even now; for while she moved night and day in a dream-world +in which she luxuriated to exultation, in magnificent and wonderful +scenes, in which she herself always played a part, she got on but +lamentably in real and every-day life. The head in which so many +splendid pictures and grand schemes were agitating, looked generally +something like a bundle of flax; she never noticed the holes and specks +in her dress, nor her ragged stockings and trodden-down shoes; she +forgot all her little, every-day business, and whatever she had in her +hand she either lost or dropped. + +She had, besides, a passion for cracking almonds. "A passion," Louise +said, "as expensive as it was noisy, and which never was stronger than +when she went about under the influence of the magic ring; and that +perpetual crack! crack! which was heard wherever she went, and the +almond shells on which people trod, or which hung to the sleeve of +whoever came to the window, were anything but agreeable." + +Whenever Petrea was deservedly reproved or admonished for these things, +she fell out of the clouds, or rather out of her heaven, down to the +earth, which seemed to her scarcely anything else than a heap of nettles +and brambles, and very gladly indeed would she have bought with ten +years of her life one year of the magic power of the "Magic Ring," +together with beauty, magic charms, power, and such-like things, which +she did not possess, except in her dreams. + +Petrea's life was a cleft between an ideal and a real world, of both of +which she knew nothing truly, and which, therefore, could not become +amalgamated in her soul. Rivers of tears flowed into the separating +gulf, without being able to fill it or to clear her vision, while she +now complained of circumstances, and now of her own self, as being the +cause of what she endured. + +It was at this time that, partly at the wish of the parents, and partly +also out of his own kind-heartedness, Jacobi began seriously to occupy +himself with Petrea; and he occupied her mind in such a manner as +strengthened and practised her thinking powers, whereby the fermentation +in her feelings and imagination was in some measure abated. All this was +indescribably beneficial to her, and it would have been still more so +had not the teacher been too----but we will leave the secret to future +years. + + * * * * * + +The Judge received one day a large letter from Stockholm, which, after +he had read, he silently laid before his wife. It came from the highest +quarter, contained most honourable and flattering praise of the services +of Judge Frank, of which the government had long been observant, and now +offered him elevation to the highest regal court of justice. + +When Elise had finished the letter she looked up inquiringly to her +husband, who stood beside her. "What think you of it, Ernst?" asked she, +with a constrained and uneasy glance. + +The Judge walked more quickly up and down the room, as was his custom +when anything excited him. "I cannot feel indifferent," said he; "I am +affected by this mark of confidence in my sovereign. I have long +expected this occurrence; but I feel, I see that I cannot leave my +present sphere of operation. My activity is suited to it; I know that I +am of service here, and the confidence of the Governor gives me +unrestrained power to work according to my ability and views. It is +possible that he, instead of me, may get the credit of the good which is +done in the province; but, in God's name, let it be so! I know that what +is good and beneficial is actually done, and that is enough; but there +is a great deal which is only begun which must be completed, and a great +deal, an infinite great deal, remains yet to be done. I cannot leave a +half-finished work--I cannot and I will not! One must complete one's +work, else it is good for nothing! And I know that here I am--but I am +talking only of myself. Tell me, Elise, what you wish--what you would +like." + +"Let us remain here!" said Elise, giving her hand to her husband, and +seating herself beside him. "I know that you would have no pleasure in a +higher rank, in a larger income, if you on that account must leave a +sphere where you feel yourself in your place, and where you can work +according to the desire of your own heart, and where you are surrounded +by persons who esteem and love you! No; let us remain here!" + +"But you, you Elise," said he; "speak of yourself, not of me." + +"Yes, you!" answered she, with the smile of a happy heart, "that is not +so easy to do--for you see all that belongs to the one is so interwoven +with what belongs to the other. But I will tell you something about +myself. I looked at myself this morning in the glass--no satirical +looks, my love!--and it seemed to me as if I appeared strong and +healthy. I thought of you, thought how good and kind you were, and how, +whilst I had walked by your side, I had been strengthened both in body +and mind; how I must still love you more and more, and how we had become +happier and happier together. I thought of your activity, so rich in +blessing both for home and for the general good; thought on the +children, how healthy and good they are, and how their characters have +unfolded so happily under our hands. I thought of our new house which +you have built so comfortable and convenient for us all, and just then +the sun shone cheerfully into my little, beloved boudoir, and I felt +myself so fortunate in my lot! I thanked God both for it and for you! I +would willingly live and die in this sphere--in this house. Let us then +remain here." + +"God bless you for these words, Elise!" said he. "But the children--the +children! Our decision will influence their future; we must also hear +what they have to say; we must lay the matter before them: not that I +fear their having, if they were aware of our mode of reasoning, any wish +different to ours, but at all events they must have a voice in the +business. Come, Elise! I shall have no rest till it is all talked over +and decided." + + * * * * * + +When the Judge laid the affair before the family council, it occasioned +a great surprise; on which a general silence ensued, and attractive +visions began to swarm before the eyes of the young people, not exactly +of the highest Court of Judicature, but of the seat of the same--of the +Capital. Louise looked almost like a Counsellor of Justice herself. But +when her father had made known his and his wife's feelings on the +subject, he read in their tearful eyes gratitude for the confidence he +had placed in them, and the most entire acquiescence with his will. + +No one spoke, however, till "the little one"--the father had not said to +her, "Go out for awhile, Gabriele dear;" "Let her stop with us," he +said, on the contrary, "she is a prudent little girl!"--no, none spoke +till Gabriele threw her arms about her mother's neck, and exclaimed, +"Ah, don't let us go away from here--here we are so happy!" + +This exclamation was echoed by all. + +"Well, then, here we remain, in God's name!" said the Judge, rising up +and extending his arms, with tears in his eyes, towards the beloved +circle. "Here we remain, children! But this shall not prevent your +seeing Stockholm, and enjoying its pleasures and beauties! I thank God, +my children, that you are happy here; it makes me so, too. Do you +understand that?" + + * * * * * + +On this day, for the first time after a long interval, Leonore dined +with the family. Everybody rejoiced on that account; and as her +countenance had a brighter and more kindly expression than common, +everybody thought her pretty. Eva, who had directed and assisted her +toilet, rejoiced over her from the bottom of her heart. + +"Don't you see, Leonore," said she, pointing up to heaven, where light +blue openings were visible between clouds, which for the greater part of +the day had poured down rain--"don't you see it is clearing up, Leonore? +and then we will go out together, and gather flowers and fruit." And as +she said this her blue eyes beamed with kindness and the enjoyment of +life. + + * * * * * + +"What, in all the world, are these doing here?" asked Henrik, as he saw +his mother's shoes standing in the window in the pale sunshine; "they +ought to be warmed, I fancy, and the sun has no desire to come out and +do his duty. No, in this case, I shall undertake to be sun!" + +"That you are to me, my summer-child!" said the mother, smiling +affectionately as she saw Henrik had placed her shoes under his +waistcoat, to warm them on his breast. + + * * * * * + +"My sweet Louise!" exclaimed Jacobi, "you can't think what lovely +weather it is! Should we not take a little walk? You come with us? You +look most charming--but, in heaven's name, not in the Court-preacher!" + +FOOTNOTES: + +[15] Thomas Thorild, born 1759, died 1808, an eminent Swedish poet. + + + + +PART III. + +CHAPTER I. + +LEONORE TO EVA. + + +"And so you are coming home? Coming really home soon, sweet Eva? Ah! I +am so happy, so joyful on that account, and yet a little anxious: but +don't mind that; come, only come, and all will be right! When I can only +look into your eyes, I feel that all will be clear. Your good +eyes!--Gabriele and I call them 'our blue ones'--how long it is that I +have not seen you--two long years! I cannot conceive, dear Eva, how I +have lived so long without you; but then it is true that we have not +been in reality separated. I have accompanied you into the great world; +I have been with you to balls and concerts; I have enjoyed with you your +pleasures and the homage which has been paid to you. Ah! what joy for me +that I have learned to love you! Since then I have lived twofold, and +felt myself so rich in you! And now you are coming back; and then, shall +we be as happy as before? + +"Forgive, forgive this note of interrogation! But sometimes a disquiet +comes over me. You speak so much of the great world, of joys and +enjoyments, which--it is not in home to afford you. And your grand new +acquaintance--ah, Eva! let them be ever so agreeable and interesting, +they would not love you as we do, as I do! And then this Major R----! I +am afraid of him, Eva. It appears to me the most natural thing in the +world that he should love you, but--ah, Eva! it grieves me that you +should feel such affection for him. My dear, good Eva, attach yourself +not too closely to him before--but I distress you, and that I will not. +Come, only come to us; we have so much to talk to you about, so much to +hear from you, so much to say to you! + +"I fancy you will find the house yet more agreeable than formerly; we +have added many little decorations to it. You will again take breakfast +with us--that comfortable meal, and my best-beloved time; and tea with +us--your favourite hour, in which we were assembled for a merry evening, +and were often quite wild. This morning I took out your breakfast-cup, +and kissed that part of the edge on which the gold was worn off. + +"We will again read books together, and think about and talk about them +together. We will again go out together and enjoy all the freshness and +quiet of the woods. And would it not be a blessed thing to wander thus +calmly through life, endeavouring to improve ourselves, and to make all +those around us happier; to admire the works of God, and humbly to thank +Him for all that he has given to us and others? Should we not then have +lived and flourished enough on earth? Truly I know that a life quiet as +this might not satisfy every one; neither can it accord with all seasons +of life. Storms will come;--even I have had my time of unrest, of +suffering, and of combat. But, thank God! that is now past, and the +sensibility which destroyed my peace is now become as a light to my +path; it has extended my world; it has made me better: and now that I no +longer covet to enjoy the greater and stronger pleasures of life, I +learn now, each passing day, to prize yet higher the treasures which +surround me in this quiet every-day life. Oh, no one can be happy on +earth till he has learned the worth of little things, and to attend to +them! When once he has learned this, he may make each day not only +happy, but find in it cause of thankfulness. But he must have +peace--peace both within himself and without himself; for peace is the +sun in which every dewdrop of life glitters! + +"Would that I could but call back peace into a heart which--but I must +prepare you for a change, for a great void in the house. You will not +find Petrea here. You know the state of things which so much distressed +me for some time. It would not do to let it go on any longer either for +Louise or Jacobi's sake, or yet for her own, and therefore Petrea must +go, otherwise they all would have become unhappy. She herself saw it; +and as we had tidings of Jacobi's speedy arrival here, she opened her +heart to her parents. It was noble and right of her, and they were as +good and prudent as ever; and now our father has gone with her to his +friend Bishop B. May God preserve her, and give her peace! I shed many +tears over her; but I hope all may turn out well. Her lively heart has a +fresh-flowing fountain of health in it; and certainly her residence in +the country, which she likes so much, new circumstances, new +interests---- + +"I was interrupted: Jacobi is come! It is a good thing that Petrea is +now whiling away her time in the shades of Furudal; good for her poor +heart, and good too for the betrothed pair, who otherwise could not have +ventured to have been happy in her presence. But now they are entirely +so. + +"Now, after six years' long waiting, sighing, and hoping, Jacobi sees +himself approaching the goal of his wishes--marriage and a parsonage! +And the person who helps him to all this, to say nothing of his own +individual deserts, is his beloved patron the excellent Excellency +O----. Through his influence two important landed-proprietors in the +parish of Great T. have been induced to give their votes to Jacobi, who, +though yet young, has been proposed; and thus he will receive one of the +largest and most beautiful livings in the bishopric, and Louise will +become a greatly honoured pastor's wife--'provost's wife' she herself +says prophetically. + +"The only _but_ in this happiness is, that it will remove Jacobi and +Louise so far from us. Their highest wish had been to obtain the rural +appointment near this city; and thus we might in that case have +maintained our family unbroken, even though Louise had left her home; +but--'but,' says our good, sensible 'eldest,' with a sigh, 'all things +cannot be perfect here on earth.' + +"The day of nomination falls early in the spring; and Jacobi, who must +enter upon his office immediately after his appointment, wishes to +celebrate his marriage at Whitsuntide, in order that he may conduct his +young wife into his shepherd's hut along flower-bestrewn paths, and by +the song of the lark. Mrs. Gunilla jestingly beseeches of him not to +become too nomadic: however, this is certain, that no living being has +more interest about cows and calves, sheep and poultry, than Louise. + +"The future married couple are getting their whole household in order +beforehand; and Gabriele heartily amuses herself with such fragments of +their entertaining conversation as reach her ear, while they sit on the +sofa in the library talking of love and economy. But it is not talking +_alone_ that they do, for Jacobi's heart is full of warm human love; and +our father has not the less imparted to all his children somewhat of his +love for the general good, although Gabriele maintains that her portion +thereof is as yet very small. + +"It gives one great pleasure to see the betrothed go out to make +purchases, and then to see them return so cordially well pleased with +all they have bought. Louise discovers something so unsurpassably +excellent in everything with which she furnishes herself, whether it be +an earthen or a silver vessel. When I look at these two, like a pair of +birds carrying together straws to their nest, and twittering over them, +I cannot help thinking that it must be a greater piece of good fortune +to come to the possession of a humbly supplied habitation which one has +furnished oneself, than to that of a great and rich one for which other +people have cared. One is, in the first place, so well acquainted with, +so on thee-and-thou terms with one's things; and certainly nobody in +this world can be more so than Louise with hers. + +"We are all of us now working most actively for the wedding, but still +our father does not look with altogether friendly eyes on an occasion +which will withdraw a daughter from his beloved circle. He would so +gladly keep us all with him, for which I rejoice and am grateful. +Apropos! we have a scheme for him which will make him happy in his old +age, and our mother also. You remember the great piece of building-land +overgrown with bushes, which the people had not understanding enough +either to build upon or to give up to us, this we intend--but we will +talk about it mouth to mouth. Petrea has infected us all, even 'our +eldest,' with her desire for great undertakings; and then--truly it is a +joy to be able to labour for the happiness of those who have laboured +for us so affectionately and unweariedly. + +"Now something about friends and acquaintance. + +"All friends and acquaintance ask much after you. Uncle Jeremias +wrangles because you do not come, all the time he breakfasts with us +(generally on Wednesday and Saturday mornings), and while he abuses our +rusks, but notwithstanding devours a great quantity of them. For some +time he has appeared to me to have become more amiable than formerly; +his temper is milder, his heart always was mild. He is the friend and +physician of all the poor. A short time ago he bought a little villa, a +mile distant from the city; it is to be the comfort of his age, and is +to be called 'The Old Man's Rose,'--does not that sound comfortable? + +"Annette P. is very unhappy with her coarse sister-in-law. She does not +complain; but look, complexion, nay, even her whole being, indicate the +deepest discontent with life; we must attract her to us, and endeavour +to make her happier. + +"Here comes Gabriele, and insists upon it that I should leave some room +for her scrawl. A bold request! But then who says no to her? Not I, and +therefore I must make a short ending. + +"If a certain Baron Rutger L. be introduced to you when you return, do +not imagine that he is deranged, although he sometimes seems as if he +were so. He is the son of one of my father's friends; and as he is to be +educated by my father for a civil post, he is boarded in our family. He +is a kind of '_diamant brute_,' and requires polishing in more senses +than one; in the mean time I fancy his wild temper is in a fair way of +being tamed. One word from our mother makes impression upon him; and he +is actually more regardful of the ungracious demeanour of our little +lady, than of the moral preaching of our eldest. He is just nineteen. +Old Brigitta is quite afraid of him, and will hardly trust herself to +pass him lest he should leap over her. Oh, how happy she, like everybody +else, will be to see you back again! She fears lest you should get +married, and stop in 'the hole,' as she calls Stockholm. + +"Henrik will remain with us over Christmas, but you must come and help +to enliven him; he is not so joyous as formerly. I fancy that the +misunderstanding between him and Stjernhoek distresses him. Ah! why would +not these two understand one another! For the rest, many things are now +at stake for Henrik; God grant that all may go well, both on his account +and mamma's! + +"We shall not see Petrea again till after Louise's marriage. When shall +we all be again all together at home? Sara! ah? it is now above four +years since we heard anything of her, and all inquiry and search after +her has been in vain. Perhaps she lives no longer! I have wept many +tears over her; oh! if she should return! I feel that we should be +happier together than formerly; there was much that was good and noble +in her, but she was misled--I hear my mother's light steps, and that +predicts that she has something good for me---- + +"Ah, yes! she has! she has a letter from you, my Eva! You cannot fix the +day of your return, and that is very sad--but you come soon! You love +Stockholm; so do I also; I could embrace Stockholm for that reason. + +"I am now at the very edge of my paper. Gabriele has bespoken the other +side. I leave you now, in order to write to _her_ who left us with +tears, but who, as I cordially hope, will return to us with smiles." + + FROM GABRIELE. + + In the Morning. + + "I could not write last evening, and am now up before the sun in + order to tell you that nothing can console me for Petrea's + absence, excepting your return. We are all of us terribly longing + after 'our Rose.' I know very well who beside your own family + longs for this same thing. + + "I must tell you that a little friendship has been got up between + Uncle Jeremias and me. All this came about in the fields, for he + is never particularly polite within doors; whilst in a walk, the + beautiful side of his character always comes out. Petrea and I + have taken such long excursions with him, and then he was mild and + lively; then he botanised with us, told us of the natural families + in the vegetable kingdom, and related the particular life and + history of many plants. Do you know it is the most agreeable + thing in the world to know something of all this; one feels + oneself on such familiar terms with these vegetable families. Ah! + how often when I feel thus am I made aware how indescribably rich + and glorious life is, and I fancy that every one must live happily + on earth who has only eyes and sense awakened to all that is + glorious therein, and then I can sing like a bird for pure + life-enjoyment. In the mean time, Uncle Jeremias and I cultivate + flowers in the house quite enthusiastically, and intend at + Christmas to make presents of both red and white lilacs; but, + indeed, I have almost a mind to cry that the nose of my Petrea + cannot smell them. + + "But I must come to an end, for you must know that occasionally I + have undertaken to have a watchful eye over the breakfast-table, + and therefore I go now to look after it. Bergstroem has fortunately + done all this, so that I have nothing now to do; next I must go + and look after my moss-rose, and see whether a new bud has yet + made its appearance; then I shall go and see after mamma; one + glance must I give through the window to the leaves in the garden, + which nod a farewell to me before they fall from the twigs; and to + the sun also, which now rises bright and beaming, must I send a + glance--a beam from the sun of my eyes and out of the depth of my + thankful heart; and therefore that I may be able, for the best + well-being of the community, to attend to all these important + matters, I must say to you, farewell! to you who are so dear to + me." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +PETREA TO LEONORE. + + + From the Inn at D----. + + "It is evening, and my father is gone out in order to make + arrangements for our to-morrow's voyage. I am alone: the mist + rises thick without, before the dirty inn-windows; my eyes also + are misty; my heart is heavy and full, I must converse with you. + + "Oh, Leonore! the bitter step has thus been taken--I am separated + from my own family, from my own home; and not soon shall I see + again their mild glances, or hear your consoling voice! and all + this--because I have not deserved--because I have destroyed the + peace of my home! Yes, Leonore! in vain will you endeavour to + excuse me, and reconcile me with myself! I know that I am + criminal--that I have desired, that I have wished, at least, for a + moment--oh, I would now press the hem of Louise's garment to my + lips and exclaim 'Forgive, forgive! I have passed judgment on + myself--I have banished myself; I fly--fly in order no more to + disturb your happiness or his!' + + "I was a cloud in their heaven; what should the cloud do there? + May the wind disperse it! Oh, Leonore, it is an indescribably + bitter feeling for a heart which burns with gratitude to be able + to do nothing more for the object of its love than to keep itself + at a distance, to make itself into nothing! But rather + that--rather a million-times hide myself in the bosom of the + earth, than give sorrow either to him or to her! Truly, if thereby + I could win anything for them; if I could moulder to dust like a + grain of corn, and then shoot forth for them into plentiful + blessing--that would be sweet and precious, Leonore! People extol + all those who are able to die for love, for honour, for religion, + for high and noble ends, and wherefore? Because it is, indeed, a + mercy from God to be able so to die--it is life in death! + + "I know a life which is death--which, endured through long + clinging years, would be a burden to itself, and a joy to no one. + Oh, how bitter! Wherefore must the craving after happiness, after + enjoyment, burn like an eternal thirst in the human soul, if the + assuaging fountain, Tantalus like----? + + "Leonore, my eyes burn, my head aches, and my heart is wildly + tempested! I am not good--I am not submissive--my soul is a + chaos--a little earth on forehead and breast, that might be good + for me. + + + On board the Steam-boat. + + "Thanks, Leonore, thanks for your pillow; it has really been an + ear-comfort for me.[16] Yesterday I thought that I was in the + direct way to become ill. I shivered; I burned; my head ached + fearfully: I felt as if torn to pieces. But when I laid my head + upon your little pillow, when my ear rested upon the delicate + cover which you had ornamented with such exquisite needlework, + then it seemed to me as if your spirit whispered to me out of it; + a repose came over me; all that was bad vanished so quickly, so + wonderfully; I slept calmly; I was quite astonished when they woke + me in the morning to feel that, bodily, I was quite well, and + mentally like one cured. This has been done by your pillow, + Leonore. I kissed it and thanked you. + + "It is related in the Acts of the Apostles that they brought the + sick and laid them in the way on which the holy men went, that at + least their shadows might fall upon them, and make them sound. I + have faith in the power of such a remedy; yes, the good, the holy, + impart somewhat of their life, of their strength, to all that + belong to them: I have found that to-night. + + "We went on board. The 'Sea-Witch' thundered and flew over the + sea. I know that she conveyed me away from you all, and leaning + over the bulwarks I wept. I felt then a pair of arms tenderly and + gently surrounding me; they were my father's! He wrapped a warm + cloak around me, and leaning on his breast, I raised my head. The + morning was clear; white flame-like clouds chased by the morning + wind flew across the deep blue; the waves beat foaming against the + vessel; green meadows, autumnally beautiful parks, extended + themselves on either side of us; space opened itself. I stood with + my face turned towards the wind and space, let the sea-spray wet + my lips and my eyelids, a soft shudder passed through me, and I + felt that life was beautiful. Yes, in the morning hour, filled + with its beaming-light, in this pure fresh wind, I felt the evil + demons of my soul retreat, and disperse themselves like mist and + vapour. I drank in the morning winds; I opened my heart to life; I + might also have opened my arms to them, and at the same time to + all my beloved ones, that thus I might have expressed to them the + quiet prediction of my heart, that love to them will heal me, will + afford me strength some time or other to give them joy. + + + The second day on board. + + "I should like to know whether a deep heart-grief would resist the + influence of a long voyage. There is something wonderfully + strengthening, something renovating in this life, this voyaging, + this fresh wind. It chases the dust from the eyes of the soul; + one sees oneself and others more accurately, and gets removed from + one's old self. One journeys in order to stand upon a new shore, + and amid new connexions. One begins, as it were, anew. + + "We had a storm yesterday, and with the exception of my father, I + was the only passenger who remained well, and on this account I + could help the sufferers. It is true it was not without its + discomforts; it is true that I reeled about sometimes with a glass + of water, and sometimes with a glass of drops in the hand; but I + saw many a laughable scene; many an odd trait of human nature. I + laughed, made my own remarks, forgot myself, and became friendly + with all mankind. Certainly it would be a very good thing for me + to be maid-servant on board a steam-boat. + + "Towards evening, the storm, as well within as without the vessel, + abated itself. I sate solitary on dock till midnight. The waves + still foamed around the agreeably rocking vessel; the wind + whistled in the rigging; and the full moon, heralded by one bright + little star, rose from the sea, and diffused her mild wondrous + light over its dark expanse. It was infinitely glorious! Nameless + thoughts and feelings arose in me, full of love and melancholy, + and yet at the same time elevating and strengthening; a certain + longing after that for which I knew no name. I desired I knew not + what. + + "But I fear and know that which I do not desire. I fear the quiet + measured life into which I am about again to + enter--conventionalities, forms, social life, all this cramps my + soul together, and makes it inclined to excesses. Instead of + sitting in select society, and drinking tea in 'high life,' would + I rather roam about the world in Viking expeditions--rather eat + locusts with John the Baptist in the wilderness, and go hither and + thither in a garment of camel's hair; and after all, such apparel + as this must be very convenient in comparison with our patchwork + toilet. Manifold are the changing scenes of life, and how shall I + find my way, and where shall I find my place in the magic circle + of the world. Forgive me, Leonore, that I talk so much about + myself. Thou good one, thou hast spoiled me in this respect. + + "We reached Furudal to-day in the afternoon. + + + Furudal. + + "Here are we on land; I would that I were at sea! I come even now + from the sitting-room, and in the sitting-room I always suffer + shipwreck. An evil genius always makes me say or do something + there unbecoming. This evening I entangled the reel of the + Bishop's lady, and told a stupid anecdote about a relation of + hers. I wished to be witty, and I succeeded badly, as I always do. + + "They are very neat people here. The Bishop is a small pale man, + with something angelic in voice and expression, but--he will not + have much time to bestow on me; he lives in his books and his + official duties, and moreover he is almost always in the city; and + his lady, who remains here perpetually, has very delicate health; + but I will wait upon her, and read aloud to her, and that will + give me pleasure. I only hope she may endure me. + + "Both husband and wife were amiable towards my father's daughter, + but I very well believe that they did not find me very loveable. + Intolerably hot, too, was their blessed drawing-room, and I was + tanned with the wind, and as red as a peony. Such things as these + are enough to make one a little desperate; all these things are + trifles, yet they are nevertheless annoying; and then it is + depressing, everlastingly to displease exactly where one wishes + most to please! + + * * * * * + + "I have unpacked the trunk which you all so carefully packed for + me; and now new and newly-repaired articles of clothing flew into + my arms one after another. Oh, sisters! it was you who have thus + brought my toilet in order for the whole winter! How good you are! + I recognised Louise's hand again. Oh, I must weep, my beloved + ones!--my home! + + + Some days later. + + "The pine-trees rustle fresh and still. I have been + out;--mountains, woods, solitude with nature--glorious! + + "Oh, Leonore, I will begin a new life; I will die to my ancient + self, to vanity, to error, to self-love. Every flattering token of + remembrance--notes, keepsakes--be they from man or woman, I have + destroyed. I send you herewith a little sum of money, which I + received for ornaments and for some of my own manufactures, which + I sold. Buy something with it which will give pleasure to Louise + and Jacobi; but do not let them surmise, I earnestly beseech you, + that it comes from Petrea. If I could only sell myself for a + respectable price, and make them rich, then---- + + "I shall have a deal of time for myself here, and I know how I + shall employ it. I will go out a great deal. I will wander through + wood and field, in storm, snow, and every kind of weather, till I + am, at least, bodily weary. Perhaps then it may be calmer in the + soul! I desire no longer to be happy. What does it matter if one + is not happy, if one is only pure and good? Were the probation-day + of life only not so long! Leonore, my good angel, pray for me! + + "May all be happy! + + "Greet all tenderly from your + + "Petrea. + + "P. S.--My nose makes its compliments to Gabriele, and goes in the + accompanying picture to pay her a visit. She must not imagine that + I am cast down. I send also a little ballad or romance; the wood + sung it to me last evening, and every harmonious sound, which life + in my soul sings, must--go home! Oh, how I love you all!" + + * * * * * + +And now, whilst our Petrea appears in rural solitude to prepare herself +for a new life, whilst the snow fell upon the earth in order to prepare +it for now springs, we turn back to our well-known home in the town, and +describe the occurrences there. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[16] Poor Petrea makes a little pun here. The Swedish word oerongodt +(pillow) meaning literally good for the ear.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A CONVERSATION. + + +Jacobi had left. October was come, with its storms and its long +twilight, which is so dark and heavy for all such as have it not cheered +by kindly glances and bright thoughts. + +One evening, as Henrik came down to tea, he was observed to look +uncommonly pale, and in answer to the inquiry of his sisters as to the +cause, he replied that he had headache, and added, half in jest, half in +earnest, that it would be very beautiful to be only once freed from this +heavy body--it was so sadly in one's way! + +"How you talk!" said Louise; "at all events, it is right to treat it +well and rationally; not to go sitting up all night and studying so that +one has headache all day!" + +"Thank your majesty most submissively for the moral!" said Henrik; "but +if my body will not serve my soul, but will subject it, I have a very +great desire to contend with it, and to quarrel with it!" + +"The butterfly becomes matured in the chrysalis," said Gabriele, smiling +sweetly, whilst she strewed rose-leaves upon some chrysalises which were +to sleep through the winter on her flower-stand. + +"Ah, yes," replied Henrik; "but how heavily does not the shell press +down upon the wings of the butterfly! The earthly chrysalis weighs upon +me! What would not the soul accomplish? how could it not live and enjoy, +were it not for this? In certain bright moments, what do we not feel and +think? what brilliancy in conception! what godlike warmth of feeling in +the heart!--one could press the whole world to one's bosom at such a +time, seeing, with a glance, through all, and penetrating all as with +fire. Oh, there is then an abundance, a clearness! Yes, if our Lord +himself came to me at such a moment, I should reach forth my hand to him +and say, 'Good day, brother!'" + +"Dear Henrik!" said Louise, somewhat startled, "now I think you do not +rightly know what you say." + +"Yes," continued he, without regarding the interruption, "so can one +feel, but only for a moment; in the next, the chrysalis closes heavily +again its earthly dust-mantle around our being, and we are stupified and +sleep, and sink deep below that which we so lately were. Then one sees +in books nothing but printed words, and in one's soul one finds neither +feeling nor thought, and towards man, for whom so shortly before the +very heart seemed to burn, one feels oneself stiff and disinclined. Ah, +it were enough to make one fall into despair!" + +"It would be far better," said Louise, "that such people went to sleep, +and then they would get rid of headache and heaviness." + +"But," said Henrik, smiling, "that is a sorrowful remedy according to my +notions. It is horrible to require so much sleep! How can any one who is +a seven-sleeper become great? 'Les hommes puissans veillent et veulent,' +says Balzac with reason; and because my miserable heavy nature requires +so much sleep, so certainly shall I never turn out great in any way. +Besides, this entrancement, this glorification produces such wakeful +moments in the soul, that one feels poor and stripped when they are +extinguished. Ah! I can very well comprehend how so many make use of +external excitement to recal or to prolong them, and that they endeavour +through the fire of wine to wake again the fire of the soul." + +"Then," said Louise, "you comprehend something which is very bad and +irrational. They are precisely such excitements as these that we have to +thank for there being so many miserable men, and so many drunkards in +Sweden, that one can scarcely venture to go out in the streets for +them!" + +"I do not defend it, dear Louise," said Henrik, gently smiling at the +zeal of his sister, "but I can understand it, and in certain cases I can +excuse it. Life is often felt to be so heavy, and the moments of +inspiration give a fulness to existence; they are like lightning flashes +out of the eternal life!" + +"And so they certainly are," said Leonore, who had listened attentively +to her brother, and whose mild eyes had become moist by his words; "and +life will certainly," continued she, "feel thus clear, thus full, when +we shall have become ever entirely freed from the chrysalis; not from +the bonds of the body only, but of the soul also. Perhaps these moments +are given to us here on earth to allure us up to the Father's house, and +to let us feel its air." + +"A beautiful thought, Leonore," said her brother. "Thus these gleams of +light are truly revelations of our inward, actual, here-yet-enslaved +life. Good God! how glorious that--But ah! the long, long moments of +darkness, what are they?" + +"Trials of patience, times of preparation," replied Leonore, tenderly +smiling. "Besides, the bright moments come again and gladden us with +their light, and that so much the more frequently the further one +advances in perfection. But one must, at the same time, learn to have +patience with oneself, Henrik, and here, in this life, to wait for +oneself." + +"You have spoken a true word, sister. I must kiss your hand for it," +said Henrik. "Ah, yes, if----" + +"Be now a little less sensible and aesthetic," exclaimed "our eldest," +"and come here and drink a cup of tea! See here, Henrik, a cup of strong +warm tea, which will do your head good. But this evening and to-morrow +morning you must take a table-spoonful of my elixir!" + +"From that defend us all, ye good--_Vi ringrazia carissima sorella!