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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I
+(of 3), by Various
+
+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 Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I (of 3)
+       A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish Authors
+
+Author: Various
+
+Translator: Mrs. (Anna S.) Bushby
+
+Release Date: October 23, 2011 [EBook #37831]
+Last Updated: May 3, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANES SKETCHED BY THEMSELVES, VOL I ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+   1. Page scan source:
+      http://www.archive.org/details/danessketchedbyt01bush
+      digitized by University of Toronto.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                               BENTLEY'S
+                             POPULAR WORKS.
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+                       One Shilling and Sixpence.
+
+   Tales from Bentley, Vols. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
+
+
+                      Two Shillings and Sixpence.
+
+   What to do with the Cold Mutton.
+   Everybody's Pudding Book; or, Puddings, Tarts, &c., for all the Year
+       round.
+   The Lady's Dessert Book. By the Author of 'Everybody's Pudding
+      Book.'
+   Nelly Armstrong. A Story of Edinburgh Life.
+   Rita: an Autobiography.
+   The Semi-Detached House. Edited by Lady Theresa Lewis.
+   The Semi-Attached Couple. By the same Author.
+   The Ladies of Bever Hollow. By the Author of 'Mary Powell.'
+   Village Belles. By the same Author.
+   Easton. By Hon. Lena Eden.
+   The Season Ticket.
+   Notes on Noses. By Eden Warwick.
+   Salad for the Social. Books, Medicine, Lawyers, the Pulpit, &c.
+   Say and Seal. By the Author of 'Wide Wide World.'
+
+
+                     Three Shillings and Sixpence.
+
+   Quits. By the Author of 'The Initials.'
+   Anthony Trollope's The Three Clerks.
+
+
+                            Four Shillings.
+
+   Dr. M'Causland's Sermons in Stones; or, Scripture confirmed by
+      Geology.
+   Lady Chatterton's Translations from Plato.
+   Julia Kavanagh's Madeline, a Tale of Auvergne. Gilt edges.
+
+
+                            Five Shillings.
+
+   The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels. 58th Thousand.
+   Francatelli's Cook's Guide. 100 Recipes and 40 Woodcuts. 15th
+      Thousand.
+   Bentley Ballads. The best Ballads and Songs from Bentley's
+      Miscellany. 5th Thousand.
+   Lord Dundonald's Autobiography, with Portrait. 6th Thousand.
+   Anecdotes of Animals. A Boy's Book, with eight spirited
+      Illustrations by Wolff. Handsomely bound, with gilt edges.
+   Ellet's Lives of Women Artists of all Ages and Countries. A Girl's
+      Book. Handsomely bound, gilt edges.
+   Mrs. Ellis' Mothers of Great Men.
+   Hayes' Arctic Boat Voyage. Beautifully bound.
+   Lamartine's Celebrated Characters. Nelson, Cromwell, Tell, Bossuet,
+      Milton. &c.
+   Smith's Anecdotes of the Streets of London, and of their more
+      Celebrated Residents.
+   Colonel Graham's History of the Art of War.
+   Dr. Maginn's Shakespeare Characters, Polonius, Falstaff, Bottom the
+      Weaver, Macbeth, Hamlet, &c.
+
+
+                             Six Shillings.
+
+   Ned Locksley. With two Illustrations.
+   The Last of the Cavaliers. With two Illustrations.
+   The Initials. With two Illustrations.
+   Mrs. Wood's East Lynne.
+   ------------The Channings.
+   ------------Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles.
+   Buckland's Curiosities of Natural History, First Series.
+   -------------------------------------------Second Series.
+   Wilkie Collins' Notes taken afoot in Cornwall; or, Rambles beyond
+      Railways.
+   Mignet's Life of Mary Queen of Scots. Two Portraits.
+   Guizot's Life of Oliver Cromwell. Portrait.
+   James' Naval History of Great Britain. 6 vols. 6_s_. each.
+   Timbs' Anecdote Lives. With Illustrations. First Series, Statesmen.
+   -----------------------Second Series, Painters.
+   -----------------------Third Series, Wits and Humourists.
+   -----------------------Fourth Series, Wits and Humourists.
+   Rev. Herman Douglas' Jerusalem the Golden, and the Way to it.
+   Thiers' History of the Great French Revolution. 5 vols. 6_s_. each,
+      with 41 exquisite Engravings.
+   Dr. Stebbing's Lives of the Principal Italian Poets.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                               THE DANES
+
+                        Sketched by Themselves.
+
+                A SERIES OF POPULAR STORIES BY THE BEST
+                            DANISH AUTHORS,
+
+
+
+                       TRANSLATED BY MRS. BUSHBY.
+
+
+
+                      _IN THREE VOLUMES.--VOL. I_.
+
+
+
+                                LONDON:
+                RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
+                                 1864.
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+               [_The right of Translation is reserved_.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+        LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
+                           AND CHARING CROSS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Most of the following stories have appeared, from time to time, in the
+'New Monthly Magazine,' and a few in other periodicals. They are now
+gathered together, and it is hoped that they may convey a favourable
+impression of the lighter literature of Denmark,--a country rich in
+genius, science, and art.
+
+
+
+
+                          CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
+
+
+   Cousin Carl.--By Carl Bernhard.
+   The Doomed House.--By B. S. Ingemann.
+   The Felon's Reverie.
+   Morten Lange. A Christmas Story.--By Hans Christian Andersen.
+   A Tale of Jutland.--By S. S. Blicher.
+   The Secret Witness.--By B. S. Ingemann.
+   Agnete and the Merman.--By Jens Baggesen.
+   A Waking Dream.
+   The Confessional.--By Christian Winther.
+   The Ancestress; or, Family Pride.--From the Swedish of the late
+      Baroness Knorring.
+   The Man from Paradise.--By Hans Christian Andersen.
+
+
+
+
+                               THE DANES
+
+                        Sketched by Themselves.
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+                              COUSIN CARL.
+
+                   FROM THE DANISH OF CARL BERNHARD.
+
+
+                                PART I.
+
+When I was a young man about twenty years of age, I was a sad
+hair-brained fellow. I lived entirely in the passing hour, the time
+gone by was quite forgotten, and about the future I never took the
+trouble to think a moment. Inclined to every possible species of
+foolish prank, I was always ready to rush headlong into any kind of
+frolic--anything that promised fun, even if that were a row; and never
+did I let slip the opportunity of amusing myself. I was a living proof
+that proverbs are not always infallible; for if 'bought wit is best,'
+that is to say, wisdom bought by experience, I must have become wise
+long ago; if 'a burned child or a scalded cat dreads the fire,' I was
+singed and scalded often enough to have felt some dread; and 'to pay
+the piper' had frequently fallen upon me. But I was none the wiser or
+more prudent. This preface was necessary in order to introduce the
+following episode of my mirth-loving youthful days.
+
+My father thought that the best way of breaking off my intimacy with a
+somewhat riotous clique of young men, in whose jovial society I passed
+a good deal of my time, was to send me to Hamburg, where I was placed
+in the counting-house of a merchant, who was expected to keep a strict
+watch over me, on account of his well-known reputation for the most
+rigid morality; as if one could not find pleasant society in Hamburg if
+one were inclined to be gay! Before fourteen days had elapsed, I had at
+least three times outwitted the worthy man's vigilance, and twice out
+of these three times had not got home till close upon the dawn of day,
+without having been engaged in any fray; a pretty fair evidence that I
+sought good company, where the risk of getting a drubbing existed
+between the hours of one and three. But fate spread her protecting hand
+over me, and at the expiration of a year I returned safe and sound to
+Copenhagen, bringing back with me much experience in all manner of
+jolly diversions, and no small desire to carry my knowledge of them
+into continued practice.
+
+I was of course destined to be bound hand and foot with the
+counting-house chains; but before putting them on I obtained leave to
+take a month's holiday in the country, and visit my uncles and my aunts
+in various parts of Zealand. One fine afternoon in the month of
+September, I sought out a common conveyance, such as is used by the
+peasantry, to take me the first few miles of my journey; and with my
+knapsack in my hand I was standing in the court-yard of the inn ready
+to step into the rustic carriage, when a servant entered the court and
+asked if there were any opportunity for Kjöge.
+
+'That person standing there is going straight to Kjöge,' said the
+ostler of the inn.
+
+The servant touched his hat. 'Here is a letter which it is of great
+consequence to my master should reach Kerporal's Inn at ----, where a
+private carriage will be waiting for him; he is not able to go where he
+is expected, as he has been taken ill. I would give the letter to the
+driver, but fear he might lose it.'
+
+'Well, let me have it,' said I. 'I will be your master's messenger.
+What is his name?' He mentioned a name quite unknown to me. I pocketed
+the letter, and drove off.
+
+My usual good luck did not attend me on this journey. In general I
+seldom drove a mile without meeting with some little adventure, if no
+better than taking up a passenger on the road, or mystifying some
+good-natured countryman, or playing the fool with some coquettish
+barmaid; but this time everything seemed bewitched, and I was tired to
+death. The Kjöge road is the stupidest of all possible roads--the
+wayfarers are too ragged and dirty for anyone to venture to take them
+up, the peasantry are deeper than coal-pits in cunning, and the
+barmaids are either as ugly as sin or engaged to the tapsters and
+cellarmen--in both cases disqualified for the situations they fill. I
+was dreadfully _ennuyé_, and, as if to add to my despair, one of the
+horses became lame, and they proceeded leisurely, step by step, at a
+snail's pace.
+
+Whoever has felt as weary of his own company on a journey as I did, if
+he will put himself in my place, will not think it strange that I
+sometimes got out of the vehicle and walked, sometimes jumped in again,
+sometimes sang, sometimes whistled, sometimes thrust my hands into my
+pockets playing with everything there, then dragged them out and
+buttoned up my coat. But all this impatient rummaging in my pockets did
+no good to the stranger's letter, which became so crushed and crumpled
+that at last I discovered with some dismay that it looked more like a
+scrap of soiled paper than a respectable letter. It was in such a
+condition that it would be scarcely possible to deliver it--it was
+really almost in tatters. There was nothing to be done but to gain a
+knowledge of its contents, and deliver the same verbally to the
+coachman. Luckily the person who had sent it did not know who I was.
+
+With the help of a little conjecture, I at length extracted from the
+maltreated epistle pretty much what follows:--
+
+
+'Dear Uncle,--I have duly received your esteemed favour of the 7th
+instant, and see by it that my father had informed you of my arrival in
+Copenhagen by the steam-boat, and that you are so good as to say you
+would send your carriage to meet me on the 11th, about seven o'clock in
+the evening, at Kerporal's Inn, in order to convey me from thence to
+your house. A severe cold, which I caught on the voyage, obliges me to
+keep my room for the present, and to put off my visit to your dear
+unknown family for eight days or so. In making this communication I beg
+to assure you of my sincere regret at the delay, and to offer my best
+compliments to my beautiful cousins.' Then came one or two inflated and
+pedantic paragraphs, and the letter was subscribed
+
+                             'Respectfully yours,
+
+                                               'Carl.'
+
+
+The short and the long of the matter was that he would come in a week,
+being detained by a bad cold. 'Well, these interesting communications
+can be made in a few words to the coachman. It is surprising how much
+paper people think it necessary to waste when they want to trump up a
+reason for not doing anything!' With this sage remark I threw the
+letter down on the road, where it must speedily have become utterly
+illegible, for--one evil more--a shower came on, and it soon increased
+till the rain fell in torrents. Misfortunes, it is said, never come
+alone; on the contrary, pieces of good fortune seldom come in pairs.
+
+At length we approached Kerporal's Inn. It was pouring of rain, it was
+eight o'clock, and it was already almost dark. A travelling-carriage
+was waiting under a shed, and its horses were stamping as if with
+impatience at a long detention. The gifts of fortune are surely very
+unequally distributed, methought, as I reflected on the solitary
+journey before me, and that it was impossible I could reach my uncle's
+parsonage until very late at night.
+
+'To whom does that carriage belong?' I asked.
+
+'It belongs to the Justitsraad,[1] at ---- Court,' replied the
+coachman. This place was situated about a mile[2] from my uncle's
+house.
+
+'Oh! then it is you who are waiting for a gentleman from Copenhagen?'
+said I.
+
+'Yes, sir. And since you are the gentleman, we had as well set off as
+fast as we can. The horses are baited, and we shall have no better
+weather this evening, sir,' said the coachman.
+
+'Done!' thought I. 'This is not such a bad idea. I shall get so far dry
+and snugly; I can get out at the gate, or else carry the message
+myself. People are so hospitable in the country that they will surely
+offer me a night's lodging, and at an early hour to-morrow I shall
+proceed on foot to my uncle's house.' So the journey was not to be
+ended without an adventure.
+
+It is pleasant to exchange a hard, wet conveyance, little better than a
+cart, which goes crawling along, for a comfortable carriage getting
+over the ground at a brisk pace; so I yielded to the temptation, and
+deposited myself in the latter, whilst I envied the pedant who could
+travel in such luxurious ease to beautiful unknown cousins--I who had
+neither equipages nor cousins--and he could stay at home to take care
+of his cold! _I_ would not have done that in _his_ place. The three
+miles[3] were soon got over--in fact, they did not seem more than one
+mile to me; for during the two last I was fast asleep, the carriage
+having rocked me into slumbers as gently as if it had been a cradle.
+
+Suddenly it stopped, and as suddenly I awoke in a state of utter
+unconsciousness as to where I was. In a moment the door was opened,
+lights and voices around bewildered me still more, and I was almost
+dragged out of the carriage.
+
+'It is he--it is cousin Carl!' was shouted in my ears, and the circle
+pressed more closely around me.
+
+I was at ---- Court. I was about to execute my commission in the best
+manner I could, and make some apology for having brought the message
+myself instead of having delivered it to the coachman, when I spied a
+charming-looking little cousin, who thrust her pretty head forward with
+evident curiosity. How pretty she was! I could not take my eyes off of
+her, and stood staring at her for a moment in silence; but during that
+moment's silence I had been kindly welcomed by the family as 'Cousin
+Carl'--I who was only his unworthy messenger. Was I not in luck?
+
+The Justitsraad carried me straight to the dining-room, and they sat
+down immediately to table, as if their repast had been retarded on my
+important account. I know not how I carried off my embarrassment; every
+moment my situation was becoming more and more painful; my spirits
+sank, and my usual effrontery ... ah! it failed me at the very time
+that I needed it most.
+
+We were quite a family party. There were but the uncle; his wife, who
+was a pleasant, good-looking, elderly lady, apparently about fifty;
+cousin Jettè, who was pale and silent, but seemed very interesting;
+cousin Hannè, the charming little Venus who had caused my awkward
+position; and cousin Thomas, a lanky, overgrown boy, about twelve years
+of age, with long arms in jacket-sleeves too short for them. From sheer
+flurry I ate as if I had not seen food for a fortnight, and with each
+glass I emptied down my throat I started in my own mind one plan after
+another to escape from the dilemma into which my thoughtlessness had
+plunged me.
+
+'I am very glad to see that you do not make strangers of us, but really
+are eating heartily,' said the Justitsraad as he filled my plate for
+the fifth time. 'I can't bear to see young men, or anyone, under
+restraint in my house; here everyone must do exactly as if he were at
+home. I am very glad you are not sitting like a stick, or looking as if
+you were afraid of us and of the viands before you. And now let us
+drink to your happy return to your native land. I am pleased to see
+that you are able now to pledge one in a glass of wine. When you were a
+boy, you had every appearance of turning out a regular milksop. But, to
+be sure, eleven years make great changes in everybody.'
+
+I drank to the health of my father and mother, then to the welfare of
+the whole family, and then a special toast to cousin Jettè's health,
+which was proposed by her father himself. When we were about to drink
+it, he nodded to me with an air of intelligence, as if we were
+_d'accord_ with each other; but the pretty cousin scarcely touched the
+glass with her lips, and did not vouchsafe me a single glance; it
+seemed as if she were far from pleased at the compliment paid her.
+Cousin Hannè, who sat near me, filled my glass every time it was empty,
+and she had so industriously employed herself in this manner, that my
+head was beginning to be a good deal confused.
+
+'And now it is time to go to bed, my children!' said the Justitsraad.
+'It is late; to-morrow we will hear all that your cousin has to tell
+us.'
+
+I was on the point of requesting a moment's private conversation with
+him; but the moment for doing so passed away unseized--in the next it
+was no longer possible. The family bade each other good night, a
+servant showed me to my room, and I was left to my reflections. The
+reflections of a harum-scarum fellow of one-and-twenty! You are right,
+dear reader, they certainly were not worth much. Hannè's pretty face
+and the Justitsraad's good wine had taken a somewhat potent effect upon
+my brain; I hastened to seek repose, and, like the Theban tyrant,
+deferred grave business till the morrow.
+
+But I could not fall asleep, for conscience plagued me; it is its
+custom to wake up when everybody is sleeping, and without the least
+mercy it compelled me to listen to its lectures. It became so
+importunate that it drove me out of bed, and induced me to admit that
+it would be better to jump out of the window, and carry my baggage on
+my shoulders to my uncle's parsonage, than to be treated to-morrow as
+an impudent puppy--_that_ I should not so much mind--but also as a
+scamp of an impostor who had palmed himself upon them for the sake of
+obtaining a drive and a good supper gratis--_that_ I should mind a
+great deal, for it would touch my honour. It is thus one reasons at
+twenty-one.
+
+It rained no longer, but it was as dark as pitch. Darkness would favour
+my intention; but how was I to find my way in a place utterly unknown
+to me? I determined to keep awake till the dawn of day, then take
+myself off, and leave the family to make inquiries about the cousin,
+until the real one thought fit to recover from his cold. But that
+little Hannè's charming face, was I never to behold it again? Well, it
+was very foolish to have come there, but after all, it would be still
+more foolish to remain.
+
+I left a little piece of my window open, and sat down near it in order
+to watch for the first streaks of daylight. I had, however, a long time
+to wait, for it was just half-past twelve o'clock. As I sat there,
+fretting at myself for my folly, I heard something or some one,
+stirring beneath the window, and a moment afterwards among the branches
+of a tree close by. It was some person climbing the tree, but his visit
+was not intended for me, for he crept up much higher, and appeared to
+have mounted to a level with an upper window, as one was opened very
+gently and cautiously. Ah! an assignation! a secret appointment!
+
+It is really an advantage to have a tender conscience; without that I
+should have been fast asleep, and should never have known what was
+going on so near me. But who could it be? Could cousin Thomas, though
+only twelve years of age, be making love to one of the housemaids? Let
+us listen.
+
+'For God's sake make no noise!' said a whispering voice at the window
+above mine. 'He has arrived; he occupies the room just below, and he
+can hardly be asleep yet.'
+
+'The light has been extinguished for at least half an hour,' replied
+the voice in the tree. 'Such an ape has nothing to wake or watch for.'
+
+An ape, forsooth! as if I were not quite as wide awake as himself.
+
+'Dear Gustav, think of my distress,' continued the voice at the window;
+'my father drank my health at table, and nodded to him in such a
+significant manner! Oh, how I hate that man! Tomorrow, perhaps, he will
+begin to treat me as his betrothed; my father will give him every
+opportunity, and he will take upon himself to be intimate, and to make
+me presents. Oh! how unhappy I am!'
+
+'You see, dearest Jettè, this is the consequence of our silence; if we
+had spoken to him before the accursed cousin came here, perhaps your
+father might have been persuaded to have given up this absurd childish
+betrothal.'
+
+'No--no; he would never have done that,' replied Jettè; 'he is too much
+attached to his brother; and he will do everything in his power to have
+the agreement fulfilled, which eleven years ago they entered into with
+each other at their children's expense.'
+
+'Why did not that man break his neck on the way! Such fellows can
+travel round the whole world without the slightest accident ever
+happening to them,' said Gustav. 'But he may, perhaps, repent coming
+here; I shall pick a quarrel with him, I will call him out, he shall
+fight with me, and either he or I shall be put out of the way.'
+
+'May God protect you, my dearest Gustav!' exclaimed my cousin. 'But how
+can you have the heart to frighten me with such threats? Am I not
+wretched enough? Would you increase the burden that is weighing me down
+to the grave? I see nothing before me but misery and despair; no
+comfort--no escape.' Poor Jettè was weeping; I could hear how she
+sobbed in her woe. I now perceived why the poor girl had been so pale
+and distant--I was betrothed to her.
+
+'Forgive me, dearest girl! I hardly know what I am saying; but take
+comfort, do not weep so bitterly. Heaven will not desert us, and we
+shall find some means of softening your father; besides, no rational
+man would wish to obtain a wife upon compulsion. If he has the least
+pride or spirit, he will himself draw back.'
+
+'Ah, Gustav! if there were any chance of his drawing back, he would not
+have come here. His father wrote that he was coming expressly to claim
+his--his promised rights; and that--and that we should learn to know
+each other before the wedding. We had been betrothed for eleven years,
+he wrote, and it was time that ... No! I cannot think of it without
+despair.'
+
+'What sort of looking person is he? Is he handsome? Whom does he
+resemble?'
+
+'He is not in the least like what he was as a boy, he is very much
+changed; he has improved very much in looks, and, indeed, may be called
+handsome now.'
+
+'That is a girl with a good taste,' thought I; 'I wish I could help her
+out of her troubles.'
+
+'Handsome!--I congratulate you, Miss Jettè--handsome people generally
+make a favourable impression, and by degrees one becomes quite
+reconciled to them, and pleased with them--don't you think so?'
+
+The lover grasped the branch nearest him so roughly in his anger, that
+he made the whole tree shake.
+
+'Gustav! are you in earnest?' exclaimed Jettè, in a tone of voice that
+would have gone to the heart of a stone, if stones had hearts.
+
+'Dearest, dearest Jettè! Sweet, patient angel!' He stretched himself so
+far out from the tree that I think he must have reached her hand and
+kissed it.
+
+'Indeed, you have no reason to be jealous of him,' said Jettè, 'for one
+quite forgets his being handsome, when one observes how awkward he is.
+He does not seem to be at all accustomed to society; he eats like a
+shark, and you should have seen how he drank. Hannè amused herself in
+filling his glass, and I do believe that for his own share alone he
+emptied two bottles of wine. And he never uttered a single word. Oh! he
+is my horror--that man; but my father seems pleased with him, and
+praised him after he had left the room. Dear Gustav! how unfortunate we
+are!'
+
+Should I allow these imputations to rest upon me? A blockhead--a
+glutton--and a drunkard! And cousin Hannè had been making a fool of me,
+forsooth!--the little jade, with her pretty face. I was certainly in a
+pleasant position.
+
+'I will speak to your father to-morrow,' said Gustav, after a little
+consideration. 'He is very fond of you, he will not be deaf to our
+prayers, or expect impossibilities from you. What can he bring forward
+against me? I shall soon be in a position to maintain a wife, my family
+are quite on an equality with his own, my father is not poor, and my
+situation in life is now, and always will be, such, that I can satisfy
+any inquiry he can make into it. Deny then no longer your consent,
+dearest Jettè; let us no longer conceal our attachment from him, and
+depend on it all will go well.'
+
+'Ah, Gustav! you do not know my father. He will positively insist that
+I shall fulfil this engagement. Vows are sacred in his eyes, and he
+himself has never broken his word. When I gave that promise I was but a
+child, and I wore the plain gold ring without ever reflecting that it
+was a link of that never-to-be-broken chain which was to bind me to a
+life of misery. Oh, God, have mercy upon me!'
+
+'Doubt not _His_ help, my beloved girl! He will spread His protecting
+hand over us, even if all else shall fail us.'
+
+The sorrowing lovers whispered then so softly that I could not overhear
+what further they said, but I concluded they were comforting each
+other. The first streak of day cast a pale line of light across the
+tops of the trees and the roofs of the outhouses near. It was almost
+time for me to commence _my_ flight, but everything must be quiet
+first. I gathered together my effects with as little noise as possible.
+The conversation on the outside recommenced, and I approached the
+window impatiently.
+
+'How long is he going to stay here?' asked Gustav.
+
+'I do not know; perhaps only a few days. Alas! my only hope is in him,'
+replied Jettè. To-morrow I shall have a private conversation with him,
+which, of course, will lead to an explanation. I will make an
+appointment with him in the garden,--if you will promise me not to be
+jealous,' added Jettè, with a degree of archness in her tone which
+enchanted me.
+
+'It is hard that my rival is to be my sheet anchor,' said Gustav; 'but,
+since it must be so, speak to him, dearest. However, if that fails,
+then, my sweet girl, then ...'
+
+'Then I promise you ... But what noise is that? I thought I heard some
+one stirring. For God's sake go! Let no one see you here!'
+
+'To-morrow night, then, at one o'clock. Farewell, dear Jettè.'
+
+Then came a kiss. Was it on the hand or the lips?
+
+'Take care how you get down. To-morrow night. Adieu till then!'
+
+The faithful knight-errant swung himself from branch to branch with an
+adroitness which proved that he was experienced in that mode of
+descent. As soon as he set foot on the ground the window above was
+closed.
+
+It was now my turn to get into the trees. Gustav had taught me that
+trick. I wondered what sort of a looking fellow he was. Poor Jettè--to
+have chosen for herself, and yet to be condemned to be sacrificed to a
+man who could begin a letter about his intended bride with, 'I have
+duly received your esteemed favour of the 5th instant,' and who could
+absent himself from such a charming girl, merely because he had a
+slight cold! Well! it is a wretched world, this, in which we live. It
+was becoming more and more light. To-day she wished to have a private
+conversation with me--her only hope was in me; there was to be an
+explanation between us, an assignation in the garden. Who the deuce
+could run away from all this? But.... Well! nobody knew me--the real
+cousin was not coming for a week ... surely I might stay _one_ day on
+the strength of personifying him? I am a fatalist; destiny has sent me,
+and it will aid me.... I will not forsake Jettè ... and I will revenge
+myself upon that little Mademoiselle Hannè, who wanted to drink me
+under the table, and I will show the whole accomplished family that I
+have studied good manners in Hamburg, and am neither a blockhead, a
+glutton, nor a drunkard. It is a matter that touches my honour; I will
+stay!... But ... suppose they take it into their heads to question me?
+Humph! If the worst comes to the worst, I can but stuff a little linen
+into my great-coat pocket, make a pretext to get outside the gate, and
+take to flight at once. In the meantime, I will make some inquiries
+about the neighbourhood and the roads, for at present I have not the
+most remote idea whether I ought to turn to the right hand or the left.
+And to-morrow night--good-by to this darling family, with many thanks
+for their kind welcome. Whilst they are all sleeping, or keeping
+nocturnal assignations, I shall vanish without leaving the slightest
+trace behind. It will give them something to talk of till Christmas.
+
+Whilst this monologue was in progress of utterance, I was busily
+undressing myself. I jumped into bed, and soon slept as soundly as if I
+had a lawful right to be there, and were the dreaded cousin himself.
+
+But when I was summoned to breakfast next morning I was in a very
+different frame of mind. I had slept off the effects of the wine, sober
+reason had resumed her sway, fear followed at my heels like a bad
+spirit; and I would assuredly have made my escape if the well-dressed
+valet-de-chambre had left me a moment to myself. I was compelled to
+resign myself to my fate, and allow myself to be marshalled to the
+breakfast-parlour; but as I approached the scene of my threatened
+exposure, despair restored my courage, I remembered that it was
+incumbent on me to wipe out the disgrace of the preceding evening, and
+I found my habitual impudence and lightness of heart upon the very
+threshold of the door.
+
+I went up to them all, and shook hands with them, and as I now knew
+that I was engaged to Jettè, I kissed her hand with all possible
+amorous gallantry. The poor girl looked as if she could have sunk into
+the earth, and I coloured up to my temples, for I just recollected that
+I had on no betrothal ring. Jettè wore the plain gold ring I had heard
+her mention, but it was almost hidden by another ring, with a simple
+enamelled 'Forget-me-not.' Might not _that_ have been a gift from the
+unknown Gustav?
+
+'How are you this morning, my dear?' said the Justitsraad. 'Jettè has
+not been very well lately,' he added; 'she looks poorly, and has no
+appetite. It must be that abominable _nervousness_, of which young
+ladies now-a-days are always complaining.'
+
+Jettè assured him that she felt quite well. I doubted if her mother or
+her sister were so much in her confidence as I was at that moment; but
+neither of them had been sitting at an open window between twelve
+o'clock at night and three o'clock in the morning.
+
+At first all went on smoothly, for the conversation was on the safe
+subjects of wind and weather; but a change for the worst was coming.
+
+'Now, nephew, tell us something about the old people yonder. How is my
+brother looking?'
+
+'Extremely well, uncle. He is looking quite fresh.'
+
+'But the gout--the gout in his feet? that sticks to him yet--and it is
+not the most pleasant of companions.'
+
+'Oh, yes--the gout! But he is accustomed to that.'
+
+'And your mother?'
+
+'She is also well, only she is getting older every day.'
+
+'Ah! that is what we are all doing. And aunt Abelonè? How goes it with
+her?'
+
+'She is very well too.'
+
+'What! _very well_--with her broken leg! Why, you must be joking?'
+
+'Oh dear, no! I ... I only meant to say as well ... as well as anyone
+can be with a broken leg,' I stammered out. In truth, I knew nothing
+about, and cared as little for, Abelonè's mishap.
+
+'Listen to that madcap. He speaks of a broken leg as if it were
+absolutely a trifling matter.'
+
+The danger was over for a moment, but another attack soon followed. I
+had scarcely swallowed a cup of tea, before my _soi-disant_ uncle
+demanded from me a particular account of the new system of agriculture
+my father had introduced on his property--I, who did not even know
+where that property lay! But this time his wife came to the rescue, for
+she declared that we could discuss systems of husbandry when we were
+strolling in the fields together, or out hunting, and that she and her
+daughters did not take much interest in agricultural questions.
+
+'Well, we will talk of this another time,' said the Justitsraad. 'But
+tell us at present something of your travels. Women-folk are always
+pleased to hear adventures of travellers. You have visited Paris,
+Berlin, Vienna, and many other places. A man who has travelled so much
+might talk for a whole month without being at a loss for a subject.'
+
+Very well did I know that I had never beheld a single building either
+in Paris or Berlin, except in engravings. What was I to say? I busied
+myself in getting up a good tale.
+
+'Upon my word, nephew, I should not suspect you of being very bashful;
+but if you don't like to speak of your travels, let them alone, my
+boy,--everybody shall do as he likes in my house. Many years ago, I
+remember, I went to Hamburg, and when I came home I almost tired
+them all out by describing what I had seen. But I suppose it is
+old-fashioned now to make any comments on what one has witnessed
+abroad.'
+
+Here was a piece of good luck. I knew Hamburg as well as my own
+pockets, and now I was like my uncle after _his_ return. There was no
+end to my descriptions and anecdotes. The old man seemed to take real
+delight in hearing about all the alterations which had been made in the
+old town since the days of his youth, inquiring often for places which
+no longer exist. I endeavoured to make my discourse as amusing as
+possible. Cousin Thomas rested his elbows on the table, listened with
+open mouth, and laughed outright several times; my aunt often let her
+knitting-needle fall, to look at the pencil sketches with which I was
+illustrating my descriptions; cousin Jettè looked less sourly at me
+than before; and Hannè--the pretty, coquettish, little Hannè--for whose
+sake I was sitting apparently so much at my ease among them, was
+unwearied in her queries about the Hamburg ladies, fashions, and
+theatres. Happily these had been the objects of my most intense study.
+
+'I perceive now, that when once his tongue is set a-going, he has
+plenty to say,' remarked my worthy uncle. 'How long were you in
+Berlin?'
+
+'Nay; stop, uncle! we are at Hamburg just now. I have still a great
+deal to tell about that city. Everything should be arranged in due
+order. Today I will confine myself to Hamburg; to-morrow we shall
+travel to Berlin.' 'Catch me here tomorrow,' thought I to myself; 'if I
+only can get through to-day, I will take French leave before we come to
+Berlin.'
+
+'Come! since you give such a good reason, we will let you off Berlin
+just now. I am a lover of order myself, and here everything goes by
+clockwork. During the first part of the morning every one must look out
+for himself; at twelve we meet for luncheon--at three o'clock we dine.
+Amuse yourself in the mean time as well as you can; you will find
+plenty of books in the library--yonder hang fire-arms--and in the
+stables there are horses at your service; do exactly as if you were at
+home, and take care of yourself.'
+
+'I will take a turn in the garden,' said I, with a glance at Jettè--one
+of those looks _d'intelligence_ from which I expected great things; but
+she took no notice of it, and I was under the necessity of remarking,
+that being a stranger I did not know the way. But even this opening for
+a _tête-à-tête_ she allowed to pass, and I could not imagine how she
+intended to bring about our secret conference.
+
+'A stranger!' cried my uncle. 'But true, in eleven years one forgets a
+great deal. Let me see--how old were you then? you are three-and-twenty
+now ... twelve years of age you were; who could have guessed then that
+you would have become such a free-and-easy, off-hand sort of a fellow?
+Well, let him be shown the grounds, children. Thomas must go to his
+studies; my wife has her household matters to attend to; Jettè, you
+must ...'
+
+'I really am not able, my dear father--I have a dreadful headache,'
+said the poor timid girl. And she looked as if she spoke nothing but
+the truth,--she was so pale, and her eyes were so red.
+
+'A woman's malady,' said her father, looking vexed; 'it is, of course,
+incumbent on you to ... Well; all that will vanish when you are better
+acquainted. _We_ know what these qualms mean,' he added, turning
+towards me. I nodded, as if I would have said--_Sat sapienti_. 'Have
+you also got a headache, Hannè? Are you also suffering from
+nervousness? or can you stand the fresh morning air, my girl?' he
+asked. I looked eagerly at the little gipsy.
+
+'Oh! I can endure the fresh morning air very well,' she replied.
+
+'Then take charge of your cousin Carl, and show him round the garden
+and the shrubberies; and don't forget the pretty view from the rising
+ground where the swing is.'
+
+The Justitsraad held out his hand to me, and I pressed it with all the
+warmth of sincere gratitude.
+
+'Come, cousin,' said Hannè. 'Shall we call each other by our first
+names, or not? But we can settle that as we go along.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake, let us call each other by our baptismal names, else
+we should not seem like cousins. Don't you think so, uncle?'
+
+'You are of my own people, my boy. Always be merry and frank--that is
+my motto. I am right glad that you have not adopted the stiff German
+manners. Your father was always very grave; but you have rubbed off all
+that solemnity abroad, I am happy to see.'
+
+In my delight at the promised stroll with Hannè, I forgot that it was
+my duty to kiss Jettè's hand on leaving her. Just as I had reached the
+door I suddenly remembered it; and rushing back, I went through the
+salutation in the speediest manner possible, expressing at the same
+time my hope to find her better on my return. They all laughed, and
+even Jettè could not help smiling,--there was something so comical in
+my hurried return, and equally hurried performance of the ceremony
+etiquette demanded.
+
+Was I not right in calling myself a madcap? Here was I actually walking
+with the charming little Hannè all over the grounds! I--her pretended
+cousin; I--who ought to have been sent to the House of Correction, for
+having, under another man's name, presumed to thrust myself into the
+midst of a respectable family; I--who had committed, a positive
+depredation, and broken the sacred privacy of a seal;--here was I
+wandering about arm-in-arm with the Justitraad's daughter at ----
+Court, the captivating, innocent, beautiful little Hannè; I--who
+deserved to be driven away with all the dogs on the estate at my heels!
+Well! goodness and justice do not always carry the day in this world!
+
+
+                                PART II.
+
+When I looked at my companion I was almost appalled at my audacity.
+Think of the face you love the best in this world--the face that you
+never can behold without a beating heart--which you dwell on with
+rapture, which is the object of your waking and your sleeping dreams!
+Ah! quite as charming as such looked Hannè in her pink gingham
+morning-dress, with a little blue handkerchief tied carelessly round
+her throat, and a becoming white bonnet. She was irresistible!
+
+We strayed here and there like two children; plucked flowers to teach
+each other their botanical names; gathered a whole handful to commence
+a herbarium, and threw them away again to chase some gaudy butterfly.
+Then we sauntered on slowly, and Hannè communicated many little things
+to me of which she thought her cousin ought to be informed; and at
+length I began to fancy that I actually was the real cousin Carl. Of
+all the young girls that ever I beheld, Hannè was the most delightful;
+such grace, such vivacity, such naïveté, were not to be met with either
+in Copenhagen or in Hamburg.
+
+'It is a pity Jettè could not accompany you,' said she; 'but to-morrow,
+probably, her headache will be gone.'
+
+I assured her that I did not regret Jettè's absence, since I had _her_
+company.
+
+'That is a pretty declaration from a bridegroom who has allowed himself
+to be waited for eleven years,' said Hannè.
+
+'Jettè did not look as if she were glad at my arrival.'
+
+'You must not think anything of that; she has looked out of spirits for
+a month past, at least: she is apt to be melancholy at times, but it
+passes off. Her character is sedate. She is much better, therefore,
+than I am, or than anyone I know. You can hardly fancy how good she
+is.'
+
+'But I want a lively wife, for I am myself of a very gay disposition,'
+said I.
+
+'That is not what we thought you were,' replied my fair companion. 'We
+always looked upon you as a quiet, grave, somewhat heavy young man, and
+you have been described to us as a most tedious, wearisome person. I
+used often to pity Jettè in my own mind; for a stupid, humdrum man is
+the greatest bore on earth. But I do not pity her anymore, now.'
+
+I could have kissed her, I was so pleased.
+
+'So you thought of me with fear and disgust, you two poor girls? Pray,
+who painted my portrait so nicely?'
+
+'Why, your own father did; and the letter which you wrote Jettè when
+she was confirmed, and when you sent her the betrothal-ring, did not at
+all improve our opinion of you. I'll tell you what, Carl; that was a
+miserable epistle. It was with the utmost difficulty that my father
+prevailed on Jettè to answer it, when she was obliged to send you a
+ring in return. However, you were little more than a boy then--it is
+long ago, and it was all forgotten when we never heard again from you.
+I can venture to affirm that Jettè has not thought six times about you
+in the six years that have elapsed since that time--and perhaps this is
+lucky for you. It was not until your father wrote us that you had come
+home, and until he began to bombard Jettè with presents and messages
+from you, that you were mentioned again among us; but my father never
+could bear our laughing at your renowned epistle.'
+
+I listened with the utmost avidity to every little circumstance that
+could elucidate the part I had taken upon myself to play. In this
+conversation I learned more than I could have gathered the whole
+morning.
+
+'It is very absurd to betroth children to each other. What should they
+know of love?' said Hannè.
+
+'It is more than absurd, Hannè; it is positive barbarity. It is
+trampling the most sacred feelings and rights under foot.'
+
+'Nevertheless you may thank God for that barbarity,' said she; 'without
+it you would never have got Jettè. She has plenty of admirers.'
+
+'Indeed! And who are they, if I may take the liberty of asking? You
+make me quite jealous.'
+
+'Oh, I have observed that both the young clergyman at ---- Town and
+Gustav Holm are much attached to her. And Jettè has no dislike to
+Gustav.'
+
+'Who is Gustav Holm? He appears to be the most dangerous.'
+
+'He is learning farming, or rather, I ought to say, agricultural
+affairs, with a country gentleman not far from this. He has been coming
+to our house now about three years; I think, and I could wager a large
+sum, that it is for Jettè's sake.'
+
+'Or for your own, little Hannè?'
+
+'Pshaw! nonsense! If anyone were dangling here after me, I should make
+no secret of it. Jettè is a greater favourite than I am, and she
+deserves to be so.'
+
+'But perhaps Jettè cares more for Gustav Holm than for me, whom she
+really does not know?'
+
+One often asks a question in this hypocritical world about what one
+knows best oneself.
+
+'No, oh no! That would be a sad affair. Has she not been engaged to you
+for eleven years, and is she not going to be married to you?'
+
+'But if you had been in Jettè's place, how would you have felt?'
+
+'I would perhaps have preferred ... No, I don't think I would though.
+But I am not so mild and amiable as Jettè; and the day that I was
+confirmed no one should have imposed a betrothal-ring upon me, I can
+assure you, sir; and, least of all, accompanied by such an elegant
+billet as yours.'
+
+Hannè picked up a blade of grass, formed it into a string, and twisting
+it round her finger in an artistic manner, made it into a knot.
+
+'Can you make such?' said she.
+
+I tried it, but could not succeed, and she took hold of my hand to do
+it for me.
+
+'But how is this, Carl?' she exclaimed. 'Where is your betrothal-ring?'
+
+'It is ... I have ... I wear it attached to a ribbon round my neck; ...
+it annoyed me to have to answer the many questions it was the cause of
+my being asked. Therefore I determined to wear it near my heart.'
+
+'It annoyed you! Did ever anyone hear such an assertion? Jettè has
+faithfully worn hers, and placed a "_Forget-me-not_" into the bargain
+by its side, to remind herself, I suppose, not to forget you. But _you_
+found it a bore, even to be asked if you were engaged! Such gallants as
+you do not deserve to be remembered. But come now, I will show you a
+beautiful view.'
+
+We passed together through a charming shady wood, where several paths,
+diverging among the trees, crossed each other. Hannè walked before,
+light and graceful as Diana in her fluttering drapery; I followed her,
+like the enamoured Actæon. Alas! the resemblance would soon become
+stronger, I thought--how soon might I not be discovered, driven forth
+as a miserable intruder, and delivered over to regret and remorse,
+which would prey upon me, and tear me to atoms, as the hounds tore
+Actæon!
+
+Upon a rising ground stood a swing, the posts of which towered above
+the tops of the trees, and the erection looked at a distance like a
+gallows. From this spot the view was very extensive--a number of
+country churches could be seen from it, and among others that of my
+uncle.
+
+'But why have you placed that gallows upon this lovely spot?' I asked.
+
+'Gallows! No one ever presumed to give such an appellation to my swing
+before,' said Hannè, angrily. 'If it were not very uncivil, I would say
+that it evinces an extremely debased and disordered state of the
+imagination to make a gallows out of my innocent swing.'
+
+The girl spoke the absolute truth. It will hereafter come to be called
+gallows, thought I--and tomorrow my fair fame will hang dangling there,
+as a terror and a warning to all counterfeit cousins.
+
+'But never mind, cousin, I did not mean to be so sharp with you. Don't,
+however, let my father hear you say anything disparaging of this place;
+he would, not so easily forgive you. Come, you shall atone for your sin
+by swinging me,' added Hannè, as she settled herself in the swing.
+
+'Ah, Hannè! would that I could as easily atone for all my sins towards
+you!'
+
+I could have swung her for a lifetime, I do believe, without becoming
+weary of gazing at her; but she compassionately stopped, fancying I
+must be tired.
+
+'You will be quite fatigued, poor fellow--it would be a shame to make
+you work longer,' said she. 'Get in, and you shall find that the swing
+stands in a good situation; that is to say, if you are not afraid of
+the gallows,' she added, as she made room for me.
+
+'For your sake, I would not shun even the gallows,' said I, as I sprang
+up.
+
+The swing went at full speed; it was pleasant to be carried thus over
+the tops of the trees, and behold the earth as if stretched out beneath
+one's feet. I felt as if in heaven. I was flying in the air with an
+angel.
+
+'How delightful this is!' I cried, throwing my arm round Hannè's waist.
+
+'What, to be on a gallows? But pray hold on by the rope, cousin, and
+not by me. Now let us get down--we have had enough of this pastime.'
+
+'I have an earnest prayer to make to you, dear Hannè,' I said, seizing
+her hand. 'Listen to me before we leave this place. I foresee that the
+swing, at least in your recollection, will retain the name I
+accidentally gave it. Promise me that you will come here when you hear
+evil of me, and doubt my honour, and that you will then remember that
+it was here I entreated you to judge leniently of the absent. Fate
+plays strange tricks with us, dear Hannè; it throws us sometimes into
+temptations which we are too weak to withstand. Promise me that you
+will not condemn me irrevocably, although appearances may be against
+me.'
+
+The lovely girl looked at me for a moment with surprise and
+earnestness, and then suddenly burst into an immoderate fit of
+laughter; another moment, and my confession would have been made.
+
+'I promise you,' said she, 'that I shall come here and think of you as
+well as you deserve--that is to say, if I have nothing else to do, and
+nothing else to think of. But at present I have no time to spare for
+gallows'-reflections, the bell is ringing for luncheon, and my father
+likes us to appear punctually at table.'
+
+Jettè did not come down to luncheon, her headache confined her to her
+room, poor girl! I felt very sorry for her, and when I reflected that
+my principal, whose unworthy messenger I was, would torment her still
+more, my heart really grieved for her. The family were very cheerful,
+and it was long since I had been among so pleasant and sociable a
+little party. Alas! half the day was now gone, and when the other half
+were passed it would be all over with my enjoyments.
+
+After luncheon, cousin Thomas came to me and begged that I would go out
+with him for a few hours' shooting, the afternoon being his time for
+exercise and amusement. I wished to be on good terms with all the
+family, and therefore accepted his invitation; besides, I thought he
+might be in a talkative humour, and that I might be able to extract
+from him some particulars of their domestic history. We took a couple
+of guns and sallied forth. I had already become so hardened that I
+did not feel the slightest twinge of conscience at thus abusing the
+open-hearted confidence of twelve years of age. 'Give the Devil an
+inch, and he will take an ell,' says the proverb.
+
+But cousin Thomas was too keen a sportsman to have ears for anything
+except sporting anecdotes, and I soon began to grudge the time I had
+wasted upon him. There was no help for me, however. I was in for it,
+and I had to follow him from one moor to another, removing myself every
+moment farther from his father's abode.
+
+'Who is that person yonder?' I asked by mere chance, only not to seem
+quite silent.
+
+'Where? Oh! that is Gustav Holm,' said Thomas. 'He is coming, I dare
+say, from Green Moor--the very best moor in the whole neighbourhood.'
+
+'We must speak to him.--Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm! Good morning, Mr. Holm.'
+
+The person thus hailed stopped for a moment, and then came up to us. I
+forthwith introduced myself as a newly-arrived relative of the family
+at ---- Court, and he cast on me the pleasant glance with which one
+generally eyes a rival.
+
+'What sort of sport have they to-day at Green Moor?' I asked; and I
+attacked him with questions and stuck to him like a burr, though I saw
+that he would fain have got rid of me. But that was impossible. Mr.
+Holm was exceedingly chary of his words; therefore if either was a
+blockhead, as I had been described the night before, it was he rather
+than I.
+
+'I will do poor Jettè a service while I can,' thought I; and I invited
+Mr. Holm to return with us to ---- Court. 'You visit at my uncle's, I
+think,' I added; 'it strikes me that I have heard my cousin speak of
+you.'
+
+He grew as red as fire, poor fellow.
+
+'I don't think little Hannè will pick a quarrel with me because I beg
+you to accompany us home,' said I, slily; and the luckless lover became
+still more embarrassed. He tried to excuse himself, but I would take no
+denial; he was obliged to give way, and in triumph I brought my
+prisoner back with me. 'Thomas will bear witness to the ladies how much
+trouble I had in prevailing on you to come, and they will therefore the
+more highly appreciate your self-sacrifice,' said I.
+
+When we reached the gate, he tried again to negotiate for his freedom,
+but Thomas found his reluctance so amusing, that he would not allow him
+to make his escape. Giving way at length, he exclaimed,
+
+'You are going to afflict your party with a tiresome addition, for I
+have a dreadful headache to-day.'
+
+'You will feel better when you have dined,' I replied; 'and if you
+would like to have some sal volatile, you can get some from my
+_fiancée_; she has a headache also to-day. There must be something in
+the air to cause it, since you are similarly affected.'
+
+Mr. Holm evidently writhed under my mode of treatment; and at the term
+_fiancée_ he looked as if I had trodden heavily upon his corns. It was
+certainly very trying, but I had comfort in the background for him.
+
+Neither the Justitsraad nor his wife seemed to be much pleased at the
+arrival of their unexpected guest; nevertheless, they received him
+politely, and assigned to him a place at table between them. He could
+not have demanded a more honourable seat. Thomas was inexhaustible in
+his descriptions of Mr. Holm's unwillingness to give himself up as a
+captive, and how clever he had been in securing him. Poor Jettè dared
+hardly look up from her plate.
+
+'Mr. Holm ought to know that he is always welcome,' said the
+Justitsraad; but it was evident that the remark was the result of good
+breeding, rather than of any cordial pleasure he had in seeing him.
+
+'Very true, uncle; that is just what I said. Hannè spoke of him to me
+so highly this morning, that I really became quite eager to make his
+acquaintance. The friends of the family must also be my friends. I knew
+right well that Hannè would not be angry at me if I brought him home
+with me.'
+
+'I! What did I say?' exclaimed Hannè, colouring deeply. 'How can you
+make such an assertion? I believe ...'
+
+'That I am a sad gossip, and never can keep to myself what I hear--I
+confess the truth of the impeachment.'
+
+Her parents looked at her with surprise; Jettè cast an inquiring glance
+towards her, and Gustav forced a smile. Hannè was very angry, but her
+wrath did not last long; time was precious to me, and I speedily
+effected a reconciliation with her.
+
+'I do verily believe that you are not quite sober to-day, Carl,' said
+Hannè in a whisper to me, when we rose from table.
+
+'Truth to tell, Hannè, I am not, but that is your fault. Why did you
+try to make me drink myself under the table last night? It is only a
+judgment from Heaven on you; those who dig a pit for other people often
+fall into it themselves.'
+
+'Hark ye, cousin! I am very near wishing that you had been in reality
+as stupid a nonentity as we were given to understand you were.'
+
+'What if you should be taken at your word? You may get your wish more
+easily than you imagine; by this day week the transformation may have
+been brought about; see if you don't wish me back again then.'
+
+Her father took my arm, and proposed adjourning to the garden with our
+cigars. I had nearly fled the field at this invitation, so much did I
+dread a _tête-à-tête_ with him; nothing on earth could have detained me
+but the expected secret meeting with Jettè, whose good genius I was to
+be. I felt that I could almost rather have faced his Satanic Majesty
+himself at that moment, had the choice between the two companions been
+mine; but what was I to do? There was nothing for it but to accompany
+my host quietly.
+
+'Listen, my son,' said the old gentleman, when we had exhausted our
+first cigars; 'I cannot say I am much pleased at your having brought
+that Mr. Holm back with you. He is a very respectable young man, but
+... Why should we encumber ourselves with him?... To speak out, you
+should have been the last person to have brought _him_ to this house.'
+
+'_I!_ How so? I really had planned to make him one of my most intimate
+friends. Hannè said so much in his favour.'
+
+'Hannè does not care a straw for him--she is only a child.'
+
+'A child! and on the 12th of November she will be seventeen years old!
+No, no, uncle, girls give up thinking themselves children when they
+arrive at ten years of age.'
+
+'But I tell you, Hannè does not care in the least for him; nor does he
+for her.'
+
+'Very well, uncle, so much the better, for there is no sort of danger
+then in his coming here.'
+
+'Danger! Oh! I don't look upon him as at all dangerous; but I can't
+bear to see him looking so woe-begone.'
+
+'I shall soon enliven him. Only leave him to me, and you will see that
+he shall become quite gay. I will take him in hand if he can come here
+every day.'
+
+'Confound the fellow! I must just tell you plainly out then--he is a
+great admirer of Jettè. Do you understand me now?'
+
+'May I ask how you know that, sir?'
+
+'How I know that?... Well ... No matter how. Suffice it to say, I know
+it. Jettè cannot endure him, that I know also; but his sighs might make
+some impression on her, so it were better that he kept entirely away.
+Besides, if he gets no encouragement, his fancy will wear out. Don't
+you agree with me that he had better not come here?'
+
+'I can't call it a sin to be in love with Jettè, for I am so myself;
+she is a girl that it would be impossible not to admire. If we were to
+drive away every one who was guilty of admiring her, we should be
+compelled at last to live as hermits.'
+
+'What the devil, nephew! Do _you_ say all this--you, who are to be her
+future husband?'
+
+'One must be somewhat liberal, uncle--one must seem not to observe
+everything. Suspicion does a great deal of harm, and jealousy would
+only encourage the evil. Jettè shall find me as gentle as a lamb.
+Besides, you have assured me that she cannot endure him.'
+
+'Well!... Perhaps she does not exactly hate him ... she has no
+particular fault to find with him ... but he embarrasses her ... he
+embarrasses her ... and when a person embarrasses one ...' The good man
+had got into a dilemma, and he was not able to get out of it; so he
+stopped short.
+
+'Oh! that will pass off when she accustoms herself to see him. It is a
+great misfortune to let oneself be embarrassed by the presence of
+others; really, after a time this would lead one to become a
+misanthrope--a hater of one's species.'
+
+The Justitsraad looked at me with astonishment, while he replied:
+
+'I wish you had not gone on your travels; I fear your morality has
+suffered not a little in consequence. I hardly knew you again, you are
+so much changed. You are not like the same being who, eleven years ago,
+was such a quiet, bashful boy. And your father, who constantly wrote
+that you were not the least altered, he must scarcely recognize you
+himself.'
+
+'That is very probable, uncle, for I hardly know myself again. But
+travelling abroad is sure always to make some little change in people.'
+
+'It must have been Berlin that has done the mischief, and made such a
+transformation in you; for the letters your father sent me, which you
+had written from Vienna, did not in the slightest degree lead me to
+imagine that you had become such a hair-brained, thoughtless fellow.'
+
+'True enough it is that I am thoughtless and hair-brained, but, believe
+me, I have never been guilty of any deliberate wrong. I know I am too
+often carried away by the impulse of the moment, and too often forget
+what may be the consequences.'
+
+'One must make some allowance for youth,' replied the old gentleman.
+'So it was at Berlin you studied folly in all its branches--Berlin,
+which I had always believed to be a most correct and exemplary city,
+whither one might send a young man without the least risk! Well, well!
+let us consign to oblivion all the pranks you must have played to have
+been metamorphosed from a milksop to a madcap. We must all sow our wild
+oats some time or other, and I hope you have sown yours, and are done
+with them.'
+
+'No, indeed, I fear not; on the contrary, I feel that I am in the midst
+of that period; but I promise you that it shall soon be over, and that
+then nothing shall tempt me to such follies. As to youthful imprudence,
+if it be not carried too far, I shall rely upon your indulgence. Will
+you not wink a little at it, and let your kind, generous heart plead
+for me when your reason might condemn me?'
+
+'You are a queer fellow, nephew, and a wild one, I fear; but it is not
+possible to be angry with you.'
+
+'Would to Heaven that you may always be inclined to entertain such
+friendly feelings towards me!' I replied, as I pressed his hand. There
+was good reason for my bespeaking his indulgence; it would be amply
+required the very next day.
+
+I skilfully managed to bring the subject back to Gustav Holm, and soon
+perceived that he had really nothing to say against him. Holm's
+position was good in all respects, and the old gentleman would have
+considered him a very good match for one of his daughters, if he had
+not had another project in his head. But he had set his heart so
+entirely on the family alliance, that he could not admit the idea of
+any other. In eleven years there had been time for it to become deeply
+rooted in his mind.
+
+When we sought the rest of the party, we found them all standing round
+the swing. Hannè was busy attaching a piece of paper to one of the
+poles.
+
+'What are you doing there, child?' asked her father.
+
+'It is Carl's name which I am putting on the gallows, as a
+well-deserved punishment for all the follies of which he has been
+guilty in word and deed to-day,' she replied, continuing her
+employment. 'Only think, he disgraced my swing by pretending to mistake
+it for a gallows. So there stands his name; and there it shall stand,
+to his eternal shame and reproach, and in ridicule of him when he is
+gone. We must have something to recall him to our recollection.'
+
+'Nemesis,' thought I, 'already!' I was as much moved inwardly, as the
+worthy emperor, Charles V., must have been when he witnessed his own
+funeral. Humph! no one likes jesting about such serious matters. Who
+knows in what it might end?
+
+We amused ourselves with swinging--we chattered nonsense, or discoursed
+gravely--we sauntered about, all together or in groups by turns. Hannè
+was the life of the party, and by degrees everyone seemed to partake of
+her gaiety. Even Jettè talked more. I had seized on the unhappy lover,
+and held him fast by the arm, in the charitable intention of bringing
+him near his lady-love, without anyone's remarking his proximity to
+her; but the overcautious girl avoided us, and Gustav himself had not
+courage to begin a conversation on different subjects. I was quite
+distressed about them, poor things! 'We must try what can be done in
+the wood,' thought I; 'there are paths enough in it, the party will
+become more scattered, and I shall then be able to manage, perhaps, to
+get them into some secluded spot.' But our progress was arrested by a
+servant, who came to announce that some visitors had arrived.
+
+_Visitors!_ At that word my ears tingled as if all the blood in my
+body had rushed up into them. Visitors! I felt sure they would be
+betrayers--they would be persons who either knew me, or the real
+cousin, and then good-by to my _incognito_--good-by to the secret
+interview! What would become of it when I had to take to flight?
+
+'Visitors! How very tiresome,' exclaimed Hannè. The servant mentioned
+a name unknown to me; that, as it appeared, of a family in the
+neighbourhood. I was not acquainted with them--but the cousin, my other
+self ...
+
+'Visitors!' I exclaimed, in dismay. 'Do I know them? Will anybody have
+the great kindness to tell me if they are acquainted with me?'
+
+They all laughed, and assured me that I was not acquainted with them.
+It was a family who had only lately settled in the neighbourhood,
+having exchanged a property in Jutland for one in Zealand, and with
+whom they were themselves but slightly acquainted. I recovered my
+spirits, and we turned our steps back towards the house. Gustav seized
+the opportunity to make his escape, the Justitsraad made no effort to
+detain him, and I was too much occupied with my own affairs to trouble
+myself at that moment about those of other people. The poor dear
+Jutland family had made a most unseasonable visit.
+
+I thanked Heaven that I had never seen them before; and I cannot say
+that I should feel any regret at never beholding them more. They were a
+set of tiresome bores, who deprived me of the brightest afternoon of my
+life, and took the evening also; so that I had reason not to forget
+them in a hurry. My cousins had to amuse the silly daughters, the elder
+individuals on both sides discoursed together, and it fell to my share
+to entertain the son and his tutor. I looked a hundred times at my
+watch; I foretold that we were going to have thunder and lightning and
+rain in torrents--in short, I left no stone unturned to get rid of them
+early--but to no avail; I only reaped jeers and bantering from Hannè
+for my pains; and when at length they seemed themselves to think it
+expedient to go, she pressed them to stay longer, only to annoy me, and
+was mischievous enough to say, 'You surely will not refuse my cousin
+his first request to you,' thereby, as it were, making me pronounce my
+own doom. It was enough to put one into a rage.
+
+We went to supper with all due formality, and for the first time I
+remembered that it was my duty to offer my arm to Jettè. She
+accompanied me like a lamb led to the sacrificial altar, and took the
+earliest opportunity of informing me that her headache had not yet left
+her. Headache is an absolute necessity for ladies; I do not know what
+they would do if no such thing as headache existed.
+
+It was not possible to utter a word which could not be overheard by the
+tutor, who sat on the other side of her; at length it occurred to me to
+engage him in a conversation with Hannè, and with some difficulty I
+managed to do this. But fate had no compassion on me that evening.
+Presently I heard my real name pronounced by the father of the family
+who were visiting us; I felt as much shocked and alarmed as if he had
+shouted '_Seize that thief!_' I had nearly dropped my fork.
+
+'He is a most respectable man, I can assure you; I recommend you to
+send all your corn to him; he is very fair in his dealings. I have
+known him for a long time.'
+
+It was of my father he was speaking.
+
+'I shall consider about it,' said the Justitsraad; 'I do not know the
+house myself. And he has a son, you say. Is the son a partner?'
+
+'It was intended that he should be,' said my personal enemy; 'but he is
+such a sad scamp that I think the father will hardly venture to take
+him into partnership. He played such foolish, wild pranks at home, that
+he was sent to Hamburg; but he did not go on a bit better there, as I
+have heard.'
+
+'I am sorry for the poor father,' said the Justitsraad.
+
+'A good character is valuable,' thought I. 'Here is the second time
+to-day that my name has been stigmatized. Now, both my person and
+my name are contraband at ---- Court. Cruel fate!' I became quite
+silent--willingly would I also have taken refuge in a headache; there
+was enough to give me one, at any rate; and I took leave in the coldest
+and most distant manner of the party who had prolonged their visit on
+my account.
+
+'Pray come and see us soon with your betrothed,' said the old wretch
+who had made so free with my town character.
+
+It was with difficulty that I kept my temper, and poor Jettè seemed
+also to be on thorns.
+
+'What nice people they are!' exclaimed Hannè; 'the daughters have
+promised me to come here at least twice a week. But you were quite
+silent and stupid this evening, cousin.'
+
+'It was what you wished me to be in the morning,' I replied; 'I only
+conducted myself according to your desire.'
+
+'Let me always find you so obedient. Goodnight! To-morrow I shall
+command you to be gay again. That becomes you best, after all.' She
+held out her pretty little hand as a token of reconciliation.
+
+'And I beg of you to come into the grove to-morrow morning, after
+breakfast; I wish very much to have a little private conversation with
+you,' whispered Jettè, almost in tears, as I kissed her hand. She could
+hardly bring herself to pronounce the words; I saw what a pang it cost
+her. A warm pressure of her hand was my only reply; she little knew how
+friendly my feelings were towards her.
+
+'So my adventures are not finished even with this day,' said I to
+myself as I opened a little of the window in my room; 'shall I make up
+my mind to this delay, or shall I take myself off at once! What! leave
+poor Jettè in the lurch? Yet how can I help her? What is the use of my
+remaining longer here?--I shall but entangle myself still more deeply
+in a net of untruth, which will bring me into disgrace. Have I not had
+warnings enough--the gallows scene, my Hamburg reputation, and the many
+uneasy moments I have passed to-day? I am vexed and annoyed this
+evening; it will cost me less, therefore, perhaps, to recover my
+freedom tonight than to-morrow night; another day with Hannè will only
+make me feel the separation still more acutely. Then, in case of a
+discovery, how shall I excuse this prolonged mystification? By
+confessing my love for Hannè?--a pretty apology, to be sure! But am I
+_really_ in love with her? _I_ in love! and if I were, what would be
+the result? Is it at all likely that the Justitsraad would give his
+daughter to an impertinent puppy, who had made her acquaintance first
+by such an unwarrantable trick--to a "sad scamp" who had only made
+himself remarkable by his wild pranks? Or--shall I climb up yon tree,
+perch myself like a singing-bird before Jettè's window, make my
+confession to her, and then start on my pedestrian journey? Or--shall I
+go to bed, and let to-morrow take care of itself? I will consult my
+buttons--I will try my fate by them. Let me see: I will ... I will not
+... I will ... I will go to bed. ... Aha! I am to go to bed--chance has
+so decided it for me. But to go to bed in love! that such a catastrophe
+should happen to me! I had thought it was quite foreign to my nature;
+however, here I am, up to my ears in love. Ah! why was that little
+fairy, Hannè, so bewitching? why were the whole family so frank and
+pleasant? It was all their own fault; they forced the cousinship
+upon me. Heaven knows I came to them quite innocent of nefarious
+designs--fast asleep and snoring--perfectly honourable.... _Apropos_ of
+honour, let me close the window; what Gustav and Jettè have to talk
+about is nothing to me--it would be very indelicate to play the
+listener--wounding to my better feelings. My better feelings! I can't
+help laughing at the idea of _my_ being inconvenienced by any symptoms
+of honourable, or delicate, or _better_ feelings. It is my cursed
+levity and folly that lead me astray; after all, there _are_ honesty
+and uprightness in me, _au fond_, and my heart is in its right place. I
+will no longer be the slave of caprice and impulse. I will be something
+better than a mere madcap; and here, even here, they shall learn to
+speak of me with respect.... Ah! it will be a confounded long time,
+however, before I can teach them that ... and ... in the meantime, I
+positively am in love.'
+
+Having arrived at this conclusion, I betook myself to my couch, and
+closed my eyes, at the same time burying my ears in my pillows, not to
+overhear any portion of the discourse which was to be carried on about
+one o'clock in the morning, on the outside of my window, and also the
+sooner to dream of Hannè. I succeeded in both, for I heard or saw
+nothing whatsoever of the two unfortunate lovers, and I dreamed of
+Hannè the livelong night. The morning was far advanced, when Thomas
+thrust his head into my room, and rated me for being as heavy a
+slumberer as one of the seven sleepers;--the little wretch! I was at
+that moment swinging with Hannè, and would have given the wealth of the
+East India Company to have been permitted to end my dream undisturbed.
+
+When I entered the breakfast-room they were all at table. Jettè looked
+very pale, but she allowed that her headache was better, though she
+said she still felt far from well. Hannè and her father teased me
+unmercifully about the visitors of the day before, who had put me so
+much out of humour, and about my predictions of a thunderstorm
+wherewith I endeavoured to drive them away. 'But you are quite an
+ignoramus in regard to the weather, cousin; that I perceived,' said
+Hannè, 'I shall present you with a barometer on your birthday, so that
+you may not make such mistakes again as that of yesterday evening.
+Which is the important day?'
+
+'It is quite old-fashioned to keep birthdays, Hannè; that custom has
+been long since exploded,' said I, 'and therefore I am not going to
+tell you.'
+
+'But we are very old-fashioned here, and you will be expected to do as
+we do in respect to keeping birthdays. First, let me refresh your
+memory. When is my birthday?'
+
+'On the 12th of November you will be seventeen years of age.'
+
+'Right. And Jettè's? How old will she be her next birthday?'
+
+It was a trying examination, but it was well deserved; why had I not
+taken myself off the night before, when I could so well have made my
+escape?
+
+'Come, begin; tell us Jettè's birthday, and my father's, and my
+mother's? Let us have them all at once. Now we shall see whether you
+are skilled in your almanac.'
+
+'Are you seriously bent on this examination? Do you fancy I have
+forgotten one of them?' I asked, in an offended tone. 'I will not
+answer such questions.'
+
+This was one way of escaping. When do people most easily take offence?
+Answer: When they are in the wrong.
+
+'I see how it is,' said Hannè; 'as it annoys you to be asked if you are
+betrothed, it probably annoys you to be expected to remember the
+birthday of her to whom you are engaged. Only think,' she added,
+addressing the rest of the party, 'he does not wear his betrothal-ring,
+because he does not like answering any question to which his having it
+on his finger might give rise. As if it were a question of conscience.'
+
+'So it may be, sometimes,' I replied. 'But since questioning is the
+order of the day, I beg to ask why _you_ wear that little ring on your
+finger?'
+
+'I never gratify impertinent curiosity,' said the little devil,
+colouring up to the very roots of her hair. She seemed very much vexed,
+and turned angrily away.
+
+'Now--now--children! can you never agree?' said the Justitsraad. 'You
+two will be getting into quarrels every moment, that I foresee; you
+resemble each other too much; it is from the absolute similarity
+between you that you cannot be in peace.'
+
+'You flatter me very much, uncle,' said I; 'would that it were really
+so.'
+
+'I say nothing of the kind,' cried Hannè; 'I beg to decline the
+compliment. Gentlemen full of whims are my aversion. But, happily for
+both of us, you are not engaged to me. Jettè is much too good--she will
+put up with your bad habits.'
+
+Jettè smiled kindly to her, and that seemed immediately to appease her
+wrath. She ran to her sister, kissed her, and said, 'For your sake I
+will bear with him; but believe me, you will not make an endurable
+husband of him if you do not begin in time to drive his caprices out of
+him. He should be accustomed to do as he is bid, and answer the
+questions that are put to him.'
+
+Both Jettè and myself turned our faces away to conceal our confusion.
+Hannè held out her hand to me. 'Do you repent of your sins?'
+
+'With my whole heart.'
+
+'Will you beg pardon, and promise henceforth to be better?'
+
+'Yes. I confess that I am a great sinner, but I humbly beg pardon, and
+will try to do better for the future.' So saying, I pressed a long,
+long kiss on her hand; I could hardly get my lips away from it.
+
+'So--that is enough. Now go and beg Jettè's pardon, because you have
+been naughty in her presence; and,' she added, 'kiss her hand
+prettily.'
+
+I did so.
+
+'Very well. But I don't think you have ever kissed her as your
+betrothed yet. Let me see you go through that ceremony, properly too.'
+
+Poor Jettè became crimson at this challenge, which did not in the least
+embarrass me.
+
+I felt that it was going a little too far, but what could I do? Dear
+reader! I was compelled to kiss the young lady--do not judge of me too
+severely because I did it. But I obeyed the command in as formal a
+manner as possible; it was scarcely a kiss, yet it burned on my lips
+like fire; as to how it burned my conscience--well, I will say nothing
+of that.
+
+'He is really quite timid,' exclaimed Hannè, who stood by with her
+hands folded, watching the performance of her command; 'I did not
+expect such an assured young gentleman to be so ceremonious; one would
+think it were his first essay!'
+
+'And peace being now restored and sealed,' said the Justitsraad, 'I
+hope it will be a Christian, a universal, and an eternal peace, both
+for the present and the future; that is to say, at least till you fall
+out again. And in order that such may not be the case for a few hours,
+we will leave the ladies, nephew, and pay a visit to the new horse I
+bought the other day. We shall see if you are as good a judge of horses
+as you are of the Hamburg theatricals.'
+
+'You really should give poor Carl some peace,' said my considerate
+aunt; 'you will make him quite tired of us all. One insists
+upon catechizing him as to dates, another as to his veterinary
+knowledge--there is only wanting that I should attack him about
+culinary lore. You shall not be so plagued by them, Carl: as to the
+horse it was my husband's own choosing; and if you should not instantly
+discover, by looking at its teeth, that it is young and handsome, and
+has every possible good quality, you will be called an ignoramus.'
+
+'Any how he may be called that,' said Hannè; 'but I forgot, peace has
+been proclaimed, so let my words be considered as unspoken.'
+
+
+                               PART III.
+
+About an hour before luncheon I stole away into the wood to wait for
+Jettè, and it was with a beating heart I listened for any approaching
+footsteps; had I not kissed her, I should have felt easier in my own
+mind. Ought I now to confess to her the impositions of which I had been
+guilty? Perhaps it would be better to do so ... But the kiss ... would
+she forgive that?
+
+I discerned her white dress a good way off, and I almost felt inclined
+to hide myself, and let her take the trouble of finding me; but again I
+bethought me that it was not the part of the cavalier to be shamefaced
+in a secret assignation. I therefore went forward to meet her. As soon
+as she caught a glimpse of me, she stopped, and suddenly changed
+colour. The poor girl--how sorry I was for her! She could not utter one
+word. I led her to a rural seat near.
+
+'Cousin,' at length she said, 'it must doubtless surprise you, and
+naturally so too, that I should in such a secret manner have requested
+an interview with you. If you could conceive how painful this moment is
+to me, I am sure you would compassionate me.'
+
+'My dear young lady, I owe you an explanation, and I thank you for
+having given me an opportunity ...'
+
+'Dear cousin, be not offended with me--do not speak to me in that
+distant and ceremonious manner--it makes the step more painful which I
+am about to take, and which cannot be longer delayed. It is I who owe
+you an explanation--alas! an explanation that will deprive me of your
+esteem and your friendship. I am very unhappy.'
+
+'Do not weep so, dear cousin; you cannot imagine how it grieves me to
+see you so miserable. Believe me, I have your happiness sincerely at
+heart. You little know what delight it would give me if I were able to
+say to myself that I had contributed to it.'
+
+The double signification which my words might bear drew forth more
+tears. Jettè cried, without making any reply.
+
+'There is comfort for every affliction,' I continued. 'God has
+mercifully placed the antidote alongside of the poisonous plant. Tell
+me, at least, what distresses you--let me at least endeavour to console
+you, even if I cannot assist you, and do not doubt my good will, though
+my power may be but limited.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake, Carl, do not speak so kindly to me,' cried Jettè,
+with some impetuosity. 'Do not speak thus--I have not deserved it. If
+you would be compassionate, say that you hate me--that you abhor me.'
+
+'And if I said so, I should only deceive you. No, Jettè, my
+complaisance cannot go so far.'
+
+'You would hate me--you would despise me!' she exclaimed, sobbing, 'if
+you only knew ... oh! I shall never be able to tell ... if you only
+knew ... how unfortunate I am ... how I ...'
+
+'Dear Jettè,' said I, in some agitation, 'you have come to enter into
+an explanation with me; allow me to assist your confession, and help to
+lighten the burden which weighs so heavily on your heart. You have
+come, I know, to break off with me.'
+
+'_You know!_' she exclaimed, in consternation. And she seemed as if she
+were going to faint. 'Take pity on me, Carl; leave me for a few
+minutes; I dare not look you in the face.'
+
+She buried her own face in her pocket-handkerchief, and wept bitterly.
+I kissed her hand, and left her.
+
+Very much out of spirits myself, I wandered to and fro under the trees.
+
+'How is all this to end?' said I to myself; 'the poor girl will fret
+herself to death if she cannot have her Gustav, and get rid of her
+cousin. Gustav is a fine fellow, and a very good match; even the father
+allows that. The cousin must be an idiot to let himself be betrothed by
+his father's orders to a girl he knows nothing about--and a tiresome
+one too, according to what is reported of him. Jettè is a girl with a
+great deal of feeling--but he must be a clod with none; he can't care
+in the least for her, or he would have been here long ere this. He
+shall not have her. What, if I were to advise them to run away an hour
+or two before I take myself off? or, suppose we were all three to elope
+together? Nonsense! How can I think of such folly? Poor girl! it would
+melt a heart of stone to see her crying there. What if I were to stay
+and play the cousin a little longer--formally renounce her hand--give
+her up to Gustav? I should like to act such a magnanimous part ... and
+when it was all well over, and the real cousin arrived, to let him find
+that he had come on a fool's errand, and go back to nurse his cold ...
+or, it might be better to drop him a line by the post to save a scene?
+I'll do it. By Jove! I'll do it! The god of love himself must have sent
+me here; no man in the wide world could do the thing better than
+myself. But what right have I to decide thus the fate of another man--a
+man whom I have never even beheld? Right! It is time to talk about
+_right_, forsooth, after I have been doing nothing but wrong for
+thirty-six hours. No, no, let conscience stand to one side, for the
+present at least; it has no business in this affair. I have acted most
+unwarrantably, I know, but I will make up for my misdeeds by one good
+deed--one blessing will I take with me; and when I am gone, two happy
+persons at least will remember me kindly, and Hannè will be less harsh
+in her judgment of my conduct, since it will have brought about her
+sister's happiness. Let me set my shoulders to the wheel--there is no
+time to lose. No, they shall not all execrate me.'
+
+Jettè was still sitting on the bench where I had left her. I placed
+myself beside her, and tried to reassure her.
+
+'I said I owed you some explanation; allow me in a few words to tell
+you all you wish to communicate. You do not care for me--you love
+Gustav Holm--you will be wretched if you cannot find some good pretext
+for breaking off the match with me--you have many reasons to love him,
+none to love me--you want to let me know how the matter stands, and to
+give me a basket,[4] but to do it in so amicable a manner, that you
+hope I will accept it quietly like a good Christian, and not make too
+much fuss about it. All this is what you would have told me sooner or
+later. Am I not right, Jettè? or is there more you would have entrusted
+to me?'
+
+She hid her face with her hands.
+
+'My window was partly open the other night,' I added. 'I overheard your
+conversation with Gustav Holm, and I knew immediately, of course, what
+I had to expect. You will believe, I hope, that I have sufficient
+feeling not to wish to force myself upon one who cannot care for me.
+Forgive me that I have caused you any uneasiness; it was against my own
+will. I would much rather have convinced you sooner that you have no
+enemy in me, but, on the contrary, a sincere friend.'
+
+'Dearest, best Carl! Noblest of men! You restore me to freedom--you
+restore me to life! The Almighty has heard my prayers! You do not know
+how earnestly I have prayed that you might find me detestable.'
+
+'Therein your prayers have not been heard, Jettè,' said I. 'If you
+could have loved me, I could not have wished a better fate. I love you
+and Hannè much more than you think.' I felt that every word I had just
+spoken was positive truth. Jettè wrung my hand.
+
+'You have removed a mountain from my heart,' she replied. 'Would that I
+could thank you as you deserve!'
+
+I was quite ashamed of all the thanks she poured out, and all the
+gratitude she expressed. It is an unspeakable pleasure to promote the
+happiness of one's fellow-creatures; it is an agreeable feeling which I
+would not exchange for any other.
+
+When the first burst of joy was over, Jettè consulted with me how it
+would be best to break the matter to her father. I told her of his good
+opinion of Gustav, and built upon it the brightest hopes.
+
+Jettè shook her head. 'He will insist that I shall keep my promise,'
+said she, mournfully. 'He will not relinquish a plan which he has
+cherished for so many years. How dreadful it is for me to disappoint
+him!'
+
+'Very well, take me.'
+
+'Oh! do not jest with me, dear Carl. My only dependence is on you.'
+
+'I shall take my departure immediately, and leave a letter renouncing
+my engagement to you. That will go far to help you.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake, stay! You are the only one who can speak to him,'
+said she. 'You have already acquired much influence over him.'
+
+'Then let us proceed at once to the _éclaircissement_. I shall tell him
+that I have discovered that your heart belongs to Gustav Holm, not to
+me; and that I cannot accept any woman's hand unless her heart
+accompanies it.'
+
+'Oh! what a terrible moment it will be when that is said! I tremble at
+the very idea of it. You do not know what he can be when his anger is
+thoroughly roused.'
+
+'Then would you prefer to elope with Gustav? Like a loyal cousin, I
+will assist you in your escape.'
+
+'That would enrage him still more; he has always been so kind and
+gentle to me.'
+
+'I wish we had Gustav here, that something might be determined on.
+These anticipated terrible moments are never so dreadful in reality as
+in expectation; you have had a proof of this in the one you have just
+gone through.'
+
+'Gustav will be here soon; he knows that I had requested this private
+conversation with you ... he will meet me here in the wood ... he will
+come when--when....' She stopped, and blushed deeply.
+
+'He will come when I am gone,' I said, laughing. 'That was very
+sensibly arranged, but the arrangement must be annulled nevertheless,
+and he must make the effort of showing himself while I am here. I dare
+say he is not many miles off--perhaps within hail. Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm!'
+I roared at the top of my voice. 'He knows my manner of inviting him,
+and you will see that he will speedily present himself. Good morning,
+Mr. Holm!' I added.
+
+'For God's sake do not shout so loudly, you will be overheard,' said
+Jettè. 'Oh! how will all this end?'
+
+'Uncommonly well,' thought I. 'Here comes the lover.'
+
+Gustav came, almost rushing up; his countenance and manner expressed
+what was passing in his mind, namely, uncertainty whether he was to
+look on me as a friend or a foe.
+
+'Gustav--Carl!...' exclaimed Jettè, sinking back on the bench. She
+found it impossible to command her voice; but her eyes, which dwelt
+with affection on us both, filled up the pause, and expressed what
+words would not.
+
+I took his hand and led him up to Jettè. He knelt at her feet, she
+threw her arms round his neck, while I bent over them, and beheld my
+work with sincere satisfaction. There was a rustling in the bushes, and
+Hannè and her father stood suddenly before us! The lovers did not
+observe them, although I did my utmost by signs to rouse their
+attention.
+
+'What the devil is all this?' exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a voice of
+thunder. 'What does this mean? Carl, what are you doing?'
+
+'I am bestowing my cousinly benediction and full absolution and
+remission of sins, as you ought to do, my worthy uncle,' I replied, as
+cheerfully as I possibly could. It was necessary to appear to keep up
+one's courage. Gustav rose hastily, and Jettè threw herself into her
+sister's arms.
+
+'My dear sir!' said Gustav, imploringly.
+
+'Mr. Holm!' cried the Justitsraad, drawing himself up.
+
+'Dear uncle!' I exclaimed, interrupting them both, 'allow me to speak.
+Gustav adores Jettè, and she returns his love. There can be no more
+question about me; I am her cousin, and nothing either more or less. I
+am not such an idiot as to wish to force a woman to be my wife whose
+heart is given to another. I have dissolved the engagement between
+Jettè and myself, deliberately, and after due reflection. I _could_ not
+make her happy, and I _will not_ make her unhappy. There stands the
+bridegroom, who only awaits your blessing. Give it, dear uncle, and let
+this day become the happiest of my life, for it is the first time I
+ever had an opportunity of doing good.'
+
+'Heavens and earth! a pretty piece of work, indeed!' The Justitsraad
+was as blustering as a German, and would on no account allow himself to
+hear reason. A great deal of his anger was naturally directed against
+me. I tried to smooth matters down. Jettè wept and sobbed. It was a
+hundred to one against us. 'I shall write to your father this very
+day,' he said, at length; 'he only can absolve me from my vow; but that
+he will not do--that he certainly will not do on any account. This
+marriage has been his greatest wish, for I do not know how many years,
+as well as mine.'
+
+'But he will be obliged to do it,' said I; 'this very afternoon I shall
+take my departure, and you shall never hear of me more. My father's
+power over me by no means extends so far as you seem to fancy. I will
+not make Jettè miserable, merely to indulge his whims. Dear uncle, let
+me persuade you to believe that your contract is null and void: give
+your blessing to Gustav and Jettè, and leave me to settle the matter
+with my father. Feelings cannot be forced. Jettè does not care for me,
+and you ought not, in this affair, to be less liberal than I am.'
+
+'Liberal--liberal indeed! He is always prating about such folly,'
+exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a rage. 'It is that abominable Berlin
+liberality that has entirely ruined him.'
+
+Berlin liberality! It was the first time I had ever heard _that_
+bewailed. But what absurd things do people not stumble upon when they
+are angry, and speak without reflection.
+
+'Well, it was Berlin that ruined me, according to my uncle, and so
+utterly ruined me ... that I am betrothed in Berlin, and cannot be
+betrothed again. It is against the law both here and in Prussia to have
+two wives.'
+
+This was an inspiration prompted by the exigency of the occasion; what
+did one untruth more or less signify? I was a Jesuit at that moment,
+and excused myself with Loyola's doctrine--that the motive sanctifies
+the means.
+
+'Betrothed!' exclaimed the Justitsraad--'betrothed in Berlin! Make a
+fool of me! Hark ye, Carl ...'
+
+'Betrothed!' interrupted Hannè. 'Upon my word, you are a fine fellow,
+cousin. That is the reason he does not wear Jettè's betrothal-ring. And
+I to be standing here admiring his magnanimity!'
+
+Jettè silently held out her hand to me from one side, Gustav from the
+other; these were well-meant congratulations.
+
+'Yes, betrothed,' I continued. 'Abuse me at your will, hate me, curse
+me, say and do what you please, but betrothed I am, and betrothed I
+must remain.'
+
+This was a settler. The wrath of the Justitsraad cooled by degrees;
+that really kind-hearted man could not withstand so many anxious looks
+and earnest prayers; and fear of all the gossip and ridicule to which
+his holding out longer under the circumstances might give rise, also
+had effect upon him.
+
+'You are a sad scapegrace, Carl,' he said, 'and Jettè may be thankful
+she is not to have you for her husband; but she shall not be left in
+the lurch on account of your foolish freaks.' He took her hand and
+placed it in Gustav's, saying, 'You must make up to me for the failure
+of those hopes which I have cherished through so many years. But,' he
+added, with a sigh, 'what will my brother say when he hears this
+history?'
+
+Jettè cast herself upon his neck; she almost fainted in his arms; the
+rest of us surrounded him. There was no end to embraces and thanks.
+
+'And now let us hasten to my mother,' said Hannè; 'the revolution shall
+end there. I would not be in your place, cousin, for any money; you
+will be soundly rated.'
+
+'You shall be my advocate, Hannè, and shall defend my case; it is only
+under your protection that I dare appear before my aunt. Take me under
+your wing--I positively will not leave you.'
+
+I slipped my arm round her waist, and I think, if I remember aright, I
+was going to kiss her.
+
+'Hands off, Mr. Cousin! Now that you are not to be my brother-in-law
+you must not make so free. Remember your intended in Berlin.'
+
+Alas! to help others I had injured myself. Hannè, her father, and I
+walked on first, the lovers followed us a little way behind. As we came
+along we met some of the peasantry on the estate going to their work.
+
+'Hollo! good people!' cried I to them, 'this evening we must be all
+merry, and drink your master's good health, and dance on Miss Jettè's
+betrothal-day. Hurrah for Miss Jettè and Mr. Holm!'
+
+'Hurrah!' cried the people. And the declaration was made.
+
+'Be quiet, you good-for-nothing!' cried the Justitsraad, 'and don't
+turn everything topsy-turvy in a place that does not belong to you. A
+feast, forsooth--drink my health, indeed! It is easy for you to be
+generous at another's man's expense. I declare the fellow is determined
+to take the whip-hand of us all.'
+
+My aunt heard the noise, and came out on the steps to ask what was the
+matter. I crept behind Hannè and hid myself.
+
+'A complete revolution, my dear, which that precious fellow Carl has
+brought about. When the luncheon-bell had rung for some time in vain,
+without their making their appearance, Hannè and I went to look for
+Jettè and Carl in the wood; I expected to have found him at Jettè's
+feet; but instead of him there lay another, and he was actually busying
+himself in making up a match between them. Truly, it is an edifying
+story. Come in, and I will tell you all about it, and you will see to
+what purpose he has travelled. He has betrothed himself in Berlin,
+fancy--and very probably in Hamburg, in Paris, in Vienna, wherever he
+may have been. He is a fine fellow! A pretty viper we were nourishing
+in our hearts!'
+
+My aunt was easily reconciled to the course of events, and she gave the
+young couple her maternal blessing. But it was me whom they all wanted
+for a son-in-law and a brother-in-law. It was very flattering to be
+such a favourite; however, as I was not to be had, they received Gustav
+(for whom they had a great regard) with open arms. We all became as
+sprightly as a parcel of children, and I would have been very happy had
+not the many affectionate good wishes for the future welfare of myself
+and my unknown _fiancée_ in Berlin fallen like burning drops of molten
+lead on my soul, and had I not had constantly before me the remembrance
+that I must soon leave this pleasant circle, and for ever! My
+proposition to spend that day entirely by ourselves was agreed to, and
+orders were given to admit no visitors.
+
+'Let me but live this day undisturbed to the end,' thought I, 'and I
+shall demand nothing more from Fortune, which has hitherto been so kind
+to me.' It was a day, the like of which I have never spent. You will,
+perhaps, think it strange, dear reader, that my conscience should be so
+much at ease; but I must frankly confess that the good action I had
+accomplished, and the happiness I had bestowed, had entirely had the
+effect of quieting that internal monitor. Jettè was right when she said
+that I had already obtained some influence over her father; for I can
+positively assert that my sudden and public announcement of the state
+of affairs had been taken in good part. I was all activity and
+excitement; and my exuberant mirth, which was almost without bounds,
+did not permit a serious word, scarcely a serious thought. I obliged
+them all to exert themselves, and fly about in order to make
+preparations for a little dance in a round summer-house at one end of
+the garden: the Justitsraad had to send to the village for two
+fiddlers; his wife had to give out sheets and curtains to make hangings
+for the walls; the young ladies wove garlands; Gustav and I
+manufactured chandeliers out of barrel-hoops and vegetables. Everybody
+was set to work, and before the evening the prettiest little ball-room
+that could be was arranged; and the people on the estate declared they
+had never seen anything so splendid before; 'but, to be sure, there had
+never been a betrothal feast in the family before.'
+
+'You are a clever fellow, Carl,' said the Justitsraad; 'you have got
+this up so prettily and so well, that one might almost give a real
+ball. Were it not that I should have my wife and children up in arms
+against me, I really fancy I should like a dance. But there would be
+too many difficulties in the way.'
+
+Hannè flew up to her father, and hugged him in her joy; he was taken at
+his word, and nothing else was talked of but the ball, which in the
+course of eight days was to be given to celebrate Jettè's betrothal.
+
+'We will set about writing the invitations at once,' said Hannè; 'there
+is an hour or more yet before the people are to begin to dance, and we
+have nothing to do. Let us fetch pen, ink, and paper; I will dictate,
+and Carl shall write; it will be done directly, almost, and early
+to-morrow morning we shall send off the invitations. So, all the
+difficulties are overcome. Now, cousin, mend your pen; you write a good
+hand,' said Hannè.
+
+'Write! No, that I won't,' thought I. 'I shall take good care not to
+betray myself by that.'
+
+'Gustav can write what you want; I have hurt my hand,' said I, looking
+round; but Gustav and Jettè had both disappeared.
+
+'How? Let me see,' said Hannè. 'It is not true. Gustav and Jettè have
+gone into the garden; we must let them alone; so you shall come, and
+you may as well do it at once.'
+
+'But I have really hurt my finger, Hannè; it is extremely painful. I
+shall not be able to make the most wretched pothooks--my finger is
+quite swollen.'
+
+'Or rather you are extremely lazy, and won't take the trouble,' said
+Hannè. 'But at least you shall help me to write a list of the people to
+be invited, before I forget half of them; I have got them all in my
+head just now, and your pothooks are good enough for that. Begin now!
+Put down first our neighbours who were here yesterday. Kammerraad[5]
+Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the tutor. Have
+you got them down?' Hannè looked over my shoulder at the paper. 'But
+what in the world stands there?' she asked.
+
+'Kammerraad Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the
+tutor,' I replied. 'These are Greek characters, Hannè; I can write
+nothing but Greek with this finger.'
+
+'But I can't read Greek, you refractory monster!' cried Hannè,
+dolefully.
+
+'You must learn it, then, Hannè. Task for task; if you force me to
+write the list, I will force you to read Greek.'
+
+'That's right, my boy!' exclaimed the Justitsraad, laughing heartily.
+'If one gives the girls an inch, they are sure to take an ell; they
+would take the command of us altogether, if they could.'
+
+After a great deal of joking and foolery, we accomplished making out
+the list, and the last name given was that of my good uncle, the worthy
+pastor, whom it was my purpose to visit, and whose guest I would be
+before the sun rose on the following day.
+
+'Do you know him, too?' I asked, with a feeling of mingled surprise and
+annoyance.
+
+'He confirmed both Jettè and me,' said Hannè; 'he is an excellent man,
+therefore I kept him to the last. You can hardly imagine how much we
+are all attached to him. If ever I marry, he shall perform the
+ceremony, I think you must remember him; at least, you saw him in this
+house more than once when you were here as a child.'
+
+'Very true. I think I recollect him; he is a tall, old man, with a
+hooked nose. Yes, I remember him distinctly.'
+
+This time, at least, I had no need to help myself out with lies! In a
+situation such as mine, one seizes with avidity every opportunity to
+speak truth; it is so very refreshing when one is up to the ears in
+untruth.
+
+Our chandeliers answered their purpose exceedingly well: the fiddlers
+scraped loudly and merrily, and the floor shook under the powerful
+springs and somewhat weighty footing of the country swains and damsels
+who were dancing in honour of Miss Jettè's betrothal. I had taken a
+turn in the waltz with each of the village belles, and danced that
+furious _Fangedands_ with Hannè--a dance that one must have seen the
+peasantry execute, in order to form an idea how violent it is. Glee and
+good-humour reigned around, and even the Justitsraad entered heartily
+into the joyous spirit which seemed to prevail. And, although from time
+to time, he whispered to me, 'I ought to be very angry at you--you have
+played me a pretty trick,' yet he was not in the slightest degree
+angry; on the contrary, he submitted with an extremely good grace to
+what he could not help. But I--I who had been the originator and cause
+of all this gaiety and gladness--I felt only profound melancholy, and
+stole away to indulge in it amidst the most lonely walks of the garden,
+or in the wood beyond. The hour of my departure was drawing rapidly
+near.
+
+Perhaps you may imagine, dear reader, that it would be impossible for
+me to be sad or serious. Could you have beheld me wandering about the
+grounds alone, that September evening, when every one else was dancing,
+you would have found that you were mistaken in your opinion of me. I
+ascended the sloping hill, on which stands Hannè's favourite swing. By
+day the view from thence is beautiful; and even at night it is a place
+not to be despised. The garden, stretching out darkly immediately
+beneath, looked like an impenetrable wood. The moon was in its first
+quarter, and therefore shed but a faint uncertain light over objects at
+a little distance, while its trembling rays fell more brightly on the
+far-off waves of the Baltic Sea, making them appear nearer than they
+really were. On the right, the walls and chimneys of the dwelling-house
+gleamed through the openings of the trees; on the left, light blazed
+from the illuminated summer-house, whence came the sound of a hundred
+feet, tramping in time to the overpowered music. All else was as still
+around me as it generally is in the evening in the country, where the
+occasional bark of some distant dog, with its echo resounding from the
+wood, is the only sign of life. Behind me lay the pretty grove; and
+above my head stood the swing, on one of whose tall supporters my name
+was fastened in derision.
+
+Had you seen how carefully I detached the piece of paper from the wood,
+and placing myself in the swing where I had sat with Hannè, allowed
+myself to rock gently backwards and forwards, while I gazed on the
+strange name that had become dearer to me than my own, because _she_
+had pronounced it and written it, you would have perceived that I also
+could have my sad and serious moments. But people of my temperament
+seek to avoid observation when a fit of blue-devils seizes them, and
+only go forth among their fellow-beings when the fit has subsided.
+
+Jettè and Gustav took me by surprise. They had passed in silence
+through the garden, and arm-in-arm they had as silently ascended the
+little eminence.
+
+'What, you here! in solitude, and so serious, dear cousin?' said Jettè;
+'you look quite out of spirits. Everyone connected with me should be
+happy on this my betrothal day, and I must reckon you among the nearest
+of those--you, whom I have to thank for my happiness. Come and take a
+share in the joy you have created; if I did not know better, I might be
+inclined to fancy that you are grieving over the irreparable loss you
+have had in me: you really do assume such a miserable countenance.'
+
+'Do not ridicule me, Jettè; I have perhaps just lost more than I can
+ever be compensated for.'
+
+'It is well that a certain person in Berlin cannot overhear what
+politeness induces you to say in Zealand,' replied Jettè. 'But a truce
+to compliments at present, they only cast a shade of doubt over your
+truthfulness: keep them for those who know less of your affairs than I
+do, and let us speak honestly to each other. In reality, you are glad
+not to become more nearly connected with us than you are already: you
+cannot deny that.'
+
+'Do you think so? And if that were far from the fact?--if, on the
+contrary, that were the cause of my melancholy--the knowledge of the
+impossibility of my being so--what would you say?'
+
+'I should be under the necessity of pitying you very much, poor
+fellow!' said Jettè, laughing. 'But who would have thought that this
+morning?'
+
+'You may indeed pity me, Jettè, for when I leave this place my heart
+and my thoughts will remain behind, with you--with all your dear
+family; and I must leave you soon.'
+
+'Soon! Are you going abroad again?' asked Gustav.
+
+'Two days after your arrival among us!' exclaimed Jettè; 'no, no, we
+cannot agree to that.'
+
+'And yet it must be,' I said. 'I shall be gone, perhaps, sooner than
+you think. I have my own peculiar manner of coming and going, and ...'
+
+'But what whim is this, Carl?' asked Jettè, interrupting me. 'Did you
+not come to spend some time with us? You may depend on it my father
+will not hear of your going, though our wishes and requests may have no
+influence over you.'
+
+'I am compelled to go, dear Jettè; I must leave you for some time.
+Perhaps we shall meet again ... but should that be impossible, I shall
+write you, if you will permit me. And when I am gone, will you take my
+part, if I should be made the subject of animadversion? Let me hope,
+dear Jettè, that you and Gustav will think kindly of me, and that on
+the anniversary of this day you will not forget me when you stroll
+together through that wood which was this morning the scene of my
+dismissal.'
+
+They both shook hands with me.
+
+'But Carl, I hardly understand you,' said Jettè; 'you are so grave, so
+strange; you speak as if we were about to part for ever. Have you any
+idea of settling in Berlin?'
+
+'I beseech you, Jettè, speak not of Berlin--that was a subterfuge, a
+story, which came suddenly into my mind; I could not pitch upon any
+better excuse wherewith to upset your father's plan in a hurry, or I
+would not have lied against myself. I assure you I have never put my
+foot in Berlin, nor am I betrothed to anyone.'
+
+Jettè stepped back a few paces, and fixed on me a look of surprise and
+earnest inquiry.
+
+'What!' she exclaimed, 'you have never been at Berlin? You have told
+what is not true about yourself to help me? You are not engaged?'
+
+'No; as certainly as that I stand at this moment in your presence, I am
+not engaged, and have never attempted to become so. I have only put
+myself in the way of receiving one refusal in my life,' I added,
+smiling, as Jettè began to look suspiciously at me, 'and that was this
+morning in yonder wood. Were it not superfluous, I could with ease give
+you the most minute particulars.'
+
+There was a short silence; then Jettè exclaimed,
+
+'You are a noble creature, Carl; may God reward you, for I cannot. But
+day and night I will pray for your welfare.' She was much affected, her
+voice faltered. Gustav shook my hand cordially.
+
+'My dear friends,' said I, 'do not accord to me more praise than I
+deserve, for the higher one is praised the greater is the fall when
+opinions change. Hear me before you promise to pray for me, and let me
+tell you how ... but no, no, let me keep silence--let me say nothing.
+Pardon my seeming caprice. Promise me that you will be my sincere and
+unshaken friends, and let us go and dance again. May I have the honour
+of engaging the bride for the next waltz?'
+
+I had been on the point of confessing all my foolish pranks, and how I
+was imposing on them; but false shame prevented me. Was it better or
+not? I scarcely knew myself. I begged them to accompany me back to the
+summer-house. In the alley of pine-trees which led to it we met Hannè,
+who, according to her own account, was looking about for us; she almost
+ran against us before she perceived us.
+
+'But, good Heavens I have you all become deaf? I have been calling you
+over and over, without receiving the slightest answer, and now I find
+you gliding about in deep silence, like ghosts, scaring people's lives
+out of them. I suppose Carl has been amusing himself, as usual, with
+mischief, and has been haunting you two poor lovers, and disturbing
+you. Do you not know, Carl, that you have no sort of business to be--in
+short, are quite an incumbrance where Jettè and Holm are? Now answer
+me--do you know this, or do you not, Carl?'
+
+'No,' I replied, shortly.
+
+'"_No!_" Is that a fitting answer to a lady? Be so good as to reply
+politely. I must take upon myself to teach you good manners before you
+go abroad again, else we shall have reason to be ashamed of you.'
+
+And then she began to hum the song of 'Die Wiener in Berlin:'
+
+
+                 'In Berlin, sagt er,
+                  Musz du fein, sagt er,
+                  Und gescheut, sagt er,
+                  Immer sein, sagt er....'
+
+
+'I wish Berlin were at the devil, Hannè!' I exclaimed, interrupting
+her; 'that is my most earnest desire, believe me.'
+
+'A very Christian wish, and expressed in choicely elegant phraseology,
+everyone must admit.'
+
+'Only think, Hannè, he has _never_ been at Berlin, and is _not_
+betrothed there. Carl only made these assertions because he could think
+of no other way of making my father agree to our wishes,' said Jettè,
+almost crying.
+
+'What! he is not engaged? He has never been in Berlin? Well! he is the
+greatest story-teller I ever met. Did he not stand up, and make
+positive declarations of these events, with the most cool audacity? It
+is too bad. Lying is the worst of all faults--it is the root of all
+evil.'
+
+'No, my little Hannè, idleness is the root of all evil.'
+
+'I dare say you abound in that root too. But I don't think you can ever
+have studied the early lesson-books, from which all children should be
+instructed. I shall myself hear you your catechism to-morrow, and
+rehearse to you the first principles of right and wrong; so that when
+you leave us, you may be a little better acquainted with the doctrines
+of Christianity than you are at present.'
+
+'But he leaves us to-morrow, Hannè; he has assured us of that.'
+
+'We positively will not allow him to make his escape,' said Hannè. 'At
+night we shall lock him in his room, and during the day Thomas shall
+watch him. That boy sticks as fast as a burr,--he won't easily shake
+him off.'
+
+'But suppose I were to get out by the window? You cannot well fasten
+that on the outside.'
+
+'And break your neck, forsooth. No, no; that way of making your exit
+won't answer.'
+
+'Oh, people can climb up much higher than my window, and descend again
+without breaking their necks,' said I.
+
+Jettè and Gustav coloured violently.
+
+'Well, we can discuss that point to-morrow. This evening, at least, you
+will remain with us, on account of its being Jettè's betrothal day.
+Come, give me your arm, and let us take a walk; it is charming, yonder
+in the garden--within the summer-house one is like to faint from the
+heat.'
+
+We strolled on, two and two, in the sweet moonlight; sometimes each
+pair sauntering at a little distance from the other--Hannè and I
+chatting busily, while Gustav and Jettè often walked in the silence of
+a happiness too new and too deep for the language of every-day life.
+
+'Is it really true that you are going to leave us?' asked Hannè.
+
+'It is, indeed, too true; I must quit this place.'
+
+'Why? if I may venture to ask. But do not tell me any untruth.'
+
+'Because I have been here too long already--because a longer residence
+among you all ... near you, dear Hannè, would but destroy my peace.'
+
+'I expressly desired you not to tell me any lies. Good Heavens! is it
+impossible for you to speak truth two minutes together?'
+
+'And is it impossible for you to speak seriously for two minutes
+together? What I have just said is the honest truth.'
+
+'Humph! However, tell me, is it true or not true that you are engaged
+in Berlin? Who have you hoaxed--Jettè and me, or my father and mother?
+I beseech you speak truth this once.'
+
+'If any one is hoaxed, it is your father, Hannè; but at the moment I
+could think of nothing else to shake his determination, or I certainly
+should not have composed such a story, for telling which I blamed
+myself severely.'
+
+'Oh, of course I believe you! To make a fool of one's own excellent
+uncle! It is a sin that ought to lie very heavy on your conscience,
+Carl. It is almost as great a sin as to make fools of one's cousins.'
+
+'That is a sin from which I hope you will absolve me. Ah, Hannè! what
+has most distressed me was, that my character must have appeared
+dubious in your eyes. From the first moment I was wretched, because I
+could not tell you that it was only a pretended engagement.'
+
+'I do not see what _I_ have to do with your being betrothed in Berlin
+or not. As far as I am concerned, you might be betrothed in China, if
+you liked.'
+
+'Your gaiety of temper makes you take everything lightly, and yet it is
+you who have taught me that life has serious moments. You have
+transformed me, Hannè; if you could only know what an influence the
+first sight of you, the night I arrived here, has exercised upon my
+fate ...'
+
+'Indeed! Do tell me all about it; what was the wondrous and fearful
+effect of the sight of me?' said Hannè, laughing.
+
+'Dear Hannè, without intending it, you have pitched upon the right
+words, in calling it "wondrous and fearful." Yes, it will follow me
+like a heavy sentence from a judgment-seat, ever reproaching me with my
+thoughtlessness. Awake, and in dreams, will I implore forgiveness; I
+will kneel and pray for it. Look at me once more with that captivating
+glance which, yon evening, made me forget myself, and tell me that you
+will not hate me--loathe me--despise me: see, upon my knee I entreat
+one kind look--one kind word!'
+
+I had actually fallen on one knee before Hannè, and had seized her
+hand--
+
+'Let my hand go, you are squeezing it, so that you quite hurt me. That
+is not at all necessary to the part you are acting. Get up, cousin; you
+will have green marks on your knees, and I can't endure to see men in
+such an absurd, old-fashioned plight. You should be thankful that it is
+no longer the mode, when one is making love in earnest, to fall down on
+one's knees. These pastoral attitudes are very ridiculous; they savour
+of a shepherd's crook, and a frisky lamb with red ribbon round its
+neck.'
+
+I arose quite crestfallen.
+
+'At any rate I must allow that you promise to be a capital actor,'
+added Hannè. 'Next Christmas, when you come back, we shall get up some
+private theatricals: that will be charming! Last year we could not
+manage them, because we had no lover; Holm positively refused to act
+the part, unless I would undertake to be his sweetheart; and a play
+without love is like a ball without music.'
+
+'Hannè, let us speak seriously for once. I really am going away, and
+shall be gone, perhaps, before you expect it; for I hate farewell
+scenes. It is not without emotion that I can think of leaving my
+amiable cousins, and God only knows if we shall ever meet again. Laugh
+at me if you will, I cannot forbid your doing that; but believe me when
+I tell you that your image will be present with me wherever I may go,
+and ...'
+
+'You will travel in very good company, then,' said Hannè, interrupting
+me.
+
+'Let me take the happy hope with me that I shall live in your friendly
+remembrance. Sink the cousin if you choose, dear Hannè; cousinship is
+not worth much, and let the term _friend_ supersede it. That is a
+voluntary tie, for which I should have to thank but your own feelings.
+It is as a friend that I shall think of you when I go from this dear
+place, and as a friend that your image will follow me throughout the
+world.'
+
+'Oh, it won't be very troublesome to you,' said Hannè. 'As to me, I
+don't happen to be in want of cousins, still less of friends. Let me
+see, in what office shall I instal you? Make a confidant of you? We do
+not employ any in our family; I am my own confidante: assuredly I could
+have none safer. I shall follow in this the example of my silent
+sister, who never gave me the slightest hint of her love for Gustav. A
+counsellor? Truly, such an accomplished fibber would make a trustworthy
+counsellor? No, I am afraid, if you throw up the post you hold, you
+will find it difficult to replace it by any other.'
+
+'Very well, let me retain it then, but not as the gift of chance. You
+must yourself, of your own free will, bestow on me the title of your
+cousin, your chosen cousin: that is a distinction of which I shall be
+proud.'
+
+'And will you, then, promise to come back at Christmas, and act plays
+with us?'
+
+'I promise you into the bargain a summer representation, before autumn
+is over,' said I. 'The Fates only know if I shall preserve the dramatic
+talent I now have until winter.'
+
+I had caught a portion of Hannè 's gaiety, and my sentimental feelings,
+so much jeered at, shrank into the background.
+
+'Then I will dub you my cousin of cousins; and besides, on account of
+your many great services and merits, I will confer on you the
+distinguished title of my court story-teller.'
+
+'And on the occasion of receiving this new title, I must, as in duty
+bound, kiss your hand; wherefore I remove this little brown glove,
+which henceforth shall be placed in my helmet, in token of my vassalage
+to a fair lady.'
+
+'No, stop! give up my glove, cousin--I cannot waste it upon you. It is
+a good new glove, without a single hole in it. Give it up, I tell you;
+the other will be of no use without it.'
+
+She tried to snatch it from me, but I held it high above her head, and
+speedily managed to seize its fellow-glove.
+
+'You must redeem them, Hannè; a kiss for each of the pair is what I
+demand; and they are well worth it, for they are really nice new
+gloves. I will not part with them for less.'
+
+'I think you must be a fool, Carl, to fancy for one moment that I would
+kiss you to recover my own gloves. No, I will die first,' she
+exclaimed, in a tone of comic indignation.
+
+In answer to her mock heroics, I apostrophized the gloves in glowing
+terms, finishing with--'On your smooth perfumed surface I press my
+burning lips. Tell your fair mistress what I dare not say to her, what
+I at this moment confide to you.' I kissed the gloves.
+
+'Well, well, give me back my gloves and I will let you kiss me,' said
+Hannè. 'But it shall be the slightest atom of a kiss, such as they give
+in the Christmas games, the most economical possible; it must not be
+worth more than four marks, for that was the price of the gloves. Now,
+are you not ashamed to take a kiss valued so low?'
+
+'No, I will take it. But the value I put upon it is very different, for
+the slightest kiss from your lips, Hannè, is worth at least a million.
+You will make me a _millionnaire_, Hannè.'
+
+I gave her the gloves, and was just on the point of kissing her, when
+the voice of the Justitsraad broke on the silence around, calling,
+'Jettè, Hannè, Carl, hollo! where are you all?'
+
+'Here,' cried Hannè, bursting away from me. 'We are coming.'
+
+'But dearest, dearest Hannè! my kiss--my million?'
+
+'We will see about it to-morrow; you must give me credit this evening.'
+
+'My dearest Hannè, to-morrow will be too late; for Heaven's sake, have
+compassion on me! I am going away to-night; there is no to-morrow for
+me here. Give me but half the million now--but the quarter--but the
+four marks' worth which you owe me! Dear Hannè, pay me but the smallest
+mite of my promised treasure.'
+
+'Nonsense! we must make the best of our way home, or we shall be well
+scolded.'
+
+Gustav and Jettè joined us at that moment. The gloves and the kiss were
+for ever lost!
+
+'Why, children, what has become of you, all this time?' exclaimed the
+Justitsraad. 'Come in now, and have a country-dance with the good folks
+before we leave them and go to have some mulled claret. Stop, stop,
+Carl, you can't dance with Hannè; she is engaged to one of the young
+farmers. You must take another partner. There is poor Annie, the lame
+milkmaid, she has scarcely danced at all; it is a sin that she is to
+sit all the evening, because one leg is a little shorter than the
+other. Go, dance with her.'
+
+'Don't turn the poor girl's head with your enormous fibs,' cried Hannè
+to me, as I was entering the summer-house. 'Have pity on her
+unsophisticated heart, and do not speculate upon _a million there_; the
+herdsman would probably not allow it.'
+
+'A million? The herdsman? What is all that stuff you are talking?'
+asked her father.
+
+'Ill-nature--downright ill-nature, uncle.'
+
+'Fie! cousin; that is not a chivalrous mode of speaking. But do go and
+foot it merrily with lame Annie, and I promise you the dance shall last
+at least an hour.'
+
+The dance was over--the mulled wine was finished--the happy Gustav had
+gone to his home--the family had bid each other good night, and I was
+alone in my chamber.
+
+'This was the last evening,' thought I to myself; 'the short dream was
+now over, and I had to leave that pleasant house, never more to return
+to it.' A deep sigh responded to these reflections. 'My deception will
+soon be discovered; they will revile and despise me. I shall most
+probably be the cause of their being exposed to the ridicule of the
+whole neighbourhood; that will annoy them terribly, and they will be
+very angry that anyone should have presumed to impose so impudently on
+their frank hospitality. And my kiss ... my million ... the realization
+of that delightful promise!... What if I were to remain yet another
+day--half a day--another morning even? Remain!--in order to add another
+link to the chain which binds me here, and which I am already almost
+too weak to sever? No--I will go hence. In about an hour the moon will
+set, and when its tell-tale light is gone I will go too. One short
+hour! Alas! how many melancholy hours shall I not have to endure when
+_that one_ has passed. It is incomprehensible to me how I became
+involved in all this. Chance is sometimes a miraculous guide, when we
+allow ourselves to be blindly led by it. But a truce to these tiresome
+reflections; I have no time to think of anything but Hannè, now that I
+am about to leave her for ever ... _For ever!_ These are two detestable
+words. Everything is now quite still in the house. I hear no sound but
+poor Pasop, rustling his chains in his kennel; he will not bark when he
+sees it is only I passing. They are all friendly to me here, even the
+very dogs; yet how false I have been to them!'
+
+I threw my clothes and other little travelling appurtenances into my
+_valise_, and opened the window.
+
+'But ought I to run away without leaving one word behind? The worthy
+family might be alarming themselves about me. What shall I write? I
+suppose I must play the cousin to the end; at any rate I must try to
+put them on a wrong scent. I shall address my note to Hannè, that she
+may see that my last thoughts were with her.'
+
+I seized a pencil and wrote:--
+
+'Hannè's cruelty has caused my bankruptcy and my flight. She could
+have made me a _millionnaire_, but she has left me a beggar. Poor and
+sad I quit this hospitable house, leaving behind my blessings on its
+much-respected and amiable inmates, including the hard-hearted fair one
+who has compelled me to seek a refuge at Fredericia, which, from the
+time of Axel, has afforded _jus asyli_ to unfortunate subjects.'
+
+I stuck the paper in the dressing-glass, where it would speedily be
+observed.
+
+I had played out my comedy, and the sober realities of life were now
+before me. I fell into a deep reverie, which lasted until the first
+dawn of day, when I started up to prepare for my departure. First, I
+threw my carpet-bag out of the window, and then, getting out myself
+upon the tree, and cautiously descending from branch to branch, I
+reached the ground safely and quietly. Taking a circuitous route, I at
+length passed the woody village near my uncle's abode; and the sun
+stood high in the heavens when, weary and dispirited, and out of humour
+with the whole world, I entered the parsonage-house.
+
+
+                                PART IV.
+
+Eight days after my arrival, I was sitting in the dusk with the old
+people, while my thoughts were at ---- Court. The good clergyman,
+according to habit, was shoving the skull-cap he wore on his head to
+and fro, and talking half-aloud to himself. At length he exclaimed,
+
+'In good sooth, nephew, I am quite surprised at you. Is it natural for
+a young man to sit so much within doors? You have never gone a step
+beyond the garden and our little shrubbery, and really there is some
+very pretty scenery in our neighbourhood, quite worth your seeing.'
+
+'It is a sin that he should be shut up here with us two old people,'
+said his wife; 'if our son had been at home, it would have been more
+pleasant for him. It is very unlucky that he should be at Kiel just
+now. How can we amuse such a young man, my dear? I am quite sorry for
+him.'
+
+I assured them that I had everything I wished at their house, and
+was extremely comfortable. But the fact was, that I felt extremely
+uncomfortable. I was miserable at knowing that I was so near ----
+Court, and yet could have no communication with its inhabitants; I was
+certain that I must have thrown everything there into the greatest
+commotion, yet, since my flight, I had heard nothing of or from the
+place round which my heart's dearest thoughts hovered continually.
+
+'Why, instead of a wild, mischievous, merry madcap, as you were
+represented to be, we find a staid, quiet, grave young man. It is not a
+good sign when a gay temper takes such a sudden turn. You seem to be
+quite changed, nephew. Indeed, it strikes me your very appearance has
+altered; your hair looks darker to me, within these eight days, and
+your skin is as yellow as if you had the jaundice.'
+
+'Oh, Heaven forbid! The Lord preserve him from that!' cried my worthy
+aunt, much alarmed.
+
+I relieved her mind by assuring her that my health was excellent.
+
+'And you are allowing the hair on your upper lip to grow to a pair of
+moustaches,' continued my uncle. 'You will soon look like an officer of
+hussars. If you were not such a sensible, quiet youth, I should think
+it was a piece of conceit and affectation, to look smart in the eyes of
+the girls.'
+
+Without having formed any settled plan connected with the change of my
+appearance, but not without considerable trouble, had I by degrees
+blackened my hair, and darkened my complexion with walnut juice, so
+that I could not be recognized if any of the people from ---- Court
+should meet me. I had also cultivated moustaches for the same purpose,
+but they were as yet very diminutive.
+
+'Just tell me, nephew, what do you want with moustaches?'
+
+'I want them because ... I wish ... I must ... I belong to the corps of
+riflemen, uncle, and the new regulation is, that every rifleman is to
+have moustaches ... so I must mount a pair.'
+
+'What a foolish regulation! Don't you think so, wife? But I suppose it
+is a case in which one must do as others do.'
+
+This settled, I was left, as to my disguise, in peace. But my venerable
+uncle commenced another attack. 'I must positively have you to go out
+and look about you, Adolph. I am going to-morrow to see my friends
+Justitsraad ----, whose country seat is not far from this. You shall
+drive over there with me; the road is very pretty.'
+
+I was in agony. 'I would, much rather remain at home, uncle; I don't
+know these people.'
+
+'I will introduce you to them. They are a very amiable, charming
+family, and you will soon become acquainted with them. You absolutely
+must go.'
+
+What excuse was I to manufacture? I had recourse to fibs again.
+
+'The Justitsraad and my father are personal enemies--they quarrelled
+about some matter of business. They are deadly foes--I should be very
+unwelcome--my name is proscribed at ---- Court.'
+
+'How very strange that I never heard of this before!' exclaimed the
+unsuspecting old man. 'People should not hate each other for the sake
+of sinful mammon. We must bring about a reconciliation between them. I
+shall certainly preach upon the subject of forgiveness next Sunday--a
+powerful discourse will I give.'
+
+'It is also my wish that they should be reconciled, dear uncle, and
+therefore, I think it would be most prudent not to mention my name
+_yet_. If I make the acquaintance of the Justitsraad without his
+knowing who I am, I shall feel more at my ease with him. I assure you
+this will be best.'
+
+'Well--so be it,' said my uncle; 'I will not then mention your being
+here. But I shall throw out a few hints about forgiveness and Christian
+feelings--these can do no harm.'
+
+'No--that they cannot,' said my aunt. 'But I quite agree with Adolph. I
+think his plan a good one.'
+
+As soon as the old people had retired to rest, I stole softly through
+the garden, and reaching the high road, took the way to ---- Court. As
+I approached it, I saw with pleasure the white summer-house on the
+outskirts of the garden. Soon after I reached the hill, where stood the
+well-known swing. The moon was shining brightly, and it was a lovely
+night. All was so still around, that I could hear the wind whistling
+through the adjacent alleys of trees--and the rustling of the wind
+amidst the branches of the pine and the fir has a peculiar sound. Far
+away in the wood was to be heard the melancholy tinkling of the bells
+worn by the sheep round their necks. There is a sadness in this
+monotonous, yet plaintive sound, which has a great effect upon the
+heart that is filled with longing--and where is the human being who has
+nothing to long for? But such sadness is not hopeless, and as the bells
+give tones sometimes higher, sometimes deeper, from different parts of
+the woods or fields, so tranquillizing voices whisper to our souls,
+'There is comfort for every sorrow--we shall not always long in vain.'
+
+The moon shed its soft light over the quiet garden, the clock struck
+eleven--that was generally the time at which the family retired to
+rest--therefore I ventured to leave my place of concealment, without
+the fear of encountering anyone. Presently after I stood again behind
+the bushes of fragrant jasmine, immediately beneath the windows, and
+beheld one light extinguished after the other. In the room I lately
+occupied, all was dark. At length the light also disappeared in Hannè's
+chamber.
+
+
+              Sleep, sweetly sleep! Dream blessed dreams!
+
+
+I whispered with Baggesen, and my heart added, in the words of the same
+poet,
+
+
+                 I love--I love--I love but only thee!
+
+
+In Jettè's room there was still a candle burning; doubtless she was
+thinking of her Gustav, perhaps writing a few kind words to him. I
+could hardly refrain myself from climbing up _the_ tree, and speaking
+to her; I had a claim upon her indulgence, for had I not laid the
+fountain of her happiness? _Laid the foundation!_ How did I know that
+the real cousin had not arrived? But even in that case it would be
+scarcely possible to undo what had been done. I clung to the pleasing
+idea that I had effected some good.