_" +said Henrik. "But--but charming Gabriele! a drop of port wine in the tea +would make it more powerful, without turning me into one of those +miserable beings of whom Louise is so afraid! Thanks, sister dear! +_Fermez les yeux_, O Mahomet!" and with an obeisance before Louise, +Henrik conveyed the cup to his lips. + +Later in the evening Henrik stood in one of the library windows looking +out into the moonlight. Leonore went up to him and looked into his face +with that mild, humbly questioning glance to which the heart so +willingly opened itself, and which was peculiar to her. + +"You are so pale, Henrik," said she, disquieted. + +"It is extraordinary," said he, half laughing at himself; "do you see, +Leonore, how the tops of the fir-trees there in the churchyard bow +themselves in the wind and beckon? I cannot conceive why, but this +nodding and beckoning distresses me wonderfully; I feel it in my very +heart." + +"That comes naturally enough, Henrik," returned she, "because you are +not well. Shall we not go out a little? It is such lovely moonshine! The +fresh air will perhaps do you good." + +"Will you go with me, Leonore?" said he. "Yes, that is a good idea!" + +Gabriele found it, however, rather poor, and called her brother and +sister Samoyedes, Laplanders, Esquimaux, and such like, who would go +wandering about in the middle of a winter's night. Nevertheless these +two went forth jestingly and merrily arm in arm. + +"Is it not too windy for you?" asked Henrik, whilst he endeavoured +carefully to shield his sister from the wind. + +"The wind is not cold," replied Leonore, "and it is particularly +charming to me to walk by your side while it roars around us, and while +the snow-flakes dance about in the moonshine like little elves." + +"Nay, you feel then like me!" said Henrik; "with you, sisters, I am +ever calm and happy; but I don't know how it is, but now for some time +other people often plague and irritate me----" + +"Ah, Henrik," remarked Leonore, "is not that someway your own fault?" + +"Are you thinking of Stjernhoek, Leonore?" asked he. + +"Yes." + +"So am I," continued he, "and perhaps you are right; yes, I will +willingly concede that I have often been unjust towards him, and +unreasonably violent, but he has excited me to it. Why has he made me so +often oppressively feel his superiority? so often taken away from me my +own joy in my own endeavours, and almost always treated me with coldness +and depreciation?" + +Leonore made no answer, the moonlight lit a quiet tear in her eye, and +Henrik continued with increasing violence: + +"I could have loved him so much! He had, through the originality of his +character, his strength, and his whole individuality, a great influence, +a great power over me; but he has misused it; he has treated me +severely, precisely in the instances in which I approached him nearest. +He has flung from him the devotion which I cherished for him. I will +tell you the whole truth, Leonore, and how this has happened between us. +You know that in the University, about three years ago, a sort of +literary society of young men gathered themselves about me. Perhaps they +esteemed my literary talents too highly, and might mislead me--I could +almost believe so myself, but I was the favourite of the day in the +circle in which my life moved; perhaps, on that account, I became +presumptuous; perhaps a tone of pretension betrayed itself in me, and a +false, one-sided direction was visible in the poems which I then +published: nevertheless, these poems made some little noise in the +world. Shortly, however, after their appearance a criticism on them came +out, which made a yet greater noise, on account of its power, its +severity, and also its satirical wit. Its acrimony spared neither my +work nor my character as a poet, and it produced almost universally a +re-action against me. It appeared to me severe and one-sided; and even +now, at this moment, it appears to me not otherwise, although I can now +see its justice much better than at the time. + +"The anonymous author of the critique upon me was Stjernhoek, and he did +not in the slightest deny it. He considered it as being much less +directed against me personally, than against the increasing influence of +the party of which I was a sort of chief. Even before this I had begun +to withdraw myself from his power, which I always felt to be oppressive; +and this new blow did not, by any means, tend to reunite us. His severe +criticism had made me observant of my faults; but yet I do not know +whether it would have produced any other effect than pain, had I not at +this time returned home to you; and at home, through the beneficial +influence of my own family, a new strength and a purer direction had +been aroused in me. That was the time in which my father, with +indescribable goodness, and in complot with you all, sold the half of +his library to furnish me with the means of foreign travel. Yes, you +have called forth a new being in me; and all my poems, and all my +writings, are now designed to prove to you that I am not unworthy of +you. Ah, yes! I love you warmly and deeply--but it is all over with +Stjernhoek; the love which I cherished for him has changed itself into +bitterness." + +"Ah, Henrik, Henrik, do not let it be so!" said Leonore. "Stjernhoek is +indeed a noble, a good man, even if, at the same time, too severe. But +really he loves you as well as we, but you two will not understand one +another; and Henrik, the last time you were really unjust to him--you +seemed as if you could hardly bear him." + +"I hardly can, Leonore," said he. "It is a feeling stronger than myself. +I don't know what evil spirit it is which now, for some time, has set +itself firmly in my heart; but there it is steadfastly rooted; and if I +am aware only of Stjernhoek's presence, it is as if a sharp sword passed +through me; before him my heart contracts itself; and if he only touch +me, I feel as if burning lead went through my veins." + +"Henrik! dearest Henrik!" exclaimed Leonore with pain, "it is really +terrible! Ah! make only the attempt with yourself; conquer your +feelings, and extend the hand of reconciliation to him." + +"It is too late for that, Leonore," said Henrik. "Yes, if it were +necessary for him, it would be easy; but what does he trouble himself +about me? He never loved me, never esteemed either my efforts or my +ability. And perhaps it may be with some justice that he does not think +so very highly of my talents. What have I done? And sometimes it seems +to me, even in the future, that I never shall do any thing great; that +my powers are limited, and that my spring-time is past. Stjernhoek's, on +the contrary, is yet to come; he belongs to that class which mounts +slowly, but on that account all the more steadily. I see now, much +better than I did formerly, how far he stands beyond me, and how much +higher he will rise--and his knowledge is martyrdom to me." + +"But wherefore," pleaded Leonore, "these dark thoughts and feelings, +dear Henrik, when your future appears fuller of hope than ever before? +Your beautiful poetry; your prize essay, which is certain to bring you +honour; the prospect of an advantageous post, a sphere of action which +will be dear to you--all this, which in a few months will so animate +your heart--why has it at this time so lost its power over you?" + +"I cannot tell," replied he; "but for some time now I have been, and am +much changed; I have no faith in my good fortune; it seems to me as if +all my beautiful hopes will vanish like a dream." + +"And even if it were so," said Leonore questioningly, with humility and +tenderness, "could you not find happiness and peace at home; in the +occupation of your beloved studies; in the life with us, who love you +solely, and for your own sake?" + +Henrik pressed his sister's arm to his side, but answered nothing; and a +violent passing gust of wind compelled him to stand still for a moment. + +"Horrible weather!" said he, wrapping his cloak round his sister at the +same time. + +"But this is your favourite weather," remarked she jestingly. + +"_Was_, you should say," returned he; "now I do not like it, perhaps +because it produces a feeling in me which distresses me." With these +words he took his sister's hand and laid it on his heart. His heart beat +wildly and strongly; its beating was almost audible. + +"Heavens!" exclaimed Leonore, alarmed, "Henrik, what is this?--is it +often thus?" + +"Only occasionally;--I have had it now for some time," replied he; "but +don't be uneasy on this account; and, above all things, say nothing to +my mother or Gabriele about it. I have spoken with Munter on the +subject; he has prescribed for me, and does not think it of much +consequence. To-day I have had it without intermission, and perhaps I am +from that cause somewhat hypochondriacal. Forgive me, dear Leonore, that +I have teased you about it. I am much better and livelier now; this +little walk has done me good--if you only don't get cold, Leonore, or +you would certainly be punished, or at all events be threatened, with +Louise's elixir. But does there not drive a travelling carriage towards +our door, exactly as if it would stop there? Can it be Eva? The carriage +stops--it is certainly Eva!" + +"Eva! Eva!" exclaimed Leonore, with cordial delight; and both brother +and sister ran so quickly to the gate that she was received into their +arms as she dismounted from the carriage. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +EVA. + + +Among the agreeable circumstances which occur in a happy home may +certainly be reckoned the return to its bosom of one of its beloved +members. So returns the bee to the safe hive with her harvest of honey, +after her flight abroad over the meadows of the earth. How much is there +not mutually to relate, to hear, to see, and to enjoy! Every cloud in +the heaven of home vanishes then; all is sunshine and joy; and it must +be bad indeed if they do not find one another lovelier and improved, for +when everything goes on right here, every advancing footstep in life +must tend in a certain manner to improvement. + +Bright, indeed, did Eva's return make the hours of sunshine in the Frank +family! The mutual love which demonstrated itself in embraces, smiles, +tears, laughter, sweet words of greeting, and a thousand tokens of joy +and tenderness, made the first hours vanish in a lively intoxication, +and then, when all had become quieter and they looked nearer about them, +all looks and thoughts gathered themselves still about Eva with rapture; +her beauty seemed now in its full bloom, and a captivating life seemed +to prevail in her looks, in her behaviour, in her every motion, which +hitherto had not been seen. Her dress of the most modern fashion, a +certain development and style about her, a bewitching case of manner, +all evinced the elegant circles of the capital, and exerted their magic +over her friends, and charmed them all, but especially Gabriele, who +followed her beautiful sister with beaming looks. + +Bergstroem gave way to his feelings in the kitchen, and exclaimed, +"Mamselle Eva is quite divine!" Never had the blond Ulla so entirely +agreed with him before. + +Leonore was the only one who regarded Eva with a tender yet at the same +time troubled eye. She saw a something worldly in Eva's exterior and +demeanour, which was a presage to her that a great and not happy change +had taken place in her beloved sister. Nor was it long before Leonore's +foreboding proved itself to be right. Eva had not been many hours in the +house before it was plainly visible that domestic affairs had but little +interest for her, and that parents and family and friends were not to +her all that they had been before. + +Eva's soul was entirely occupied by one object, which laid claim to all +her thoughts and feelings, and this was Major R----. His handsome +person, his brilliant talents; his amiability, his love; the parties in +which she had met him, the balls in which she had danced with him; the +occasions on which they had played parts together--in short, all the +romantic unfoldings of their connexion, were the pictures which now +alone lived in her heart, and danced around her fancy, now heated by +worldly happiness. + +The grave expression of her father's countenance, as he heard her first +mention the Major, prevented her during this first evening from +repeating his name. + +But when afterwards she was alone with her sisters, when the sweet hour +of talk came, which between dear friends, on such occasions, generally +extends itself from night till morning, Eva gave free course to all with +which her soul was filled, and related to her sisters at large her +romance of the last year, in which several rival lovers figured, but of +which Major R---- was the hero. Nor was it without self-satisfaction +that Eva represented herself as the worshipped and conquering heroine +amid a crowd of rival ladies. Her soul was so occupied by all these +circumstances, her mind was so excited, that she did not observe the +embarrassment of her sisters during her relation; she saw neither their +disquiet, their constrained smiles, nor their occasionally depressed +looks. + +Nor was it till when, with eyes beaming with joy, she confided to them +that Major R---- would soon come to the city, where he had relatives; +that he would spend the Christmas with them, and then ask her hand from +her parents, that the veil fell from her eyes. Louise expressed herself +strongly against Major R----, wondered at her sister, and lamented that +she could endure such a man; it was not, she said, what she had expected +from her. Eva, very much wounded, defended the Major with warmth, and +talked of intolerance and prejudice. In consequence of this, Louise's +indignation was increased; Gabriele began to weep, and Louise bore her +company; she seemed to look upon Eva as on one lost. Leonore was calmer; +she spoke not one word which could wound her sister, but sighed deeply, +and looked with quiet grief upon the beloved but misguided sister; and +then seeing what a tragical turn the conversation was taking, said, with +all that expression of calm sincerity so peculiarly her own: + +"Do not let us this evening speak further on this subject; do not let us +disturb our joy. We have now Eva with us at home, and shall have time +enough to talk and to think--and then all will be cleared up. Is it not +quite for the best that we sleep on this affair? Eva must be weary after +her journey, and our 'blue-eyed one' must not weep on this first +evening." + +Leonore's advice was taken, and with a mutual "forgive," Louise, Eva, +and Gabriele embraced and separated for the night. Leonore was happy to +be alone with Eva, and listened undisturbedly through the whole night to +her relations. The good Leonore! + +Major Victor R. was universally known as one of those who make sport +with female hearts, and Judge Frank regarded sport of this kind with a +severity very uncommon among his sex, especially where, as was the case +in this instance, selfishness, and not thoughtlessness, led to it. The +Major, ten years before this time, had married a young and rich girl +connected with the Judge's family; and the only fault of the young wife, +then sixteen, had been that of loving her husband too tenderly--nay, +even in adoring one who repaid her love with relentless severity and +faithlessness, under which the poor Amelia drooped, and, in the second +year of her marriage, died; but not without having bequeathed to the +unworthy husband all the property over which she had any control. + +These were the very means by which R. now was enabled to pursue his +brilliant and reckless career. He always made his court to one of the +beauties of the day. He had been several times betrothed, but had broken +off the affair again without the smallest regard to the reputation or to +the feelings of the girl, upon whom by this means he had cast a +stain--nay, indeed, he secretly regarded it as an honour to himself to +make such victims, and to cause hearts to bleed for him--that cooled the +burning thirst of his self-love. + +The world did justice to his agreeable and splendid talents; but the +noble of his own sex, as well as of the other, esteemed him but very +lightly, inasmuch as they considered him a person without true worth. +The thoughts of a union between this man and his beloved daughter +occasioned a storm in the bosom of the Judge. + +Such was the information regarding the man whom she loved that met Eva +on her return home. Everybody was unanimously against him. What Eva +spoke in his excuse produced no effect; what she said of his true and +deep devotion to her, evidently nobody credited; and over her own love, +which had made the world so beautiful, which had produced the most +delicious feelings in her breast, and had opened to her a heaven of +happiness, people mourned and wept, and regarded it as a misfortune, +nay, even as a degradation. Wounded to the inmost of her soul, Eva drew +herself back, as it were, from her own family, and accused them to +herself of selfishness and unreasonableness. Louise, perhaps, deserved +somewhat of this reproach; but Leonore was pure, pure as the angels of +heaven; still Leonore mourned over Eva's love, and on that account Eva +closed her heart against her also. + +The variance, which in consequence of all this existed between Eva and +her family, became only yet greater when Major R. arrived, shortly after +her, at the city. He was a tall handsome man, of perhaps +five-and-thirty; of a haughty, but somewhat trifling exterior; his +countenance was gay and blooming, and his look clear and bold. Great +practice in the world, and an inimitable ease and confidence, gave to +his demeanour and conversation that irresistible power which these +qualities exercise so greatly in society. + +On his visit to the Franks, the Judge and he exchanged some glances, in +which both read that neither could endure the other. The Major, however, +let nothing of all this be seen; was perfectly candid and gay; and while +he directed his conversation especially to Elise, spoke scarcely one +word to Eva, though he looked much at her. After the first stiff +salutation, the Judge went again into his study, for the very appearance +of this man was painful to him. Leonore was polite, nay, almost friendly +to him, for she would willingly have loved one whom Eva loved. Assessor +Munter was present during this visit; but when he had seen, for a few +minutes, the glances which the Major cast upon Eva, and their magic +influence over her, and had observed and had read her whole heart in a +timid glance which she raised to her beloved, he withdrew silently and +hastily. + +The Major came but seldom to the house, for the eye of the Judge +appeared to have the power of keeping him at a distance; on the +contrary, he managed it so that he saw Eva almost daily out of the +house. He met her when she went out, and accompanied her home from +church. Invitations came; sledging-parties and balls were arranged; and +Eva, who formerly was so well pleased with home, who had often given up +the pleasures of the world for the domestic evening circle, Eva appeared +to find nothing now pleasing at home; appeared only to be able to live +in those circles and those pleasures in which Major R. shone, and where +she could see herself distinguished by him. Precisely, therefore, on +account of these rencontres of the two, the family went as little as +possible into society. Still, notwithstanding all this, Eva's wishes +upon the whole were favoured. Leonore accompanied her faithfully +wherever she wished. The Judge was gloomy and disturbed in temper; the +mother was mild and accommodating; and as to Eva, she was in a high +degree sensitive; whilst whatever concerned her love, or seemed to +oppose her wishes in the slightest degree, brought her to tears and +hysterical sobs, and her friends became ever more and more aware how +violent and exclusive her love was to Major R. The mere glimpse of him, +the sound of his steps, the tone of his voice, shook her whole frame. +All earlier affectionate relationships had lost their power over her +heart. + +It not unfrequently happens that people, whether it arises from physical +or moral causes, become wonderfully unlike themselves. Irritability, +violence, indiscretion, and unkindness, suddenly reveal themselves in a +hitherto gentle and amiable character, and, as if by a magic stroke, a +beautiful form has been transformed into a witch. It requires a great +deal, under such circumstances, to keep friends warm and unchanged. A +great demand of goodness, a great demand of clearness of vision, is made +from any one when, under these circumstances, he is required to remain +true in the same love, to persevere in the same faith, to wait patiently +for the time when the magic shall lose its power, when the changed one +shall come back again; and yet he, all the time, be able only to present +himself by quiet prayers, mild looks, and affectionate care! Probably +otherwise he never might have come back again. I say _great purity of +vision_, because the true friend never loses sight of the heavenly image +of his friend; but sees it through every veil of casualty, even when it +is concealed from all, nay, even from the faulty one's self! He has +faith in it; he loves it; he lives for it, and says, "Wait! have +patience! it will go over, and then he (or she) comes back again!" And +whoever has such a friend, comes back indeed! + +So stood the quiet, affectionate Leonore on the side of her altered +sister. + +All this time Henrik was beneficial to his whole family, and appeared to +have regained all his former amiable animation, in order therewith to +eradicate every disturbing sensation from the bosom of home. He +accompanied his family, more than he had ever done before, into society, +and had always a watchful eye on his sister and the Major. + +Before long the Major declared himself, and asked for Eva's hand. Her +parents had prepared themselves for this event, and had decided on their +line of conduct. They intended not to make their child unhappy by a +decided negative to the wishes of her heart; but they had determined to +demand a year of trial both from her and her lover, during which time +they should have no intercourse with each other, should exchange no +letters, and should consider themselves as free from every mutual +obligation; and that then again after this interval of time, if they +two, the Major and Eva, still wished it, the question of their union +might again he brought forward. This middle path had been proposed by +Elise, who, through a progressively inward, and more perfect fulfilment +of duties, had acquired an ever-increasing power over her husband, and +thus induced him to accede to it, at the same time that she endeavoured +to infuse into him the hope which she herself cherished, namely, either +that Eva, during the time of probation, would discover the unworthiness +of the Major, and won over by the wishes and the tenderness of her +family, would conquer her love, or, on the other hand, that the Major, +ennobled by love and constant to her, would become worthy of her. It was +one of the most favourite and cherished axioms of the Judge, that every +man had the power of improving himself, and he willingly conceded that +for this end there existed no more powerful means than a virtuous love. + +The Judge now talked energetically yet tenderly with his daughter; +explained clearly to her the terms of this connexion, without concealing +from her how bitter to him had been, and still was, the thought of this +union, and appealed to her own sense and reason whether too much had +been required in this prescribed time of trial. + +Eva shed many tears; but deeply affected by the goodness of her parents, +consented to their wishes, and promised, though not without pain, to +fulfil them. The Judge wrote to the Major, who had made his declaration +by letter, a candid and noble, but by no means sugared, answer; wherein +he required from him, as a man of honour, that he should by no means +whatever induce Eva to swerve from the promises which she had made to +her parents, and by this means disturb her hitherto so happy connexion +with her own family. This letter, which the father allowed his daughter +to read, and which occasioned her fresh tears, whilst she in vain +endeavoured to persuade him to remove expressions which she considered +too severe, but which he, on the contrary, considered too mild, was +despatched the same day, and all was again quieter. + +Probably Eva would strictly have adhered to the wishes of her parents, +which they endeavoured to make pleasant to her by much kindness, had not +a letter from the Major been conveyed to her on the next evening, which +quite excited and unhinged her again. He complained violently therein of +her father's unreasonableness, injustice, and tyranny; and spoke, in the +most passionate terms, of his love, of his unbounded sufferings, and of +his despair. The consequence of this letter was that Eva was ill--but +more so, however, in mind than body, and that she demanded to have an +interview with Assessor Munter. + +The friend and physician of the house came immediately to her. + +"Do you love me?" was Eva's first question when they were alone. + +"Do I love you, Eva?" answered he, and looked at her with an expression +of eye which must have moved any heart to tenderness that had been +otherwise occupied than hers was. + +"If you love me, if you desire that I should not be really ill," +continued Eva, speaking with quickness and great warmth, "you must +convey this letter to Major R----, and bring his answer back into my +hands. My father is set against him, everybody is set against him; +nobody knows him as well as I do! I am in a state of mind which will +drive me to despair, if you have not compassion on me! But you must be +my friend in secret.--You will not? If you love me you must take this +letter and----" + +"Desire all things from me, Eva," interrupted he, "but not this! and +precisely because you are so dear to me. This man in fact is not worthy +of you; he does not deserve----" + +"Not a word about him!" interrupted Eva, with warmth: "I know him better +than you all--_I_ alone know him; but you all are his enemies, and +enemies to my happiness. Once again I pray you--pray you with tears! Is +it then so much that I desire from you? My benefactor, my friend, will +you not grant this prayer of your Eva?" + +"Let me speak with your father," said he. + +"On this subject? No, no! impossible!" exclaimed she. + +"Then, Eva, I must refuse your prayer. It gives me more pain than I can +express to refuse you anything in this world; but I will not stain my +hand in this affair. I will not be a means of your unhappiness. +Farewell!" + +"Stop, stop," cried Eva, "and hear me! What is it that you fear for me?" + +"Everything from a man of R----'s character." + +"You mistake him, and you mistake me," returned she. + +"I know him, and I know you," said he, "and on that account I would +rather go into fire than convey letters between him and you. This is my +last word." + +"You will not!" exclaimed she; "then you love me not, and I have not a +friend in this world!" + +"Eva, Eva, do not say so! you sin against yourself. You know not--ask +everything from me--ask my life--ah, through you, life has already lost +its worth for me!--ask----" + +"Empty words!" interrupted Eva, and turned impatiently away. "I desire +nothing more from you, Assessor Munter! Pardon me that I have given you +so much trouble!" + +Munter looked at her for some moments in silence, laid his hand hastily +on his heart as if he had a violent pain there, and went out more bowed +than commonly. + +Not long after this, an unexpected ray of light gladdened the painful +condition of affairs between Eva and her family. She was calmer. The +Major removed from the city into the country, to pass the Christmas with +a relation of his there; and on the same day Eva came down into the +library at the customary hour of tea, after she had passed several days +in her own room. Every one received her with joy. Her father went +towards her with open arms, called her sweet names, placed her on the +sofa by her mother, and took her tea to her himself: a lover could not +have been more tender or more attentive to her. One might see that Eva +was not indifferent to these marks of affection, and that yet she did +not receive them altogether with joy. A burning red alternated with +paleness on her cheek, and at times it seemed that a tear, a repentant +tear, filled her eyes. + +From this time, however, the old state of feeling, and the old quiet, +returned in part to the bosom of the family. Nobody named the Major; and +as, when spring-time comes, the grass grows and the leaves burst forth, +although the heaven is yet dark, and many a northern blast yet lingers +in the air, so did affectionate feelings and joyful hours spring up +again in the family of the Franks, from the spontaneous vernal spirit +which reigned there. + +You might have seen the mother there, like the heart of the family, +taking part in all that went forward, making every one so cheerful and +comfortable, as she moved about here and there, so rich in grace and joy +and consolation! Wherever she came, there came with her a something +pleasant or animating, either in word or deed; and yet all this time she +was very far from being herself calm. Care for her daughter was +accompanied by anxiety on account of Henrik's prospects and happiness. +She understood, better than any one else, his feelings, his wishes, and +his thoughts; and on this account glances of friendly understanding were +often exchanged between them, and from this cause also was it that on +those days on which the post came in from Stockholm, she became paler +and paler the nearer post-time came--for it perhaps might bring with it +important news for Henrik. + +"My dear Elise," said the Judge, jesting affectionately, "to what +purpose is all this unquiet, this incomprehensible anxiety? I grant that +it would be a happiness to us all, and a piece of good luck, if Henrik +could obtain the solicited situation--but if he do not get it--well, +what then?--he can get another in a little while. He is yet a mere +youngster, and can very well wait for some years. And his poem--suppose +it should now and never more be regarded as a masterpiece, and should +not obtain the prize--now, in heaven's name! what does it matter? He +would perhaps, from the very circumstance of his having less fortune as +a poet, be only the more practical man, and I confess that would not +mortify me. And I shall wish both the poem and the appointment at the +place where pepper grows if you are to become pale and nervous on its +account! Promise me now next post-day to be reasonable, and not to look +like the waning moon, else I promise you that I shall be downright +angry, and will keep the whole post-bag to myself!" + +To his children the father spoke thus: "Have you really neither genius +nor spirit of invention enough to divert and occupy your mother on the +unfortunate post-day? Henrik, it depends upon you whether she be calm or +not; and if you do not convince her that, let your luck in the world be +whatever it may, you can bear it like a man, I must tell you that you +have not deserved all the tenderness which she has shown you!" + +Henrik coloured deeply, and the Judge continued: "And you, Gabriele! I +shall never call you my clever girl again, if you do not make a riddle +against the next post-day which shall so occupy your mother that she +shall forget all the rest!" + +The following post-day was an exceedingly merry one. Never before had +more interesting topics of conversation been brought forward by Henrik; +never before had the mother been so completely seduced into the +discussions of the young people. At the very moment when the post-hour +arrived she was deeply busied in solving a riddle, which Henrik and +Gabriele endeavoured to make only the more intricate by their fun and +jokes, whilst they were pretending to assist her in the discovery. + +The riddle ran as follows: + + Raging war and tumult + Am I never nigh; + And from rain and tempest + To far woods I fly. + In cold, worldly bosoms + My deep grave is made; + And from conflagration + Death has me affrayed. + No one e'er can find me + In the dungeon glooms; + I have no abiding, + Save where freedom blooms. + My morning sun ariseth, + Light o'er mind to fling; + O'er love's throbbing bosom + Rests my downy wing! + Like our Lord in heaven, + I am ever there + And like him of children + Have I daily care. + What though I may sever + From thee now and then, + I forget thee never---- + I come back again! + In the morning's brightness, + Dear one, if thou miss me, + With the sunset's crimson + Come I back and kiss thee! + +This riddle, which it must be confessed was by no means one of +Gabriele's best, gave rise to a fund of amusement, and occasioned the +maddest propositions on Henrik's part. The mother, however, did not +allow herself to be misled; but exclaimed, whilst she laughingly +endeavoured to overpower the voices of her joking children, + +"The riddle is----" + +What the riddle was, the reader may see by the title of our next +chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HAPPINESS. + + +"Happiness!" repeated the Judge, as he entered the room at the same +moment, with letters and newspapers in his hand. + +"I fancy you have been busying yourselves here with prophesyings," said +he: "Gabriele, my child, you shall have your reward for it--read this +aloud to your mother!" laying a newspaper before her. + +Gabriele began to read--but threw the paper hastily down, gave a spring +for joy, clapped her hands, and exclaimed, + +"Henrik's poetry has won the highest prize!" + +"And here, Henrik," said the father, "are letters--you are nominated +to----" The voice of the Judge was drowned in the general outbreak of +joy. Henrik lay in the arms of his mother, surrounded by his sisters, +who, amid all their jubilation, had tearful eyes. + +The Judge walked up and down the room with long strides; at length he +paused before the happy group, and exclaimed, + +"Nay, only see! let me also have a little bit! Elise--my thanks to thee +that thou hast given him to me--and thou boy, come here--I must tell +thee----" but not one word could he tell him. + +The father, speechless from inward emotion, embraced his son, and +returned in the same manner the affectionate demonstrations of his +daughters. + +Many private letters from Stockholm contained flattering words and +joyful congratulations to the young poet. All Henrik's friends seemed to +accord in one song of triumph. + +There was almost too much happiness for one time. + +During the first moments of this news the joy was calm and mingled with +emotion; afterwards, however, it was lively, and shot forth like rockets +in a thousand directions. Every thing was in motion to celebrate the day +and its hero; and while the father of the family set about to mix a +bowl--for he would that the whole house should drink Henrik's +health--the others laid plans for a journey to Stockholm. The whole +family must be witnesses of Henrik's receiving the great gold +medal--they must be present on the day of his triumph. Eva recovered +almost her entire liveliness as she described a similar festival which +she had witnessed in the Swedish Academy. + +Henrik talked a deal about Stockholm; he longed to be able to show his +mother and sisters the beautiful capital. How they would be delighted +with the gallery of mineralogy--how they would be charmed with the +theatres! how they would see and hear the lovely Demoiselle Hoegquist and +the captivating Jenny Lind![17]--and then the castle!--the +promenades--the prospects--the churches--the beautiful statues in the +public places--Henrik would have been almost ready to have overthrown +some of them. Oh, there was so much that was beautiful and delightful to +see in Stockholm! + +The mother smiled in joy over----the occasion of the journey to +Stockholm; the father said "yes" to that and every thing; the +countenances of the young people beamed forth happiness; the bowl was +fragrant with good luck. + +The young Baron L., who liked Henrik extremely, and who liked still more +every lively excitement to every uproar, was possessed by a regular +frenzy to celebrate the day. He waltzed with everybody; Louise might not +sit still; "the little lady" must allow herself to be twirled about; but +the truth was that in her joy she was about as wild for dancing as he +was himself--the very Judge himself must waltz with him; and at last he +waltzed with chairs and tables, whilst the fire of the punch was not +very much calculated to abate his vivacious spirits. + +It was very hard for the Judge that he was compelled on this very day to +leave home, but pressing business obliged him to do so. He must make a +journey that same evening, which would detain him from home for three or +four days, and although he left his family in the full bloom of their +joy and prosperity, the short separation appeared to him more painful +than common. + +After he had taken his leave he returned--a circumstance very unusual +with him--to the room again; embraced his wife yet a second time, +flourished about with his daughters in his wolf's-skin cloak as if out +of liveliness, and then went out hastily, giving to the young Baron, +who, in his wild joy, had fallen upon his wolf's-skin like a dog, a +tolerably heavy cuff. A few minutes afterwards, as he cast from his +sledge a glance and a hand-greeting to his wife and daughters at the +library window, they saw with astonishment that his eyes were full of +tears. + +But the joy of the present, and the promises of the future, filled the +hearts of those who remained behind to overflowing, and the evening +passed amid gaiety and pleasure. + +Baron L. drank punch with the domestics till both he and they were quite +wrong in the head, and all Louise's good moral preaching was like so +many water-drops on the fire. Henrik was nobly gay, and the beaming +expression of his animated, beautiful head, reminded the beholder of an +Apollo. + +"Where now are all your gloomy forebodings?" whispered Leonore, tenderly +joyful; "you look to me as if you could even embrace Stjernhoek." + +"The whole world!" returned Henrik, clasping his sister to his breast, +"I am so happy!" + +And yet there was one person in the house who was happier than Henrik, +and that was his mother. When she looked on the beautiful, glorified +countenance of her son, and thought of that which he was and on what he +would become; when she thought on the laurels which would engarland his +beloved head, on the future which awaited her favourite, her summer +child--Oh! then bloomed the high summer of maternal joy in her breast, +and she revelled in a nameless happiness--a happiness so great that she +was almost anxious, because it appeared to her too great to be borne on +earth! + +And yet for all that--and we say it with grateful joy--the earth can +bear a great degree of happiness; can bear it for long without its +either bringing with it a curse or a disappointment. It is in stillness +and in retirement where this good fortune blooms the best, and on that +account the world knows little of it, and has little faith in it. But, +thank God! it may be abundantly found in all times and in all countries; +and it is--we whisper this to the blessed ones in order that we may +rejoice with them--it is of extremely rare occurrence when it happens in +actual life, as, for the sake of effect, it happens in books, that a +strong current of happiness carries along with it unhappiness as in a +drag-rope. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] Emilie Hoegquist and Jenny Lind are two great ornaments of the +Stockholm theatre; the first an actress, the second a singer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +UNHAPPINESS. + + +Night succeeded the joyful evening, and the members of the Frank family +lay deep in the arms of sleep, when suddenly, at the hour of midnight, +they were awoke by the fearful cry of "Fire! fire!" + +The house was on fire, and smoke and flames met them at every turn; for +the conflagration spread with incredible speed. An inconceivable +confusion succeeded: one sought for another; one called on another; +mother and children, inmates and domestics! + +Only half-dressed, and without having saved the least thing, the +inhabitants of the house assembled themselves in the market-place, where +an innumerable crowd of people streamed together, and began to work the +fire-engines; whilst church bells tolled violently, and the alarm-drums +were beaten wildly and dully up and down the streets. Henrik dragged +with him the young Baron L----, who was speechless, and much injured by +the fire. + +The mother cast a wild searching look around among her children, and +suddenly exclaiming "Gabriele!" threw herself with a thrilling cry of +anguish into the burning house. A circle of people hastily surrounded +the daughters, in order to prevent their following her, and at the same +moment two men broke forth from them, and hastened with the speed of +lightning after her. The one was her beautiful, now more than ever +beautiful, son. The other resembled one of the Cyclops, as art has +represented them at work in their subterranean smithies, excepting that +he had two eyes, which in this moment flashed forth flames, as if +bidding defiance to those with which he was about to combat. Both +vanished amid the conflagration. + +A moment's silence ensued: the alarm-drum ceased to beat; the people +scarcely breathed; the daughters wrung their hands silently, and the +fire-bell called anxiously to the ineffectual engine-showers, for the +flames rose higher and higher. + +All at once a shout was sent from the mass of the people; all hearts +beat joyfully, for the mother was borne in the arms of her son from amid +the flames, which stretched forth their hissing tongues towards +her!--and--now another shout of exultation! The modern Cyclop, in one +word the Assessor, stood in a window of the second story, and, amid the +whirlwind of smoke, was seen a white form, which he pressed to his +bosom. A ladder was quickly raised, and Jeremias Munter, blackened and +singed, but nevertheless happy, laid the fainting but unhurt Gabriele in +the arms of her mother and sisters. + +After this, he and Henrik returned to the burning house, from which they +were fortunate enough to save the desk containing the Judge's most +valuable papers. A few trifles, but of no great importance, were also +saved. But this was all. The house was of wood, and spite of every +effort to save it, was burned, burned, burned to the ground, but, as it +stood detached, without communicating the fire to any other. + +When Henrik, enfeebled with his exertions, returned to his family, he +found them all quartered in the small dwelling of the Assessor, which +also lay in the market-place; while Jeremias seemed suddenly to have +multiplied himself into ten persons, in order to provide his guests with +whatever they required. His old housekeeper, what with the fire, and +what with so many guests who were to be provided for in that +simply-supplied establishment, was almost crazed. But he had help at +hand for everybody: he prepared coffee, he made beds, and seemed +altogether to forget his own somewhat severe personal injuries by the +fire. He joked about himself and his affairs at the same time that he +wiped tears from his eyes, which he could not but shed over the +misfortunes of his friends. Affectionate and determined, he provided for +everything and for every one; whilst Louise and Leonore assisted him +with quiet resolution. + +"Wilt thou be reasonable, coffee-pot, and not boil over like a +simpleton, since thou hast to provide coffee for ladies!" said the +Assessor in jesting anger. "Here, Miss Leonore, are drops for the mother +and Eva. Sister Louise, be so good as to take my whole storeroom in +hand; and you, young sir," said he to Henrik, as he seized him suddenly +by the arm, and gazed sharply into his face, "come you with me, for I +must take you rather particularly in hand." + +There was indeed not a moment to lose; a violent effusion of blood from +the chest, placed the young man's life in momentary danger. Munter tore +off his coat, and opened a vein at the very moment in which he lost all +consciousness. + +"What a silly fellow!" said the Assessor, as Henrik breathed again, "how +can anybody be so silly when he is such--a clever fellow! Nay, now all +danger for the time is over. Death has been playing his jokes with us +to-night! Now, like polite knights, let us be again in attendance on the +ladies. Wait, I must just have a little water for my face, that I need +not look, any more than is necessary, like 'the Knight of the Rueful +Countenance!'" + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE CONSEQUENCES. + + +The sun of the next morning shone brightly on the glistening +snow-covered roofs round the market-place, and dyed the smoke-clouds, +which rose slowly from the ruins of the burnt-down house, with the most +gorgeous tints of purple, gold, and sulphur-blue, whilst hundreds of +little sparrows raked and picked about in the ashy flakes which were +scattered over the snow in the market-place and churchyard, with +exulting twitterings. + +Mother and daughters looked with tearful eyes towards the smoking place +where had so lately stood their dearly beloved home; but yet no one gave +themselves up to sorrow. Eva alone wept much, but that from a cause of +grief concealed in her own heart. She knew that Major R. had passed the +night in the city, and yet for all that--she had not seen him! + +With the morning came much bustle, and a crowd of people into the +dwelling of the Assessor. Families came who offered to the roofless +household both shelter and entertainment; young girls came with their +clothes; servants came with theirs for the servants of the family; +elegant services and furniture were sent in; the baker left great +baskets full of bread; the brewer, beer; another sent wine, and so on. +It was a scene in social life of the most beautiful description, and +which showed how greatly esteemed and beloved the Franks were. + +Mrs. Gunilla came so good and zealous, ready to contend with anybody who +would contend with her, to convey her old friends in her carriage to the +dwelling which she had prepared for them in all haste. The Assessor did +not strive with her now, but saw in silence his guests depart, and with +a tear in his eye looked after the carriage which conveyed Eva away from +his house. It seemed now so dark and desolate to him. + +On the evening of this same day the father returned into his family +circle, and pressed them all to his breast with tears of joy. Yes, with +tears of joy, for all were left to him! + +A few days after this, he wrote thus to one of his friends: + +"Till now, till after this unfortunate occurrence, I knew not how much I +possessed in my wife and children; knew not that I had so many good +friends and neighbours. I thank God, who has given me such a wife, such +children, and such friends! These last have supplied, nay, over-supplied +all the necessities of my family. I shall begin in spring to rebuild my +house on the old foundation. + +"How the fire was occasioned I know not, and do not trouble myself to +discover. The misfortune has happened, and may serve as a warning for +the future, and that is enough. My house has not become impoverished in +love, even though it may be so in worldly goods, and that sustains and +heals all. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be +the name of the Lord!" + +Probably the Judge would listen to no conjectures respecting the origin +of the fire. We will venture, however, not the less on that account to +give our conjectures;--thus, it is very probable that the fire had its +origin in the chamber of the young Baron L., and that also he, in his +scarcely half sober state, might have been the occasion of it. Probably +he himself regarded the affair in this light; but this however is +certain, that this event, in connexion with the behaviour of the Franks +towards him, occasioned a great change in the temper and character of +this young man. His father came for him shortly after this, and took him +to consult a celebrated oculist in Copenhagen, in consequence of his +eyes having suffered severely in the fire. + +Our eyes will see him again, only at a much later period of our history. + +The daughters of the house busied themselves earnestly with the +already-spoken-of plans for discovering a means of independent +subsistence for themselves, that they might lighten the anxieties of +their parents in their present adverse circumstances, and that without +being burdensome to anybody else. Eva wished at first to accept an +invitation to a country-seat in the neighbourhood, not far from that +where Major R. was at present. Axelholm opened itself, heart, arms, +main-building and wings, for the members of the Frank family. There were +wanting no opportunities for colonisation; but the Judge besought his +children so earnestly to decline all these, and for the present to +remain altogether. + +"In a few months," said he, "perhaps in spring, you can do what you +like; but now--let us remain together. It is needful to me to have you +now all around me, in order to feel that I really possess you all. I +cannot bear the thoughts of losing any one of you at present." + +The thought of parting appeared likewise soon to weigh heavily upon him. +Henrik, since the night of the conflagration, had scarcely had a moment +free from suffering; a violent, incessant beating of the heart had +remained since then, and the pain of this was accompanied by dangerous +attacks of spasms, which, notwithstanding all remedies, appeared rather +to increase than otherwise. This disturbed the Judge so much the more, +as now, more than ever, he loved and valued his son. Since the night of +the fire it might be said that, for the first time, affection was warm +between father and son. + +The Mahomedan says beautifully, that when the angel of death approaches +man, the shadow of his wings falls upon him from a distance. From the +beginning of his illness Henrik's soul appeared to be darkened by +unfriendly shadows, and the first serious outbreak of disease revealed +itself in depression and gloom. Oh! it was not easy for the young man, +richly gifted as he was with whatever could beautify life on earth, +standing as he did at the commencement of a path where fresh laurels and +the roses of love beckoned to him, it was not easy to turn his glance +from a future like this, to listen to the words which night and day his +beating heart whispered to him--"Thou wilt descend to thy grave! nor +will I cease knocking till the door of the tomb opens to thee!" + +But to a mind like Henrik's the step from darkness to light was not +wide. There was that something in his soul which enables man to say to +the Lord of life and death-- + + The dreaded judgment-doom in thine own hand is writ,-- + We kiss it; bow our heads, and silently submit. + +Henrik had one day a long conversation with his skilful and anxious +physician Munter, who when he left him had tears in his eyes; but over +Henrik's countenance, on the contrary, when he returned to his family, +although he was paler than usual, was a peculiarly mild and solemn +repose, which seemed to diffuse itself through his whole being. From +this moment his temper of mind was changed. He was now mild and calm, +yet at the same time more joyous and amiable than ever. His eyes had an +indescribable clearness and beauty; the shadow had passed away from his +soul altogether. + +But deeper and deeper lay the shadow over one person, who from the +beginning of Henrik's illness was no longer like herself--and that was +Henrik's mother. It is true that she worked and spoke as formerly, but a +gnawing anguish lived in her; she appeared absent from the passing +business of life; and every occupation which had not reference, in some +way or other, to her son, was indifferent or painful to her. The +daughters kept carefully from her any thing which might be disturbing to +her. She devoted herself almost exclusively to her son; and many hours +full of rich enjoyment were spent by these two, who soon, perhaps--must +separate for so long! + +Every strong mental excitement was interdicted to Henrik; his very +illness would not admit of it. He must renounce his beloved studies: but +his living spirit, which could not sleep, refreshed itself at the +youthful fountains of art. He occupied himself much with the works of a +poet who, during his short life, had suffered much and sung much also, +and from amid whose crown of thorns the loveliest "Lilies of Sharon" had +blossomed. The works of Stagnelius[18] were his favourite reading. He +himself composed many songs, and his mother sang them to him during the +long winter evenings. According to his opinion, his mother sang better +than his sisters; and he rejoiced himself in the pure strength which +triumphantly exalted him in this poet above the anguish and fever of +life. + +It was observed that about this time he often turned the conversation, +in the presence of his mother, to the brighter side of death. It seemed +as if he wished to prepare her gradually for the possibly near +separation, and to deprive it beforehand of its bitterness. Elise had +formerly loved conversations of this kind; had loved whatever tended to +diffuse light over the darker scenes of life: but now she always grew +pale when the subject was introduced; uneasiness expressed itself in her +eyes, and she endeavoured, with a kind of terror, to put an end to it. + +One evening as the family, together with the Assessor, were assembled in +the confidential hour of twilight, they began to speak about dreams, and +about the nature of sleep. Henrik mentioned the ancient comparison of +sleep and death, which he said he considered less striking as regarded +its unconsciousness than in its resemblance in the awaking. + +"And in what do you especially consider this resemblance to consist?" +asked Leonore. + +"In the perfect retention and re-animation of consciousness, of memory, +of the whole condition of the soul," replied he, "which is experienced +in the morning after the dark night." + +"Good," said the Assessor, "and possible; but what can we _know_ about +it?" + +"All that revelation has made known to us," replied Henrik, with an +animated look: "do we really need any stronger light on this subject +than that afforded us by one of our own race, who was dead, and yet rose +again from the grave, and who exhibited himself after his sleep in the +dark dwelling with precisely the same dispositions, the same +friendships, and with the most perfect remembrance of the least as well +as the greatest events of his earthly existence? What a clear, what a +friendly light has not this circumstance diffused around the dark gates +of the tomb! It has united the two worlds! it has thrown a bridge over +the gloomy deep; it enables the drooping wanderer to approach it without +horror; it enables him to say to his friends on the evening of life, +'Good night!' with the same calmness with which he can speak those words +to them on the evening of the day." + +An arm was thrown convulsively round Henrik, and the voice of his mother +whispered, in a tone of despair, to him, "You must not leave us, Henrik! +you must not!" and with these words she sunk unconscious on his breast. + +From this evening Henrik never again introduced in the presence of his +mother a subject which was so painful to her. He sought rather to calm +and cheer her, and his sisters helped him truly in the same work. They +now had less desire than ever to leave home and to mingle in society +generally; yet notwithstanding they did so occasionally, because their +brother wished it, and it enabled them to have something to tell at +home, which could entertain and enliven both him and his mother. These +reports were generally made in Henrik's room, and how heartily did they +not laugh there! Ah! in a cordially united family, care can hardly take +firm footing there: if it come in for one moment, in the very next it +will be chased away! Eva appeared during this time to forget her own +trouble, that she also might be a flower in the garland of comfort and +tenderness which was bound around the favourite of the family; the Judge +too, tore himself more frequently than hitherto from his occupations, +and united himself to the family circle. + +A more attractive sick chamber than Henrik's can hardly be imagined. +That he himself felt. Enfeebled by the influence of disease, his +beautiful eyes often became filled with tears from slight causes, and he +would exclaim "I am happy--too happy! What a blessedness to be able to +live! That is happiness! that is the summer of the soul! Even now, amid +my sufferings, I feel myself made through you so rich, so happy!" and +then he would stretch forth his hand to those of his mother or his +sisters, and press them to his lips or his bosom. + +An interval of amendment occurred in Henrik's illness, and he suffered +much less. A sentiment of joy diffused itself through the house, and +Henrik himself appeared at times to entertain hopes of life. He could +now go out again and inhale the fresh winter air--his favourite air. The +Judge often accompanied him; it was then beautiful to see the powerful +vigorous father supporting with his arm the pale but handsome son, +whenever his steps became weary; to see him curbing his own peculiarly +hasty movements, and conducting him slowly homewards; it was beautiful +to see the expression in the countenance of each. + +People talk a great deal about the beauty of maternal love--paternal +love has perhaps something yet more beautiful and affecting in it; and +it is my opinion that he who has had the happiness of experiencing the +careful culture of a loving, yet at the same time upright father, can, +with fuller feeling and with more inward understanding than any other, +lift his heart to heaven in that universal prayer of the human race, +"Our Father which art in heaven!" + +Several weeks passed on. A lady, an intimate friend of the family, was +about this time undertaking a journey with her daughter to the city +where Petrea was visiting, and desired greatly to take Gabriele with +her, who was the dearest friend of the young Amalie. Gabriele would very +gladly have embraced this opportunity of visiting her beloved sister, +and of seeing at the same time something of the world, but now when +Henrik was ill, she could not think of it; she was quite resolved not to +separate herself from him. But Henrik was zealously bent upon Gabriele +making this journey, which would be so extremely agreeable to her. + +"Don't you see," said he, "that Gabriele sits here and makes herself +pale with looking at me? and that is so utterly unnecessary, especially +now I am so much better, and when I certainly in a little time shall be +quite well again. Journey, journey away, sweet Gabriele, I beseech you! +You shall cheer us in the mean time with your letters; and when at +Easter you return with Petrea, then--then you will no longer have an +ailing suffering brother; I will manage it so that I will be quite well +by that time!" + +She was talked to also on other sides, especially by the young, lively +Amalie, and at length Gabriele permitted herself to be persuaded. +Convinced that for the present all danger for her brother was over, she +commenced the journey with a jest on her lips, but with tears in her +eyes. + +It was the first flight of "our little lady" from home. + +Not a word was heard from Major R.; and although Eva continued reserved +towards her own family, she appeared to be so much calmer than formerly +that they all began to be easy on her account. The Judge, who, in +consequence of her behaviour evinced towards her a grateful tenderness, +endeavoured to gratify her slightest wishes, and gave his consent that +in the early commencement of spring she should go to M----s. He hoped +that by that time the Major would be far removed from the country; but +it was not long before a painful discovery was made. + + * * * * * + +On a dark evening at the beginning of March, two persons stood in deep +but low discourse under a tree in St. Mary's churchyard. + +"How childish you are, Eva!" said the one, "with your fears and your +doubts! and how pusillanimous is your love. If you would learn, lovely +angel! how true love speaks, listen to me:-- + + "Pourquoi fit on l'amour, si son pouvoir n'affronte, + Et la vie et la mort, et la haine et la honte! + Je ne demande, je ne veux pas savoir + Si rien a de ton coeur terni le pur miroir: + Je t'aime! tu le sais! Que l'importe tout le reste?" + +"Oh Victor," answered the trembling voice of Eva, "my fault is not the +having too little love for you. Ah, I feel indeed, and I evince it by my +conduct, that my love to you is greater than my love for father and +mother and sisters, more than for all the world! And yet I know that it +is wrong! my heart raises itself against me--but I cannot resist your +power." + +"On that account am I called Victor, my angel," said he; "heaven itself +has sanctioned my power. And _your_ Victor am I also, my sweet Eva; is +it not so?" + +"Ah! only too much so," sighed Eva. "But now, Victor, spare my weakness; +do not desire to see me again till I go in spring in a month's time to +M----s. Do not demand----" + +"Demand no such promises from Victor, Eva," said he; "he will not bind +himself so! but you--you must do what your Victor wills, else he cannot +believe that you love him. What--you will refuse to take a few steps in +order to gladden his eyes and his heart--in order to see and to hear +him--in truth you do not love him!" + +"Ah, I love you, I adore you," returned Eva; "I could endure anything on +your account--even the pangs of my own conscience; but my parents, my +brother and sisters! ah, you know not what it costs me to deceive them! +they are so good, so excellent; and I! Yet sometimes the love which I +have for them contends with the love which I have for you. Do not string +the bow too tightly, Victor! And now--farewell, beloved, farewell! In a +month's time you will see me, your Eva, again, in M----s." + +"Stop!" said he, "do you think you are to leave me in that way? Where is +my ring?" + +"On my heart," returned she, "day and night it rests there--farewell! +ah, let me go!" + +"Say once more that you love me above every thing in this world!" said +he, "that you belong only to me!" + +"Only to you! farewell!" and with these words Eva tore herself away from +him, and hastened with flying feet, like one terrified, across the +churchyard. The Major followed her slowly. A dark form stepped at that +moment hastily forward, as if it had arisen from one of the graves, and +met the Major face to face. It seemed to him as if a cold wind passed +through his heart, for the form tall and silent, and at that dark hour, +and in the churchyard, had something in it ominous and spectre-like, and +as it had evidently advanced to him with design, he paused suddenly, and +asked, sharply, "Who are you?" + +"Eva's father!" replied a suppressed but powerful voice, and by the +up-flaring light of a lamp which the wind drove towards them, the Major +saw the eyes of the Judge riveted upon him with a wrathful and +threatening expression. His heart sank for a moment; but in the next he +said, with all his accustomed haughty levity: + +"Now there is no necessity for me to watch longer after her;" and so +saying he turned hastily aside, and vanished in the darkness. + +The Judge followed his daughter without nearing her. When he came home, +such a deep and painful grief lay on his brow as had never been observed +there before. + +For the first time in his life the powerful head of the Judge seemed +actually bowed. + + * * * * * + +At this time Stjernhoek came to the city quite unexpectedly. He had heard +of the misfortune which had befallen the Franks, as well as of the part +which Henrik acted on this occasion, and of the illness which was the +consequence of it, and he came now in order to see him before he +travelled abroad. This visit, which had occasioned Stjernhoek to diverge +as much as sixty English miles out of his way, surprised and deeply +affected Henrik, who as he entered the room met him with the most candid +expression of cordial devotion. Stjernhoek seized his outstretched hand, +and a sudden paleness overspread his manly countenance as he remarked +the change which a few weeks' illness had made in Henrik's appearance. + +"It is very kind of you to come to me--my thanks for it, Stjernhoek!" +said Henrik from his heart; "otherwise," continued he, "you would +probably have seen me no more in this world; and I have wished so much +to say one word to you before we separated thus." + +Both were silent for some minutes. + +"What would you say to me, Henrik?" at length asked Stjernhoek, whilst an +extraordinary emotion was depicted in his countenance. + +"I would thank you," returned Henrik, cordially, "thank you for your +severity towards me, and tell you how sincerely I now acknowledge it to +have been just, and wholesome for me also. I would thank you, because by +that means you have been a more real friend, and I am now perfectly +convinced how honestly and well you have acted towards me. This +impression, this remembrance of our acquaintance, is the only one which +I will take away with me when I leave this world. You have not been able +to love me, but that was my own fault. I have sorrowed over the +knowledge of that, but now I have submitted to it. In the mean time it +would be very pleasant to me to know that my faults--that my late +behaviour towards you, had not left behind it too repulsive an +impression; it would be very pleasant for me to believe that you were +able to think kindly of me when I am no more!" + +A deep crimson flamed on Stjernhoek's countenance, and his eyes glistened +as he replied, "Henrik, I feel more than ever in this moment that I have +not shown justice towards you. Several later circumstances have opened +my eyes, and now--Henrik, can you give me your friendship! mine you have +for ever!" + +"Oh, this is a happy moment!" said Henrik, with increasing emotion; +"through my whole life I have longed for it, and now for the first time +it is given me--now when--but God be praised even for this!" + +"But why," said Stjernhoek, warmly, "why speak so positively about your +death? I will hope and believe that your condition is not so dangerous. +Let me consult a celebrated foreign physician on your case--or better +still, make the journey with me, and put yourself under the care of Dr. +K----. He is celebrated for his treatment of diseases of the heart; let +me conduct you to him; certainly you can and will recover!" + +Henrik shook his head mournfully. "There lies his work," said he, +pointing to an open book in the window, "and from it I know all +concerning my own condition. Do you see, Nils Gabriel," continued he, +with a beautiful smile, as he placed his arm on the shoulder of his +friend, and pointed with his other towards heaven, gazing on him the +while with eyes which seemed larger than ever--for towards death the +eyes increase in size and brilliancy--"do you see," said he, "there +wanders your star. It ascends! for certain a bright path lies before +you; but when it beams upon your renown it will look down upon my grave! +I have no doubt whatever on this point. Some time ago this thought was +bitter to me; it is so now no more! When the knowledge depresses me that +I have accomplished so very little on earth, I will endeavour to console +myself with the conviction that you will be able to do so much more, and +that either in this world or the next I shall rejoice over your +usefulness and your happiness!" + +Stjernhoek answered not a word; large tears rolled down his cheeks, and +he pressed Henrik warmly to his breast. + +On Henrik's account he endeavoured to give the conversation a calmer +turn, but the heart of his poor friend swelled high, and it was now too +full of life and feeling to find rest in anything but the communication +of these. + +The connexion between the two young men seemed now different to what it +had ever been before. It was Henrik who now led the conversation, and +Stjernhoek who followed him, and listened to him with attention and the +most unequivocal sympathy, whilst the young man gave such free scope to +his thoughts and presentiments as he had never ventured to do before in +the presence of the severe critic. But the truth is, there belongs to a +dweller on the borders of the kingdom of death a peculiar rank, a +peculiar dignity, and man believes that the whispering of spirits from +the mysterious land reaches the ear which bows itself to them; on this +account the wise and the strong of earth listen silently like disciples, +and piously like little children, to the precepts which are breathed +forth from dying lips. + +The entrance of the Judge gave another turn to the conversation, which +Stjernhoek soon led to Henrik's last works. He directed his discourse +principally to the Judge, and spoke of them with all the ability of a +real connoisseur, and with such entire and cordial praise as surprised +Henrik as much as it cheered him. + +It is a very great pleasure to hear oneself praised, and well praised +too, by a person whom one highly esteems, and particularly when, at the +same time, this person is commonly niggardly of his praise. Henrik +experienced at that moment this feeling in its highest degree; and this +pleasure was accompanied by the yet greater pleasure of seeing himself +understood, and in such a manner by Stjernhoek as made himself more clear +to himself. In this moment he seemed, now for the first time, to +comprehend in a perfectly intelligible manner his own talents, and what +he wished to do, and what he was able to do. The fountain of life +swelled forth strongly in his breast. + +"You make me well again, Nils Gabriel!" exclaimed he; "you give me new +life. I will recover; recover in order again to live, in order to work +better and more confidently than I have hitherto done. As yet I have +done nothing; but now, now I could--I feel new life in me--I have never +yet felt myself so well as now! Certainly I shall now recover, or +indeed--is the best wine reserved for me till the last?" + +The evening sped on agreeably, and with animation in the family circle. +The blessed angels of heaven were not more beautiful or more joyous than +Henrik. He joked with his mother and sisters, nay, even with Stjernhoek, +in the gayest manner, and was one of the liveliest who partook of the +citron-souffle which Louise served up for supper, and which she herself +had helped to prepare, and of which she was not a little proud. Yes, +indeed, she was almost ready to believe that it was this which had given +new life to Henrik, and the power of which she considered to be +wonderfully operative. But ah!---- + +At the very moment when Henrik jested with Louise on this very subject, +he was seized by the most violent suffering. + +This suffering continued interruptedly for three days, and deprived the +sick young man of consciousness; whilst it seemed to be leading him +quickly to that bound which mercy has set to human sufferings. On the +second day after this paroxysm Henrik was seized with that desire for +change of resting-place which may be commonly regarded as the sign that +the soul is preparing for its great change of abode. The Judge himself +bore his son in his arms from room to room, and from bed to bed. No +sleep visited the eyes of his family during these terrible days; whilst +his mother, with eyes tearless and full of anguish riveted upon her son, +followed him from room to room, and from bed to bed; now hanging over +his pillow, now seated at the foot of his bed, and smiling tenderly upon +him when he appeared to know her, and articulating his name in a low and +almost inaudible voice. + +On the evening of the third day the poor youth regained his +consciousness. He recognised his family again, and spoke kindly to them. +He saw that they were pale and weary, and besought them incessantly to +go to rest. The Assessor, who was present, united earnestly in this +request, and assured them that, according to all appearances, Henrik +would now enjoy an easy sleep, and that he himself would watch by him +through the night. The father and daughters retired to rest; but when +they endeavoured to persuade the mother, she only waved with her hand, +whilst a mournful smile seemed to say, "It is of no use whatever to talk +to me about it." + +"I may remain with you, Henrik?" said she, beseechingly. + +He smiled, took her hand, and laid it on his breast; and in the same +moment closing his eyes, a calm refreshing sleep stole over him. The +Assessor sate silently beside them, and observed them both: it was not +long, however, before he was obliged to leave them, being summoned +suddenly to some one who was dangerously ill. He left them with the +promise to return in the course of the night. Munter was called in the +city the night-physician, because there was no one like him who appeared +earnestly willing to give his help by night as by day. + +The mother breathed deeply when she saw herself alone with her son. She +folded her hands, and raised her eyes to heaven with an expression which +through the whole of the foregoing days had been foreign to them. It was +no longer restless, almost murmuring anxiety; it was a mournful, yet at +the same time, deep, perfect, nay, almost loving resignation. She bent +over her son, and spoke in a low voice out of the depths of her +affectionate heart. + +"Go, my sweet boy, go! I will no longer hold thee back, since it is +painful to thee! May the deliverer come! Thy mother will no longer +contend with him to retain thee! May he come as a friendly angel and +make an end of thy sufferings! I--will then be satisfied! Go then, my +first-born, my summer-child; go, and if there may never more come a +summer to the heart of thy mother--still go! that thou mayst have rest! +Did I make thy cradle sweet, my child! so would I not embitter by my +lamentations thy death-bed! Blessed be thou! Blessed be He also who gave +thee to me, and who now takes thee from me to a better home! Some time, +my son, I shall come home to thee; go thou beforehand, my child! Thou +art weary, so weary! Thy last wandering was heavy to thee; now thou wilt +rest. Come thou good deliverer, come thou beloved death, and give rest +to his heart; but easily, easily. Let him not suffer more--let him not +endure more. Never did he give care to his parents----" + +At this moment Henrik opened his eyes, and fixed them calmly and full of +expression on his mother. + +"Thank God!" said he, "I feel no more pain." + +"Thanks and praise be given to God, my child!" said she. + +Mother and son looked on each other with deep and cheerful love! they +understood each other perfectly. + +"When I am no more," said he, with a faint and broken voice, "then--tell +it to Gabriele, prudently; she has such tender feelings--and she is not +strong. Do not tell it to her on a day--when it is cold and +dull--but--on a day--when the sun shines warm--when all things look +bright and kindly--then, then tell her--that I am gone away--and greet +her--and tell her from me--that it is not difficult--to die!--that there +is a sun on the other side----" + +He ceased, but with a loving smile on his lips, and his eyes closed +their lids as if from very weariness. + +Presently afterwards he spoke again, but in a very low voice. "Sing me +something, mother," said he, "I shall then sleep more calmly, 'They +knock! I come!'" + +These words were the beginning of a song which Henrik had himself +written, and set to music some time before, during a night of suffering. + +The genius of poetry seemed to have deserted him during the latter part +of his illness; this was painful to him; but his mind remained the same, +and the spirit of poetry lived still in the hymn which his mother now, +at his request, sang in a trembling voice: + + They knock! I come! yet ere on the way + To the night of the grave I am pressing, + Thou Angel of Death, give me yet one lay-- + One hymn of thanksgiving and blessing. + + Have thanks, O Father! in heaven high, + For thy gift, all gifts exceeding; + For life! and that grieved or glad I could fly + To thee, nor find thee unheeding. + + Oh thanks for life, and thanks too for death, + The bound of all trouble and sighing; + How bitter! yet sweet 't is to yield our breath + When thine is the heart of the dying! + + By our path of trial thou plantest still + Thy lilies of consolation; + But the loveliest of all--to do thy will-- + Be it done in resignation! + + Farewell, lovely earth, on whose bosom I lay; + Farewell, all ye dear ones, mourning; + Farewell, and forgive all the faults of my day: + My heart now in death is burning! + +"It is burning!" repeated Henrik in a voice of suffering. "It is +terrible! Mother! Mother!" said he, looking for her with a restless +glance. + +"Your mother is here!" said she, bending over him. + +"Ah! then all is right!" said he again, calmly. "Sing, my mother," added +he, again closing his eyes--"I am weary." + +She sang-- + + We part! but in parting our steps we bend + Alone towards that glorious morrow, + Where friend no more shall part from friend, + Where none knoweth heart-ache or sorrow! + + Farewell! all is dark to my failing sight, + Your loved forms from my faint gaze rending, + 'T is dark, but oh!--far beyond the night + I see light o'er the darkness ascending! + +"Oh! if you only knew how serene it is! It is divine!" said the dying +one, as he stretched forth his arms, and then dropped them again. + +A change passed over the countenance of the young man; death had touched +his heart gently, and its pulsations ceased. At the same moment a +wonderful inspiration animated the mother; her eyes beamed brightly, and +never before had her voice had so beautiful, so clear a tone as whilst +she sang + + Thou callest, O Father! with glad accord + I come!--Ye dear ones we sever!-- + Now the pang is past!--now behold I the Lord-- + Praise be thine, O Eternal, for ever! + +Judge Frank was awoke out of his uneasy sleep by the song, whose tone +seemed to have a something supernatural in it. A few moments passed +before he could convince himself that the voice which he heard was +really that of his wife. + +He hastened with indescribable anxiety to the sick room; Elise yet sang +the last verse as he entered, and casting his eyes on her countenance, +he exclaimed "My God!" and clasped his hands together. + +The song ceased: a dreadful consciousness thrust itself like a sword +through the heart of the mother. She saw before her the corpse of her +son, and with a faint cry of horror she sank, as if lifeless, upon the +bed of death. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[18] Eric Stagnelius, who was born in 1793, and died in 1823, would have +been, it is probable, had a longer life been granted to him, one of the +most distinguished poets of the age. His poems, epic, dramatic, and +lyric, fill three volumes. "Liljor i Saron"--Lilies of Sharon, is the +general title of his lyrics. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ELISE TO CECILIA. + + + _Two months later._ + +"When I last wrote to you, my Cecilia, it was winter. Winter, severe icy +winter, had also gathered itself about my heart--my life's joy was +wrapped in his winding-sheet, and it seemed to me as if no more spring +could bloom, no more life could exist; and that I should never again +have the heart to write a cheerful or hopeful word. And now--now it is +spring! The lark sings again the ascension-song of the earth; the May +sun diffuses his warming beams through my chamber, and the grass becomes +already green upon the grave of my first-born, my favourite! And I----Oh +Lord! thou who smitest, thou also healest, and I will praise thee! for +every affliction which thou sendest becomes good if it be only received +with patience. And if thou concealest thyself for a season--as it +appears to our weak vision--thou revealest thyself yet soon again, +kinder and more glorious than before! For a little while and we see thee +not, and again for a little while and we see thee, and our hearts +rejoice and drink strength and enjoyment out of the cup which thou, +Almighty One! fillest eternally. Yes, every thing in life becomes good, +if that life be only spent in God! + +"But in those dark wintry hours it was often gloomy and tumultuous +within me. Ah, Cecilia, I would not that he should die! He was my only +son, my first-born child. I suffered most at his birth; I sang most +beside his cradle; my heart leapt up first and highest with maternal joy +at his childish play. He was my summer child, born in the midsummer of +nature and of my life and my strength, and then--he was so full of life, +so beautiful and good! No, I would not that he should die, or that my +beautiful son should be laid in the black earth! And as the time drew +nearer and nearer, and I saw that it must be--then it was dark in me. +But the last night--Oh, it was a most wonderful night!--then it was +otherwise. Do you know, Cecilia, that I sung gaily, triumphantly, by the +death-bed of my first-born! Now I cannot comprehend it. But this +night--he had during the foregoing day suffered much, and his +sufferings had reconciled me to his death. They abated as death +approached, and he besought of me, as he had often done in the years of +his childhood, to sing him to sleep. I sang--I was able to sing. He +received pleasure from the song, which increased in power, and with a +heavenly smile, whilst heavenly pictures seemed to float before his +eyes, he said, 'Ah, it is divine!' and I sang better and ever clearer. I +saw his eyes change themselves, his breath become suspended, and I knew +that then was the moment of separation between soul and body--between me +and him! but I did not then feel it, and I sang on. It seemed to me as +if the song sustained the spirit and raised it to heaven. In that moment +I was happy; for even I, as well as he, was exalted above every earthly +pain. + +"The exclamation of my name awoke me from my blessed dream, and I saw +the dead body of my son--after this I saw nothing more. + +"There was a long, deep stupor. When I recovered consciousness, I felt a +heart beating against my temples. I raised my eyes and saw my husband; +my head was resting on his breast, and with the tenderest words he was +calling me back to life. My daughters stood around me weeping, and +kissing my hands and my clothes. I also wept, and then I felt better. It +was then morning, and the dawn came into my chamber. I threw my arms +around my husband's neck, and said, 'Ernst, love me! I will +endeavour----' + +"I could say no more, but he understood me, thanked me warmly, and +pressed me close to his bosom. + +"I did endeavour to be calm, and with God's help I succeeded. For +several hours of the day I lay still on my bed. Eva, whose voice is +remarkably sweet, read aloud to me. I arose for tea, and endeavoured to +be as usual; my husband and my daughters supported me, and all was peace +and love. + +"But when the day was ended, and Ernst and I were alone in our chamber, +a fear of the night, of bed, and a sleepless pillow, seized hold of me; +I, therefore, seated myself on the sofa, and prayed Ernst to read to me, +for I longed for the consolations of the Gospel. He seated himself by me +and read; but the words, although spoken by his manly, firm voice, +passed at this time impressionless over my inward sense. I understood +nothing, and all within me was dark and vacant. All at once some one +knocked softly at the door, and Ernst, not a little astonished, said, +'Come in;' the door was opened, and Eva entered. She was very pale, and +appeared excited; but yet at the same time firm and determined. She +approached us softly, and sinking down on her knees between us, took our +hands between hers. I would have raised her, but Ernst held me back, and +said, mildly but gravely, 'Let her alone!' + +"'My father, my mother!' said Eva, with tremulous voice, 'I have given +you uneasiness--pardon me! I have grieved you--I will not do it again. +Ah! I will not now lay a stone on your burden. See, how disobedient I +have been--this ring, and these letters, I have received against your +will and against my promises from Major R. I will now send them back. +See here! read what I have written to him. Our acquaintance is for ever +broken! Pardon me, that I have chosen these hours to busy you with my +affairs, but I feared my own weakness when the force of this hour shall +have passed. Oh, my parents! I feel, I know, that he is not worthy to be +your son! But I have been as it were bewitched--I have loved him beyond +measure;--ah, I love him still--nay, do not weep, mother! You shall +never again shed a tear of grief over me--you have wept already enough +on my account. Since Henrik's death every thing in me is changed. Fear +nothing more for me; I will conquer this, and will become your obedient, +your happy child. Only require not from me that I should give my hand to +another--never will I marry, never belong to another! But for you, my +parents, will I live; I will love you, and with you be happy! Here, my +father, take this, and send it back to him whom I will no more see! +And--Oh, love me! Love me!' + +"Tears bedewed the face which she bowed down to her father's knee. Never +had she looked so lovely, so attractive! Ernst was greatly affected; he +laid his hand as if in blessing upon her head, which he raised, and +said: + +"'When you were born, Eva, you lay long as if dead; in my arms you first +opened your eyes to the light, and I thanked God. But I thank him +manifold more for you in this moment, in which I see in you the joy and +blessing of our age--in which you have been able to combat with your own +heart, and to do that which is right! God bless you! God reward you!' + +"He held her for a long time to his bosom, and his tears wetted her +forehead. I also clasped her in my arms, and let her feel my love and my +gratitude, and then, with a look which beamed through tears, she left +us. + +"We called her 'our blessed child' at that time, for she had blessed us +with a great consolation. She had raised again our sunken hearts. + +"Ernst went to the window and looked silently into the star-lighted +night; I followed him, and my glance accompanied his, which in this +moment was so beautiful and bright, and laying his arm around me he +spoke thus, as if to himself: + +"'It is good! It is so intended--and that is the essential thing! He is +gone! What more? We must all go; all, sooner or later. He might not +perfect his work; but he stood ready, ready in will and ability when he +was called to the higher work-place! Lord and Master, thou hast taken +the disciple to thyself. Well for him that he was ready! That is the +most important for us all!' + +"Ernst's words and state of mind produced great effect upon me. Peace +returned to my spirit. In the stillness of the night I did not sleep, +but I rested on his bosom. It was calm around me and in me. And in the +secret of my soul I wished that it might ever remain so, that no more +day might dawn upon me, and no more sun shine upon my weary, painful +eyes. + +"How the days creep on! On occasions of great grief it always appears as +if time stood still. All things appear to stand still, or slowly and +painfully to roll on, in dark circles; but it is not so! Hours and days +go on in an interminable chain; they rise and sink like the waves of the +sea; and carry along with them the vessel of our life: carry it from the +islands of joy it is true, but carry it also away from the rocky shores +of grief. Hours came for me in which no consolation would appease my +heart, in which I in vain combated with myself, and said--'Now I will +read, and then pray, and then sleep!' But yet anguish would not leave +me, but followed me still, when I read; prevented me from prayer, and +chased away sleep; yes, many such hours have been, but they too are +gone; some such may perhaps come yet, but I know also that they too will +go. The tenderness of my husband and of my children--the peace of +home--the many pleasures within it--the relief of tears--the eternal +consolation of the Eternal Word--all these have refreshed and +strengthened my soul. It is now much, much better. And then--he died +pure and spotless, the youth with the clear glance and the warm heart! +He stood, as his father said, ready to go into the higher world. Oh! +more than ever have I acknowledged, in the midst of my deep pain, that +there is pain more bitter than this; for many a living son is a greater +grief to his mother than mine--the good one there, under the green +mound! + +"We have planted fir-trees and poplars around the grave, and often will +it be decorated with fresh flowers. No dark grief abides by the grave of +the friendly youth.--Henrik's sisters mourn for him deep and +still--perhaps Gabriele mourns him most of all. One sees it not by day, +for she is generally gay as formerly; a little song, a gay jest, a +little adornment of the house, all goes on just as before to enliven the +spirits of her parents. But in the night, when all rest in their beds, +she is heard weeping, often so painfully--it is a dew of love on the +grave of her brother; but then every morning is the eye again bright and +smiling. + +"On the first tidings of our loss Jacobi hastened to us. He took from +Ernst and me, in this time of heavy grief, all care upon himself, and +was to us as the tenderest of sons. Alas! he was obliged very soon to +leave us, but the occasion for this was the most joyful. He is about to +be nominated to the living of T----; and his promotion, which puts him +in the condition soon to marry, affords him also a respectable income, +and a sphere of action agreeable to his wishes and accordant with his +abilities, and altogether makes him unspeakably happy. Louise also looks +forward towards this union and establishment for life with quiet +satisfaction, and that, I believe, as much on account of her family as +for herself. + +"The family affection appears, through the late misfortune, to have +received a new accession: my daughters are more amiable than ever in +their quiet care to sweeten the lives of their parents. Mrs. Gunilla has +been like a mother to me and mine during this time; and many dear +evidences of sympathy, from several of the best and noblest in Sweden, +have been given to Henrik's parents;--the young poet's pure glory has +brightened their house of mourning. 