+
+At length Jettè's candle was extinguished also. The last--last light--I
+had gazed on it, till I was almost blinded. With an involuntary sigh I
+turned my steps slowly back towards the garden; something was moving
+close behind me; it was my quondam friend, a greyhound belonging to the
+Justitsraad, but he followed growling at my heels, as if he wished to
+hunt me off the grounds I polluted by my presence.
+
+'Watchel! my boy! is that you? So--so--be still, be still, Watchel!' I
+turned to pat his head, but he showed his white teeth, and barked at
+me; and presently all the other dogs near began to bark also.
+'Forgotten!' I exclaimed bitterly to myself, 'forgotten, and disliked!'
+Watchel followed me, snarling, to the extremity of the garden, and
+barked long at my shadow as I crossed the field.
+
+The next day my uncle drove over to ---- Court. The moment he was gone
+I hurried up to his study, which looked towards the east, and arranged
+his large telescope to bear upon that place which had so much interest
+for me. I could overlook the whole plain; at its extremity was some
+rising ground studded with trees--this was the garden; to the left lay
+the grove, and close to it was the hillock on which stood the swing!
+Suddenly the swing, until then empty, seemed to be occupied with
+something white, which put it in motion. 'It is Hannè who is swinging!'
+I exclaimed aloud in my joy; and I spent the whole afternoon in gazing
+through the telescope, with a beating heart, and with my eyes fixed
+upon the swing to catch another glimpse of her who had vanished, alas!
+too soon. One glance at the folds of her white dress had thrown my
+blood into a tumult of excitement, but how wildly did not all my pulses
+beat when, towards evening, my uncle's carriage rolled up the avenue of
+the rectory.
+
+After he had greeted my aunt with all due affection, and delivered
+the complimentary messages with which he was charged, inquired how
+things had gone on during the hours of his absence, settled himself
+comfortably in his old easy-chair, and lighted his pipe, he began
+with--
+
+'I heard some very strange news over yonder; I really can think of
+nothing else.'
+
+'What is it, dear? A great rise in the price of anything?' asked his
+wife.
+
+'Oh no, my dear, not at all. It is a very ridiculous story. It is not
+to be mentioned; but I know you will keep it to yourself when I
+particularly request you to do so. Well--I will tell you all about it;
+it is really quite a mysterious affair.'
+
+And the good man proceeded to relate how, one evening when they were
+expecting a cousin who was betrothed to Jettè, a person arrived who
+answered every question about the family, seemed to know all their
+affairs, gave himself out to be Carl, whom they had not seen for eleven
+years, and, as might be supposed, insinuated himself into the good
+graces of the whole of them. 'He found out that Jettè was attached to
+that young man Holm, who is studying agricultural affairs in this
+neighbourhood; so he insisted on annulling his engagement to her,
+declaring that he was not in love with her, but was betrothed abroad.
+The Justitsraad was at first very angry, but he gave way at last, and
+there were gay doings at ---- Court that evening. Next morning the
+cousin was nowhere to be found; but he left behind him a paper of which
+nobody can make anything. They expected him during two whole days, but
+he did not make his appearance again. On the third day, another person
+arrived, who also declared himself to be a cousin, said he was called
+Carl, and that he was the expected guest. He brought letters from his
+father, about whose handwriting there could be no doubt, and the whole
+family recognized him at once from many things. The first, of course,
+was an impostor. But Jettè is now betrothed to Holm as well as to the
+cousin, who had come to arrange about the wedding. There was an awful
+scene--he insisted on Holm's giving up Jettè to him, and her father had
+at last to interfere to prevent the rivals carrying their wrath to some
+fearful extremity. The cousin's obstinacy gave great offence, and he
+took his departure the day after he had arrived. But he was so angry,
+that it was with great difficulty he was induced to promise that he
+would hold his tongue, and not blab about this absurd affair.'
+
+'May the Lord graciously preserve us all! It must have been some wicked
+sharper!' exclaimed my aunt, clasping her hands in great agitation,
+when her husband had finished his recital.
+
+'Of course he was an impostor. But it is a very curious story. For what
+could he have come--will anyone tell me that?'
+
+'Why, to steal, to be sure. Did he break into none of the
+keeping-places? Is there nothing missing--none of the plate? no forks
+or spoons?'
+
+'Not the slightest article, and he was there for two days, and went
+about like one of themselves.'
+
+'It is very surprising; but the fact is, he must have come to
+reconnoitre the premises, and, when the nights are longer and darker,
+they will hear of him again.'
+
+'It is a most incomprehensible affair,' said I, in a voice that might
+have betrayed, me to more acute observers. 'And can they not guess at
+all who he is--have they no clue to him?'
+
+'Not the slightest, nephew. They all describe him as a handsome,
+gentlemanly young man, who knew how to conduct himself in good society;
+and he acquitted himself so well in his assumed character, that none of
+them had the least notion what a trick he was playing them.'
+
+'Believe me, my dear sirs, this person was no other than the celebrated
+MORTEN FREDERICHSEN, who was arrested and imprisoned at Roeskilde, but
+made his escape. He must be a very clever fellow, that,' said my aunt;
+'I have been told that he pretended to be a Russian officer once in
+Copenhagen, made his way into the higher circles, and spoke Russian as
+if it had been his mother tongue. No doubt he has contrived to get free
+again; and he is a dangerous man. Heaven preserve us from him! Where
+_he_ is, there is always mischief going on. I will take care to see
+that the house-doors are well bolted and secured, and I shall tell the
+servants to let Sultan loose at night. One cannot be too careful when
+there are such characters lurking in the neighbourhood.'
+
+The old lady went out to superintend the safe fastening of the house,
+without dreaming that he who caused her such alarm was dwelling under
+her own peaceful roof.
+
+The next day nothing else was spoken of, and it was easy for me to draw
+from my uncle all that I wished to hear. I ascertained that the real
+cousin had not made a favourable impression; and that, in fact, they
+were all glad that the engagement between him and Jettè was at an end.
+My extraordinary and mysterious disappearance had set them all
+guessing, but they despaired of ever solving the riddle, since all the
+investigations and inquiries which could be quietly instituted had
+failed to yield the slightest trace of me. Gustav, following up the
+hint I had given in the note I had left, had written to a friend in
+Fredericia, but, of course, this had led to no result. Thomas daily
+scoured the country round, searching the woods and the moors to find
+me; but every succeeding day lessened his hopes of being able to bring
+me a prisoner to his home.
+
+My imprudence, then, had been productive of no bad effects; fortune had
+befriended the rash fool, as it so often does. I cannot describe with
+what joy I gathered this happy intelligence; and when I had reflected
+on it for some days, I came to the conclusion that I _might_ venture
+again to show myself at ---- Court, and entreat forgiveness of my sad
+delinquencies. I formed a thousand plans and relinquished them again.
+At length I wrote to Copenhagen for new clothes, and sent a letter, to
+be forwarded from thence by the post to the Justitsraad, wherein I made
+a confession, and candidly avowed all that my inclination for a frolic
+and a succession of accidental circumstances had led me into. I threw
+myself upon Miss Jettè's kindness to intercede for me, trusting that
+she would not refuse me this favour; I dwelt on my contrition and deep
+regret, and implored forgiveness for my misdemeanours. Nothing did I
+conceal, except my name and my love for Hannè. I hope, dear reader,
+that you will not find it necessary to ask why I concealed these.
+
+The blue coat arrived at length from Copenhagen, with information that
+the letter had been forwarded. It was not difficult for me to put it
+into my uncle's head to drive over to ---- Court, and ascertain if
+there had been any elucidation of the mysterious story that had almost
+entirely chased sleep from my good aunt's couch. I had intended to have
+accompanied him, but when the time came my courage failed, and,
+pleading a headache, I left him to go alone.
+
+'You are not well, my dear nephew, that I can easily perceive,' said
+he, as I saw him into his carriage; 'we must positively send for the
+doctor. You will turn quite black in the long run, for in a fortnight
+only you have become as dark as a Tartar, and that is not a healthy
+colour. Perhaps you have got worms.'
+
+The worthy man little knew that I was purposely obliterating my good
+complexion more and more, and had the greatest trouble in giving myself
+this Tartar tint. 'He shall drink some of my decoction of wormwood,'
+said my aunt; 'it is better than any apothecary's mixtures, and will do
+him a great deal of good.' Whereupon she invited me to go with her to
+her sanctum, and there I was compelled to swallow a horrid bitter
+potion, which was enough to bring the most hardened sinner to a sense
+of his guilt.
+
+'Well, tell me, have they found Morten Frederichsen?' asked my aunt,
+when my uncle returned. 'Has he broken in over yonder?'
+
+'No, no, my dear. There was no housebreaker in question at all. Truly,
+it is a laughable story. The man has written the Justitsraad from
+Copenhagen.'
+
+'Written? A threatening letter? A defiance? It is making nothing at all
+of the police--a positive insult to them. But, God be thanked, he is no
+longer in our neighbourhood.'
+
+'Now, my good wife, you are quite mistaken,' replied my uncle, who then
+proceeded to relate the contents of my letter, which, it appeared, had
+still further excited the baffled curiosity of the worthy family.
+
+My aunt could not recover from the state of amazement into which she
+had been thrown.
+
+'But what says the Justitsraad?' I asked.
+
+'Why, what can he say? He is glad that the intruder was a gentleman,
+for the letter is evidently written by one in that rank of life, but of
+course he is angry at having been so hoaxed. But it was Jettè who
+pacified him, for she did not stop entreating him until he promised her
+not to vex himself any longer about the matter. I thought of you,
+nephew, and took the opportunity to say a few words about forgiveness
+and placability, grounding my lesson of Christian duty on the excellent
+admonitions of the Scriptures. They talked a great deal about the
+mysterious personage; and the Justitsraad said at length that he would
+not wreak his vengeance upon him if he could see him, but would rather
+feel a pleasure in meeting him again. The girls wanted their father to
+put an advertisement in the papers addressed in a roundabout way to
+him, but Mr. Holm dissuaded them from this.'
+
+'That was very right of Mr. Holm,' said my aunt. 'He is a sensible
+young man; for if the person really was a thief--of which there can be
+no doubt--for he who tells a lie will also steal ...'
+
+'That does not by any means follow, dear aunt,' said I.
+
+'Well, be that as it may, we are invited to ---- Court to-morrow, and I
+promised that we would go, and you, too, Adolph. I told them I had a
+nephew on a visit to me at present.'
+
+'I ... but ... you know, uncle, my father and the Justitsraad ...'
+
+'Oh, we must manage to set all that to-rights; to entertain feelings of
+enmity is quite unworthy of two such men. Leave the matter to me. I
+have not yet mentioned your name, therefore you need be under no
+embarrassment in presenting yourself to the Justitsraad. He is a very
+pleasant man.'
+
+'Sooner or later--it makes but little difference,' thought I; 'and if I
+can but look him full in the face, without dreading to be discovered, I
+shall be willing to acknowledge all his good qualities.'
+
+'Had we not better take the bottle of wormwood with us in the
+carriage?' said my aunt, next day. 'Adolph looks so black under the
+eyes this morning, that I am sure he is worse than he was yesterday.'
+
+'I confess I do not like his looks,' said my uncle; 'but perhaps that
+dark shade is cast by his moustaches. One might really fancy, nephew,
+that you had darkened your face with burnt cork. You don't look at all
+like yourself. Truly, the rifle corps has a great deal to answer for.'
+
+My endeavours had been successful. Instead of the gay, fresh-looking,
+light-hearted cousin, in a dark-green frock-coat, that had left
+---- Court, came, along with the clergyman and his lady, a grave,
+silent, dark-haired nephew, in a blue coat; with an olive complexion,
+very sallow, and with black moustaches; my transformation was complete.
+I scarcely recognized myself when I saw myself in the glass. The worst
+that could happen would be to be taken for myself--the agreeably
+characterized '_sad scamp_' from Hamburg. But for what would I not be
+taken to see Hannè again!
+
+None of them knew me; the Justitsraad addressed me as 'Mr. Adolph,' and
+received me very courteously. The guests were Kammerraad Tvede, the
+Jutlander, and his family, Gustav, a friend of his, and ourselves. I do
+not doubt that my heightened colour might have been visible even
+through the swarthy shade of my cheek when Hannè entered the room. She
+had become ten times prettier than ever in these fourteen days; she
+looked really quite captivating. Gustav and Jettè cast many speaking
+glances at each other, and her mother looked kindly at them. I stood
+silent and grave in a corner window; the various feelings that rushed
+upon me assisted me in playing the part of a somewhat embarrassed
+stranger. Watchel rose from his mat, and walked round the room as if to
+greet his master's well-known guests; he wagged his tail in token of
+welcome to my uncle and aunt, but he growled at me, whereupon Hannè
+called him away, and made him lie down in his usual place.
+
+'But tell me, my dear friend, how does this happen? When I was here
+last your daughter was engaged to another gentleman. What has become of
+him?' said the inquisitive neighbour, Tvede.
+
+'Oh, that was only a jest from their childhood,' said the Justitsraad.
+'He was my brother's son, and was on a visit to us. Jettè was betrothed
+at that time to Mr. Holm, though her engagement was not generally
+known.'
+
+'Oh, indeed; but where is your nephew now?'
+
+'He left us some time ago.'
+
+'A very nice young man your nephew is; perhaps what was only jest
+between him and the elder sister may become earnest between him and the
+younger one. What say you to that, Miss Hannè?'
+
+Hannè blushed scarlet, but made no answer. The Justitsraad looked a
+little confused, and smiled to my uncle; I sat as if on thorns.
+
+'So your father resides in Copenhagen, Mr. Adolph?' said the
+indefatigable questioner, turning towards me.
+
+I rose in a fright, and bowed.
+
+'He is a merchant, is he not? and has a good deal to do with the West
+Indies?'
+
+'Yes, he has a good deal to do with the West Indies,' I replied, in a
+feigned voice, as different from my own as I possibly could make it.
+
+'My brother-in-law does a great deal of business with the provinces
+also--commission-business--as a corn-merchant,' said my uncle; 'that is
+safer than West India business.'
+
+'Ah, so he is your brother-in-law--married to your sister, no doubt?
+Well, your nephew seems a fine young man. He is in the army, I
+suppose?'
+
+'No, my dear sir, he is a clerk in his father's office; but as he has
+joined a rifle corps, according to a new regulation he is obliged to
+have moustaches,' replied my uncle, honestly believing the truth of my
+assertion.
+
+The observation of all present was drawn upon me. I turned crimson.
+Gustav and his friend cast a meaning glance at each other, and both
+smiled, I interpreted the smile into this, 'He is a vain, conceited
+puppy; the regulation is the coinage of his own brain.' What an
+unmerciful interpreter is conscience! We were to take our coffee in the
+garden; thither, therefore, we all proceeded. I approached Jettè, and
+began to talk to her about the pretty country round.
+
+'Have you been long at your uncle's?' she asked.
+
+'I have been there some little time, and I should have left it before
+now, had not a strange commission been imposed on me--one which I find
+it very difficult to fulfil. It is a commission which relates to the
+family here,' I added, when I found she was not inclined to ask any
+questions.
+
+'To us?' said Jettè; 'and the commission is so difficult?'
+
+'It is no other than to obtain for a man the restoration of that peace
+of mind of which his inconsiderate folly has deprived him, and to
+procure for him your father's forgiveness--his pardon of an injury that
+otherwise will weigh him down with regret and remorse for the remainder
+of his life.'
+
+Jettè looked at me in astonishment.
+
+'What--Mr. Adolph? I do not understand.'
+
+'A friend of mine has written to me from Copenhagen, and charged me to
+try and make his peace with the Justitsraad; but the papers which he
+has forwarded to me containing his case, really present it in such a
+perplexing and unfortunate light, that I cannot attempt to carry out
+his wishes, unless you, to whom he particularly desired me first to
+apply, will grant me your valuable assistance. He certainly did most
+shamefully abuse your confidence.'
+
+'You know ... it is ... you are acquainted with that strange story?'
+exclaimed Jettè, much embarrassed.
+
+'I know it thoroughly; and though this is the first time I have had the
+honour of seeing you, I think I may say you yourself are not better
+acquainted with the particulars of that affair than I am. It is on your
+kindness that I principally rely; yet I may not mention my friend's
+name until he has obtained entire forgiveness. He has given me very
+positive directions.'
+
+'I cannot but be much surprised that a person who insulted my father
+and us all so much, should ...'
+
+'Insulted you, my dear young lady? I am shocked to hear it; I am sorry
+that he should have written me what was not true; his letter led me to
+believe that, on the contrary, he had rather been of service to you.'
+
+Jettè blushed deeply, and I thought I perceived tears in her eyes. 'He
+shall certainly not find me ungrateful,' she said; 'I have not
+forgotten what I owe him. What do you require of me?'
+
+'My friend entreats you, through me, to grant him your forgiveness for
+a mystification to which purely accidental circumstances led at first,
+but which was continued solely from an interest in your fate, and an
+anxious desire to serve you. He entreats that you will use your
+influence to mollify your father towards him, and procure for me a
+private interview with him, which I trust will end in the pardon of my
+friend, who has no dearer wish than to be received again into a circle
+he so highly esteems and respects, and to be permitted to prove to them
+how deeply he regrets his thoughtless folly.'
+
+Some others of the same party now approached, and I was obliged to drop
+the conversation. Gustave and Hannè were disputing.
+
+'Jeer at me as you will,' said Hannè, 'I hold to my opinion, that
+nothing is so tiresome as family connections. If one only could choose
+one's kindred those sort of ties would be much stronger. It is a pity
+not to go a step further, and let it be a fixed rule, that relations to
+a certain extent remote, should marry whether they suit each other or
+not. This would certainly extirpate _love_, but it would be vastly
+convenient, and in a recent case it would have hindered many doubts and
+hopes, and all that followed.'
+
+'Pray recollect your last election; there was not much to boast of in
+him. The ties of consanguinity could hardly have furnished any family
+with a less desirable member.'
+
+'Yes they could, for the member who came after him was much inferior,
+notwithstanding he bore on his brow the stamp of legitimacy. Even
+though my "election," as you call it, fell upon one who was
+treacherous, he was at any rate pleasant, lively, and amusing, whereas
+the legitimate one was cold, stupid, pedantic, tiresome; wearying one
+with every slow word he uttered. You do not mean one syllable of all
+the evil you speak of the stranger. The properly installed cousins and
+nephews whom I have latterly seen have been miserable creatures, who
+looked as if they could not count five, and as if they had not a
+thought to bestow on anything but their own pitiful persons, on which
+they placed the most exorbitant value, without the slightest grounds
+for so doing.'
+
+As she finished this tirade, Hannè cast a side-glance at me, who, in
+truth, played capitally the part of the most tiresome, self-satisfied
+blockhead of a nephew anyone could imagine. She had no conception how
+part of her harangue had enchanted me.
+
+'Legitimate right is a good thing; in that I quite agree with the young
+lady,' said the Jutlander, who had just approached us, and thought fit
+to join in the conversation. He had only caught a word or two of what
+Hannè had been saying, and mistook entirely her meaning.
+
+While we continued to stroll about, Jettè took her sister aside, and
+whispered something to her. Hannè turned her eyes full on me, and
+looked keenly at me. As soon as it was possible, I went up to her, and
+began to talk about the weather, that invariable preface to even the
+most important and most interesting subjects. We soon fell into
+conversation, and it turned upon the communication Jettè had just made.
+
+'My sister tells me that your friend is anxious to obtain our
+forgiveness,' said she. 'We have already given him that, for he has
+done us a greater service than he thinks. Our regard is another affair;
+that would be more difficult to bestow, and doubtless he does not
+entertain the slightest idea of ever winning it.'
+
+'You would condemn him to a severe doom if you would forbid his
+striving at least to deserve it. Without your good opinion, your
+forgiveness would be a mere passing act of charity; without the former
+he would be a beggar all his life, with it _he would become a
+millionnaire_.'
+
+Hannè coloured at the reminiscences these words awakened; but she only
+said,
+
+'You put a high value on it.'
+
+'Not higher than my friend does. _Your_ regard, charming Miss Hannè, is
+what he seeks, and were he not attracted to this place by a perhaps too
+vivid _souvenir_ of you, I should not be standing here as his
+spokesman. Your sister has kindly promised to obtain for me a few
+minutes' private conversation with your father; if your hatred of my
+unfortunate friend cannot be softened, tell me so, I pray you, at once,
+and I shall spare your father a communication which may perhaps remind
+him of disagreeable impressions, for without your entire pardon I
+cannot fulfil my errand, and I will not attempt to do it by halves.'
+
+'You are a very zealous agent, there is no denying that. Well, you may
+speak to my father; I will not be the most hard-hearted of the family.
+Besides, I really feel that your friend has an advocate in my own
+inclination for a joke, though his jest was carried rather too far.'
+
+'I expected this goodness from you, or my friend would not have painted
+you in true colours.'
+
+'And pray in what colours did he paint me, if I may venture to ask? It
+would be difficult to give anyone's likeness on so short an
+acquaintance.'
+
+'They were as radiant as if he had borrowed for his pencil tints from
+heaven to do justice to the original ... He adores you, to say the
+absolute truth.'
+
+'Indeed! He really does me too much honour,' she said, stiffly, and in
+an offended tone of voice.
+
+At the 'tints from heaven,' and 'justice to the original,' she had
+smiled; at the 'absolute truth,' she became angry.
+
+We were at the foot of the hillock, on which stood the swing.
+
+'There must be a fine view from the top of that rising ground,' said I.
+
+Politeness obliged her to ascend the bank. Gustav and his friend
+followed us at a little distance in earnest conversation; the rest of
+the party had gone to the summer-house, where coffee was prepared.
+
+'Really, this is a lovely view!' I remarked, mechanically.
+
+'Yonder lies your uncle's church,' said Hannè; 'it makes the twelfth
+spire we can see from this hill.'
+
+'I have remarked this place from my uncle's window; these white poles
+shine out against the dark-green background.'
+
+'Were you afraid of them? Did you fancy they were ...'
+
+'A gallows!' I exclaimed, interrupting her. 'No, Miss Hannè; I am
+rather more rational than my foolish friend.'
+
+Hannè looked inquisitively at me.
+
+'Have you remembered what he begged of you on this spot? That when you
+heard evil of him, and doubts of his honour, you would come up here,
+and judge leniently of the absent; that you would not condemn him
+totally, although appearances might be against him?'
+
+'He must have favoured you with a remarkably minute report of his
+sayings and doings here,' said Hannè, laughing. 'You have got his
+speeches by heart--word for word.'
+
+'Every word which he exchanged with you remains for ever engraved on
+his memory. You promised this to him. Dare he flatter himself that you
+have not forgotten that promise, and have not deserted him, while he
+relied on your compassion?'
+
+'I have taken his part a great deal more than he deserves,' she
+replied. 'But now that is no longer necessary, and if he return here,
+he shall find me his worst enemy, for I do not allow myself to be made
+a fool of without taking my revenge.'
+
+'Have some mercy, fair lady! See, I sue for grace--he cannot stand your
+ire. I have come to throw myself at your feet--acquitted by you, he
+will have courage to meet any storm ... Miss Hannè,' I added, with my
+own natural voice, 'you are the only one who knows that the unfortunate
+sinner is here; condemn me irrevocably, if you have the heart to do
+so--I will hear my sentence from your lips.'
+
+Hannè looked at me with an arch smile.
+
+'You will not betray me, or misuse my confidence,' I added, in a
+supplicatory tone. 'Bestow on me your forgiveness, and procure for me
+that of your parents. Without this I cannot live. You have discovered
+me, notwithstanding my disguise; it was only under its shelter that I
+ventured to come near you during the light of day. Ah! at night, I have
+often been here, standing outside of the house, looking up at your
+window, until the light was extinguished in your room, and I had no
+longer any evidence of your proximity to feast upon.'
+
+She looked at me for a moment with unusual softness,--nay, with
+kindness; then clapping her hands together, she called out,
+
+'Gustav! Linden! Come here--make haste! Here he is--here he is!'
+
+'Who? What is it?' cried the two young men, as they came hurrying
+towards us.
+
+'For Heaven's sake--Miss Hannè--you surely will not ... you abuse the
+confidence I placed in you--I did not expect this of you. Will you
+betray me? Will you disgrace me before that stranger?' I stammered out,
+amazed and vexed at her sudden change.
+
+'There he is--the false cousin--standing yonder. Now he is caught,'
+added Hannè, skipping about with joy.
+
+'The cousin--he!' exclaimed Gustav, in great astonishment; 'but tell me
+then ...'
+
+'Mr. Holm,' said I, 'and you, sir, with whom I have not the pleasure of
+being acquainted ...'
+
+'True!' cried Hannè, interrupting me, 'I owe you an explanation. You
+need not excuse yourself to Gustav, in his heart he acknowledges you to
+be his benefactor; and this gentleman, _with whom you have not the
+pleasure of being acquainted_, is quite as cognisant of your exploits
+as any of us. "YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME, OR MISUSE MY CONFIDENCE,"' said
+she, mimicking me, 'therefore let me present to you Mr. Linden, my
+bridegroom elect. You once asked me what this ring I wear betokened--do
+you remember that? I was then obliged to give you an evasive answer;
+now I will confide the secret to you, my much honoured cousin--and much
+admired truth-teller.'
+
+Could I have guessed _this_, or have had the slightest suspicion of it,
+two hours earlier, I never again would have put my feet within the
+doors of ---- Court.
+
+There was nothing for it now but to let myself patiently be dragged
+about by them, after I had muttered something, that might as well have
+been taken for a malediction as a felicitation.
+
+My uncle was walking in the alley of pine-trees with the Justitsraad
+and Jettè; she had been preparing him for the audience I told her I
+wished of him, but she had not yet the least idea that I was the person
+for whom she had been pleading. I appeared before them as a poor
+culprit.
+
+'Dear father,' said Hannè, 'I bring a deserter, who has given himself
+up to me. He relies on your forgiveness, for which I have become
+surety, and if you withhold it, my word will be broken.'
+
+'Let me speak, child,' said my uncle, who fancied that a disagreement
+between my father and the Justitsraad was the affair in question.
+
+'As the servant of the Lord, it is my duty to exhort everyone to peace,
+and forgiveness of injuries; you should all remember the divine mission
+of Him who is the fountain of love, and who came to bring goodwill on
+earth; remembering His example you should chase away hatred, and all
+evil passions and thoughts from your mind. See, this young person comes
+to you with confiding hope, and now do shake hands with him in sign of
+reconciliation, and let not two worthy men remain longer enemies. Speak
+kindly to him, my old friend, and do not oblige him longer to conceal
+his name, because it is one which you once disliked--let the past be
+now forgotten!'
+
+'What, _you_ also pleading for him, my worthy friend? Then, indeed, I
+must give in. Well, the foolish madcap has found intercessors enough, I
+think,' said the Justitsraad, as he held out his hand to me.
+
+'He is petitioning for his friend,' said Jettè.
+
+'For my benefactor,' said Gustav.
+
+'For his old father,' said my uncle.
+
+'For himself,' said Hannè. 'This is the pretended cousin himself, in
+disguise; this is the very man himself who threw our family into such
+confusion; but what his real name may be, Heaven only knows.'
+
+'He is my sister's son--Adolph Kerner, a son of Mr. Kerner, the
+well-known Copenhagen merchant; he has no need to be ashamed of his
+name,' said my uncle.
+
+Everyone was astonished; there was a general silence from amazement.
+
+At length Jettè exclaimed, 'The pretended cousin himself?'
+
+'The young Kerner who went to Hamburg?' asked the Justitsraad.
+
+'What! the impostor my own nephew?' cried my uncle, upon whom the truth
+began to dawn. The formidable explanation was given, forgiveness
+followed, and we were reconciled. The Justitsraad shook hands with me
+cordially.
+
+'And now let us seek my mother,' said Hannè, 'and fall at her feet. For
+the honour of our sex, I hope Mr. Kerner will have to undergo the pains
+of purgatory in her presence.'
+
+We proceeded to the summer-house where the rest of the party were
+sitting at table, taking coffee. The Justitsraad led me up to his wife,
+and said, 'I beg to present to you your lost nephew, who returns, like
+the prodigal son, and begs for forgiveness. Tomorrow he will show
+himself without these moustaches, in his own fair hair, and he hopes to
+find the same kind aunt in you whom the false cousin Carl learned so
+speedily to love.'
+
+The lady gave me her hand, after having held up her finger as if to
+threaten me.
+
+'And here you see Morten Frederichsen, my dear, against whom Sultan was
+to have guarded our house. The good-for-nothing, he has certainly
+hoaxed all us old ones,' said my uncle, laughing. 'His liver-complaint
+was nothing but a trick.'
+
+'What is that you say? Morten Frederichsen! How the idea of that
+dreadful creature frightened me! But I have retaliated upon him with my
+wormwood, I rather think.' The good woman was much puzzled, and could
+hardly comprehend how it all came about.
+
+'And now I beg to introduce to Kammerraad Tvede, the younger Kerner,
+son of Mr. Kerner of Copenhagen, a youth who has lately returned from
+an educational trip to Hamburg,' said the mischief-loving Hannè,
+pulling me up to the Jutlander.
+
+'A very fine young man,' stammered the Kammerraad. 'I have the pleasure
+of knowing your father, and am aware of the high standing of your
+house.'
+
+I made my escape over to Jettè and Gustav, who kindly took compassion
+on me.
+
+'Don't you all see now that it was not so stupid of me to propose
+examining him in the almanack?' said Hannè.
+
+'At any rate, to _you_ belongs the credit of having placed me in the
+most painful dilemma,' said I, with some bitterness. 'Be merciful now,
+and do not play with me as a cat does with a mouse; the conqueror can
+afford to be magnanimous to the vanquished.'
+
+'Well, the sun is about to set, and I suppose I must let my just
+resentment go with it. I will forgive you for all your misdemeanours
+upon one condition, that, according to our late agreement, you will
+return by-and-by, and assist us in getting up some private theatricals,
+to which I have the pleasure of inviting all now present. I think you
+will shine in "_The April Fools_."'[6]
+
+'Shame on you all!' cried Jettè. 'How can you be so revengeful, and
+still persecute Mr. Kerner in this inhuman way?'
+
+'I trust he will excuse the persecution,' said her father; 'and I hope
+that it will not frighten him from a house which will always be open to
+him, and where he will henceforth be as well received under his own
+name as he was under that of--COUSIN CARL.'
+
+
+
+
+                           THE DOOMED HOUSE.
+
+                           BY B. S. INGEMANN.
+
+
+'The house near Christianshavn's canal is again for sale--your worthy
+uncle's house, Johanna! and now upon very reasonable terms,' said the
+young joiner and cabinet-maker, Frants, one morning to his pretty wife,
+as he laid the advertisement sheet of the newspaper upon the cradle,
+and glanced at his little boy, an infant of about three months old, who
+was sleeping sweetly, and seemed to be sporting with heavenly cherubs
+in his innocent dreams.
+
+'Let us on no account think of the dear old house,' replied his wife,
+taking up the newspaper and placing it on the table, without even
+looking at the advertisement. 'We have a roof over our heads as long as
+Mr. Stork will have patience about the rent. If we have bread enough
+for ourselves, and for yon little angel, who will soon begin to want
+some, we may well rest contented. Notwithstanding our poverty, we are,
+perhaps, the happiest married couple in the whole town,' she added
+gently, and with an affectionate smile, 'and we ought to thank our God
+that he did not let the wide world separate us from each other, but
+permitted you to return from your distant journey, healthy and
+cheerful, and that he has granted us love and strength to bear our
+little cross with patience.'
+
+'You are ever the same amiable and pious Johanna,' said Frants,
+embracing the lovely young mother, who reminded him of an exquisite
+picture of the Madonna he had seen abroad, 'and you have made me better
+and more patient than I was, either by nature or by habit. But I really
+cannot remain longer in this miserable garret--I have neither room nor
+spirits to work here; and if I am to make anything by my handicraft, I
+must have a proper workshop, and space to breathe in and to move in.
+
+'Your good uncle's house, near the canal, is just the place for me; how
+many jovial songs my old master and I have sung there together over our
+joiner's bench! Ah! _then_ I shall feel comfortable and at home. It was
+there, also, that I first saw you--there, that I used to sit every
+evening with you in the nice little parlour, with the cheerful green
+wainscoting, when I came from the workshop with old Mr. Flok. I
+remember how, on Sundays and on holidays, he used to take his silver
+goblet from the cupboard in the alcove, and drink with me in such a
+sociable way. And when my piece of trial-work as a journeyman was
+finished, and the large, handsome coffin was put out in state in the
+workshop, do you remember how glad the old man was, and how you sank
+into my arms when he placed your hand in mine, over the coffin, and
+said:
+
+'"Take her, Frants, and be worthy of her! My house shall be your home
+and hers, and everything it contains shall be your property when I am
+sleeping in this coffin, awaiting a blessed resurrection."'
+
+'Ah! but all that never came to pass,' sighed Johanna; 'the coffin lies
+empty up in yonder loft, and frightens children in the dark. The dear
+old house is under the ban of evil report, and no one will buy it, or
+even hire it, now, so many strange, unfortunate deaths have taken place
+there.'
+
+'These very circumstances are in our favour, Johanna; on account of
+this state of things Mr. Stork will sell it at a great bargain, and
+give a half year's credit for the purchase-money. In the course of six
+months, surely, the long-protracted settlement of your uncle's affairs
+will be brought to a close, and we shall, at least, have as much as
+will pay what we owe. The house will then be our own, and you will see
+how happy and prosperous we shall be. Surely, it is not the fault of
+the poor house that three children died there of measles, and two
+people of old age, in the course of a few months; and none but silly
+old women can be frightened because the idle children in the street
+choose to scratch upon the walls, "_The Doomed House_." The house is,
+and always will be, liked by me, and if Mr. Stork will accept of my
+offer for it, without any other security than my own word, that
+dwelling shall be mine to-day, and we can move into it to-morrow.'
+
+'Oh, my dear Frants, you cannot think how reluctant I am to increase
+our debt to this Mr. Stork. Believe me, he is not a good man, however
+friendly and courteous he may seem to be. Even my uncle could not
+always tolerate him, though it was not in his nature to dislike any of
+God's creatures. Whenever Mr. Stork came, and began to talk about
+business and bills--my uncle became silent and gloomy, and always gave
+me a wink to retire to my chamber.'
+
+'I know very well Mr. Stork was looking after you then,' said Frants,
+with a smile of self-satisfaction, 'but _I_ was a more fortunate
+suitor. It was a piece of folly on the part of the old bachelor; all
+that, however, is forgotten now, and he has transferred the regard he
+once had for you to me. He never duns me for my rent, he lent me money
+at the time of the child's baptism, and he shows me more kindness than
+anyone else does.'
+
+'But I cannot endure the way in which he looks at me, Frants, and I put
+no faith either in his friendship or his rectitude. The very house
+that he is now about to sell he hardly came honestly by, as he gives
+out--and I cannot understand how he has so large a claim upon the
+property my uncle left; I never heard my uncle speak of it. God only
+knows what will remain for us when all these heavy claims that have
+been brought forward are satisfied; yet my uncle was considered a rich
+man.'
+
+'The lawyers and the proper court must settle that,' replied Frants; 'I
+only know this, that I should be a fool if I did not buy the house
+now.'
+
+'But to say the truth, dear Frants,' urged Johanna, in a supplicating
+tone, 'I am almost afraid to go back to that house, dear as every
+corner of it has been to me from my childhood. I cannot reconcile
+myself to the reality of the painful circumstances said to have
+attended my poor uncle's death. And whenever I pass over _Long Bridge_,
+and near the Dead-house for the drowned, with its low windows, I always
+feel an irresistible impulse to look in, and see if he is not there
+still, waiting to be placed in his proper coffin, and decently buried
+in a churchyard.'
+
+'Ah--your brain is conjuring up a parcel of old nursery tales, my
+Johanna! We have nothing to fear from your good, kind uncle. If indeed
+his spirit could be near us, here on earth, it would only bring us
+blessings and happiness. I am quite easy on that score; he was a pious,
+God-fearing man, and there was nothing in his life to disturb his
+repose after death. Report said that he had drowned himself on purpose,
+but I am quite convinced that was not true. If I had not unluckily been
+away on my travels as a journeyman, and you with your dying aunt--your
+mother's sister, we would most likely have had him with us now. How
+often I have warned him against sailing about alone in Kalleboe Bay!
+But he would go every Sunday. As long as I was in his employ, I always
+made a point of accompanying him, and when I went away he promised me
+never to go without a boatman.'
+
+'Alas! that was an unfortunate Christmas!' sighed Johanna, 'it was not
+until he had been advertised as missing in the newspapers, and Mr.
+Stork had recognized his corpse at the Dead-house for the drowned, and
+had caused him to be secretly buried as a suicide,--it was not until
+all this was over, that I knew he had not been put into his own coffin,
+and laid in consecrated ground.'
+
+'Let us not grieve longer, dear Johanna, for what it was not in our
+power to prevent; but let us rather, in respect to the memory of our
+kind benefactor, put the house in order which he occupied and where he
+worked for us, inhabit it cheerfully, and rescue it from mysterious
+accusations and evil reports. _Our_ welfare was all he thought of, and
+laboured for.'
+
+'As you will then, dear Frants!' said Johanna, yielding to his
+arguments. She hastened at the same moment to take up from its cradle
+the child, who had just awoke, and holding it out to its young father,
+she added, 'May God protect this innocent infant, and spare it to us!'
+
+Frants kissed the mother and the child, smoothed his brown hair, and
+taking his hat down from its peg, he hurried off to conclude the
+purchase on which he had set his heart.
+
+He returned in great spirits, and the next day the little family
+removed to the house which belonged to Mr. Flok, Frants was rejoiced to
+see his old master's furniture, which he had bought at an auction,
+restored to its former place, and he felt almost as if the easy-chair
+and the bureau, formerly in the immediate use of the old man, must
+share in his gladness. But the baker's wife at the corner of the street
+shrugged her shoulders, and pitied the handsome young couple, whom she
+considered doomed to sickness and misfortune, because five corpses
+within the last six months had been carried out of that house; and
+because there was an inscription on its walls, that however often it
+had been effaced had always reappeared. 'Et Forbandet Haus'--'The
+Doomed House'--stood there, written in red characters, and all the old
+crones in the neighbourhood affirmed that the words were _written in
+blood!_
+
+'Mark my words,' said the baker's wife at the corner of the street, to
+her daughter, 'before the year is at an end, we shall have another
+coffin carried out of that house.'
+
+
+Frants the joiner had bestirred himself to set all to rights in the
+long-neglected workshop, and Johanna had put the house in nice order,
+and arranged everything as it used to be in days gone by. The little
+parlour, with the green wainscoting and the old fashioned alcove, had
+its former chairs and tables replaced in it; the bureau occupied its
+ancient corner, and the easy-chair again stood near the stove, and
+seemed to await its master's return. Often, as the young couple sat
+together in the twilight, while the blaze of the fire in the stove cast
+a cheerful glare through its little grated door on the hearth beneath,
+they missed the old man, and talked of him with sadness and affection.
+But Johanna would sometimes glance timidly at the empty leather
+arm-chair--and when the moon shone in through the small window panes,
+she would at times even fancy that she saw her uncle sitting there--but
+pale and bloody, and with dripping wet hair.
+
+She would then exclaim, 'Let us have lights; the baby seems restless. I
+must see what is the matter with it.'
+
+One evening there were no candles downstairs. She had to go for them up
+to the storeroom in the garret. She lighted a small taper that was in
+the lantern, and went out of the room, while Frants rocked the infant's
+cradle to lull it to sleep. But she had only been a few minutes gone,
+when he heard a noise as if of some one having fallen down in the loft
+above, and he also thought he heard Johanna scream; he quitted the
+cradle instantly, and rushing upstairs after her, he found her lying in
+a swoon near the coffin, with the lantern in her hand, though its light
+was extinguished. Exceedingly alarmed he carried her downstairs,
+relighted the taper, and used every effort to recover her from her
+fainting fit. When she was better, and somewhat composed, he asked in
+much anxiety what had happened. 'Oh! I am as timid as a foolish child,'
+said Johanna. 'It was only my poor uncle's coffin up yonder that
+frightened me. I would have begged you to go and fetch the candles, but
+I was ashamed to own my silly fears, and when the current of air blew
+out the light in my lantern up there, it seemed to me as if a spectre's
+death-cold breathing passed over my face, and I fancied I saw amidst
+the gloom the lid of the coffin rising--so I fainted away in my
+childish terror.'
+
+'That coffin shall not frighten you again,' said Frants, 'I will
+advertise it to-morrow for sale.' He did so, but ineffectually, for no
+one bought it.
+
+One day Mr. Stork made his appearance, bringing with him the contract
+and deed of sale.
+
+He was a tall, strongly-built man, with a countenance by no means
+pleasant, though it almost always wore a smile; but the smile, if
+narrowly scrutinized, had a sinister expression, and seemed to convulse
+his features. He sported a gaudy waistcoat, and was dressed like an old
+bachelor, who was going on some matrimonial expedition, and wished to
+conceal his age. This day he was even more complaisant than usual,
+praised the beauty of the infant, remarked its likeness to its lovely
+mother, and offered Frants a loan of money to purchase new furniture,
+and make any improvements he might wish in the interior of the house.
+Franks thanked him, but declined the offer, assuring him that he was
+quite satisfied with the house and furniture as they were, and wished
+everything about him to wear its former aspect. However, he said, he
+certainly would like to enlarge the workshop by adding to it the old
+lumber-room at the back of the house, the entrance to which he found
+was closed.
+
+Mr. Stork then informed him that there was a door on the opposite side
+of the lumber-room, which opened into the house _he_ occupied, and that
+he had lately been using this empty place as a cellar for his firewood;
+but he readily promised to have it cleared out as speedily as possible,
+and to have the entrance into his own house stopped up.
+
+'Yet,' he added, in a very gracious manner, 'it is hardly necessary to
+have any separation between the two houses, when I have such
+respectable and agreeable neighbours as yourselves.'
+
+'What made you look so crossly at that excellent Mr. Stork, Johanna?'
+asked her husband, when their visitor was gone. 'I am sure he is
+kindness itself. He cannot really help that he has that unfortunate
+contortion of the mouth, which gives a peculiar expression to his
+countenance.'
+
+'I sincerely wish we had some other person as our neighbour, and had
+nothing to do with him!' exclaimed Johanna. 'I do not feel safe with
+such a man near us.'
+
+Frants now worked with equal diligence and patience--and often remained
+until a late hour in the workshop, especially if he had any order to
+finish. He preferred cabinet-making to the more common branches of his
+trade, and was always delighted when he had any pretty piece of
+furniture to construct from one of the finer sorts of wood. But he was
+best known as a coffin-maker, and necessity compelled him to undertake
+more of this gloomy kind of work than he liked. Often when he was
+finishing a coffin, he would reflect upon all the sorrow, and perhaps
+calamity which the work, that provided him and his with bread, would
+bring into the house into which it was destined to enter. And when he
+met people in high health and spirits, on the public promenades, he
+frequently sighed to think how soon he might be engaged in nailing
+together the last earthly resting-places of these animated forms.
+
+One night he was so much occupied in finishing a large coffin, that he
+did not remark how late it had become, until he heard the watchman call
+out 'Twelve.'
+
+At that moment he fancied he heard a hollow voice behind him say,
+
+'Still hammering! And for whom is that coffin?'
+
+He started--dropped the hammer from his hand--and looked round in
+terror, but no one was to be seen.
+
+'It is the old gloomy thoughts creeping back into my mind, and
+affecting my brain, now at this ghastly hour of midnight,' said he; but
+he put away the hammer and nails, and took up his light to go to his
+bed-room. Before he reached the door of the workshop, however, the
+candle which had burned down very low--quite in the socket of the
+candlestick, suddenly went out. He was left in the dark, and in vain he
+groped about to find the door--at any other time he would have laughed
+at the circumstance, but now it rather added to his annoyance that
+three times he found himself at the door of the lumber-room, instead of
+getting hold of the one which opened into his house. The third time he
+came to it, he stopped and listened, for he fancied he heard something
+moving within the empty room; a light also glimmered through a chink in
+the door which was fastened, and on listening more attentively he
+thought he distinctly heard a sound as if buckets of water were being
+dashed over the floor, and some one scrubbing it with a brush. 'It is
+an odd time to scour the floor,' he thought, and then knocking at the
+door, and raising his voice--he called out loudly to ask who was there,
+and what they were doing at so late an hour. At that moment the light
+disappeared, and all became as still as death.
+
+'I must have been mistaken,' thought Frants, as he again tried to find
+the door he had at first sought. In spite of himself, a dread of some
+evil--or of something supernatural, seemed to haunt him, and the image
+of his old master--who was drowned--appeared before him in that dark
+workshop, where they had spent so many cheerful hours together. At last
+he found the door, and retired as quickly as possible to his chamber,
+where his wife and child were both fast asleep. He, too, at length fell
+asleep, but he was restless in his slumbers, and disturbed by strange
+dreams. In the course of the night he dreamed that his wife's uncle,
+Mr. Flok, stood before him, and said,
+
+'Why was I not placed in my coffin? Why was I not laid in a Christian
+burying-ground? Seek, and you will find--destroy the curse, before it
+destroys you also!'
+
+In the morning when he awoke he looked so pale and ill that Johanna was
+quite alarmed; but he did not like to frighten her by telling her his
+dreams, and, indeed, he was ashamed at the impression they had made
+upon himself, for, notwithstanding all the confidence he had expressed
+on coming to the house, he could not help feeling nervous and
+uncomfortable.
+
+Nor did the unpleasant sensation wear off, his gay spirits vanished,
+and he was also unhappy because the time was approaching when the
+purchase-money for the house would become due, and the settlement of
+the old man's affairs, to which he had looked forward in expectation of
+obtaining his wife's inheritance, seemed to be as far off as ever. He
+found it difficult to meet the small daily expenses of his family, and
+he feared the threatening future.
+
+'Seek and you will find!' he repeated to himself; 'destroy the curse
+before it destroys you! What curse? I begin to fear that there really
+is some evil doom connected with this house.'
+
+It was also a very unaccountable circumstance that however often he
+scratched out the mysterious inscription from the wall--'The Doomed
+House'--it appeared again next day in characters as fresh and red as
+ever. His health began to give way under all his anxiety, and the child
+also became ill. One evening he had been taking a solitary walk to a
+spot which had now a kind of morbid fascination for him--the Dead-house
+for the drowned--and when he returned home, he found Johanna weeping by
+the cradle of her suffering infant.
+
+'You were right,' he exclaimed, 'we were happier in our humble garret
+than in this ill-fated house. Would that we had remained there! Tell
+me, Johanna, of what are you thinking? Has the doctor been here? What
+does he say of our dear little one?'
+
+'If it should get worse towards night, there lies our last hope,' she
+replied, pointing towards the table.
+
+Frants took up the prescription, and gazed on the incomprehensible
+Latin words, as if therein he would have read his fate. The tears stood
+in his eyes.
+
+'And to-morrow,' said Johanna, 'to-morrow will be a day of misery. Have
+you any means of paying Mr. Stork?'
+
+'None whatever! But _that_ is a small evil compared to _this_,' he
+answered, as he pointed to the feverish and moaning infant. 'Have you
+been to the workshop?' he continued, after a pause, 'the large coffin
+is finished; perhaps it may be our own last home--it would hold us
+all!'
+
+'Oh! if that could only be!' exclaimed Johanna, as she threw her arms
+round him. 'Could we only all three be removed together to a better
+world, there would be no more sorrow for us! But the hour of separation
+is close at hand; to-morrow, if you cannot pay Mr. Stork, you will be
+cast into prison, and I shall sit alone here with that dying child!'
+
+'What do you say? Cast into prison! How do you know that? Has that man
+been here frightening you? He has not hinted a syllable of such a
+threat to me.'
+
+Johanna then related to him how Mr. Stork had latterly often called,
+under pretence of wishing to see Frants, but always when he was out. He
+had made himself very much at home, and had overwhelmed her with
+compliments and flattering speeches; he had also declared frequently
+that he would not trouble Frants for the money he owed him, if she
+would pay the debt in another manner. At first, she said, she did not
+understand him, and when she _did_ comprehend his meaning, she did not
+like to mention it to Frants, for fear of his taking the matter up
+warmly, and quarrelling with Stork, which would bring ruin on himself.
+Mr. Stork, however, had become more bold and presuming, and that very
+evening, on her repelling his advances and desiring him to quit her
+presence, he had threatened that if she mentioned a syllable of what
+had passed to her husband, nay, farther, if she were not prepared to
+change her behaviour towards himself before another sun had set, Frants
+should be thrown into prison for debt, and might congratulate himself
+in that pleasant abode on the fidelity of his wife.
+
+'Well,' said Frants, with forced composure, 'he has got me in his
+toils--but his pitiful baseness shall not crush me. I have, indeed,
+been blind not to detect the villany that lay behind that satanic
+smile, and improvident to let myself be deluded by his pretended
+friendship. But if the Almighty will only spare and protect you, and
+that dear child, I shall not lose courage. Be comforted, my Johanna!'
+
+It was now growing late--the child awoke from the restless sleep of
+fever--it seemed worse, and Frants ran to an apothecary with the
+prescription. 'The last hope!' he sighed, as he hurried along; 'and if
+it should fail--who will console poor Johanna to-morrow evening, when I
+am in a prison, and she has to clad the child in its grave clothes! Oh,
+how we shall miss you--sweet little angel! Was _this_ the happiness I
+dreamt of in the old house? Yes--people are right--it _is_ accursed!'
+
+The apothecary's shop was closed, but the prescription had been taken
+in through a little aperture in the door, and Frants sat down on the
+stone steps to wait until the medicine was ready. It was a clear,
+starry December night, but the sorrowing father sat shivering in the
+cold, and gazing gloomily on the frozen pavement--he was not thinking
+of the stars or of the skies. The watchman passed and bade him 'good
+morning.'
+
+'It will be a good morning, indeed, for me,' thought poor Frants. 'A
+morning fraught with despair.'
+
+At that moment the clock of a neighbouring church struck _one_, and the
+watchman sang, in a full, bass voice, these simple words:
+
+
+                 'Help us, O Jesus dear!
+                  Our earthly cross to bear;
+                  Oh! grant us patience _here_,
+                  And be our Saviour _there!_'
+
+
+Frants heard the pious song, and a change seemed to come over his
+spirit--he raised his saddened eye to the magnificent heavens
+above--gazed at the calm stars which studded the deep blue
+vault--clasped his hands and joined in the watchman's concluding
+words--
+
+
+                 'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help
+                  To make our burden light.'
+
+
+A small phial with the medicine was just then handed out to him,
+through the little sliding window; he paid his last coin for it, and,
+full of hope that _his_ burden might be lightened, hastened to his
+home.
+
+'Did you hear what the watchman was singing, Johanna?' asked Frants,
+when he entered the little green parlour, where the young mother was
+watching by her child.
+
+'Hush, hush,' she whispered, 'he has fallen into an easy and quiet
+sleep. God will have pity upon us--our child will do well now.'
+
+'Why, Johanna, you look as happy as if an angel from heaven had been
+with you, telling you blessed truths.'
+
+'Yes, blessed truths have, as it were, been communicated to me from
+heaven!' replied Johanna, pointing to an old Bible which lay open upon
+the table. 'Look! this is my good uncle's family Bible--that I have not
+seen since he died, and God forgive me--I have thought too little
+lately of my Bible. I found this one to-night far back on the highest
+shelf of the alcove--and its holy words have given me strength and
+comfort. Read this passage, Frants, about putting our whole trust in
+the Lord, whatever may befall us.'
+
+Frants read the portion pointed out to him, and then began to turn over
+the leaves of the well-worn, silver-clasped book. He found a number of
+pieces of paper here and there, but as he saw at a glance that they
+were only accounts and receipts, he did not care to examine them, but
+his attention was suddenly caught by a paper which appeared to be part
+of a journal kept by the old man, the last year of his life. He looked
+through it eagerly, Johanna observed with surprise how his countenance
+was darkening. At length he started up and exclaimed,
+
+'It is horrible!--horrible--Johanna! Some one must have sought to take
+your uncle's life. See, here it is in his own handwriting--listen!' and
+he read aloud:
+
+'God grant that my enemy's wicked plot may not succeed! Why did I let
+my gold get into such iniquitous hands, and place my life at the mercy
+of one more ferocious than a wild beast? He has, cunningly plundered me
+of my wealth--he has bound my tongue by an oath--and now he seeks to
+take my life in secret. But my money will not prosper in his unworthy
+hands--and accursed be the house over whose threshold his feet pass.
+There are human beings who can ruin others in all worldly matters, but
+mortal man has no power over the spirit when death sets it free.'
+
+'What can this mean?' cried Frants, almost wild with excitement. Who is
+the mortal enemy to whom he alludes, but whom he does not name? Who has
+got possession of his house and his means? The same person, no doubt,
+who bound him by an oath to silence, and threatened his life in secret;
+who proclaimed to the world that he had drowned himself, and caused him
+to be buried like a suicide? Why was no other acquaintance called to
+recognize the body? We have no certainty that the drowned man was he.
+Perhaps his bones lie nearer to us than we imagine. Ha! old master, in
+my dream I heard you say, "Seek, and you shall find--why was I not
+put into consecrated ground?" Johanna! what do you think about that
+old lumber-room? There have been some mysterious doings there at
+midnight--there are some still--that floor is washed while we are
+sleeping. Before to-morrow's sun can rise I shall have searched that
+den of murder, from one end to the other.'
+
+'Oh, dearest Frants, how wildly you talk; you make me tremble.'
+
+But as Frants was determined to go, she sat down by the cradle to watch
+her sleeping child, while he took a light and proceeded to the
+workshop. There he seized a hatchet and crow bar, and thus provided
+with implements, he approached the door of the locked chamber.
+
+'The room belongs to me,' said he to himself, 'who has a right to
+prevent me from entering it?'
+
+To force the door by the aid of the iron crowbar, was the work of an
+instant, and without the slightest hesitation he went in, though it
+must be confessed he felt a momentary panic. But that wore off
+immediately, and he began at once to examine the place. Nothing
+appeared, however, to excite suspicion. There were some sacks of wood
+in a corner, and he emptied these, almost expecting to see one of them
+filled with the bones of dead men, but there was no vestige of anything
+of the kind. The floor seemed to be recently washed, for it was yet
+scarcely dry. He then began to take up the boards. At that moment he
+heard the handle of the door which led into the neighbouring house
+turning; holding the hatchet in one hand, and the light, high above his
+head, in the other, he put himself in an attitude of defence, while he
+called out:
+
+'Has anyone a desire to assist me?'
+
+Presently all was still. Frants put down his light, and began again
+hammering at the boards; almost unconsciously he also began to hum
+aloud an air which his old master used always to sing when he was
+engaged in finishing any piece of work. But he had not hammered or
+hummed long before the handle of the door was again turned. This time
+the door opened, and a tall, white figure slowly entered, with an
+expression of countenance as hellish as if its owner had just come from
+the abode of evil spirits.
+
+'What, at it again, old man? Will you go on hammering and nailing till
+Doomsday? Must that song be heard to all eternity?' said a hollow but
+well-known voice--and Frants recognized with horror the ghastly-pale
+and wild-looking sleep-walker, who, with eyes open--but fixed and
+glazed--and hair standing on end, had come in his night-gear from his
+sleeping-chamber.
+
+'Where didst thou lay my bones?' said Frants, as if he had become
+suddenly insane. 'Why was I not placed in my coffin?--why did I not
+enter a Christian burying-ground?'
+
+'Your bones are safe enough,' replied the pallid terrible-looking
+dreamer, 'no one will harm them under my pear-tree.'
+
+'But whom didst thou bury under my name--as a self-murderer, when thou
+didst fasten on me the stain of guilt in death?' asked Frants,
+astonished and frightened at the sound of his own voice, for it seemed
+to him as if a spirit from the other world were speaking through his
+lips.
+
+'It was the beggar,' replied the wretched somnambulist, with a
+frightful contortion of his fiendish face, a sort of triumphant grin.
+'It was only the foreign beggar to whom you gave your old grey cloak
+... but whom I drove from my door that Christmas-eve.'
+
+'Where _he_ lies shalt thou rot--by _his_ side shalt thou meet me on
+the great day of doom!' cried Frants, who hardly knew what he was
+saying. He had scarcely uttered these words when he heard a fearful
+sound, something between a shriek and a groan--and he stood alone with
+his light and his hatchet--for the howling figure had disappeared.
+
+'Was it a dream,' gasped Frants, 'or am I mad? Away, away from this
+scene of murder--but I know _now_ where I shall find that which I
+seek.'
+
+He returned to Johanna, who was sitting quietly by the still sleeping
+child, and was reading the holy Scriptures.
+
+Frants did not tell her what had taken place, and she was afraid to
+ask; he persuaded her to retire to rest, while he himself sat up all
+night to examine further the papers in the old Bible. The next day he
+carried them to a magistrate, and the whole case was brought before a
+court of justice for legal inquiry and judgment.
+
+
+'Was I not right when I said that a coffin would come out of that
+house before the end of the year?' exclaimed the baker's wife at
+the corner of the street, to her daughter, when, some time after, a
+richly-ornamented coffin was borne out of Frants's house. The funeral
+procession, headed by Frants himself, was composed of all the joiners
+and most respectable artisans in the town, dressed in black.
+
+'It is the coffin of old Mr. Flok,' said the baker's daughter, 'he is
+now going to be _really_ buried, they say; I wonder if it be true that
+his bones were found under a tree in Mr. Stork's garden.'
+
+'Quite true,' responded a fishwoman, setting down her creel, while she
+looked at the funeral procession.
+
+'Young Mr. Frants had everything proved before the judge--and that
+avaricious old Stork will have to give up his ill-gotten goods.'
+
+'Ay--and his ill-conducted life too, perhaps,' said the man who kept
+the little tavern near; 'if all be true that folks say, he murdered the
+worthy Mr. Flok.'
+
+'I always thought that fellow would be hanged some day or other--he
+tried to cheat me whenever he could,' added the baker's wife.
+
+'But they must catch him first,' said another; 'nothing has been seen
+of him these last three or four days.'
+
+
+On Christmas-eve there sat a cheerful family in the late Mr. Flok's
+house near the canal. The child had quite recovered, and Frants,
+filling the old silver goblet with wine, drank many happy returns of
+the season to his dear Johanna.
+
+'How little we expected a short time ago to be so comfortable now!' he
+exclaimed. 'Here we are, in our own house, which was intended for us by
+your kind uncle. I am no longer compelled to nail away alone at coffins
+until midnight, but can undertake more pleasant work, and keep
+apprentices and journeymen to assist me. My good old master's name is
+freed from reproach, and his remains now rest in consecrated ground,
+awaiting a blessed and joyful resurrection.'
+
+The lumber-room with its fearful recollections was shut up. The outside
+of the house was painted anew--and the mysterious inscription on the
+wall, thus obliterated, never reappeared.
+
+Frants had occasion one day, shortly after this favourable turn in
+their affairs, to cross the long bridge; and as he passed near the
+Dead-house for the drowned, he went up to the little window, saying to
+himself--'Now I can look in without any superstitious fears, for I know
+that my old master never drowned himself,--THAT foul stain is no longer
+attached to his memory; and his remains have at length obtained
+Christian burial.'
+
+But when he glanced through the window he started back in horror, for
+the discoloured and swollen features of a dead man met his view, and in
+the dreadful-looking countenance before him, he recognized that of the
+murderer--Stork--who had been missing some time.
+
+'Miserable being!' he exclaimed, 'and you have ended your guilty career
+by the same crime with which you charged an innocent man! None will
+miss you in this world except the executioner, whose office you have
+taken on yourself. I know that you had planned my death, but enemy as
+you were, I shall have you laid decently in the grave, and may the
+Almighty have mercy on your soul!'
+
+Prosperity continued to attend the young couple--but the lessons of the
+past had taught them how unstable is all earthly good; the old family
+Bible--now a frequent and favourite study--became the guide of their
+conduct; and when their happiness was clouded by any misfortune, as all
+the happiness of this passing life must sometimes be, they resigned
+themselves without a murmur to the will of Providence, reminding each
+other of the watchman's song on that memorable night when all hope
+seemed to have abandoned them:
+
+
+                 'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help
+                  To make our burden light.'
+
+
+
+
+                          THE FELON'S REVERIE.
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+
+In a narrow cell sat one who was a prisoner for life. Around him were
+the four dingy walls, covered with great black characters, scratched
+thereon at sundry times with bits of charcoal: but there was no
+pleasure in reading these hieroglyphics, for they were the fruit of
+solitude and melancholy, whose heavy, heavy thoughts had thus expressed
+themselves. High up was placed the little window, the only connection
+with life, with nature, and with the heavens; but the black iron bars
+kept watch over that, and obscured the clear daylight. The links of his
+chain, round his hand and his foot, kept the prisoner bound in his
+dreary cage, but they could not fetter the soul's deep longing after
+liberty.
+
+Days and years had passed in this gloomy cell. A charming, fresh
+summer's morning it was, when the door of this prison was first closed
+on him, and when he was told that Death alone should set him free. Here
+he had remained ever since; severed from the rest of mankind, shut up
+from them as if he had been a wild beast; and their farewell words to
+him had been--that Death alone was to be his deliverer. This was so
+dreadful a thought that he did all he could to drive it away. He worked
+diligently, he whistled, he sang, and he engraved strange names and
+figures on the walls. He frequently gazed up at the window, though he
+could only see through it a dead wall, but over that wall were the blue
+skies. He soon came to know every stone in the wall; he knew where the
+sun cast its streaks of light: where the little streams of water
+trickled down when it rained; there was more variety in the sky--it
+seemed to have compassion upon him, for sometimes the clouds were
+chased along by the wind; sometimes they assumed strange, fantastic
+shapes, and arrayed themselves in crimson and gold, like the gorgeous
+garb of royalty; and sometimes they hung in heavy, dark masses over the
+lofty wall--the boundary of his external world. But he saw no living
+things; and once, when a daring swallow rested for a few minutes on the
+outside ledge of his iron-barred window, he scarcely breathed, in his
+anxiety to enjoy the sight of it as long as possible.
+
+Winter was his saddest time, for _then_ the snow blocked up his
+little window, and intervened between him and the skies; then, too, it
+became so early dark, and daylight was so long of coming. He sang and
+whistled no longer; he worked, indeed, but not so diligently, for his
+tormentor--_thought_--had more power over him. During the short day he
+could partly escape it; but when it became dark--oh! what had it not
+then to recall to him! And the worst was, he was obliged to bear it
+all. He could have silenced another, but he could not hush the voice
+that spoke within himself. In vain he sought to banish remembrance; it
+_would_ haunt him: so he dropped his head upon his hands, and listened.
+
+And it spoke to him of the time when he was a little boy with rosy
+cheeks, who had never done harm to a living being, and who sat or lay
+in the bright sunshine, humming the song his mother had taught him. And
+that mother, who loved him so dearly, who worked for him during the
+day, and slept with him at night--well! She was dead, God be praised!
+'Perhaps if she had lived,' said he to himself. No, no! Does he not
+remember well one day, when the little boy with rosy cheeks was coming
+from school, that he passed a blind old man who was begging, and
+holding out his hat in his hand, that he dived quickly into the hat,
+and caught up the pence some charitable persons had placed in it? No
+one saw him--no one knew that he had done this--why does he now
+remember it with such bitter regret?
+
+His mother died, and a neighbouring family received the orphan kindly;
+consoled and caressed him, and he slept by the side of their dog. But
+they were very poor themselves, and could not maintain him long;
+therefore he was sent to other people, where some one paid a small
+board for him, and where he, the little stranger, was far from being
+well treated. He had too little to eat--and he stole food; therefore he
+was ignominiously turned away, and he fell among wicked people. They
+talked to him of the paths of virtue--but they followed vicious courses
+themselves, and he laughed at their admonitions. He grew older, and he
+went to be confirmed[7] in the House of God; and there he was admitted
+to the Holy Sacrament. The priest laid his hand with blessings on his
+head, and he there pledged his heart to God, and vowed to forsake all
+sin. How comes it that he now so distinctly remembers the solemn tones
+of the organ as he was leaving the church, and the large painting of
+the Saviour close by the altar, which he had turned to look at once
+more before he passed from the crowded aisle? He had never been in that
+church again to pray--alas! never.
+
+He had, indeed, been there again--but it was on another and a reprobate
+errand--and _then_ he was young at that time, and reflected less. Ah!
+_then_, too, he thought more of the young and beautiful girl who had
+knelt next to him at the altar, and with whom he had afterwards taken a
+quiet walk. On other evenings he was wont to spend his time with some
+wild, bad companions, and to join in their giddy mirth and mischievous
+sports; but that evening, their company wearied and disgusted him, and
+he followed the young girl to her father's house. He had now become an
+apprentice: but he was careless and idle: to sit hard at work did not
+suit his taste. And yet these were pleasant days when he looked back on
+them.
+
+He became a journeyman, and was betrothed to his pretty friend of the
+Confirmation-day. She had gone into service, and was a hard-working,
+honest, well-principled girl; _he_ continued to be idle. Often and
+often she entreated him to be more industrious, to seek work, and not
+to waste his time on riot and strife; and often he promised to reform.
+But his only reformation was, that he took more pains to conceal from
+her his bad habits. When he was sitting with her, and her anxious look
+rested upon his dull eyes, or his faded cheek, he felt that it was time
+to stop in his career of evil, and resolved to become a steady and
+respectable workman. But these good resolutions vanished when he left
+her presence. At length the evil spirit within him conquered; he wanted
+money, and stole a watch from a fellow-workman. Then the arm of the law
+seized him, never again to let him go.
+
+After he had undergone the punishment awarded to his theft, he came,
+abashed and with downcast eyes, to his betrothed; but she had heard of
+his guilt. With bitter tears she reproached him for his conduct, and
+she forbade him ever again to show himself in her presence. He was
+furious at her reception of him, and left her, vowing to be revenged.
+Many wild schemes rushed through his brain:--now he determined to
+murder her; now, that she should also be dragged into disgrace. But one
+day he met her in the street, and her pale, tearful, melancholy
+countenance disarmed his wrath, and annihilated his plans of revenge.
+
+And now, as the prisoner scrawls absently with that rusty nail on the
+wall, and his sunken eyes fill with warm tears, what is memory
+recalling to his saddened mind? Ah! is it not that short-lived time of
+early affection--is it not those sweet, calm features--those speaking
+eyes--that love, so true and so pure? Perhaps his fancy paints himself
+as an honest, industrious citizen, as a happy husband and father,
+with _her_ by his side, and in a very different place from that dreary
+cell--in a comfortable home, enjoying all that he so madly threw
+away--love, happiness and respectability! But his thoughts wander on;
+he throws the nail away from him, and leans back, with arms folded
+across his chest.
+
+He left the town and went into the country. There was a voice in his
+soul which urged him to reform. 'Return, return!' it said; 'return, for
+there is yet time!' But another voice also spoke--that of the demon
+which enslaved him; and that demon was--THE HABIT OF IDLENESS.
+Unhappily he then fell in with a depraved wretch--a villain experienced
+in crime--an escaped convict. They wandered about among the peasantry
+and begged; but every door was closed against his companion, with
+unmistakable signs of terror and distrust.
+
+One summer night they had taken shelter in a stable, and he had fallen
+fast asleep. He was awakened by his comrade. 'Get up,' said he, 'men
+will give us nothing--the Lord must help us, therefore.' He thought the
+man alluded to some intended theft, and accompanied him without the
+least reluctance. They stole along the gardens and fences on towards
+the churchyard. He stopped his guide.
+
+'What are we to do here? 'he asked, with uneasiness. 'You surely will
+not--'
+
+'What?' asked the other, laughing.
+
+'Oh, let the dead rest in peace!'
+
+'Fool!' cried the convict, 'do you think I am going to meddle with the
+dead? Follow me!'
+
+And he scaled the walls of the churchyard, and broke open the Gothic
+door of the church. Now he understood what his companion meant to do;
+but his heart beat as if it would have started out of his breast. As he
+went up the aisle, he felt as if he had lead in his shoes--as if the
+flooring held him back at every step--as if it were a whole mile to
+reach the altar. He had not entered the house of God since the day he
+had been there to take upon himself his baptismal vow, and dedicate his
+life to his Creator; and now--now he stood there to plunder! His hands
+trembled violently, as he held open the sack for his comrade, who cast
+into it the silver cups, the silver salvers, and everything that he
+could find of value; and had it not been for fear of his ferocious
+associate, he would assuredly have thrown down the sack and fled, for
+he thought that the picture of Christ over the altar looked earnestly
+and reproachfully at him. When his companion looked up from his
+sacrilegious work, and observed his eyes fixed, as it were, by some
+fearful fascination on the picture, he nodded to it in a scoffing
+manner, and then closed the sack, and left the church.
+
+When they were out of it, the prisoner breathed more freely; and when
+they placed themselves on a tombstone to divide the booty, he received
+without hesitation the portion that his comrade chose to allot to him.
+They buried their treasure in the earth, and separated. But the massive
+altar-plate could not easily be disposed of. He was in want; he begged
+from door to door, but he was driven from them all; so he had again
+recourse to stealing. Since the night that he had been drawn into
+robbing the church, he had felt that he was an outcast from the whole
+world--an outcast from God himself. He knew that punishment was sure to
+overtake him, and he was miserable. His companion in guilt was soon
+after arrested; he confessed all, and they were both imprisoned, and
+put to hard labour.
+
+But he had not yet quite lost all hope. He determined to work in future
+for his daily bread. He came out of gaol a half-savage, half-frightened
+being--lonely and deserted--bearing upon him that brand of infamy which
+never more could be erased; but he had made up his mind to labour, and
+he went far away to seek for employment.
+
+It was the harvest-time. God had blessed the fields, and there were not
+reapers enough to gather in the corn. No question was asked whence he
+came, but his services were immediately accepted. There was something
+in this display of the bounty of the Creator, in this activity, in this
+working in the free open air, that pleased him; for the first time in
+his life he toiled cheerfully. But the country people did not like him;
+his look was downcast and dark--he was rough and passionate, abrupt in
+speech, and he spoke little. After the farm-servants had one day
+proposed to him to go to church, and he had refused positively, but
+with an air of embarrassment, he was looked upon with great suspicion.
+There was but one face that always smiled at him, and that was the face
+of the youngest boy upon the farm. He had won the child's heart by
+having once cut out some little boats for him, and sailed them in the
+pond; and from that time the child always clapped his hands with joy
+when he saw him. It was so new, so delightful to him to be beloved,
+that he felt himself insensibly attracted towards the little creature.
+He indulged him in all his childish whims, carried him about in his
+arms, made toys for him, and seemed to feel himself well rewarded by
+the innocent child's attachment.
+
+Thus passed the winter. Peace, hitherto unknown to him, was creeping
+into his heart; and when he stood in spring on the fields with the
+sprouting seeds, and heard the lark's blithe carol, a new light began
+to dawn on his benighted mind. One day, when he returned from the
+fields towards the farm-yard, his little friend ran up to him, jumping
+and playing. He stretched out his arms to the child, but in an instant
+he started back, pale and horror-stricken. His former associate stood
+before him, with a malignant smile upon his sinister countenance, and
+held out his hand to him, while he said, in a tone of bitter irony,--
+
+'So, from all I hear, you are playing the honest man in the place!
+Excuse me for interrupting your rural content, but I have been longing
+so much for you.'
+
+'Away, demon!' cried the unfortunate man. 'Go, go, and leave me in
+peace!'
+
+'Not so fast!' replied the other, with a withering sneer. 'I have told
+the people of the farm who you are. Do you think I am going to lose so
+useful a comrade?'
+
+At that moment the grandfather of the child came up, and when he saw
+the little boy in the arms of him whom he had just been told was a
+malefactor, he snatched him hurriedly away, in spite of the child's
+tears and cries; and applying many abusive epithets to the man, ordered
+him instantly to leave the farm. The disturber of his peace carried him
+off with him, while his fiendish laughter rang around!
+
+See! the prisoner's chest is heaving with emotion. Hark! what deep
+sighs seem to rend his heart, while a few scalding tears are falling
+from his eyes! Of what is he dreaming now?
+
+He sees himself, in the grey dawn of day, stealthily creeping along the
+hedges that surround the farm, to catch a glimpse of his little
+favourite. He beholds the infant's soft cheek wet with the tears of
+affection; he feels his tiny arms clasped lightly round his neck; the
+kind words of farewell ring in his ears; he listens again for the sound
+of the retiring little footsteps, as the child is leaving him, and sees
+the little hand waving to him a last adieu from the door of his
+mother's house. As he then threw himself down beneath the hedge on the
+dewy grass, and burst into tears, he now hides his face on his hard
+pallet, and sobs aloud.
+
+But he has risen from that recumbent position. He wrings his hands, and
+his teeth chatter, in his solitary cell. What horror is passing through
+his mind? What agonizing remembrance has seized him, and is shaking
+soul and body, as the roaring tempest shakes the falling leaves? Let it
+stand forth from its dark concealment! In vain he presses his hands on
+his bloodshot eyes not to behold that scene--in vain he tries to close
+his ears against those voices--the blackest night of his gloomy prison
+cannot veil _that_ picture, for it arises from the darkest depths of
+his inmost soul.
+
+Listen how his evil-minded associate tempts him, and draws him on!
+
+'Yon old man at the farm has plenty of money--ready money--do you hear?
+Do you think I lost my time there? His daughter and her husband are his
+heirs; they do not need his gold so much as we do. The old man sleeps
+in that low house near the larger one. It is but a step through the
+window, and we shall be rich for a long time.'
+
+'But what if he should awake, and recognize us?' asked the prisoner,
+with much anxiety.
+
+The other made a gesture which shocked him. He started back.
+
+'No, no!' he cried, shuddering; 'no blood!'
+
+His companion laughed.
+
+'What matters it whether the old man dies a few days sooner or later?
+People have generally no objection to the death of those to whom they
+are to be heirs. And have you forgotten how roughly he spoke to you?
+How he abused you, and drove you away? At that time I am sure you
+thirsted for revenge. Besides, how are you going to live? Perhaps you
+think you may find some good-natured fool to take a fancy to you; but
+you forget that _I_ like you too well to separate from you.'
+
+Want, fear, revengeful feelings, got the better of him; but at night,
+when like two spectres they glided along the road, it seemed to him
+constantly as if some one saw him; and notwithstanding his companion's
+ridicule, he frequently looked back. And truly there was ONE who
+watched him, but not with any mortal eye. They opened the window, and
+got in one after the other, and easily found the old man's desk, which
+was in the next room. The robber's practised hand soon opened it, and
+he was about to take its contents, when the door of the bedroom was
+suddenly thrown back and rapidly shut, and the old man, who was still
+hale and strong, entered, armed with a thick cudgel. A short but
+furious struggle ensued; he remembered having seized him by the back of
+his neck with both his hands, and dragged him down on the floor; he
+remembered having heard some dull blows, that made him shiver with
+horror, and then having stood in breathless dismay by a dead body. The
+two criminals looked at each other with faces of ashy hue; then the
+most hardened kicked the corpse to one side, and went to secure the
+booty, while the prisoner opened the door of the sleeping-room to
+search it.
+
+But--oh, anguish unspeakable! oh, avenging God!--who should spring
+forward to meet him, clinging to his knees and imploring his
+protection--who but his innocent, unfortunate little favourite! He
+started back, speechless and powerless; but when he beheld his comrade,
+without uttering one word, brandish his knife, he clasped the child
+with one arm in a convulsive embrace, and stretched out the other to
+defend him against the ruffian.
+
+'Shall he be left to betray us both to-morrow?' mumbled the wretch. 'He
+must die, for your sake as well as mine.'
+
+'Oh, let us take him with us!' prayed the other, in the deepest
+agitation, while he tried to keep off the knife, which, however, he did
+with difficulty, as the child held fast to his arm, and, in his terror
+at the murderous weapon, hid his little face on that breast where he
+had so often rested in happy confidence, his silver voice murmuring his
+childish love.
+
+'You are mad,' said his companion. 'What should we do with the boy? Let
+go your hold of him, I say--we have no time to lose--let him go, or it
+will cost you your own life.'
+
+The quivering lips of the miserable man had scarcely uttered a prayer
+to wait, at least, till he could withdraw, when the child was torn from
+him, and like a maniac he rushed away, sprang out of the window, threw
+himself upon the ground, and buried his head among the long damp grass.
+What a moment of agony! Such agony, that at the remembrance of it the
+prisoner groaned aloud, and dashed his head against the stone wall,
+then coiled himself up like a worm, as if he would fain have shrunk
+into nothing.
+
+The dear-bought, blood-stained booty was divided, and the criminal
+associates separated. But suspicion fell upon them; they were pursued,
+and soon taken. On being carried before a magistrate, he denied it all;
+yet when he was placed by the dead body of the murdered child, guilt
+spoke in his stiff, averted head--in the tell-tale perspiration that
+stood on his brow--and in his clenched and trembling hands. He
+confessed, and implored to be removed, even to prison, from the
+harrowing spectacle. His accomplice was condemned to death, he himself
+to imprisonment for life.
+
+There he was now, alone with the dreadful recollections of former
+days. The summer came and went, without bringing any other joy to him
+than that the sun's rays fell broader, and more golden in their gleams
+upon the wall outside that bounded his narrow view; and that now and
+then a bird would fly over it, quiver a few notes, then wing its flight
+away. That sight always awoke a voice in his heart that cried for
+'Freedom--freedom!' But he would hush it with the thought, that he
+could not be happier were he at liberty than in his dungeon cell. At
+other times, he would take a violent longing to see a green leaf--only
+a single green leaf--or a corn-blossom from the fields, or a blade of
+grass. Ah! these were vain wishes! When winter came, and the sun and
+the daylight forsook him so soon, he was still more gloomy, for he
+could not sleep the whole of the long, long night, and the phantoms
+that haunted him were terrific.
+
+Once--it was a Christmas night--he was reflecting on all the joy that
+was abroad in the world, and he thought if it would not be possible for
+him to pray. Then long-forgotten words returned to his lips, and he
+faltered out, 'Our Father, which art in heaven!'--but _then_ he
+stopped.
+
+'God is in heaven,' thought he, 'how can He condescend to hear the sigh
+that arises from the hell within my breast? No, no--it is but mocking
+Him for _me_ to pray!'
+
+Days and years had gone by since the prisoner had inhaled the breath of
+the fresh balmy air, had beheld the extended vault of heaven, or
+wandered in the bright, warm sunshine; at length the spirit had
+exhausted the body. He lay ill and feeble, and death was near. Then was
+the narrow door of his dungeon opened, and he was removed to a more
+cheerful place--to a place where the blessed air and light were freely
+admitted, and where the voices of human beings were around him. But
+their compassion came too late. Earnestly did he entreat them to let
+him see a minister of the Gospel; and when one came, he poured out the
+misery of his soul to him. He listened with the deepest attention while
+the holy man discoursed about Him, who, in His boundless love, shed His
+own blood to wash out the sins of mankind, and in whose name even the
+darkest and most guilty criminal might dare to raise his blood-stained
+hands in prayer. How consoling were not these precious words to him,
+'My God and my Saviour! With what an earnest longing he waited to be
+permitted to participate in that solemn rite which, by grace and faith,
+was to unite him to that Redeemer! And how he trembled lest the lamp of
+his mortal life should be extinguished before the first spark of that
+sacred flame was lighted, which was to be kindled for an endless
+eternity!
+
+The time that his repentant spirit so thirsted for arrived. And when he
+had partaken of the holy communion, and tears of penitent sorrow had
+streamed over his burning cheeks, peace--long unknown--returned to his
+weary heart, and his gratitude found vent in thanksgivings and prayer.
+
+'Oh!' he exclaimed, as he looked out of his open window, 'it is spring,
+my friends--I feel that it is spring, beautiful spring!'
+
+'Yes,' replied the superintendent of the hospital, 'it is spring; even
+the old tree by the wall is green. See here, as I passed it, I broke
+off this budding twig for you;' and he placed the little green branch
+in the hand of the dying man.
+
+'Oh!' said he, with a melancholy smile and a tear in his eye, 'that
+old, decayed, withered tree--can it put forth new leaves--fresh, green,
+sweetly scented as these? May I not then venture to hope that the
+Almighty may call forth a new life from me in another world? Oh, that
+such may be His will!'
+
+And with the green bough--the proof of God's power and goodness in his
+hand, and with his Redeemer's promise on his lips, he passed to his
+everlasting doom, in the blessed hope that he also might touch the hem
+of his Saviour's garment, and hear these words of life--'Son, thy sins
+be forgiven thee!'
+
+
+
+
+                             MORTEN LANGÈ.
+
+                           A Christmas Story.
+
+                      BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
+
+
+   Each midnight from the farthest Thule, to isles the South Sea laves,
+   To exercise themselves awhile the dead forsake their graves;
+   But when it is the Christmas time they stay much longer out,
+   And may in the churchyard be seen, then, wandering about;
+   And as they dance their merry rounds, the rattling of their bones
+   Produces, 'midst the wintry blasts, somewhat unearthly tones.
+   Poor things! For them there's neither wine, nor punch, nor supper
+      there,
+   The icicles are all they have, and a mouthful of fresh air.
+   When shines the moon strange forms are seen, tall spectral giants
+      some:
+   Such sights as these might even strike a chattering Frenchman dumb.
+   Scoff not at my poor hero, then, though once in a sad fright--
+   He is a most discreet young man, and Morten Langè hight.
+
+   One Christmas night the fates ordained a journey he must make,
+   So, for despatch, 'twas his resolve a horse and sledge to take.
+   Dark was the hour, and in the skies the ranks of stars looked pale,
+   While from a tower near hooted owls, as in a German tale.
+   And Morten Langè, by-the-by, was not unlearned, for
+   About Molboerne's exploits[8]--also the Trojan war,
+   'Octavianus,' Nisses, Trolls, Hobgoblins well he knew,
+   And all about 'the spectre white,' whose story is so _true_.
+   Too soon the sledge stood at the door, with many a jingling bell;
+   But ah! these sounds to his sad ears seemed like his funeral knell.
+   Yet, though the snow-flakes fell around, of them he took no heed,
+   But like a British runaway pair, he started at full speed.
+   He passed a regiment of old trees, whitened from top to toe,
+   And soon he gained an open plain, where nought he saw but snow.
+   Like Matthison's 'Gedichte,' 'twas very, very cold,
+   But still our hero tried to think that he was warm and bold.
+   He did not care to gaze about, and so half-closed his eyes;
+   Yet, spite of this precaution--lo! a curious sight he spies:
+   A muster of the Elfin-folk enjoying a gay spree,
+   The men were just five inches high, the women only three;
+   And though 'twas at the chill Yule-time, when cold reigns over all,
+   In clothes of flimsy cobwebs made, they capered at their ball;
+   The ancient dames, however, wore some more substantial gear,
+   For of bats' wings their shawls were formed--but, softly--what
+      comes here?
+
+   Twelve harnessed mice, with trappings grand, fit for a monarch's
+      own,
+   They draw a car of fairy work, where a lady sits alone.
+   It stops, and Morten Langè sees the lady getting out--
+   'Heav'n help me now! Heav'n help me now!' he sighed, for he dared
+      not shout.
+   'I'm no poltroon, and yet I feel the blood within my veins
+   Is freezing fast.' In mortal fear, his cold hand dropped the reins;
+   Then stooping to recover them out of the sledge he fell,
+   And with it scampered off the horse, whither he could not tell.
+   He felt that his last hour was come, all helpless as he lay--
+   And with such thoughts upon his mind he fainted quite away.
+
+   At length, when consciousness returned, and when his swoon was o'er,
+   He heard a fearful buzzing sound, that frightened him still more.
+   What had he done to be exposed that night to such alarms?
+   A troop of demons round him thronged--one imp secured his arms.
+   Another seized his lanky legs, another caught his head--
+   And powerless to resist them then, away with him they sped.
+   They carried him to some strange place, flames shone upon the walls,
+   Into another fainting-fit, half-dead with fright, he falls,
+   But when the pains of death seemed past, and trembling he looked
+      round,
+   He saw that in the other life a sad fate he had found.
+   The vaulted roof was black with smoke, and awful was the heat;
+   The devils stood with naked arms--he dared not scan their feet.
+   One held a hammer in his hand, and threatening, waved it nigh,
+   And in a burning furnace there, red flames were flashing high.
+   Soon guessed our hero where he was, and set himself to kneel,
+   And lustily for mercy prayed--but they laughed at his appeal.
+
+   Then to his side an angel came, benignant was her smile,
+   And holding out her small white hand, she said to him the while;
+   'Well, Heaven be praised, you're better now! But why are you
+      afraid?'
+   Shaking with fear in every limb, in a faint voice he said:
+   'Oh, angel! 'tis not death I dread, but help me out of hell!'
+   The angel laughed: 'You're in good hands--you ought to know us well.
+   This is the smithy--from your sledge thrown out upon the ground,
+   Lying alone amidst the snow half-frozen you were found;
+   And I'm no angel, bless your heart! I'm Annie, don't you see?'
+   Rubbing his eyes, and staring round, up Morten jumped in glee;
+   And that he soon forgot his fright 'tis needless to declare--
+   The roasted goose, the foaming ale, and other Christmas fare,
+   As might be guessed, put all to rights--and Annie by his side
+   At supper sat, that Christmas night, as Morten Langè's bride.
+
+
+                       _Note by the Translator_.
+
+The ghost-story alluded to--'Den hvide Qvinde' (The White Woman)--is to
+be found in Thiele's collection of Danish 'Folkesagn.' This spectre is
+said to haunt some old ruins near Flensborg. Two soldiers, long, long
+ago, were keeping their night-watch on the ramparts of the castle; one
+of them left his post for a short time, and when he was gone the other
+sentry was approached by a tall female figure in white, who accosted
+him thus:--'I am an unblessed spirit, who have wandered here for many
+hundred years, and have never found rest in the grave.' She then
+informed him that under the walls was buried an immense treasure, which
+could only be found by _three_ men in the world, and that he was one of
+the three. The soldier, fancying his fortune made, promised to obey her
+in all things, and received her command to be on the spot the following
+midnight. In the meantime the other sentinel had returned to his post,
+and had overheard what the spectre had related to his comrade. He said
+not a word, however, but the next night he went to the appointed place,
+and concealed himself in some recess close by. When the soldier who was
+to dig for the treasure arrived, with his spade and other implements,
+the white spectre appeared to him, but knowing that he was watched, she
+put off the _digging_ till another night. The man who had intended to
+act as a spy was taken suddenly ill as soon as he got home; and feeling
+that he was about to die, he sent for his comrade, confessed that he
+had watched him, implored him to avoid witchcraft and supernatural
+beings, and recommended him to consult the priest, who was a wise and
+good man.
+
+The soldier took his advice, and laid the matter before the priest, who
+directed him to do the spectre's bidding, only taking care that _she_
+should be the first to touch the treasure. The man accordingly met the
+ghost at the appointed time and place, and she showed him the spot
+where the treasure was deposited; but before taking it up, she told him
+that one half would be for him, and the other half must be divided
+between the church and the poor. But the demon of avarice had entered
+into his heart, and he exclaimed: 'What! shall I not have the whole of
+it?' Scarcely had these words passed his lips, than the spirit uttered
+a fearful thrilling cry, and disappeared in a blue flame over the
+castle moat. The soldier was taken ill, and died three days afterwards.
+The story became noised about, and a poor student determined to try his
+luck. He repaired to the old castle at midnight, saw the wandering
+'White Woman,' told her his errand and offered his services. But she
+informed him that he was not one of the chosen three, and could not
+assist her, and that the walls would thenceforth stand so firmly, that
+hand of man should never overthrow them. However, she promised at some
+future time to reward him for his good intentions.
+
+One day, long after, when he happened to be loitering near the old
+castle, and thinking with compassion of the fate of the restless spirit
+who haunted it, he stumbled over something; and, on stooping to see
+what it was, he discovered a large heap of gold, of which he forthwith
+took possession. As foretold by the spectre, the walls of the castle
+are still standing, and the story goes, that whenever any portion of
+them has been overthrown, it has always been raised again by invisible
+agents during the night. Matter-of-fact people assert that the locality
+of this ghost tradition is a _hill_, not a _castle_.
+
+
+
+
+                           A TALE OF JUTLAND.
+
+                           BY S. S. BLICHER.
+
+
+I had often beheld the highest hill in Denmark, but had not hitherto
+ascended it. Frequently as I had been in its neighbourhood, the
+objects of my journeys had always required me to turn off in another
+direction, and I was thus obliged to content myself with seeing at some
+distance the Danish Schwarzwald; and as I passed on, to cast a hurried
+glance down the valleys to the charming lake, dotted with green leafy
+islets, and which winds, as it were, round jagged tongues of land. At
+length I overcame all obstacles, and resolved to devote two days to a
+pleasure-trip amidst this much-admired scenery. My cousin Ludwig, who
+had just arrived from the capital, agreed to accompany me.
+
+The morning was clear and warm, and gave the promise of a fine evening,
+but shortly after mid-day there gradually arose in the south-west a
+range of whitish clouds tinged at the sides with flame-colour. My
+cousin did not notice them; but I, who am experienced in the signs of
+the weather, recognized these indications of thunder, and announced to
+him 'that the evening would not be as fine as the morning.' We were
+riding exactly in such a direction that we had these clouds opposite to
+us, and could, therefore, perceive how they kept rising higher and
+higher, how they became darker at the base, and how they towered like
+mountains of snow over the summit of the hill. Imagination pictured
+them to us like the Alps of Switzerland, and we tried to fancy
+ourselves in that mountainous country; we saw Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn,
+and the Jungfrau; in the valleys between the clouds we pictured to
+ourselves the glaciers; and when a solitary mass of cloud, breaking
+suddenly, sank down, and seemed to mingle with the mountain chain, we
+called it an avalanche which would overwhelm villages and scattered
+chalets with everlasting snow. We continued, absolutely with childish
+pleasure, to figure to ourselves in the skies the majestic scenery of
+the Alps, and were quite wrapt up in our voluntary self-deception, when
+the sudden roar of thunder awoke us from our fantastic dreams. Already
+there stretched scarcely the thinnest line of light in the heavens
+above us, and the wood which lay before us seemed as if in a moment
+enveloped in a thick mist by the fast-falling rain. We had been too
+long dilatory, and now we rode as hard as possible to reach the nearest
+village; and we were soaked to the skin before we got to Alling, where
+we sought shelter under an open gateway.
+
+The owner of the place, an elderly farmer, who seemed a sort of
+half-savage foreigner to us, received us with old Danish hospitality;
+he had our horses taken to his stable, and invited ourselves into his
+warm parlour. As soon as he observed our drenched condition, he offered
+us garments belonging to his two sons to wear while our own wet ones
+were dried by the blazing hearth. Joyfully did we avail ourselves of
+his kind proposal; and in a room upstairs, called the best apartment,
+we soon made the comfortable change of apparel, while laughing and
+joking at our unexpected travestie. Equipped as peasant lads in their
+Sunday's clothes, we shortly after rejoined the family. Our host was
+much amused at the change in our outward men, and warmly extolled our
+homely appearance, while his two daughters smiled, and stole sly
+glances at us--
+
+
+        'Blushed the Valkyries, whilst they turned and laughed.'
+
+
+The coffee-urn stood ready on the table, surrounded by china cups; the
+refreshing beverage, amply provided with brown sugar and rich
+unadulterated cream, poured out and handed by one of the pretty
+daughters, speedily restored genial heat to our chilled blood; and then
+the father of the family thought it time to inquire the names,
+occupations, and places of abode of his unexpected guests.
+
+Meanwhile the thunderstorm had passed away; the sun smiled again in the
+cloudless west; far away to the east, indeed, could still be heard the
+distant whistling and rattling of the winds, but where we were all was
+mild and tranquil. The spirits of the storm had folded their dripping
+wings, and the raindrops sparkled like diamonds upon every leaf and
+flower. The evening promised once more to resemble the morning in
+beauty.
+
+'And now for the ascent of the mountains!' we exclaimed to each other.
+
+'But your clothes?' interrupted the farmer. We hastened into an outer
+room, where the other fair daughter was busy drying them; but, alas!
+they were still quite damp, and she said she feared she could not
+promise that they would be in a fit state to be put on for at least an
+hour; and then it would probably be too late to enjoy the view from the
+top of the hill, as the ascent, proceeding from where we were at that
+moment, would take, perhaps, another hour. What was to be done? The
+good-natured countryman helped us out of our dilemma.
+
+'If you are not ashamed of wearing the boys' clothes,' said he, 'why
+should you not keep them on?'
+
+'That is a capital idea,' we both replied, and thanking him for the
+offer, as we shook hands with him cordially, we asked him where we
+could find a guide.
+
+'I will myself be your guide,' he said, as he took from a corner a
+juniper-stick for each of us. We then lost no time in commencing our
+journey, and still more gaily than before, for we were much amused at
+our masquerade, especially my cousin, who seemed to feel no small
+admiration for himself in the rustic blue frock-coat, ornamented
+with silver buttons--the jack-boots--and the head surmounted by a
+high-crowned hat.
+
+'I sincerely wish,' said he, 'that we could fall in with some other
+travellers up yonder; that would be great fun.'
+
+Our guide laughed, and hinted that he would not be able to talk like
+the peasantry.
+
+'Yes, I can though,' said my cousin, who immediately began to speak in
+the Jutland dialect, to the infinite diversion of the worthy Peder
+Andersen who, however, found still another stumbling-block to the
+perfections of the pretended peasant--namely, that his nice white hands
+would betray him.
+
+'I can put them in my pocket' ('A ka put em i e Lomm),' cried my gay
+cousin, who was determined to admit of no drawback to his assumed
+character.
+
+Presently we reached the river Gudenade, which is here tolerably wide,
+and has rather a swift current. We crossed in a boat something like a
+canoe, and then entered on quite another kind of a country; for here
+commenced the moorlands, covered with heather whose dark tints formed
+a strong contrast to the bright green on the east of the river. We
+had yet a good way to walk, and as the heather, which almost reached up
+to our knees, was still wet with rain, we had good reason to be
+grateful to our long boots. We approached the wood--a wood of
+magnificent beech-trees--which appeared to me here doubly beautiful,
+standing out, as it did, against so dark a background. Amidst sloping
+dales the path wound always upward; but the thickness of the foliage
+for a time deprived us of any view. At last we emerged from the wood,
+and found ourselves upon the open summit of the mountain.
+
+When I hear delightful music, or witness an interesting theatrical
+representation, I always like to enjoy it for a time in silence.
+Nothing acts more unpleasantly, jars more on my feelings, than when any
+one attempts to call my attention to either. The moment the remark is
+made to me, 'How beautiful that is!' it becomes less beautiful to me
+These audible outbursts of admiration are to me like cold shower-baths,
+they quite chill me. After a time, when I have been left undisturbed,
+and by degrees have cooled in my excitement, I am willing to exchange
+thoughts and mingle feelings with those of a friend, or of many
+friends; indeed, I find desire growing within me to unburden, if I may
+so express it, my overladen mind. It is thus that a poet utters his
+inspirations: at the sweet moment when he conceives his ideas, they
+glow within him, but he is silent; afterwards he feels constrained to
+give them utterance; the voice or the pen _must_ afford the full heart
+relief. Our guide's anxiety to please was a dreadful drawback to my
+comfort, for, with the usual loquacity of a cicerone, he began to point
+out and describe all the churches that could be described from the
+place where we were standing, invariably commencing with, 'Yonder you
+see.' I left my cousin to his elucidation of the country round, and,
+wandering to some little distance, I sat down where I could _see_,
+without being compelled to _hear_.
+
+When Stolberg had finished translating Homer into German, he threw down
+his pen, and exclaimed, despondingly, 'Reader, learn Greek, and burn my
+translation!' What is a description of scenery but a translation? Yet
+the most successful one must be as much inferior to the original as the
+highest hill in Jutland is lower than the highest mountain in Thibet.
+Therefore, kind reader, pardon my not describing to you all I saw.
+_What_ I saw I might, perhaps, be able to relate to you, but scarcely
+_how_ I saw it. My pen is no artist's pencil; go yourself and take a
+view of it! But you, who perhaps have stood on the summit of the
+Brochen, or of St. Bernard, smile not that I think so much of our
+little mountain! It is the loftiest that I, or perhaps many of my
+readers, have beheld; therefore, what is diminutive to you is grand to
+us.
+
+I was startled in my meditations by a thump on my shoulder--it was from
+my cousin, who was standing behind me. He informed me that our guide
+had gone home at least half-an-hour, and that I had been sitting for a
+long time perfectly motionless, without giving the slightest sign of
+life. He told me, moreover, that he was tired of such solemn silence,
+and I must really awaken from my fit of abstraction.
+
+'And at what have you been looking that has engrossed your thoughts so
+much?' he added.
+
+'The same as you have been looking at,' I replied: 'Air, and earth, and
+water.'
+
+'Well, cast your eyes down now towards the lake,' said he, handing me
+his spy-glass, 'and you will see that there are some strangers coming
+over this way.'
+
+I took the glass and perceived a boat a little way from the shore,
+which seemed to be steering straight across the water; it was full of
+people, and three straw bonnets indicated that there were women among
+them. My cousin proposed that we should await their coming, although it
+would be late before we should reach our quarters for the night at
+Alling. As the evening was so charming, I willingly consented; we could
+not have wished a finer one. The sun was about to set, but it seemed to
+us to sink more slowly than usual, as if it lingered to behold longer
+the beauty of earth when tinged with its own golden rays. The winds
+were hushed, not a blade of grass, not a leaf was stirring. The lake
+was as a mirror, wherein were reflected the fields, the groves, the
+houses that lay on its surrounding sides, while here and there, in the
+valleys towards the west, arose a thin column of smoke from dwellings
+that were concealed by trees. But if in the air all was silence, sounds
+enough proceeded from the earth. Feathered songsters carolled in the
+woods behind us, and before us the heath-lark's love-strains swelled,
+answering each other from the juniper-bushes. From the bulrushes which
+grew on the margin of the lake was heard the quacking of the wild
+ducks; and from a greater distance came the plashing of the fisherman's
+oar, as he was returning to his home, and the soothing tones of his
+vesper hymn.
+
+The sun had now sunk below the horizon, and the bells that rang from
+many a church for evening prayer, summoned the weary labourer to rest
+and sleep. The heavy dews of night were already moistening the ground,
+and its mist was veiling the woods, the lake, and the sloping banks.
+Now broke upon the ear the cheering yet plaintive music of wind
+instruments. It seemed to come nearer and nearer, and must undoubtedly
+have proceeded from the boat we had observed putting off from the
+opposite shore. When the music ceased, we could distinctly hear the
+voices of the party in the boat, and presently after the slight noise
+made by their landing. We stood still for a few minutes, expecting to
+see them ascending the hill, but soon perceived that, on the contrary,
+they were going in another direction, for the sound of the voices
+became fainter and fainter, and was lost at last apparently among the
+woods to the west. Had it not been that the airs they had played were
+of the newest fashion, we might have fancied it a fairy adventure--a
+procession of woodland elves, or the bridal of the elf king himself.
+
+The shades of night were falling around. Here and there a star
+glimmered faintly in the pale-blue skies. In the north-west was visible
+a red segment over the horizon, where the king of day was wandering
+beneath, on his way to lighten another hemisphere. Now, all was still;
+only at a distance on the heath we heard the plover's melancholy note,
+and beneath us, on the lake, the whizzing of the water-fowls' wings as
+they skimmed its darkened surface. 'Let us go homewards now!' cried my
+cousin. 'Yes, home!' I replied. But we had not gone far before we both
+stopped at once with a 'Hush! hark!' From the margin of the wood,
+through which we had just come, issued suddenly the sound of harmonious
+voices, singing as a duet a Tyrolese air. There is something
+indescribably charming and touching in this unison of voices,
+especially in the open air, when the sweet tones seem to float upon the
+gentle breeze; and now, at the calm evening hour, when the surrounding
+hills were awakened from the deep repose into which they had just
+subsided, the sweet tones had the effect of the nightingale's
+delightful song. My cousin seized my hand and pressed it, as if to
+entreat that I should not, by any exclamation, disturb his auricular
+treat. When the vocalists ceased, he sighed deeply. I gazed in
+astonishment on him; he was in general so gay, and yet at that moment
+tears actually stood in his eyes! I attributed to the mighty
+enchantment of music, the power of softening and agitating the hardest
+and the lightest heart, and I remarked this to him.
+
+'Ah, well!' he replied, 'the human breast is like a sounding-board,
+which, although untouched, yet gives an echo when certain chords are
+struck.'
+
+'You are right,' I said; 'as, for instance, the story of the tarantula
+dance.'
+
+He sighed again, and said gravely,--
+
+'But such chords must be connected with peculiar events--must awaken
+certain recollections--yes'--he took my hand, and pointing to the trunk
+of a tree which had fallen, we placed ourselves on it--'yes, my friend,
+yon air recalls to me a souvenir which I have in vain tried to forget.
+Will you listen to the story?'
+
+'Tell it,' I said, 'though I can partly guess what it must be.'
+
+
+It was on such an evening as this (he continued), about two years ago,
+that, accompanied by a friend, I had gone on a little tour of pleasure
+to Lake Esrom. We remained sitting a long time on a fallen tree before
+we could prevail on ourselves to wend our way homewards, so charmed
+were we with the beauty of the scenery and of the evening. We had
+just arisen when a Tyrolese air--the very one you and I have recently
+heard--sung delightfully as a duet, attracted our attention. It came
+from the side of the lake, but the sounds appeared to be gradually
+approaching nearer. We soon heard the plashing of oars, which kept time
+to the music, and shortly after we saw a boat making for the part of
+the shore where we were. When the song was ended, there was a great
+deal of talking and laughing in the boat, and the noise seemed to
+increase the nearer they came to the shore. We now saw distinctly the
+little skiff and its merry freight. 'Lay aside your oars!' said one; 'I
+will steer you straight in to the land.' They did so. 'I know a quicker
+way of making the land,' cried another, as he sprang up, and striding
+from gunwale to gunwale, set the boat rocking frightfully. 'Be quiet!
+be quiet!' roared a third; 'are you mad? The fool will upset the boat!'
+'You shall have a good ducking for that,' said the madcap, swaying the
+boat still more violently. Then came shouts of laughter mingled with
+oaths; in the midst of the uproar a loud voice called out, 'Be done. I
+tell you! Fritz cannot swim.' But it was too late--the boat was full of
+water--it upset. Happily it was only a short way from the shore. In one
+moment they were all silent; we heard only the splashing and hard
+breathing of those who were swimming. There were six of them. Presently
+one of them cried, 'Fritz! Fritz! come here! take hold of me!' Then
+cried another, 'Fritz, come to me!' And then several voices shouted,
+'Fritz! Fritz! where are you?' Two of them had by this time reached the
+shore, and they stood looking anxiously at those who were still
+swimming in the lake. One of them began counting, 'Three, four!' Then
+crying in a voice of extreme consternation, '_One_ is wanting!' he
+sprang again into the water, and the other instantly followed his
+example!
+
+My friend and I could no longer remain mere spectators of this scene;
+we threw off our coats and were speedily in the water, searching with
+the party for their lost friend. We thought he must be under the boat;
+therefore we all gathered round the spot where it lay keel upwards,
+and the best swimmer dived beneath it. In vain! he was not there. But
+at a little distance, amidst the reeds, one of us observed something
+dark--it was the missing Fritz! He was brought on shore; but he was
+lifeless. Zealously, anxiously, did we try all means of restoring him;
+they were of no avail. It was decided that he should be carried to the
+nearest house. A plank, which had formed one of the seats of the boat,
+and which had floated to the shore, was taken up; he was placed upon
+it, and they carried him towards the road. We followed them
+mechanically. What a contrast to their late boisterous mirth was their
+present profound silence! We had not proceeded far, when one of the
+foremost of the bearers turned round and exclaimed, 'Where is Sund?' We
+all looked back, and beheld the unfortunate madcap who had caused the
+accident half-hidden behind a tall bush, stuffing his pockets with
+pebbles.
+
+'He will drown himself,' said the person who had just spoken; 'we must
+take him with us.'
+
+They stopped, and my companion and I offered our assistance to carry
+the body, whilst two of the party went to their repentant friend. The
+way to the house to which the drowned man was to be carried lay through
+a wood. It was so dark amidst the trees that we were close upon two
+female figures, dressed in white, before we observed them,
+
+'Good Heavens!' cried the foremost of the party; 'if it should be
+Fritz's betrothed! She said she would probably come to meet us.'
+
+It was indeed herself. You may imagine the painful scene: first, her
+horror at meeting us carrying a drowned man, and then her agony when
+she found out that the unfortunate victim was the one dearest to her on
+earth; for she could not be deceived, as she knew them all. She
+fainted, and her companion caught her in her arms as she was falling to
+the ground. What was to be done? My friend and I hastened to the
+assistance of the ladies, while the other gentlemen hurried on with the
+inanimate body to the house, which was at no great distance. I ran to
+the lake, and brought back some water in my hat; we threw a little on
+her face, when she soon came to herself again, poor thing!
+
+'Where is he?' she screamed; 'oh! where is he? He is not dead--let me
+go to him--let me go!' She strove to rise and rush forward.
+
+'Leave her, kind gentlemen,' said her companion, as she threw one arm
+round her waist, and with the other pressed her hand to her heart.
+'Thanks--thanks for your assistance, but do not trouble yourselves
+further; I know the way well.'
+
+We bowed and stood still, while she hastened on with her poor friend;
+and as they went we could hear the sorrowful wailing of the one, and
+the sweet soothing tones of the other. Having received no invitation we
+had no right to follow them, and we sought our carriage, both deeply
+impressed by the melancholy catastrophe which we had involuntarily
+witnessed.
+
+We were not acquainted with any member of the party, nor were we able
+to hear anything of them. In vain we searched all the newspapers, and
+conned over all the announcements of deaths in their columns; there
+never appeared the slightest reference to the unfortunate event I have
+just mentioned, nor did we ever hear it alluded to in society. We
+should certainly, after the lapse of some time, have looked upon the
+whole affair as a freak of the imagination--a phantom scene--had we not
+played a part in it ourselves. It did not make so light an impression
+on me, however; you will think it strange, perhaps absurd, but I
+actually was partially in love! Love has generally but one pathway to
+the heart--the eyes; it took a by-path with me--through the ears. It
+was so dark that I had not seen the young lady's features; I had only
+heard her voice. But, ah! what a voice it was! So soft--_that_ does not
+describe it; so melodious--neither does that convey an idea of what it
+was. I can compare it to nothing but the echo of tones from celestial
+regions, or to the angel-voices which we hear in dreams. Her figure was
+as beautiful as her voice--graceful and sylph-like. If you have ever
+been bewitched in a night vision, you will be able to comprehend my
+feelings. I saw her, and I did not see her. Her slight form with its
+white drapery looked quite spiritual in the dim light, and reminded me
+of Dido in Elysium, floating past Æneas, who was still clothed in the
+garb of mortality.
+
+'Of whom are you speaking?' I asked. 'Of the friend?'
+
+'Of course,' he replied; 'not of the widowed girl, as I may call the
+other.'
+
+'I do not see anything so very extraordinary in what you have been
+telling me,' I said. 'When it is almost dark, fancy is more easily
+awakened; everything wears a different aspect from what it does in the
+glare of day--objects become idealized, and sweet sounds make more
+impression on the mind, while imagination is thus excited. But is this
+the end of your drama?'
+
+'No; only the first act,' he replied. 'Now comes the second.'
+
+The summer passed away; winter came, and it too had almost gone, when I
+happened to attend a masquerade at one of the clubs. For about an hour
+I had been jostled among the caricaturists, and was becoming very
+tired,--and falling into sombre reflections upon the illusions of life,
+and the masks worn in society to conceal people's real characters from
+each other, when my attention was attracted by twelve shepherds and
+shepherdesses in the pretty costume of Languedoc, who came dancing in,
+hand in hand. The orchestra immediately struck up a French quadrille,
+and the French group danced so gracefully that a large and admiring
+circle was formed round them. When the quadrille was over, the circle
+opened, and the shepherds and shepherdesses mingled with the rest of
+the company. One of the shepherdesses, whose charming figure and
+elegance of motion had riveted my attention, as if by a magic power
+drew me after her. I followed wherever she went, until at last I got so
+near to her that I was able to address her.
+
+'Beautiful shepherdess!' I said in French, 'how is it that our northern
+clime is so fortunate as to be favoured by a visit from you and your
+lovely sisters?'
+
+She turned quickly towards me, and after remaining silent a few
+moments, during which time a pair of dark eyes gazed searchingly at me,
+
+'Monsieur,' she replied in French, 'we thought that fidelity had its
+true home in this northern clime.'
+
+'You have each brought your lover with you,' I said.
+
+'Because we hoped that they would learn lessons of constancy here,' was
+her answer.
+
+'Lovely blossom from the banks of the Garonne!' I exclaimed, 'who could
+be inconstant to you?'
+
+'There is no telling,' she continued, gaily. 'You are paying me
+compliments without knowing me. You call me pretty, yet you have never
+seen _me_. It must be my mask that you mean.'
+
+'Your eyes assure me of your beauty,' said I; 'they must bear the blame
+if I am mistaken.'
+
+Just at that moment another dance commenced; I asked the fair
+shepherdess to be my partner, and consenting, she held out her hand to
+me. We took our places immediately. It was then that a recollection
+came over me of having heard her sweet voice before. I thought that I
+recognized it--yes! Surely it could be no other's than hers--my fairy
+of Esrom Wood! But I was determined to be certain of the fact. I said
+nothing, however, while we were dancing. The dance seemed to me very
+short, and at the same time endless.
+
+I interrupted him somewhat uncivilly with--'At any rate your story
+seems endless.' He continued, however.
+
+After the dance was over I conducted her to a seat, and placed myself
+by her side.
+
+'It strikes me,' I remarked in Danish, 'that T have once before heard
+your voice, but not on the banks of the Garonne--'
+
+'No,' she replied, interrupting me, 'not there, but perhaps on the
+borders of Lake Esrom?'
+
+A sweet feeling at that moment, as it were, both expanded and
+contracted my breast. It was herself--the Unseen! She must also have
+remarked my voice, and preserved its tones in her memory.
+
+'A second time we meet,' I sighed, 'without beholding each other. This
+is really like an adventure brought about by some magician's art; but,
+oh! how I long for the moment when you will no longer hide that
+charming countenance.'
+
+She laughed slightly; and there was something so sprightly, musical,
+and winning in her laugh, while her white teeth glistened like pearls
+under her mask, that I forgot what more I was going to say. She,
+however, began to speak.
+
+'Why should I destroy your illusion? Leave our adventure, as you call
+it, alone; when a mystery is solved it loses its interest. If I were to
+remove my mask, you would only see the face of a very ordinary girl.
+Your imagination gallantly pictures me beautiful as some Circassian, or
+some Houri; let me remain such in your idea, at least till the watchman
+cries the hour of midnight, and wakes you from your dreams.'
+
+'All dreams are not delusive,' I said. 'They often speak the truth,' I
+added; 'yet sometimes one is tempted to wish that truths were but
+dreams; as, for instance, the very unfortunate event which was the
+occasion of our first meeting.'
+
+She looked surprised, while she repeated--
+
+'Unfortunate? Ah! true. You probably never heard--' At that moment one
+of the shepherds ran up, and carried her off hurriedly to a quadrille
+which was just forming.
+
+I was following the couple with my eyes, when my sister tapped me on
+the arm and asked me to dance with her, as she was not engaged.
+Mechanically I took my place in the quadrille, the same in which my
+_incognita_ was dancing, and mechanically I went through the figures
+until she had to give me her hand in the chain. I pressed it warmly,
+but there was no response. Ashamed and angry, I determined not to cast
+another glance at her; and resolutely I turned my head away. The
+quadrille was over, and once more I found myself constrained to look at
+her. But she was gone--the shepherds and shepherdesses had all
+disappeared. Whether they had left the ball, or--what was more
+probable--had changed their attire, I saw them no more. In vain at the
+supper-table my eyes wandered over all the ladies, to guess, if
+possible, which was the right one. Many of them were pretty; many had
+dark eyes and white teeth; but which of all these eyes and teeth were
+hers? It was by the voice alone that I could recognize her; but I could
+not go from the one to the other, and ask them to speak to me. And thus
+ended the second part of my drama.
+
+
+'Now, then, for the third act,' said I, with some curiosity.
+
+'For that,' he replied, 'I have waited in vain, above a year and a
+day.'
+
+'But do you not know her name?' I asked.
+
+'No.'
+
+'Or none of the party of shepherds and shepherdesses?'
+
+'I found out shortly after that I knew two of the shepherds; but of
+what use was that to me? I could not describe my shepherdess so that
+they could distinguish her among the twelve; they mentioned a dozen
+names, all equally unknown to me. That gave me no clue; to me she was
+both nameless and invisible.'
+
+I could not help smiling at my usually-gay cousin's doleful
+countenance.
+
+'You are laughing at me,' said he. 'Well, I don't wonder at it. To fall
+in love with a girl one has never seen is certainly great folly. But do
+not fancy that I am going to die of despair. I only feel a sort of
+longing come over me when I think of her.'
+
+The singers had now come so near that we could hear their conversation.
+After a few moments my cousin whispered to me that he knew one of them
+by his voice, and that he was an officer from Copenhagen. In another
+minute they made their appearance. There were three of them, all
+dressed as civilians, but the moustaches of one showed that he was a
+military man. My cousin squeezed my arm, and whispered again--
+
+'It is he, sure enough; let us see if he knows me.'
+
+We rose, and stood stiffly, with our caps in our hands. They nodded to
+us, and the officer said--
+
+'Put your hats on, lads. Will you earn a shilling for something to
+drink, and help to erect our tent?'
+
+We agreed to his proposal, and at his desire we joined two men in
+fetching, from a cart near, the canvas and other things required to put
+the tent up; also cloaks, cushions, baskets with provisions, and
+bottles of wine, benches for seats, and a wider one for a table. When
+our services were no longer needed, the officer held out some money to
+me, which, of course, I would not receive. My cousin also refused
+payment; whereupon he swore that we should at least take something to
+drink, and, filling a tumbler from his flask, he handed it to my
+cousin, who received it with a suppressed laugh.
+
+'What are you grinning at, fellow?' said the officer; but, as my cousin
+carried the tumbler to his lips, he exclaimed--
+
+'Your health, Wilhelm!'
+
+The individual thus addressed started back in astonishment, while his
+two companions peered into our faces. My cousin burst into a fit of
+laughter; and the officer, who now recognized him, cried, laughing
+also,--
+
+'Ludvig! What the deuce is all this? and why are you equipped in that
+preposterous garb?'
+
+The matter was speedily explained; the three travellers expressed much
+pleasure at meeting us, and pressed us so cordially to join their
+party, and stay the night with them, that we at length acceded to their
+request.
+
+One of the officer's companions was a young, handsome, and very
+fashionable-looking man; he was extremely rich, we understood,
+therefore they called him _the merchant_, and they would not tell us
+his name, or if that were his _real_ position in society. The other
+introduced himself to us with these words:
+
+'Gentlemen, of the respectable peasant class! my name here in Jutland
+is Farniente. My agreeable occupation is to do nothing--at least
+nothing but amuse myself.'
+
+There was a great deal more joking among our hosts, and then we
+presented each other in the same bantering way, after which we all
+adjourned to the tent, where we wound up with a very jovial supper. At
+midnight the merchant reminded us that we had to rise next morning with
+the first rays of the sun, and that it was time to retire to rest. We
+made up a sort of couch, with cushions and cloaks, and on it we five
+faithful brothers stretched ourselves as best we might. The other four
+soon fell asleep. I alone remained awake; and when I found that slumber
+had fled my pillow, rose as quietly as possible, and left the tent.
+
+All around was still as the grave. The skies were without a cloud, but
+of their millions of eyes only a few were now open, and even these
+shone dimly and feebly, as if they were almost overcome by sleep. The
+monarch of light, who was soon to overpower their fading brightness,
+was already clearing his path in the north-east. It is not the
+darkness, still less the tempest, that renders night so extremely
+melancholy; it is that deep repose, that corpse-like stillness in
+nature; it is to see oneself the only waking being in a sleeping
+world--one living amidst the vast vaults of the grave--a creature
+trembling with the fearful, giddy thought of death and eternity. How
+welcome then is any sound which breaks the oppressive silence of that
+nocturnal solitude, and reminds us that human beings are about to
+awaken to their daily round of occupation and pleasure--and, it must be
+added, of anxiety and trouble! How cheerful seems the earliest crowing
+of the cocks from the nearest huts, rising almost lazily on the dusky
+air! The drowsy world was beginning to move; and after a time I
+discerned faint, sweet tones proceeding from the direction of the
+wood. I listened attentively, and soon became convinced that it was
+music--the music of wind instruments--which I heard. To me music is as
+welcome as the first rosy streaks of morn to the benighted wanderer, or
+a glimpse of the brilliant sun amidst the gloom of a dark wintry sky.
+
+The sweet sounds ceased, and I began to ponder whether it might not
+have been unearthly strains which I had heard--whether they might not
+have come from the fairies who perhaps dwell amidst the surrounding
+glades, or among the wild flowers that enamelled the sloping sides of
+the hills. The music, however, was certainly Weber's, and the question
+was, whether the elfin people had learned the airs from him, or he from
+them. I returned to the tent, where the still sleeping party produced a
+very different and somewhat nasal kind of music.
+
+'Gentlemen! gentlemen!' I shouted, 'there are visitors coming.'
+
+My cousin was the first to awaken, then the officer, who sprang up, and
+immediately endeavoured to arouse the other two.
+
+'The ladies will be here presently,' he said; 'get up both of you.'
+
+'They are too early,' groaned one; 'I have not had half my sleep.'
+
+'Let them wait outside the tent till I am ready,' said Farniente. 'Good
+night!'
+
+The rest of us, however, went towards the wood to meet the three
+ladies, who were making their way to our temporary domicile, preceded
+by two musicians playing the horn, and two youths bearing torches, the
+latter being the sons of a clergyman in the neighbourhood, at whose
+house the ladies had slept. Observing the peasant costume of my friend
+and myself, the ladies asked who we were, and were told by the military
+man that we were two soldiers of his regiment, who, being in the
+adjacent village, had assisted in putting up the tent.
+
+'Lads,' said he, addressing us in a tone of command, 'can you fetch
+some water for us from the nearest stream, and get some wood for us to
+boil our coffee? I will go with you.'
+
+'No, no, sir--that would be a shame,' said my cousin, in the Jutland
+dialect; 'we will bring all that is wanted ourselves.'