'It is beautiful to have died as he +has died,' says our good Assessor, who does not very readily find any +thing beautiful in this world. + +"And I, Cecilia, should I shut my heart against so many occasions for +joy and gratitude, and sit with my sorrow in darkness? Oh no! I will +gladden the human circle in which I live; I will open my heart to the +gospel of life and of nature; I will seize hold on the moments, and the +good which they bring. No friendly glance, no spring-breeze, shall pass +over me unenjoyed or unacknowledged; out of every flower will I suck a +drop of honey, and out of every passing hour a drop of eternal life. + +"And then--I know it truly--be my life's day longer or shorter, bear it +a joyful or a gloomy colour, + + The day will never endure so long + But at length the evening cometh. + +The evening in which I may go home--home to my son, my summer-child! And +then--Oh then shall I perhaps acknowledge the truth of that prophetic +word which has so often animated my soul: 'For behold I create new +heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered nor come +into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create.' + +"I have wept much whilst I have written this, but my heart has peace. It +is now late. I will creep in to my Ernst, and I feel that I shall sleep +calmly by his side. + +"Good-night, my Cecilia." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +NEW ADVERSITIES. + + +It was afternoon. The sisters were busily quilting Louise's bridal +bed-cover; because at the end of May, as was determined in the family +council, that she was to be married. The coverlet was of green silk, and +a broad wreath of leafy oak branches formed its border. This pattern had +occasioned a great deal of care and deliberation; but now, also, what +joy did it not give rise to, and what ever-enduring admiration of the +tasteful, the distinguished, the indescribably good effect which it +produced, especially when seen from one side! Gabriele, to be sure, +would have made sundry little objections relative to the connexion of +the leaves, but Louise would not allow that there was any weight in +them: "The border," said she, "is altogether charming!" + +Gabriele had placed a full-blown monthly rose in the light locks of the +bride, and had arranged with peculiar grace, around the plaited hair at +the back of her head, the green rose-leaves like a garland. The effect +was lovely, as at this time the sun-light fell upon her head, and her +countenance had more than ordinary charm; the cheeks a high colour; the +eyes a clearer blue, as they were often raised from the green +rose-wreath and directed towards the window. Jacobi, the new pastor, was +expected that evening. + +Gabriele went up to her mother, and besought her to notice how well +Louise looked, and the rose, how becoming it was to her! The mother +kissed her, but forgot to notice Louise in looking at the lovely face of +"the little lady." + +The industrious up-and-down picking of the needles accompanied the +joyful conversation of the sisters. + +Now they talked about the management of the living; now about the +school; now about milk, and now about cheese. They settled about +household matters; about mealtimes; the arrangement of the table, and +such like. In many things Louise intended to follow the example of home; +in others, she should do differently. "People must advance with the +age." She intended that there should be great hospitality in the +parsonage-house--that was Jacobi's pleasure. Some one of her own family +she hoped to have always with her;--an especial wing should be built for +beloved guests. She would go every Sunday to church, to hear her husband +preach or sing the service. If the old wives came to the parsonage with +eggs, or other little presents, they should always be well entertained, +and encouraged to come again. All sick people should be regaled with +Louise's elixir, and all misdoers should be more or less reproved by +her. She would encourage all, to the very best of her power, to read, to +be industrious, to go to church, and to plant trees. Every Sunday +several worthy peasants should be invited with their wives to dine at +the parsonage. If the ladies of the Captain and the Steward came to +visit her, the coffee-pot should be immediately set on, and the +card-table prepared. Every young peasant girl should live in service a +whole year at the parsonage before she was married, in order to learn +how to work, and how to behave herself.--N. B. This would be wages +enough for her. At all marriages the Pastor and his wife would always be +present, the same at christenings; they would extend their hand in +sponsorship over the youth, that all might grow up in good-breeding and +the fear of God. At Midsummer and in harvest-time there should be a +dance, and great merry-making at the parsonage for the people--but +without brandy;--for the rest, nothing should be wanting: + + None she forgets, the mistress of the feast, + The beer flows free, the bunch of keys it jingles, + And, without pause, goes on the stormy dance! + +Work should be found for all beggars at the parsonage, and then food; +for lazy vagabonds a passing lecture, and then--march! And thus, by +degrees, would preparation be made for the Golden Age. + +Ah! Ruin to the golden plans and to the golden age which they planned! +Two letters which were delivered to Louise put a sudden end to them all! +One of the letters was from Jacobi, was very short, and said only that +the parsonage was quite gone from him; but that Louise would not blame +him on that account, as soon as she understood the whole affair. + + "I long for you inexpressibly," continued Jacobi, "but I must + postpone my arrival in X. in order to pay my respects to his + Excellency O----, who is detained in P. from an attack of gout, + which seized him on his journey from Copenhagen to Stockholm. But + by the 6th of May I hope certainly to be with you. I have new + plans, and I long to lay down all my feelings and all my thoughts + on your true breast. My Louise! I will no longer wait and seek. + Since fortune perpetually runs out of my way, I will now take a + leap and catch it, and in so doing trust in heaven, in you, and + lastly also--in myself. But you must give me your hand. If you + will do that, beloved, I shall soon be much happier than now, and + eternally, + + "Your tenderly devoted, "J. Jacobi." + +The other letter was from an unknown hand--evidently a woman's hand, and +was as follows: + +"Do not hate me, although I have stood in the way of your happiness. Do +not hate me--for I bless you and the noble man with whom you have united +your fate. He is my benefactor, and the benefactor of my husband and my +children. Oh, these children whose future he has made sure, they will +now call on heaven to give a double measure of happiness to him and you +for that which he has so nobly renounced. The object of my writing is to +obtain your forgiveness, and to pour forth the feelings of a grateful +heart to those who can best reward my benefactor. Will you be pleased on +this account to listen to the short, but uninteresting relation of a +condition, which, at the same time, is as common as it is mournful? + +"Perhaps Mr. Jacobi may at some time or other have mentioned my husband +to you. He was for several years Jacobi's teacher, and each was much +attached to the other. My husband held the office of schoolmaster in W., +with honour, for twenty years. His small income, misfortunes which befel +us, a quick succession of children, made our condition more oppressive +from year to year, and increased the debt which from the very time when +we settled down first we were obliged to incur. My husband sought after +a pastoral cure, but he could have recourse to none of those arts which +are now so almost universally helpful, and which often conduct the +hunter after fortune, and the mean-spirited, rather than the deserving, +to the gaol of their wishes; he was too simple for that, too modest, and +perhaps also too proud. + +"During the long course of years he had seen his just hopes deceived, +and from year to year the condition of his family become more and more +melancholy. Sickness had diminished his ability to work, and the fear of +not being able to pay his debts gnawed into his health, which was not +strong, and the prospect--of his nine unprovided-for children! I know I +should deeply affect your heart, if I were to paint to you the picture +of this family contending with want; but my tears would blot my writing. +Jacobi can do it--he has seen it, he has understood it; for this picture +which I have so carefully concealed from every other eye--this pale, +family misery I revealed to him, for I was in despair! + +"The name of my husband stood on the list of candidates for the living +of T----. He had three-fold the legally-demanded requisites of Jacobi, +and was, over and above, known and beloved by the parish; all the +peasants capable of voting, openly declared their intention of choosing +him. Two great landed proprietors, however, had the ultimate decision: +Count D., and Mr. B. the proprietor of the mines, could, if they two +were agreed, they two alone, elect the pastor. They also acknowledged +the esteem in which they held my husband, and declared themselves +willing to unite in the general choice. + +"For the first time in many years did we venture to look up to a +brighter future. Presently, however, we learnt that a powerful patron of +Mr. Jacobi had turned the whole scale in his favour, and that it would +be soon decided; the two great proprietors had promised their votes to +him, and our condition was more hopeless than ever. + +"The day of nomination approached. I did not venture to speak with my +strictly conscientious husband of the design which I cherished. I had +heard much said of Jacobi's excellent character; I was a distracted wife +and mother. I sought out Jacobi, and spoke to him out of the depths of +my heart, spoke to his sense of right--to his sense of honour; I showed +him how the affair stood for us before he disturbed it, by means which +could not be justly called honourable. I feared that my words were +bitter, but all the more angel-like was it in Jacobi to hear me with +calmness. I pictured to him our present condition; told him how he might +save us from misery, and besought him to do it. + +"My prayer at first was almost wild, and in the beginning Jacobi seemed +almost to think it so, but he heard me out; he let me conduct him to the +house of his former teacher, saw the consuming anxiety depicted on his +pale emaciated countenance; saw that I had exaggerated nothing; he wept, +pressed my hand with a word of consolation, and went out hastily. + +"The day of nomination came. Jacobi renounced all claims. My husband was +elected to the living in T----. Good God! how it sounded in our ears and +in our hearts! For a long time we could not believe it. After fifteen +years of deceived hopes we hardly dared to believe in such happiness. I +longed to embrace the knees of my benefactor, but he was already far +distant from us. A few friendly lines came from him, which reconciled my +husband to his happiness, and Jacobi's renunciation, and which made the +measure of his noble behaviour full. I have not yet been able to thank +him; but you, his amiable bride, say to him----" + +We omit the outpourings which closed this letter; they proceeded from a +warm, noble heart, overflowing with happiness and gratitude. + +The needles fell from the fingers of the sisters as the mother, at +Louise's request, read this letter aloud, and astonishment, sympathy, +and a kind of admiring pleasure might be read in their looks. They all +gazed one on the other with silent and tearful eyes. + +Gabriele was the first who broke silence: "So, then, we shall keep our +Louise with us yet longer," said she gaily, while she embraced her; and +all united cordially in the idea. + +"But," sighed Leonore, "it is rather a pity, on account of our wedding +and our parsonage; we had got all so beautifully arranged." + +Louise shed a few quiet tears, but evidently not merely over the +disappointed expectation. Later in the evening the mother talked with +her, and endeavoured to discover what were her feelings under these +adverse circumstances. + +Louise replied, with all her customary candour, that at first it had +fallen very heavily upon her. "I had now," continued she, "fixed my +thoughts so much on an early union with Jacobi; I saw so much in my new +condition which would be good and joyful for us all. But though this is +now--and perhaps for ever, at an end, yet I do not exactly know if I +wish it otherwise; Jacobi has behaved so right, so nobly right, I feel +that I now prize him higher, and love him more than ever!" + +It was difficult to the Judge not to be more cheerful than common this +evening. He was inexpressibly affectionate towards his eldest daughter; +he was charmed with the way in which she bore her fate, and it seemed to +him as if she had grown considerably. + +On the following day they quietly went on again with the quilting of the +bed-cover, whilst Gabriele read aloud; and thus "the childhood of Eric +Menved" diverted with its refreshing magic power all thoughts from the +parsonage and its lost paradise to the rich middle age of Denmark, and +to its young king Eric. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +NEW VIEWS AND NEW SCHEMES. + + +Jacobi was come: Gabriele complained jestingly to her mother, "that the +brother-in-law-elect had almost overturned her, the little +sister-in-law-elect, in order to fly to his Louise." + +Louise received Jacobi with more than customary cordiality; so did the +whole family. That which Jacobi had lost in worldly wealth he seemed to +have won in the esteem and love of his friends; and it was the secret +desire of all to indemnify him, as it were, for the loss of the +parsonage. Jacobi on this subject had also his own peculiar views; and +after he had refreshed himself both with the earthly and the "angels' +food," which Louise served up to him in abundance, and after he had had +a conference of probably three hours' length with her, the result of the +same was laid before the parents, who looked on the new views thus +opened to them not without surprise and disquiet. + +It was Jacobi's wish and intention now immediately to celebrate his +marriage with Louise, and afterwards to go to Stockholm, where he +thought of commencing a school for boys. To those who knew that all +Jacobi's savings amounted to a very inconsiderable capital; that his +yearly income was only fifty crowns; that he had displeased his only +influential patron; that his bride brought him no dowry; and thus, that +he had nothing on which to calculate excepting his own ability to +work--to all those then who knew thus much, this sudden establishment +had some resemblance to one of those romances with their "_diner de man +coeur, et souper de mon ame_," which is considered in our days to be +so infinitely insipid. + +But Jacobi, who had already arranged and well considered his plans, laid +them with decision and candour before the parents, and besought their +consent that he might as soon as possible be able to call Louise his +wife. Elise gasped for breath; the Judge made sundry objections, but for +every one of these Jacobi had a reasonable and well-devised refutation. + +"Are Jacobi's plans yours also, Louise?" asked the Judge, after a +momentary silence; "are you both agreed?" + +Louise and Jacobi extended a hand to each other; looked on each other, +and then on the father, with tearful, yet with calm and assured eyes. + +"You are no longer children," continued the father; "you know what you +are undertaking. But have you well considered?" + +Both assented that they had. Already, before there had been any +expectation of the living, they had thought on this plan. + +"It is a fatiguing life that you are stepping into," continued the +Judge, seriously, "and not the least so for you, Louise. The result of +your husband's undertaking will depend for the greatest part on you. +Will you joyfully, and without complaint, endure that which it will +bring with it; will you, from your heart, take part in his day's work?" + +"Yes, that I will!" replied Louise, with entire and hearty confidence. + +"And you, Jacobi," continued he, with unsteady voice, "will you be +father and mother and sisters to her? Will you promise me that she +neither now, nor in the future, so far as in you lies, shall miss the +paternal home?" + +"God help me! so certainly as I will exert myself to effect it, she +shall not!" answered Jacobi with emotion, and gave his hand to the +Judge. + +"Go then, children," exclaimed he, "and ask the blessing of your +mother--mine you shall have," and with tearful eyes he clasped them in +his arms. + +Elise followed the example of her husband. She felt now that Louise and +Jacobi's firm devotion to each other; their willingness to work; and +their characters, so excellent, and beyond this, so well suited to each +other, were more secure pledges of happiness than the greatest worldly +treasure. With respect to the time of the marriage, however, she made +serious objections. All that the parents could give to their daughter +was a tolerably handsome outfit; and this could not, by any possibility, +be so speedily prepared. Louise took her mother's view of the question, +and Jacobi saw himself, although reluctantly, compelled to agree that it +should remain as at first arranged, namely, for the second day in +Whitsuntide, which, in this year, fell at the end of May. + +After this the betrothed hastened to the sisters to communicate to them +the new views and schemes. There was many an "Oh!" and "Ah!" of +astonishment; many a cordial embrace; and then, of course, what industry +in the oak-leaf garland! + +But as the mother at the usual time came in, she saw plainly that "the +little lady" was somewhat impatient towards the brother-in-law-elect, +and but little edified by his plans. + +From that kind of sympathy which exists between minds, even when not a +single word is spoken, especially between persons who are dear to each +other, the dissatisfaction of Gabriele took possession also of the +mother, who began to discover that Jacobi's plans were more and more +idle and dangerous. Thus when Jacobi, not long afterwards, sought to +have a _tete-a-tete_ with her, in order to talk about his and Louise's +plans, she could not help saying that the more she thought about the +undertaking the more foolish did it appear to be. + +To which Jacobi answered gaily, "Heaven is the guardian of all fools!" + +Elise recollected at that moment how it had fared with a person with +whom she was acquainted, who hoped for this guardianship in an +undertaking that in most respects resembled Jacobi's, yet nothing had +prevented all his affairs from going wrong altogether, and at length +ending in bankruptcy and misery. Elise related this to Jacobi. + +"Have you not read, mother," replied he, "a wise observation which +stands at the end of a certain medical work?" + +"No," said she; "what observation is it?" + +"That what cured the shoemaker killed the tailor," said Jacobi. + +Elise could not help laughing, and called him a conceited shoemaker. +Jacobi laughed too, kissed Elise's hand, and then hastened to mingle in +the group of young people, who assembled themselves round the tea-table +to see and to pass judgment on an extraordinary kind of tea-bread +wherewith Louise would welcome her bridegroom, and which, according to +her opinion, besides the freshest freshness, was possessed of many +wonderful qualities. + +Whilst at tea, the mother whispered slyly into Louise's ear as Jacobi +put sugar into his tea, "My dear child, there will be a deal of sugar +used in your house--your husband will not be frugal." + +Louise whispered back again, "But he will not grumble because too much +sugar is used in the house. So let him take it then, let him take it!" + +Both laughed. + +Later in the evening, as the mother saw Jacobi dance the gallopade with +Louise and Gabriele, whilst he made all happy with his joy, and his eyes +beamed with life and goodness, she thought to herself--even virtue has +her carelessness; and she was well satisfied with his plans. + +One day Jacobi related the particulars of his audience with his +Excellency O----, at P., to Louise and her mother; his relation was as +follows: + +"When I came up into the saloon the Bishop N. was coming backwards, with +low bows, out of the chamber of his Excellency. Within, a powerful voice +was heard speaking polite and jocular words, and immediately afterwards +his Excellency himself, with his foot wrapped in a woollen sock, +accompanied the Bishop out. The lofty figure, clothed now in a +dark-green morning coat, seemed to me more imposing than ever. He swung +a stick in his hand, upon which a grey parrot was sitting, which, while +it strove to maintain its balance, screamed with all its might after the +Bishop, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!' + +"The sunshine which was diffused over the expressive countenance of his +Excellency as he came out of his room, vanished the moment he saw me (I +had already informed him by letter of the use I had made of his +goodness), and a severe repulsive glance was the only greeting which I +received. When the Bishop at length, accompanied by the parting +salutations of the parrot, had left, his Excellency motioned the +servants out, and riveted upon me his strong, bright, grey eyes, and +with an actually oppressive look inquired short and sharp, 'What want +you, Sir?' + +"I had never seen him behave thus to me before, and whilst I endeavoured +to overcome a really choking sensation, I answered, 'I would thank your +Excellency for the goodness which--' + +"'Which you have thrown away as if it were a very trifle,' interrupted +his Excellency. 'You must have a confounded many livings at command, I +think. You can, perhaps, throw such away on all sides.' + +"He spoke these words in a hard, ironical tone. I conjured him to hear +me, and laid before him shortly, but with the utmost clearness, the +reasons which had compelled me to give up the good fortune which his +favour had procured for me. I concluded by saying, that the only +consolation which I had for my loss, and the danger of having displeased +my benefactor, was the feeling that I had done my duty, and acted +according to my conscience, and the persuasion that I had acted right. + +"'You have acted like a fool!' interrupted his Excellency, with +violence, 'like a regular bedlamite have you behaved yourself! Things +like this, Sir, may do in novels, but in actual life they serve to no +other purpose than to make their actors and all that belong to them +beggars. But you have unpardonably compromised me! The thousand! you +should have thought over all these things and these feelings before you +had obtained my recommendation! Can I know of all supplicants with +poverty, merits, and nine children? On your account in this business I +have written letters, given dinners, made fine speeches, paid +compliments, in order to silence other claimants. I obtained for you +that living, one of the best in the whole bishoprick, and now you have +given it away as if it were a----It is really too bad! Don't come any +more to me, and don't mix me up again in your concerns, that I say to +you! I shall for the future meddle in nothing of the kind. Don't you ask +me ever again for anything!' + +"I was wounded, but still more distressed than wounded, and said, 'The +only thing which I shall ask from you, and shall ask for till I obtain +it, is the forgiveness of your Excellency! My error in this affair was +great; but after I had seen it, there was nothing for me to do but to +retrieve it as well as lay in my power, and then to bear the +consequences, even though they be as bitter as I now find them. Never +again shall I make any claim to your goodness--you have already done +more than enough for me. My intention is now to try if I cannot maintain +myself by my own powers as teacher. I intend to establish a school for +boys in Stockholm, whither I shall travel as soon as----' + +"'Attempt, and travel, and do whatever you like!' interrupted his +Excellency, 'I don't trouble myself about it. I have occupied myself in +your affairs for the last time! If I were to get for you ten livings, +you would give all away the next moment to the first, best poor devil +that prayed you for them, with his full complement of wife and ten +children! + +"'Lundholm, wash me the glass! I never drink out of a glass from which a +Bishop has drunk!' + +"His Excellency had already turned his back upon me, and went again into +his chamber cursing his gout, without the slightest parting word to me. +The parrot, however, on the contrary, turned itself about on the stick, +and cried out with all its might, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!' + +"With this greeting, perhaps the last in the house of his Excellency, I +retired; but not without, I must confess, stopping a few moments on the +steps, and wetting the stones with my tears. It was not the loss of a +powerful patron which gave me so much pain, but--I had so admired this +man, I had loved him with such an actual devotion; I looked up to him as +to one of the noblest and most distinguished of men. He also seemed +really to like me--at least I thought so; and now all at once he was so +changed, so stern towards me, and as it seemed to me so unreasonable. It +actually gave me pain to find so little that was noble in him, so little +that was just! These were my feelings in those first bitter moments. +When I came to think over the whole event more calmly, I could almost +believe that he had received beforehand an unjust representation of the +whole affair, and that I encountered him while under its influence. Over +and above, he had reason to be dissatisfied with the whole thing, and +then just at that moment a fit of the gout seized him! I have written to +him from this place, and I feel it impossible to give up the hope of +seeing his sentiments mollified towards me." + +Louise, however, did not think so favourably of his sentiments; thought +Jacobi quite too indulgent, and was altogether irritated against his +Excellency. + +"It is quite the best not to trouble oneself about him," said she. + +Jacobi smiled. "His poor Excellency!" said he. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A RELAPSE. + + +Whilst May wrote its romance in leaves and life; whilst Jacobi and +Louise wrote many sweet chapters of theirs in kisses; whilst all the +house was in motion on account of the marriage, and joy and mirth sprang +up to life like butterflies in the spring sun, one glance was ever +darker, one cheek ever paler, and that was Eva's. + +People say commonly that love is a game for the man, and a +life's-business for the woman. If there be truth in this, it may arise +from this cause, that practical life makes commonly too great a demand +on the thoughts and activity of the man for him to have much time to +spend on love, whilst on the contrary the woman is too much occupied +with herself to have the power of withdrawing herself from the pangs of +love (may the Chamberlain's lady forgive us talking so much about man +and woman! It has not been our lot here in the world to scour either a +room or a kettle, though, to speak the truth, we do not consider +ourselves incapable of so doing). Eva found nothing in her peaceful home +which was powerful enough to abstract her from the thoughts and feelings +which for so long had been the dearest to her heart. The warm breezes of +spring, so full of love, fanned up that glimmering fire; so did also +that innocent life of the betrothed, so full of cordiality and +happiness; so did also a yet more poisonous wind. One piece of news +which this spring brought was the betrothal of Major R. with one of the +beauties of the capital, a former rival of Eva--news which caused a deep +wound to her heart. She wished to conceal, she wished to veil what was +yet remaining of a love which no one had favoured, and over which she +could not now do other than blush; she had determined never again to +burden and grieve her family with her weakness, her sorrows; she would +not disturb the peace, the cheerfulness, which now again began to reign +in the family after the misfortunes which had shaken it; but under the +endeavour to bear her burden alone, her not strong spirit gave way. She +withdrew more and more from the family circle; became ever more silent +and reserved; sought for solitude, and was unwilling to have her +solitude disturbed by any one. She even was reserved before Leonore; +although she, like a good angel, stood by her side, resting her soft +eyes upon her with a tender disquiet, endeavouring to remove from her +every annoyance, taking upon herself every painful occupation, and +evincing towards her all that anxious care which a mother shows to a +sick child. Eva permitted all this, and was daily more and more consumed +by her untold mental sufferings. The engrossing cares which at this time +occupied the family, prevented almost every one from paying attention to +Eva's state of mind, and thus she was often left to herself. + +For several of the last evenings Eva had gone down into her own chamber +directly after tea--for in their present dwelling some of the daughters +occupied the ground-floor--and on the plea of headache had excused +herself from again returning to her family during the evening. It was a +principle of the parents never to make use of any other means of +compulsion with their children, now that they were grown up, than love, +be it in great things or in small. But then love had a great power in +this family; and as the daughters knew that it was the highest delight +of their father to see them all round him in an evening, it became a +principle with them neither to let temper nor any other unnecessary +cause keep them away. As now, however, this was the third evening on +which Eva had been absent, the father became uneasy, and the mother went +down to her, whilst the rest of the family and some friends who were +with them were performing a little concert together. But Eva was not to +be found in her chamber, and the mother was hastening back again, full +of disquiet, when she met Ulla, who was going to make the beds. + +"Where is Eva?" asked she, with apparent indifference. + +Ulla started, was red and then pale, and answered hesitatingly, "She +is--gone out--I fancy." + +"Where is she gone?" asked Elise, suddenly uneasy. + +"I fancy--to the grave of the young master," returned Ulla. + +"To the grave?--so late! Has she gone there for several evenings?" +inquired the mother. + +"This is now the third evening," said Ulla: "ah, best gracious lady, it +goes really to my heart--it is not justly right there!" + +"What is not justly right, Ulla?" + +"That Mamselle Eva goes out to the grave so late, and does not come back +again till it has struck ten, and that she will be so much alone," +returned Ulla. "Yesterday Mamselle Leonore even cried, and begged of her +not to go, or to allow her to go with her. But Mamselle Eva would not +let her, but said she would not go, and that Mamselle Leonore should go +up-stairs, and leave her alone; but as soon as Mamselle Leonore had left +her she went out for all that, with only a thin kerchief over her head. +And this evening she is gone out also. Ah! it must be a great grief +which consumes her, for she gets paler every day!" + +Greatly disturbed by what she had heard, Elise hastened to seek her +husband. She found him deeply engaged over his books and papers, but he +left all the moment he saw the troubled countenance of his wife. She +related to him what she had heard from Ulla, and informed him that it +was her intention to go now immediately to the churchyard. + +"I will go with you," said the Judge, "only tell Louise to defer supper +for us till we come back; I fancy nobody will miss us, they are so +occupied by their music." + +No sooner said than done. The husband and wife went out together; it was +half-past nine in the middle of May, but the air was cold, and a damp +mist fell. + +"Good heavens!" said the Judge softly, "she'll get her death of cold if +she stops in the churchyard so late, and in air like this!" + +As they approached the churchyard, they saw that a female form passed +hastily through the gate. It was not Eva, for she sat on the grave of +her brother! she sat there immovably upon the earth, and resembled a +ghost. The churchyard was, with this exception, deserted. The figure +which had entered before them, softly approached the grave, and remained +standing at the distance of a few paces. + +"Eva!" said a beseeching mournful voice; it was Leonore. The parents +remained standing behind some thick-leaved fir-trees. On precisely the +same spot had the father stood once before, and listened to a +conversation of a very different kind. + +"Eva!" repeated Leonore, with an expression of the most heartfelt +tenderness. + +"What do you want with me, Leonore?" asked Eva impatiently, but without +moving. "I have already prayed you to let me alone." + +"Ah! I cannot leave you, dear Eva," replied her sister, "why do you sit +here on the ground, on this cold, wet evening? Oh, come home, come home +with me!" + +"Do you go home, Leonore! this air is not proper for you! Go home to the +happy, and be merry, with them," returned Eva. + +"Do you not remember," tenderly pleaded Leonore, "how I once, many years +ago, was sick both in body and mind? Do you know who it was then that +left the gay in order to comfort me? I prayed her to leave me--but she +went not from me--neither will I now go away from you." + +"Ah, go! leave me alone!" repeated Eva, "I stand now alone in the +world!" + +"Eva, you distress me!" said her sister, "you know that there is no one +in this world that I love like you: I mourned so much when you left us; +the house without you seemed empty, but I consoled myself with the +thought that Eva will soon come back again. You came, and I was so +joyful, for I believed that we should be so happy together. But I have +seen since then of how little consequence I am to you! still I love you +as much as ever, and if you think that I have not sympathised in your +sorrows, that I have not wept with you and for you, you do me certainly +injustice! Ah, Eva, many a night when you have believed perhaps that I +lay in sweet sleep, have I sat at your door, and listened how you wept, +and have wept for you, and prayed for you, but I did not dare to come in +to you because I imagined your heart to be closed to me!" And so saying, +Leonore wept bitterly. + +"You are right, Leonore," answered Eva, "much has become closed in me +which once was opened. This feeling, this love for him--oh, it has +swallowed up my whole soul! For some time I believed I should be able to +conquer it--but now I believe so no longer----" + +"Do you repent of your renunciation?" asked Leonore;--"it was so noble +of you! Would you yet be united to him!" + +"No! no! the time for that is gone by," said Eva. "I would rather die +than that; but you see, Leonore, I loved him so--I have tasted love, and +have felt how rapturous, how divine life might be!--Oh, Leonore, the +bright sun-warm summer-day is not more unlike this misty evening hour, +than the life which I lived for a season is unlike the future which now +lies before me!" + +"It seems so to you now, Eva--you think so now," answered her sister; +"but let a little time pass over, and you will see that it will be quite +otherwise; that the painful feelings will subside, and life will clear +up itself before you. Think only how it has already afforded you +pleasure to look up to heaven when the clouds separated themselves, and +you said, 'see how bright it will be! how beautiful the heaven is!' and +your blue eyes beamed with joy and peace, because it was so. Believe me, +Eva, the good time will come again, in which you will thus look up to +heaven, and feel thus joyful, and thus gay!" + +"Never!" exclaimed Eva, weeping; "oh, never will that time return! Then +I was innocent, and from that cause I saw heaven above me clear;--now so +much that is bad, so much that is impure has stained my soul--stains it +yet!--Oh, Leonore, if you only knew all that I have felt for some time +you would never love me again! Would you believe it that Louise's +innocent happiness has infused bitterness into my soul; that the gaiety +which has again began to exist in the family has made me feel +bitterness--bitterness towards my own family--my own beloved ones! Oh, I +could detest myself! I have chastised myself with the severest words--I +have prayed with bitter tears, and yet----" + +"Dear Eva, you must have patience with yourself," said Leonore, "you +will not----" + +"Ah! I am already weary of myself--of my life!" hastily interrupted Eva; +"I am like some one who has already travelled far, who is already spent, +but who must still go on, and can never come to his journey's end. It +seems to me as if I should be a burden to all who belong to me; and when +I have seen you all so happy, so gay one with another, I have felt my +heart and my head burn with bitterness; then have I been obliged to go +out--out into the cold evening dew, and I have longed to repose in the +earth upon which it fell--I have longed to be able to hide myself from +every one--deep, deep in the grave below!" + +"But from me," said Leonore, "you will not be able to hide yourself--nor +to go from me, since where you go there will I follow. Oh, what were +life to me if you were to leave it in despair! You would not go alone to +the grave, Eva! I would follow you there--and if you will not allow that +I sit by your side, I will seat myself on the churchyard wall, that the +same evening damps which penetrate you may penetrate me also; that the +same night wind which chills your bosom may chill mine; that I may be +laid by your side and in the same grave with you! And willingly would I +die for you, if--you will not live for me, and for the many who love you +so much! We will try all things to make you happier! God will help us; +and the day will come in which all the bitter things of this time will +seem like a dream, and when all the great and beautiful feelings, and +all the agreeable impressions of life will again revive in you. You will +again become innocent--nay, become more, because virtue is a higher, a +glorified innocence! Oh, Eva! if he whose dust reposes beneath us, if +his spirit invisibly float around us--if he who was better and purer +than all of us, could make his voice audible to us at this moment, he +would certainly join with me in the prayer--'Oh, Eva! live--live for +those who love thee! Mortal life, with all its anguish and its joy, is +soon past--and then it is so beautiful that our life should have caused +joy to one another on earth--it causes joy in heaven! The great +Comforter of all affliction will not turn from thee--only do not thou +turn from _Him!_ Have patience! tarry out thy time! Peace comes, comes +certainly----'" + +The words ceased; both sisters had clasped their arms around each other, +and mingled their tears. Eva's head rested on Leonore's shoulder as she, +after a long pause, spoke in a feeble voice: + +"Say no more, Leonore; I will do what you wish. Take me--make of me what +you will--I am too weak to sustain myself at this moment--support me--I +will go with you--you are my good angel!" + +Other guardian angels approached just then, and clasped the sisters in a +tender embrace. Conducted by them, Eva returned home. She was +altogether submissive and affectionate, and besought earnestly for +forgiveness from all. She was very much excited by the scenes which had +just occurred, drank a composing draught which her mother administered, +and then listened to Leonore, who read to her, as she lay in bed, till +she fell asleep. + +The Judge paced up and down his chamber uneasily that night, and spoke +thus to his wife, who lay in bed: + +"A journey to the baths, and that in company with you, would be quite +the best thing for her. But I don't know how I can now do without you; +and more than that, where the money is to come from! We have had great +losses, and see still great expenses before us: in the first place +Louise's marriage--and then, without a little money in hand, we cannot +let our girls go from home; and the rebuilding of our house. But we must +borrow more money--I see no other way. Eva must be saved; her mind must +be enlivened and her body strengthened, let it cost what it may. I must +see and borrow----" + +"It is not necessary, Ernst," said Elise; and the Judge, making a sudden +pause, gazed at her with astonishment; whilst she, half raising herself +in bed, looked at him with a countenance beaming with joy. "Come," +continued she, "and I will recall something to your memory which +occurred fifteen years ago." + +"What sort of a history can that be?" said he, smiling gaily, whilst he +seated himself on the bed, and took the hand which Elise extended to +him. + +"Five-and-twenty years ago," began she. + +"Five-and-twenty years!" interrupted he, "Heaven help me! you promised +to go no farther back than fifteen." + +"Patience, my love!--this is part the first of my story. Do you not +remember, then," said she, "how, five-and-twenty years ago, at the +commencement of our married life, you made plans for a journey into the +beautiful native land of your mother? I see now, Ernst, that you +remember it. And how we should wander there you planned, and enjoy our +freedom and God's lovely nature. You were so joyful in the prospect of +this; but then came adversity, and cares, and children, and never-ending +labour for you, so that our Norwegian journey retreated year by year +more into the background. Nevertheless, it remained like a point of +light to you in the future; but now, for some time, you seem to have +forgotten it; yes, for you have given up all your own pleasures in +labouring for your family; have forsaken all your own enjoyments, your +own plans, for your own sphere of activity and your home. But I have not +forgotten the Norwegian journey, and in fifteen years have obtained the +means of its accomplishment." + +"In fifteen years!