+
+When we returned to the tent it was broad daylight; Farniente had been
+compelled to vacate his couch of cloaks, and in his lively way was
+greeting the fair guests with 'Good morning, my three Graces.' The
+officers told us, aside, that two of the ladies were his sisters, and
+were about to tell us more, when a waltz on the turf was proposed by
+Farniente, who seized one of the ladies, whom he called Sybilla, as his
+partner. _The merchant_ danced with another, to whom it appeared he was
+engaged, and the officer took his youngest sister. Their hilarity was
+infectious, and my cousin dragged me round for want of a better
+partner, whereupon the fair Sybilla, who had observed our dancing,
+remarked that we were 'really not at all awkward for peasant lads.'
+
+While they were taking their coffee afterwards, during which time we
+stood respectfully at a little distance, my cousin whispered to me how
+much he admired the lieutenant's youngest sister, who was indeed
+extremely pretty. He had not hitherto heard her voice, but he could not
+help seeing that she looked attentively--even inquisitively at him. By
+Farniente's request, the ladies handed us some coffee, after having
+done which they made some remarks upon us to each other in German. At
+that moment my cousin let his coffee-cup drop suddenly to the ground,
+and standing as motionless as one of the trees in the wood, he fixed
+his eyes upon the youngest girl with a very peculiar expression, which
+called the deepest blushes to her cheek. We all looked on in surprise,
+but I began to suspect the truth. Farniente was the first to speak.
+
+'Min Herre!' said he, 'it is time that you should lay aside your
+incognito, for it is evident that you and this lady have met before.'
+
+My cousin had by this time recovered his speech and his
+self-possession. He went up to the young lady, and said:--'For the
+first time to-day have I had the happiness of seeing those lips from
+which I have twice heard a voice whose accents delighted me. In that
+voice I cannot be mistaken, so deep was the impression it made upon me.
+Dare I flatter myself that my voice has not been quite forgotten by
+you?'
+
+Catherina--that was her name--replied with a smile,--
+
+'I have neither forgotten your voice nor your face, though last time we
+met you were a Spanish grandee.'
+
+'What is all this?' exclaimed the officer; 'old acquaintances--another
+masquerade!'
+
+'We are now truly all partaking of rural life,' said Farniente; 'so
+come, you two peasants, and place yourselves with the fair shepherdess
+and us.'
+
+We joined the circle, and after our names having been told, my cousin,
+leading the conversation to Lake Esrom, and the events which took place
+on its banks, asked Catherina how her poor friend had taken that sad
+affair, and if she had ever recovered her spirits?'
+
+'Oh yes, she has,' replied Catherina; and pointing to the young lady
+who was engaged to _the merchant_, 'there she is!'
+
+My cousin started, and said, in some embarrassment, 'It was a sad
+event, but--'
+
+'Not so very sad,' cried _the merchant_, interrupting him, 'for the
+drowned man returned to life. He was no other than myself.'
+
+'God be thanked!' exclaimed my cousin, sincerely rejoiced at the
+pleasant intelligence. 'That is more than we _then_ dared to hope. But
+what became of the poor foolish madcap who first upset the boat and
+then wished to drown himself?'
+
+'Here he is,' said Farniente, pointing to himself; 'and as I once
+thought I might be promoted to the dignity of court jester, I took a
+wife, and there,' bowing to Sybilla, 'sits the fair one who has
+undertaken to steer my boat over the dangerous ocean of life.'
+
+The morning mists by degrees cleared away from the wooded valleys and
+the hill-encircled waters; the larks had ended their early chorus, and
+the later songsters of the grove had commenced their sweet harmonies;
+all seemed joy around, and I looked with pleasure at the gay group
+before me. Never had the cheering light of day shone upon a circle of
+more contented human beings, and among them none were happier than
+Ludwig and his recently-found shepherdess, whose countenance beamed in
+the radiant glow of dawning love.
+
+Six months have passed since then, and they are now united for this
+world and for that which is to come.
+
+
+
+
+                          THE SECRET WITNESS.
+
+                           BY B. S. INGEMANN.
+
+
+In the year 1816 there lived in Copenhagen an elderly lady, Froken
+F----, of whom it was known that she sometimes involuntarily saw what
+was not visible to anyone else. She was a tall, thin, grave-looking
+person, with large features, and an expressive countenance. Her dark,
+deep-set eyes had a strange glance, and she saw much better than most
+people in the twilight; but she was so deaf, that people had to speak
+very loudly to her before she could catch their words, and when a
+number of persons were speaking at the same time in a room, she could
+hear nothing but an unintelligible murmur. A sort of magnetic
+clairvoyance had, doubtless, in the somewhat isolated condition in
+which she was placed, been awakened in her mind, without, however, her
+being thrown into any peculiar state. She only seemed at times to be
+labouring under absence of mind, or to have fallen into deep thought,
+and then she was observed to fix her eyes upon some object invisible to
+all others. What she saw at those moments were most frequently the
+similitude of some absent person, or images of the future, which were
+always afterwards realized. Thus she had often foreseen unexpected
+deaths, and other unlooked-for fatal accidents. As she seldom beheld in
+her visions anything pleasing, she was regarded by many as a bird of
+ill omen, and she therefore did not visit a number of families; those,
+however, who knew her intimately both respected and loved her. She was
+quiet and unpretending, and it was but rarely that she said anything,
+unsolicited, of the results of her wonderful faculty.
+
+She was a frequent guest in a family with whom she was a great
+favourite. The master of the house was an historical painter, and his
+wife was an excellent musician. The deaf old lady was a good judge of
+paintings, and extremely fond of them; also, hard of hearing as she
+was, music had always a great effect upon her; she could add in fancy
+what she did not hear to what she did hear; she had been very musical
+herself in her youthful days, and when she saw fingers flying over the
+pianoforte, she imagined she heard the music, even when anyone, to dupe
+her, moved their fingers back and forwards over the instrument, but
+without playing on it.
+
+One day she was sitting on a sofa in the drawing-room at the house of
+the above-mentioned family, engaged in some handiwork. The artist had a
+visitor who was a very lively, witty, satirical person, and they were
+standing together near a window, discoursing merrily; they often
+laughed during their conversation, and the tones of their voices seemed
+to change, occasionally, as if they were imitating some one, whereupon
+their hilarity invariably increased, which, however, was far from being
+as harmless and goodnatured as mirth and gaiety generally were in that
+house.
+
+When the visit was over, and the artist had accompanied his friend to
+the door, and returned to the drawing-room, the old lady asked him who
+had been with him.
+
+He mentioned the name of his lively friend, whom, he said, he thought
+she knew very well.
+
+'Oh, yes, I know him well enough,' she replied; 'but the other?'
+
+'What other?' asked the painter, starting.
+
+'Why the tall man with the long thin face, who stood yonder; he with
+the dark, rough, uncombed-looking hair, and the bushy eyebrows--he who
+so often laid his hand on his breast, and pointed upwards, especially
+when you and your merry friend laughed heartily.'
+
+'Did you ever see him before?' inquired the artist, turning pale. 'Did
+you observe how he was dressed, and if he had any peculiar habit?'
+
+'I do not remember having ever seen him before; as to his dress, it was
+very singular, much like that of an old-fashioned country
+schoolmaster.' And she described minutely his long frock-coat, with
+large buttons and side-pockets, and his antiquated boots, that did not
+appear to have been brushed for a very long time. 'The peculiar habit
+you speak of,' she added, 'was probably the manner in which he slowly
+shook his head, when he seemed to differ in opinion from you and your
+other guest; in my eyes there was something noble and striking in this
+movement, there was an expression of pain or sadness in his
+countenance, which interested me; it was particularly observable when
+he laid his right hand on his breast, and raised his left hand upwards,
+as if he were solemnly affirming something, or calling God to witness
+to the truth of what he said. Nevertheless, I remarked with surprise,
+that I scarcely saw him open his lips. It was of course impossible for
+me to hear what you were all talking about.'
+
+The terrified artist became still paler--he tottered for a moment, and
+was obliged to lean on the back of a chair for support. Shortly after
+he seized his hat and hurried out of the house. The individual whom the
+old lady had so graphically described had been a friend of his in
+youth, but with whom he had been on bad terms for the last two years,
+and whom he had not seen lately.
+
+The whole conversation with his amusing visitor had been about this
+very man. They had been engaged in a laughable and, at the same time,
+merciless criticism of his character, and appearance, and had been
+turning into ridicule every little peculiarity he had; his very voice
+they had mimicked, and in their facetious exaggeration, had not only
+made a laughing-stock of his person and manners, which were indeed odd,
+but had attributed to him want of heart and want of judgment, which
+latter sentence they based upon his somewhat peculiar taste, and a kind
+of dry, pedantic, schoolmaster tone in conversation, from which he was
+not free.
+
+'That old maid is mad--and she has made me mad, too,' mumbled the
+artist, pausing a moment when he had gained the street. '_He_ certainly
+was not there--we do not meet any longer. She never saw him before.
+There is something strangely mysterious in this matter--perhaps it
+bodes some calamity. But, whether she is deranged--or I--or both of us,
+I have wronged him--shamefully wronged him--and I must see him, and
+tell him all.'
+
+He stepped into a bookseller's shop, and asked to look at a Directory.
+After about half-an-hour's walk he entered a house in a small back
+street, and ascending to the third story, he rang at a door. A girl
+opened it, and, in answer to his inquiries, told him that the person he
+asked for was ill, and could not see anyone.
+
+'But I must see him--I must speak to him,' cried the painter, almost
+forcing himself in.
+
+He was then ushered into a darkened room, where he found his poor
+friend of bygone days looking pale and emaciated, lying perfectly still
+upon a sofa, in his old grey frock-coat and soiled boots. The kind
+anxiety with which the unexpected visitor asked about his health seemed
+equally to surprise and please the invalid.
+
+'You!' he exclaimed, '_you_ here! Do you still take any interest in me?
+Have you any regard left for me? I did you shameful injustice two years
+ago, when I saw your great masterpiece; and had not an enthusiastic
+word for what I have though, often since, thought of with the greatest
+admiration. Nay, within this very last hour I have wronged you, though
+in quite a different manner. I was dreaming of you, and I fancied you
+were speaking of me with scorn and derision--pulling me to pieces in a
+jesting conversation with a very satirical person, who vied with you in
+ridiculing me, and in mimicking all my oddities.'
+
+'Forgive me--oh, forgive me! you dreamed the truth,' cried the painter,
+in great agitation, while he threw himself down by the sick man's
+couch, and embraced his knees.
+
+An explanation ensued between the two friends who had so long been
+estranged from each other--mutual confessions were made--old feelings
+were revived in the hearts of both--and an entire reconciliation
+immediately took place. The unusual emotion, and the surprise at the
+event related to him, did not, as might have been expected, increase
+the illness of the nervous and debilitated invalid; on the contrary,
+the meeting with his former friend appeared to have had a good effect
+on his health, for in the course of a few weeks he had quite recovered.
+
+The old lady's qualifications as a seer, or rather her strange faculty
+of beholding, to others invisible, apparitions, had been productive of
+good; but it was such an extraordinary revelation, agreeing so entirely
+with what both the reconciled friends knew to be the truth, that they
+could only look upon it as a proof of the reality of what was then
+beginning to be so much talked of--the magnetic clairvoyance.
+
+They continued unalterable friends from that time. From that time,
+also, the artist felt an involuntary horror at ridiculing the absent,
+or making or listening to any censorious remarks upon them; he always
+fancied that the injured party might be standing _as a secret witness_
+by his side, with one hand on his breast, and the other raised in an
+appeal to that great Judge, who alone can know what is passing in every
+heart and every soul.
+
+
+
+
+                         AGNETE AND THE MERMAN.
+
+                           BY JENS BAGGESEN.
+
+
+   Agnete she was guileless.
+     She was beloved and true,
+   But solitude, it charm'd her,
+     And mirth she never knew--
+                  She never knew--
+   She made the joy of all around
+     Yet never felt it too.
+
+
+   Over the dark blue waves,
+     Agnete, gazing, bends,
+   When lo! a merman rising there
+     From ocean's depths ascends;
+                  Up he ascends.
+   Yet still, Agnete's bending form
+     With the soft billows blends.
+
+   His glossy hair, it seemed as spun
+     Out of the purest gold,
+   His beaming eye, it brightly glow'd
+     With warmest love untold--
+                  With love untold!
+   And his scale-cover'd bosom held
+     A heart that was not cold.
+
+   The song he sang Agnete,
+     On love and sorrow rang;
+   His voice it was so melting soft,
+     So sadly sweet he sang--
+                  Sadly he sang.
+   It seemed as if his beating heart
+     Upon his lips it sprang.
+
+   'And hearken, dear Agnete!
+     What I shall say to thee--
+   My heart, oh! it is breaking, sweet!
+     With longing after thee!
+                  Still after thee!
+   Oh! wilt thou ease my sorrow, love,
+     Oh! wilt thou smile on me?'
+
+   Two silver buckles lay
+     Upon the rocky shore,
+   And aught more rich, or aught more bright,
+     No princess ever wore,
+                  No, never wore.
+   'My best beloved,'--so sang he--
+     'Add these unto thy store!'
+
+   Then drew he from his breast
+     A string of pearls so rare--
+   None richer, no, or none more pure
+     Did princess ever wear--
+                  Oh! ever wear.
+   'My best beloved,' so sang he,
+     'Accept this bracelet fair!'
+
+   Then from his finger drew he
+     A ring of jewels fine--
+   And none more brilliant, none more rich,
+     Midst princely gems might shine;
+                  'Here, here from mine.
+   My best beloved,' so sang he,
+     'Oh, place this upon thine!'
+
+   Agnete, on the deep sea
+     Beholds the sky's soft hue,
+   The waves they were so crystal clear,
+     The ocean 'twas so blue!
+                  Oh! so blue!
+   The merman smiled, and thus he sang,
+     As near to her he drew:--
+
+   'Ah! hearken, my Agnete,
+     What I to thee shall speak:
+   For thee my heart is burning, love,
+     For thee, my heart will break!
+                  Oh! 'twill break!
+   Say, sweet, wilt thou be kind to me,
+     And grant the love I seek?'
+
+   'Dear merman! hearken thou,
+     Yes, I will list to thee!
+   If deep beneath the sparkling waves
+     Thou'lt downward carry me--
+                  Take thou me!
+   And bear me to thine ocean bow'r
+     There, I will dwell with thee.'
+
+   Then stoppeth he her ears,
+     Her mouth then stoppeth he;
+   And with the lady he hath fled,
+     Deep, deep beneath the sea!
+                  Beneath the sea!
+   There kiss'd they, and embraced they,
+     So fond, and safe, and free!
+
+   For full two years and more,
+     Agnete, she lived there,
+   And warm, untiring, faithful love
+     They to each other bear;
+                  Such love they bear.
+   Within the merman's shelly bower
+     Are born two children fair.
+
+   Agnete--she sat tranquilly.
+     And to her boys she sang;
+   When hark! a sound of earth she hears,
+     How solemnly it rang!
+                  Ding--dong--dang!
+   It was the church's passing bell
+     In Holmé Vale that clang.
+
+   Agnete, from the cradle,
+     Springs suddenly away,
+   She hastes to seek her merman dear,
+     'Loved merman, say I may--
+                  Say--Oh say,
+   That I, ere midnight's hour, may take
+     To Holmé's church my way?'
+
+   'Thou wishest ere the midnight
+     To Holmé church to go?
+   See then that thou, ere day, art back
+     Here, to thy boys below--
+                  Go--go--go!
+   But ere the morning light return
+     Come to thy sons below!'
+
+   He stoppeth then her ears,
+     Her mouth then stoppeth he;
+   And upwards they together rise
+     Till Holmé Vale they see.
+                  'Now part we!'
+   They part, and he descends again
+     Beneath the deep blue sea.
+
+   Straight on to the churchyard,
+     Agnete's footsteps hie:
+   She meets--O God! her mother there,
+     And turns again to fly.
+                  'Why--O why?'
+   Her mother's voice her steps arrests
+     Thus speaking with a sigh:--
+
+   'Oh hearken, my Agnete,
+     What I shall say to thee,
+   Where has thy distant dwelling been
+     So long away from me?
+                  Away from me!
+   Say, where hast thou, my child, been hid
+     So long and secretly?'
+
+   'O mother! I have dwelt
+     Beneath the boundless main,
+   Within a merman's coral bower,
+     And we have children twain,
+                  Beneath the main.
+   I came to pray--and then I go
+   Back to the deep again!'
+
+   'But hearken thou, Agnete,
+     What I to thee shall say--
+   Here thy two little daughters weep
+     Because thou art away;
+                  By night, by day,
+   Thy little girls bemoan and grieve;
+     With them thou'lt surely stay?'
+
+   'Well--let my daughters small
+     For me both grieve and long,
+   My ears are closed--I cannot hear
+     Their cries yon waves among!
+                  Oh! I belong
+   To my dear sons, and they will die
+     If I my stay prolong.'
+
+   'Have pity on thy babes--
+     Let them not pine away!
+   Oh! think upon thy youngest child
+     Who in her cradle lay!
+                  With them oh stay!
+   Forget yon elves, and with thine own,
+     Thy lawful children stay!'
+
+   'Nay, let them bloom or fade--
+     The two--as Heav'n may will!
+   My heart is closed--their cries no more
+     Can now my bosom thrill--
+                  Oh! no more thrill!
+   For now my merman's sons alone
+     All my affections fill.'
+
+   'Alas! though thou canst thus
+     Thy smiling babes forget;
+   Yet think upon their father's faith,
+     Thy noble lord's regret,
+                  The fate he met!
+   As soon as thou wert lost to him
+     His sun of joy was set.
+
+   'Long--long he search'd for thee,
+     He went a weary way;
+   At last from yonder shelving rock
+     He cast himself one day--
+                  One dismal day.
+   His corpse upon the pebbly strand
+     In the dim twilight lay!
+
+   'And here--'twas not long since--
+     His coffin they did bring;
+   Ha! list, my daughter, hearest thou?
+     The midnight bells they ring!
+                  Ding--dong--ding!'
+   Away her mother hastens then
+     As loud the church bells ring.
+
+   Agnete, o'er the church-door
+     Stepp'd softly from without,
+   When all the little images
+     They seem'd to turn about;
+                  Round about.
+   Within the church, the images
+     They seem'd to turn about.
+
+   Agnete gazes on
+     The altar-piece so fair;
+   The altar-piece it seem'd to turn,
+     And the altar with it there.
+                  All where'er
+   Her eye it fell within the church,
+     Seem'd turning, turning there!
+
+   Agnete, on the ground
+     She gazed in thoughtful mood,
+   When lo! she saw her mother's name
+     That on a tomb-stone stood.
+                  There it stood!
+   Then, sudden from her bursting heart,
+     Flow'd back her chill'd life's blood.
+
+   Agnete--first she stagger'd back,
+     She fainted, then she fell.
+   Now may her children long in vain
+     For her they loved so well.
+                  Oh, so well!
+   Now, neither sons nor daughters more
+     To her their wants may tell.
+
+   Ay! Let them weep, and let them long,
+     And seek her o'er and o'er!
+   Dark, dark, are now her eyes so bright,
+     They ne'er shall open more!
+                  Oh, never more!
+   And crush'd is now that death-cold heart,
+     So warm with love before.
+
+
+
+
+                            A WAKING DREAM.
+
+
+He sat alone. It was not twilight, it was night, deep, dark night. He
+had extinguished the lamp, for he wished that all around him should be
+gloomy as his own sad thoughts. Even the pitiful glimmering light,
+which was cast by the fire in the stove on the objects near it, was
+disagreeable to him, for it showed him a portion, at least, of the
+scene of his bygone happiness. His bitter sorrow seemed to have
+petrified all his faculties, and entirely blasted his life; he did not
+appear to reflect, he only felt. The deep sighs that every now and then
+burst from his compressed lips were all that gave sign of existence
+about him. That agitated tremor, those wild lamentations, those burning
+tears,--the glowing look which griefs volcano casts forth, lay hidden
+amidst the ashes of mute and agonized suffering.
+
+But a few years before he had been the most hopeful of lovers; and
+somewhat later, the happiest of husbands and of fathers. Now all--all
+was lost! Death had stretched forth his mighty hand and taken his
+treasures from him; blow after blew had fate thus inflicted on
+his bleeding heart. He--the strong man--the high-minded--the
+richly-endowed--sat there like a lifeless statue, without purpose,
+without motion, without energy: all had been swept away in the
+earthquake which had engulphed the happiness of his home, and he had
+not power to raise a new structure upon the ruins of the past.
+
+While he was sitting thus, a momentary blaze in the fire showed him the
+portrait of his departed wife, which hung against the wall. How many
+recollections the sight of it awakened! Oh, how distinctly he
+remembered the day when that painting had been finished for him! It was
+a short time before his marriage; he was gazing on it in an ecstasy of
+delight, when the lovely original cast her beaming eyes on him and
+whispered, 'Do you really think it beautiful? Is it so beautiful that
+when I become old and grey-headed, you may look at my picture and
+remember your love, your feelings for me, when we were both young?' And
+when he assured her, that for him she would always be young, she
+replied so sweetly, 'Oh, I am not afraid of becoming old by your side;
+it will be so delightful to have lived a long life of love with you!'
+
+Alas! he was still young, but he had to wander through perhaps a long,
+long life alone. How had he beheld her last? She was lying in her
+coffin--young and lovely, but pale and motionless. And he--who
+still breathed and felt--he it was who had clung in despair to that
+coffin--he who, with a breaking heart, had laid her dark hair smoothly
+on her marble-white cheek, had pressed his lips for the last time on
+her cold forehead, had folded her transparent hands and bedewed them
+with his tears, and had laid his throbbing head on that so lately
+beating heart, which never, never more would thrill with sorrow or with
+joy. But who could describe that depth of grief, that rending of the
+soul, that agonizing convulsion of the heart, when the last farewell
+look on earth--the long, eager, parting look--was taken, and the head
+was raised from the harrowing contemplation of these beloved features,
+which were soon to be snatched and hidden from his gaze! Then despair
+seized upon him, and his grief could find no relief in tears.
+
+In these heart-breaking recollections his spirit was long absorbed; at
+length he pressed his hands on his aching temples, burst into a flood
+of tears, and exclaimed:
+
+'Oh, thou whom I loved so truly! hast thou indeed forsaken me? Can it
+be possible that thou hast dissevered thyself from my soul! Oft
+have I dreamed that thou wert harkening to my lamentations, that
+thou wert lingering by my side, and soothing my sorrow! But it was
+fancy--cheating fancy! Thou who didst feel so much affection for
+me--thou who wert never deaf to my prayers--hast thou heard me, and yet
+not answered me? How often during the sad weary night have I not called
+upon thee! See--I stretch forth my arms and embrace only the empty
+air--I gaze around for thee, but am left in oppressive solitude. Oh, if
+thou _canst_ hear me, beloved spirit! if it be possible that thou canst
+hear me--come, oh come!' His voice was choked by tears.
+
+At last, when the water mist had passed from his eyes, removing, as it
+were, a veil from before them, he gazed wearily on the darkness around,
+and perceived a faint ray of light, which gradually seemed to become
+clearer. At first he thought it was the moon casting its uncertain
+gleams through the window; but the light seemed to extend itself. The
+corner of the room opposite to him seemed illumined by a pale,
+tremulous lustre that spread down to the floor. His heart beat
+violently as he gazed intently at the miraculous light. By degrees it
+assumed something like a shape, an airy, transparent figure, clad in a
+shining garment that glittered like the stars of heaven; and when it
+turned its countenance towards him, he recognized the features of her
+he had lost, but radiant in celestial peace and glory. Her clear eyes,
+which were fixed upon him, beamed with an expression of indescribable
+benignity.
+
+The deep grief that had oppressed his spirit gave place to a wonderful,
+a mysterious feeling of holy calmness which he had never before
+experienced.
+
+'Oh, speak!' he entreated softly, as if he were afraid to disturb the
+beautiful apparition, and holding his clasped hands beseechingly
+towards it--'Oh let me hear that voice, the echo of whose dear accents
+still lives in my heart! Hast thou taken compassion on me?'
+
+'Didst thou not call me?' replied the apparition in a faint, subdued
+tone, yet so full of tenderness and affection that it seemed to inspire
+him with new life. 'Hast thou not often called me? I could no longer
+withstand thy supplication. The sorrows and sufferings of earth have
+lost their bitterness and their sting for those who have become
+heavenly spirits--those who have seen the Omnipotent face to face; but
+thy grief touched my heart even in the midst of blessedness. I could
+not be happy whilst thou wert wretched. Often have I hovered around
+thee, often lingered by thy side, often wafted coolness to thy burning
+brow; and when thy sadness would seem to be somewhat soothed, I have
+lain at thy feet, and contemplated thy beloved countenance. I was by
+thee when thou didst lean weeping over my coffin, and in an agony of
+woe didst cling to that body whence my soul had fled. Oh! how much I
+wished then that thou couldst look up at me, and know how near I was to
+thee! Oh! how willingly I would have embraced thee, had the Almighty
+permitted me! I was also with thee when our beloved infant lay in its
+last earthly struggle. My dying child called for me, and the heart of
+the mother yearned to respond to that call which had reached her, even
+when surrounded by the happiness of eternity, I came down to earth to
+answer it. Like an airy shadow, I glided through the garden paths in
+the still summer night, and all the plants and the flower exhaled their
+sweetest fragrance to salute me, for they felt that I had come from a
+better world. And Nature spoke to me with its spirit voice, and
+besought me to consecrate its soil with my ethereal step. The dark
+elder-tree and the blushing rosebush made signs to me, asking me if I
+remembered how often they had shed their perfume around us, when you
+and I, wrapped in our mutual happiness, used to wander in the soft
+evenings, arm in arm--heart answering heart--eye meeting eye--through
+the verdant alleys and flower-enamelled walks; but I could not linger
+over these sweet remembrances, I passed on to watch the death-bed of
+the little innocent who longed so for its mother. And when thou, my
+beloved! overcome by affliction, let thine aching head sink in helpless
+sorrow on its couch, our child lay, peaceful and joyous, in my embrace,
+and ascended to heaven with me to pray for thee. Oh, dearest one I how
+canst thou think that death has power to sever hearts that have once
+been united in everlasting love!'
+
+He listened in mute and breathless ecstasy to these words, which
+sounded as the softest melody to his enraptured ear. When the voice
+ceased, he stretched forth his arms towards the beloved shade, and said
+beseechingly:
+
+'Forgive me, angel of Paradise--forgive me! I feel now that the
+happiness of heaven is so great that nothing mortal can compare with
+it. Yet for my sake thou hast left awhile this inconceivable felicity,
+and deigned to assuage my grief, and to speak balm to my heart. Thanks,
+blessed spirit--thanks! My path shall no longer be gloomy--my life no
+longer lonesome!'
+
+'Thou wilt sigh no more--thou wilt no longer weep?' asked the spirit,
+with a radiant smile.
+
+'Thou shalt be my guardian angel, blessed spirit!' he replied, in deep
+emotion.
+
+'God be thanked!' ejaculated the spirit in holy joy. It waved its
+shadowy hand to him, and as it seemed to turn to move away, its airy
+robe sparkled luminously for a moment; it then glittered more and more
+faintly, till it looked like the twinkling of some distant star.
+
+Then earth-born wishes seized again upon _his_ heart.
+
+'Alas;' he cried, as he made an involuntary movement towards the
+vanishing shadow, 'shall I, then, never behold thee more in this
+world?'
+
+A holy light passed over the scarcely defined features of the spirit,
+while it replied, as if from afar--
+
+'Yes! once more--but only once. When thy last hour approaches--when the
+bitterness of death is passed--then shalt thou tell those that watch by
+thy couch, and who, incredulous, will deem thy words the raving of
+delirium--then shalt thou tell them that a messenger from a glorious
+world is standing by thy side. That messenger will be me. I shall come
+to kiss the last breath from thy pale quivering lips, to gladden the
+last glance of thy closing eyes, and, after the heart's last pulsation,
+to receive thy parted soul, and be its guide to the realms of endless
+happiness, where I now await thee.'
+
+He listened and bowed his head. When he raised it--all was dark and
+empty. He went to the window, and looked out upon the dazzling snow,
+and up to the brilliant star-lit heavens, and prayed in sadness, but
+with earnest devotion.
+
+He lives to perform his duties, to do good to his fellow-creatures, to
+serve his God. He is never gay nor lively; but he is tranquil and
+content. He loves quiet and solitude. He loves in winter to lose
+himself in meditation while gazing on the calm, cold face of nature;
+and in summer to loiter in silence, till a late hour at night, amidst
+his garden's sweetly-scented walks. He is a lonely wanderer on the
+earth; yet not quite so lonely as he is thought to be, for he is often
+soothed by delightful dreams, and then he smiles happily, as if in his
+visions he had been consoled by the presence of a beloved being.
+
+If his soul sometimes ventures humbly to indulge in the wish that it
+might soon enter into death's peaceful land, none can tell; his silent
+aspirations are known to none--to none but _Him_ who sees into the
+deepest recesses of the human heart.
+
+
+
+
+                           THE CONFESSIONAL.
+
+                         BY CHRISTIAN WINTHER.
+
+
+In the Magdalene Church at Girgenti[9] preparations had been made for a
+grand festival. It was adorned, as usual on such occasions, with red
+tapestry and flowers. The hour of noon had struck, the workmen had left
+the church, and there reigned around that deep, solemn stillness which,
+in Catholic places of worship, is so appropriate and so imposing.
+
+Two gentlemen, who conversed in a low tone of voice, were pacing up and
+down the long aisle that runs along the northern side of the building,
+and seemed to be enjoying the shade and coolness of the church, as if
+it had been a public promenade. The elder was a man of about thirty
+years of age, stout, broad-shouldered, and strongly built, with a grave
+countenance, in which no trace of passion was visible: this was Don
+Antonio Carracciolio, Marquis d'Arena. The other, who seemed a mere
+youth, had a slender, graceful figure, an animated, handsome face, and
+dark eyes, soft almost as those of a woman--which wandered from side to
+side with approving glances, as if he had some peculiar interest in the
+interior of the sacred edifice. And such he certainly had; for he was
+the architect who had planned the church and superintended its
+erection. He was called Giulio Balzetti, and had only lately returned
+from Rome. Suddenly they stopped.
+
+'I shall entrust you with a secret, which I think will amuse you,
+Signor Marquis,' said the younger man, in the easy intimate tones in
+which one speaks to a friend at whose house one is a daily visitor--'a
+secret with which, I believe, no one is acquainted but myself. You see
+the effects of acoustics sometimes play us builders strange tricks
+where we least expect or wish them. Chance, a mere accident, has
+revealed to me, that when one stands here--here upon this white marble
+slab--one can distinctly overhear every syllable, even of the lowest
+whisper, uttered far from this, yonder, where you may observe the
+second last confessional; while, in a straight line between this point
+and that, you would not be sensible of any sound, were you even much
+nearer the place. If you will remain standing here, I will go yonder to
+the confessional in question, and you will be astonished at this
+miracle of nature.'
+
+He went accordingly, but scarcely had he moved the distance of a couple
+of steps, when the Marquis distinctly heard a whisper, the subject of
+which seemed to make a strong impression upon him. He stood as rigid
+and marble-white as if suddenly turned to stone by some magician's
+wand; while the painfully anxious attention with which he listened, and
+which was expressed in his otherwise stony features, gave evidence that
+he was hearing something of excessive importance. He did not move a
+muscle--he scarcely breathed--he was like one who is standing on the
+extreme verge of an abyss, into which he is afraid of falling, and his
+rolling eyes and beating heart alone gave signs of his violent
+agitation.
+
+In a very few minutes the young architect came back smiling, and called
+out from a little distance, 'I could not manage to make the experiment,
+for some one was in the confessional--from the glimpse I got, a lady
+closely veiled--but, Heavens! what is the matter with you?'
+
+The only answer which the Marquis gave the Italian was to place his
+finger on his mouth, and he continued to stand motionless. After a
+minute or two he drew a deep sigh. The statue passed out of its
+speechless magic trance, and returned again to life.
+
+'It is nothing, dear Giulio!' said he, in a friendly tone. 'Do not
+think that I am superstitious; but I assure you this mysterious and
+wonderful natural phenomenon has taken me so much by surprise, that it
+has had a strange effect on me. Come, let us go! I shall recover myself
+in the fresh air,' he added, as he took Balzetti's arm, and led him to
+the promenade on the outside of the town.
+
+The two gentlemen walked up and down there for about an hour, when the
+Marquis bade the young man adieu, saying, at the same time, 'Tomorrow,
+after the festival is over, will you come out as usual to our villa?'
+
+At a very early hour the next morning the Marquis entered his wife's
+private suite of apartments. The waiting-maid, who just at that moment
+was coming into the anteroom by another door, started, and looked quite
+astounded.
+
+'Did your lady ring?' asked the Marquis.
+
+'No, your excellency!' replied the woman, curtseying low and colouring
+violently.
+
+'Then wait till you are called,' said the Marquis, as he opened the
+door of the dressing-room, which separated the sleeping-room from the
+antechamber.
+
+As he crossed the threshold he was met by his lovely young wife,
+attired in a morning-gown so light and flowing, that it looked as if it
+must have been the one in which she had arisen from her couch. The
+Marquis stopped and stood still, as if struck with his wife's extreme
+beauty. He did not appear to observe the uneasiness, the inward tempest
+of feelings that, chasing all the blood from her cheeks, had sent it to
+her heart, and caused its beating to be too plainly visible under the
+robe of slight fabric which was thrown around her.
+
+'You are up early this morning, Antonio!' said the young Marchioness,
+in a scarcely audible tone of voice, with a deepening blush and a
+forced smile. 'What do you want here?'
+
+'Could you be surprised, my Lauretta? Light of my eyes!' said the
+Marquis, in the blandest and most insinuating of accents, 'could you be
+surprised if I came both early and late? And yet, dearest, this morning
+my visit is not to you alone. You know to-day is the feast of the Holy
+Magdalene, and a great festival in the Church. I have taken it into my
+head to usher in this day by paying my tribute of admiration to the
+glorious Magdalene of Titian, which you had placed in your own sleeping
+apartment. Will you permit me?' he asked, very politely, as with slow
+steps, but in a determined manner, he walked towards the door.
+
+'Everything is really in such sad disorder there,' said his young wife,
+with a rapid glance through the half-open door; 'but ... go, since you
+will. I shall begin making my toilette here in the mean time.'
+
+And he went in.
+
+'How charming,' he cried, in a peculiar tone of voice--'how charming is
+not all this disorder! This graceful robe thrown carelessly down--these
+fairy slippers! There is something that awakens the fancy, something
+delicious in the very air of this room! All this is absolutely poetry.'
+
+His searching look fastened itself upon the snow-white couch, the
+silken coverlet of which was drawn up and spread out, but could not
+entirely conceal the outline of a human figure, lying as flat as
+possible, evidently in the endeavour to escape observation.
+
+'I will sit down awhile,' said the Marquis, in the cheerful voice of a
+person who has no unpleasant thought in his mind, 'and contemplate this
+master-work.'
+
+As he said this he took up a pillow, its white covering trimmed with
+wide lace, and laid it on the spot where he thought the face of the
+concealed person must be, and placed himself upon it with all the
+weight of his somewhat bulky figure, whilst he placed his right hand
+upon the chest of the reclining form, and pressed on it with all his
+force.
+
+Without heeding the involuntary, frightful, and convulsive
+heavings--the death-throes of his wretched victim--the Marquis
+exclaimed, in a calm, firm voice,--
+
+'How beautifully that picture is finished! How noble and chaste does
+not the lovely penitent look, all sinner as she was, with her rich
+golden locks waving over that neck and those shoulders whiter than
+alabaster, while these graceful hands are clasped, and these contrite,
+tearful eyes seem gazing up yonder, whence alone mercy and pardon can
+be obtained! One could almost become a poet in gazing on so splendid a
+work of art. But ah! I never had the happy talent of an improvisatore.
+In place, therefore, of poetizing, I will tell you something that
+happened yesterday. Our little friend Giulio Balzetti took me round the
+Magdalene Church; and, whilst we were wandering about, he pointed out a
+particular spot to me, and bade me stand quite still there, telling me
+that _there_ might be overheard what was said at another spot at some
+distance in the church. And he was right. At that other place stood the
+confessional No. 6. I had hardly placed myself on the marble flag
+indicated to me, than I heard a charming voice--God knows who it was
+speaking!--but she was confessing the sorrows of her heart and her
+little sins to the holy father. She had a husband, she said, whom she
+loved--yes, she loved him, and he loved her: he was very kind to her,
+and left her much at liberty; in short, she gave the husband credit for
+all sorts of good qualities, but, unfortunately, she had fallen in love
+with another man! She did not mention his name. I should like to have
+heard it. He must be one of our handsome young cavaliers about the
+town. And this other loved her, too--she could not help it, poor
+thing!--and so she found room for him in her heart as well as
+for the husband. This other one was so handsome, so pleasing, so
+fascinating!... Well ... if her husband did not know what was going on,
+he could not be vexed, and ... it would do him no harm. So she had
+promised to admit the lover early this morning. Do you hear? This is
+what the French dames call "passer ses caprices." At last, she begged
+the good priest to give her absolution beforehand. And he did so: he
+gave the absolution! What do you think of all this, my love?' said the
+Marquis, as he rose from the couch, where all was now still as death,
+'Well,' he continued, in a jocular tone, 'our worthy priests are almost
+too complaisant and indulgent--at least, most of them. Our old Father
+Gregorio, however, would have taken _you_ to task after a different
+fashion, if you ...'
+
+He broke off abruptly, while he quietly laid the pillow in its own
+place, and deliberately turned down the embroidered coverlet. It was
+the architect Giulio Balzetti whom the Marquis beheld: he had ceased to
+breathe!
+
+'Have you been to confession lately, my Laura?' asked the Marquis.
+There was no answer.
+
+'Is it long since you have been to confession?' he asked, in a louder
+and sterner voice.
+
+'No!' replied the young woman, in the lowest possible tone.
+
+'Apropos,' said the Marquis, as he covered the frightfully distorted
+and blue face of the corpse with the coverlet, 'shall we not go to the
+grand festival at the church to-day? The procession begins exactly at
+twelve o'clock. I shall order the carriage--we really must not miss
+it.'
+
+He returned to the dressing-room. The Marchioness was sitting in a
+large cushioned lounging-chair, the thick tresses of her dark hair
+hanging negligently down, her lips and cheeks as pale as death, and her
+hands resting listlessly on her lap.
+
+'What is the matter, my dear child?' asked the Marquis, inwardly
+triumphing at her distress, but with fair and friendly words upon his
+lips. 'You have risen too early, my little Laura; and you have also
+fatigued yourself in trying to dress without assistance. Where is
+Pipetta? I shall ring for her now.' He pulled the bell-rope--approached
+his wife--slightly kissed her brow--and then left her apartments.
+
+At mid-day, when all the bells of the churches were pealing, the
+Marquis's splendid state carriage, with four horses adorned with
+gilded trappings, stood before the gate of his palace, and a crowd of
+richly-dressed pages, footmen, and grooms, were in waiting there.
+Presently the Marquis appeared in his brilliant court costume, with
+glittering stars on his breast, his hat in one hand, whilst with the
+other he led his young and beautiful but deadly-pale wife. With the
+utmost attention he handed her down the marble steps, and while her
+countenance looked as cold and stony as that of a statue, his eyes
+flashed with a fire that was unusual to them. The servants hurried
+forwards, the carriage-door was opened, the noble pair entered it, and
+it drove off towards the town. In the crowded streets the foot
+passengers turned round to gaze at it, and exclaimed to each other,
+'There go a happy couple!'
+
+The architect had disappeared. No one suspected that on the day of the
+grand festival he lay dead--a blue and terrible-looking corpse--amidst
+boots and shoes, at the bottom of a noble young dame's wardrobe; or
+that, the following night, without shroud or coffin, his body was
+secretly transported by the lady's faithful servants to a neighbouring
+mountain, and there thrown into a deep cave. But the lady paid a large
+sum to the convent of the Magdalens for the sake of his soul's repose.
+
+The monk Gregorio--the accommodating and favourite confessor of the
+fashionable world--was also soon after missing. But _he_ was not
+dead--he lingered for some years in a subterranean prison belonging to
+a monastery of one of the strictest orders: a punishment to which he
+had been condemned through the influence of the Marquis d'Arena.
+
+That the confessional No. 6 was removed, will be easily believed.
+
+The Marquis never alluded to these events before his wife. When they
+appeared in public together, as also in society at his own home, he
+treated her with respect, often with attention. But he never again
+spoke to her in private, nor did he ever again enter those apartments
+which had once been the scene of so dreadful a tragedy.
+
+
+
+
+                   THE ANCESTRESS; OR, FAMILY PRIDE.
+
+            FROM THE SWEDISH OF THE LATE BARONESS KNORRING.
+
+
+                                   I.
+
+Adelgunda was one of the most beautiful creatures ever moulded by the
+great Master's hand, and one on whom He might deign to look with the
+same paternal complacency as Pygmalion looked on his Galathea.
+
+Adelgunda was also as the apple of their eye to her father and mother;
+but not the less did they bring her up with the utmost strictness and
+severity, in the awful loftiness of their aristocratic principles,
+which made no allowance for a single error, a single imperfection, a
+single weakness even, among any who belonged to them. Everyone was to
+be super-excellent, and supremely high-bred like their ancestors; for
+their ancestors had only _virtues_, their failings being entombed with
+their bodies. The slightest infringement of the stately decorum,
+the formal propriety--and, to the honour of their ancestors we must
+add--the rectitude, the loyal and chivalric conduct of these worthies,
+called forth as unmerciful punishment as a heinous fault. And
+Adelgunda, from her earliest infancy, learned to form grand ideas about
+her noble, ancient, and opulent family; it was impressed on her mind
+that she would be very degenerate indeed if she did not resemble all
+those long departed, and now mouldering dames and damsels, whose
+portraits hung in long rows in the great picture-gallery, as a large
+old-fashioned apartment was called, which, in spite of accidental
+fires, of repairs and renovations in the old baronial castle, had
+preserved unaltered its antique appearance since the middle of the
+sixteenth century.
+
+In her infancy, Adelgunda had often been taken into this venerable
+saloon, and, counting with her five small fingers, she could repeat the
+names of all those haughty-looking, long-bearded cavaliers, equipped in
+heavy armour, or these stiff, richly-dressed nobles, most of them
+decorated with jewelled orders, or other tokens of a high worldly
+position; and these grand-looking ladies, encased in whalebone and
+stiff corsets, with towering powdered heads and magnificent jewellery,
+evincing the wealth of the family. These ladies and gentlemen hung, as
+has been said, in straight rows on each side of the long, narrow, dark,
+oak-paneled hall; and they were all half-length portraits in oval or
+almost square frames, the gilding of which had long since faded into a
+sort of a brownish-yellow cinnamon tint. But at the end of the hall,
+between two deep Gothic windows, with small old-fashioned panes of
+glass, there hung alone in state the great _ancestress_, or founder of
+the family--a tall, dark, stern-looking woman, whose countenance was
+grave, austere, and almost menacing, though the features, when narrowly
+examined, were regular and beautiful.
+
+In contrast to the half-length portraits around, this picture was
+almost colossal in size; and the noble lady it represented, who in
+Roman Catholic times had ended her days as the Abbess of a convent,
+stood there so stately and so stiff in the close black garb, with the
+unbecoming white linen band across her forehead, and with one hand, in
+which she held a crucifix, resting on a dark-looking stand, on which a
+missal, a skull, and a rosary, lay near each other, the other hand hung
+carelessly down by her side, and almost reached the lower portion of
+the picture-frame, which seemed considerably darker and more time-worn
+than all the rest. This picture was painted on thick wood, or on canvas
+stretched on wood, it was not certain which, but everyone knew that it
+was as heavy as lead--and so it proved to be.
+
+The likeness of the patriarch of the family--of the father of the
+race--painted to correspond in size and everything else to that of the
+high-born lady above mentioned, had in former days hung also in this
+saloon, but had been destroyed in a fire which had taken place between
+the years 1740 and 1750, so that the stern imperious-looking dame now
+occupied the place of honour alone.
+
+Her parents had never omitted, when they accompanied Adelgunda into the
+picture gallery, to take her up first to one, then to another of the
+noble ladies whose lineaments adorned the walls, saying, 'How fortunate
+for you if you could be as good as _this_ ancestress of yours was--as
+clever as _that_ one--as beautiful as _she_ was--as dutiful and
+affectionate as _yon_ lady!' Adelgunda would fix her eyes on each by
+turns, and every time she looked at them her desire to resemble them
+increased. But the great gloomy portrait of the tall dark lady always
+awakened a thrill of terror in the little girl's mind. This was partly
+owing to the tales with which the servants frightened her about this
+harsh, awful-looking abbess, partly to her being obliged, whenever she
+was naughty, to go into the sombre apartment where the picture was,
+and, curtseying before it, to beg pardon of the stern, threatening
+figure.
+
+With her tearful looks fixed upon it, she had often fancied that the
+eyes of the portrait moved; but it was a still greater trial to poor
+Adelgunda, when she had been guilty of some great offence, to be
+condemned, as a punishment, to stand for a quarter of an hour, or
+half-an-hour, under the dreaded portrait with her back to it.
+
+There was a tradition in the family that many, many years back, during
+the lifetime of one of the more ancient lords of the castle, a little
+girl, a member of the race, who was undergoing a similar punishment,
+distinctly felt the terrible lady's hand, which hung unemployed by her
+side, stretch over the picture-frame and seize roughly hold of her
+hair. The recollection of that tradition was martyrdom to Adelgunda
+when this most dreaded penance was inflicted on her; and on one
+occasion, when her conscience was not of the clearest, and she had
+cried herself almost into a fever from fright, she fancied that she
+actually felt a grasp at her little golden tresses.
+
+It is easy to imagine how anxious, in consequence of all this,
+Adelgunda was to avoid committing any faults, and with what terror the
+picture inspired her. And even in riper years, when she began to lay
+aside her childish dress and childish ideas, and when reason told her
+that a painted figure could have no more power or influence than any
+other inanimate object, she still looked with a certain degree of awe
+upon the portrait of her frowning ancestress, especially when her
+conscience told her that she had been guilty of any slight
+indiscretion; while, on the contrary, she felt some pleasure at gazing
+on the other family pictures, which all seemed to smile upon her.
+
+But years and time wore on, and the aristocratic bones of Adelgunda's
+proud, high-born parents were laid in the dust to mingle with the
+honoured remains of the old stock. She was then still in her minority,
+and found a new home with a kind aunt, who had resided too short a time
+under the same roof with the ancestral portraits, and in the place
+which had been the cradle of their race, to have imbibed their
+exaggerated family pride.
+
+The estate, which was entailed, with everything belonging to it,
+including the much-prized portrait, passed in trust, for future
+generations, to Adelgunda's only brother, of whom we purposely have not
+spoken, that we might not be obliged to give an account of all the
+exaggerated ideas of the consequence of his family which his father and
+mother had diligently and zealously laboured to imprint on the mind of
+their son--the only male scion of that ancient house, which was now
+threatened with speedy extinction--he who, after them, was alone to
+represent the glory of their time-honoured ancestry. What precepts and
+exhortations he, the only son and last hope, received under his
+progenitor's portrait--what deference and devotion were inculcated to
+the name of the haughty-looking abbess, whose severe virtue and pious
+deeds were held to reflect honour on her descendants--what aristocratic
+ideas and exclusive principles were there engrafted on his soul, we
+will not stop to relate--they would be incomprehensible to many, and do
+not require to be dwelt on in our short tale.
+
+In the aunt's cheerful, hospitable, pleasant, light modern villa quite
+another tone prevailed, and quite another mode of life from that within
+the solid walls of the old baronial castle or under its gloomy roof. At
+Adelgunda's age new impressions are soon received, new associations and
+new ideas are welcomed with avidity, and seldom fail to influence the
+mind. Adelgunda--truth obliges us to confess--soon forgot a very
+stringent and important paragraph in the paternal and maternal
+lectures--forgot the faithful portraits of the defunct females of her
+noble house, and even the threatening glance--the dark eye that shone
+from beneath the white linen fillet of the haughty abbess--forgot them
+all amidst new-born and overflowing happiness in the arms of an adored
+and adoring husband, a young naval officer, rich in all nature's
+brightest gifts, and standing high in the opinion of the world, but on
+whom the great ancestress would certainly never have permitted her hand
+to be bestowed, had she known of the matter; for his patent of nobility
+was not mouldy from age, was not even made out, and still worse, was
+not likely ever to be drawn up, because he did not feel the slightest
+wish ever to possess one.
+
+Adelgunda, nevertheless, felt unspeakably happy, and her noble brother,
+to whom the family mode of thinking had descended as an heirloom in
+conjunction with the entailed property, winked at the plebeian
+match--partly because he well knew that Adelgunda's very limited
+portion would never tempt any among the needy and impoverished of his
+own class to lay their hearts at her feet--partly because it was the
+preservation of the family name and tree in his own person that lay
+nearest to his heart, not the offshoots from the female line--and
+partly that, though he was a proud man, and unflinching in his
+aristocratical notions, he had a kind heart, was fondly attached to his
+sister, rejoiced in her happiness, and was well aware how much superior
+in character his estimable brother-in-law was to the generality of the
+young men of the day.
+
+But for himself, this brother and lord of the castle sought a spouse
+who should entwine no vulgar burgher twig around the fair branches of
+his genealogical tree, but one who counted as many generations as other
+good qualities; for ancient lineage is not apt, like wealth, to corrupt
+the heart, and Adelgunda's sister-in-law was truly an amiable lady.
+
+Again the lordly halls of the ancient castle became the abode of
+domestic happiness; and it was admitted that it could not be otherwise,
+for not one alone, but many of the old servants who had passed into the
+service of the heir of entail, and who were not notorious for their
+superstition, had clearly and distinctly observed that the first time
+the young countess entered the picture gallery, the majestic ancestress
+had relaxed her stern lips almost into a smile of approbation, which
+had never happened but once before--in the year 1664, on a similar
+occasion; a remarkable event, which had been recorded by the chaplain
+of the castle, with many subscribing witnesses, in a document which was
+preserved like a holy relic amidst the family's most valued papers,
+parchments, and deeds.
+
+When the young count and countess were happily wedded, and comfortably
+settled at the castle, which however, did not happen until about five
+years after Adelgunda's marriage to her delightful naval hero, the
+brother and sister felt a strong wish to meet once more under the
+paternal roof. And Adelgunda's husband promised that on his return in
+autumn from an expedition in which he was then engaged, he, his wife,
+and their little son, a boy about four years of age, should without any
+delay accept of the count's invitation, and make the visit so much
+desired by all parties--even by the young countess, Adelgunda's
+sister-in-law, who was by no means a stranger to her. They had been
+friends in childhood, indeed were distantly related to each other; for
+it so happens that almost all the families amongst the most ancient of
+the Swedish nobility are connected by ties of consanguinity.
+
+At length the long-looked-for day arrived, and Adelgunda beheld, with
+tears of mingled joy and sorrow, the grey old towers of the castle
+where she was born, and where she had spent her earliest years--those
+years which, on comparing them with the subsequent epochs of our life,
+we denominate the gayest and the happiest. Adelgunda and her husband,
+who had had a long day's journey, arrived late in the evening at the
+castle, and were shortly after conducted to their sleeping-rooms, a
+suite of lofty arched apartments in one of the farthest towers, and in
+the olden time the principal guest-chambers, but which did not bear the
+best of reputations as regarded spectres, midnight noises, groans,
+rattling of chains, and the like horrors. Adelgunda had all her life
+entertained great respect for, but also no little fear of, these
+apartments; and those feelings were probably heightened by an old
+tradition which averred that some most extraordinary and mysterious
+events had taken place in these chambers. Some pretended to know that
+one of these apartments, which along with the picture-gallery had
+remained most unchanged during the lapse of years, had served as the
+bridal-chamber for the great ancestress of the family; at any rate,
+there was something that savoured of awe and discomfort about them.
+
+Never in her life had Adelgunda slept in any of these gloomy
+apartments, and in former days nothing would have induced her to do so;
+but now, with her brave, bold sailor by her side, she smiled at her old
+childish fears,--at least when he laughed at her recital of them. She
+would not, however, on any account, allow her little Victor to sleep in
+the first antechamber with the trembling waiting-maid, but placed the
+child's crib close to her own bed, and often during the long, dark, and
+stormy autumnal night, when the wind shook the panes of glass, and
+howled through the adjacent forest, and she was awakened by its
+violence, she turned quickly, and with a beating heart, towards the
+child, leaned over his little bed, and felt unhappy until she had
+ascertained that her darling was sleeping soundly and peacefully.
+
+'Well!' said her husband the next morning, when the sun was already
+pretty high in the heavens, and cast his cheerful rays through the
+narrow casements of these haunted chambers--'well, dearest Adelgunda,
+have you heard or seen any spectre last night--been visited in any way
+by a ghost?'
+
+'No,' she replied laughingly, as the bright sunshine restored her
+courage; there was but one spirit near me last night--one dear, good
+spirit;' and she embraced her husband.
+
+'And you, Annette?' cried the incredulous visitor to the poor
+waiting-maid, 'I hope you have not been disturbed by the ghosts
+either?'
+
+But Annette, who was half-dead from fear, asserted that she had not
+closed her eyes the whole night; that she had distinctly heard sighs
+and groans, and heavy footsteps up and down the floor; and there had
+been many other frightful things that she could not describe.
+
+Now, in the cheering daylight, Adelgunda laughed heartily at these
+_fancies_, as she called them; but the previous night she would not
+have done so,--at least not with a heart so much at ease.
+
+'I wonder what his uncle and aunt will say of my little Victor, now
+that he is nicely dressed, and not so sleepy and cross as he was last
+night, after that long fatiguing journey!' said Adelgunda to Annette,
+with a mother's pride in her pretty boy, and while they were both
+engaged in arranging his curly hair, and putting on his handsome new
+green dress.
+
+Adelgunda's husband had risen early and gone out to stroll round the
+old castle, and the former young lady of the mansion, who had now
+become a wife and mother, took up her little son in her arms to go down
+to her sister-in-law, who had already sent to inquire how she had
+slept, and to let her know that breakfast was ready.
+
+Humming an air, Adelgunda proceeded with her light burden through the
+dear old well-remembered passages where her very footsteps echoed,
+until she came close to the door which opened into the picture-gallery;
+she then stopped, seized suddenly with a strong impulse to enter it,
+while a strange, sad foreboding of evil filled her heart. Influenced,
+as it were, by an invincible power over which she had no control, she
+laid her hand upon the lock, turned it, and stood, she scarcely knew
+how, in presence of the mute family, who seemed gazing on her from both
+sides. Adelgunda's heart beat quickly; recollections from her childhood
+and her youthful days began to rush back on her. These aristocratic
+feelings, which had so long slumbered, began to start up in her mind,
+and she dared not look towards the terrible lady at the extreme end,
+for fear of meeting her angry, implacable glance.
+
+'That is a pretty lady! And there is another nice lady! What a grand
+gentleman! and see, yonder is a fine gentleman, too!'
+
+Such were little Victor's exclamations, as Adelgunda went slowly with
+him past all these well-known portraits of uncles and aunts,
+grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and other members of the family, all
+long since asleep in their graves.
+
+'But, oh, mother, look!' cried Victor, as he first caught sight of the
+largest; 'see how horrible that one up yonder looks! See, mother, how
+that tall woman there on the wall frowns down at us!' And Victor knit
+his little brows, and drew in his small mouth, to make his face look
+very terrible in return.
+
+'Oh, do not speak so--do not speak so!' exclaimed his mother, trying
+in vain to hush the child. 'On the contrary,' she added, in a
+faltering voice, 'she is an excellent lady, and very kind to all good,
+well-behaved children. We will go up yonder, and beg her pardon and her
+blessing.'
+
+'No, no!' screamed Victor, kicking his little legs with all his might;
+'I won't have anything to do with her: she looks as cross as if she
+would bite me.'
+
+'Again his mother entreated Victor to be a reasonable, good boy, and by
+that time they stood under the great lady's picture. A tremor crept
+over Adelgunda as she encountered that austere, repulsive look, and
+involuntarily she dropped her eyes beneath it. But reason soon
+triumphed; she approached closer to the portrait, and said to her
+little son, whom she still held in her arms, 'Now we shall say good
+morning to that lady;' and she curtseyed herself, and bent with her
+hand the obstinate little head; 'and we shall beg her to look kindly
+and gently down upon us, for your dear, good papa's sake, and we will
+kiss her hand.' And Adelgunda kissed the hand in the picture that was
+hanging down; but when she attempted to raise the child's face up
+towards the hand, the little fellow, in whose infantine breast was
+aroused a portion of his father's bold spirit, and perhaps impetuous
+temper, and who, though somewhat frightened, felt his courage rising,
+and was, withal, extremely angry, struggled furiously, clenched his
+little fist, and instead of kissing the great lady's drooping hand,
+thumped it with all his might--and at that moment he was strong enough.
+
+
+                                  II.
+
+Adelgunda's brother and sister-in-law waited in vain for her appearance
+at the breakfast-table. She came not! But at length the startling
+intelligence was brought to them that a strange, frightful noise had
+been heard in the picture-gallery. No one knew what was the cause of
+it, for no one had dared to venture in to see what had happened, but
+now every one rushed in. A cloud of dust, a heap of mortar and wood was
+before them; and a sight so dreadful, so shocking, so appalling, met
+their eyes, that every heart was like to break.
+
+But only one heart _did_ break, for notwithstanding his strength of
+mind--his unconquerable spirit--his undeniable fortitude, the bereaved
+husband and father almost sank beneath the frightful calamity that had
+suddenly deprived him of the wife he adored, and the child on whom all
+his hopes were centred. Yet he was the first--the only one who had
+sufficient energy, and presence of mind to drag the lifeless remains of
+his wife and son from under the destroying weight of the heavy
+portrait.
+
+It was a frightful event, and made a great sensation. A rotten rope,
+and the mouldering state of the wall which should have upheld the
+enormously heavy wooden frame, had done all the evil.
+
+The naval officer passed over distant seas to many a foreign land--the
+world was all before him, but he never forgot what he had lost.
+
+The picture of the awful ancestress met with little injury in its fall;
+but several years elapsed before it was hung up again in its former
+place. It was, however, at length restored to its old position, but
+fastened with new rope, and everything necessary to make it more
+secure. The dreadful occurrence was beginning to be forgotten, and the
+brotherly affection which had somewhat cooled, seemed to have displayed
+itself sufficiently in having banished the lofty dame for some years to
+a lumber-room. She could not always be left there! So at length she
+hung in her old place again, as stern, as frowning as formerly. And the
+count, who had now become an old man, generally when he alluded to the
+terrible event, reasonably ascribed it to natural causes. But, once
+upon a time, when he observed his youngest daughter, a girl not much
+more than sixteen years of age, casting _furtive_ and _rather friendly_
+glances at a young man, the son of a country parson, who, on account of
+his handsome person and pleasant manners, was often received at the
+baronial castle,--when he saw this, by means of some sidelong looks
+with the corner of his eye, which were not perceived by the young
+couple, then he took his daughter by the hand, led her silently and
+solemnly into the picture-gallery, walked with her up to the replaced
+portrait of their great ancestress, and said with the gravity of an
+anxious father, and the dignity of an aristocratic nobleman,--
+
+'Beware, my daughter! Remember the fate of your aunt!'
+
+These words were all he uttered.
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+'And this happened in the nineteenth century, and here in our
+father-land? 'Such an inquiry will assuredly be made by one or other of
+our readers. But we will not answer it ourselves; we shall only advise
+the inquirer to address himself to the descendants of _one of the most
+ancient families in Scania_, and ask _them_ whether it be true or not.
+
+
+
+
+                       THE MAN FROM PARADISE.[10]
+
+                             A Comic Tale.
+
+              FROM THE DANISH OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
+
+
+   There was a widow, once upon a time--
+   Yet stop--with _truth_ we must commence our rhyme--
+   She _had_ been such, but now another spouse
+   Had sought her love, and won the widow's vows.
+
+   One evening she was quite alone at home
+   (For the best husbands sometimes like to roam);
+   She sat, her cheek reposing on her hand,
+   The tea-things spread upon the table, and
+   The kettle singing by, or on the fire--
+   A sort of a monotonous steam lyre:
+   Her thoughts from this low world of fogs had flown
+   Up to the husband she first called her own;
+   She could not _quite_ the dear, kind soul forget--
+   And ah! the other one was absent yet.
+   'But thou art happy now,' she cried--'in case
+   In Abraham's bosom thou hast found a place:
+   Thou pitiest us, in these rooms close and old,
+   Where one so often gets a cough or cold.'
+
+   Then into a brown study she did fall,
+   When suddenly some sounds her thoughts recall;
+   She hears a gentle knocking at the door;
+   She starts--looks at the roof, then at the floor--
+   Then peers into each corner, as she cries,
+   'Well--who is there?' To be right brave she tries,
+   But truth to tell, she almost shook with fear
+   To see some ghost, or corpse-like form appear.
+   Another knock--then in the doorway stood
+   No spectre, but a youth of flesh and blood
+   'Twas an apprentice who had run away
+   From work, and chose from town to town to stray:
+   The rogue lived by his wits as best he might,
+   For nought he scrupled at--except to fight.
+
+   The quondam widow very soon perceived
+   The intruder was not what she had believed--
+   That he was mortal, not a form of air.
+   She questioned whence he came, and also where
+   He might be bound. 'I'm on my way,' said he,
+   'To Paris, madam, _viâ_ Germany.'
+   With joyous heart she listened to his tale,
+   And then she placed before him meat and ale,
+   Kindly inviting him to eat and drink;
+   While she exclaimed, 'How very strange to think
+   That you to Paradise are journeying on!--
+   Why, that's the land where my first husband's gone!
+   Please give my love to him, our daughter's, too,
+   And--_his successor's compliments_, will you?'
+
+   Quickly the knave observed that the good dame
+   In her geography was rather lame--
+   That _Paradise_ with _Paris_ she confounded.
+   And though one moment he looked up astounded,
+   The next into her droll conceit he fell,
+   Saying, 'Oh, yes! I know the good man well.'
+   'What! have you really been already there?'
+   She cried. 'Then say, how does the dear one fare?'
+   'Ah! very badly. 'Tis a tale of woe!
+   I was up there about a month ago.
+   A sort of a dog's life the poor thing led,
+   Early he had to rise--get late to bed;
+   Worked hard, and scarce a stitch of clothing had.
+   His shroud and grave-clothes from the first were bad;
+   They very soon wore out, and now he goes
+   Without a coat, and with bare legs and toes.'
+   These words went like a dagger to her heart;
+   She shuddered--groaned--then, with a sudden start,
+   She rose, and soon an ample bundle made
+   Of linen, coats, warm woollen socks; and said,
+   Whilst with big tear-drops both her eyes looked dim.
+   'This package, sir, I pray you take to him.
+   Tell the poor fellow I shall send him more
+   By the first opportunity--a store
+   I'll surely send. Oh dear! oh dear! 'tis sad
+   His fate in yonder place should be so bad!'
+
+   The rogue had stuffed quite to his heart's content,
+   So, taking up the bundle, off he went;
+   But first he thanked her for the food, and vowed
+   The clothes she sent should soon replace the shroud.
+   Long, long she sits, her eyes still full of tears;
+   The absent husband now at length appears
+   ('Tis to the _second_ one that I allude--
+   The _first_, as has been shown, was gone for good).
+
+   'Well, I have curious tidings for your ear--
+   A man from Paradise has just been here;
+   He knew poor _Thi--is_ there.' (Such was the name
+   Of him who was first husband to the dame.)
+   And thereupon, with a most serious face,
+   She told him all that had just taken place.
+   The husband, when he heard her, smelled a rat,
+   But only saying he would have a chat
+   Himself with the great traveller, he sent
+   For his best horse, and after him he went.
+
+   'Twas a sweet night, the moon was shining clearly--
+   Just such a night as poets love most dearly;
+   The nightingales were pouring forth their notes,
+   The owls were exercising, too, their throats;
+   But, what was better still, he found the track
+   The thief had ta'en, and hoped to bring him back.
+   Thieves, by the way, like the moon's silver rays
+   Far better than the sun's meridian blaze.
+   And now, how fared it with the thief himself,
+   Thus making off with his ill-gotten pelf?
+
+   He spied a man, who like old Nick was riding,
+   And felt that he was in for a good hiding;
+   Therefore into a neighbouring ditch he flung
+   The burden that across his back had slung,
+   Then casting himself down upon a bank,
+   Quite in a lounging attitude he sank,
+   And gazing on the clear calm skies above,
+   He sang some ditty about ladies' love.
+   Up comes the rider at a rapid trot--
+   The pace had made him and his steed both hot--
+   And asked abruptly, reining in his grey,
+   If he had seen a rascal pass that way,
+   Who on his shoulders a large bundle bore--
+   A horrid thief he was, the horseman swore.
+   'Why, yes,' was the reply. 'I have just seen
+   A fellow with long legs pass by--I ween
+   It is the same you seek; for he looked round
+   Soon as your horse's footfall on the ground
+   Was heard--and then, as quickly as he could,
+   He fled to hide himself in yonder wood.
+   If you make haste, you there will catch him soon.'
+   The horseman thanked him much and craved a boon--
+   It was to hold his steed, while in pursuit
+   He went himself into the wood on foot.
+   'Twas granted, and the husband rushed among
+   The bushes tall--while the thief laughing sprung
+   Upon the horse; he took the bundle too,
+   And fast away he rode, or rather flew.
+
+   Angry, fatigued, and scratched till he was sore,
+   The husband came, his bootless errand o'er.
+   Fancy what was his grief, his rage, to find
+   The horse he thought he left so safe behind,
+   Gone too! he cried, 'Hey! hey!' its name he called,
+   But all in vain he shouted and he bawled--
+   The clever thief the faster rode away.
+   There was no creature near on whom to lay
+   The blame; so the poor foolish dupe abused
+   The moon, for having thus her light misused.
+   Home on his weary legs he had to trudge;
+   His steed to the vile thief did he not grudge!
+
+   'Well, did you find him?' asked his smiling wife.
+   He answered, in a tone subdued, 'My life,
+   I did. I found him, and--and--for _your_ sake,
+   Our best, our swiftest horse I let him take,
+   That he with greater speed might find his way.'
+   The dame smiled on him, and in accents gay
+   Exclaimed, 'O best of husbands! who could find
+   Your equal--one so thoughtful, wise, and kind!'
+
+
+                                 MORAL.
+
+   The moral of this story shows,
+   Though knaves on women oft impose,
+   That men are sometimes quite as _green_,
+   But hold their tongues themselves to screen.
+
+
+
+                               FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: A Danish title, signifying councillor of justice.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Danish mile, equal to about 4 3/4 English miles.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Fourteen and a quarter English miles.]
+
+[Footnote 4: 'To give a basket,' in Danish, signifies a refusal.]
+
+[Footnote 5: A Danish title.]
+
+[Footnote 6: 'Aprilsnarrene.' A Danish vaudeville.]
+
+[Footnote 7: The ceremony of Confirmation is deemed of the highest
+importance in Denmark, and is never neglected in any rank of life, from
+the prince to the peasant.]
+
+[Footnote 8: For these, and 'Octavianus,' see Ludwig Tieck's works.
+They have been translated into Danish by Adam Oehlenschlæger.]
+
+[Footnote 9: A town of Sicily, in the Val di Mazzara, on the site of
+the ancient Agrigenum, the magnificent ruins of which are still to be
+seen.]
+
+[Footnote 10: Manden Fra Paradiis. En komisk Fortælling.]
+
+
+
+
+                             END OF VOL. I.
+
+
+
+
+        LONDON. PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
+                           AND CHARING CROSS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol.
+I (of 3), by Various
+
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+<title>The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I.</title>
+<meta name="Author" content="Carl Bernhard; B. S. Ingemann; Hans Christian Andersen;
+S. S. Blicher; Jens Baggesen; Christian Winther; and Baroness Knorring">
+<meta name="Translator" content="Mrs. Bushby">
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I
+(of 3), by Various
+
+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 Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I (of 3)
+       A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish Authors
+
+Author: Various
+
+Translator: Mrs. (Anna S.) Bushby
+
+Release Date: October 23, 2011 [EBook #37831]
+Last Updated: May 3, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANES SKETCHED BY THEMSELVES, VOL I ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br>
+1. Page scan source:<br>
+http://www.archive.org/details/danessketchedbyt01bush<br>
+digitized by University of Toronto.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>BENTLEY'S</h2>
+<h1>POPULAR WORKS.</h1>
+
+<hr class="W10">
+
+<h4>One Shilling and Sixpence.</h4>
+
+<p class="continue">Tales from Bentley, Vols. 1, 2, 3, and 4.</p>
+<br>
+
+<h4>Two Shillings and Sixpence.</h4>
+
+<p class="continue">What to do with the Cold Mutton.</p>
+<p class="continue">Everybody's Pudding Book; or, Puddings, Tarts, &amp;c., for all the Year
+round.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Lady's Dessert Book. By the Author of 'Everybody's Pudding
+Book.'</p>
+<p class="continue">Nelly Armstrong. A Story of Edinburgh Life.</p>
+<p class="continue">Rita: an Autobiography.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Semi-Detached House. Edited by Lady Theresa Lewis.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Semi-Attached Couple. By the same Author.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Ladies of Bever Hollow. By the Author of 'Mary Powell.'</p>
+<p class="continue">Village Belles. By the same Author.</p>
+<p class="continue">Easton. By Hon. Lena Eden.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Season Ticket.</p>
+<p class="continue">Notes on Noses. By Eden Warwick.</p>
+<p class="continue">Salad for the Social. Books, Medicine, Lawyers, the Pulpit, &amp;c.</p>
+<p class="continue">Say and Seal. By the Author of 'Wide Wide World.'</p>
+<br>
+
+<h4>Three Shillings and Sixpence.</h4>
+
+<p class="continue">Quits. By the Author of 'The Initials.'</p>
+<p class="continue">Anthony Trollope's The Three Clerks.</p>
+<br>
+
+<h4>Four Shillings.</h4>
+
+<p class="hang1">Dr. M'Causland's Sermons in Stones; or, Scripture confirmed by
+Geology.</p>
+<p class="continue">Lady Chatterton's Translations from Plato.</p>
+<p class="continue">Julia Kavanagh's Madeline, a Tale of Auvergne. Gilt edges.</p>
+<br>
+
+<h4>Five Shillings.</h4>
+
+<p class="continue">The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels. 58th Thousand.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Francatelli's Cook's Guide. 100 Recipes and 40 Woodcuts. 15th
+Thousand.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Bentley Ballads. The best Ballads and Songs from Bentley's
+Miscellany. 5th Thousand.</p>
+<p class="continue">Lord Dundonald's Autobiography, with Portrait. 6th Thousand.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Anecdotes of Animals. A Boy's Book, with eight spirited
+Illustrations by Wolff. Handsomely bound, with gilt edges.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Ellet's Lives of Women Artists of all Ages and Countries. A Girl's
+Book. Handsomely bound, gilt edges.</p>
+<p class="continue">Mrs. Ellis' Mothers of Great Men.</p>
+<p class="continue">Hayes' Arctic Boat Voyage. Beautifully bound.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Lamartine's Celebrated Characters. Nelson, Cromwell, Tell, Bossuet,
+Milton. &amp;c.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Smith's Anecdotes of the Streets of London, and of their more
+Celebrated Residents.</p>
+<p class="continue">Colonel Graham's History of the Art of War.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Dr. Maginn's Shakespeare Characters, Polonius, Falstaff, Bottom the
+Weaver, Macbeth, Hamlet, &amp;c.</p>
+<br>
+
+<h4>Six Shillings.</h4>
+
+<p class="continue">Ned Locksley. With two Illustrations.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Last of the Cavaliers. With two Illustrations.</p>
+<p class="continue">The Initials. With two Illustrations.</p>
+<p class="continue">Mrs. Wood's East Lynne.</p>
+<p class="continue">------------The Channings.</p>
+<p class="continue">------------Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles.</p>
+<p class="continue">Buckland's Curiosities of Natural History, First Series.</p>
+<p class="continue">-------------------------------------------Second Series.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Wilkie Collins' Notes taken afoot in Cornwall; or, Rambles beyond
+Railways.</p>
+<p class="continue">Mignet's Life of Mary Queen of Scots. Two Portraits.</p>
+<p class="continue">Guizot's Life of Oliver Cromwell. Portrait.</p>
+<p class="continue">James' Naval History of Great Britain. 6 vols. 6<i>s</i>. each.</p>
+<p class="continue">Timbs' Anecdote Lives. With Illustrations. First Series, Statesmen.</p>
+<p class="continue">-----------------------Second Series, Painters.</p>
+<p class="continue">-----------------------Third Series, Wits and Humourists.</p>
+<p class="continue">-----------------------Fourth Series, Wits and Humourists.</p>
+<p class="continue">Rev. Herman Douglas' Jerusalem the Golden, and the Way to it.</p>
+<p class="hang1">Thiers' History of the Great French Revolution. 5 vols. 6<i>s</i>. each,
+with 41 exquisite Engravings.</p>
+<p class="continue">Dr. Stebbing's Lives of the Principal Italian Poets.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h1>THE DANES</h1>
+<br>
+<h2>Sketched by Themselves.</h2>
+<br>
+<h3>A SERIES OF POPULAR STORIES BY THE BEST<br>
+DANISH AUTHORS,</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>TRANSLATED BY MRS. BUSHBY.</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h4><i>IN THREE VOLUMES.--VOL. I</i>.</h4>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>LONDON:<br>
+<span class="sc">RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.<br>
+1864</span>.</h3>
+
+<hr class="W10" style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px">
+
+<h5>[<i>The right of Translation is reserved</i>.]</h5>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h5>LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,<br>
+AND CHARING CROSS.</h5>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<p class="continue">Most of the following stories have appeared, from time to time, in the
+'New Monthly Magazine,' and a few in other periodicals. They are now
+gathered together, and it is hoped that they may convey a favourable
+impression of the lighter literature of Denmark,--a country rich in
+genius, science, and art.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2>CONTENTS OF VOL. I.</h2>
+<hr class="W10">
+
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_cousin" href="#div1_cousin"><span class="sc">Cousin Carl</span></a>.--By Carl Bernhard.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_doomed" href="#div1_doomed"><span class="sc">The Doomed House</span></a>.--By B. S. Ingemann.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_felon" href="#div1_felon"><span class="sc">The Felon's Reverie</span></a>.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_morten" href="#div1_morten"><span class="sc">Morten Lange</span></a>. A Christmas Story.--By Hans Christian Andersen.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_tale" href="#div1_tale"><span class="sc">A Tale of Jutland</span></a>.--By S. S. Blicher.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_secret" href="#div1_secret"><span class="sc">The Secret Witness</span></a>.--By B. S. Ingemann.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_agnete" href="#div1_agnete"><span class="sc">Agnete and the Merman</span></a>.--By Jens Baggesen.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_waking" href="#div1_waking"><span class="sc">A Waking Dream</span></a>.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_confessional" href="#div1_confessional"><span class="sc">The Confessional</span></a>.--By Christian Winther.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_ancestress" href="#div1_ancestress"><span class="sc">The Ancestress; or, Family Pride</span></a>.--From the Swedish of the late
+Baroness Knorring.</p>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_man" href="#div1_man"><span class="sc">The Man from Paradise</span></a>.--By Hans Christian Andersen.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h1>THE DANES</h1>
+
+<h2>Sketched by Themselves.</h2>
+
+<hr class="W20">
+
+<h2><a name="div1_cousin" href="#div1Ref_cousin">COUSIN CARL.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>FROM THE DANISH OF CARL BERNHARD.</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+<h3>PART I.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">When I was a young man about twenty years of age, I was a sad
+hair-brained fellow. I lived entirely in the passing hour, the time
+gone by was quite forgotten, and about the future I never took the
+trouble to think a moment. Inclined to every possible species of
+foolish prank, I was always ready to rush headlong into any kind of
+frolic--anything that promised fun, even if that were a row; and never
+did I let slip the opportunity of amusing myself. I was a living proof
+that proverbs are not always infallible; for if 'bought wit is best,'
+that is to say, wisdom bought by experience, I must have become wise
+long ago; if 'a burned child or a scalded cat dreads the fire,' I was
+singed and scalded often enough to have felt some dread; and 'to pay
+the piper' had frequently fallen upon me. But I was none the wiser or
+more prudent. This preface was necessary in order to introduce the
+following episode of my mirth-loving youthful days.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My father thought that the best way of breaking off my intimacy with a
+somewhat riotous clique of young men, in whose jovial society I passed
+a good deal of my time, was to send me to Hamburg, where I was placed
+in the counting-house of a merchant, who was expected to keep a strict
+watch over me, on account of his well-known reputation for the most
+rigid morality; as if one could not find pleasant society in Hamburg if
+one were inclined to be gay! Before fourteen days had elapsed, I had at
+least three times outwitted the worthy man's vigilance, and twice out
+of these three times had not got home till close upon the dawn of day,
+without having been engaged in any fray; a pretty fair evidence that I
+sought good company, where the risk of getting a drubbing existed
+between the hours of one and three. But fate spread her protecting hand
+over me, and at the expiration of a year I returned safe and sound to
+Copenhagen, bringing back with me much experience in all manner of
+jolly diversions, and no small desire to carry my knowledge of them
+into continued practice.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was of course destined to be bound hand and foot with the
+counting-house chains; but before putting them on I obtained leave to
+take a month's holiday in the country, and visit my uncles and my aunts
+in various parts of Zealand. One fine afternoon in the month of
+September, I sought out a common conveyance, such as is used by the
+peasantry, to take me the first few miles of my journey; and with my
+knapsack in my hand I was standing in the court-yard of the inn ready
+to step into the rustic carriage, when a servant entered the court and
+asked if there were any opportunity for Kjöge.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That person standing there is going straight to Kjöge,' said the
+ostler of the inn.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The servant touched his hat. 'Here is a letter which it is of great
+consequence to my master should reach Kerporal's Inn at ----, where a
+private carriage will be waiting for him; he is not able to go where he
+is expected, as he has been taken ill. I would give the letter to the
+driver, but fear he might lose it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, let me have it,' said I. 'I will be your master's messenger.
+What is his name?' He mentioned a name quite unknown to me. I pocketed
+the letter, and drove off.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My usual good luck did not attend me on this journey. In general I
+seldom drove a mile without meeting with some little adventure, if no
+better than taking up a passenger on the road, or mystifying some
+good-natured countryman, or playing the fool with some coquettish
+barmaid; but this time everything seemed bewitched, and I was tired to
+death. The Kjöge road is the stupidest of all possible roads--the
+wayfarers are too ragged and dirty for anyone to venture to take them
+up, the peasantry are deeper than coal-pits in cunning, and the
+barmaids are either as ugly as sin or engaged to the tapsters and
+cellarmen--in both cases disqualified for the situations they fill. I
+was dreadfully <i>ennuyé</i>, and, as if to add to my despair, one of the
+horses became lame, and they proceeded leisurely, step by step, at a
+snail's pace.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Whoever has felt as weary of his own company on a journey as I did, if
+he will put himself in my place, will not think it strange that I
+sometimes got out of the vehicle and walked, sometimes jumped in again,
+sometimes sang, sometimes whistled, sometimes thrust my hands into my
+pockets playing with everything there, then dragged them out and
+buttoned up my coat. But all this impatient rummaging in my pockets did
+no good to the stranger's letter, which became so crushed and crumpled
+that at last I discovered with some dismay that it looked more like a
+scrap of soiled paper than a respectable letter. It was in such a
+condition that it would be scarcely possible to deliver it--it was
+really almost in tatters. There was nothing to be done but to gain a
+knowledge of its contents, and deliver the same verbally to the
+coachman. Luckily the person who had sent it did not know who I was.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With the help of a little conjecture, I at length extracted from the
+maltreated epistle pretty much what follows:--</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">'<span class="sc">Dear Uncle</span>,--I have duly received your esteemed favour of the 7th
+instant, and see by it that my father had informed you of my arrival in
+Copenhagen by the steam-boat, and that you are so good as to say you
+would send your carriage to meet me on the 11th, about seven o'clock in
+the evening, at Kerporal's Inn, in order to convey me from thence to
+your house. A severe cold, which I caught on the voyage, obliges me to
+keep my room for the present, and to put off my visit to your dear
+unknown family for eight days or so. In making this communication I beg
+to assure you of my sincere regret at the delay, and to offer my best
+compliments to my beautiful cousins.' Then came one or two inflated and
+pedantic paragraphs, and the letter was subscribed</p>
+
+<p style="text-indent:40%">'Respectfully yours,</p>
+
+<p style="text-indent:50%">'Carl.'</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">The short and the long of the matter was that he would come in a week,
+being detained by a bad cold. 'Well, these interesting communications
+can be made in a few words to the coachman. It is surprising how much
+paper people think it necessary to waste when they want to trump up a
+reason for not doing anything!' With this sage remark I threw the
+letter down on the road, where it must speedily have become utterly
+illegible, for--one evil more--a shower came on, and it soon increased
+till the rain fell in torrents. Misfortunes, it is said, never come
+alone; on the contrary, pieces of good fortune seldom come in pairs.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At length we approached Kerporal's Inn. It was pouring of rain, it was
+eight o'clock, and it was already almost dark. A travelling-carriage
+was waiting under a shed, and its horses were stamping as if with
+impatience at a long detention. The gifts of fortune are surely very
+unequally distributed, methought, as I reflected on the solitary
+journey before me, and that it was impossible I could reach my uncle's
+parsonage until very late at night.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'To whom does that carriage belong?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It belongs to the Justitsraad,<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> at ---- Court,' replied the
+coachman. This place was situated about a mile<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> from my uncle's
+house.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh! then it is you who are waiting for a gentleman from Copenhagen?'
+said I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes, sir. And since you are the gentleman, we had as well set off as
+fast as we can. The horses are baited, and we shall have no better
+weather this evening, sir,' said the coachman.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Done!' thought I. 'This is not such a bad idea. I shall get so far dry
+and snugly; I can get out at the gate, or else carry the message
+myself. People are so hospitable in the country that they will surely
+offer me a night's lodging, and at an early hour to-morrow I shall
+proceed on foot to my uncle's house.' So the journey was not to be
+ended without an adventure.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It is pleasant to exchange a hard, wet conveyance, little better than a
+cart, which goes crawling along, for a comfortable carriage getting
+over the ground at a brisk pace; so I yielded to the temptation, and
+deposited myself in the latter, whilst I envied the pedant who could
+travel in such luxurious ease to beautiful unknown cousins--I who had
+neither equipages nor cousins--and he could stay at home to take care
+of his cold! <i>I</i> would not have done that in <i>his</i> place. The three
+miles<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> were soon got over--in fact, they did not seem more than one
+mile to me; for during the two last I was fast asleep, the carriage
+having rocked me into slumbers as gently as if it had been a cradle.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Suddenly it stopped, and as suddenly I awoke in a state of utter
+unconsciousness as to where I was. In a moment the door was opened,
+lights and voices around bewildered me still more, and I was almost
+dragged out of the carriage.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is he--it is cousin Carl!' was shouted in my ears, and the circle
+pressed more closely around me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was at ---- Court. I was about to execute my commission in the best
+manner I could, and make some apology for having brought the message
+myself instead of having delivered it to the coachman, when I spied a
+charming-looking little cousin, who thrust her pretty head forward with
+evident curiosity. How pretty she was! I could not take my eyes off of
+her, and stood staring at her for a moment in silence; but during that
+moment's silence I had been kindly welcomed by the family as 'Cousin
+Carl'--I who was only his unworthy messenger. Was I not in luck?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Justitsraad carried me straight to the dining-room, and they sat
+down immediately to table, as if their repast had been retarded on my
+important account. I know not how I carried off my embarrassment; every
+moment my situation was becoming more and more painful; my spirits
+sank, and my usual effrontery ... ah! it failed me at the very time
+that I needed it most.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We were quite a family party. There were but the uncle; his wife, who
+was a pleasant, good-looking, elderly lady, apparently about fifty;
+cousin Jettè, who was pale and silent, but seemed very interesting;
+cousin Hannè, the charming little Venus who had caused my awkward
+position; and cousin Thomas, a lanky, overgrown boy, about twelve years
+of age, with long arms in jacket-sleeves too short for them. From sheer
+flurry I ate as if I had not seen food for a fortnight, and with each
+glass I emptied down my throat I started in my own mind one plan after
+another to escape from the dilemma into which my thoughtlessness had
+plunged me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I am very glad to see that you do not make strangers of us, but really
+are eating heartily,' said the Justitsraad as he filled my plate for
+the fifth time. 'I can't bear to see young men, or anyone, under
+restraint in my house; here everyone must do exactly as if he were at
+home. I am very glad you are not sitting like a stick, or looking as if
+you were afraid of us and of the viands before you. And now let us
+drink to your happy return to your native land. I am pleased to see
+that you are able now to pledge one in a glass of wine. When you were a
+boy, you had every appearance of turning out a regular milksop. But, to
+be sure, eleven years make great changes in everybody.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I drank to the health of my father and mother, then to the welfare of
+the whole family, and then a special toast to cousin Jettè's health,
+which was proposed by her father himself. When we were about to drink
+it, he nodded to me with an air of intelligence, as if we were
+<i>d'accord</i> with each other; but the pretty cousin scarcely touched the
+glass with her lips, and did not vouchsafe me a single glance; it
+seemed as if she were far from pleased at the compliment paid her.
+Cousin Hannè, who sat near me, filled my glass every time it was empty,
+and she had so industriously employed herself in this manner, that my
+head was beginning to be a good deal confused.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And now it is time to go to bed, my children!' said the Justitsraad.
+'It is late; to-morrow we will hear all that your cousin has to tell
+us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was on the point of requesting a moment's private conversation with
+him; but the moment for doing so passed away unseized--in the next it
+was no longer possible. The family bade each other good night, a
+servant showed me to my room, and I was left to my reflections. The
+reflections of a harum-scarum fellow of one-and-twenty! You are right,
+dear reader, they certainly were not worth much. Hannè's pretty face
+and the Justitsraad's good wine had taken a somewhat potent effect upon
+my brain; I hastened to seek repose, and, like the Theban tyrant,
+deferred grave business till the morrow.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But I could not fall asleep, for conscience plagued me; it is its
+custom to wake up when everybody is sleeping, and without the least
+mercy it compelled me to listen to its lectures. It became so
+importunate that it drove me out of bed, and induced me to admit that
+it would be better to jump out of the window, and carry my baggage on
+my shoulders to my uncle's parsonage, than to be treated to-morrow as
+an impudent puppy--<i>that</i> I should not so much mind--but also as a
+scamp of an impostor who had palmed himself upon them for the sake of
+obtaining a drive and a good supper gratis--<i>that</i> I should mind a
+great deal, for it would touch my honour. It is thus one reasons at
+twenty-one.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It rained no longer, but it was as dark as pitch. Darkness would favour
+my intention; but how was I to find my way in a place utterly unknown
+to me? I determined to keep awake till the dawn of day, then take
+myself off, and leave the family to make inquiries about the cousin,
+until the real one thought fit to recover from his cold. But that
+little Hannè's charming face, was I never to behold it again? Well, it
+was very foolish to have come there, but after all, it would be still
+more foolish to remain.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I left a little piece of my window open, and sat down near it in order
+to watch for the first streaks of daylight. I had, however, a long time
+to wait, for it was just half-past twelve o'clock. As I sat there,
+fretting at myself for my folly, I heard something or some one,
+stirring beneath the window, and a moment afterwards among the branches
+of a tree close by. It was some person climbing the tree, but his visit
+was not intended for me, for he crept up much higher, and appeared to
+have mounted to a level with an upper window, as one was opened very
+gently and cautiously. Ah! an assignation! a secret appointment!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It is really an advantage to have a tender conscience; without that I
+should have been fast asleep, and should never have known what was
+going on so near me. But who could it be? Could cousin Thomas, though
+only twelve years of age, be making love to one of the housemaids? Let
+us listen.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For God's sake make no noise!' said a whispering voice at the window
+above mine. 'He has arrived; he occupies the room just below, and he
+can hardly be asleep yet.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The light has been extinguished for at least half an hour,' replied
+the voice in the tree. 'Such an ape has nothing to wake or watch for.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An ape, forsooth! as if I were not quite as wide awake as himself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dear Gustav, think of my distress,' continued the voice at the window;
+'my father drank my health at table, and nodded to him in such a
+significant manner! Oh, how I hate that man! Tomorrow, perhaps, he will
+begin to treat me as his betrothed; my father will give him every
+opportunity, and he will take upon himself to be intimate, and to make
+me presents. Oh! how unhappy I am!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You see, dearest Jettè, this is the consequence of our silence; if we
+had spoken to him before the accursed cousin came here, perhaps your
+father might have been persuaded to have given up this absurd childish
+betrothal.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No--no; he would never have done that,' replied Jettè; 'he is too much
+attached to his brother; and he will do everything in his power to have
+the agreement fulfilled, which eleven years ago they entered into with
+each other at their children's expense.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why did not that man break his neck on the way! Such fellows can
+travel round the whole world without the slightest accident ever
+happening to them,' said Gustav. 'But he may, perhaps, repent coming
+here; I shall pick a quarrel with him, I will call him out, he shall
+fight with me, and either he or I shall be put out of the way.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'May God protect you, my dearest Gustav!' exclaimed my cousin. 'But how
+can you have the heart to frighten me with such threats? Am I not
+wretched enough? Would you increase the burden that is weighing me down
+to the grave? I see nothing before me but misery and despair; no
+comfort--no escape.' Poor Jettè was weeping; I could hear how she
+sobbed in her woe. I now perceived why the poor girl had been so pale
+and distant--I was betrothed to her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Forgive me, dearest girl! I hardly know what I am saying; but take
+comfort, do not weep so bitterly. Heaven will not desert us, and we
+shall find some means of softening your father; besides, no rational
+man would wish to obtain a wife upon compulsion. If he has the least
+pride or spirit, he will himself draw back.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah, Gustav! if there were any chance of his drawing back, he would not
+have come here. His father wrote that he was coming expressly to claim
+his--his promised rights; and that--and that we should learn to know
+each other before the wedding. We had been betrothed for eleven years,
+he wrote, and it was time that ... No! I cannot think of it without
+despair.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What sort of looking person is he? Is he handsome? Whom does he
+resemble?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is not in the least like what he was as a boy, he is very much
+changed; he has improved very much in looks, and, indeed, may be called
+handsome now.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is a girl with a good taste,' thought I; 'I wish I could help her
+out of her troubles.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Handsome!--I congratulate you, Miss Jettè--handsome people generally
+make a favourable impression, and by degrees one becomes quite
+reconciled to them, and pleased with them--don't you think so?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The lover grasped the branch nearest him so roughly in his anger, that
+he made the whole tree shake.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gustav! are you in earnest?' exclaimed Jettè, in a tone of voice that
+would have gone to the heart of a stone, if stones had hearts.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dearest, dearest Jettè! Sweet, patient angel!' He stretched himself so
+far out from the tree that I think he must have reached her hand and
+kissed it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Indeed, you have no reason to be jealous of him,' said Jettè, 'for one
+quite forgets his being handsome, when one observes how awkward he is.
+He does not seem to be at all accustomed to society; he eats like a
+shark, and you should have seen how he drank. Hannè amused herself in
+filling his glass, and I do believe that for his own share alone he
+emptied two bottles of wine. And he never uttered a single word. Oh! he
+is my horror--that man; but my father seems pleased with him, and
+praised him after he had left the room. Dear Gustav! how unfortunate we
+are!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Should I allow these imputations to rest upon me? A blockhead--a
+glutton--and a drunkard! And cousin Hannè had been making a fool of me,
+forsooth!--the little jade, with her pretty face. I was certainly in a
+pleasant position.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I will speak to your father to-morrow,' said Gustav, after a little
+consideration. 'He is very fond of you, he will not be deaf to our
+prayers, or expect impossibilities from you. What can he bring forward
+against me? I shall soon be in a position to maintain a wife, my family
+are quite on an equality with his own, my father is not poor, and my
+situation in life is now, and always will be, such, that I can satisfy
+any inquiry he can make into it. Deny then no longer your consent,
+dearest Jettè; let us no longer conceal our attachment from him, and
+depend on it all will go well.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah, Gustav! you do not know my father. He will positively insist that
+I shall fulfil this engagement. Vows are sacred in his eyes, and he
+himself has never broken his word. When I gave that promise I was but a
+child, and I wore the plain gold ring without ever reflecting that it
+was a link of that never-to-be-broken chain which was to bind me to a
+life of misery. Oh, God, have mercy upon me!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Doubt not <i>His</i> help, my beloved girl! He will spread His protecting
+hand over us, even if all else shall fail us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The sorrowing lovers whispered then so softly that I could not overhear
+what further they said, but I concluded they were comforting each
+other. The first streak of day cast a pale line of light across the
+tops of the trees and the roofs of the outhouses near. It was almost
+time for me to commence <i>my</i> flight, but everything must be quiet
+first. I gathered together my effects with as little noise as possible.
+The conversation on the outside recommenced, and I approached the
+window impatiently.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How long is he going to stay here?' asked Gustav.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I do not know; perhaps only a few days. Alas! my only hope is in him,'
+replied Jettè. To-morrow I shall have a private conversation with him,
+which, of course, will lead to an explanation. I will make an
+appointment with him in the garden,--if you will promise me not to be
+jealous,' added Jettè, with a degree of archness in her tone which
+enchanted me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is hard that my rival is to be my sheet anchor,' said Gustav; 'but,
+since it must be so, speak to him, dearest. However, if that fails,
+then, my sweet girl, then ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Then I promise you ... But what noise is that? I thought I heard some
+one stirring. For God's sake go! Let no one see you here!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'To-morrow night, then, at one o'clock. Farewell, dear Jettè.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Then came a kiss. Was it on the hand or the lips?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Take care how you get down. To-morrow night. Adieu till then!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The faithful knight-errant swung himself from branch to branch with an
+adroitness which proved that he was experienced in that mode of
+descent. As soon as he set foot on the ground the window above was
+closed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was now my turn to get into the trees. Gustav had taught me that
+trick. I wondered what sort of a looking fellow he was. Poor Jettè--to
+have chosen for herself, and yet to be condemned to be sacrificed to a
+man who could begin a letter about his intended bride with, 'I have
+duly received your esteemed favour of the 5th instant,' and who could
+absent himself from such a charming girl, merely because he had a
+slight cold! Well! it is a wretched world, this, in which we live. It
+was becoming more and more light. To-day she wished to have a private
+conversation with me--her only hope was in me; there was to be an
+explanation between us, an assignation in the garden. Who the deuce
+could run away from all this? But.... Well! nobody knew me--the real
+cousin was not coming for a week ... surely I might stay <i>one</i> day on
+the strength of personifying him? I am a fatalist; destiny has sent me,
+and it will aid me.... I will not forsake Jettè ... and I will revenge
+myself upon that little Mademoiselle Hannè, who wanted to drink me
+under the table, and I will show the whole accomplished family that I
+have studied good manners in Hamburg, and am neither a blockhead, a
+glutton, nor a drunkard. It is a matter that touches my honour; I will
+stay!... But ... suppose they take it into their heads to question me?
+Humph! If the worst comes to the worst, I can but stuff a little linen
+into my great-coat pocket, make a pretext to get outside the gate, and
+take to flight at once. In the meantime, I will make some inquiries
+about the neighbourhood and the roads, for at present I have not the
+most remote idea whether I ought to turn to the right hand or the left.
+And to-morrow night--good-by to this darling family, with many thanks
+for their kind welcome. Whilst they are all sleeping, or keeping
+nocturnal assignations, I shall vanish without leaving the slightest
+trace behind. It will give them something to talk of till Christmas.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Whilst this monologue was in progress of utterance, I was busily
+undressing myself. I jumped into bed, and soon slept as soundly as if I
+had a lawful right to be there, and were the dreaded cousin himself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But when I was summoned to breakfast next morning I was in a very
+different frame of mind. I had slept off the effects of the wine, sober
+reason had resumed her sway, fear followed at my heels like a bad
+spirit; and I would assuredly have made my escape if the well-dressed
+valet-de-chambre had left me a moment to myself. I was compelled to
+resign myself to my fate, and allow myself to be marshalled to the
+breakfast-parlour; but as I approached the scene of my threatened
+exposure, despair restored my courage, I remembered that it was
+incumbent on me to wipe out the disgrace of the preceding evening, and
+I found my habitual impudence and lightness of heart upon the very
+threshold of the door.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I went up to them all, and shook hands with them, and as I now knew
+that I was engaged to Jettè, I kissed her hand with all possible
+amorous gallantry. The poor girl looked as if she could have sunk into
+the earth, and I coloured up to my temples, for I just recollected that
+I had on no betrothal ring. Jettè wore the plain gold ring I had heard
+her mention, but it was almost hidden by another ring, with a simple
+enamelled 'Forget-me-not.' Might not <i>that</i> have been a gift from the
+unknown Gustav?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How are you this morning, my dear?' said the Justitsraad. 'Jettè has
+not been very well lately,' he added; 'she looks poorly, and has no
+appetite. It must be that abominable <i>nervousness</i>, of which young
+ladies now-a-days are always complaining.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè assured him that she felt quite well. I doubted if her mother or
+her sister were so much in her confidence as I was at that moment; but
+neither of them had been sitting at an open window between twelve
+o'clock at night and three o'clock in the morning.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At first all went on smoothly, for the conversation was on the safe
+subjects of wind and weather; but a change for the worst was coming.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Now, nephew, tell us something about the old people yonder. How is my
+brother looking?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Extremely well, uncle. He is looking quite fresh.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But the gout--the gout in his feet? that sticks to him yet--and it is
+not the most pleasant of companions.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, yes--the gout! But he is accustomed to that.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And your mother?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'She is also well, only she is getting older every day.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah! that is what we are all doing. And aunt Abelonè? How goes it with
+her?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'She is very well too.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What! <i>very well</i>--with her broken leg! Why, you must be joking?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh dear, no! I ... I only meant to say as well ... as well as anyone
+can be with a broken leg,' I stammered out. In truth, I knew nothing
+about, and cared as little for, Abelonè's mishap.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Listen to that madcap. He speaks of a broken leg as if it were
+absolutely a trifling matter.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The danger was over for a moment, but another attack soon followed. I
+had scarcely swallowed a cup of tea, before my <i>soi-disant</i> uncle
+demanded from me a particular account of the new system of agriculture
+my father had introduced on his property--I, who did not even know
+where that property lay! But this time his wife came to the rescue, for
+she declared that we could discuss systems of husbandry when we were
+strolling in the fields together, or out hunting, and that she and her
+daughters did not take much interest in agricultural questions.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, we will talk of this another time,' said the Justitsraad. 'But
+tell us at present something of your travels. Women-folk are always
+pleased to hear adventures of travellers. You have visited Paris,
+Berlin, Vienna, and many other places. A man who has travelled so much
+might talk for a whole month without being at a loss for a subject.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Very well did I know that I had never beheld a single building either
+in Paris or Berlin, except in engravings. What was I to say? I busied
+myself in getting up a good tale.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Upon my word, nephew, I should not suspect you of being very bashful;
+but if you don't like to speak of your travels, let them alone, my
+boy,--everybody shall do as he likes in my house. Many years ago, I
+remember, I went to Hamburg, and when I came home I almost tired
+them all out by describing what I had seen. But I suppose it is
+old-fashioned now to make any comments on what one has witnessed
+abroad.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Here was a piece of good luck. I knew Hamburg as well as my own
+pockets, and now I was like my uncle after <i>his</i> return. There was no
+end to my descriptions and anecdotes. The old man seemed to take real
+delight in hearing about all the alterations which had been made in the
+old town since the days of his youth, inquiring often for places which
+no longer exist. I endeavoured to make my discourse as amusing as
+possible. Cousin Thomas rested his elbows on the table, listened with
+open mouth, and laughed outright several times; my aunt often let her
+knitting-needle fall, to look at the pencil sketches with which I was
+illustrating my descriptions; cousin Jettè looked less sourly at me
+than before; and Hannè--the pretty, coquettish, little Hannè--for whose
+sake I was sitting apparently so much at my ease among them, was
+unwearied in her queries about the Hamburg ladies, fashions, and
+theatres. Happily these had been the objects of my most intense study.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I perceive now, that when once his tongue is set a-going, he has
+plenty to say,' remarked my worthy uncle. 'How long were you in
+Berlin?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Nay; stop, uncle! we are at Hamburg just now. I have still a great
+deal to tell about that city. Everything should be arranged in due
+order. Today I will confine myself to Hamburg; to-morrow we shall
+travel to Berlin.' 'Catch me here tomorrow,' thought I to myself; 'if I
+only can get through to-day, I will take French leave before we come to
+Berlin.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Come! since you give such a good reason, we will let you off Berlin
+just now. I am a lover of order myself, and here everything goes by
+clockwork. During the first part of the morning every one must look out
+for himself; at twelve we meet for luncheon--at three o'clock we dine.
+Amuse yourself in the mean time as well as you can; you will find
+plenty of books in the library--yonder hang fire-arms--and in the
+stables there are horses at your service; do exactly as if you were at
+home, and take care of yourself.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I will take a turn in the garden,' said I, with a glance at Jettè--one
+of those looks <i>d'intelligence</i> from which I expected great things; but
+she took no notice of it, and I was under the necessity of remarking,
+that being a stranger I did not know the way. But even this opening for
+a <i>tête-à-tête</i> she allowed to pass, and I could not imagine how she
+intended to bring about our secret conference.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A stranger!' cried my uncle. 'But true, in eleven years one forgets a
+great deal. Let me see--how old were you then? you are three-and-twenty
+now ... twelve years of age you were; who could have guessed then that
+you would have become such a free-and-easy, off-hand sort of a fellow?
+Well, let him be shown the grounds, children. Thomas must go to his
+studies; my wife has her household matters to attend to; Jettè, you
+must ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I really am not able, my dear father--I have a dreadful headache,'
+said the poor timid girl. And she looked as if she spoke nothing but
+the truth,--she was so pale, and her eyes were so red.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A woman's malady,' said her father, looking vexed; 'it is, of course,
+incumbent on you to ... Well; all that will vanish when you are better
+acquainted. <i>We</i> know what these qualms mean,' he added, turning
+towards me. I nodded, as if I would have said--<i>Sat sapienti</i>. 'Have
+you also got a headache, Hannè? Are you also suffering from
+nervousness? or can you stand the fresh morning air, my girl?' he
+asked. I looked eagerly at the little gipsy.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh! I can endure the fresh morning air very well,' she replied.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Then take charge of your cousin Carl, and show him round the garden
+and the shrubberies; and don't forget the pretty view from the rising
+ground where the swing is.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Justitsraad held out his hand to me, and I pressed it with all the
+warmth of sincere gratitude.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Come, cousin,' said Hannè. 'Shall we call each other by our first
+names, or not? But we can settle that as we go along.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake, let us call each other by our baptismal names, else
+we should not seem like cousins. Don't you think so, uncle?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are of my own people, my boy. Always be merry and frank--that is
+my motto. I am right glad that you have not adopted the stiff German
+manners. Your father was always very grave; but you have rubbed off all
+that solemnity abroad, I am happy to see.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In my delight at the promised stroll with Hannè, I forgot that it was
+my duty to kiss Jettè's hand on leaving her. Just as I had reached the
+door I suddenly remembered it; and rushing back, I went through the
+salutation in the speediest manner possible, expressing at the same
+time my hope to find her better on my return. They all laughed, and
+even Jettè could not help smiling,--there was something so comical in
+my hurried return, and equally hurried performance of the ceremony
+etiquette demanded.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Was I not right in calling myself a madcap? Here was I actually walking
+with the charming little Hannè all over the grounds! I--her pretended
+cousin; I--who ought to have been sent to the House of Correction, for
+having, under another man's name, presumed to thrust myself into the
+midst of a respectable family; I--who had committed, a positive
+depredation, and broken the sacred privacy of a seal;--here was I
+wandering about arm-in-arm with the Justitraad's daughter at ----
+Court, the captivating, innocent, beautiful little Hannè; I--who
+deserved to be driven away with all the dogs on the estate at my heels!
+Well! goodness and justice do not always carry the day in this world!</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+<h3>PART II.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">When I looked at my companion I was almost appalled at my audacity.
+Think of the face you love the best in this world--the face that you
+never can behold without a beating heart--which you dwell on with
+rapture, which is the object of your waking and your sleeping dreams!
+Ah! quite as charming as such looked Hannè in her pink gingham
+morning-dress, with a little blue handkerchief tied carelessly round
+her throat, and a becoming white bonnet. She was irresistible!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We strayed here and there like two children; plucked flowers to teach
+each other their botanical names; gathered a whole handful to commence
+a herbarium, and threw them away again to chase some gaudy butterfly.
+Then we sauntered on slowly, and Hannè communicated many little things
+to me of which she thought her cousin ought to be informed; and at
+length I began to fancy that I actually was the real cousin Carl. Of
+all the young girls that ever I beheld, Hannè was the most delightful;
+such grace, such vivacity, such naïveté, were not to be met with either
+in Copenhagen or in Hamburg.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is a pity Jettè could not accompany you,' said she; 'but to-morrow,
+probably, her headache will be gone.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I assured her that I did not regret Jettè's absence, since I had <i>her</i>
+company.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is a pretty declaration from a bridegroom who has allowed himself
+to be waited for eleven years,' said Hannè.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Jettè did not look as if she were glad at my arrival.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You must not think anything of that; she has looked out of spirits for
+a month past, at least: she is apt to be melancholy at times, but it
+passes off. Her character is sedate. She is much better, therefore,
+than I am, or than anyone I know. You can hardly fancy how good she
+is.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But I want a lively wife, for I am myself of a very gay disposition,'
+said I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is not what we thought you were,' replied my fair companion. 'We
+always looked upon you as a quiet, grave, somewhat heavy young man, and
+you have been described to us as a most tedious, wearisome person. I
+used often to pity Jettè in my own mind; for a stupid, humdrum man is
+the greatest bore on earth. But I do not pity her anymore, now.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I could have kissed her, I was so pleased.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'So you thought of me with fear and disgust, you two poor girls? Pray,
+who painted my portrait so nicely?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why, your own father did; and the letter which you wrote Jettè when
+she was confirmed, and when you sent her the betrothal-ring, did not at
+all improve our opinion of you. I'll tell you what, Carl; that was a
+miserable epistle. It was with the utmost difficulty that my father
+prevailed on Jettè to answer it, when she was obliged to send you a
+ring in return. However, you were little more than a boy then--it is
+long ago, and it was all forgotten when we never heard again from you.
+I can venture to affirm that Jettè has not thought six times about you
+in the six years that have elapsed since that time--and perhaps this is
+lucky for you. It was not until your father wrote us that you had come
+home, and until he began to bombard Jettè with presents and messages
+from you, that you were mentioned again among us; but my father never
+could bear our laughing at your renowned epistle.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I listened with the utmost avidity to every little circumstance that
+could elucidate the part I had taken upon myself to play. In this
+conversation I learned more than I could have gathered the whole
+morning.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is very absurd to betroth children to each other. What should they
+know of love?' said Hannè.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is more than absurd, Hannè; it is positive barbarity. It is
+trampling the most sacred feelings and rights under foot.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Nevertheless you may thank God for that barbarity,' said she; 'without
+it you would never have got Jettè. She has plenty of admirers.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Indeed! And who are they, if I may take the liberty of asking? You
+make me quite jealous.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, I have observed that both the young clergyman at ---- Town and
+Gustav Holm are much attached to her. And Jettè has no dislike to
+Gustav.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Who is Gustav Holm? He appears to be the most dangerous.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is learning farming, or rather, I ought to say, agricultural
+affairs, with a country gentleman not far from this. He has been coming
+to our house now about three years; I think, and I could wager a large
+sum, that it is for Jettè's sake.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Or for your own, little Hannè?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Pshaw! nonsense! If anyone were dangling here after me, I should make
+no secret of it. Jettè is a greater favourite than I am, and she
+deserves to be so.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But perhaps Jettè cares more for Gustav Holm than for me, whom she
+really does not know?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One often asks a question in this hypocritical world about what one
+knows best oneself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, oh no! That would be a sad affair. Has she not been engaged to you
+for eleven years, and is she not going to be married to you?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But if you had been in Jettè's place, how would you have felt?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I would perhaps have preferred ... No, I don't think I would though.
+But I am not so mild and amiable as Jettè; and the day that I was
+confirmed no one should have imposed a betrothal-ring upon me, I can
+assure you, sir; and, least of all, accompanied by such an elegant
+billet as yours.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hannè picked up a blade of grass, formed it into a string, and twisting
+it round her finger in an artistic manner, made it into a knot.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Can you make such?' said she.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I tried it, but could not succeed, and she took hold of my hand to do
+it for me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But how is this, Carl?' she exclaimed. 'Where is your betrothal-ring?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is ... I have ... I wear it attached to a ribbon round my neck; ...
+it annoyed me to have to answer the many questions it was the cause of
+my being asked. Therefore I determined to wear it near my heart.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It annoyed you! Did ever anyone hear such an assertion? Jettè has
+faithfully worn hers, and placed a &quot;<i>Forget-me-not</i>&quot;; into the bargain
+by its side, to remind herself, I suppose, not to forget you. But <i>you</i>
+found it a bore, even to be asked if you were engaged! Such gallants as
+you do not deserve to be remembered. But come now, I will show you a
+beautiful view.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We passed together through a charming shady wood, where several paths,
+diverging among the trees, crossed each other. Hannè walked before,
+light and graceful as Diana in her fluttering drapery; I followed her,
+like the enamoured Actæon. Alas! the resemblance would soon become
+stronger, I thought--how soon might I not be discovered, driven forth
+as a miserable intruder, and delivered over to regret and remorse,
+which would prey upon me, and tear me to atoms, as the hounds tore
+Actæon!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Upon a rising ground stood a swing, the posts of which towered above
+the tops of the trees, and the erection looked at a distance like a
+gallows. From this spot the view was very extensive--a number of
+country churches could be seen from it, and among others that of my
+uncle.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But why have you placed that gallows upon this lovely spot?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gallows! No one ever presumed to give such an appellation to my swing
+before,' said Hannè, angrily. 'If it were not very uncivil, I would say
+that it evinces an extremely debased and disordered state of the
+imagination to make a gallows out of my innocent swing.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The girl spoke the absolute truth. It will hereafter come to be called
+gallows, thought I--and tomorrow my fair fame will hang dangling there,
+as a terror and a warning to all counterfeit cousins.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But never mind, cousin, I did not mean to be so sharp with you. Don't,
+however, let my father hear you say anything disparaging of this place;
+he would not so easily forgive you. Come, you shall atone for your sin
+by swinging me,' added Hannè, as she settled herself in the swing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah, Hannè! would that I could as easily atone for all my sins towards
+you!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I could have swung her for a lifetime, I do believe, without becoming
+weary of gazing at her; but she compassionately stopped, fancying I
+must be tired.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You will be quite fatigued, poor fellow--it would be a shame to make
+you work longer,' said she. 'Get in, and you shall find that the swing
+stands in a good situation; that is to say, if you are not afraid of
+the gallows,' she added, as she made room for me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For your sake, I would not shun even the gallows,' said I, as I sprang
+up.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The swing went at full speed; it was pleasant to be carried thus over
+the tops of the trees, and behold the earth as if stretched out beneath
+one's feet. I felt as if in heaven. I was flying in the air with an
+angel.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How delightful this is!' I cried, throwing my arm round Hannè's waist.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What, to be on a gallows? But pray hold on by the rope, cousin, and
+not by me. Now let us get down--we have had enough of this pastime.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I have an earnest prayer to make to you, dear Hannè,' I said, seizing
+her hand. 'Listen to me before we leave this place. I foresee that the
+swing, at least in your recollection, will retain the name I
+accidentally gave it. Promise me that you will come here when you hear
+evil of me, and doubt my honour, and that you will then remember that
+it was here I entreated you to judge leniently of the absent. Fate
+plays strange tricks with us, dear Hannè; it throws us sometimes into
+temptations which we are too weak to withstand. Promise me that you
+will not condemn me irrevocably, although appearances may be against
+me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The lovely girl looked at me for a moment with surprise and
+earnestness, and then suddenly burst into an immoderate fit of
+laughter; another moment, and my confession would have been made.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I promise you,' said she, 'that I shall come here and think of you as
+well as you deserve--that is to say, if I have nothing else to do, and
+nothing else to think of. But at present I have no time to spare for
+gallows'-reflections, the bell is ringing for luncheon, and my father
+likes us to appear punctually at table.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè did not come down to luncheon, her headache confined her to her
+room, poor girl! I felt very sorry for her, and when I reflected that
+my principal, whose unworthy messenger I was, would torment her still
+more, my heart really grieved for her. The family were very cheerful,
+and it was long since I had been among so pleasant and sociable a
+little party. Alas! half the day was now gone, and when the other half
+were passed it would be all over with my enjoyments.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">After luncheon, cousin Thomas came to me and begged that I would go out
+with him for a few hours' shooting, the afternoon being his time for
+exercise and amusement. I wished to be on good terms with all the
+family, and therefore accepted his invitation; besides, I thought he
+might be in a talkative humour, and that I might be able to extract
+from him some particulars of their domestic history. We took a couple
+of guns and sallied forth. I had already become so hardened that I
+did not feel the slightest twinge of conscience at thus abusing the
+open-hearted confidence of twelve years of age. 'Give the Devil an
+inch, and he will take an ell,' says the proverb.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But cousin Thomas was too keen a sportsman to have ears for anything
+except sporting anecdotes, and I soon began to grudge the time I had
+wasted upon him. There was no help for me, however. I was in for it,
+and I had to follow him from one moor to another, removing myself every
+moment farther from his father's abode.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Who is that person yonder?' I asked by mere chance, only not to seem
+quite silent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Where? Oh! that is Gustav Holm,' said Thomas. 'He is coming, I dare
+say, from Green Moor--the very best moor in the whole neighbourhood.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'We must speak to him.--Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm! Good morning, Mr. Holm.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The person thus hailed stopped for a moment, and then came up to us. I
+forthwith introduced myself as a newly-arrived relative of the family
+at ---- Court, and he cast on me the pleasant glance with which one
+generally eyes a rival.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What sort of sport have they to-day at Green Moor?' I asked; and I
+attacked him with questions and stuck to him like a burr, though I saw
+that he would fain have got rid of me. But that was impossible. Mr.
+Holm was exceedingly chary of his words; therefore if either was a
+blockhead, as I had been described the night before, it was he rather
+than I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I will do poor Jettè a service while I can,' thought I; and I invited
+Mr. Holm to return with us to ---- Court. 'You visit at my uncle's, I
+think,' I added; 'it strikes me that I have heard my cousin speak of
+you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He grew as red as fire, poor fellow.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I don't think little Hannè will pick a quarrel with me because I beg
+you to accompany us home,' said I, slily; and the luckless lover became
+still more embarrassed. He tried to excuse himself, but I would take no
+denial; he was obliged to give way, and in triumph I brought my
+prisoner back with me. 'Thomas will bear witness to the ladies how much
+trouble I had in prevailing on you to come, and they will therefore the
+more highly appreciate your self-sacrifice,' said I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When we reached the gate, he tried again to negotiate for his freedom,
+but Thomas found his reluctance so amusing, that he would not allow him
+to make his escape. Giving way at length, he exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are going to afflict your party with a tiresome addition, for I
+have a dreadful headache to-day.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You will feel better when you have dined,' I replied; 'and if you
+would like to have some sal volatile, you can get some from my
+<i>fiancée</i>; she has a headache also to-day. There must be something in
+the air to cause it, since you are similarly affected.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Mr. Holm evidently writhed under my mode of treatment; and at the term
+<i>fiancée</i> he looked as if I had trodden heavily upon his corns. It was
+certainly very trying, but I had comfort in the background for him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Neither the Justitsraad nor his wife seemed to be much pleased at the
+arrival of their unexpected guest; nevertheless, they received him
+politely, and assigned to him a place at table between them. He could
+not have demanded a more honourable seat. Thomas was inexhaustible in
+his descriptions of Mr. Holm's unwillingness to give himself up as a
+captive, and how clever he had been in securing him. Poor Jettè dared
+hardly look up from her plate.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Mr. Holm ought to know that he is always welcome,' said the
+Justitsraad; but it was evident that the remark was the result of good
+breeding, rather than of any cordial pleasure he had in seeing him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Very true, uncle; that is just what I said. Hannè spoke of him to me
+so highly this morning, that I really became quite eager to make his
+acquaintance. The friends of the family must also be my friends. I knew
+right well that Hannè would not be angry at me if I brought him home
+with me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I! What did I say?' exclaimed Hannè, colouring deeply. 'How can you
+make such an assertion? I believe ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That I am a sad gossip, and never can keep to myself what I hear--I
+confess the truth of the impeachment.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Her parents looked at her with surprise; Jettè cast an inquiring glance
+towards her, and Gustav forced a smile. Hannè was very angry, but her
+wrath did not last long; time was precious to me, and I speedily
+effected a reconciliation with her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I do verily believe that you are not quite sober to-day, Carl,' said
+Hannè in a whisper to me, when we rose from table.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Truth to tell, Hannè, I am not, but that is your fault. Why did you
+try to make me drink myself under the table last night? It is only a
+judgment from Heaven on you; those who dig a pit for other people often
+fall into it themselves.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hark ye, cousin! I am very near wishing that you had been in reality
+as stupid a nonentity as we were given to understand you were.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What if you should be taken at your word? You may get your wish more
+easily than you imagine; by this day week the transformation may have
+been brought about; see if you don't wish me back again then.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Her father took my arm, and proposed adjourning to the garden with our
+cigars. I had nearly fled the field at this invitation, so much did I
+dread a <i>tête-à-tête</i> with him; nothing on earth could have detained me
+but the expected secret meeting with Jettè, whose good genius I was to
+be. I felt that I could almost rather have faced his Satanic Majesty
+himself at that moment, had the choice between the two companions been
+mine; but what was I to do? There was nothing for it but to accompany
+my host quietly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Listen, my son,' said the old gentleman, when we had exhausted our
+first cigars; 'I cannot say I am much pleased at your having brought
+that Mr. Holm back with you. He is a very respectable young man, but
+... Why should we encumber ourselves with him?... To speak out, you
+should have been the last person to have brought <i>him</i> to this house.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'<i>I!</i> How so? I really had planned to make him one of my most intimate
+friends. Hannè said so much in his favour.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hannè does not care a straw for him--she is only a child.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A child! and on the 12th of November she will be seventeen years old!