--what do you mean?" asked he. + +"Now I am arrived," she answered, "at part the second of my history. Do +you still remember, Ernst, that fifteen years ago we were not so happy +as we are now? You have forgotten? Well, so much the better; I scarcely +remember it myself any more, for the expansive rind of love has grown +over the black scar. What I, however, know is, that at that time I was +not so properly at home in actual life, and did not rightly understand +all the good that it offered me, and that to console myself on that +account I wrote a romance. But now it happened that by reason of my +novel I neglected my duties to my lord and husband--for the gentlemen +are decidedly unskilled in serving themselves----" + +"Very polite!" interposed the Judge, smiling. + +"Be content!" continued she: "now it happened that one evening his tea +and my novel came into collision--a horrible history followed. But I +made a vow in my heart that one of these days the two rivals should +become reconciled. Now you see my manuscript--you had the goodness to +call it rubbish--I sent to a very enlightened man, to a man of +distinguished taste and judgment, and thus it befel, he found taste in +the rubbish; and, what say you to it? paid me a pretty little sum for +permission to bring it before the world. Do not look so grave, Ernst; I +have never again taken up the pen to write novels; my own family has +found me enough to do; and besides, I never again could wish to do +anything which was not pleasant to you. You have displaced all rivals, +do you see! But this one I decided should be the means of your taking +the Norwegian journey. The little sum of two hundred crowns banco which +it produced me have I placed in the savings' bank for this purpose; and +in fifteen years it has so much augmented itself, that it will perfectly +accomplish that object; and if ever the time for its employment will +come, it is now. The desire for travelling is gone from me--I covet now +only rest. But you and----" + +"And do you think," said the Judge, "that I shall take your----" + +"Oh, Ernst! why should you not?" exclaimed she; "if you could but know +what joy the thought of this has prepared for me! The money, which from +year to year increased, in order to give you pleasure, has been to me +like a treasure of hidden delight, which has many a time strengthened +and animated my soul! Make me only perfectly happy by allowing yourself +to have enjoyment from it. Take it, my Ernst, and make yourself pleasure +with it, this summer; I pray you to do so, on account of our children. +Take Eva with you, and if possible Leonore also. Nothing would refresh +Eva's soul more than such a journey with you and Leonore in a +magnificent and beautiful country. The money can be obtained in a +month's time, and a few months' leave of absence cannot possibly be +denied to one who has spent more than thirty years in incessant service +for the state; and when Louise and her husband have left us, and spring +and nature are in their very loveliest, then you shall set out: you +shall be refreshed after so many years of painful labour, and the +wounded heart of our sick child shall be healed." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +PLANS AND COUNTER PLANS. + + +Eva entered her father's study the next morning. He immediately left his +work, received her with the greatest tenderness, drew her to his side on +the sofa, and placing one arm round her waist, took her hand in his, and +inquired, with a searching glance, "Do you want anything from me, my +child? Can I do anything for you? Tell me!" + +Encouraged by his kindness, Eva described the state of her mind to her +father, and explained how she wished to commence a more active life in +order to overcome her weakness, and to regain strength and quiet. The +situation of teacher in a girl's school in the city was vacant, and she +wished immediately to take it, but only for the summer, during which +time she and Leonore would prepare themselves to open a school in +autumn. It was a plan of which they had long thought, and which would +afford them a useful and independent life. Eva besought the acquiescence +of her father to this proposition. + +"Leonore and I," continued she, "have this morning talked a deal on the +subject; we hope that with the counsel and countenance upon which we may +reckon, to be able to make it succeed. Ah, father! I am become quite +anxious about it on account of my own weakness. I must speedily resort +to external means, that I may overcome it. I will become active; I will +work; and whilst thus employed I shall forget the past and myself, and +only live for the happiness of those who love me, and to whom I have +caused so much trouble." + +"My child! my dear child, you are right; you do rightly!" said the +father, deeply affected, and clasping his daughter in his arms; "your +wish shall be granted, and whatever is in my power will I do to forward +your plans. What a many institutions for education will there not +proceed from our house! But there is no harm at all in that--there are +no more useful institutions on the face of the earth! One reservation, +however, I must make from your and Leonore's determination. You may +dedicate the autumn and the winter to your school--but the summer you +must devote to your father!--and Madame B. may find a teacher where she +can, only not from my family--for I am not now in a condition to furnish +her one." + +"Ah, father," said she, "every unemployed hour is a burden to me!" + +"We will bear the burden together, my child! Leonore, I, and you, in our +wanderings towards the west. In a few weeks I am thinking of undertaking +a journey, after which I have longed for these many years; I will visit +the beautiful native land of my mother. Will you, Eva, breathe this +fresh mountain air with me? I should have very little pleasure in the +journey alone, but in company with you and Leonore it will make me young +again! Our heads are become bowed, my child, but in God's beautiful +nature we will lift them up again! You will go with me--is it not so? +Good! Come then with me to your mother, for it is she alone who has +managed this journey!" + +With an arm round the waist of his daughter the Judge now went to his +wife; they found Leonore with her; nor was ever a quartet of Mozart's +more harmonious than that which was now performed among them. + +Eva was uncommonly animated all day, but in the evening she was in a +burning fever. A feeling of anxiety went through the whole family; they +feared that a new grave was about to be opened, and disquiet was painted +on all countenances. Eva demanded, with a fervour which was not without +its feverish excitement, that the Assessor should be fetched. He came +immediately. + +"Forgive me!" exclaimed Eva, extending her hand to him, "I have been so +ungrateful to you! But my heart was so disordered that it was quite +changed; but it will recover itself again. Leonore has given it health. +I am very ill now; my hands burn, my head aches! Give me my little +work-box--that I may hold it between my hands--that I may lean my head +upon it--else I shall be no better! You, my friend, will cure me that I +may again make my family happy!" + +The Assessor dried his tears. As Eva leaned her head on the work-box, +she talked earnestly, but not quite coherently of the plans for the +future. + +"Very good, very good," said the physician, interrupting her; "I too +will be of the establishment; I will give instruction in botany to the +whole swarm of girls, and between us we will drive them out into the +woods and into the fields, that we may see them learn all that is +beautiful in the world. But now, Eva, you must not talk any more--but +you must empty this glass." + +Eva took the composing draught willingly, and was soon calmer. She was +the most obedient and amiable of patients, and showed a confidence in +her old friend which penetrated his heart. He would have sate night and +day by her bed. + +Eva's sickness was a violent fever, which confined her to her bed for +nearly three weeks, and occasioned her family great uneasiness. This +sickness was, however, very beneficial for herself and for the health of +her mind; but still more beneficial was the infinite love with which she +saw herself encompassed on all sides. + +One day in the beginning of her convalescence, as she sate up and saw +herself surrounded by all the comforts which love and home could gather +about a beloved sufferer, she said to Leonore as she leaned upon her, +"Ah, who would not be willing to live when they see themselves so +beloved!" + +In the meantime Louise's wedding-day was approaching nearer. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A SURPRISE. + + +Three days before the wedding a grand travelling-carriage drawn by four +horses rolled through the streets of the town of X----, and from the +prodigious clatter which it made drew all the inquisitive among the +inhabitants to their windows. + +"Did you see, dear sister," cried the general shopkeeper Madame Suur to +Madame Bask, the wife of the postmaster, "the grand travelling-carriage +that has just gone by? Did you see the sweet youth that sate on the left +and looked so genteel, with his snow-white neck and open shirt-collar? +Lawk! how he looked at me--so sweet as he was! How like a real prince he +looked!" + +"Dear sister!" answered the postmistress, "then you did not see the +gentleman who sate on the right? He was a grand gentleman, that I can +positively assert! He sate so stately leaning back in the carriage, and +so wrapped up in grand furs that one could not see the least bit of his +face. Positively he is a great somebody!" + +"I got a shimmer of the youth," said the grey-brown handed and +complexioned Annette P----, as she glanced up from her coarse sewing, +with such a look as probably a captive casts who has glanced out of his +prison into a freer and more beautiful state of existence; "he looked so +calm, with large blue eyes, out of the plate-glass windows of the +carriage! as pure and grave he looked as one of God's angels!" + +"Ay, we know to be sure how the angels look!" said the postmistress, +snubbingly, and with a severe glance at Annette; "but that's absolutely +all one! Yet I should like to know what grandees they are. I should not +be a bit surprised if it were his royal highness or gracious +crown-prince, who with his eldest son is travelling _incondito_ through +the country." + +"Dear sister says what is true," returned Madame Suur. "Yes, it must be +so! for he looked like a regular prince, the sweet youth, as he sate +there and glanced at me through the window; really, he smiled at me!" + +"Nay, my ladies, we've got some genteel strangers in the city!" +exclaimed Mr. Alderman Nyberg as he came into the room. + +"Have they stopped here?" cried both ladies at once. + +"My wife saw the carriage draw up and----" + +"Nay, heaven defend us! Mr. Alderman what are you thinking about that +you don't make a stir in the city and send a deputation to wait upon +them? For goodness sake let the city-council come together!" + +"How? What? Who?" asked the Alderman, opening wide his grey eyes like +some one just awoke out of sleep; "can it indeed----" + +"Yes, very likely his royal highness himself in his own proper +person--possibly his majesty!" + +"Gracious heavens!" said the Alderman, and looked as if the town-house +had fallen. + +"But speed off in all the world's name, and run and look about you, and +don't stand here staring like a dead figure!" exclaimed the +postmistress, quite hoarse, while she shook up and down her great mass +of humanity on the creaking sofa. "Dear sister, cannot you also get on +your legs a little, and Annette too, instead of sitting there +hum-drumming with her sewing, out of which nothing comes. Annette run +quick, and see what it is all about--but come back in an instant-minute +and tell me, poor soul, whom our Lord has smitten with calamity and +sickness--nay, nay, march pancake!" + +The Alderman ran; dear Sister Suur ran; Mamselle Annette ran; we ran +also, dear reader, in order to see a large-made gentleman somewhat in +years, and a youth of eleven, of slender figure and noble appearance, +dismount from the travelling carriage. It was his Excellency O---- and +his youngest son. + +They alighted and went into the house of the Franks. His Excellency +entered the drawing-room without suffering himself to be announced, and +introduced himself to Elise, who though surprised by the visit of the +unexpected stranger, received him with all her accustomed graceful +self-possession; lamenting the absence of her husband, and thinking to +herself that Jacobi had not in the least exceeded the truth in his +description of the person of his Excellency. + +His Excellency was now in the most brilliant of humours, and discovered, +as by sudden revelation, that he and Elise were related; called her "my +cousin" all the time, and said the handsomest things to her of her +family, of whom he had heard so much, but more especially of a certain +young man on whom he set the highest value. Further he said, that +however much he must rejoice in having made the personal acquaintance of +his cousin, still he must confess that his visit at this time had +particular reference to the young man of whom he had spoken; and with +this he inquired after Jacobi. + +Jacobi was sent for, and came quickly, but not without evident emotion +in his countenance. His Excellency O----approached him, extended his +hand cheerfully, and said, "I rejoice to see you; my cursed gout has not +quite left me; but I could not pass so near the city without going a +little out of my way in order to wish you happiness on your approaching +marriage, and also to mention an affair--but you must introduce me to +your bride." + +Jacobi did it with glowing eyes. His Excellency took Louise's hand, and +said, "I congratulate you on your happiness, on being about to have one +of the best and the most estimable of men for your husband!" And with +these words he riveted a friendly penetrating glance upon her, and then +kissed her hand. Louise blushed deeply, and looked happier than when she +agreed to her own proposition of not troubling herself about his +Excellency. + +Upon the other daughters also who were present, his keen eyes were fixed +with a look which seemed rather to search into soul than body, and +rested with evident satisfaction on the beautifully blushing Gabriele. + +"I also have had a daughter," said he, slowly, "an only one--but she was +taken from me!" + +A melancholy feeling seemed to have gained possession of him, but he +shook it quickly from him, stood up, and went to Jacobi, to whom he +talked in a loud and friendly voice. + +"My best Jacobi," said he, "you told me the last time we were together +that you thought of opening a school for boys in Stockholm. I am pleased +with it, for I have proved that your ability as teacher and guide of +youth is of no ordinary kind. I wish to introduce to you a pupil, my +little boy. You will confer upon me a real pleasure if you will be able +to receive him in two months, at which time I must undertake a journey +abroad, which perhaps may detain me long, and would wish to know that +during this my absence my son was in good hands. I wish that he should +remain under your care at least two or three years. You will easily feel +that I should not place in your hands him who is dearest to me in the +world, if I had not the most perfect confidence in you, and therefore I +give you no prescribed directions concerning him. And if prayers can +obtain motherly regard," continued he, turning to Louise, "I would +direct myself with them to you. Take good care of my boy--he has no +longer a mother!" + +Louise drew the boy hastily to her, embraced him, and kissed him with +warmth. A smile as of sunshine diffused itself over the countenance of +the father, and certainly no words which Louise could have spoken would +have satisfied him more than this silent but intelligent answer of the +heart. Jacobi stood there with tears in his eyes; he could not bring +forth many words, but his Excellency understood him, and shook him +cordially by the hand. + +"May we not have the horses taken out? Will not your Excellency have the +goodness to stay to dine with us?" were the beseeching questions which +were repeated around him. + +But however willing his Excellency would have been to do it, it was +impossible. He had promised to dine at Stroe with Count Y----, eighteen +miles distant from the town. + +"But breakfast? a little breakfast at least? It should be served in a +moment. The young Count Axel would certainly be glad of a little +breakfast!" asserted Louise, with friendly confidence, who seemed +already to have taken under her protection the future pupil of her +husband. + +The young Count Axel did not say no; and the father, whose behaviour +became every moment more cordial and gay, said that a little breakfast +in such company would eat excellently. + +Bergstroem prepared with rapture and burning zeal the table for the lofty +guest, who in the mean time chatted with evident satisfaction with Elise +and Jacobi, directing often also his conversation to Louise as if +insensibly to test her; and from their inmost hearts did both mother and +bridegroom rejoice that with her calm understanding she could stand the +test so well. + +Gabriele entertained the young Count Axel in one of the windows by +listening to the repeater of his new gold watch, which set the grave and +naturally silent boy at liberty to lead the entertainment in another +way; and Gabriele, who entered into all his ideas, wondered very much +over the wonderful properties of the watch; and let it repeat over and +over again, whilst her lovely and lively smiles and her merry words +called forth more and more the confidence of the young Axel. + +Breakfast was ready; was brought in by the happy Bergstroem; was eaten +and praised by his Excellency, who was a connoisseur; a description of +the capitally preserved anchovies was particularly desired from Louise; +and then her health and that of her bridegroom was drunk in Madeira. + +Towards the conclusion of the breakfast the Judge came home. The trait +of independence, bordering on pride, which sometimes revealed itself in +Judge Frank's demeanour, and which perhaps was visible at the very time +of his respectful but simple greeting of his Excellency, called forth in +him also a momentary appearance of height. But this pride soon vanished +from both sides. These two men knew and valued each other mutually; and +it was not long before they were so deeply engrossed by conversation, +that his Excellency forgot his journey, not for one only, but for two +hours. + +"I lament over Stroe and its dinner," said his Excellency, preparing to +take his departure; "how they must have waited there! But we could not +possibly help it." + +After his Excellency had departed, he left behind him a bright +impression on all the family of Franks, not one of whom did not feel +animated in a beneficial manner by his behaviour and his words. Jacobi +in his joy made a high _entre-chat_, and embracing Louise, said, "Now, +Louise, what say you to the man? And we have got a pupil that will draw +at least twenty after him!" + +Louise was perfectly reconciled to his Excellency. + +From this day forth Bergstroem began a new era; whatever happened in the +family was either before or after the visit of his Excellency. + + * * * * * + +"Ah, then, my goodness! that it should be Excellency O----!" said the +dear sister Bask to the dear sister Suur. + +"Yes, just think! That he should come solely, and for no other purpose, +than to visit the Franks, and breakfast there, and stop several hours +there! He is a cousin, of the Judge's lady." + +"Her cousin! Bah! no more her cousin than I am the king's cousin; +positively not!" + +"Yes, yes! or why else should he have called her 'my gracious cousin?' +And one must confess that there is something refined and genteel about +her--and such hands as she has have I never seen!" + +"Hum! There's no art in looking genteel and having beautiful hands, when +one goes about the house like a foolish thing, washing one's hands in +rose-water, and all the livelong day doing not one sensible act. That I +know well enough!" + +"Yes, yes! they who will be of any use in their house cannot keep such +hands, and sit the whole day and read romances! I should like to know +how it would have gone with the blessed Suur's baking business--to which +at last he added the grocery--if I had been a genteel lady! Not at all, +because I should not have done it. Sweet sister, know that I once had my +whims--yes, and a turn for scribbling and writing. Yes, so help me +heaven! if it had not been for my little bit of sound sense, which +showed me my folly in time, I might have become a regular learned lady, +another--what do you call her?--Madame de Stael! But when I married the +late Suur I determined to give up all that foolishness, and do honour to +the baking; and now I have quite let my little talent slip away from me, +so that it is as good as buried. But on that account I am, to be sure, +no fitting company for the Franks--think only!--and shall be only less +and less so, if they are always climbing higher and higher." + +"Let them climb as high as they will, I don't intend to make obeisances +before them, that I can promise them! that I absolutely will not! It +vexes me enough that Annette is so mad after them. Before one is aware +of it, they will be taking her away from me, skin and hair; and that's +my thanks for all I have lavished upon her! But I'll tell the gentry +that I'm positively determined to make no compliments to them or to +their Excellencies, and that one person is just as good as another! +Positively I'll tell them that!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE EVENING BEFORE THE WEDDING. + + +"God bless the little ones! But when one considers how little of a +rarity children are in this world, one has only to open one's mouth to +say so, and people are all up in arms and make such a stir and such an +ado about their little ones! Heart's-dearest! People may call them +angels as much as ever they will, but I would willingly have my knees +free from them! But worst of all is it with the first child in a family! +Oh, it is a happiness and a miracle, and cannot be enough overloaded +with caresses and presents from father and mother, and aunts and +cousins, and all the world. Does it scream and roar--then it is a +budding genius; is it silent--then it is a philosopher in its cradle; +and scarcely is it eight days old but it understands Swedish and almost +German also! And--it bites, the sweet angel!--it has got a tooth! It +bites properly. Ah, it is divine! Then comes the second child:--it is by +far less wonderful already; its cry and its teeth are not half so +extraordinary. The third comes;--it is all over with miracles now! the +aunts begin to shake their heads, and say, 'no lack of heirs in the +house! Nay, nay, may there be only enough to feed them all.' After this +comes a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth--yes, then people's wits are +set in full play! The parents resign themselves, but the friends defend +themselves! Heart's-dearest, what is to become of it? The house full of +children, there's soon a dozen of them! Poor Mrs. This and This--it +makes one quite weak both in body and mind only to think of it! Yes, +yes, my friends, people don't put these things down in romances, but it +goes on in this way in real life! Yes!" + +It was the Chamberlain's lady who preached this little sermon, in the +zeal of her spirit, to the young couple who the next day were to be man +and wife. She ate on this evening Whitsuntide-porridge[19] with the +Franks, and all the while gave sundry lessons for the future. Jacobi +laughed heartily over the history of the children, and endeavoured to +catch Louise's eye; but this was fixed upon the Postillion, which she +was arranging with a very important and grave aspect. The Judge and +Elise looked smilingly on each other, and extended to each other their +hands. + +The state of feeling in the family, for the rest of the evening, was +quite rose-coloured. Letters had been received from Petrea which gave +contentment to all her friends, and Eva sate in the family circle with +returning, although as yet pale roses on her cheeks. The Judge sate +between Eva and Leonore, laying out on the map the plan of the summer +tour. They would visit Thistedal, Ringerig, and Tellemark, and would go +through Trondhiem to Norland, where people go to salute the midnight +sun. + +Gabriele looked after her flowers, and watered the myrtle tree from +which next morning she would break off sprays wherewith to weave a crown +and garland for Louise. Jacobi sate near the mother, and seemed to have +much to say to her; what it was, however, nobody heard, but he often +conveyed her hand to his lips, and seemed as if he were thanking her for +his life's happiness. He looked gentle and happy. Every thing was +prepared for the morrow, so that this evening would be spent in quiet. + +According to Jacobi's wish the marriage was to take place in the church, +and after this they were all to dine _en famille_. In the evening, +however, a large company was to be assembled in the S. saloon, which +with its adjoining garden had been hired for the purpose. This was +according to the wish of the father, who desired that for the last time, +perhaps for many years, his daughter should collect around her all her +acquaintance and friends, and thus should show to them, at the same +time, welcome politeness. He himself, with the help of Jacobi and +Leonore, who was everybody's assistant, had taken upon himself the +arrangement of this evening's festival, that his wife might not be +fatigued and disturbed by it. + +At supper the betrothed sat side by side, and Jacobi behaved sometimes +as if he would purposely seize upon his bride's plate as well as his +own, which gave rise to many dignified looks, to settings-to-rights +again, and a deal of merriment besides. + +Later in the evening, when they all went to rest, Louise found her +toilet-table covered with presents from bridegroom, parents, sisters, +and friends. A great deal of work was from Petrea. These gifts awakened +in Louise mingled feelings of joy and pain, and as she hastened yet once +again to embrace the beloved ones from whom she was about so soon to +separate, many mutual tears were shed. But evening dew is prophetic of a +bright morrow--that was the case here. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] There is some new kind of porridge for almost every week in the +year in Sweden, with which the table is most religiously served.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE WEDDING-DAY. + + +The sun shone bright and warm on that morning of Whit-Monday. Flowers +and leaves glistened in the morning dew; the birds sang; the bells of +the city rang festively and gaily; the myrtle-crown was ready woven +early, and the mother and Leonore were present at the toilet of the +bride. They expected that Jacobi would make his appearance in the +highest state of elegance, and hoped that his appearance would not dim +that of the bride. Louise's sisters made her appearance on this occasion +of more importance than she herself did. Gabriele dressed her hair--she +possessed an actual talent for this art--half-blown rose-buds were +placed in the myrtle wreath; and what with one, and what with another +little innocent art of the toilet, a most happy effect was produced. +Louise looked particularly well in her simple, tasteful, bridal +dress--for the greatest part of the work of her own skilful hands--and +the content, and the beautiful repose which diffused itself over her +countenance, spread a glorification over all. + +"You look so pale to-day in your white dress, my little Eva," said +Leonore, as she helped her to dress--"you must have something pink on +your neck to brighten you up, else our bride will be anxious when she +sees you." + +"As you will, Leonore! I can put this handkerchief on, that it may give +a little reflected colour to my cheek. I will not distress any one." + + * * * * * + +When the festally-arrayed family assembled for breakfast they presented +a beautiful appearance. The family-father, however, looked more gloomy +than gay; and as Jacobi entered they saw, with astonishment, that his +toilet was considerably negligent. He had been out; his hair was in +disorder, and he evidently was in an excited state of mind; but he was +handsome for all that. He kissed his bride tenderly on hand and lips, +and gave her a nosegay of beautiful wild-flowers, and several splendidly +bound books,--the sermons of Franzen and Wallin, which gift was very +valuable, and was received by "our sensible" and sermon-loving Louise +with the greatest pleasure. + +After breakfast Jacobi hastened to arrange his toilet, and then they all +went to church. The weather was uncommonly beautiful, and crowds of +festally-dressed people thronged about, in part to hear the Provost, who +was to preach that day, but principally to see the bridal pair. + +It was an agreeable surprise to the family when at the entrance of the +churchyard many young girls began to strew flowers before the bridal +couple the whole way to the church-door. The church also was decorated +with flowers and foliage. + +When the Judge took the hand of his daughter in the church, she +perceived that his was cold, and that it trembled. She looked at him, +and read in his countenance the disquiet with which his soul laboured. + +"My father," said she to him, "I feel so calm, so happy!" + +"Then I am so too, my child," said he, pressing her hand; and after this +moment his demeanour was calm and decided as usual. + +Jacobi, both before and after the ceremony, was excited in the highest +degree; he wept much. Louise, on the contrary, was externally quite +calm. She looked rather pale, but her eyes were bright and almost +joyous; an altogether unusual contrast in a bridal pair. + +On their return from the church a little circumstance occurred which +gave pleasure to all, but more especially to the Judge. As they went +past the remains of the burnt-down house, they saw a great swarm of bees +suddenly mount up from the trees of the garden; it flew several times +round the market-place as if seeking for a habitation, and at last +turning back, struck directly down among the ruins of the former kitchen +fireplace; it seemed as if it had selected the hearth for its abiding +home. This was regarded as the happiest omen, and no sooner had the +Judge conducted his daughter home, than he returned in order to remove +his bees to a convenient resting-place; Gabriele following him with +Baron L----'s treatise on the management of bees in her hand. + +When Louise was again locked in the arms of her mother--the mother and +Eva had remained at home--she was seized by a slight trembling fit which +lasted several hours, but which was unobserved by all excepting her +mother; and through the whole of the day she continued graver than +common. Jacobi, on the contrary, after his fit of weeping was over, and +he had embraced everybody, and kissed his bride on lips, hair, hand, and +foot, was seized with a real desire of dancing with the whole world. He +was so wildly joyous and happy, and at the same time so amiable, that he +imparted his state of mind to everybody else. + +At half-past four in the afternoon they assembled themselves in the +S---- garden, where the time was passed in the most agreeable manner, +with music, walking about, entertainment, and eating of ices and fruit, +to which also the Almighty added the brightest heaven and the calmest +air. Later in the evening they danced in the great saloon; no lady could +sit still, and scarcely a gentleman stand; all must dance! We have +nothing more to say of the ball, but we must not pass over in silence +that which occurred afterwards. When the company wished to go across the +garden to the eating-room, they perceived that it had rained +considerably, and that it still dropped; this occasioned a great +commotion among the ladies, because all the wrapping shawls and cloaks +were on the other side; they had quite forgotten to bring them over in +the fine weather. But it was, according to popular belief in Sweden, +fortunate, and quite according to the order of things, that rain-drops +should fall on the crown of the bride; but at the same time it was also +against all sense of prudence and propriety that she should wet her +silken shoes. And then all the other ladies! They must have the wrapping +things fetched to this side! + +"I will provide for it!" exclaimed Jacobi, and with these words seized +his astonished bride in his arms and carried her across the garden. What +he whispered in her ear during this journey we know not, but thus far we +can say, that this action set Jacobi very high in the favour of the +ladies. + + * * * * * + +The new-married pair spent several days after the wedding under the +paternal roof, and joyful days they were, only rather too much given up +to dissipation, for all friends and acquaintance would see and entertain +the two young people. Mrs. Gunilla gave them a dinner, in which she +communicated to them that she should, at the same time with them, +journey to Stockholm, where important affairs would oblige her to stay a +considerable time. However much it grieved Elise to lose so excellent +and almost motherly a friend, she rejoiced very much over what Louise +and Jacobi would win thereby. Louise and Mrs. Gunilla, it is true, had +not perfectly harmonised together, because each would instruct the +other; but Jacobi and she agreed all the better, and she had already +invited the young people to dine with her as often as they would in +Stockholm. + +In the hour of parting she spoke thus to Elise and her husband with +tears in her eyes: "Who knows when we may meet again? The old woman is +in years--is not of much more use in the world--na, na! Our Lord will +care for her as he has hitherto done! And listen," continued she with an +arch, roguish air, "don't be uneasy on account of the young folks;--I +shall see that it all goes on right there. I invite myself as sponsor to +the first child. Perhaps we shall meet then! Yes, yes, I have a +presentiment that we shall see one another again in Stockholm! Nay! now +farewell, dear Elise! God bless you, my kind friends, and make all go +well with you! Think of the old woman sometimes! Adieu!" + + * * * * * + +After the trouble of the packing was over--we mean packing Louise's +things, of course--and the still sorrow of parting, quiet returned back +into the house, and was only agreeably interrupted by preparations for +the journey to the West. The Judge seemed at this time to be young +again, and an increased union of heart showed itself between him and his +wife. So wear away, sometimes, the most beautiful summer days, even +after the autumn has made advances into the year. From what cause is +this? God knows. + +The invisible genius of our history leads us at this moment far from the +home of peace to a distant shore, in order to give us a glimpse +into--the subject of our next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A SICK CHAMBER. + + +If the sun shine on the head of the crucified, if a bird lift up its +joyous song in presence of a broken heart, it seems to us cruel. But +beautiful is the unconscious irony of nature in comparison with that +which exists in human circumstances. We have here an example of this +before us. See these sparkling false diamonds, this red gauze finery, +these ruins of theatrical ornament. They seem to mock the misery of the +room about which they are strewn. In that wretched room is want of +light; want, not only of all the comforts of life, but also of its most +necessary things. And yet--where could they be more useful than here? + +Forlorn, upon a miserable bed lay a woman, who appeared to have seen +better days; still is she handsome, although passion and suffering seem +early to have wasted her yet young countenance. Fever burned on the +sunken cheek and in the dark eye, and her lips moved themselves wildly; +but no one was there to refresh with friendly hand the dry lips and the +hot brow; no cooling fever-draught stood near her bed. Two new-born +babes lay weeping near the mother. Uneasy phantoms seemed to agitate the +unhappy one: sometimes she raised herself in the bed with wild gestures, +but sunk back again powerless; whilst her pale, convulsed, and wandering +lips spoke from the depths of her torn heart the following incoherent +words: + +"It is a bitter, bitter path! but I must, must fly for help! My strength +is broken--I can do nothing--the children cry to be heard, hungry, +half-naked! Parents! sisters! help! + + * * * * * + +"It is night--the wind is cold--I freeze! The waves swell and +swell--they drive a wreck ashore--they strike on the rocks--ah! +wherefore did it not go down in the storm on the open sea? How dreadful +in full consciousness to be dashed to pieces! And thou, thou who art the +cause of all, thou sittest by and lookest coldly on me! Miserable +egotist! Dost thou bear a heart in thy breast? The temple is dashed to +pieces, and thou that has ruined it treadest upon its ruins! I knew not +how misfortune looked--I knew not what it really is! Misery! But thou +miserable one who---- + +"Hush! is it she? Is it my foster-mother who comes here so lightly, so +gently, so softly? It becomes bright! She will lay her warm hands on my +little children, and wrap them in the warm coverlet which she made for +me-- + + There sits a dove so fair and white + All on the lily spray. + +Is it she? No! it is the moon, which rises palely out of black clouds. +How coldly she looks on my misery! Away, away! + +"Sisters, I thirst! Will no one give me a drop of water? Have you all, +all left me? I thought I saw you again. It is so strange in my head. +Perhaps I shall become mad if I thirst much longer. It is dark--I am +afraid! I am afraid of the dark bird! If it come again it will begin to +rend my heart; but if I am ever again strong, fresh and strong, I will +kill it--with my own hands will I murder it! Day and night a wick burns +in my heart; its name is Hate, and the oil that supplies it is +bitterness! + +"When shall I be strong again? Do you see how he has misused me; has +fettered me to the sick-bed? Do you hear the children cry? the children +which, through the abuse of the father, have come into the world before +their time, and now will die? Give nourishment to the children, for the +mercy of God, sisters! Let me die, but help the children! Now they are +quiet! Thanks! thanks! Shall I die this morning? No, no, not yet! + + * * * * * + +"The gulf is so dark! Ah, what an abyss! + +"Again comes the black bird; I had fled from him, but he followed me, +tore off my wings, so that I can fly no longer! + + * * * * * + +"Help me up, I must dress myself! Here, with my handsome attire! haste! +To-night I must appear anew before the public, and be admired; must hear +the clapping of hands and bravos; must see garlands showered before my +feet! See you, sisters; it is so glorious! It is an hour of life! It is +a real burst of joy! See how I glitter--how I beam forth! Listen to the +tempest of applause! How it thunders! But wherefore is it now again so +still?--still and dark as the grave? It was a short joy! Cursed be he +who made it so short! + +"Do not look so sternly upon me, foster-father! Am I not already +sufficiently cast down! Your stern look penetrates me. Give me your +hand, that I may lay it on my burning brow. You turn from me! You go! +Oh! + + * * * * * + +"It is so desolate! The strand has such sharp stones! It is so dreadful +to be wounded against them! + +"I will not die! I am so young, have so much strength of life in my +soul! I will not yet go down into eternity! No! + + * * * * * + +"Who saves me? There come foaming waves!--or are they your white arms, +sisters, which you stretch out towards me? Is it you whom I see like +grey misty ghosts wandering on the corpse coast! Are you then dead? Do +you hear the noise? It is death--it is the black bird which comes!--now +I must fly--fly--fly--or die!" + + * * * * * + +With a violent effort the delirious woman rose from the bed--took a few +steps, and then fell down as if lifeless. Her head struck against the +bedstead, and a stream of blood gushed forth from her temples. + +At this moment a tall man habited in black entered the room softly; +light locks surrounded the noble but somewhat aged head; the mild, +serious expression of the countenance, and the affectionate look of the +blue eyes showed, still more than the dress, whose servant he was. A +lady, who was not handsome, but whose countenance bore the stamp of +beauty of the soul, like her husband's, followed him. With a look of the +deepest compassion this couple surveyed the room, and then drew near the +sick-bed. + +"Merciful heaven!" whispered they, "we are come too late! The children +are dead--and so is the mother!" + + * * * * * + +Let us now turn our eyes away from this dark picture that they may rest +upon a brighter one. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A LANDSCAPE. + + +On one of the heights of the Dofrine Mountains we see three +travellers--an elderly man and two young ladies. He seems neither afraid +of trouble for himself nor for them; he seems as if he were accustomed +to it and could play with it. But he does all so affectionately; he goes +before them so friendly and kind, reaches out his hand and encourages +them to yet another effort, and they would then enjoy the magnificent +view; they would then be able to rest, and obtain refreshment at the +"saeter-hut"[20] above them! The daughters follow him smiling, and +overcome weakness and weariness for his sake! Now they are above on the +heights--and well are they rewarded for all the labour of climbing up +there! The earth lies below so rich, with its hills and valleys, dark +woods, fruitful plains--and there, in the far distance, sea and heaven +unite themselves in majestic repose! + +With an exclamation of rapture the father extended his arms towards the +magnificent prospect; and the mountain wind--not keen here, but mild +from the breath of spring, agreeably cooled the cheeks of the wanderers. + +The father went to the hut to obtain milk for himself and his daughters, +and in the mean time one of the daughters rested upon a moss-covered +stone and supported herself against a rock. Almond-scented linnea formed +a garland around her feet, and the joyous singing-birds ascended from +the valley. The sister, who stood near her and against whom she leaned +her lovely head whilst the wind played in her brown tresses, looked on +the comfortable dwellings which gleamed forth below from amid green +trees and beside clear waters, and her affectionate but unimpassioned +heart rejoiced itself over the scene, which seemed to say to her, "Here +may one live calmly and happily!" At that moment she heard her name +spoken by a loving voice; it was Eva's, who, while she pointed with hand +and eye towards heaven, where the clouds began to divide themselves, and +stripes of blue light gleamed forth like friendly eyes, "Seest thou, +Leonore," said she, gently smiling, "it will be bright!" + +"Will it be bright? Ah, thank God!" whispered Leonore in reply, with +eyes full of joyful tears, as she laid her cheek against the brow of her +sister. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[20] Saeter-huette among the mountains of Norway answer to the Senne of +the Swiss mountains. During the summer the inhabitants of many parts of +Norway withdraw from their villages to others, especially when situated +higher on the mountains, where they can fell wood and find better +pasturage for their cattle. They dwell with their herds in these saeters, +which are generally abandoned in winter.