+No, no, uncle, girls give up thinking themselves children when they
+arrive at ten years of age.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But I tell you, Hannè does not care in the least for him; nor does he
+for her.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Very well, uncle, so much the better, for there is no sort of danger
+then in his coming here.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Danger! Oh! I don't look upon him as at all dangerous; but I can't
+bear to see him looking so woe-begone.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I shall soon enliven him. Only leave him to me, and you will see that
+he shall become quite gay. I will take him in hand if he can come here
+every day.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Confound the fellow! I must just tell you plainly out then--he is a
+great admirer of Jettè. Do you understand me now?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'May I ask how you know that, sir?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How I know that?... Well ... No matter how. Suffice it to say, I know
+it. Jettè cannot endure him, that I know also; but his sighs might make
+some impression on her, so it were better that he kept entirely away.
+Besides, if he gets no encouragement, his fancy will wear out. Don't
+you agree with me that he had better not come here?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I can't call it a sin to be in love with Jettè, for I am so myself;
+she is a girl that it would be impossible not to admire. If we were to
+drive away every one who was guilty of admiring her, we should be
+compelled at last to live as hermits.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What the devil, nephew! Do <i>you</i> say all this--you, who are to be her
+future husband?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'One must be somewhat liberal, uncle--one must seem not to observe
+everything. Suspicion does a great deal of harm, and jealousy would
+only encourage the evil. Jettè shall find me as gentle as a lamb.
+Besides, you have assured me that she cannot endure him.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well!... Perhaps she does not exactly hate him ... she has no
+particular fault to find with him ... but he embarrasses her ... he
+embarrasses her ... and when a person embarrasses one ...' The good man
+had got into a dilemma, and he was not able to get out of it; so he
+stopped short.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh! that will pass off when she accustoms herself to see him. It is a
+great misfortune to let oneself be embarrassed by the presence of
+others; really, after a time this would lead one to become a
+misanthrope--a hater of one's species.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Justitsraad looked at me with astonishment, while he replied:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I wish you had not gone on your travels; I fear your morality has
+suffered not a little in consequence. I hardly knew you again, you are
+so much changed. You are not like the same being who, eleven years ago,
+was such a quiet, bashful boy. And your father, who constantly wrote
+that you were not the least altered, he must scarcely recognize you
+himself.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is very probable, uncle, for I hardly know myself again. But
+travelling abroad is sure always to make some little change in people.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It must have been Berlin that has done the mischief, and made such a
+transformation in you; for the letters your father sent me, which you
+had written from Vienna, did not in the slightest degree lead me to
+imagine that you had become such a hair-brained, thoughtless fellow.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'True enough it is that I am thoughtless and hair-brained, but, believe
+me, I have never been guilty of any deliberate wrong. I know I am too
+often carried away by the impulse of the moment, and too often forget
+what may be the consequences.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'One must make some allowance for youth,' replied the old gentleman.
+'So it was at Berlin you studied folly in all its branches--Berlin,
+which I had always believed to be a most correct and exemplary city,
+whither one might send a young man without the least risk! Well, well!
+let us consign to oblivion all the pranks you must have played to have
+been metamorphosed from a milksop to a madcap. We must all sow our wild
+oats some time or other, and I hope you have sown yours, and are done
+with them.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, indeed, I fear not; on the contrary, I feel that I am in the midst
+of that period; but I promise you that it shall soon be over, and that
+then nothing shall tempt me to such follies. As to youthful imprudence,
+if it be not carried too far, I shall rely upon your indulgence. Will
+you not wink a little at it, and let your kind, generous heart plead
+for me when your reason might condemn me?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are a queer fellow, nephew, and a wild one, I fear; but it is not
+possible to be angry with you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Would to Heaven that you may always be inclined to entertain such
+friendly feelings towards me!' I replied, as I pressed his hand. There
+was good reason for my bespeaking his indulgence; it would be amply
+required the very next day.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I skilfully managed to bring the subject back to Gustav Holm, and soon
+perceived that he had really nothing to say against him. Holm's
+position was good in all respects, and the old gentleman would have
+considered him a very good match for one of his daughters, if he had
+not had another project in his head. But he had set his heart so
+entirely on the family alliance, that he could not admit the idea of
+any other. In eleven years there had been time for it to become deeply
+rooted in his mind.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When we sought the rest of the party, we found them all standing round
+the swing. Hannè was busy attaching a piece of paper to one of the
+poles.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What are you doing there, child?' asked her father.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is Carl's name which I am putting on the gallows, as a
+well-deserved punishment for all the follies of which he has been
+guilty in word and deed to-day,' she replied, continuing her
+employment. 'Only think, he disgraced my swing by pretending to mistake
+it for a gallows. So there stands his name; and there it shall stand,
+to his eternal shame and reproach, and in ridicule of him when he is
+gone. We must have something to recall him to our recollection.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Nemesis,' thought I, 'already!' I was as much moved inwardly, as the
+worthy emperor, Charles V., must have been when he witnessed his own
+funeral. Humph! no one likes jesting about such serious matters. Who
+knows in what it might end?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We amused ourselves with swinging--we chattered nonsense, or discoursed
+gravely--we sauntered about, all together or in groups by turns. Hannè
+was the life of the party, and by degrees everyone seemed to partake of
+her gaiety. Even Jettè talked more. I had seized on the unhappy lover,
+and held him fast by the arm, in the charitable intention of bringing
+him near his lady-love, without anyone's remarking his proximity to
+her; but the overcautious girl avoided us, and Gustav himself had not
+courage to begin a conversation on different subjects. I was quite
+distressed about them, poor things! 'We must try what can be done in
+the wood,' thought I; 'there are paths enough in it, the party will
+become more scattered, and I shall then be able to manage, perhaps, to
+get them into some secluded spot.' But our progress was arrested by a
+servant, who came to announce that some visitors had arrived.</p>
+
+<p class="normal"><i>Visitors!</i> At that word my ears tingled as if all the blood in my
+body had rushed up into them. Visitors! I felt sure they would be
+betrayers--they would be persons who either knew me, or the real
+cousin, and then good-by to my <i>incognito</i>--good-by to the secret
+interview! What would become of it when I had to take to flight?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Visitors! How very tiresome,' exclaimed Hannè. The servant mentioned
+a name unknown to me; that, as it appeared, of a family in the
+neighbourhood. I was not acquainted with them--but the cousin, my other
+self ...</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Visitors!' I exclaimed, in dismay. 'Do I know them? Will anybody have
+the great kindness to tell me if they are acquainted with me?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">They all laughed, and assured me that I was not acquainted with them.
+It was a family who had only lately settled in the neighbourhood,
+having exchanged a property in Jutland for one in Zealand, and with
+whom they were themselves but slightly acquainted. I recovered my
+spirits, and we turned our steps back towards the house. Gustav seized
+the opportunity to make his escape, the Justitsraad made no effort to
+detain him, and I was too much occupied with my own affairs to trouble
+myself at that moment about those of other people. The poor dear
+Jutland family had made a most unseasonable visit.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I thanked Heaven that I had never seen them before; and I cannot say
+that I should feel any regret at never beholding them more. They were a
+set of tiresome bores, who deprived me of the brightest afternoon of my
+life, and took the evening also; so that I had reason not to forget
+them in a hurry. My cousins had to amuse the silly daughters, the elder
+individuals on both sides discoursed together, and it fell to my share
+to entertain the son and his tutor. I looked a hundred times at my
+watch; I foretold that we were going to have thunder and lightning and
+rain in torrents--in short, I left no stone unturned to get rid of them
+early--but to no avail; I only reaped jeers and bantering from Hannè
+for my pains; and when at length they seemed themselves to think it
+expedient to go, she pressed them to stay longer, only to annoy me, and
+was mischievous enough to say, 'You surely will not refuse my cousin
+his first request to you,' thereby, as it were, making me pronounce my
+own doom. It was enough to put one into a rage.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We went to supper with all due formality, and for the first time I
+remembered that it was my duty to offer my arm to Jettè. She
+accompanied me like a lamb led to the sacrificial altar, and took the
+earliest opportunity of informing me that her headache had not yet left
+her. Headache is an absolute necessity for ladies; I do not know what
+they would do if no such thing as headache existed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was not possible to utter a word which could not be overheard by the
+tutor, who sat on the other side of her; at length it occurred to me to
+engage him in a conversation with Hannè, and with some difficulty I
+managed to do this. But fate had no compassion on me that evening.
+Presently I heard my real name pronounced by the father of the family
+who were visiting us; I felt as much shocked and alarmed as if he had
+shouted '<i>Seize that thief!</i>' I had nearly dropped my fork.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is a most respectable man, I can assure you; I recommend you to
+send all your corn to him; he is very fair in his dealings. I have
+known him for a long time.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was of my father he was speaking.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I shall consider about it,' said the Justitsraad; 'I do not know the
+house myself. And he has a son, you say. Is the son a partner?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It was intended that he should be,' said my personal enemy; 'but he is
+such a sad scamp that I think the father will hardly venture to take
+him into partnership. He played such foolish, wild pranks at home, that
+he was sent to Hamburg; but he did not go on a bit better there, as I
+have heard.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I am sorry for the poor father,' said the Justitsraad.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A good character is valuable,' thought I. 'Here is the second time
+to-day that my name has been stigmatized. Now, both my person and
+my name are contraband at ---- Court. Cruel fate!' I became quite
+silent--willingly would I also have taken refuge in a headache; there
+was enough to give me one, at any rate; and I took leave in the coldest
+and most distant manner of the party who had prolonged their visit on
+my account.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Pray come and see us soon with your betrothed,' said the old wretch
+who had made so free with my town character.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was with difficulty that I kept my temper, and poor Jettè seemed
+also to be on thorns.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What nice people they are!' exclaimed Hannè; 'the daughters have
+promised me to come here at least twice a week. But you were quite
+silent and stupid this evening, cousin.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It was what you wished me to be in the morning,' I replied; 'I only
+conducted myself according to your desire.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let me always find you so obedient. Goodnight! To-morrow I shall
+command you to be gay again. That becomes you best, after all.' She
+held out her pretty little hand as a token of reconciliation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And I beg of you to come into the grove to-morrow morning, after
+breakfast; I wish very much to have a little private conversation with
+you,' whispered Jettè, almost in tears, as I kissed her hand. She could
+hardly bring herself to pronounce the words; I saw what a pang it cost
+her. A warm pressure of her hand was my only reply; she little knew how
+friendly my feelings were towards her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'So my adventures are not finished even with this day,' said I to
+myself as I opened a little of the window in my room; 'shall I make up
+my mind to this delay, or shall I take myself off at once! What! leave
+poor Jettè in the lurch? Yet how can I help her? What is the use of my
+remaining longer here?--I shall but entangle myself still more deeply
+in a net of untruth, which will bring me into disgrace. Have I not had
+warnings enough--the gallows scene, my Hamburg reputation, and the many
+uneasy moments I have passed to-day? I am vexed and annoyed this
+evening; it will cost me less, therefore, perhaps, to recover my
+freedom tonight than to-morrow night; another day with Hannè will only
+make me feel the separation still more acutely. Then, in case of a
+discovery, how shall I excuse this prolonged mystification? By
+confessing my love for Hannè?--a pretty apology, to be sure! But am I
+<i>really</i> in love with her? <i>I</i> in love! and if I were, what would be
+the result? Is it at all likely that the Justitsraad would give his
+daughter to an impertinent puppy, who had made her acquaintance first
+by such an unwarrantable trick--to a &quot;sad scamp&quot; who had only made
+himself remarkable by his wild pranks? Or--shall I climb up yon tree,
+perch myself like a singing-bird before Jettè's window, make my
+confession to her, and then start on my pedestrian journey? Or--shall I
+go to bed, and let to-morrow take care of itself? I will consult my
+buttons--I will try my fate by them. Let me see: I will ... I will not
+... I will ... I will go to bed. ... Aha! I am to go to bed--chance has
+so decided it for me. But to go to bed in love! that such a catastrophe
+should happen to me! I had thought it was quite foreign to my nature;
+however, here I am, up to my ears in love. Ah! why was that little
+fairy, Hannè, so bewitching? why were the whole family so frank and
+pleasant? It was all their own fault; they forced the cousinship
+upon me. Heaven knows I came to them quite innocent of nefarious
+designs--fast asleep and snoring--perfectly honourable.... <i>Apropos</i> of
+honour, let me close the window; what Gustav and Jettè have to talk
+about is nothing to me--it would be very indelicate to play the
+listener--wounding to my better feelings. My better feelings! I can't
+help laughing at the idea of <i>my</i> being inconvenienced by any symptoms
+of honourable, or delicate, or <i>better</i> feelings. It is my cursed
+levity and folly that lead me astray; after all, there <i>are</i> honesty
+and uprightness in me, <i>au fond</i>, and my heart is in its right place. I
+will no longer be the slave of caprice and impulse. I will be something
+better than a mere madcap; and here, even here, they shall learn to
+speak of me with respect.... Ah! it will be a confounded long time,
+however, before I can teach them that ... and ... in the meantime, I
+positively am in love.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Having arrived at this conclusion, I betook myself to my couch, and
+closed my eyes, at the same time burying my ears in my pillows, not to
+overhear any portion of the discourse which was to be carried on about
+one o'clock in the morning, on the outside of my window, and also the
+sooner to dream of Hannè. I succeeded in both, for I heard or saw
+nothing whatsoever of the two unfortunate lovers, and I dreamed of
+Hannè the livelong night. The morning was far advanced, when Thomas
+thrust his head into my room, and rated me for being as heavy a
+slumberer as one of the seven sleepers;--the little wretch! I was at
+that moment swinging with Hannè, and would have given the wealth of the
+East India Company to have been permitted to end my dream undisturbed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When I entered the breakfast-room they were all at table. Jettè looked
+very pale, but she allowed that her headache was better, though she
+said she still felt far from well. Hannè and her father teased me
+unmercifully about the visitors of the day before, who had put me so
+much out of humour, and about my predictions of a thunderstorm
+wherewith I endeavoured to drive them away. 'But you are quite an
+ignoramus in regard to the weather, cousin; that I perceived,' said
+Hannè, 'I shall present you with a barometer on your birthday, so that
+you may not make such mistakes again as that of yesterday evening.
+Which is the important day?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is quite old-fashioned to keep birthdays, Hannè; that custom has
+been long since exploded,' said I, 'and therefore I am not going to
+tell you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But we are very old-fashioned here, and you will be expected to do as
+we do in respect to keeping birthdays. First, let me refresh your
+memory. When is my birthday?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'On the 12th of November you will be seventeen years of age.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Right. And Jettè's? How old will she be her next birthday?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was a trying examination, but it was well deserved; why had I not
+taken myself off the night before, when I could so well have made my
+escape?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Come, begin; tell us Jettè's birthday, and my father's, and my
+mother's? Let us have them all at once. Now we shall see whether you
+are skilled in your almanac.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Are you seriously bent on this examination? Do you fancy I have
+forgotten one of them?' I asked, in an offended tone. 'I will not
+answer such questions.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This was one way of escaping. When do people most easily take offence?
+Answer: When they are in the wrong.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I see how it is,' said Hannè; 'as it annoys you to be asked if you are
+betrothed, it probably annoys you to be expected to remember the
+birthday of her to whom you are engaged. Only think,' she added,
+addressing the rest of the party, 'he does not wear his betrothal-ring,
+because he does not like answering any question to which his having it
+on his finger might give rise. As if it were a question of conscience.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'So it may be, sometimes,' I replied. 'But since questioning is the
+order of the day, I beg to ask why <i>you</i> wear that little ring on your
+finger?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I never gratify impertinent curiosity,' said the little devil,
+colouring up to the very roots of her hair. She seemed very much vexed,
+and turned angrily away.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Now--now--children! can you never agree?' said the Justitsraad. 'You
+two will be getting into quarrels every moment, that I foresee; you
+resemble each other too much; it is from the absolute similarity
+between you that you cannot be in peace.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You flatter me very much, uncle,' said I; 'would that it were really
+so.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I say nothing of the kind,' cried Hannè; 'I beg to decline the
+compliment. Gentlemen full of whims are my aversion. But, happily for
+both of us, you are not engaged to me. Jettè is much too good--she will
+put up with your bad habits.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè smiled kindly to her, and that seemed immediately to appease her
+wrath. She ran to her sister, kissed her, and said, 'For your sake I
+will bear with him; but believe me, you will not make an endurable
+husband of him if you do not begin in time to drive his caprices out of
+him. He should be accustomed to do as he is bid, and answer the
+questions that are put to him.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Both Jettè and myself turned our faces away to conceal our confusion.
+Hannè held out her hand to me. 'Do you repent of your sins?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'With my whole heart.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Will you beg pardon, and promise henceforth to be better?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes. I confess that I am a great sinner, but I humbly beg pardon, and
+will try to do better for the future.' So saying, I pressed a long,
+long kiss on her hand; I could hardly get my lips away from it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'So--that is enough. Now go and beg Jettè's pardon, because you have
+been naughty in her presence; and,' she added, 'kiss her hand
+prettily.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I did so.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Very well. But I don't think you have ever kissed her as your
+betrothed yet. Let me see you go through that ceremony, properly too.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Poor Jettè became crimson at this challenge, which did not in the least
+embarrass me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I felt that it was going a little too far, but what could I do? Dear
+reader! I was compelled to kiss the young lady--do not judge of me too
+severely because I did it. But I obeyed the command in as formal a
+manner as possible; it was scarcely a kiss, yet it burned on my lips
+like fire; as to how it burned my conscience--well, I will say nothing
+of that.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is really quite timid,' exclaimed Hannè, who stood by with her
+hands folded, watching the performance of her command; 'I did not
+expect such an assured young gentleman to be so ceremonious; one would
+think it were his first essay!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And peace being now restored and sealed,' said the Justitsraad, 'I
+hope it will be a Christian, a universal, and an eternal peace, both
+for the present and the future; that is to say, at least till you fall
+out again. And in order that such may not be the case for a few hours,
+we will leave the ladies, nephew, and pay a visit to the new horse I
+bought the other day. We shall see if you are as good a judge of horses
+as you are of the Hamburg theatricals.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You really should give poor Carl some peace,' said my considerate
+aunt; 'you will make him quite tired of us all. One insists
+upon catechizing him as to dates, another as to his veterinary
+knowledge--there is only wanting that I should attack him about
+culinary lore. You shall not be so plagued by them, Carl: as to the
+horse it was my husband's own choosing; and if you should not instantly
+discover, by looking at its teeth, that it is young and handsome, and
+has every possible good quality, you will be called an ignoramus.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Any how he may be called that,' said Hannè; 'but I forgot, peace has
+been proclaimed, so let my words be considered as unspoken.'</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+<h3>PART III.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">About an hour before luncheon I stole away into the wood to wait for
+Jettè, and it was with a beating heart I listened for any approaching
+footsteps; had I not kissed her, I should have felt easier in my own
+mind. Ought I now to confess to her the impositions of which I had been
+guilty? Perhaps it would be better to do so ... But the kiss ... would
+she forgive that?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I discerned her white dress a good way off, and I almost felt inclined
+to hide myself, and let her take the trouble of finding me; but again I
+bethought me that it was not the part of the cavalier to be shamefaced
+in a secret assignation. I therefore went forward to meet her. As soon
+as she caught a glimpse of me, she stopped, and suddenly changed
+colour. The poor girl--how sorry I was for her! She could not utter one
+word. I led her to a rural seat near.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Cousin,' at length she said, 'it must doubtless surprise you, and
+naturally so too, that I should in such a secret manner have requested
+an interview with you. If you could conceive how painful this moment is
+to me, I am sure you would compassionate me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My dear young lady, I owe you an explanation, and I thank you for
+having given me an opportunity ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dear cousin, be not offended with me--do not speak to me in that
+distant and ceremonious manner--it makes the step more painful which I
+am about to take, and which cannot be longer delayed. It is I who owe
+you an explanation--alas! an explanation that will deprive me of your
+esteem and your friendship. I am very unhappy.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Do not weep so, dear cousin; you cannot imagine how it grieves me to
+see you so miserable. Believe me, I have your happiness sincerely at
+heart. You little know what delight it would give me if I were able to
+say to myself that I had contributed to it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The double signification which my words might bear drew forth more
+tears. Jettè cried, without making any reply.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'There is comfort for every affliction,' I continued. 'God has
+mercifully placed the antidote alongside of the poisonous plant. Tell
+me, at least, what distresses you--let me at least endeavour to console
+you, even if I cannot assist you, and do not doubt my good will, though
+my power may be but limited.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake, Carl, do not speak so kindly to me,' cried Jettè,
+with some impetuosity. 'Do not speak thus--I have not deserved it. If
+you would be compassionate, say that you hate me--that you abhor me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And if I said so, I should only deceive you. No, Jettè, my
+complaisance cannot go so far.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You would hate me--you would despise me!' she exclaimed, sobbing, 'if
+you only knew ... oh! I shall never be able to tell ... if you only
+knew ... how unfortunate I am ... how I ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dear Jettè,' said I, in some agitation, 'you have come to enter into
+an explanation with me; allow me to assist your confession, and help to
+lighten the burden which weighs so heavily on your heart. You have
+come, I know, to break off with me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'<i>You know!</i>' she exclaimed, in consternation. And she seemed as if she
+were going to faint. 'Take pity on me, Carl; leave me for a few
+minutes; I dare not look you in the face.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She buried her own face in her pocket-handkerchief, and wept bitterly.
+I kissed her hand, and left her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Very much out of spirits myself, I wandered to and fro under the trees.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How is all this to end?' said I to myself; 'the poor girl will fret
+herself to death if she cannot have her Gustav, and get rid of her
+cousin. Gustav is a fine fellow, and a very good match; even the father
+allows that. The cousin must be an idiot to let himself be betrothed by
+his father's orders to a girl he knows nothing about--and a tiresome
+one too, according to what is reported of him. Jettè is a girl with a
+great deal of feeling--but he must be a clod with none; he can't care
+in the least for her, or he would have been here long ere this. He
+shall not have her. What, if I were to advise them to run away an hour
+or two before I take myself off? or, suppose we were all three to elope
+together? Nonsense! How can I think of such folly? Poor girl! it would
+melt a heart of stone to see her crying there. What if I were to stay
+and play the cousin a little longer--formally renounce her hand--give
+her up to Gustav? I should like to act such a magnanimous part ... and
+when it was all well over, and the real cousin arrived, to let him find
+that he had come on a fool's errand, and go back to nurse his cold ...
+or, it might be better to drop him a line by the post to save a scene?
+I'll do it. By Jove! I'll do it! The god of love himself must have sent
+me here; no man in the wide world could do the thing better than
+myself. But what right have I to decide thus the fate of another man--a
+man whom I have never even beheld? Right! It is time to talk about
+<i>right</i>, forsooth, after I have been doing nothing but wrong for
+thirty-six hours. No, no, let conscience stand to one side, for the
+present at least; it has no business in this affair. I have acted most
+unwarrantably, I know, but I will make up for my misdeeds by one good
+deed--one blessing will I take with me; and when I am gone, two happy
+persons at least will remember me kindly, and Hannè will be less harsh
+in her judgment of my conduct, since it will have brought about her
+sister's happiness. Let me set my shoulders to the wheel--there is no
+time to lose. No, they shall not all execrate me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè was still sitting on the bench where I had left her. I placed
+myself beside her, and tried to reassure her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I said I owed you some explanation; allow me in a few words to tell
+you all you wish to communicate. You do not care for me--you love
+Gustav Holm--you will be wretched if you cannot find some good pretext
+for breaking off the match with me--you have many reasons to love him,
+none to love me--you want to let me know how the matter stands, and to
+give me a basket,<a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> but to do it in so amicable a manner, that you
+hope I will accept it quietly like a good Christian, and not make too
+much fuss about it. All this is what you would have told me sooner or
+later. Am I not right, Jettè? or is there more you would have entrusted
+to me?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She hid her face with her hands.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My window was partly open the other night,' I added. 'I overheard your
+conversation with Gustav Holm, and I knew immediately, of course, what
+I had to expect. You will believe, I hope, that I have sufficient
+feeling not to wish to force myself upon one who cannot care for me.
+Forgive me that I have caused you any uneasiness; it was against my own
+will. I would much rather have convinced you sooner that you have no
+enemy in me, but, on the contrary, a sincere friend.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dearest, best Carl! Noblest of men! You restore me to freedom--you
+restore me to life! The Almighty has heard my prayers! You do not know
+how earnestly I have prayed that you might find me detestable.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Therein your prayers have not been heard, Jettè,' said I. 'If you
+could have loved me, I could not have wished a better fate. I love you
+and Hannè much more than you think.' I felt that every word I had just
+spoken was positive truth. Jettè wrung my hand.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You have removed a mountain from my heart,' she replied. 'Would that I
+could thank you as you deserve!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was quite ashamed of all the thanks she poured out, and all the
+gratitude she expressed. It is an unspeakable pleasure to promote the
+happiness of one's fellow-creatures; it is an agreeable feeling which I
+would not exchange for any other.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When the first burst of joy was over, Jettè consulted with me how it
+would be best to break the matter to her father. I told her of his good
+opinion of Gustav, and built upon it the brightest hopes.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè shook her head. 'He will insist that I shall keep my promise,'
+said she, mournfully. 'He will not relinquish a plan which he has
+cherished for so many years. How dreadful it is for me to disappoint
+him!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Very well, take me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh! do not jest with me, dear Carl. My only dependence is on you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I shall take my departure immediately, and leave a letter renouncing
+my engagement to you. That will go far to help you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake, stay! You are the only one who can speak to him,'
+said she. 'You have already acquired much influence over him.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Then let us proceed at once to the <i>éclaircissement</i>. I shall tell him
+that I have discovered that your heart belongs to Gustav Holm, not to
+me; and that I cannot accept any woman's hand unless her heart
+accompanies it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh! what a terrible moment it will be when that is said! I tremble at
+the very idea of it. You do not know what he can be when his anger is
+thoroughly roused.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Then would you prefer to elope with Gustav? Like a loyal cousin, I
+will assist you in your escape.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That would enrage him still more; he has always been so kind and
+gentle to me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I wish we had Gustav here, that something might be determined on.
+These anticipated terrible moments are never so dreadful in reality as
+in expectation; you have had a proof of this in the one you have just
+gone through.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gustav will be here soon; he knows that I had requested this private
+conversation with you ... he will meet me here in the wood ... he will
+come when--when....' She stopped, and blushed deeply.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He will come when I am gone,' I said, laughing. 'That was very
+sensibly arranged, but the arrangement must be annulled nevertheless,
+and he must make the effort of showing himself while I am here. I dare
+say he is not many miles off--perhaps within hail. Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm!'
+I roared at the top of my voice. 'He knows my manner of inviting him,
+and you will see that he will speedily present himself. Good morning,
+Mr. Holm!' I added.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For God's sake do not shout so loudly, you will be overheard,' said
+Jettè. 'Oh! how will all this end?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Uncommonly well,' thought I. 'Here comes the lover.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gustav came, almost rushing up; his countenance and manner expressed
+what was passing in his mind, namely, uncertainty whether he was to
+look on me as a friend or a foe.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gustav--Carl!...' exclaimed Jettè, sinking back on the bench. She
+found it impossible to command her voice; but her eyes, which dwelt
+with affection on us both, filled up the pause, and expressed what
+words would not.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I took his hand and led him up to Jettè. He knelt at her feet, she
+threw her arms round his neck, while I bent over them, and beheld my
+work with sincere satisfaction. There was a rustling in the bushes, and
+Hannè and her father stood suddenly before us! The lovers did not
+observe them, although I did my utmost by signs to rouse their
+attention.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What the devil is all this?' exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a voice of
+thunder. 'What does this mean? Carl, what are you doing?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I am bestowing my cousinly benediction and full absolution and
+remission of sins, as you ought to do, my worthy uncle,' I replied, as
+cheerfully as I possibly could. It was necessary to appear to keep up
+one's courage. Gustav rose hastily, and Jettè threw herself into her
+sister's arms.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My dear sir!' said Gustav, imploringly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Mr. Holm!' cried the Justitsraad, drawing himself up.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dear uncle!' I exclaimed, interrupting them both, 'allow me to speak.
+Gustav adores Jettè, and she returns his love. There can be no more
+question about me; I am her cousin, and nothing either more or less. I
+am not such an idiot as to wish to force a woman to be my wife whose
+heart is given to another. I have dissolved the engagement between
+Jettè and myself, deliberately, and after due reflection. I <i>could</i> not
+make her happy, and I <i>will not</i> make her unhappy. There stands the
+bridegroom, who only awaits your blessing. Give it, dear uncle, and let
+this day become the happiest of my life, for it is the first time I
+ever had an opportunity of doing good.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Heavens and earth! a pretty piece of work, indeed!' The Justitsraad
+was as blustering as a German, and would on no account allow himself to
+hear reason. A great deal of his anger was naturally directed against
+me. I tried to smooth matters down. Jettè wept and sobbed. It was a
+hundred to one against us. 'I shall write to your father this very
+day,' he said, at length; 'he only can absolve me from my vow; but that
+he will not do--that he certainly will not do on any account. This
+marriage has been his greatest wish, for I do not know how many years,
+as well as mine.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But he will be obliged to do it,' said I; 'this very afternoon I shall
+take my departure, and you shall never hear of me more. My father's
+power over me by no means extends so far as you seem to fancy. I will
+not make Jettè miserable, merely to indulge his whims. Dear uncle, let
+me persuade you to believe that your contract is null and void: give
+your blessing to Gustav and Jettè, and leave me to settle the matter
+with my father. Feelings cannot be forced. Jettè does not care for me,
+and you ought not, in this affair, to be less liberal than I am.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Liberal--liberal indeed! He is always prating about such folly,'
+exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a rage. 'It is that abominable Berlin
+liberality that has entirely ruined him.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Berlin liberality! It was the first time I had ever heard <i>that</i>
+bewailed. But what absurd things do people not stumble upon when they
+are angry, and speak without reflection.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, it was Berlin that ruined me, according to my uncle, and so
+utterly ruined me ... that I am betrothed in Berlin, and cannot be
+betrothed again. It is against the law both here and in Prussia to have
+two wives.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This was an inspiration prompted by the exigency of the occasion; what
+did one untruth more or less signify? I was a Jesuit at that moment,
+and excused myself with Loyola's doctrine--that the motive sanctifies
+the means.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Betrothed!' exclaimed the Justitsraad--'betrothed in Berlin! Make a
+fool of me! Hark ye, Carl ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Betrothed!' interrupted Hannè. 'Upon my word, you are a fine fellow,
+cousin. That is the reason he does not wear Jettè's betrothal-ring. And
+I to be standing here admiring his magnanimity!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè silently held out her hand to me from one side, Gustav from the
+other; these were well-meant congratulations.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes, betrothed,' I continued. 'Abuse me at your will, hate me, curse
+me, say and do what you please, but betrothed I am, and betrothed I
+must remain.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This was a settler. The wrath of the Justitsraad cooled by degrees;
+that really kind-hearted man could not withstand so many anxious looks
+and earnest prayers; and fear of all the gossip and ridicule to which
+his holding out longer under the circumstances might give rise, also
+had effect upon him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are a sad scapegrace, Carl,' he said, 'and Jettè may be thankful
+she is not to have you for her husband; but she shall not be left in
+the lurch on account of your foolish freaks.' He took her hand and
+placed it in Gustav's, saying, 'You must make up to me for the failure
+of those hopes which I have cherished through so many years. But,' he
+added, with a sigh, 'what will my brother say when he hears this
+history?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè cast herself upon his neck; she almost fainted in his arms; the
+rest of us surrounded him. There was no end to embraces and thanks.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And now let us hasten to my mother,' said Hannè; 'the revolution shall
+end there. I would not be in your place, cousin, for any money; you
+will be soundly rated.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You shall be my advocate, Hannè, and shall defend my case; it is only
+under your protection that I dare appear before my aunt. Take me under
+your wing--I positively will not leave you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I slipped my arm round her waist, and I think, if I remember aright, I
+was going to kiss her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hands off, Mr. Cousin! Now that you are not to be my brother-in-law
+you must not make so free. Remember your intended in Berlin.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Alas! to help others I had injured myself. Hannè, her father, and I
+walked on first, the lovers followed us a little way behind. As we came
+along we met some of the peasantry on the estate going to their work.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hollo! good people!' cried I to them, 'this evening we must be all
+merry, and drink your master's good health, and dance on Miss Jettè's
+betrothal-day. Hurrah for Miss Jettè and Mr. Holm!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hurrah!' cried the people. And the declaration was made.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Be quiet, you good-for-nothing!' cried the Justitsraad, 'and don't
+turn everything topsy-turvy in a place that does not belong to you. A
+feast, forsooth--drink my health, indeed! It is easy for you to be
+generous at another's man's expense. I declare the fellow is determined
+to take the whip-hand of us all.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My aunt heard the noise, and came out on the steps to ask what was the
+matter. I crept behind Hannè and hid myself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A complete revolution, my dear, which that precious fellow Carl has
+brought about. When the luncheon-bell had rung for some time in vain,
+without their making their appearance, Hannè and I went to look for
+Jettè and Carl in the wood; I expected to have found him at Jettè's
+feet; but instead of him there lay another, and he was actually busying
+himself in making up a match between them. Truly, it is an edifying
+story. Come in, and I will tell you all about it, and you will see to
+what purpose he has travelled. He has betrothed himself in Berlin,
+fancy--and very probably in Hamburg, in Paris, in Vienna, wherever he
+may have been. He is a fine fellow! A pretty viper we were nourishing
+in our hearts!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My aunt was easily reconciled to the course of events, and she gave the
+young couple her maternal blessing. But it was me whom they all wanted
+for a son-in-law and a brother-in-law. It was very flattering to be
+such a favourite; however, as I was not to be had, they received Gustav
+(for whom they had a great regard) with open arms. We all became as
+sprightly as a parcel of children, and I would have been very happy had
+not the many affectionate good wishes for the future welfare of myself
+and my unknown <i>fiancée</i> in Berlin fallen like burning drops of molten
+lead on my soul, and had I not had constantly before me the remembrance
+that I must soon leave this pleasant circle, and for ever! My
+proposition to spend that day entirely by ourselves was agreed to, and
+orders were given to admit no visitors.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let me but live this day undisturbed to the end,' thought I, 'and I
+shall demand nothing more from Fortune, which has hitherto been so kind
+to me.' It was a day, the like of which I have never spent. You will,
+perhaps, think it strange, dear reader, that my conscience should be so
+much at ease; but I must frankly confess that the good action I had
+accomplished, and the happiness I had bestowed, had entirely had the
+effect of quieting that internal monitor. Jettè was right when she said
+that I had already obtained some influence over her father; for I can
+positively assert that my sudden and public announcement of the state
+of affairs had been taken in good part. I was all activity and
+excitement; and my exuberant mirth, which was almost without bounds,
+did not permit a serious word, scarcely a serious thought. I obliged
+them all to exert themselves, and fly about in order to make
+preparations for a little dance in a round summer-house at one end of
+the garden: the Justitsraad had to send to the village for two
+fiddlers; his wife had to give out sheets and curtains to make hangings
+for the walls; the young ladies wove garlands; Gustav and I
+manufactured chandeliers out of barrel-hoops and vegetables. Everybody
+was set to work, and before the evening the prettiest little ball-room
+that could be was arranged; and the people on the estate declared they
+had never seen anything so splendid before; 'but, to be sure, there had
+never been a betrothal feast in the family before.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are a clever fellow, Carl,' said the Justitsraad; 'you have got
+this up so prettily and so well, that one might almost give a real
+ball. Were it not that I should have my wife and children up in arms
+against me, I really fancy I should like a dance. But there would be
+too many difficulties in the way.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hannè flew up to her father, and hugged him in her joy; he was taken at
+his word, and nothing else was talked of but the ball, which in the
+course of eight days was to be given to celebrate Jettè's betrothal.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'We will set about writing the invitations at once,' said Hannè; 'there
+is an hour or more yet before the people are to begin to dance, and we
+have nothing to do. Let us fetch pen, ink, and paper; I will dictate,
+and Carl shall write; it will be done directly, almost, and early
+to-morrow morning we shall send off the invitations. So, all the
+difficulties are overcome. Now, cousin, mend your pen; you write a good
+hand,' said Hannè.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Write! No, that I won't,' thought I. 'I shall take good care not to
+betray myself by that.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gustav can write what you want; I have hurt my hand,' said I, looking
+round; but Gustav and Jettè had both disappeared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How? Let me see,' said Hannè. 'It is not true. Gustav and Jettè have
+gone into the garden; we must let them alone; so you shall come, and
+you may as well do it at once.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But I have really hurt my finger, Hannè; it is extremely painful. I
+shall not be able to make the most wretched pothooks--my finger is
+quite swollen.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Or rather you are extremely lazy, and won't take the trouble,' said
+Hannè. 'But at least you shall help me to write a list of the people to
+be invited, before I forget half of them; I have got them all in my
+head just now, and your pothooks are good enough for that. Begin now!
+Put down first our neighbours who were here yesterday. Kammerraad<a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a>
+Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the tutor. Have
+you got them down?' Hannè looked over my shoulder at the paper. 'But
+what in the world stands there?' she asked.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Kammerraad Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the
+tutor,' I replied. 'These are Greek characters, Hannè; I can write
+nothing but Greek with this finger.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But I can't read Greek, you refractory monster!' cried Hannè,
+dolefully.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You must learn it, then, Hannè. Task for task; if you force me to
+write the list, I will force you to read Greek.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That's right, my boy!' exclaimed the Justitsraad, laughing heartily.
+'If one gives the girls an inch, they are sure to take an ell; they
+would take the command of us altogether, if they could.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">After a great deal of joking and foolery, we accomplished making out
+the list, and the last name given was that of my good uncle, the worthy
+pastor, whom it was my purpose to visit, and whose guest I would be
+before the sun rose on the following day.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Do you know him, too?' I asked, with a feeling of mingled surprise and
+annoyance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He confirmed both Jettè and me,' said Hannè; 'he is an excellent man,
+therefore I kept him to the last. You can hardly imagine how much we
+are all attached to him. If ever I marry, he shall perform the
+ceremony, I think you must remember him; at least, you saw him in this
+house more than once when you were here as a child.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Very true. I think I recollect him; he is a tall, old man, with a
+hooked nose. Yes, I remember him distinctly.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This time, at least, I had no need to help myself out with lies! In a
+situation such as mine, one seizes with avidity every opportunity to
+speak truth; it is so very refreshing when one is up to the ears in
+untruth.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Our chandeliers answered their purpose exceedingly well: the fiddlers
+scraped loudly and merrily, and the floor shook under the powerful
+springs and somewhat weighty footing of the country swains and damsels
+who were dancing in honour of Miss Jettè's betrothal. I had taken a
+turn in the waltz with each of the village belles, and danced that
+furious <i>Fangedands</i> with Hannè--a dance that one must have seen the
+peasantry execute, in order to form an idea how violent it is. Glee and
+good-humour reigned around, and even the Justitsraad entered heartily
+into the joyous spirit which seemed to prevail. And, although from time
+to time, he whispered to me, 'I ought to be very angry at you--you have
+played me a pretty trick,' yet he was not in the slightest degree
+angry; on the contrary, he submitted with an extremely good grace to
+what he could not help. But I--I who had been the originator and cause
+of all this gaiety and gladness--I felt only profound melancholy, and
+stole away to indulge in it amidst the most lonely walks of the garden,
+or in the wood beyond. The hour of my departure was drawing rapidly
+near.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Perhaps you may imagine, dear reader, that it would be impossible for
+me to be sad or serious. Could you have beheld me wandering about the
+grounds alone, that September evening, when every one else was dancing,
+you would have found that you were mistaken in your opinion of me. I
+ascended the sloping hill, on which stands Hannè's favourite swing. By
+day the view from thence is beautiful; and even at night it is a place
+not to be despised. The garden, stretching out darkly immediately
+beneath, looked like an impenetrable wood. The moon was in its first
+quarter, and therefore shed but a faint uncertain light over objects at
+a little distance, while its trembling rays fell more brightly on the
+far-off waves of the Baltic Sea, making them appear nearer than they
+really were. On the right, the walls and chimneys of the dwelling-house
+gleamed through the openings of the trees; on the left, light blazed
+from the illuminated summer-house, whence came the sound of a hundred
+feet, tramping in time to the overpowered music. All else was as still
+around me as it generally is in the evening in the country, where the
+occasional bark of some distant dog, with its echo resounding from the
+wood, is the only sign of life. Behind me lay the pretty grove; and
+above my head stood the swing, on one of whose tall supporters my name
+was fastened in derision.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Had you seen how carefully I detached the piece of paper from the wood,
+and placing myself in the swing where I had sat with Hannè, allowed
+myself to rock gently backwards and forwards, while I gazed on the
+strange name that had become dearer to me than my own, because <i>she</i>
+had pronounced it and written it, you would have perceived that I also
+could have my sad and serious moments. But people of my temperament
+seek to avoid observation when a fit of blue-devils seizes them, and
+only go forth among their fellow-beings when the fit has subsided.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè and Gustav took me by surprise. They had passed in silence
+through the garden, and arm-in-arm they had as silently ascended the
+little eminence.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What, you here! in solitude, and so serious, dear cousin?' said Jettè;
+'you look quite out of spirits. Everyone connected with me should be
+happy on this my betrothal day, and I must reckon you among the nearest
+of those--you, whom I have to thank for my happiness. Come and take a
+share in the joy you have created; if I did not know better, I might be
+inclined to fancy that you are grieving over the irreparable loss you
+have had in me: you really do assume such a miserable countenance.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Do not ridicule me, Jettè; I have perhaps just lost more than I can
+ever be compensated for.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is well that a certain person in Berlin cannot overhear what
+politeness induces you to say in Zealand,' replied Jettè. 'But a truce
+to compliments at present, they only cast a shade of doubt over your
+truthfulness: keep them for those who know less of your affairs than I
+do, and let us speak honestly to each other. In reality, you are glad
+not to become more nearly connected with us than you are already: you
+cannot deny that.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Do you think so? And if that were far from the fact?--if, on the
+contrary, that were the cause of my melancholy--the knowledge of the
+impossibility of my being so--what would you say?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I should be under the necessity of pitying you very much, poor
+fellow!' said Jettè, laughing. 'But who would have thought that this
+morning?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You may indeed pity me, Jettè, for when I leave this place my heart
+and my thoughts will remain behind, with you--with all your dear
+family; and I must leave you soon.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Soon! Are you going abroad again?' asked Gustav.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Two days after your arrival among us!' exclaimed Jettè; 'no, no, we
+cannot agree to that.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And yet it must be,' I said. 'I shall be gone, perhaps, sooner than
+you think. I have my own peculiar manner of coming and going, and ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But what whim is this, Carl?' asked Jettè, interrupting me. 'Did you
+not come to spend some time with us? You may depend on it my father
+will not hear of your going, though our wishes and requests may have no
+influence over you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I am compelled to go, dear Jettè; I must leave you for some time.
+Perhaps we shall meet again ... but should that be impossible, I shall
+write you, if you will permit me. And when I am gone, will you take my
+part, if I should be made the subject of animadversion? Let me hope,
+dear Jettè, that you and Gustav will think kindly of me, and that on
+the anniversary of this day you will not forget me when you stroll
+together through that wood which was this morning the scene of my
+dismissal.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">They both shook hands with me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But Carl, I hardly understand you,' said Jettè; 'you are so grave, so
+strange; you speak as if we were about to part for ever. Have you any
+idea of settling in Berlin?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I beseech you, Jettè, speak not of Berlin--that was a subterfuge, a
+story, which came suddenly into my mind; I could not pitch upon any
+better excuse wherewith to upset your father's plan in a hurry, or I
+would not have lied against myself. I assure you I have never put my
+foot in Berlin, nor am I betrothed to anyone.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè stepped back a few paces, and fixed on me a look of surprise and
+earnest inquiry.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What!' she exclaimed, 'you have never been at Berlin? You have told
+what is not true about yourself to help me? You are not engaged?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No; as certainly as that I stand at this moment in your presence, I am
+not engaged, and have never attempted to become so. I have only put
+myself in the way of receiving one refusal in my life,' I added,
+smiling, as Jettè began to look suspiciously at me, 'and that was this
+morning in yonder wood. Were it not superfluous, I could with ease give
+you the most minute particulars.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was a short silence; then Jettè exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are a noble creature, Carl; may God reward you, for I cannot. But
+day and night I will pray for your welfare.' She was much affected, her
+voice faltered. Gustav shook my hand cordially.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My dear friends,' said I, 'do not accord to me more praise than I
+deserve, for the higher one is praised the greater is the fall when
+opinions change. Hear me before you promise to pray for me, and let me
+tell you how ... but no, no, let me keep silence--let me say nothing.
+Pardon my seeming caprice. Promise me that you will be my sincere and
+unshaken friends, and let us go and dance again. May I have the honour
+of engaging the bride for the next waltz?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I had been on the point of confessing all my foolish pranks, and how I
+was imposing on them; but false shame prevented me. Was it better or
+not? I scarcely knew myself. I begged them to accompany me back to the
+summer-house. In the alley of pine-trees which led to it we met Hannè,
+who, according to her own account, was looking about for us; she almost
+ran against us before she perceived us.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But, good Heavens I have you all become deaf? I have been calling you
+over and over, without receiving the slightest answer, and now I find
+you gliding about in deep silence, like ghosts, scaring people's lives
+out of them. I suppose Carl has been amusing himself, as usual, with
+mischief, and has been haunting you two poor lovers, and disturbing
+you. Do you not know, Carl, that you have no sort of business to be--in
+short, are quite an incumbrance where Jettè and Holm are? Now answer
+me--do you know this, or do you not, Carl?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No,' I replied, shortly.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'&quot;<i>No!</i>&quot; Is that a fitting answer to a lady? Be so good as to reply
+politely. I must take upon myself to teach you good manners before you
+go abroad again, else we shall have reason to be ashamed of you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And then she began to hum the song of 'Die Wiener in Berlin:'</p>
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">
+'In Berlin, sagt er,<br>
+Musz du fein, sagt er,<br>
+Und gescheut, sagt er,<br>
+Immer sein, sagt er....'</p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="normal">'I wish Berlin were at the devil, Hannè!' I exclaimed, interrupting
+her; 'that is my most earnest desire, believe me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A very Christian wish, and expressed in choicely elegant phraseology,
+everyone must admit.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Only think, Hannè, he has <i>never</i> been at Berlin, and is <i>not</i>
+betrothed there. Carl only made these assertions because he could think
+of no other way of making my father agree to our wishes,' said Jettè,
+almost crying.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What! he is not engaged? He has never been in Berlin? Well! he is the
+greatest story-teller I ever met. Did he not stand up, and make
+positive declarations of these events, with the most cool audacity? It
+is too bad. Lying is the worst of all faults--it is the root of all
+evil.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, my little Hannè, idleness is the root of all evil.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I dare say you abound in that root too. But I don't think you can ever
+have studied the early lesson-books, from which all children should be
+instructed. I shall myself hear you your catechism to-morrow, and
+rehearse to you the first principles of right and wrong; so that when
+you leave us, you may be a little better acquainted with the doctrines
+of Christianity than you are at present.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But he leaves us to-morrow, Hannè; he has assured us of that.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'We positively will not allow him to make his escape,' said Hannè. 'At
+night we shall lock him in his room, and during the day Thomas shall
+watch him. That boy sticks as fast as a burr,--he won't easily shake
+him off.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But suppose I were to get out by the window? You cannot well fasten
+that on the outside.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And break your neck, forsooth. No, no; that way of making your exit
+won't answer.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, people can climb up much higher than my window, and descend again
+without breaking their necks,' said I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè and Gustav coloured violently.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, we can discuss that point to-morrow. This evening, at least, you
+will remain with us, on account of its being Jettè's betrothal day.
+Come, give me your arm, and let us take a walk; it is charming, yonder
+in the garden--within the summer-house one is like to faint from the
+heat.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We strolled on, two and two, in the sweet moonlight; sometimes each
+pair sauntering at a little distance from the other--Hannè and I
+chatting busily, while Gustav and Jettè often walked in the silence of
+a happiness too new and too deep for the language of every-day life.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Is it really true that you are going to leave us?' asked Hannè.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is, indeed, too true; I must quit this place.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why? if I may venture to ask. But do not tell me any untruth.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Because I have been here too long already--because a longer residence
+among you all ... near you, dear Hannè, would but destroy my peace.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I expressly desired you not to tell me any lies. Good Heavens! is it
+impossible for you to speak truth two minutes together?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And is it impossible for you to speak seriously for two minutes
+together? What I have just said is the honest truth.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Humph! However, tell me, is it true or not true that you are engaged
+in Berlin? Who have you hoaxed--Jettè and me, or my father and mother?
+I beseech you speak truth this once.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'If any one is hoaxed, it is your father, Hannè; but at the moment I
+could think of nothing else to shake his determination, or I certainly
+should not have composed such a story, for telling which I blamed
+myself severely.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, of course I believe you! To make a fool of one's own excellent
+uncle! It is a sin that ought to lie very heavy on your conscience,
+Carl. It is almost as great a sin as to make fools of one's cousins.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is a sin from which I hope you will absolve me. Ah, Hannè! what
+has most distressed me was, that my character must have appeared
+dubious in your eyes. From the first moment I was wretched, because I
+could not tell you that it was only a pretended engagement.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I do not see what <i>I</i> have to do with your being betrothed in Berlin
+or not. As far as I am concerned, you might be betrothed in China, if
+you liked.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Your gaiety of temper makes you take everything lightly, and yet it is
+you who have taught me that life has serious moments. You have
+transformed me, Hannè; if you could only know what an influence the
+first sight of you, the night I arrived here, has exercised upon my
+fate ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Indeed! Do tell me all about it; what was the wondrous and fearful
+effect of the sight of me?' said Hannè, laughing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dear Hannè, without intending it, you have pitched upon the right
+words, in calling it &quot;wondrous and fearful.&quot; Yes, it will follow me
+like a heavy sentence from a judgment-seat, ever reproaching me with my
+thoughtlessness. Awake, and in dreams, will I implore forgiveness; I
+will kneel and pray for it. Look at me once more with that captivating
+glance which, yon evening, made me forget myself, and tell me that you
+will not hate me--loathe me--despise me: see, upon my knee I entreat
+one kind look--one kind word!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I had actually fallen on one knee before Hannè, and had seized her
+hand--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let my hand go, you are squeezing it, so that you quite hurt me. That
+is not at all necessary to the part you are acting. Get up, cousin; you
+will have green marks on your knees, and I can't endure to see men in
+such an absurd, old-fashioned plight. You should be thankful that it is
+no longer the mode, when one is making love in earnest, to fall down on
+one's knees. These pastoral attitudes are very ridiculous; they savour
+of a shepherd's crook, and a frisky lamb with red ribbon round its
+neck.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I arose quite crestfallen.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'At any rate I must allow that you promise to be a capital actor,'
+added Hannè. 'Next Christmas, when you come back, we shall get up some
+private theatricals: that will be charming! Last year we could not
+manage them, because we had no lover; Holm positively refused to act
+the part, unless I would undertake to be his sweetheart; and a play
+without love is like a ball without music.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hannè, let us speak seriously for once. I really am going away, and
+shall be gone, perhaps, before you expect it; for I hate farewell
+scenes. It is not without emotion that I can think of leaving my
+amiable cousins, and God only knows if we shall ever meet again. Laugh
+at me if you will, I cannot forbid your doing that; but believe me when
+I tell you that your image will be present with me wherever I may go,
+and ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You will travel in very good company, then,' said Hannè, interrupting
+me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let me take the happy hope with me that I shall live in your friendly
+remembrance. Sink the cousin if you choose, dear Hannè; cousinship is
+not worth much, and let the term <i>friend</i> supersede it. That is a
+voluntary tie, for which I should have to thank but your own feelings.
+It is as a friend that I shall think of you when I go from this dear
+place, and as a friend that your image will follow me throughout the
+world.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, it won't be very troublesome to you,' said Hannè. 'As to me, I
+don't happen to be in want of cousins, still less of friends. Let me
+see, in what office shall I instal you? Make a confidant of you? We do
+not employ any in our family; I am my own confidante: assuredly I could
+have none safer. I shall follow in this the example of my silent
+sister, who never gave me the slightest hint of her love for Gustav. A
+counsellor? Truly, such an accomplished fibber would make a trustworthy
+counsellor? No, I am afraid, if you throw up the post you hold, you
+will find it difficult to replace it by any other.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Very well, let me retain it then, but not as the gift of chance. You
+must yourself, of your own free will, bestow on me the title of your
+cousin, your chosen cousin: that is a distinction of which I shall be
+proud.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And will you, then, promise to come back at Christmas, and act plays
+with us?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I promise you into the bargain a summer representation, before autumn
+is over,' said I. 'The Fates only know if I shall preserve the dramatic
+talent I now have until winter.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I had caught a portion of Hannè 's gaiety, and my sentimental feelings,
+so much jeered at, shrank into the background.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Then I will dub you my cousin of cousins; and besides, on account of
+your many great services and merits, I will confer on you the
+distinguished title of my court story-teller.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And on the occasion of receiving this new title, I must, as in duty
+bound, kiss your hand; wherefore I remove this little brown glove,
+which henceforth shall be placed in my helmet, in token of my vassalage
+to a fair lady.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, stop! give up my glove, cousin--I cannot waste it upon you. It is
+a good new glove, without a single hole in it. Give it up, I tell you;
+the other will be of no use without it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She tried to snatch it from me, but I held it high above her head, and
+speedily managed to seize its fellow-glove.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You must redeem them, Hannè; a kiss for each of the pair is what I
+demand; and they are well worth it, for they are really nice new
+gloves. I will not part with them for less.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I think you must be a fool, Carl, to fancy for one moment that I would
+kiss you to recover my own gloves. No, I will die first,' she
+exclaimed, in a tone of comic indignation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In answer to her mock heroics, I apostrophized the gloves in glowing
+terms, finishing with--'On your smooth perfumed surface I press my
+burning lips. Tell your fair mistress what I dare not say to her, what
+I at this moment confide to you.' I kissed the gloves.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, well, give me back my gloves and I will let you kiss me,' said
+Hannè. 'But it shall be the slightest atom of a kiss, such as they give
+in the Christmas games, the most economical possible; it must not be
+worth more than four marks, for that was the price of the gloves. Now,
+are you not ashamed to take a kiss valued so low?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, I will take it. But the value I put upon it is very different, for
+the slightest kiss from your lips, Hannè, is worth at least a million.
+You will make me a <i>millionnaire</i>, Hannè.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I gave her the gloves, and was just on the point of kissing her, when
+the voice of the Justitsraad broke on the silence around, calling,
+'Jettè, Hannè, Carl, hollo! where are you all?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Here,' cried Hannè, bursting away from me. 'We are coming.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But dearest, dearest Hannè! my kiss--my million?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'We will see about it to-morrow; you must give me credit this evening.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My dearest Hannè, to-morrow will be too late; for Heaven's sake, have
+compassion on me! I am going away to-night; there is no to-morrow for
+me here. Give me but half the million now--but the quarter--but the
+four marks' worth which you owe me! Dear Hannè, pay me but the smallest
+mite of my promised treasure.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Nonsense! we must make the best of our way home, or we shall be well
+scolded.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Gustav and Jettè joined us at that moment. The gloves and the kiss were
+for ever lost!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why, children, what has become of you, all this time?' exclaimed the
+Justitsraad. 'Come in now, and have a country-dance with the good folks
+before we leave them and go to have some mulled claret. Stop, stop,
+Carl, you can't dance with Hannè; she is engaged to one of the young
+farmers. You must take another partner. There is poor Annie, the lame
+milkmaid, she has scarcely danced at all; it is a sin that she is to
+sit all the evening, because one leg is a little shorter than the
+other. Go, dance with her.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Don't turn the poor girl's head with your enormous fibs,' cried Hannè
+to me, as I was entering the summer-house. 'Have pity on her
+unsophisticated heart, and do not speculate upon <i>a million there</i>; the
+herdsman would probably not allow it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A million? The herdsman? What is all that stuff you are talking?'