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +UPS AND DOWNS. + + +When a new swarm is ready in a hive to attempt its own flight, warning +voices may be heard on still evenings in the little state, calling +forth, "Out! out!" + +People have interpreted it to be the old queen bee, which thus warns the +young ones forth into the world to fashion their own kingdom. I should +rather imagine it to be the young ones who in this manner sing forth +their longing. But let it be with them as it may, certain it is that in +the human hive, Home, a similar cry sometimes makes itself heard. Then +also there, when the young swarm is become strong with the honey and wax +of home, it finds the house too narrow and longs to get abroad. This is +common to all homes; but it is peculiar to the good and happy home, that +the same voice which exclaims, "Out! out!" exclaims afterwards yet more +animatedly, "In! in!" + +So was it in the home of the Franks. + +The period to which we must now cast our eyes conducts us several years +beyond the time when we saw father and daughters on the heights of the +Dofrine Mountains, and shows us our Petrea returned home after a long +absence. + +The mother, Petrea, and Gabriele, are deep in a conversation which +appears to interest them all three in a very lively manner, and the mild +voice of the mother is heard saying-- + +"You may freely decide for yourself, my good child, that you know +perfectly well; but as you describe Mr. M., and with the feelings, or +more properly speaking, the want of feeling you have for him, I can +never believe that you will be happy with him, and I cannot therefore +advise this marriage. See, here are some almonds in the shell, my dear +girl! We have not forgotten so soon your love for them--I set the basket +before you." + +"And the Countess Solenstrale," said the lively Gabriele, archly, "has +herself spoken for her nephew, and invited you to her house. Very polite +and handsome of her! And you, Petrea, no longer covet this exaltation?" + +"Ah, no, Gabriele!" answered Petrea, "this childish desire is long past; +it is another kind of exaltation than this, that I pine for." + +"And this is called?" asked Gabriele, with a light in her lovely eyes, +which showed her that she very well knew that, which however she had not +pronounced in words. + +"I do not know what I should call it; but there lives and moves here a +longing difficult to describe," said Petrea, laying her hand upon her +breast, and with eyes full of tears; "oh, if I could only rise upwards +to light--to a higher, freer life!" + +"You do not wish to die!" said Gabriele, warmly; "not that I now fear +death. Since Henrik has trod this path, I feel so entirely different to +what I used to do. Heaven is come quite near to the grave. To die is to +me to go to him, and to his home. But I am yet so happy to be living +here with my family, and you, my Petrea, must feel so too. Ah! life on +earth, with those that we love, may indeed be so beautiful!" + +"So I think, and so I feel, Gabriele," replied Petrea, "and more so than +ever when I am at home, and with my own family. On that account I will +gladly live on the earth, at least till I am more perfect. But I must +have a sense of this life having in it a certain activity, by which I +may arrive at the consciousness of that which lives within me--there +moves in me a fettered spirit, which longs after freedom!" + +"Extraordinary!" said Gabriele, half displeased, "how unlike people are +one to another. I, for my part, feel, not the least desire for activity. +I, unworthy mortal, would much rather do nothing." And so saying she +leaned her pretty head with half-shut eyes against her mother, who +looked on her with an expression that seemed to say, "live only; that is +enough for thee!" + +Petrea continued: "When I have read or heard of people who have lived +and laboured for some great object, for some development of human +nature, who have dedicated all their thoughts and powers to this +purpose, and have been able to suffer and to die for it; oh! then I have +wept for burning desire that it also might be granted to me to spend and +to sacrifice my life. I have looked around me, have listened after such +an occasion, have waited and called upon it; but ah! the world goes past +me on its own way--nobody and nothing has need of me." + +Petrea both wept and laughed as she spoke, and with smiles and tears +also did both Gabriele and the mother listen to her, and she continued-- + +"As there was now an opportunity for my marrying, I thought that here +was a sphere in which I might be active--But, ah! I feel clearly that it +is not the right one for me, neither is it the one for which I am +suitable--especially with a husband whose tastes and feelings are so +different to mine." + +"But, my good girl," said the mother, disconcerted, "how came it then, +that he could imagine you sympathised so well together; it seems from +his letter that he makes himself quite sure of your consent, and that +you are very well suited to each other." + +"Ah!" replied Petrea, blushing, and not without embarrassment, "there +are probably two causes for that, and it was partly his fault and partly +mine. In the country, where I met him, he was quite left to himself; +nobody troubled themselves about him; he had _ennui_, and for that +reason I began to find pleasure for him." + +"Very noble," said Gabriele, smiling. + +"Not quite so much so as you think," replied Petrea, again blushing, +"because--at first I wished really to find pleasure for _him_, and then +also a little for myself. Yes, the truth is this--that--I--had nothing +to do, and while I busied myself about Mr. M., I did not think it so +very much amiss to busy him a little about me; and for this reason I +entered into his amusements, which turned upon all sorts of petty +social tittle-tattle; for this reason I preserved apricots for him, I +told stories to him, and sang to him in an evening in the +twilight--'Welcome, O Moon!' and let him think if he would, that he was +the moon. Mother, Gabriele, forgive me, I know how little edification +there is in all this, it is quite too----but you cannot believe how +dangerous it is to be idle, when one has an active spirit within one, +and an object before one that----You laugh! God bless you for it! the +affair is not worth anything more, for it is anything but tragic--yet it +might become so, if on account of my sins I were to punish myself by +marrying Mr. M. I should be of no worth to him, excepting as housekeeper +and plaything, and this would not succeed in the long run; for the rest +he does not love me, cannot love me seriously, and would certainly +easily console himself for my refusal." + +"Then let him console himself, and do not think any further on the +affair," cried Gabriele, with animation. + +"I am of Gabriele's opinion," said the mother; "for to marry merely to +be married; merely to obtain a settlement, an establishment, and all +that, is wrong; and, moreover, with your family relationships, the most +unnecessary thing in the world. You know, my dear child, that we have +enough for ourselves and for you, and a sphere of action suitable for +you will present itself in time. Your father will soon return home, and +then we can talk with him on the subject. He will assist us directly in +the best way." + +"I had, indeed, presentiments," said Petrea, with a sigh, "and hopes, +and dreams, perhaps--of a way, of an activity, which would have made me +useful and happy according to my own abilities. I make now much humbler +demands on life than formerly; I have a much less opinion of myself than +I had--but, oh! if I might only ally myself, as the least atom of light, +to the beams which penetrate humanity at the same time that they animate +the soul of man, I would thank God and esteem myself happy! I have made +an attempt--you know, mother, and Gabriele--to express in a book +somewhat of that which has lived in me and which still lives; you know +that I have sent the manuscript to an enlightened printer for his +judgment, and also--if his judgment be favourable--that he should +publish it. If this should succeed, if a sphere of action should open +itself to me in this way, oh! then some time or other I might become a +more useful and happy being; should give pleasure to my connexions, +and----" + +Petrea was here interrupted by the arrival of a large packet directed to +herself. A shuddering apprehension went through her; her heart beat +violently as she broke the seal, and--recognised her own manuscripts. +The enlightened, intelligent printer sent them back to her, accompanied +by a little note, containing the pleasant tidings that he would not +offer the merest trifle for the book, neither could he undertake the +printing of it at his own cost. + +"Then this path is also closed against me!" said Petrea, bowing her head +to her hand that nobody might see how deeply she felt this. Thus then +she had deceived herself regarding her talents and her ability. But now +that this way also was closed against her--what should she undertake? +Marriage with Mr. M. began again to haunt her brain. She stumbled about +in the dark. + +Gabriele would not allow, however, that the path of literature was +closed against her; she was extremely excited against the printer. "He +was certainly," she said, "a man without any taste." + +"Ah!" said Petrea, readily smiling, "I also will gladly flatter myself +with that belief, and that if the book could only be printed, then we +soon--but that is not to be thought of!" + +Gabriele thought it was quite worth while to think about it, and did not +doubt but that means might be found, some time or other, to make the +gentleman printer make a long face about it. + +The mother agreed; spoke of the return of her husband, who, she said, +would set all right. "Keep only quietly with us, Petrea, calmly, and +don't be uneasy about the means for bringing out your book; they will be +found without difficulty, if we only give ourselves time." + +"And here," added Gabriele, "you shall have as much quiet as you desire. +If you would like to spend the whole day in reading and writing, I will +take care that nobody disturbs you. I will attend to all your friends +and acquaintance, if it be needful, to insure your quiet. I will only +come in to you to tell you when breakfast is ready and when dinner; and +on the post-day, I'll only come at the post-hour and knock at your +door, and take your letters and send them off. And in the evening, +then--then we may see you amongst us--you cannot believe how welcome you +will be! Ah! certainly you will feel yourself happy among those who love +you so much! And your book! we will send it out into the world, and it +too shall succeed one of these days!" + +Loving voices! domestic voices in happy families, what adversity, what +suffering is there which cannot be comforted by you! + +Petrea felt their healing balsam. She wept tears of love and gratitude. +An hour afterwards, much calmer in mind, she stood at the window, and +noticed the scene without. Christmas was at hand, and every thing was in +lively motion, in order to celebrate the beautiful festival joyously. +The shops were ornamented, and people made purchases. A little bird came +and sate on the window, looked up to Petrea, twittered joyfully, and +flew away. A lively sentiment passed through Petrea's heart. + +"Thou art happy, little bird," thought she; "so many beings are happy. +My mishap grieves no one, hurts no one. Wherefore, then, should it +depress me? The world is large, and its Creator rich and good. If this +path will not succeed for me, what then? I will find out another." + +In the evening she was cheerful with her family. But when night came, +and she was alone; when the external world presented no longer its +changing pictures; when loving, sweet voices no more allured her out of +herself,--then anguish and disquiet returned to her breast. In no +condition to sleep, and urged by irresistible curiosity, she sate +herself down sighingly to go through her unlucky manuscripts. She found +many pencil-marks, notes of interrogation, and traces of the thumb on +the margin, which plainly proved that the reader had gone through the +manuscript with a censorious hand, and had had satisfaction in passing +his judgment of "good for nothing!" + +Ah! Petrea had built so many plans for herself and her family upon this, +which was now good for nothing; had founded upon it so many hopes for +her ascent upwards. Was nothing now to come out of them all? + +Petrea read; she acknowledged the justice of many marginal remarks, but +she found, more and more, that the greater part of them had reference +to single expressions, and other trifles. Petrea read and read, and was +involuntarily captivated by that which she read. Her heart swelled, her +eyes glowed, and suddenly animated by that feeling which (we say it +_sans comparaison_) gave courage to Correggio, and which comforted +Galileo, she raised herself, and struck her hand upon the manuscript +with the exclamation, "It is good for something after all!" + +Animated to the depths of her heart, she ran to Gabriele, and laughing, +embraced her with the words, "You shall see that some fine day I'll +ascend upwards yet." + + + + +PART IV. + +CHAPTER I. + +PETREA TO IDA. + + +From my Hermitage in the Garret. + +"'Illusions! Illusions!' you cry over all joys, all faith, all love in +life. I shout back with all my might over your own words, 'Illusions! +Illusions!' All depends upon what we fix our faith and our affections. +Must the beauty of love and worth of life be at an end to woman when her +first spring, her bloom of love, her moments of romance are past? No, do +not believe that, Ida. Nothing in this world is such an illusion as this +belief. Life is rich; its tree blossoms eternally, because it is +nourished by immortal fountains. It bears dissimilar fruits, varies in +colour and glory, but all beautiful; let us undervalue none of them, for +all of them are capable of producing plants of eternal life. + +"Youthful love--the beaming passion-flower of earth! Who will belie its +captivating beauty, who will not thank the Creator that he gave it to +the children of earth? But ah! I will exclaim to all those who drink of +its nectar, and to those who must do without it--'There are flowers +which are as noble as this, and which are less in danger than it of +being paled by the frosts of the earth--flowers from whose chalices +also you may suck life from the life of the Eternal!' + +"Ah! if we only understood how near to us Providence has placed the +fountains of our happiness--if we had only understood this from the days +of our childhood upwards, acted upon it, and profited by it, our lives +would then seldom lead through dry wildernesses! Happy are those +children whose eyes are early opened by parents and home to the rich +activity of life. They will then experience what sweetness and joy and +peace can flow out of family relationships, out of the heartfelt union +between brothers and sisters, between parents and children: and they +will experience how these relations, carefully cherished in youth, will +become blessings for our maturer years. + +"You pray me to speak of my home and my family. But when I begin with +this subject, who can say, Ida, whether I shall know how to leave off! +This subject is so rich to me, so dear--and yet how weak will not my +description be, how lifeless in comparison with the reality! + +"The dwelling-house--which may be said to have the same relation to home +as the body has to the soul--arisen, now out of its ashes, stands on the +same place on which, twelve years ago, it was burnt down. I wish you had +been with me yesterday in the library at breakfast. It was Leonore's +birthday, and the family had occasioned her a surprise by a little gift +which was exactly according to her taste--ornament combined with +convenience. It was an insignificant gift--wherefore then did it give us +all so much pleasure? wherefore were there sweet tears in her pious +eyes, and in ours also? We were all so still, and yet we felt that we +were very happy--happy because we mutually loved one another, and +mutually pleased one another so much. The sun shone at that time into +the room--and see, Ida! this sunbeam which shines day by day into the +house is the best image of its state; it is that which chases hence all +darkness, and turns all shadows into the glorification of its light! + +"I will now, lively Ida, talk to you some little about the daughters of +the house, and in order that you may not find my picture too +sentimental, I will introduce first to you--'Honour to whom honour is +due!'-- + + 'OUR ELDEST,' + +well known for industry, morality, moral lecturing, cathedral airs, and +many good properties. She married eleven years ago upon a much smaller +than common capital of worldly wealth; but both she and her husband knew +how to turn their pound to account, and so, by degrees, their house, +under her careful hands, came to be what people call a well-to-do house. + +"Eight wild Jacobis during this time sprung up in the house without +bringing about any revolution in it, so good were the morals which they +drew in with the mother's milk. I call them the 'Berserkers,' because +when I last saw them they were perfect little monsters of strength and +swiftness, and because we shall rely upon their prowess to overturn +certain planks--of which more anon; on which account I will inspire them +and their mother beforehand with a certain old-gothic ambition. + +"So now! After the married couple had kept school eleven years--he +instructing the boys in history, Latin, and such like; and she washing, +combing, and moralising the same, and in fact, becoming a mother to many +a motherless boy, it pleased the mercy of the Almighty to call them--not +directly to heaven, but through his angel the Consistorium to the +pastoral care of the rural parish adjoining this town--the highest goal +of their wishes ever since they began to have wishes one with another. +Their approaching journey here has given rise to great pleasure--it is +hard to say in which of the two families the greatest. Thus, then, +Louise will become a pastor's wife--perhaps soon also an archdeacon's, +and then she arrives at the desired situation in which she can impart +moral lectures with power--of which sister Petrea might have the benefit +of a good part, and pay it back with interest. + +"But the moral lectures of our eldest have a much milder spirit than +formerly, which is owing to the influence of Jacobi; for it has occurred +in their case, as in the case of many another happily-married couple, +they have ennobled one another; and it is a common saying in our family, +that she without him would not have become what she now is, neither +would he have been without her what he now is. + +"The Rose of the Family, the daughter Eva, had once in her life a great +sorrow--a bitter conflict; but she came forth victorious. True it is +that an angel stood by her side and assisted her. Since then she has +lived for the joy of her family and her friends, beautiful, and amiable, +and happy, and has from time to time rejected lovers; but she may soon +be put out of the position to continue this course. I said that an angel +stood beside her in the bitter conflict. There was a time when this +angel was an ugly, uncomfortable girl, a trouble to herself, and +properly beloved by none. But there is no one in the family now who is +more beloved or more in favour than she is. Never, through the power of +God, did there take place a greater change than in her. Now it gives one +pleasure to look at her and to be near her. Her features, it is true, +have not improved themselves, nor has her complexion become particularly +red-and-white; but she has become lovely, lovely from the heartfelt +expression of affection and intelligence; beautiful from the quiet, +unpretending grace of her whole being. Her only pretension is that she +will serve all and help all; and thus has she attached every one, by +degrees, to her, and she is become the heart, the peace of the house; +and, for herself, she has struck deep root down into the family, and is +become happy through all these charms. She has attached herself, in the +closest manner, to her sister Eva, and these two could not live +separated from each other. + +"You know the undertaking which these two sisters, while yet young, +commenced together. You know also how well it succeeded; how it obtained +confidence and stability, and how it won universal respect for its +conductors, and how also, after a course of ten years--independent of +this institution--they had realised a moderate income; so that they can, +if they are so disposed, retire from it, and it will still continue to +prosper under the direction of Annette P., who was taken as assistant +from the beginning, and who in respect of character and ability has +proved herself a person of rare worth. The name of the sisters Frank +stood estimably at the head of this useful establishment; but it is a +question whether it would have prospered to such an extent, whether it +would have developed itself so beautifully and well without the +assistance of a person who, however, has carefully concealed his +activity from the eye of the public, and whose name, for that reason, +was never praised. Without Assessor Munter's unwearied care and +assistance--so say the sisters--the undertaking could never have gone +forward. What a wonderful affectionate constancy lies in the soul of +this man! He has been, and is still, the benefactor of our family; but +if you would see and hear him exasperated, tell him so, and see how he +quarrels with all thanks to himself. The whole city is now deploring +that it is about to lose him. He is going to reside on his estate in the +country, for it is impossible that he could sustain much longer the way +in which he is at present overworked both night and day. His health has +for some time evidently declined, and we rejoice that he can now take +some rest, by which he may regain new strength. We all love him from our +hearts; but one of us has set on foot a plot to oblige another of us +to--ally herself with him, and therefore our good Assessor is now +exposed to a secret proceeding, which--but I forget that I was to write +about the daughters of the family. + +"There is a peculiar little world in the house--a world into which +nothing bad can enter--where live flowers, birds, music, and Gabriele. +The morning would lose its sweetest charms, if during the same +Gabriele's birds and flowers did not play a part, and the evening +twilight would be duskier if it were not enlivened by Gabriele's guitar +and songs. Her flower-stand has extended itself by degrees into an +orangery--not large to be sure, but yet large enough to shelter a +beautiful vine, which is now covered with grapes, and many beautiful and +rare plants also, so as to present to the family a little Italy, where +they may enjoy all the charms of the south, in the midst of a northern +winter. A covered way leads from the dwelling-house down into the +orangery, and it is generally there that in winter they take their +afternoon coffee. The aviary is removed thither; and there upon a table +covered with a green cloth, lie works on botany, together with the +writings of the Swedish gardening society, which often contain such +interesting articles. There stand two comfortable armed chairs, on which +the most magnificent birds and flowers are worked, you can easily +imagine for whom. There my mother sits gladly, and reads or looks at her +'little lady' (she never grows out of this appellation) as she tends her +flowers in the sun, or plays with her tame birds. One may say, in fact, +that Gabriele strews the evening of her mother's days with flowers. + +"A man dear to the Swedish heart has said, 'that the grand natural +feature of northern life is a conquered winter,' and this applies +equally to life individually, to family life, and to that of human +nature. It so readily freezes and grows stiff, snow so readily falls +upon the heart; and winter makes his power felt as much within as +without the house. In order to keep it warm within, in order that life +may flourish and bloom, it is needful to preserve the holy fire +everburning. Love must not turn to ashes and die out; if it do, then all +is labour and heaviness, and one may as well do nothing but--sleep. But +if fire be borrowed from heaven, this will not happen; then will house +and heart be warm, and life bloom incessantly, and a thousand causes +will become rich sources of joy to all. If it be so within the +house--then may it snow without--then winter thou mayst do thy worst! + +"But I return to Gabriele, whose lively wit and joyous temper, united to +her affectionate and innocent heart, make her deservedly the favourite +of her parents, and the joy of every one. She asserts continually her +own good-for-nothingness, her uselessness, and incorrigible love to a +sweet '_far niente_;' but nobody is of her opinion in this respect, for +nobody can do without her, and one sees that when it is necessary, she +can be as decided and as able as any one need be. It is now some time +since Gabriele made any charades. I almost fancy that the cause of this +is a certain Baron L., who was suspected for a long time of having set +fire to a house, and who now is suspected of a design of setting fire to +a heart, and who, with certain words and glances, has put all sorts of +whims into her head--I will not say heart. + +"And so then we have nothing bad to say of 'this Petrea,' as one of the +friends of the house still calls her, but no longer in anger. This +Petrea has had all kind of botherations in the world: in the first place +with her own nose, with which she could not get into conceit, and then +with various other things, as well within her as without her, and for a +long time it seemed as if her own world would never come forth out of +chaos. + +"It has however. With eyes full of grateful tears I will dare to say +this, and some time I may perhaps more fully explain how this has been +done. And blessed be the home which has turned back her wandering steps, +has healed the wounds of her heart, and has offered her a peaceful +haven, an affectionate defence, where she has time to rest after the +storms, and to collect and to know herself. Without this home, without +this influence, Petrea certainly might have become a witch, and not, as +now, a tolerably reasonable person. + +"You know my present activity, which, whilst it conducts me deeper into +life, discovers to me more beauty, more poetry, than I had ever +conceived of it in the dreams of my youth. Not merely from this cause, +although greatly owing to it, a spring has began to blossom for me on +the other side of my thirty years, which, were it ever to wither, would +be from my own fault. And if even still a painful tear may be shed over +past errors or present faults; if the longing after what is yet +unattainably better, purer, and brighter, may occasion many a pang--what +matters it? What matter if the eye-water burn, so that the eye only +become clear; if heaven humiliate, so that it only draw us upwards? + +"One of Petrea's means of happiness is, to require very few of the +temporal things of earth. She regards such things as nearly related to +the family of illusions, and will, on that account, have as little as +possible to do with them. And thus has she also the means of obtaining +for herself many a hearty and enduring pleasure. I will not, however, be +answerable for her not very soon being taken by a frenzy of giving a +feast up in her garret, and thereby producing all kinds of illusions; +such, for example, as the eating little cakes, the favourite illusion of +my mother, and citron-souffle, the almost perfect earthly felicity of +'our eldest,' in which a reconciliation skal with the frenzy-feast might +be proposed to her beloved 'eldest.' + +"Would you now make a _summa summarum_ of Petrea's state, it stands +thus: that which was a fountain of disquiet in her is now become a +fountain of quiet. She believes in the actuality of life, and in her own +part therein. She does not allow her peace to be disturbed by accidental +troubles, be they from within or from without; she calls them +mist-clouds, passing storms, after which the sun will come forth again. +And should her little garret tumble to pieces one of these days, she +would regard even that as a passing misfortune, and hold herself ready, +in all humility--to mount up yet a little higher. + +"But enough of Petrea and her future ascension. + +"Yet one daughter dwelt in the family, and her lovely image lives still +in the remembrance of all, but a mourning veil hangs over it; for she +left home, but not in peace. She was not happy, and for many years her +life is wrapped in darkness. People think that she is dead; her friends +have long believed so, and mourned her as such; but one among them +believes it not. _I_ do not believe that she is dead. I have a strong +presentiment that she will return; and it would gladden me to show her +how dear she is to me. I have built plans for her future with us, and I +expect her continually, or else a token where I may be able to find her; +and be it in Greenland or in Arabia Deserta whence her voice calls me, I +will find out a way to her. + +"I would that I could now describe to you the aged pair, to whom all in +the house look up with love and reverence, who soon will have been a +wedded couple forty years, and who appear no longer able to live the one +without the other--but my pen is too weak for that. I will only venture +upon a slight outline sketch. My father is nearly seventy years old--but +do you think he indulges himself with rest? He would be extremely +displeased if he were to sleep longer in a morning than usual: he rises +every morning at six, it being deeply impressed upon him to lose as +little of life as possible. It is unpleasant to him that his declining +sight compels him now to less activity. He likes that we should read +aloud to him in an evening, and that--romances. My mother smilingly +takes credit to herself for having seduced him to that kind of reading; +and he confesses, with smiles, that it is really useful for old people, +because it contributes to preserve the heart young. For the rest, he is +in all respects equally, perhaps more, good, more noble-hearted than +ever; and from that cause he is to us equally respect-inspiring and +dear. Oh, Ida, it is a happy feeling to be able intrinsically to honour +and love those who have given us life! + +"And now must I, with a bleeding heart, throw a mournful shadow over +the bright picture of the house, and that shadow comes at the same time +from a beautiful image--from my mother! I fear, I fear, that she is on +the way to leave us! Her strength has been declining for two years. She +has no decided malady, but she becomes visibly weaker and feebler, and +no remedy, as yet, has shown itself availing for her. They talk now of +the air of next spring--of Selzer-water, and a summer journey;--my +father would travel to the world's end with her--they hope with +certainty that she will recover; she hopes so herself, and says +smilingly yes, to the Selzer-water, and the journey, and all that we +propose; says she would gladly live with us, that she is happy with +us,--yet nevertheless there is a something about her, and even in her +smiles, that tells me that she herself does not cherish full faith in +the hope which she expresses. Ah! when I see daily her still paler +countenance; the unearthly expression in her gentle features--when I +perceive her ever slower gait, as she moves about, still arranging the +house and preparing little gratifications for her family; then comes the +thought to me that she perhaps will soon leave us, and it sometimes is +difficult to repress my tears. + +"But why should I thus despair? Why not hope like all the rest? Ah, I +will hope, and particularly for the sake of him who, without her, could +no more be joyful on earth. For the present she is stronger and livelier +than she has been for a long time. The arrival of Louise and her family +have contributed to this, as also another day of joy which is +approaching, and which has properly reference to my father. She goes +about now with such joy of heart, with the almanack in her hand, and +prepares everything, and thinks of everything for the joyful festival. +My father has long wished to possess a particular piece of building land +which adjoins our little garden, in order to lay it out for a great and +general advantage; but he has sacrificed so much for his children, that +he has nothing remaining wherewith to carry out his favourite plan. His +children in the mean time have, during the last twelve years, laid by a +sum together, and now have latterly borrowed together what was wanting +for the purchase of the land. On the father's seventieth birthday +therefore, with the joint help of the 'Berserkers,' will the wooden +fence be pulled down, and the genius of the new place, represented by +the graceful figure of Gabriele, will deliver over to him the +purchase-deed, which is made out in his name. How happy he will be! Oh, +it makes us all happy to think of it! How he will clear away, and dig, +and plant! and how it will gladden and refresh his old age. May he live +so long that the trees which he plants may shake their leafy branches +over his head, and may their rustling foretel to him the blessing, which +his posterity to the third and fourth generation will pronounce upon his +beneficent activity. + +"I would speak of the circle of friends which has ever enclosed our home +most cordially, of the new Governor Stejernhoek and his wife, whom we +like so much, and whose removal here was particularly welcome to my +father, who almost sees a son in him. I would speak also of the servants +of the house, who are yet more friends than servants--but I fear +extending my letter to too great a length. + +"Perhaps you blame me secretly for painting my picture in colours too +uniformly bright, perhaps you will ask, 'Come there then not into this +house those little knocks, disturbances, rubs, overhastinesses, +stupidities, procrastinations, losses, and whatever those spiritual +mosquitoes may be called, which occasion by their stings irritation, +unquiet, and vexation, and whose visits the very happiest families +cannot avoid?' + +"Yes, certainly. They come, but they vanish as quickly as they come, and +never leave a poisonous sting behind, because a universal remedy is +employed against them, which is called 'Forgive, forget, amend!' and +which the earlier applied the better, and which makes also the visits of +these ugly fiends of rarer occurrence; they come, indeed, in pure and +mild atmospheres never properly forth. + +"Would you, dearest Ida, be convinced of the truth of the picture, come +here and see for yourself. We should all like it so much. Come, and let +our house provide for you the divertisement, perhaps also the rest which +is so needful to your heart. Come, and believe me, Ida, that when one +observes the world from somewhat of an elevation--as for instance, a +garret--one sees illusions like mist, passing over the earth, but above +it heaven vaulting itself in eternal brightness." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A MORNING HOUR + + +"Good morning!" said Jeremias Munter, as with his pockets full of books +he entered Petrea's garret, which was distinguished from all other rooms +merely by its perfect simplicity and its lack of all ornament. A glass +containing beautiful fresh flowers was its only luxury. + +"Oh, so heartily welcome!" exclaimed Petrea as she looked with beaming +eyes on her visitor and on his valuable appendages. + +"Yes, to-day," said he, "I am of opinion that I am welcome! Here's a +treat for Miss Petrea. See here, and see here!" + +So saying, the Assessor laid one book after another upon the table, +naming at the same time their contents. They belonged to that class of +books which open new worlds to the eye of reflecting minds. Petrea took +them up with a delight which can only be understood by such as have +sought and thirsted after the same fountains of joy, and who have found +them. The Assessor rejoiced quietly in her delight, as she looked +through the books and talked about them. + +"How good, how cordially good of you," said Petrea, "to think about me. +But you must see that I also have expected you to-day;" and with eyes +that beamed with the most heartfelt satisfaction she took out of a +cupboard two fine china-plates, on one of which lay cakes of light +wheaten bread, and on the other, piled up, the most magnificent grapes +reposing amid a garland of their own leaves, which were tastefully +arranged in various shades against the golden border of the plate. These +Petrea placed upon a little table in the window, so that the sun shone +upon them. + +The Assessor regarded them with the eye of a Dutch fruit painter, and +appeared to rejoice himself over a beautiful picture after his own +manner. + +"You must not only look at your breakfast, but you must eat it," said +the lively Petrea; "the bread is home-baked, and--Eva has arranged the +grapes on the plate and brought them up here." + +"Eva!" said he, "now, she could not know that I was coming here to-day?" + +"And precisely because she thought so as well as I, would she provide +your breakfast." With these words Petrea looked archly at the Assessor, +who did not conceal a pleasurable sensation--broke off a little grape, +seated himself, and--said nothing. + +Petrea turned herself to her books: "Oh," said she, "why is life so +short, when there is such an infinite deal to learn? Yet this is not +right, and it evidences ignorance to imagine the time of learning +limited; besides, this remark about the shortness of time and the length +of art proceeds from the heathen writer Hippocrates. But let us praise +God for the hope, for the certainty, that we may be scholars to all +eternity. Ah, Uncle Munter, I rejoice myself heartily over the +industrial spirit of our age! It will make it easy for the masses to +clothe and feed themselves, and then will they begin also to live for +mind. For true is that sentiment, which is about two thousand years old, +'When common needs are satisfied, man turns himself to that which is +more universal and exalted.' Thus when the great week of the world is +past, the Sabbath will commence, in which a people of quiet worshippers +will spread themselves over the earth, no more striving after decaying +treasures, but seeking after those which are eternal; a people whose +life will be to observe, to comprehend, and to adore, revering their +Creator in spirit and in truth. Then comes the day of which the angels +sung 'Peace on earth!'" + +"Peace on earth!" repeated Jeremias in a slow and melancholy voice, +"when comes it? It must first enter into the human heart; and there, +there live so many demons, so much disquiet and painful longing--but +what--what is amiss now?" + +"Ah, my God!" exclaimed Petrea wildly, "she lives! she lives!" + +"What her? who lives? No, really Petrea all is not right with you," said +the Assessor, rising. + +"See! see!" cried Petrea, trembling with emotion, and showing to the +Assessor a torn piece of paper, "see, this lay in the book!" + +"Well, what then? It is indeed torn from a sepia picture--a hand +strewing roses on a grave, I believe. Have I not seen this somewhere +already?" + +"Yes, certainly; yes, certainly! It is the girl by the rose-bush which +I, as a child, gave to Sara! Sara lives! see, here has she written!" + +The back of the picture seemed to have been scrawled over by a child's +hand; but in one vacant spot stood these words, in Sara's own remarkably +beautiful handwriting: + + No rose on Sara's grave! + Oh Petrea! if thou knew'st---- + +The sentence was unfinished, whilst several drops seemed to prove that +it had been closed by tears. + +"Extraordinary!" said the Assessor: "these books which I purchased +yesterday were bought in U. Could she be there? But----" + +"Certainly! certainly she is there," exclaimed Petrea, "look at the book +in which the picture lay--see, on the first page is the name, Sara +Schwartz--although it has been erased. Oh! certainly she is in U., or +there we can obtain intelligence of her! Oh, Sara, my poor Sara! She +lives, but perhaps in want, in sorrow! I will be with her to-day if she +be in U.!" + +"That Miss Petrea will hardly manage," said the Assessor, "unless she +can fly. It is one hundred and two (English) miles from here to U." + +"Alas, that my father should at this time be absent, should have the +carriage with him; otherwise he would have gone with me! But he has an +old chaise, I will take it----" + +"Very pretty, indeed," returned he, "for a lady to be travelling alone +in an old chaise, especially when the roads are spoiled with rain;--and +see what masses of clouds are coming up with the south wind--you'll have +soaking rain the whole day through in the chaise." + +"And if it rain pokers," interrupted Petrea, warmly, "I must go. Oh, +heavens! she was indeed my sister, she is so yet, and she shall not call +on me in vain! I will run down to my mother in this moment and----" +Petrea took her bonnet and cloak in her hand. + +"Calm yourself a little, Miss Petrea," he said; "I tell you, you could +not travel in this way. The chaise would not hold together. Alas, I have +tried it myself--you could not go in it!" + +"Now then," exclaimed Petrea determinately, "I will go; and if I cannot +go I'll creep--but go I will!" + +"Is that then your firm determination?" + +"My firm and my last." + +"Well, then, I must creep with you!" said the Assessor, smiling, "if it +be only to see how it goes with you. I'll go home now, but will be back +in an hour's time. Promise me only to have patience for so long, and not +without me to set off--creep off, I should say!" + +The Assessor vanished, and Petrea hastened down to her mother and +sisters. + +But before her communications and consultations were at an end, a light +travelling carriage drew up at the door. The Assessor alighted from it, +came in, and offered Petrea his arm. Soon again was he seated in the +carriage, Petrea by his side, and was protesting vehemently against the +bag of provisions, and the bottle of wine, which Leonore thrust in, +spite of his protestations, and so away they went. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ADVENTURES. + + +It was now the second time in their life that the Assessor and Petrea +were out together in such a manner, and now as before it seemed as if no +favourable star would light their journey, for scarcely had they set out +when it began to rain, and clouds as heavy and dark as lead gathered +together above their heads. It is rather depressing when in answer to +the inquiring glances which one casts upwards at the commencement of an +important journey, to be met by a heaven like this. Other omens also +little less fortunate added themselves; the horses pranced about as if +they were unwilling to go farther, and an owl took upon itself to attend +the carriage, set itself on the tree-branches and points of the palings +by the wayside, and then on the coming up of the carriage flew a little +farther, there to await its coming up at a little distance. + +As the travellers entered a wood, where on account of the deep road they +were compelled to travel slowly, they saw on the right hand a little +black-grey old woman step forth, as ugly, witch, and Kobold like in +appearance as an old woman ever can be. She stared at the travellers for +a moment, and then vanished among the trunks of the trees. + +The Assessor shuddered involuntarily at the sight of her, and remarked, +"What a difference is there between woman and woman--the loveliest upon +earth and the most horrible is yet--woman!" + +After he had seen the old witch he became almost gloomy. In the meantime +the owl vanished with her; perhaps, because "birds of a feather flock +together." + +Yet it may be that I am calumniating all this time the little old mother +in the most sinful manner; she may be the most good-tempered woman in +the world. It is well that our Lord understands us better than we do +ourselves. + +All this time Petrea sate silent, for however enlightened and +unprejudiced people may be, they never can perfectly free themselves +from the impression of certain circumstances, such as presentiments, +omens, apparitions, and forebodings, which, like owls on noiseless +wings, have flown through the world ever since the time of Adam, when +they first shouted their ominous "Too-who! too-whit!" People know that +Hobbes, who denied the resurrection in the warmest manner, never could +sleep in the neighbourhood of a room in which there had been a corpse. +Petrea, who had not the least resemblance in the world to Hobbes, was +not inclined to gainsay anything within the range of probability. Her +temperament naturally inclined her to superstition; and like most people +who sit still a great deal, she felt always at the commencement of a +journey a degree of disquiet as to how it would go on. But on this day, +under the leaden heaven, and the influence of discomforting forebodings, +this unquiet amounted to actual presentiment of evil; whether this had +reference to Sara or to herself she knew not; but she was disposed to +imagine the latter, and asked herself, as she often had done, whether +she were prepared for any occasion which might separate her for ever +from all those whom she loved on earth. By this means Petrea most +livingly discovered--discovered almost with horror, how strongly she +was fettered to her earthly existence, how dear life had become to her. + +All human souls have their heights, but then they have also their +morasses, their thickets, their pits (I will not speak of abysses, +because many souls are too shallow to have these). A frequent mounting +upwards, or a more constant abode upon these heights, is the stipulated +condition of man's proximity to heaven. Petrea's soul was an uneven +ground, as is the case with most people; but there existed in her +nature, as we have before seen, a most determined desire to ascend +upwards; and at this time, in which she found her affections too much +bound to earthly things, she strove earnestly to ascend up to one of +those heights where every limited attraction vanishes before more +extended views, and where every fettered affection will become free, and +will revive in what is loftier. The attempt succeeded--succeeded by +making her feel that whatever was most valuable in this life was +intimately connected with that life which only first begins when this +ends. Her lively imagination called forth, one after another, a great +variety of scenes of misfortune and death; and she felt that in the +moment before she resigned life, her heart would be able to raise itself +with the words, "God be praised in all eternity." + +With this feeling, and convinced by it that her present undertaking was +good and necessary, whatever its consequences might be, Petrea's heart +became light and free. She turned herself with lively words and looks to +her travelling companion, and drew him by degrees into a conversation +which was so interesting to them both, that they forgot weather and +ways, forebodings, evil omens, and preparations for death. The journey +prospered as well as any autumn journey could prosper. Not a trace of +danger met them by the way. The wind slumbered in the woods; and in the +public-houses they only heard one and another sleepy peasant open his +mouth with a "devil take me!" + +In the forenoon of the following day our travellers arrived happily at +U. Petrea scarcely allowed herself time to take any refreshments before +she commenced her inquiries. The result of all her and the Assessor's +labours we give shortly thus: + +It soon became beyond a doubt to them that Sara, together with a little +daughter, had been in the city, and had resided in the very inn in which +Petrea and the Assessor now were, although they travelled under a +foreign name. She was described as being in the highest degree weak and +sickly; and, as might be expected in her circumstances, it appeared that +she had besought the host to sell some books for her, which he had done. +One of these books it was which, with its forgotten mark, had fallen +into the hands of Petrea. Sara, on account of her debility, had been +compelled to remain several days in that place, but she had been gone +thence probably a week; and they saw by the Day-book[21] that it had been +her intention to proceed thence to an inn which lay on the road to +Petrea's native place; not, however, on the road by which they had +travelled to U., but upon one which was shorter, although much worse. + +Sara then also was on her way home--yes, perhaps might be there already! +This thought was an indescribable consolation for Petrea's heart, which +from the account she had received of Sara's condition, was anxious in +the highest degree. But when she thought on the long time which had +passed since Sara's journey from the city, she was filled with anxiety, +and feared that Sara might be ill upon the road. + +Willingly would Petrea have turned back again on the same evening to +seek out traces of Sara; but care for her old friend prevented her from +doing more than speaking of it. The Assessor, indeed, found himself +unwell, and required rest. The cold and wet weather had operated +prejudicially upon him, both mind and body. It was adopted as +unquestionable that they could not continue the journey till the +following morning. + +The Assessor had told Petrea that this was his birthday, and perhaps it +was this thought which caused him to be uncommonly melancholy the whole +day. Petrea, who was infinitely desirous of cheering him, hastened, +whilst he was gone out to seek an acquaintance, to prepare a little +festival for his return. + +With flowers and foliage which Petrea obtained, heaven knows how!--but +when people are resolutely bent on anything they find out the means to +do it--with these, then, with lights, a good fire, with a table covered +with his favourite dishes and such like, although in a somewhat +disagreeably public-house room, such a picture of comfort and +pleasantness was presented as the Assessor much loved. + +Fathers and mothers, and all the members of happy families, are +accustomed to birthday festivals, flower-garlands, and well-covered +tables; but nobody had celebrated the birthday of the Assessor during +his solitary wandering; he had not been indulged with those little +flower-surprises of life--if one may so call them; hence it happened +that he entered from the dark, wet street into this festal room with an +exclamation of astonishment and heartfelt pleasure. + +Petrea, on her part, was inexpressibly cordial, and was quite happy when +she saw the pains which she had taken to entertain her old friend +succeed so well. The two spent a pleasant evening together. They made +each other mutually acquainted with the evil omens and the impressions +which they had occasioned, and bantered one another a little thereon; +but decided positively that such fore-tokenings for the most +part--betoken nothing at all. + +As they separated for the night the Assessor pressed Petrea's hand with +the assurance that very rarely had a day given him such a joyous +evening. Grateful for these words, and grateful for the hope of soon +finding again the lost and wept friend of her youth, Petrea went to +rest, but the Assessor remained up late--midnight saw him still writing. + +Man and woman! There is a deal, especially in novels, said about man and +woman, as of separate beings. However that may be, human beings are they +both--and as human beings, as morally sentient and thinking creatures, +they influence one another for life. Their ways and means are different; +and it is this very difference which, by mutual benefits, and mutual +endeavours to sweeten life to one another, produces what is so beautiful +and so perfect. + +The clearest sun brightened the following morning; but the eyes of the +Assessor were troubled, as if he had enjoyed but little repose. Whilst +he and Petrea were breakfasting, he was called out to inspect something +relative to the carriage. + +Was it now the hereditary sin of mother Eve, or was it any other cause +which induced Petrea at this moment to approach the table on which the +Assessor's money lay, together with papers ready to be put into a +travelling writing-case. Enough! she did it--she did certainly what no +upright reader will pardon her for doing, quickly ran her eyes over one +of the papers which seemed just lately to have received from the pen +impressions of thought, and she took it. Shortly afterwards the Assessor +entered, and as it was somewhat late, he hastily put together his +papers, and they set off on their journey. + +The weather was glorious, and Petrea rejoiced like--nay, even more than +a child, over the objects which met her eyes, and which, after the rain, +stood in the bright sunshine, as if in the glory of a festive-day. The +world was to her now more than ever a magic ring; not the perplexing, +half-heathenish, but the purely Christian, in which everything, every +moment has its signification, even as every dewdrop receives its beaming +point of light from the splendour of the sun. Autumn was, above all, +Petrea's favourite season, and its abundance now made her soul overflow +with joyful thoughts. It is the time in which the earth gives a feast to +all her children, and joyous and changing scenes were represented by the +waysides. Here the corn-field raised to heaven its golden sheaves, and +the harvesters sang; there, around the purple berries of the +service-tree, circled beautiful flocks of the twittering silktails; +round the solitary huts, the flowering potato-fields told that the fruit +was ripe, and merry little barefooted children sprang into the wood to +gather bilberries. Petrea thanked heaven in her heart for all the +innocent joys of earth. She thought of her home, of her parents, of her +sisters, of Sara, who would soon again be one of their circle, and of +how she (Petrea) would cherish her, and care for her, and reconcile her +to life and to happiness. In the blessed, beautiful morning hour, all +thoughts clothed themselves in light. Petrea felt quite happy, and the +joke which she thought of playing on her friend the Assessor with the +stolen piece of paper, contributed not a little to screw up her life's +spirit to greater liveliness. "From the fulness of the heart the mouth +speaketh," and Petrea involuntarily influenced her travelling companion +so far that they both amused themselves with bombarding little children +on the waysides with apples and pears, whereby they were not at all +terrified. + +They had now taken the same road upon which Sara had travelled, and in +the first inn at which they stopped, their hopes were strengthened; for +Sara had been there, and had taken thence a horse to the next +public-house. All was on the way towards home. So continued it also at +the three following stations; but at the fifth, they suddenly lost all +traces of her. No one there had seen a traveller answering to her +description, nor was her name to be found in the Travellers' Day-book. +No! a great uneasiness for Petrea. After some deliberation, she and the +Assessor determined to return to the public-house whence they were just +come, in order to discover clearly in what direction Sara had gone +thence. + +In the mean time the evening had come on, and the sun was descending as +our friends were passing through one of the gloomiest woods in Sweden, +and one in such ill-report that not long ago a writer speaking of it, +said, "The forest shrouds memories as awful as itself, and monuments of +murder stand by the wayside. Probably the mantle of the mountains falls +not now in such thick folds as formerly, but yet there still are valleys +where the stroke of the axe has never yet been heard, and rocky ranges +which have never yet been smitten by the rays of the sun." + +"Here two men murdered the one the other," said the postilion with the +gayest air in the world, whilst the carriage stopped to give the horses +breath, on account of the heaviness of the road, and as he spoke he +pointed with his whip to a heap of twigs and pieces of wood which lay to +the left of the road, directly before the travellers, and which +presented a repulsive aspect. It is customary for every passer-by to +throw a stone or a piece of wood upon such a blood-stained spot, and +thus the monument of murder grows under the continued curse of society. +Thus it now stands there, hateful and repulsive amid the beautiful +fir-trees, and it seemed as if the earth had given forth the ugliest of +its mis-shaped boughs, and the most distorted of its twisted roots, +wherewith to build up the heap. From the very midst of this abomination, +however, a wild-rose had sprung forth and shot upwards its living twigs +from among the dry boughs, whilst, like fresh blood-drops above the +pile, shone its berries illuminated by the sun, which now in its descent +threw a path of light over the broad road. + +"When this wild-rose is full of flowers," said Jeremias, as he regarded +it with his expressive glance, "it must awaken the thought, that that +which the state condemns with justice, a Higher Power can cover with the +roses of his love." + +The sun withdrew his beams. The carriage set itself again in motion, but +at the very moment when the horses passed the heap, they shyed so +violently that the carriage was backed into a ditch and overturned. + +"Farewell life!" cried Petrea, internally; but before she herself knew +how, she was out of the carriage, and found herself standing not at all +the worse upon the soft heather. With the Assessor, however, it did not +fare so well; a severe blow on the right leg made it impossible for him +to support himself upon it without great suffering. His old servant, +who had acted as coachman on the journey, lay in a fainting fit at +a few paces from him, bleeding profusely from a wound in the head, +whilst the little post-boy stood by his horses and cried. Time and +situation were not the most agreeable. But Petrea felt herself after +the fright of the first moment perfectly calm and collected. By the +help of the rain-water, which was there in abundance, she brought the +fainting man back to consciousness, and bound up his head with her +pocket-handkerchief. She then helped him to sit up--to stand he was not +able from dizziness. Soon sate master and man by each other, with their +backs by a strong fir-tree, and looked sadly troubled; for although the +Assessor was far more concerned on account of his servant than himself, +and asserted that his own accident was a mere trifle, still he was quite +pale from the pain which it occasioned him. What was to be done? Could +the carriage have been raised out of the ditch and the two wounded men +put into it, Petrea would have placed herself on the coach-box and have +driven them as well as anybody; nothing could be easier, she thought; +but the accomplishing of the two first conditions was the difficulty, +and in the present circumstances an impossibility, for our poor Petrea's +arms and hands were not able to second her good-will and courage. The +post-boy said that at about three-quarters of a mile (English) there lay +a peasant's hut in the wood by the road side; but it was impossible to +induce him to run there, or under any condition to leave his horses. + +"Let us wait," said the Assessor, patiently and calmly, "probably +somebody will soon come by from whom we can beg assistance." They +waited, but nobody came, and every moment the shades became darker; it +seemed as if people avoided this horrible wood at this hour. + +Petrea, full of anxiety for her old friend, if he must remain much +longer on the damp ground, and in the increasing coolness of evening, +determined with herself what she would do. She wrapped up the Assessor +and his old servant in every article of clothing of which she could gain +possession, amongst which was her own cloak, rejoicing that this was +unobserved by her friend, and then said to him decidedly, "Now I go +myself to obtain help! I shall soon be back again!" And without +regarding the prohibitions, prayers, and threats, with which he +endeavoured to recal her, she ran quickly away in the direction of the +hut, as the post-boy had described it. She hastened forward with quick +steps, endeavouring to remove all thoughts of personal danger, and only +to strengthen herself by the hope of procuring speedy help for her +friend. + +The haste with which she went compelled her after some time to stand +still to recover breath. The quick motion which set her blood in rapid +circulation, the freshness of the air, the beautiful and magnificent +repose of the wood, diffused through her, almost in opposition to her +own will and heart, an irresistible feeling of satisfaction and +pleasure, which however quickly left her as she heard a something +crackling in the wood. The wind it could not be? perhaps it was an +animal! Petrea held her panting breath. It crackled; it +whispered;--there were people in the wood! However bold, or more +properly speaking, rash, Petrea might be at certain moments, her heart +now drew itself together, when she thought on her solitary, defenceless +situation, and on the scenes of horror for which this wood was so +fearfully renowned. Beyond this, she was now no longer in those years +when one stands in life on a flying foot, careless and presumptuous: +she had planted herself firmly in life; had her own quiet room; her +peaceful sphere of activity, which she now loved more than the most +brilliant adventures in the world! It was not therefore to be wondered +at, that she recoiled tremblingly from the unlovely and hateful which is +at home by the road sides. + +Petrea listened with a strongly beating heart; the rustling came nearer +and nearer; for one moment she thought of concealing herself on the +opposite side of the way, but in the next she boldly demanded "Who is +there?" + +All was still. Petrea strained her eyes to discover some one in the +direction of the sound, but in vain: the wood was thick, and it had +become quite dark. Once again, exclaimed Petrea, "If any one be there +let him come to the help of unfortunate travellers!" + +Even the heart of robbers, thought she, would be mollified by +confidence; and prayers for help might remove thoughts of murder. The +rustling in the wood began afresh, and now were heard the voices +of--children. An indescribable sensation of joy went through Petrea's +heart. A whole army, with Napoleon at their head, could not at this +moment have given that feeling of security and protection which came +from those children's voices; and soon came issuing from the wood two +little barefooted human creatures, a boy and a girl, who stared on +Petrea with astonishment. She quickly made herself acquainted with them, +and they promised to conduct her to the cottage, which lay at a little +distance. On their way they gave Petrea bilberries out of their full +birch-wood measure, and related to her that the reason of their being +out so late was, that they had been looking for the cow which was lost +in the wood; that they should have driven her home, but had not been +able to find her; which greatly troubled the little ten-years-old girl, +because, she said, the sick lady could not have any milk that evening. + +Whilst Petrea, led by her little guardian-angels, wandered through the +wood, we will make a little flight, and relate what had occurred there a +few days before. + +A few days before, a travelling-car drove along this road, in which sate +a lady and a little girl. As they came within sight of a small cottage, +which with its blossoming potato-field looked friendly in the wood, the +lady said to the peasant boy who drove, "I cannot go farther! Stop! I +must rest!" She dismounted, and crawled with his help to the cottage, +and besought the old woman, whom she found there, for a glass of water, +and permission to rest upon the bed for a moment. The voice which prayed +for this was almost inaudible, and the countenance deathly pale. The +little girl sobbed and cried bitterly. Scarcely had the poor invalid +laid herself upon the humble and hardly clean bed, when she fell into a +deep stupor, from which she did not revive for three hours. + +On her return to consciousness she found that the peasant had taken her +things into the cottage; taken his horse out of the car, and left her. +The invalid made several ineffectual attempts during three days to leave +the bed, but scarcely had she taken a few steps when she sunk back upon +it; her lips trembled, and bitter tears flowed over her pale cheeks. The +fourth day she lay quite still; but in the afternoon besought the old +woman to procure her an honest and safe person, who, for a suitable sum, +would conduct the little girl to a place which would be made known to +him by a letter that would be given with her. The old woman proposed her +brother's son as a good man, and one to be relied on for this purpose, +and promised in compliance with the prayer of the sick woman to seek him +out that same day and speak with him; but as he lived at a considerable +distance she feared that she should only be able to return late in the +evening. After she was gone, the invalid took paper and a lead pencil, +and with a weak and trembling hand wrote as follows: + + "I cannot arrive--I feel it! I sink before I reach the haven. Oh, + foster-parents, good sisters, have mercy on my little one, my + child, who knocks at your door, and will deliver to you my humble, + my last prayer! Give to her a warm home, when I am resting in my + cold one! See, how good she looks! Look at her young countenance, + and see that she is acquainted with want--she is not like her + mother! I fancy her mild features resemble hers whose name she + bears, and whose angelic image never has left my soul. + + "Foster-mother, foster-father! good sisters! I had much to say, + but can say only a little! Forgive me! Forgive me the grief which + I have occasioned you! Greatly have I erred, but greatly also have + I suffered. A wanderer have I been on the earth, and have had + nowhere a home since I left your blessed roof! My way has been + through the desert; a burning simoom has scorched, has consumed my + cheek---- + + "About to leave the world in which I have erred so greatly and + suffered so much, I call now for your blessing. Oh, let me tell + you that that Sara, which you once called daughter and sister, is + yet not wholly unworthy! She is sunk deep, but she has endeavoured + to raise herself; and your forms, like good angels, have floated + around the path of her improvement. + + "It will do your noble hearts good to know that she dies now + repentant, but hopeful--she has fixed her humble hope upon the + Father of Mercy. + + "The hand of mercy cherished on earth the days of my + childhood--later, it has lifted my dying head, and has poured into + my heart a new and a better life; it has conducted me to hope in + the mercy of heaven. Foster-father, thou who wast His image to me + on earth, thou whom I loved much--gentle foster-mother, whose + voice perhaps could yet call forth life in this cold breast--have + mercy on my child--call it your child! and thanks and blessings be + upon you! + + "It never was my intention to come, as a burden, into your house. + No; I wished only to conduct my child to your door--to see it open + to her, and then to go forth--go forth quietly and die. But I + shall not reach so far! God guide the fatherless and the + motherless to you! + + "And now farewell! I can write no more--it becomes dark before my + eyes. I write these last words upon my knees. Parents, sisters, + take my child to you! May it make you some time forget the errors + of its mother! Pardon all my faults! I complain of no one. + + "God reward you, and be merciful to me! + + "Sara." + +Sara folded her letter hastily, sealed it and directed it, and then, +enfeebled by the exertion, sank down beside her sleeping child, kissed +her softly, and whispered, "for the last time!" Her feet and hands were +like ice; she felt this icy coldness run through all her veins, and +diffuse itself over her whole body; her limbs stiffened; and it seemed +to her as if a cold wind blew into her face. + +"It is death!" thought Sara; "my death-bed is lonesome and miserable; +yet--I have deserved no better." Her consciousness became ever darker; +but in the depths of her soul combated still the last, perhaps the +noblest powers of life--suffering and prayer. At length they too also +became benumbed, but not for long, for new impressions waked suddenly +the slumbering life. + +It appeared to Sara as if angel voices had spoken and repeated her name, +tender hands had rubbed her stiffened limbs with electrical fire; her +feet were pressed to a bosom that beat strongly; hot drops fell upon +them, and thawed the icy coldness. She felt a heart throbbing against +hers, and the wind of death upon her face vanished before warm summer +breath, kisses, tears. Oh! was it a dream? But the dream became ever +more living and clear. Life, loving, affectionate, warm life, contended +with death, and was the victor! "Sara, Sara!" cried a voice full of love +and anxiety, and Sara opened her eyes, and said, "Oh! Petrea, is it +you?" + +Yes, indeed, it was our poor Petrea, whose distress at Sara's condition, +and whose joy over her now returning life, can neither of them be +described. Sara took Petrea's hand, and conveyed it to her lips, and the +humility of this action, so unlike the former Sara, penetrated Petrea's +heart. + +"Give me something to drink," prayed Sara, with a feeble voice. Petrea +looked around for some refreshing liquid, but there was nothing to be +found in the cottage excepting a jug containing a little muddy water; +not a drop of milk, and the cow was lost in the wood! Petrea would have +given her heart's blood for a few drops of wine, for she saw that Sara +was ready to die from feebleness. And now, with feelings which are not +to be told, must she give Sara to drink from the muddy water, in which, +however, to make it more refreshing, she bruised some bilberries. Sara +thanked her for it as if it had been nectar. + +"Is there anywhere in this neighbourhood a place where one can meet with +people, and obtain the means of life?" asked Petrea from her little +guide. + +The little guide knew of none excepting in the village, and in the +public-house there they could obtain everything, "whatever they wished," +said the child; to be sure it was a good way there, but she knew a +footpath through the wood by which they might soon reach it. + +Petrea did not stop thinking for a moment; and after she had encouraged +Sara to courage and hope, she set out most speedily with the little +nimble maiden on the way to the village. + +The girl went first: her white head-kerchief guided Petrea through the +duskiness of the wood. But the footway which the girl trod so lightly +and securely, was an actual way of trial for Petrea. Now and then +fragments of her clothes were left hanging on the thick bushes; now a +branch which shot outwards seized her bonnet and struck it flat; now she +went stumbling over tree-roots and stones, which, on account of the +darkness and the speed of her flight, she could not avoid; and now bats +flew into her face. In vain did the wood now elevate itself more +majestically than ever around her; in vain, did the stars kindle their +lights, and send their beams into the deep gullies of the wood; in vain +sang the waterfalls in the quiet evening as they fell from the rocks. +Petrea had now no thought for the beauty of nature; and the lights which +sparkled from the village were to her a more welcome sight than all the +suns and stars in the firmament. + +More lights than common streamed in pale beams through the misty windows +of the public-house as Petrea came up to it. All was fermentation within +it as in a bee-hive; violins were playing; the _polska_ was being +danced; women's gowns swung round, sweeping the walls; iron-heeled shoes +beat upon the floor; and the dust flew up to the ceiling. After Petrea +had sought in vain for somebody outside the dancing-room, she was +compelled to go in, and then she saw instantly that there was a wedding. +The gilded crown on the head of the bride wavered and trembled amid the +attacks and the defence of the contending parties, for it was precisely +the hot moment of the Swedish peasant wedding, in which, as it is said, +the crown is danced off the head of the bride. The married women were +endeavouring to vanquish and take captive the bride, whilst the girls +were, on their part, doing their utmost to defend and hold her back. In +the other half of the great room, however, all went on more noisily and +more violently still, for there the married men strove to dance the +bridegroom from the unmarried ones, and they pulled and tore and pushed +unmercifully, amid shouts and laughter, whilst the _polska_ went on its +whirling measure. + +It would be almost at the peril of her life that a delicate lady should +enter into such a tumult; but Petrea feared in this moment no other +danger than that of not being able to make herself heard in this wild +uproar. She called and demanded to speak with the host; but her voice +was perfectly swallowed up in the universal din. She then quickly turned +herself, amid the contending and round-about-swinging groups to the two +musicians, who were scraping upon their fiddles with a sort of frenzy, +and beating time with their feet. Petrea caught hold of one of them by +the arm, and prayed him in God's name to leave off for a moment, for +that her business was of life and death. But they paid not the slightest +attention to her; they heard not what she said; they played, and the +others danced with fury. + +"That is very mad!" thought Petrea, "but I will be madder still!" and so +thinking, she threw down, upon the musicians, a table which stood near +them covered with bottles and glasses. With this crash the music was +suddenly still. The pause in the music astonished the dancers; they +looked around them. Petrea took advantage of this moment, went into the +crowd and called for the host. The host, who was celebrating his +daughter's wedding, came forward; he was a fat, somewhat pursy man, who +evidently had taken a glass too much. + +Petrea related summarily that which had happened; prayed for people to +assist at the carriage, and for some wine and fine bread for an invalid. +She spoke with warmth and determination; but nevertheless the host +demurred, and the crowd, half intoxicated with drink and dancing, +regarded her with a distrustful look, and Petrea heard it whispered +around her--"The mad lady!" "It is the mad lady!" "No, no, it is not +she!" "Yes, it is she!" + +And we must confess that Petrea's excited appearance, and the condition +of her toilet after the fatigues of her wandering, gave some occasion +for her being taken for a little crazy; this, and the circumstance of +her being mistaken for another person, may explain the disinclination to +afford her assistance, which otherwise does not belong to the character +of the Swedish peasantry. + +Again Petrea exhorted host and peasant to contribute their help, and +promised befitting reward. + +The host set himself now in a commanding attitude, cleared his throat, +and spoke with a self-satisfied air. + +"Yes, yes," said he, "that's all right-good and handsome, but I should +like to see something of this befitting reward before I put myself out +of the way about overturned carriages. In the end, maybe, one shall find +neither one nor the other. One cannot believe everything that people +say!" + +Petrea recollected with uneasiness that she had no money with her; she, +however, let nothing of that be seen, but replied calmly and +collectedly, "You shall receive money when you come to the carriage. But +for heaven's sake, follow me immediately; every moment's delay may cost +a life!" + +The men looked undecidedly one on another; but no one stirred from the +place; a dull murmur ran through the crowd. Almost in despair, Petrea +clasped her hands together and exclaimed, whilst tears streamed from her +eyes, "Are you Christians, and yet can hear that fellow-creatures are in +danger without hastening to help them." + +She mentioned the name and office of her father, and then went from +prayers to threats. + +Whilst all this was going on in the house, something was going on at the +door, of which, in all speed, we will give a glimpse. + +There drew up at the inn-door a travelling-calash, accompanied by a +small Holstein carriage in which sate four boys, the eldest of whom, +probably ten years of age, and who, evidently greatly to his +satisfaction, had managed with his own hands a pair of thin travelling +horses. From the coach-box of the calash sprang nimbly a somewhat stout, +jovial-looking gentleman, and out of the carriage came, one after +another, other four little boys, with so many packets and bundles as was +perfectly wonderful; among all these moved a rather thin lady of a good +and gay appearance, who took with her own hands all the things out of +the carriage, and gave them into the care of a maid and the eldest of +the eight boys; the youngest sate in the arms of his father. + +"Can you yet hold something, Jacob?" asked the lady from one of the +boys, who stood there loaded up to the very chin. "Yes, with my nose," +replied he, merrily; "nay, nay, mamma dear, not the whole +provision-basket--that's quite impossible!" + +The mother laughed, and instead of the provision-basket, two or three +books were put under the protection of the little nose. + +"Take care of the bottles, young ones!" exhorted the mother, "and count +them exactly; there should be ten of them. Adam, don't stand there with +your mouth open, but hold fast, and think about what you have in your +hand, and what you are doing! Take good care of the bottle of mamma's +elixir. What a noise is there within! Does nobody come out? Come here my +young ones! Adam, look after David! Jonathan, stand here! Jacob, +Solomon, where are you? Shem and Seth, keep quiet!" + +This was the moment when, by the opening of the door of the +dancing-room, they became aware of the arrival of the travellers, and +when the host hastened out to receive them. Many followed him, and among +the rest Petrea, who quickly interrupted her address to the peasants, in +order, through the interposition of the travellers, as she hoped, to +obtain speedier help. + +"Good gentlefolks," cried she, in a voice which showed her agitation of +mind; "I know not, it is true, who you are" (and the darkness prevented +her from seeing it), "but I hope you are Christians, and I beseech of +you, for heaven's sake----" + +"Whose voice is that?" interrupted a cheerful, well-toned, manly voice. + +"Who speaks?" exclaimed Petrea in astonishment. + +A few words were exchanged, and suddenly the names "Petrea! Jacobi! +Louise!" flew exultantly from the lips of the three, and they locked one +another in a heartfelt and affectionate embrace. + +"Aunt Petrea! Aunt Petrea!" cried the eight boys in jubilation, and +hopped around her. + +Petrea wept for joy that she had not alone met with good Christians, but +had hit upon her most Christian brother-in-law and court-preacher, and +upon "our eldest," who, with her hopeful offspring, "the Berserkers," +were upon their journey to the paternal house and the new parsonage. + +A few minutes afterwards the carriage, containing Petrea, Louise, and +Jacobi, accompanied by peasants on horseback, drove away at full gallop +into the wood, into whose gullies, as well as into Petrea's imploring +eyes, the half-moon, which now ascended, poured its comfortable light. + +We leave Petrea now with her relatives, who, on their homeward journey, +fell in with her at the right moment to save her from a situation in the +highest degree painful. We are perfectly sure that the Assessor received +speedy assistance; that Sara was regaled with wine as well as with +Louise's elixir; that Petrea's heart was comforted, and her toilet +brought into order; and in confirmation of this our assurance we will +quote the following lines from a letter of Louise, which on the next day +was sent off home. + +"I am quite convinced that Sara, with careful attention, befitting diet, +and above all, by being surrounded with kindness, may be called back to +life and health. But for the present she is so weak that it is +impossible to think of her travelling under several days. And in any +case, I doubt if she will come with us, unless my father come to fetch +her. She says that she will not be a burden to our family. Ah! now it is +a pleasure to open house and heart to her. She is so changed! And her +child is--a little angel! For the Assessor it might be necessary, on +account of his leg, that he go to the city; but he will not leave Sara, +who requires his help so greatly (his servant is out of all danger). +Petrea, spite of all fatigues and adventures, is quite superb. She and +Jacobi enliven us all. As things now stand we cannot fix decidedly the +day of our arrival; but if Sara continue to improve, as appearances +promise, Jacobi sets out to-morrow with the children to you. It is so +dear with them all here in the public-house. God grant that we may all +soon meet again in our beloved home!" + +An hour after the receipt of this letter the Judge set off with such +haste as if his life were concerned. He journeyed from home to the +forest-village; we, on the contrary, reverse the journey, and betake +ourselves from the public-house to---- + +FOOTNOTES: + +[21] A Day-book (Dagbok) is kept at every inn in Sweden. The name of +every traveller who takes thence horses, and the name of the next town +to which he proceeds, are entered in it; and thus when once on the +trace, nothing could be easier than to discover such a traveller. The +day-book is renewed each month.--M. H. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HOME. + + +Lilies were blossoming in the house on the beautiful morning of the +twentieth of September. They seemed to shoot up of themselves under +Gabriele's feet. The mother, white herself as a lily, went about softly +in her fine morning-dress, with a cloth in her hand, wiping away from +mirror or table the smallest particle of dust. A higher expression of +joy than common animated her countenance; a fine crimson tinged her +otherwise pale cheeks, and the lips moved themselves involuntarily as if +they would speak loving and joyful words. + +Bergstroem adorned ante-room and steps with foliage and splendid flowers, +so that they represented a continuation of garlands along the white +walls; and not a little delighted was he with his own taste, which +Gabriele did not at all omit to praise. But although an unusually great +deal of occupation pervaded the house this morning, still it was +nevertheless unusually quiet; people only spoke in low voices, and when +the least noise was made, the mother said, "Hush! hush!" + +The cause of this was, that the lost but again-found child slept in the +house of her parents. + +Sara had arrived there the evening before, and we have passed over this +scene, for the great change in her, and her shaken condition, had made +it sorrowful; yet we wish indeed that the feeling reader had seen the +manly tears which flowed down the cheeks of the Judge, as he laid the +found-again daughter on the bosom of her mother. We should like to have +shown him the unfortunate one, as she rested with her hands crossed over +her breast on the snow-white couch, over which the mother herself had +laid the fine coverlet; have shown him how she looked upon the child, +whose bed stood near her own; upon the beloved ones, who full of +affection surrounded her--and then up to heaven, without being able to +utter one word! And how glad should we have been could he have seen the +Jacobian pair this evening in the paternal home, and how there sate +eating around them, Adam and Jacob, the twin brothers Jonathan and +David, ditto Shem and Seth, together with Solomon and little Alfred. +They were well-trained children, and looked particularly well, all +dressed alike in a blouse of dark stuff, over which fell back the white +shirt collar, leaving free the throat with its lively tint of health, +whilst the slender waist was girded with a narrow belt of white leather. +Such was the light troop of "the Berserkers." + +But we return to our bright morning hour. Eva and Leonore were in the +garden, and gathered with their own hands some select Astracan apples +and pears, which were to ornament the dinner table. They were still +glittering with dew, and for the last time the sun bathed them with +purple by the song of the bulfinch. The sisters had spoken of Sara; of +the little Elise, whom they would educate; of Jacobi--and their +conversation was cheerful; then they went to other subjects. + +"And to-day," said Leonore, "your last answer goes to Colonel R----, +your last, no! And you feel quite satisfied that it should be so?" + +"Yes, quite!" returned Eva; "how the heart changes! I cannot now +conceive how I once loved him!" + +"It is extraordinary how he should still solicit your hand, and this +after so long a separation. He must have loved you much more than any of +the others to whom he made court." + +"I do not think so, but--ah, Leonore! do you see the beautiful apple +there? It is quite bright. Can you reach it? No? Yes, if you climb on +this bough." + +"Must I give myself so much trouble?" asked Leonore; "that is indeed +shocking! Well, but I must try, only catch me if I should fall!" + +The sisters were here interrupted by Petrea, whose appearance showed +that she had something interesting to communicate. + +"See, Eva," said she, giving to her a written piece of paper, "here you +have something for morning-reading. Now you must convince yourself of +something of which till now you would not believe. And I shall call you +a stock, a stone, an automaton without heart and soul, if you do +not--yes, smile! You will not laugh when you have read it. Leonore! +come, dear Leonore, you must read it also, you will give me credit for +being right. Read, sisters, read!" + +The sisters read the following remarks, in the handwriting of the +Assessor. + +"'Happy is the lonely and the lowly! He may ripen and refresh himself in +peace!' Beautiful words, and what is better, true. + +"The foundling has proved their truth. He was sick in mind, heart, and +sick of the world and of himself, but he belonged to the lowly and to +the unnoticed, and so he could be alone; alone, in the fresh, quiet +wood, alone with the Great Physician, who only can heal the deep wounds +of the heart--and it is become better with him. + +"Now I begin to understand the Great Physician, and the regimen which he +has prescribed for me. I feared the gangrene selfishness, and would +drink myself free therefrom by the nectar of love; but he said, +'Jeremias, drink not this draught, but that of self-denial--it is more +purifying.' + +"I have drunk it. I have loved her for twenty years without pretension +and without hope. + +"To-day I have passed my three-and-sixtieth year; the increasing pain in +my side commands me to leave the steps of the patients, and tells me +that I have not many more paces to count till I reach my grave. May it +be permitted to me to live the remainder of my days more exclusively for +her! + +"At the 'Old Man's Rose' will I live for her--for it stands in my will +that it belongs to her, it belongs to Eva Frank. + +"I will beautify it for her. I will cultivate there beautiful trees and +flowers for her; vines and roses will I bring there. Old age will some +time seize on her, wither her, and consume her. But then 'the rose of +age' will bloom for her, and the odour of my love bless her, when the +ugly old man wanders on the earth no more. She will take her dear +sisters to her there; there hear the songs of the birds, and see the +glory of the sun upon the lovely objects of nature. + +"I will repose on these thoughts during the solitary months or years +that I must pass there. Truly, many a day will be heavy to me; and the +long solitary evenings; truly, it were good to have there a beloved and +gentle companion, to whom one might say each day, 'Good morning, the sun +is beautiful;' or in whose eyes--if it were not so--one could see a +better sun;--a companion with whom one could enjoy books, nature--all +that God has given us of good; whose hand, in the last heavy hour one +could press, and to whom one could say, 'Good night! we meet +again--to-morrow--with love itself--with God!' + +"But--but--the foundling shall find no home upon earth! + +"Now he will soon find another home, and will say to the master there, +'Father, have mercy on my rose!' and to the habitation of men will he +say, 'Wearisome wast thou to me, O world! but yet receive my thanks for +the good which thou hast given me!'" + + * * * * * + +When the sisters had ceased to read, several bright tears lay upon the +paper, and shone in the light of the sun. Leonore dried her tears, and +turning herself to Petrea, inquired, "But, Petrea, how came this paper +into your hands?" + +"Did I not think that would come?" said Petrea. "You should not ask such +difficult questions, Leonore. Nay, now Eva's eyes are inquiring too--and +so grave. Do you think that the Assessor has put it into my hands? Nay, +he must be freed from that suspicion even at my expense. You want to +know how I came by this paper? Well then--I stole it, sisters--stole it +on our journey--on the very morning after it was written." + +"But, Petrea!" + +"But, Petrea! yes, you good ones! it is too late now to cry, 'but, +Petrea!' now you know the Assessor's secret; you now may do what your +consciences command, mine is hardened--you may start before my act, and +be horrified; I don't ask about it. The whole world may excommunicate +me--I don't trouble myself!--Eva! Leonore! Sisters!" + +Petrea laid an arm round the neck of each sister, kissed them, smiling +with a tear in her eye, and vanished. + + * * * * * + +Somewhat later in the morning we find Eva and Gabriele on a visit at the +beautiful parsonage-house immediately in the vicinity of the town, where +Mrs. Louise is in full commotion with all her goods and chattels, whilst +the little Jacobis riot with father and grandfather over fields and +meadows. The little four-years-old Alfred, an uncommonly lively and +amiable child, is alone with the mother at home; he pays especial court +to Gabriele, and believing that he must entertain her, he brings out his +Noah's Ark to introduce to her, in his low, clear, young voice, Ham and +Hamina, Shem and Shemina, Japhet and Japhetina. + +After all how-do-ye-do's between the sisters had been answered, Gabriele +loosened the paper from a basket which Ulla had brought in, and asked +Louise to be pleased to accept some roast veal and patties. "We +thought," said she, "that you would need something fresh after the +journey, before you get your store-room in order. Just taste a patty! +they are filled with mince-meat, and I assure you are baked since the +Flood." + +"Really!" replied Louise, laughing, "they are delicate too! See, there's +one for you, my little manikin; but another time don't come and set +yourself forward and look so hungry! Thanks! thanks, dear sister! Ah, +how charming that we are come again into your neighbourhood! How fresh +and happy you all look! And Petrea! how advantageously she has altered; +she is come to have something quiet and sensible about her; she has +outgrown her nose, and dresses herself neatly; she is just like other +people now. And see--here I have a warm, wadded morning-dress for her, +that will keep her warm up in her garret; is it not superb? And it cost +only ten thalers courant." + +"Oh, extraordinary!--out of the common way!--quite unheard of!" said +they, "is it not so?--why it is a piece of clothing for a whole life!" + +"What a beautiful collar Eva has on! I really believe she is grown +handsomer," said Louise. "You were and are still the rose of the family, +Eva; you look quite young, and are grown stout. I, for my part, cannot +boast of that; but how can anybody grow stout when they have eight +children to work for! Do you know sisters, that in the last week before +I left Stockholm, I cut out a hundred and six shirts! I hope I can meet +with a good sempstress here; at home; look at my finger, it is quite +hard and horny with sewing. God bless the children! one has one's +trouble with them. But tell me, how is it with our mother? They have +always been writing to me that she was better--and yet I find her +terribly gone off; it really grieves me to see her. What does the +Assessor say?" + +"Oh," replied Gabriele warmly, "he says that she will recover. There is +really no danger; she improves every day." + +Eva did not look so hopeful as Gabriele, and her eyes were filled with +tears as she said, "When autumn and winter are only over, I hope that +the spring----" + +"And do you know," interrupted Louise, with animation, "what I have been +thinking of? In the spring she shall come to us and try the milk cure: +she shall occupy this room, with the view towards the beautiful birch +grove, and shall enjoy the country air, and all the good things which +the country affords and which I can obtain for her--certainly this will +do her good. Don't you think that then she will recover? Don't you think +that it is a bright idea of mine?" + +The sisters thought that really it was bright, and Louise continued: + +"Now I must show you what I have brought for her. Do you see these two +damask breakfast cloths, and these six breakfast napkins?--all spun in +the house. I have had merely to pay for the weaving. Now, how do they +please you?" + +"Oh, excellently! excellently!" said one sister. + +"How very handsome! How welcome they will be!" said the other. + +"And you must see what I have bought for my father--ah! Jacobi has it in +his carpet-bag--one thing lies here and another there--but you will see +it, you will see it." + +"What an inundation of things!" said Gabriele, laughing. "One can see, +however, that there is no shortness of money." + +"Thank God!" said Louise, "all is comfortable in that respect, though +you may very well believe that it was difficult at first; but we began +by regulating the mouths according to the dishes. Ever since I married I +have had the management of the money. I am my husband's treasurer; he +gives over to me whatever comes in, and he receives from me what he +wants, and in this way all has gone right. Thank God, when people love +one another all does go right! I am happier than I deserve to be, with +such a good, excellent husband, and such well-disposed children. If our +little girl, our little Louise, had but lived! Ah! it was a happiness +when she was born, after the eight boys; and then for two years she was +our greatest delight. Jacobi almost worshipped her; he would sit for +whole hours beside her cradle, and was perfectly happy if he only had +her on his knee. But she was inexpressibly amiable--so good, so clever, +so quiet; an actual little angel! Ah! it was hard to lose her. Jacobi +grieved as I have never seen a man grieve; but his happy temperament and +his piety came to his help. She has now been dead above a year. Ah! +never shall I forget my little girl!" + +Louise's tears flowed abundantly; the sisters could not help weeping +with her. But Louise soon collected herself again, and said, whilst she +wiped her eyes, "Now we have also anxiety with little David's ankles; +but there is no perfect happiness in this world, and we have no right to +expect it. Pardon me that I have troubled you; and now let us speak of +something else, whilst I get my things a little in order. Tell me +something about our acquaintance--Aunt Evelina is well?" + +"Yes, and sits as grandmother of five nephews at Axelholm, beloved and +honoured by all. It is a very sweet family that she sees about her, and +she has the happiest old age." + +"That is pleasant to hear. But she really deserved to be loved and +honoured. Is her Karin also married?" + +"Ah, no! Karin is dead! and this has been her greatest sorrow; they were +so happy together." + +"Ah, thou heaven! Is she dead? Ah, yes, now I remember you wrote to me +that she was dead----Look at this dress, sisters--a present from my dear +husband; is it not handsome? and then quite modern. Yes, yes, dear +Gabriele, you need not make such an ambiguous face; it is very handsome, +and quite in the fashion, that I can assure you. But, _a propos_, how is +the Court-preacher? Exists still in a new form, does it? Now that is +good! I'll put it on this afternoon on purpose to horrify Jacobi, and +tell him that for the future I intend to wear it in honour of his +nomination to the office of court-preacher." + +All laughed. + +"But tell me," continued Louise, "how will our 'great astonishment' go +on? how have you arranged it?" + +"In this manner," returned one of the sisters. "We shall all meet for a +great coffee-drinking in the garden, and during this we shall lead the +conversation in a natural sort of way to the piece of ground on the +other side the fence, and then peep through the cracks in it, and then +express that usual wish that this fence might come down. And then, at +this signal, your eight boys, Louise, are to fall on the fence and----" + +"How can you think," said Louise--"to be sure my boys are nimble and +strong, but it would require the power of Berserkers to----" + +"Don't be alarmed," answered the sisters, laughing, "the fence is sawn +underneath, and stands only so firm that a few pushes will produce the +effect--the thing is not difficult. Besides, we'll all run to the +attack, if it be needful." + +"Oh, heaven help us! if it be only so, my young ones will soon manage +the business--and _a propos_! I have a few bottles of select white +sugar-beer with me, which would certainly please my father, and which +will be exactly the right thing if we, as is customary on such +occasions, have to drink healths." + +During this conversation little Alfred had gone round ineffectually +offering two kisses, and was just on the point of growing angry because +his wares found no demand, when all at once, summoning resolution, he +threw his arms round Gabriele's neck, and exclaimed, "Now I see really +and thoroughly, that Aunt Gabriele has need of a kiss!" And it was not +Aunt Gabriele's fault if the dear child was not convinced how wholly +indispensable his gift was. + +But Louise still turned over her things. "Here," said she, "I have a +waistcoat-piece for Bergstroem, and here a neck-kerchief for Ulla, as +well as this little brush with which to dust mirrors and tables. Is it +not superb? And see, a little pair of bellows, and these trifles for +Brigitta." + +"Now the old woman," said the sisters, "will be happy! She is now and +then out of humour, but a feast of coffee, and some little present, +reconcile her with all the world; and to-day she will get both." + +"And see," continued Louise, "how capitally these bellows blow: they can +make the very worst wood burn--see how the dust flies!" + +"Uh! one can be blown away oneself," said Gabriele, laughing. + +While the sisters were still occupied with cleaning and dusting, and +Louise was admiring her own discoveries, the Judge came in, happy and +warm. + +"What a deal of business is going forward!" exclaimed he, laughing. "I +must congratulate you," said he, "Louise; your boys please me entirely. +They are animated boys, with, intellects all alive--but, at the same +time, obedient and polite. Little David is a regular hairbrain, and a +magnificent lad--what a pity it is that he will be lame!" + +Louise crimsoned from heartfelt joy over the praise of her boys, and +answered quickly to the lamentation over the little David, "You should +hear, father, what a talent he has for the violoncello; he will be a +second Gehrman." + +"Nay, that is good," returned the Judge; "such a talent as that is worth +his two feet. But I have hardly had time to notice you properly yet, +Louise. Heavens! it's glorious that you are come again into our +neighbourhood; now I think I shall be able to see you every day! and you +can also enjoy here the fresh air of the country. You have got thin, but +I really think you have grown!" + +Louise said laughingly, that the time for that was over with her. + +The sisters also, among themselves, made their observations on Louise. +They were rejoiced to see her, among all her things, so exactly herself +again. + +Handsomer she certainly had not become--but people cannot grow handsomer +to all eternity. She looked well and she looked good, had no more of the +cathedral about her; she was an excellent Archdeacon's lady. + + * * * * * + +We transport ourselves now to Sara's chamber. + +When a beloved and guiltless child returns, after sufferings overcome, +to the bosom of parents into a beloved home, who can describe the sweet +delight of its situation? The pure enjoyment of all the charms of home; +the tenderness of the family; the resigning themselves to the heavenly +feeling of being again at home? But the guilty---- + +We have seen a picture of the prodigal son which we shall never forget! +It is the moment of reconciliation: the father opens his arms to the +son; the son falls into them and hides his face. Deep compunction of the +heart bows down his head, and over his pale cheek--the only part of his +countenance which is visible, runs a tear--a tear of penitence and pain, +which says everything. The golden ring may be placed upon his hand; the +fatted calf may be killed and served up before him--he cannot feel gay +or happy--embittering tears gush forth from the fountains of memory. + +Thus was it with Sara, and exactly to that degree in which her heart was +really purified and ennobled. As she woke out of a refreshing sleep in +her new home, and saw near her her child sleeping on the soft snow-white +bed; as she saw all, by the streaming in light of the morning sun, so +festally pure and fresh; as she saw how the faithful memory of affection +had treasured up all her youthful predilections; as she saw her +favourite flowers, the asters, beaming upon the stove, in an alabaster +vase; and as she thought how all this had been--and how it now was--she +wept bitterly. + +Petrea, who was reading in the window of Sara's room waiting for her +awaking, stood now with cordial and consoling words near her bed. + +"Oh, Petrea!" said Sara, taking her hand and pressing it to her breast, +"let me speak with you. My heart is full. I feel as if I could tell you +all, and you would understand me. I did not come here of my own +will--your father brought me. He did not ask me--he took me like a +child, and I obeyed like a child. I was weak; I thought soon to die; but +this night under this roof has given me strength. I feel now that I +shall live. Listen, to me, Petrea, and stand by me, for as soon as my +feet will carry me I must go away from here. I will not be a burden to +this house. Stained and despised by the world, as I am, I will not +pollute this sanctuary! Already have I read aversion towards me in +Gabriele's look. Oh, my abode here would be a pain to myself! Might my +innocent little one only remain in this blessed house. I must away from +here! These charms of life; this abundance, they are not for me--they +would wake anguish in my soul! Poverty and labour beseem me! I will +away hence. I must!--but I will trouble nobody: I will not appear +ungrateful. Help me, Petrea--think for me; what I should do and where I +should go!" + +"I have already thought," replied Petrea. + +"Have you?" said Sara, joyfully surprised, and fixed upon her +searchingly her large eyes. + +"Come and divide my solitude," continued Petrea, in a cordial voice. +"You know that I, although in the house of my parents, yet live for +myself alone, and have the most perfect freedom. Next to my room is +another, a very simple but quiet room, which might be exactly according +to your wishes. Come and dwell there! There you can live perfectly as +you please; be alone, or see only me, till the quiet influence of calm +days draw you into the innocent life of the family circle." + +"Ah, Petrea," returned Sara, "you are good--but you cannot approach a +person of ill-report--and you do not know----" + +"Hush! hush!" interrupted Petrea; "I know very well--because I see and +hear you again! Oh, Sara! who am I that I should turn away from you? God +sees into the heart, and he knows how weak and erring mine is, even if +my outward life remain pure, and if circumstances and that which +surrounds me have protected me, and have caused my conduct to be +blameless. But I know myself, and I have no more earnest prayer to God +than that: 'Forgive me my trespasses!' May I not pray by your side? +Cannot we tread together the path which lies before us? Both of us have +seen into many depths of life--both of us now look up humbly to the +cheerful heaven! Give me your hand--you were always dear to me, and now, +even as in the years of childhood do I feel drawn to you! Let us go; let +us try together the path of life. My heart longs after you; and does not +yours say to you that we are fit for one another, and that we can be +happy together?" + +"Should I be a burden to you?" said Sara: "were I but stronger, I would +wait upon you; could I only win my bread by my hands, as in the latter +years I have done--but now!" + +"Now give yourself up to me blindly," said Petrea. "I have enough for +us both. In a while, when you are stronger, we will help one another." + +"Will not my wasted life--my bitter remembrances make my temper gloomy +and me a burden?" asked Sara; "and do not dark spirits master those who +have been so long in their power?" + +"Penitence," said Petrea, "is a goddess--she protects the erring. And if +a heathen can say this, how much more a Christian!--Oh, Sara! +annihilating repentance itself--I know it--can become a strength for +him, by which he can erect himself. It can raise up to new life; it can +arouse a will which can conquer all things--it has raised me erect--it +will do the same for you! You stand now in middle life--a long future is +before you--you have an amiable child; have friends; have to live for +eternal life! Live for these! and you will see how, by degrees, the +night vanishes, the day ascends, and all arranges itself and becomes +clear. Come, and let us two unitedly work at the most important business +of life--improvement!" + +Sara, at these words, raised herself in the bed, and new beams were +kindled in her eyes. "I will," said she, "Petrea; an angel speaks +through you; your words strengthen and calm me wonderfully--I will begin +anew----" + +Petrea pressed Sara to her breast, and spoke warm and heartfelt +"thanks," and then added softly, "and now be a good child, Sara!--all +weak and sick people are children. Now submit, calmly and resignedly, to +be treated and guided like such a one; gladden by so doing those who are +around you, and who all wish you well! We cannot think of any change +before you are considerably better--it would trouble every one." + +At this moment the door was opened, and the mother looked in +inquiringly; she smiled so affectionately as she locked Sara in her +arms. Leonore followed her; but as she saw Sara's excited state, she +went quickly back and returned with a breakfast-tray covered with all +kinds of good things; and now cheerful and merry words emulated one +another to divert the again-found-one, old modes of speech were again +reverted to, and old acquaintances renewed. + +"Do you know Madame Folette again? She has been lately repaired. Can she +have the honour of giving you a cup of coffee? There is your old cup +with the stars; it was saved with Madame Folette from the fire, and the +little one here with the rose-buds is allotted to our little Elise. You +must really taste these rusks--they never were in the Ark--they came +with the blushing morning out of the oven. Our 'little lady' has herself +selected and filled the basket with the very best for you; you shall see +whether these home-baked would not please even the Assessor;"--and so +on. + +In the mean time the little Elise had awoke, and looked with bright blue +eyes up to great Elise, who bent down to her. They were really like each +other, as often daughter's daughters and grandmothers are, and appeared +to feel related already. When Sara saw her child in Elise's arms, tears +of pure joy filled her eyes for the first time. + + * * * * * + +I do not know whether my lady-readers have nerves to stand by while "the +Berserkers" overthrow the garden-fence. I fancy not; and therefore, with +my reader's permission, I make a little leap over the great event of the +day--the thrown-down wooden fence, which fell so hastily that the +Berserkers themselves tumbled all together over it,--and go into the new +piece of land, where we shall find the family-party assembled, sitting +on a flower-decorated moss-seat, under a tall birch-tree, which waved +over them its crown, tinged already with autumnal yellow. The September +sun, which was approaching its setting, illuminated the group, and +gleamed through the alders on the brook, which softly murmuring among +blue creeks, flowed around the new piece of land, and at once beautified +and bounded it. + +Tears shone in the eyes of the family-father; but he spoke not. To see +himself the object of so much love; the thoughts on the future; on his +favourite plan; fatherly joy and pride; gratitude towards his +children--towards heaven, all united themselves to fill his heart with +the most pleasurable sensations which can bless a human bosom. + +The mother, immediately after the great surprise, and the explosion of +joy which followed it, had gone into the house with Eva and Leonore. +Among those who remained behind, we see the friend of the family +Jeremias Munter, who wore on the occasion the grimmest countenance in +the world; the Baron L., who was no more the wild extravagant youth, +but a man, and beyond this, a landed-proprietor, whose grave demeanour +was beautified by a certain, agreeable sobriety, particularly visible +when he spoke with "our little lady," at whose feet he was seated. + +Louise handed about white-sugar beer, which nobody praised more highly +than herself. She found that it had something unearthly in it, something +positively exalting; but when Gabriele, immediately after she had drank +a half glass, gave a spring upwards, "our eldest" became terrified, for +such a strong working of her effervescing white-beer she had by no means +expected. Nevertheless she was soon surrounded by the eight, who cried +altogether, "Mamma, may I have some beer?" "And I too?" "And I?" "And I +too?" "And I?" "And I?" "Send a deal of foam for me, mamma dear!" + +"Nay, nay, nay, dear boys! people must not come clamouring and storming +thus--you don't see that I or the father do so. Solomon must wait to the +very last now. Patience is a good herb. There, you have it; now drink, +but don't wet yourselves!" + +After the little Jacobis had all enjoyed the foaming, elevating liquor, +they became possessed by such a buoyant spirit of life, that Louise was +obliged to command them to exhibit their mighty deeds at a distance. +Hereupon they swarmed forth on journeys of discovery, and began to +tumble head over heels round the place. David hobbled along with his +little crutch over stock and stone, whilst Jonathan gathered for him all +sorts of flowers, and plucked the bilberry plants, to which he pointed +with his finger; little nosegays were then made out of them, with which +they overwhelmed their aunts, especially Gabriele, their chosen friend +and patron. The serious Adam, the eldest of the eight, a boy of +exceedingly staid demeanour, sate quietly by the side of his +grandfather, and appeared to consider himself one of the elderly people; +the little Alfred hopped about his mother. + +The Judge looked around him with an animated countenance; he planted +alleys and hedges; set down benches and saw them filled with happy +people, and communicated his plans to Jacobi. + +Jeremias observed the scene with a bitter, melancholy, and, to him, +peculiar smile. As little David came limping up to him with the +fragrant wood-flowers, he exclaimed suddenly, "Why not rather make here +a botanic garden than a common park? Flowers are indeed the only +pleasant thing here in the world, and because people go all about +snuffing with the nose, it might be as well to provide them with +something to smell at. A water-establishment also could be united with +it, and thus something miserable might get washed away from the pitiable +wretches here in this world." + +The Judge seized on the idea with joy. "So we will," said he; "we will +unite pleasure with profit. This undertaking will cost more than a +simple public pleasure-ground, but that need not prevent it. In this +beautiful time of peace, and with the prospect of its long continuance, +people may take works in hand, and hope to complete them, even if they +should require a long time." + +"And such works," said Jacobi, "operate ennoblingly on life in times of +peace. Peace requires even as great a mass of power as war, but against +another kind of foe. Every ennobling of this earthly existence, +everything which exalts the mind to a more intellectual life, is a +battery directed against the commoner nature in man, and is a service +done to humanity and one's native land." + +"Bah!" cried Jeremias with vexation, "humanity and native land! You have +always large words in the mouth; if a fence is thrown down or a bush +planted, it is immediately called a benefit for one's native land. Plant +your fields and throw down your fences, but let the native land rest in +peace! for it troubles itself just as little about you, as you about it. +For one's country and humanity!--that should sound very affecting--all +mere talk!" + +"No, now you are in fact too severe," said the Judge, smiling at the +outbreak of his friend; "and I, as far as regards myself," continued he, +gravely, but cheerfully, "wish that a clearer idea of one's country +accompanied every step of human activity. If there be a love which is +natural and reasonable, it is the love of one's country. Have I not to +thank my country for everything that I have? Are they not its laws, its +institutions, its spiritual life, which have developed my whole being, +as man and as a citizen? And are they not the deeds of my fathers which +have fashioned these; which have given them their power and their +individual life? In fact, love and gratitude towards one's parents is +no greater duty than love and gratitude towards one's native land; and +there is no one, be he man or woman, high or low, but who, according to +his own relationships, can and must pay this holy debt. And this is +exactly the signification of a christianly constituted state, that every +one shall occupy with his pound so as to benefit, at the same time, both +the individual and the community at large." + +"Thus," added Petrea, "do the rain-drops swell the brook, which pours +its water into the river, and may, even though it be nameless, +communicate benefit in its course." + +"So it is, my dear child," said her father, and extended to her his +hand. + +"It is a gladdening thought," said Louise, with tearful eyes. "Pay +attention, Adam, to what grandfather and aunt say, and keep it in your +mind;--but don't open your mouth so wide; a whole frigate could sail +into it." + +At these words little Alfred began to laugh so shrilly and so heartily +that all the elderly folks irresistibly bore him company. Adam laughed +too; and at the sound of this peal of laughter came bounding forward +from all ends and corners Shem and Seth, Jacob and Solomon, Jonathan and +David, just as a flock of sparrows comes flying down over a handful of +scattered corn. They came laughing because they heard laughter, and +wished to be present at the entertainment. + +In the mean time the sun had set, and the cool elves of evening began to +wander over the place as the family, amid the most cheerful talk, arose +in order to return to the house. As they went into the city the ball on +St. Mary's church glimmered like fire in the last beams of the sun, and +the moon ascended like a pale but gentle countenance over the roof of +their house. There was a something in this appearance which made a +sorrowful impression on Gabriele. The star of the church tower glittered +over the grave of her brother, and the look of the moon made her +involuntarily think on the pale, mild countenance of her mother. For the +rest, the evening was so lovely, the blackbird sang among the alders by +the brook, and the heaven lay clear and brightly blue over the earth, +whilst the wind and every disturbing sound became more and more hushed. + +Gabriele walked on, full of thought, and did not observe that Baron L. +had approached her; they were almost walking together as he said, "I am +very glad; it was very pleasant to me to see you all again so happy!" + +"Ah, yes," answered Gabriele, "now we can all be together again. It is a +great happiness that Louise and her family are come here." + +"Perhaps," continued the Baron--"perhaps it might be audacity to disturb +such a happily united life, and to wish to separate a daughter and +sister from such a family--but if the truest----" + +"Ah!" hastily interrupted Gabriele, "don't speak of disturbing anything, +of changing anything--everything is so good as it now is!" + +He was silent, with an expression of sorrow. + +"Let us be all happy together," said Gabriele, bashfully and cordially; +"you will stop some time with us. It is so charming to have friends and +sisters--this united life is so agreeable with them." + +The Baron's countenance brightened. He seized Gabriele's hand, and would +have said something, but she hastened from him to her father, whose arm +she took. + +Jacobi conducted Petrea; they were cheerful and confidential together, +as happy brother and sister. She spoke to him of her present happiness, +and of the hope which made up her future. He took the liveliest interest +in it, and spoke with her of his plans; of his domestic happiness; and +with especial rapture of his boys; of their obedience to the slightest +word of their parents; of their mutual affection to each other--and +see--all this was Louise's work! And Louise's praise was sung forth in a +harmonious duet--ever a sweet scent for "our eldest," who appeared, +however, to listen to no one but her father. + +They soon reached home. The mother stood with the silver ladle in her +hand, and the most friendly smile on her lips, in the library, before a +large steaming bowl of punch, and with look and voice bade the entering +party welcome. + +"My dear Elise," said the Judge, embracing her, "you are become twenty +years younger to-day." + +"Happiness makes one young," answered she, looking on him +affectionately. + +People seated themselves. + +"Don't make so much noise, children!" said Louise to her eight, seating +herself with the little Elise on her knees; "can't you seat yourselves +without so much noise and bustle." + +Jeremias Munter had placed himself in a corner, and was quiet, and +seemed depressed. + +On many countenances one saw a sort of tension, a sort of consciousness +that before long a something uncommon was about to happen. The Judge +coughed several times; he seemed to have an unusual cause for making his +throat clear. At length he raised his voice and spoke, but not without +evident emotion, "Is it true that our friend Jeremias Munter thinks of +soon leaving us, in order to seat himself down in solitude in the +country? Is it true, as report says, that he leaves us so soon as +to-morrow morning, and that this is the last evening which brings him +into our circle as a townsman of ours?" + +The Assessor made an attempt to reply, but it was only a sort of low +grunting tone without words. He looked fixedly upon the floor, and +supported his hands upon his stick. + +"In this case," continued the Judge, "I am desired to ask him a +question, which I would ask from no one else, and which nearly sticks in +my throat,--Will our friend Munter allow that any one--any one of us +should follow him into his solitude?" + +"Who would accompany me?" snorted Jeremias grumblingly and doubtingly. + +"I!" answered a soft, harmonious voice; and Eva, as beautiful and +graceful at this moment as ever, approached him, conducted by her +father. "I," repeated she, blushing and speaking softly but sincerely, +"I will accompany you if you will." + +On the countenances of the family it might be read that this to the +members of it was no surprise. Louise had gentle tears in her eyes, and +did not look the least in the world scandalised at this step--so +contrary to the dignity of woman. The Assessor drew himself together, +and looked up with a sharp and astonished look. + +"Receive from my hand," said the Judge, with a voice which showed his +feeling, "a companion for whom you have long wished. Only to you, +Munter, would I so resign my beloved child." + +"Do you say no to me?" asked Eva, blushing and smiling, as she extended +her white hand to the still stupified Jeremias. + +He seized the extended hand hastily, pressed it with both hands to his +breast, and said softly as he bent over it, "Oh, my rose!" When he +raised his head, his eyes were wet; but there was anxiety and disquiet +in his whole being. "Brother," said he to the Judge, "I cannot yet thank +you--I don't know--I don't understand--I must first prove her." + +He took Eva by the hand and conducted her into the boudoir adjoining the +library, seated himself opposite to her, and said warmly, "Whence +proceeds this? What jokes are these? How does it arise? Tell me, in +God's name, Eva, with what sentiments do you thus come and woo me? Is it +with true love?--yes, I say, true love; don't be startled at the word! +You can take it as I mean it. Is it love, or is it--pity? As a gift of +mercy I cannot take you. Thus much I can tell you. Do not deceive +yourself--do not deceive me! In the name of God, who proves all hearts, +answer me, and speak the truth. Is it from the full and entire heart +that you come thus to me? Do you think, Eva, angel of God, that I, the +ugly, infirm, ill-tempered old man can make you happy?" + +He spoke with a heartfelt anxiety, yet he now looked handsome with love +and feeling. + +"My friend, my benefactor," answered Eva, and wiped away some tears +which rolled down her cheeks, "see into--read my inmost heart. Gratitude +led me to the acknowledgment of your worth, and both have led me to +love; not the passionate love which I once felt--but never more can +feel--but a deep inward devotion, which will make me and, as I also +hope, you happy, and which nothing further can disturb. To live for you, +and next to you for my family, is the highest wish that I have on earth. +I can candidly say that in this moment there is no one whom I love more +than you. Is that enough for you?" + +The Assessor riveted his deep eyes searchingly and penetratingly on Eva. +"Kiss me!" said he, at once short and sharp. + +With an indescribably charming submission, Eva bowed her blushing face +and kissed him. + +"Lord God!" said Jeremias, "and you are mine! In his name then!" and +with unspeakable emotion clasped he his long beloved to his heart. He +held her long, and only deep sighs arose from his heart overflowing with +happiness. At length he tore himself from her, and as if animated with +new youth he sprang forward, and exclaimed to the company assembled in +the library, "Nay, now it is all made up--I take her--she shall have +me--she shall have me! She is worthy to be my wife, and I am worthy to +be her husband! Now then, you without there, will not you drink our +healths?" + +All gathered around the bowl--Louise with the rest--the eight following +her--it was all a joyful bustle. Leonore and Petrea kept back the little +tumultuous ones amid laughter, and promised to carry the glasses to them +if they would only keep their places. + +At length quiet returned to the assembly, the glasses were filled, and +the skal began. + +No. 1, which the Judge proposed, was "for the newly betrothed." + +No. 2, which Jacobi spoke eloquently, was "for the Parents; for their +happiness and well-being," said he, with emotion, "through which I, and +so many others as well as I, are blessed!" + +No. 3, was drunk to "the prosperity of the new Pastor's family." + +No. 4, for "the new purchased land." + +No. 5, for "the old--ever-new Home." + +No. 6, was "the health of all good children!" The eight seemed as if +they could not return thanks enough. + +After this yet a many other particular toasts were given. The young +Jacobis drank incessantly to the aunts--Gabriele must continually make +her glass clink against those of her little nephews. + +In the mean time Jeremias Munter made with love-warm looks the following +speech to his bride. "That was a joke now! that you should have made me +of such consequence! How did she know that I would have her? To woo me +yourself, and to take me so by surprise! To give me no time to think. +What then? It is quite unheard of! Was the thing arranged beforehand? +No, that is too troublesome. Nay, nay, nay, nay then, nay say I! But now +I think about it, it was quite for the best that I accept you--but +indeed you were a little hasty; I've a good mind to----What now? What is +fresh in hand? Comes her little grace, the little sister-in-law, without +any ceremony and kisses me. Heavens! the world is very merry!" + +But nobody in the whole circle found the world so merry as Petrea. + +"Are you now satisfied with me, Petrea?" asked Eva, archly laughing. +Petrea clasped her warmly in her arms. + +Now the voice of Mother Louise was heard saying, "Nay, nay, children, +you must not drink a drop more! What do you say, my little David? A +thee-and-thou toast with Uncle Munter? No, thank you greatly, my dear +fellow, you can propose that another time. You have drunk to-day toasts +enough--more, perhaps, than your little heads can carry." + +"I beg for the boys, sister Louise," said the Assessor; "I will propose +a skal, and they must drink it with me. Fill, yet once more, the +glasses, little carousers!--I propose a skal for peace! peace in our +country, and peace in our homes! A skal for love and knowledge, which +alone can make peace a blessing! A skal, in one word, for--Peace upon +Earth!" + +"Amen! amen!" cried Jacobi, drank off his glass, and threw it behind +him. Louise looked at her mother somewhat astonished, but the mother +followed Jacobi's example; she too was carried away. + +"All glasses to the ground after this skal!" cried the Judge, and sent +his ringing against the ceiling. With an indescribable pleasure the +little Jacobis threw their glasses up, and endeavoured to make the skal +for Peace as noisy and tumultuous as possible. + + * * * * * + +We leave now the joyful circle, from which we have seen the mother +softly steal away. We see her go into the boudoir, where reposing in +comfortable quiet she writes the following lines to her friend and +sister: + +"I have left them now for a few minutes, in order to rest, and to say a +few words to you, my Cecilia. Here it is good and quiet; and joyful +voices--truly festival voices, echo to me here. The heart of my Ernst +enjoys the highest pleasure, for he sees all his children happy around +him. And the children, Cecilia, he has reason to be joyful over them and +proud; they stand all around him, good and excellent human beings; they +thank him that existence has been given to them, and that they have +learned its worth; They are satisfied with their lot. The lost and +again-found-one has come home, in order to begin a new life, and her +charming child is quite established on the knees of the grandfather. + +"I hear Gabriele's guitar accompanied by a song. I fancy now they dance. +Louise's eight boys make the floor shake. Jacobi's voice is heard above +all. The good, ever-young man. I also should be joyful, for all in my +house is peaceful and well-arranged. And I am so; my heart is full of +thankfulness, but my body is weary--very weary. + +"The fir-trees on the grave wave and beckon me. I see their tops +saluting me in the clear moonlight, and pointing upwards. Dost thou +beckon me, my son? Dost thou call me to come home to thee? My +first-born, my summer-child! Let me whisper to thee that this is my +secret wish. The earth was friendly towards me; friendly was my home: +when thou wast gone, my favourite! I began to follow. Perhaps the day of +my departure is at hand. I feel in myself as if I were able to go to +rest. And might a really bright and beautiful moment be enjoyed by me +before my last sleep, I would yet once more press my husband's hand to +my lips, look around me on earth with a blessing, and upwards towards +heaven with gratitude, and say as now, out of the depths of my heart, +'Thank God for the home here, and the home there.'" + + +END OF THE HOME. + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +I inserted 'a' into sentence, Never did I envy [a] human being as I +envied her, on Page 90. + +In Footnote 3, the word appears to be Niflhem, but the more common +spelling is Niflheim. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Home, by Fredrika Bremer + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HOME *** + +***** This file should be named 20746.txt or 20746.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/4/20746/ + +Produced by Stacy Brown, Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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