+asked her father.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ill-nature--downright ill-nature, uncle.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Fie! cousin; that is not a chivalrous mode of speaking. But do go and
+foot it merrily with lame Annie, and I promise you the dance shall last
+at least an hour.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The dance was over--the mulled wine was finished--the happy Gustav had
+gone to his home--the family had bid each other good night, and I was
+alone in my chamber.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'This was the last evening,' thought I to myself; 'the short dream was
+now over, and I had to leave that pleasant house, never more to return
+to it.' A deep sigh responded to these reflections. 'My deception will
+soon be discovered; they will revile and despise me. I shall most
+probably be the cause of their being exposed to the ridicule of the
+whole neighbourhood; that will annoy them terribly, and they will be
+very angry that anyone should have presumed to impose so impudently on
+their frank hospitality. And my kiss ... my million ... the realization
+of that delightful promise!... What if I were to remain yet another
+day--half a day--another morning even? Remain!--in order to add another
+link to the chain which binds me here, and which I am already almost
+too weak to sever? No--I will go hence. In about an hour the moon will
+set, and when its tell-tale light is gone I will go too. One short
+hour! Alas! how many melancholy hours shall I not have to endure when
+<i>that one</i> has passed. It is incomprehensible to me how I became
+involved in all this. Chance is sometimes a miraculous guide, when we
+allow ourselves to be blindly led by it. But a truce to these tiresome
+reflections; I have no time to think of anything but Hannè, now that I
+am about to leave her for ever ... <i>For ever!</i> These are two detestable
+words. Everything is now quite still in the house. I hear no sound but
+poor Pasop, rustling his chains in his kennel; he will not bark when he
+sees it is only I passing. They are all friendly to me here, even the
+very dogs; yet how false I have been to them!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I threw my clothes and other little travelling appurtenances into my
+<i>valise</i>, and opened the window.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But ought I to run away without leaving one word behind? The worthy
+family might be alarming themselves about me. What shall I write? I
+suppose I must play the cousin to the end; at any rate I must try to
+put them on a wrong scent. I shall address my note to Hannè, that she
+may see that my last thoughts were with her.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I seized a pencil and wrote:--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hannè's cruelty has caused my bankruptcy and my flight. She could
+have made me a <i>millionnaire</i>, but she has left me a beggar. Poor and
+sad I quit this hospitable house, leaving behind my blessings on its
+much-respected and amiable inmates, including the hard-hearted fair one
+who has compelled me to seek a refuge at Fredericia, which, from the
+time of Axel, has afforded <i>jus asyli</i> to unfortunate subjects.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I stuck the paper in the dressing-glass, where it would speedily be
+observed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I had played out my comedy, and the sober realities of life were now
+before me. I fell into a deep reverie, which lasted until the first
+dawn of day, when I started up to prepare for my departure. First, I
+threw my carpet-bag out of the window, and then, getting out myself
+upon the tree, and cautiously descending from branch to branch, I
+reached the ground safely and quietly. Taking a circuitous route, I at
+length passed the woody village near my uncle's abode; and the sun
+stood high in the heavens when, weary and dispirited, and out of humour
+with the whole world, I entered the parsonage-house.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+<h3>PART IV.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">Eight days after my arrival, I was sitting in the dusk with the old
+people, while my thoughts were at ---- Court. The good clergyman,
+according to habit, was shoving the skull-cap he wore on his head to
+and fro, and talking half-aloud to himself. At length he exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'In good sooth, nephew, I am quite surprised at you. Is it natural for
+a young man to sit so much within doors? You have never gone a step
+beyond the garden and our little shrubbery, and really there is some
+very pretty scenery in our neighbourhood, quite worth your seeing.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is a sin that he should be shut up here with us two old people,'
+said his wife; 'if our son had been at home, it would have been more
+pleasant for him. It is very unlucky that he should be at Kiel just
+now. How can we amuse such a young man, my dear? I am quite sorry for
+him.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I assured them that I had everything I wished at their house, and
+was extremely comfortable. But the fact was, that I felt extremely
+uncomfortable. I was miserable at knowing that I was so near ----
+Court, and yet could have no communication with its inhabitants; I was
+certain that I must have thrown everything there into the greatest
+commotion, yet, since my flight, I had heard nothing of or from the
+place round which my heart's dearest thoughts hovered continually.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why, instead of a wild, mischievous, merry madcap, as you were
+represented to be, we find a staid, quiet, grave young man. It is not a
+good sign when a gay temper takes such a sudden turn. You seem to be
+quite changed, nephew. Indeed, it strikes me your very appearance has
+altered; your hair looks darker to me, within these eight days, and
+your skin is as yellow as if you had the jaundice.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, Heaven forbid! The Lord preserve him from that!' cried my worthy
+aunt, much alarmed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I relieved her mind by assuring her that my health was excellent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And you are allowing the hair on your upper lip to grow to a pair of
+moustaches,' continued my uncle. 'You will soon look like an officer of
+hussars. If you were not such a sensible, quiet youth, I should think
+it was a piece of conceit and affectation, to look smart in the eyes of
+the girls.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Without having formed any settled plan connected with the change of my
+appearance, but not without considerable trouble, had I by degrees
+blackened my hair, and darkened my complexion with walnut juice, so
+that I could not be recognized if any of the people from ---- Court
+should meet me. I had also cultivated moustaches for the same purpose,
+but they were as yet very diminutive.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Just tell me, nephew, what do you want with moustaches?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I want them because ... I wish ... I must ... I belong to the corps of
+riflemen, uncle, and the new regulation is, that every rifleman is to
+have moustaches ... so I must mount a pair.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What a foolish regulation! Don't you think so, wife? But I suppose it
+is a case in which one must do as others do.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">This settled, I was left, as to my disguise, in peace. But my venerable
+uncle commenced another attack. 'I must positively have you to go out
+and look about you, Adolph. I am going to-morrow to see my friends
+Justitsraad ----, whose country seat is not far from this. You shall
+drive over there with me; the road is very pretty.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was in agony. 'I would, much rather remain at home, uncle; I don't
+know these people.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I will introduce you to them. They are a very amiable, charming
+family, and you will soon become acquainted with them. You absolutely
+must go.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">What excuse was I to manufacture? I had recourse to fibs again.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The Justitsraad and my father are personal enemies--they quarrelled
+about some matter of business. They are deadly foes--I should be very
+unwelcome--my name is proscribed at ---- Court.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How very strange that I never heard of this before!' exclaimed the
+unsuspecting old man. 'People should not hate each other for the sake
+of sinful mammon. We must bring about a reconciliation between them. I
+shall certainly preach upon the subject of forgiveness next Sunday--a
+powerful discourse will I give.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is also my wish that they should be reconciled, dear uncle, and
+therefore, I think it would be most prudent not to mention my name
+<i>yet</i>. If I make the acquaintance of the Justitsraad without his
+knowing who I am, I shall feel more at my ease with him. I assure you
+this will be best.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well--so be it,' said my uncle; 'I will not then mention your being
+here. But I shall throw out a few hints about forgiveness and Christian
+feelings--these can do no harm.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No--that they cannot,' said my aunt. 'But I quite agree with Adolph. I
+think his plan a good one.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">As soon as the old people had retired to rest, I stole softly through
+the garden, and reaching the high road, took the way to ---- Court. As
+I approached it, I saw with pleasure the white summer-house on the
+outskirts of the garden. Soon after I reached the hill, where stood the
+well-known swing. The moon was shining brightly, and it was a lovely
+night. All was so still around, that I could hear the wind whistling
+through the adjacent alleys of trees--and the rustling of the wind
+amidst the branches of the pine and the fir has a peculiar sound. Far
+away in the wood was to be heard the melancholy tinkling of the bells
+worn by the sheep round their necks. There is a sadness in this
+monotonous, yet plaintive sound, which has a great effect upon the
+heart that is filled with longing--and where is the human being who has
+nothing to long for? But such sadness is not hopeless, and as the bells
+give tones sometimes higher, sometimes deeper, from different parts of
+the woods or fields, so tranquillizing voices whisper to our souls,
+'There is comfort for every sorrow--we shall not always long in vain.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The moon shed its soft light over the quiet garden, the clock struck
+eleven--that was generally the time at which the family retired to
+rest--therefore I ventured to leave my place of concealment, without
+the fear of encountering anyone. Presently after I stood again behind
+the bushes of fragrant jasmine, immediately beneath the windows, and
+beheld one light extinguished after the other. In the room I lately
+occupied, all was dark. At length the light also disappeared in Hannè's
+chamber.</p>
+
+
+<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">Sleep, sweetly sleep! Dream blessed dreams!</p>
+
+
+<p class="continue">I whispered with Baggesen, and my heart added, in the words of the same
+poet,</p>
+
+
+<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">I love--I love--I love but only thee!</p>
+
+
+<p class="normal">In Jettè's room there was still a candle burning; doubtless she was
+thinking of her Gustav, perhaps writing a few kind words to him. I
+could hardly refrain myself from climbing up <i>the</i> tree, and speaking
+to her; I had a claim upon her indulgence, for had I not laid the
+fountain of her happiness? <i>Laid the foundation!</i> How did I know that
+the real cousin had not arrived? But even in that case it would be
+scarcely possible to undo what had been done. I clung to the pleasing
+idea that I had effected some good.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At length Jettè's candle was extinguished also. The last--last light--I
+had gazed on it, till I was almost blinded. With an involuntary sigh I
+turned my steps slowly back towards the garden; something was moving
+close behind me; it was my quondam friend, a greyhound belonging to the
+Justitsraad, but he followed growling at my heels, as if he wished to
+hunt me off the grounds I polluted by my presence.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Watchel! my boy! is that you? So--so--be still, be still, Watchel!' I
+turned to pat his head, but he showed his white teeth, and barked at
+me; and presently all the other dogs near began to bark also.
+'Forgotten!' I exclaimed bitterly to myself, 'forgotten, and disliked!'
+Watchel followed me, snarling, to the extremity of the garden, and
+barked long at my shadow as I crossed the field.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The next day my uncle drove over to ---- Court. The moment he was gone
+I hurried up to his study, which looked towards the east, and arranged
+his large telescope to bear upon that place which had so much interest
+for me. I could overlook the whole plain; at its extremity was some
+rising ground studded with trees--this was the garden; to the left lay
+the grove, and close to it was the hillock on which stood the swing!
+Suddenly the swing, until then empty, seemed to be occupied with
+something white, which put it in motion. 'It is Hannè who is swinging!'
+I exclaimed aloud in my joy; and I spent the whole afternoon in gazing
+through the telescope, with a beating heart, and with my eyes fixed
+upon the swing to catch another glimpse of her who had vanished, alas!
+too soon. One glance at the folds of her white dress had thrown my
+blood into a tumult of excitement, but how wildly did not all my pulses
+beat when, towards evening, my uncle's carriage rolled up the avenue of
+the rectory.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">After he had greeted my aunt with all due affection, and delivered
+the complimentary messages with which he was charged, inquired how
+things had gone on during the hours of his absence, settled himself
+comfortably in his old easy-chair, and lighted his pipe, he began
+with--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I heard some very strange news over yonder; I really can think of
+nothing else.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What is it, dear? A great rise in the price of anything?' asked his
+wife.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh no, my dear, not at all. It is a very ridiculous story. It is not
+to be mentioned; but I know you will keep it to yourself when I
+particularly request you to do so. Well--I will tell you all about it;
+it is really quite a mysterious affair.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And the good man proceeded to relate how, one evening when they were
+expecting a cousin who was betrothed to Jettè, a person arrived who
+answered every question about the family, seemed to know all their
+affairs, gave himself out to be Carl, whom they had not seen for eleven
+years, and, as might be supposed, insinuated himself into the good
+graces of the whole of them. 'He found out that Jettè was attached to
+that young man Holm, who is studying agricultural affairs in this
+neighbourhood; so he insisted on annulling his engagement to her,
+declaring that he was not in love with her, but was betrothed abroad.
+The Justitsraad was at first very angry, but he gave way at last, and
+there were gay doings at ---- Court that evening. Next morning the
+cousin was nowhere to be found; but he left behind him a paper of which
+nobody can make anything. They expected him during two whole days, but
+he did not make his appearance again. On the third day, another person
+arrived, who also declared himself to be a cousin, said he was called
+Carl, and that he was the expected guest. He brought letters from his
+father, about whose handwriting there could be no doubt, and the whole
+family recognized him at once from many things. The first, of course,
+was an impostor. But Jettè is now betrothed to Holm as well as to the
+cousin, who had come to arrange about the wedding. There was an awful
+scene--he insisted on Holm's giving up Jettè to him, and her father had
+at last to interfere to prevent the rivals carrying their wrath to some
+fearful extremity. The cousin's obstinacy gave great offence, and he
+took his departure the day after he had arrived. But he was so angry,
+that it was with great difficulty he was induced to promise that he
+would hold his tongue, and not blab about this absurd affair.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'May the Lord graciously preserve us all! It must have been some wicked
+sharper!' exclaimed my aunt, clasping her hands in great agitation,
+when her husband had finished his recital.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Of course he was an impostor. But it is a very curious story. For what
+could he have come--will anyone tell me that?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why, to steal, to be sure. Did he break into none of the
+keeping-places? Is there nothing missing--none of the plate? no forks
+or spoons?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Not the slightest article, and he was there for two days, and went
+about like one of themselves.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is very surprising; but the fact is, he must have come to
+reconnoitre the premises, and, when the nights are longer and darker,
+they will hear of him again.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is a most incomprehensible affair,' said I, in a voice that might
+have betrayed, me to more acute observers. 'And can they not guess at
+all who he is--have they no clue to him?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Not the slightest, nephew. They all describe him as a handsome,
+gentlemanly young man, who knew how to conduct himself in good society;
+and he acquitted himself so well in his assumed character, that none of
+them had the least notion what a trick he was playing them.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Believe me, my dear sirs, this person was no other than the celebrated
+<span class="sc">Morten Frederichsen</span>, who was arrested and imprisoned at Roeskilde, but
+made his escape. He must be a very clever fellow, that,' said my aunt;
+'I have been told that he pretended to be a Russian officer once in
+Copenhagen, made his way into the higher circles, and spoke Russian as
+if it had been his mother tongue. No doubt he has contrived to get free
+again; and he is a dangerous man. Heaven preserve us from him! Where
+<i>he</i> is, there is always mischief going on. I will take care to see
+that the house-doors are well bolted and secured, and I shall tell the
+servants to let Sultan loose at night. One cannot be too careful when
+there are such characters lurking in the neighbourhood.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The old lady went out to superintend the safe fastening of the house,
+without dreaming that he who caused her such alarm was dwelling under
+her own peaceful roof.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The next day nothing else was spoken of, and it was easy for me to draw
+from my uncle all that I wished to hear. I ascertained that the real
+cousin had not made a favourable impression; and that, in fact, they
+were all glad that the engagement between him and Jettè was at an end.
+My extraordinary and mysterious disappearance had set them all
+guessing, but they despaired of ever solving the riddle, since all the
+investigations and inquiries which could be quietly instituted had
+failed to yield the slightest trace of me. Gustav, following up the
+hint I had given in the note I had left, had written to a friend in
+Fredericia, but, of course, this had led to no result. Thomas daily
+scoured the country round, searching the woods and the moors to find
+me; but every succeeding day lessened his hopes of being able to bring
+me a prisoner to his home.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My imprudence, then, had been productive of no bad effects; fortune had
+befriended the rash fool, as it so often does. I cannot describe with
+what joy I gathered this happy intelligence; and when I had reflected
+on it for some days, I came to the conclusion that I <i>might</i> venture
+again to show myself at ---- Court, and entreat forgiveness of my sad
+delinquencies. I formed a thousand plans and relinquished them again.
+At length I wrote to Copenhagen for new clothes, and sent a letter, to
+be forwarded from thence by the post to the Justitsraad, wherein I made
+a confession, and candidly avowed all that my inclination for a frolic
+and a succession of accidental circumstances had led me into. I threw
+myself upon Miss Jettè's kindness to intercede for me, trusting that
+she would not refuse me this favour; I dwelt on my contrition and deep
+regret, and implored forgiveness for my misdemeanours. Nothing did I
+conceal, except my name and my love for Hannè. I hope, dear reader,
+that you will not find it necessary to ask why I concealed these.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The blue coat arrived at length from Copenhagen, with information that
+the letter had been forwarded. It was not difficult for me to put it
+into my uncle's head to drive over to ---- Court, and ascertain if
+there had been any elucidation of the mysterious story that had almost
+entirely chased sleep from my good aunt's couch. I had intended to have
+accompanied him, but when the time came my courage failed, and,
+pleading a headache, I left him to go alone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are not well, my dear nephew, that I can easily perceive,' said
+he, as I saw him into his carriage; 'we must positively send for the
+doctor. You will turn quite black in the long run, for in a fortnight
+only you have become as dark as a Tartar, and that is not a healthy
+colour. Perhaps you have got worms.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The worthy man little knew that I was purposely obliterating my good
+complexion more and more, and had the greatest trouble in giving myself
+this Tartar tint. 'He shall drink some of my decoction of wormwood,'
+said my aunt; 'it is better than any apothecary's mixtures, and will do
+him a great deal of good.' Whereupon she invited me to go with her to
+her sanctum, and there I was compelled to swallow a horrid bitter
+potion, which was enough to bring the most hardened sinner to a sense
+of his guilt.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, tell me, have they found Morten Frederichsen?' asked my aunt,
+when my uncle returned. 'Has he broken in over yonder?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, no, my dear. There was no housebreaker in question at all. Truly,
+it is a laughable story. The man has written the Justitsraad from
+Copenhagen.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Written? A threatening letter? A defiance? It is making nothing at all
+of the police--a positive insult to them. But, God be thanked, he is no
+longer in our neighbourhood.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Now, my good wife, you are quite mistaken,' replied my uncle, who then
+proceeded to relate the contents of my letter, which, it appeared, had
+still further excited the baffled curiosity of the worthy family.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My aunt could not recover from the state of amazement into which she
+had been thrown.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But what says the Justitsraad?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why, what can he say? He is glad that the intruder was a gentleman,
+for the letter is evidently written by one in that rank of life, but of
+course he is angry at having been so hoaxed. But it was Jettè who
+pacified him, for she did not stop entreating him until he promised her
+not to vex himself any longer about the matter. I thought of you,
+nephew, and took the opportunity to say a few words about forgiveness
+and placability, grounding my lesson of Christian duty on the excellent
+admonitions of the Scriptures. They talked a great deal about the
+mysterious personage; and the Justitsraad said at length that he would
+not wreak his vengeance upon him if he could see him, but would rather
+feel a pleasure in meeting him again. The girls wanted their father to
+put an advertisement in the papers addressed in a roundabout way to
+him, but Mr. Holm dissuaded them from this.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That was very right of Mr. Holm,' said my aunt. 'He is a sensible
+young man; for if the person really was a thief--of which there can be
+no doubt--for he who tells a lie will also steal ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That does not by any means follow, dear aunt,' said I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, be that as it may, we are invited to ---- Court to-morrow, and I
+promised that we would go, and you, too, Adolph. I told them I had a
+nephew on a visit to me at present.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I ... but ... you know, uncle, my father and the Justitsraad ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, we must manage to set all that to-rights; to entertain feelings of
+enmity is quite unworthy of two such men. Leave the matter to me. I
+have not yet mentioned your name, therefore you need be under no
+embarrassment in presenting yourself to the Justitsraad. He is a very
+pleasant man.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Sooner or later--it makes but little difference,' thought I; 'and if I
+can but look him full in the face, without dreading to be discovered, I
+shall be willing to acknowledge all his good qualities.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Had we not better take the bottle of wormwood with us in the
+carriage?' said my aunt, next day. 'Adolph looks so black under the
+eyes this morning, that I am sure he is worse than he was yesterday.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I confess I do not like his looks,' said my uncle; 'but perhaps that
+dark shade is cast by his moustaches. One might really fancy, nephew,
+that you had darkened your face with burnt cork. You don't look at all
+like yourself. Truly, the rifle corps has a great deal to answer for.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My endeavours had been successful. Instead of the gay, fresh-looking,
+light-hearted cousin, in a dark-green frock-coat, that had left
+---- Court, came, along with the clergyman and his lady, a grave,
+silent, dark-haired nephew, in a blue coat; with an olive complexion,
+very sallow, and with black moustaches; my transformation was complete.
+I scarcely recognized myself when I saw myself in the glass. The worst
+that could happen would be to be taken for myself--the agreeably
+characterized '<i>sad scamp</i>' from Hamburg. But for what would I not be
+taken to see Hannè again!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">None of them knew me; the Justitsraad addressed me as 'Mr. Adolph,' and
+received me very courteously. The guests were Kammerraad Tvede, the
+Jutlander, and his family, Gustav, a friend of his, and ourselves. I do
+not doubt that my heightened colour might have been visible even
+through the swarthy shade of my cheek when Hannè entered the room. She
+had become ten times prettier than ever in these fourteen days; she
+looked really quite captivating. Gustav and Jettè cast many speaking
+glances at each other, and her mother looked kindly at them. I stood
+silent and grave in a corner window; the various feelings that rushed
+upon me assisted me in playing the part of a somewhat embarrassed
+stranger. Watchel rose from his mat, and walked round the room as if to
+greet his master's well-known guests; he wagged his tail in token of
+welcome to my uncle and aunt, but he growled at me, whereupon Hannè
+called him away, and made him lie down in his usual place.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But tell me, my dear friend, how does this happen? When I was here
+last your daughter was engaged to another gentleman. What has become of
+him?' said the inquisitive neighbour, Tvede.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, that was only a jest from their childhood,' said the Justitsraad.
+'He was my brother's son, and was on a visit to us. Jettè was betrothed
+at that time to Mr. Holm, though her engagement was not generally
+known.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, indeed; but where is your nephew now?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He left us some time ago.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A very nice young man your nephew is; perhaps what was only jest
+between him and the elder sister may become earnest between him and the
+younger one. What say you to that, Miss Hannè?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hannè blushed scarlet, but made no answer. The Justitsraad looked a
+little confused, and smiled to my uncle; I sat as if on thorns.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'So your father resides in Copenhagen, Mr. Adolph?' said the
+indefatigable questioner, turning towards me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I rose in a fright, and bowed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is a merchant, is he not? and has a good deal to do with the West
+Indies?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes, he has a good deal to do with the West Indies,' I replied, in a
+feigned voice, as different from my own as I possibly could make it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My brother-in-law does a great deal of business with the provinces
+also--commission-business--as a corn-merchant,' said my uncle; 'that is
+safer than West India business.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah, so he is your brother-in-law--married to your sister, no doubt?
+Well, your nephew seems a fine young man. He is in the army, I
+suppose?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, my dear sir, he is a clerk in his father's office; but as he has
+joined a rifle corps, according to a new regulation he is obliged to
+have moustaches,' replied my uncle, honestly believing the truth of my
+assertion.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The observation of all present was drawn upon me. I turned crimson.
+Gustav and his friend cast a meaning glance at each other, and both
+smiled, I interpreted the smile into this, 'He is a vain, conceited
+puppy; the regulation is the coinage of his own brain.' What an
+unmerciful interpreter is conscience! We were to take our coffee in the
+garden; thither, therefore, we all proceeded. I approached Jettè, and
+began to talk to her about the pretty country round.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Have you been long at your uncle's?' she asked.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I have been there some little time, and I should have left it before
+now, had not a strange commission been imposed on me--one which I find
+it very difficult to fulfil. It is a commission which relates to the
+family here,' I added, when I found she was not inclined to ask any
+questions.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'To us?' said Jettè; 'and the commission is so difficult?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is no other than to obtain for a man the restoration of that peace
+of mind of which his inconsiderate folly has deprived him, and to
+procure for him your father's forgiveness--his pardon of an injury that
+otherwise will weigh him down with regret and remorse for the remainder
+of his life.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè looked at me in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What--Mr. Adolph? I do not understand.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A friend of mine has written to me from Copenhagen, and charged me to
+try and make his peace with the Justitsraad; but the papers which he
+has forwarded to me containing his case, really present it in such a
+perplexing and unfortunate light, that I cannot attempt to carry out
+his wishes, unless you, to whom he particularly desired me first to
+apply, will grant me your valuable assistance. He certainly did most
+shamefully abuse your confidence.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You know ... it is ... you are acquainted with that strange story?'
+exclaimed Jettè, much embarrassed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I know it thoroughly; and though this is the first time I have had the
+honour of seeing you, I think I may say you yourself are not better
+acquainted with the particulars of that affair than I am. It is on your
+kindness that I principally rely; yet I may not mention my friend's
+name until he has obtained entire forgiveness. He has given me very
+positive directions.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I cannot but be much surprised that a person who insulted my father
+and us all so much, should ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Insulted you, my dear young lady? I am shocked to hear it; I am sorry
+that he should have written me what was not true; his letter led me to
+believe that, on the contrary, he had rather been of service to you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Jettè blushed deeply, and I thought I perceived tears in her eyes. 'He
+shall certainly not find me ungrateful,' she said; 'I have not
+forgotten what I owe him. What do you require of me?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My friend entreats you, through me, to grant him your forgiveness for
+a mystification to which purely accidental circumstances led at first,
+but which was continued solely from an interest in your fate, and an
+anxious desire to serve you. He entreats that you will use your
+influence to mollify your father towards him, and procure for me a
+private interview with him, which I trust will end in the pardon of my
+friend, who has no dearer wish than to be received again into a circle
+he so highly esteems and respects, and to be permitted to prove to them
+how deeply he regrets his thoughtless folly.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Some others of the same party now approached, and I was obliged to drop
+the conversation. Gustave and Hannè were disputing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Jeer at me as you will,' said Hannè, 'I hold to my opinion, that
+nothing is so tiresome as family connections. If one only could choose
+one's kindred those sort of ties would be much stronger. It is a pity
+not to go a step further, and let it be a fixed rule, that relations to
+a certain extent remote, should marry whether they suit each other or
+not. This would certainly extirpate <i>love</i>, but it would be vastly
+convenient, and in a recent case it would have hindered many doubts and
+hopes, and all that followed.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Pray recollect your last election; there was not much to boast of in
+him. The ties of consanguinity could hardly have furnished any family
+with a less desirable member.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes they could, for the member who came after him was much inferior,
+notwithstanding he bore on his brow the stamp of legitimacy. Even
+though my &quot;election,&quot; as you call it, fell upon one who was
+treacherous, he was at any rate pleasant, lively, and amusing, whereas
+the legitimate one was cold, stupid, pedantic, tiresome; wearying one
+with every slow word he uttered. You do not mean one syllable of all
+the evil you speak of the stranger. The properly installed cousins and
+nephews whom I have latterly seen have been miserable creatures, who
+looked as if they could not count five, and as if they had not a
+thought to bestow on anything but their own pitiful persons, on which
+they placed the most exorbitant value, without the slightest grounds
+for so doing.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">As she finished this tirade, Hannè cast a side-glance at me, who, in
+truth, played capitally the part of the most tiresome, self-satisfied
+blockhead of a nephew anyone could imagine. She had no conception how
+part of her harangue had enchanted me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Legitimate right is a good thing; in that I quite agree with the young
+lady,' said the Jutlander, who had just approached us, and thought fit
+to join in the conversation. He had only caught a word or two of what
+Hannè had been saying, and mistook entirely her meaning.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">While we continued to stroll about, Jettè took her sister aside, and
+whispered something to her. Hannè turned her eyes full on me, and
+looked keenly at me. As soon as it was possible, I went up to her, and
+began to talk about the weather, that invariable preface to even the
+most important and most interesting subjects. We soon fell into
+conversation, and it turned upon the communication Jettè had just made.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'My sister tells me that your friend is anxious to obtain our
+forgiveness,' said she. 'We have already given him that, for he has
+done us a greater service than he thinks. Our regard is another affair;
+that would be more difficult to bestow, and doubtless he does not
+entertain the slightest idea of ever winning it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You would condemn him to a severe doom if you would forbid his
+striving at least to deserve it. Without your good opinion, your
+forgiveness would be a mere passing act of charity; without the former
+he would be a beggar all his life, with it <i>he would become a
+millionnaire</i>.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hannè coloured at the reminiscences these words awakened; but she only
+said,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You put a high value on it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Not higher than my friend does. <i>Your</i> regard, charming Miss Hannè, is
+what he seeks, and were he not attracted to this place by a perhaps too
+vivid <i>souvenir</i> of you, I should not be standing here as his
+spokesman. Your sister has kindly promised to obtain for me a few
+minutes' private conversation with your father; if your hatred of my
+unfortunate friend cannot be softened, tell me so, I pray you, at once,
+and I shall spare your father a communication which may perhaps remind
+him of disagreeable impressions, for without your entire pardon I
+cannot fulfil my errand, and I will not attempt to do it by halves.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are a very zealous agent, there is no denying that. Well, you may
+speak to my father; I will not be the most hard-hearted of the family.
+Besides, I really feel that your friend has an advocate in my own
+inclination for a joke, though his jest was carried rather too far.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I expected this goodness from you, or my friend would not have painted
+you in true colours.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And pray in what colours did he paint me, if I may venture to ask? It
+would be difficult to give anyone's likeness on so short an
+acquaintance.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'They were as radiant as if he had borrowed for his pencil tints from
+heaven to do justice to the original ... He adores you, to say the
+absolute truth.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Indeed! He really does me too much honour,' she said, stiffly, and in
+an offended tone of voice.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At the 'tints from heaven,' and 'justice to the original,' she had
+smiled; at the 'absolute truth,' she became angry.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We were at the foot of the hillock, on which stood the swing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'There must be a fine view from the top of that rising ground,' said I.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Politeness obliged her to ascend the bank. Gustav and his friend
+followed us at a little distance in earnest conversation; the rest of
+the party had gone to the summer-house, where coffee was prepared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Really, this is a lovely view!' I remarked, mechanically.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yonder lies your uncle's church,' said Hannè; 'it makes the twelfth
+spire we can see from this hill.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I have remarked this place from my uncle's window; these white poles
+shine out against the dark-green background.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Were you afraid of them? Did you fancy they were ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A gallows!' I exclaimed, interrupting her. 'No, Miss Hannè; I am
+rather more rational than my foolish friend.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hannè looked inquisitively at me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Have you remembered what he begged of you on this spot? That when you
+heard evil of him, and doubts of his honour, you would come up here,
+and judge leniently of the absent; that you would not condemn him
+totally, although appearances might be against him?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He must have favoured you with a remarkably minute report of his
+sayings and doings here,' said Hannè, laughing. 'You have got his
+speeches by heart--word for word.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Every word which he exchanged with you remains for ever engraved on
+his memory. You promised this to him. Dare he flatter himself that you
+have not forgotten that promise, and have not deserted him, while he
+relied on your compassion?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I have taken his part a great deal more than he deserves,' she
+replied. 'But now that is no longer necessary, and if he return here,
+he shall find me his worst enemy, for I do not allow myself to be made
+a fool of without taking my revenge.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Have some mercy, fair lady! See, I sue for grace--he cannot stand your
+ire. I have come to throw myself at your feet--acquitted by you, he
+will have courage to meet any storm ... Miss Hannè,' I added, with my
+own natural voice, 'you are the only one who knows that the unfortunate
+sinner is here; condemn me irrevocably, if you have the heart to do
+so--I will hear my sentence from your lips.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Hannè looked at me with an arch smile.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You will not betray me, or misuse my confidence,' I added, in a
+supplicatory tone. 'Bestow on me your forgiveness, and procure for me
+that of your parents. Without this I cannot live. You have discovered
+me, notwithstanding my disguise; it was only under its shelter that I
+ventured to come near you during the light of day. Ah! at night, I have
+often been here, standing outside of the house, looking up at your
+window, until the light was extinguished in your room, and I had no
+longer any evidence of your proximity to feast upon.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She looked at me for a moment with unusual softness,--nay, with
+kindness; then clapping her hands together, she called out,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gustav! Linden! Come here--make haste! Here he is--here he is!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Who? What is it?' cried the two young men, as they came hurrying
+towards us.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake--Miss Hannè--you surely will not ... you abuse the
+confidence I placed in you--I did not expect this of you. Will you
+betray me? Will you disgrace me before that stranger?' I stammered out,
+amazed and vexed at her sudden change.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'There he is--the false cousin--standing yonder. Now he is caught,'
+added Hannè, skipping about with joy.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The cousin--he!' exclaimed Gustav, in great astonishment; 'but tell me
+then ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Mr. Holm,' said I, 'and you, sir, with whom I have not the pleasure of
+being acquainted ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'True!' cried Hannè, interrupting me, 'I owe you an explanation. You
+need not excuse yourself to Gustav, in his heart he acknowledges you to
+be his benefactor; and this gentleman, <i>with whom you have not the
+pleasure of being acquainted</i>, is quite as cognisant of your exploits
+as any of us. &quot;<span class="sc">You will not betray me, or misuse my confidence</span>,&quot;' said
+she, mimicking me, 'therefore let me present to you Mr. Linden, my
+bridegroom elect. You once asked me what this ring I wear betokened--do
+you remember that? I was then obliged to give you an evasive answer;
+now I will confide the secret to you, my much honoured cousin--and much
+admired truth-teller.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Could I have guessed <i>this</i>, or have had the slightest suspicion of it,
+two hours earlier, I never again would have put my feet within the
+doors of ---- Court.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was nothing for it now but to let myself patiently be dragged
+about by them, after I had muttered something, that might as well have
+been taken for a malediction as a felicitation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My uncle was walking in the alley of pine-trees with the Justitsraad
+and Jettè; she had been preparing him for the audience I told her I
+wished of him, but she had not yet the least idea that I was the person
+for whom she had been pleading. I appeared before them as a poor
+culprit.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Dear father,' said Hannè, 'I bring a deserter, who has given himself
+up to me. He relies on your forgiveness, for which I have become
+surety, and if you withhold it, my word will be broken.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let me speak, child,' said my uncle, who fancied that a disagreement
+between my father and the Justitsraad was the affair in question.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'As the servant of the Lord, it is my duty to exhort everyone to peace,
+and forgiveness of injuries; you should all remember the divine mission
+of Him who is the fountain of love, and who came to bring goodwill on
+earth; remembering His example you should chase away hatred, and all
+evil passions and thoughts from your mind. See, this young person comes
+to you with confiding hope, and now do shake hands with him in sign of
+reconciliation, and let not two worthy men remain longer enemies. Speak
+kindly to him, my old friend, and do not oblige him longer to conceal
+his name, because it is one which you once disliked--let the past be
+now forgotten!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What, <i>you</i> also pleading for him, my worthy friend? Then, indeed, I
+must give in. Well, the foolish madcap has found intercessors enough, I
+think,' said the Justitsraad, as he held out his hand to me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is petitioning for his friend,' said Jettè.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For my benefactor,' said Gustav.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For his old father,' said my uncle.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For himself,' said Hannè. 'This is the pretended cousin himself, in
+disguise; this is the very man himself who threw our family into such
+confusion; but what his real name may be, Heaven only knows.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He is my sister's son--Adolph Kerner, a son of Mr. Kerner, the
+well-known Copenhagen merchant; he has no need to be ashamed of his
+name,' said my uncle.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Everyone was astonished; there was a general silence from amazement.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At length Jettè exclaimed, 'The pretended cousin himself?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The young Kerner who went to Hamburg?' asked the Justitsraad.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What! the impostor my own nephew?' cried my uncle, upon whom the truth
+began to dawn. The formidable explanation was given, forgiveness
+followed, and we were reconciled. The Justitsraad shook hands with me
+cordially.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And now let us seek my mother,' said Hannè, 'and fall at her feet. For
+the honour of our sex, I hope Mr. Kerner will have to undergo the pains
+of purgatory in her presence.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We proceeded to the summer-house where the rest of the party were
+sitting at table, taking coffee. The Justitsraad led me up to his wife,
+and said, 'I beg to present to you your lost nephew, who returns, like
+the prodigal son, and begs for forgiveness. Tomorrow he will show
+himself without these moustaches, in his own fair hair, and he hopes to
+find the same kind aunt in you whom the false cousin Carl learned so
+speedily to love.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The lady gave me her hand, after having held up her finger as if to
+threaten me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And here you see Morten Frederichsen, my dear, against whom Sultan was
+to have guarded our house. The good-for-nothing, he has certainly
+hoaxed all us old ones,' said my uncle, laughing. 'His liver-complaint
+was nothing but a trick.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What is that you say? Morten Frederichsen! How the idea of that
+dreadful creature frightened me! But I have retaliated upon him with my
+wormwood, I rather think.' The good woman was much puzzled, and could
+hardly comprehend how it all came about.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And now I beg to introduce to Kammerraad Tvede, the younger Kerner,
+son of Mr. Kerner of Copenhagen, a youth who has lately returned from
+an educational trip to Hamburg,' said the mischief-loving Hannè,
+pulling me up to the Jutlander.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A very fine young man,' stammered the Kammerraad. 'I have the pleasure
+of knowing your father, and am aware of the high standing of your
+house.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I made my escape over to Jettè and Gustav, who kindly took compassion
+on me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Don't you all see now that it was not so stupid of me to propose
+examining him in the almanack?' said Hannè.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'At any rate, to <i>you</i> belongs the credit of having placed me in the
+most painful dilemma,' said I, with some bitterness. 'Be merciful now,
+and do not play with me as a cat does with a mouse; the conqueror can
+afford to be magnanimous to the vanquished.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, the sun is about to set, and I suppose I must let my just
+resentment go with it. I will forgive you for all your misdemeanours
+upon one condition, that, according to our late agreement, you will
+return by-and-by, and assist us in getting up some private theatricals,
+to which I have the pleasure of inviting all now present. I think you
+will shine in &quot;<i>The April Fools</i>.&quot;'<a name="div2Ref_06" href="#div2_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a></p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Shame on you all!' cried Jettè. 'How can you be so revengeful, and
+still persecute Mr. Kerner in this inhuman way?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I trust he will excuse the persecution,' said her father; 'and I hope
+that it will not frighten him from a house which will always be open to
+him, and where he will henceforth be as well received under his own
+name as he was under that of--<span class="sc">Cousin Carl</span>.'</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_doomed" href="#div1Ref_doomed">THE DOOMED HOUSE.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>BY B. S. INGEMANN.</h3>
+
+
+<p class="normal">'The house near Christianshavn's canal is again for sale--your worthy
+uncle's house, Johanna! and now upon very reasonable terms,' said the
+young joiner and cabinet-maker, Frants, one morning to his pretty wife,
+as he laid the advertisement sheet of the newspaper upon the cradle,
+and glanced at his little boy, an infant of about three months old, who
+was sleeping sweetly, and seemed to be sporting with heavenly cherubs
+in his innocent dreams.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let us on no account think of the dear old house,' replied his wife,
+taking up the newspaper and placing it on the table, without even
+looking at the advertisement. 'We have a roof over our heads as long as
+Mr. Stork will have patience about the rent. If we have bread enough
+for ourselves, and for yon little angel, who will soon begin to want
+some, we may well rest contented. Notwithstanding our poverty, we are,
+perhaps, the happiest married couple in the whole town,' she added
+gently, and with an affectionate smile, 'and we ought to thank our God
+that he did not let the wide world separate us from each other, but
+permitted you to return from your distant journey, healthy and
+cheerful, and that he has granted us love and strength to bear our
+little cross with patience.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are ever the same amiable and pious Johanna,' said Frants,
+embracing the lovely young mother, who reminded him of an exquisite
+picture of the Madonna he had seen abroad, 'and you have made me better
+and more patient than I was, either by nature or by habit. But I really
+cannot remain longer in this miserable garret--I have neither room nor
+spirits to work here; and if I am to make anything by my handicraft, I
+must have a proper workshop, and space to breathe in and to move in.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Your good uncle's house, near the canal, is just the place for me; how
+many jovial songs my old master and I have sung there together over our
+joiner's bench! Ah! <i>then</i> I shall feel comfortable and at home. It was
+there, also, that I first saw you--there, that I used to sit every
+evening with you in the nice little parlour, with the cheerful green
+wainscoting, when I came from the workshop with old Mr. Flok. I
+remember how, on Sundays and on holidays, he used to take his silver
+goblet from the cupboard in the alcove, and drink with me in such a
+sociable way. And when my piece of trial-work as a journeyman was
+finished, and the large, handsome coffin was put out in state in the
+workshop, do you remember how glad the old man was, and how you sank
+into my arms when he placed your hand in mine, over the coffin, and
+said:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'&quot;Take her, Frants, and be worthy of her! My house shall be your home
+and hers, and everything it contains shall be your property when I am
+sleeping in this coffin, awaiting a blessed resurrection.&quot;'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah! but all that never came to pass,' sighed Johanna; 'the coffin lies
+empty up in yonder loft, and frightens children in the dark. The dear
+old house is under the ban of evil report, and no one will buy it, or
+even hire it, now, so many strange, unfortunate deaths have taken place
+there.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'These very circumstances are in our favour, Johanna; on account of
+this state of things Mr. Stork will sell it at a great bargain, and
+give a half year's credit for the purchase-money. In the course of six
+months, surely, the long-protracted settlement of your uncle's affairs
+will be brought to a close, and we shall, at least, have as much as
+will pay what we owe. The house will then be our own, and you will see
+how happy and prosperous we shall be. Surely, it is not the fault of
+the poor house that three children died there of measles, and two
+people of old age, in the course of a few months; and none but silly
+old women can be frightened because the idle children in the street
+choose to scratch upon the walls, &quot;<i>The Doomed House</i>.&quot; The house is,
+and always will be, liked by me, and if Mr. Stork will accept of my
+offer for it, without any other security than my own word, that
+dwelling shall be mine to-day, and we can move into it to-morrow.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, my dear Frants, you cannot think how reluctant I am to increase
+our debt to this Mr. Stork. Believe me, he is not a good man, however
+friendly and courteous he may seem to be. Even my uncle could not
+always tolerate him, though it was not in his nature to dislike any of
+God's creatures. Whenever Mr. Stork came, and began to talk about
+business and bills--my uncle became silent and gloomy, and always gave
+me a wink to retire to my chamber.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I know very well Mr. Stork was looking after you then,' said Frants,
+with a smile of self-satisfaction, 'but <i>I</i> was a more fortunate
+suitor. It was a piece of folly on the part of the old bachelor; all
+that, however, is forgotten now, and he has transferred the regard he
+once had for you to me. He never duns me for my rent, he lent me money
+at the time of the child's baptism, and he shows me more kindness than
+anyone else does.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But I cannot endure the way in which he looks at me, Frants, and I put
+no faith either in his friendship or his rectitude. The very house
+that he is now about to sell he hardly came honestly by, as he gives
+out--and I cannot understand how he has so large a claim upon the
+property my uncle left; I never heard my uncle speak of it. God only
+knows what will remain for us when all these heavy claims that have
+been brought forward are satisfied; yet my uncle was considered a rich
+man.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The lawyers and the proper court must settle that,' replied Frants; 'I
+only know this, that I should be a fool if I did not buy the house
+now.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But to say the truth, dear Frants,' urged Johanna, in a supplicating
+tone, 'I am almost afraid to go back to that house, dear as every
+corner of it has been to me from my childhood. I cannot reconcile
+myself to the reality of the painful circumstances said to have
+attended my poor uncle's death. And whenever I pass over <i>Long Bridge</i>,
+and near the Dead-house for the drowned, with its low windows, I always
+feel an irresistible impulse to look in, and see if he is not there
+still, waiting to be placed in his proper coffin, and decently buried
+in a churchyard.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah--your brain is conjuring up a parcel of old nursery tales, my
+Johanna! We have nothing to fear from your good, kind uncle. If indeed
+his spirit could be near us, here on earth, it would only bring us
+blessings and happiness. I am quite easy on that score; he was a pious,
+God-fearing man, and there was nothing in his life to disturb his
+repose after death. Report said that he had drowned himself on purpose,
+but I am quite convinced that was not true. If I had not unluckily been
+away on my travels as a journeyman, and you with your dying aunt--your
+mother's sister, we would most likely have had him with us now. How
+often I have warned him against sailing about alone in Kalleboe Bay!
+But he would go every Sunday. As long as I was in his employ, I always
+made a point of accompanying him, and when I went away he promised me
+never to go without a boatman.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Alas! that was an unfortunate Christmas!' sighed Johanna, 'it was not
+until he had been advertised as missing in the newspapers, and Mr.
+Stork had recognized his corpse at the Dead-house for the drowned, and
+had caused him to be secretly buried as a suicide,--it was not until
+all this was over, that I knew he had not been put into his own coffin,
+and laid in consecrated ground.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let us not grieve longer, dear Johanna, for what it was not in our
+power to prevent; but let us rather, in respect to the memory of our
+kind benefactor, put the house in order which he occupied and where he
+worked for us, inhabit it cheerfully, and rescue it from mysterious
+accusations and evil reports. <i>Our</i> welfare was all he thought of, and
+laboured for.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'As you will then, dear Frants!' said Johanna, yielding to his
+arguments. She hastened at the same moment to take up from its cradle
+the child, who had just awoke, and holding it out to its young father,
+she added, 'May God protect this innocent infant, and spare it to us!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants kissed the mother and the child, smoothed his brown hair, and
+taking his hat down from its peg, he hurried off to conclude the
+purchase on which he had set his heart.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He returned in great spirits, and the next day the little family
+removed to the house which belonged to Mr. Flok, Frants was rejoiced to
+see his old master's furniture, which he had bought at an auction,
+restored to its former place, and he felt almost as if the easy-chair
+and the bureau, formerly in the immediate use of the old man, must
+share in his gladness. But the baker's wife at the corner of the street
+shrugged her shoulders, and pitied the handsome young couple, whom she
+considered doomed to sickness and misfortune, because five corpses
+within the last six months had been carried out of that house; and
+because there was an inscription on its walls, that however often it
+had been effaced had always reappeared. 'Et Forbandet Haus'--'The
+Doomed House'--stood there, written in red characters, and all the old
+crones in the neighbourhood affirmed that the words were <i>written in
+blood!</i></p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Mark my words,' said the baker's wife at the corner of the street, to
+her daughter, 'before the year is at an end, we shall have another
+coffin carried out of that house.'</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">
+Frants the joiner had bestirred himself to set all to rights in the
+long-neglected workshop, and Johanna had put the house in nice order,
+and arranged everything as it used to be in days gone by. The little
+parlour, with the green wainscoting and the old fashioned alcove, had
+its former chairs and tables replaced in it; the bureau occupied its
+ancient corner, and the easy-chair again stood near the stove, and
+seemed to await its master's return. Often, as the young couple sat
+together in the twilight, while the blaze of the fire in the stove cast
+a cheerful glare through its little grated door on the hearth beneath,
+they missed the old man, and talked of him with sadness and affection.
+But Johanna would sometimes glance timidly at the empty leather
+arm-chair--and when the moon shone in through the small window panes,
+she would at times even fancy that she saw her uncle sitting there--but
+pale and bloody, and with dripping wet hair.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She would then exclaim, 'Let us have lights; the baby seems restless. I
+must see what is the matter with it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One evening there were no candles downstairs. She had to go for them up
+to the storeroom in the garret. She lighted a small taper that was in
+the lantern, and went out of the room, while Frants rocked the infant's
+cradle to lull it to sleep. But she had only been a few minutes gone,
+when he heard a noise as if of some one having fallen down in the loft
+above, and he also thought he heard Johanna scream; he quitted the
+cradle instantly, and rushing upstairs after her, he found her lying in
+a swoon near the coffin, with the lantern in her hand, though its light
+was extinguished. Exceedingly alarmed he carried her downstairs,
+relighted the taper, and used every effort to recover her from her
+fainting fit. When she was better, and somewhat composed, he asked in
+much anxiety what had happened. 'Oh! I am as timid as a foolish child,'
+said Johanna. 'It was only my poor uncle's coffin up yonder that
+frightened me. I would have begged you to go and fetch the candles, but
+I was ashamed to own my silly fears, and when the current of air blew
+out the light in my lantern up there, it seemed to me as if a spectre's
+death-cold breathing passed over my face, and I fancied I saw amidst
+the gloom the lid of the coffin rising--so I fainted away in my
+childish terror.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That coffin shall not frighten you again,' said Frants, 'I will
+advertise it to-morrow for sale.' He did so, but ineffectually, for no
+one bought it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One day Mr. Stork made his appearance, bringing with him the contract
+and deed of sale.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He was a tall, strongly-built man, with a countenance by no means
+pleasant, though it almost always wore a smile; but the smile, if
+narrowly scrutinized, had a sinister expression, and seemed to convulse
+his features. He sported a gaudy waistcoat, and was dressed like an old
+bachelor, who was going on some matrimonial expedition, and wished to
+conceal his age. This day he was even more complaisant than usual,
+praised the beauty of the infant, remarked its likeness to its lovely
+mother, and offered Frants a loan of money to purchase new furniture,
+and make any improvements he might wish in the interior of the house.
+Franks thanked him, but declined the offer, assuring him that he was
+quite satisfied with the house and furniture as they were, and wished
+everything about him to wear its former aspect. However, he said, he
+certainly would like to enlarge the workshop by adding to it the old
+lumber-room at the back of the house, the entrance to which he found
+was closed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Mr. Stork then informed him that there was a door on the opposite side
+of the lumber-room, which opened into the house <i>he</i> occupied, and that
+he had lately been using this empty place as a cellar for his firewood;
+but he readily promised to have it cleared out as speedily as possible,
+and to have the entrance into his own house stopped up.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yet,' he added, in a very gracious manner, 'it is hardly necessary to
+have any separation between the two houses, when I have such
+respectable and agreeable neighbours as yourselves.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What made you look so crossly at that excellent Mr. Stork, Johanna?'
+asked her husband, when their visitor was gone. 'I am sure he is
+kindness itself. He cannot really help that he has that unfortunate
+contortion of the mouth, which gives a peculiar expression to his
+countenance.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I sincerely wish we had some other person as our neighbour, and had
+nothing to do with him!' exclaimed Johanna. 'I do not feel safe with
+such a man near us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants now worked with equal diligence and patience--and often remained
+until a late hour in the workshop, especially if he had any order to
+finish. He preferred cabinet-making to the more common branches of his
+trade, and was always delighted when he had any pretty piece of
+furniture to construct from one of the finer sorts of wood. But he was
+best known as a coffin-maker, and necessity compelled him to undertake
+more of this gloomy kind of work than he liked. Often when he was
+finishing a coffin, he would reflect upon all the sorrow, and perhaps
+calamity which the work, that provided him and his with bread, would
+bring into the house into which it was destined to enter. And when he
+met people in high health and spirits, on the public promenades, he
+frequently sighed to think how soon he might be engaged in nailing
+together the last earthly resting-places of these animated forms.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One night he was so much occupied in finishing a large coffin, that he
+did not remark how late it had become, until he heard the watchman call
+out 'Twelve.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At that moment he fancied he heard a hollow voice behind him say,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Still hammering! And for whom is that coffin?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He started--dropped the hammer from his hand--and looked round in
+terror, but no one was to be seen.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is the old gloomy thoughts creeping back into my mind, and
+affecting my brain, now at this ghastly hour of midnight,' said he; but
+he put away the hammer and nails, and took up his light to go to his
+bed-room. Before he reached the door of the workshop, however, the
+candle which had burned down very low--quite in the socket of the
+candlestick, suddenly went out. He was left in the dark, and in vain he
+groped about to find the door--at any other time he would have laughed
+at the circumstance, but now it rather added to his annoyance that
+three times he found himself at the door of the lumber-room, instead of
+getting hold of the one which opened into his house. The third time he
+came to it, he stopped and listened, for he fancied he heard something
+moving within the empty room; a light also glimmered through a chink in
+the door which was fastened, and on listening more attentively he
+thought he distinctly heard a sound as if buckets of water were being
+dashed over the floor, and some one scrubbing it with a brush. 'It is
+an odd time to scour the floor,' he thought, and then knocking at the
+door, and raising his voice--he called out loudly to ask who was there,
+and what they were doing at so late an hour. At that moment the light
+disappeared, and all became as still as death.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I must have been mistaken,' thought Frants, as he again tried to find
+the door he had at first sought. In spite of himself, a dread of some
+evil--or of something supernatural, seemed to haunt him, and the image
+of his old master--who was drowned--appeared before him in that dark
+workshop, where they had spent so many cheerful hours together. At last
+he found the door, and retired as quickly as possible to his chamber,
+where his wife and child were both fast asleep. He, too, at length fell
+asleep, but he was restless in his slumbers, and disturbed by strange
+dreams. In the course of the night he dreamed that his wife's uncle,
+Mr. Flok, stood before him, and said,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why was I not placed in my coffin? Why was I not laid in a Christian
+burying-ground? Seek, and you will find--destroy the curse, before it
+destroys you also!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In the morning when he awoke he looked so pale and ill that Johanna was
+quite alarmed; but he did not like to frighten her by telling her his
+dreams, and, indeed, he was ashamed at the impression they had made
+upon himself, for, notwithstanding all the confidence he had expressed
+on coming to the house, he could not help feeling nervous and
+uncomfortable.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Nor did the unpleasant sensation wear off, his gay spirits vanished,
+and he was also unhappy because the time was approaching when the
+purchase-money for the house would become due, and the settlement of
+the old man's affairs, to which he had looked forward in expectation of
+obtaining his wife's inheritance, seemed to be as far off as ever. He
+found it difficult to meet the small daily expenses of his family, and
+he feared the threatening future.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Seek and you will find!' he repeated to himself; 'destroy the curse
+before it destroys you! What curse? I begin to fear that there really
+is some evil doom connected with this house.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was also a very unaccountable circumstance that however often he
+scratched out the mysterious inscription from the wall--'The Doomed
+House'--it appeared again next day in characters as fresh and red as
+ever. His health began to give way under all his anxiety, and the child
+also became ill. One evening he had been taking a solitary walk to a
+spot which had now a kind of morbid fascination for him--the Dead-house
+for the drowned--and when he returned home, he found Johanna weeping by
+the cradle of her suffering infant.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You were right,' he exclaimed, 'we were happier in our humble garret
+than in this ill-fated house. Would that we had remained there! Tell
+me, Johanna, of what are you thinking? Has the doctor been here? What
+does he say of our dear little one?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'If it should get worse towards night, there lies our last hope,' she
+replied, pointing towards the table.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants took up the prescription, and gazed on the incomprehensible
+Latin words, as if therein he would have read his fate. The tears stood
+in his eyes.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And to-morrow,' said Johanna, 'to-morrow will be a day of misery. Have
+you any means of paying Mr. Stork?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'None whatever! But <i>that</i> is a small evil compared to <i>this</i>,' he
+answered, as he pointed to the feverish and moaning infant. 'Have you
+been to the workshop?' he continued, after a pause, 'the large coffin
+is finished; perhaps it may be our own last home--it would hold us
+all!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh! if that could only be!' exclaimed Johanna, as she threw her arms
+round him. 'Could we only all three be removed together to a better
+world, there would be no more sorrow for us! But the hour of separation
+is close at hand; to-morrow, if you cannot pay Mr. Stork, you will be
+cast into prison, and I shall sit alone here with that dying child!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What do you say? Cast into prison! How do you know that? Has that man
+been here frightening you? He has not hinted a syllable of such a
+threat to me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Johanna then related to him how Mr. Stork had latterly often called,
+under pretence of wishing to see Frants, but always when he was out. He
+had made himself very much at home, and had overwhelmed her with
+compliments and flattering speeches; he had also declared frequently
+that he would not trouble Frants for the money he owed him, if she
+would pay the debt in another manner. At first, she said, she did not
+understand him, and when she <i>did</i> comprehend his meaning, she did not
+like to mention it to Frants, for fear of his taking the matter up
+warmly, and quarrelling with Stork, which would bring ruin on himself.
+Mr. Stork, however, had become more bold and presuming, and that very
+evening, on her repelling his advances and desiring him to quit her
+presence, he had threatened that if she mentioned a syllable of what
+had passed to her husband, nay, farther, if she were not prepared to
+change her behaviour towards himself before another sun had set, Frants
+should be thrown into prison for debt, and might congratulate himself
+in that pleasant abode on the fidelity of his wife.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well,' said Frants, with forced composure, 'he has got me in his
+toils--but his pitiful baseness shall not crush me. I have, indeed,
+been blind not to detect the villany that lay behind that satanic
+smile, and improvident to let myself be deluded by his pretended
+friendship. But if the Almighty will only spare and protect you, and
+that dear child, I shall not lose courage. Be comforted, my Johanna!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was now growing late--the child awoke from the restless sleep of
+fever--it seemed worse, and Frants ran to an apothecary with the
+prescription. 'The last hope!' he sighed, as he hurried along; 'and if
+it should fail--who will console poor Johanna to-morrow evening, when I
+am in a prison, and she has to clad the child in its grave clothes! Oh,
+how we shall miss you--sweet little angel! Was <i>this</i> the happiness I
+dreamt of in the old house? Yes--people are right--it <i>is</i> accursed!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The apothecary's shop was closed, but the prescription had been taken
+in through a little aperture in the door, and Frants sat down on the
+stone steps to wait until the medicine was ready. It was a clear,
+starry December night, but the sorrowing father sat shivering in the
+cold, and gazing gloomily on the frozen pavement--he was not thinking
+of the stars or of the skies. The watchman passed and bade him 'good
+morning.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It will be a good morning, indeed, for me,' thought poor Frants. 'A
+morning fraught with despair.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At that moment the clock of a neighbouring church struck <i>one</i>, and the
+watchman sang, in a full, bass voice, these simple words:</p>
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">
+'Help us, O Jesus dear!<br>
+Our earthly cross to bear;<br>
+Oh! grant us patience <i>here</i>,<br>
+And be our Saviour <i>there!</i>'</p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants heard the pious song, and a change seemed to come over his
+spirit--he raised his saddened eye to the magnificent heavens
+above--gazed at the calm stars which studded the deep blue
+vault--clasped his hands and joined in the watchman's concluding
+words--</p>
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help<br>
+To make our burden light.'</p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="normal">A small phial with the medicine was just then handed out to him,
+through the little sliding window; he paid his last coin for it, and,
+full of hope that <i>his</i> burden might be lightened, hastened to his
+home.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Did you hear what the watchman was singing, Johanna?' asked Frants,
+when he entered the little green parlour, where the young mother was
+watching by her child.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Hush, hush,' she whispered, 'he has fallen into an easy and quiet
+sleep. God will have pity upon us--our child will do well now.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why, Johanna, you look as happy as if an angel from heaven had been
+with you, telling you blessed truths.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes, blessed truths have, as it were, been communicated to me from
+heaven!' replied Johanna, pointing to an old Bible which lay open upon
+the table. 'Look! this is my good uncle's family Bible--that I have not
+seen since he died, and God forgive me--I have thought too little
+lately of my Bible. I found this one to-night far back on the highest
+shelf of the alcove--and its holy words have given me strength and
+comfort. Read this passage, Frants, about putting our whole trust in
+the Lord, whatever may befall us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants read the portion pointed out to him, and then began to turn over
+the leaves of the well-worn, silver-clasped book. He found a number of
+pieces of paper here and there, but as he saw at a glance that they
+were only accounts and receipts, he did not care to examine them, but
+his attention was suddenly caught by a paper which appeared to be part
+of a journal kept by the old man, the last year of his life. He looked
+through it eagerly, Johanna observed with surprise how his countenance
+was darkening. At length he started up and exclaimed,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is horrible!--horrible--Johanna! Some one must have sought to take
+your uncle's life. See, here it is in his own handwriting--listen!' and
+he read aloud:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'God grant that my enemy's wicked plot may not succeed! Why did I let
+my gold get into such iniquitous hands, and place my life at the mercy
+of one more ferocious than a wild beast? He has, cunningly plundered me
+of my wealth--he has bound my tongue by an oath--and now he seeks to
+take my life in secret. But my money will not prosper in his unworthy
+hands--and accursed be the house over whose threshold his feet pass.
+There are human beings who can ruin others in all worldly matters, but
+mortal man has no power over the spirit when death sets it free.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What can this mean?' cried Frants, almost wild with excitement. Who is
+the mortal enemy to whom he alludes, but whom he does not name? Who has
+got possession of his house and his means? The same person, no doubt,
+who bound him by an oath to silence, and threatened his life in secret;
+who proclaimed to the world that he had drowned himself, and caused him
+to be buried like a suicide? Why was no other acquaintance called to
+recognize the body? We have no certainty that the drowned man was he.
+Perhaps his bones lie nearer to us than we imagine. Ha! old master, in
+my dream I heard you say, &quot;Seek, and you shall find--why was I not
+put into consecrated ground?&quot; Johanna! what do you think about that
+old lumber-room? There have been some mysterious doings there at
+midnight--there are some still--that floor is washed while we are
+sleeping. Before to-morrow's sun can rise I shall have searched that
+den of murder, from one end to the other.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, dearest Frants, how wildly you talk; you make me tremble.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But as Frants was determined to go, she sat down by the cradle to watch
+her sleeping child, while he took a light and proceeded to the
+workshop. There he seized a hatchet and crow bar, and thus provided
+with implements, he approached the door of the locked chamber.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The room belongs to me,' said he to himself, 'who has a right to
+prevent me from entering it?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">To force the door by the aid of the iron crowbar, was the work of an
+instant, and without the slightest hesitation he went in, though it
+must be confessed he felt a momentary panic. But that wore off
+immediately, and he began at once to examine the place. Nothing
+appeared, however, to excite suspicion. There were some sacks of wood
+in a corner, and he emptied these, almost expecting to see one of them
+filled with the bones of dead men, but there was no vestige of anything
+of the kind. The floor seemed to be recently washed, for it was yet
+scarcely dry. He then began to take up the boards. At that moment he
+heard the handle of the door which led into the neighbouring house
+turning; holding the hatchet in one hand, and the light, high above his
+head, in the other, he put himself in an attitude of defence, while he
+called out:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Has anyone a desire to assist me?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Presently all was still. Frants put down his light, and began again
+hammering at the boards; almost unconsciously he also began to hum
+aloud an air which his old master used always to sing when he was
+engaged in finishing any piece of work. But he had not hammered or
+hummed long before the handle of the door was again turned. This time
+the door opened, and a tall, white figure slowly entered, with an
+expression of countenance as hellish as if its owner had just come from
+the abode of evil spirits.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What, at it again, old man? Will you go on hammering and nailing till
+Doomsday? Must that song be heard to all eternity?' said a hollow but
+well-known voice--and Frants recognized with horror the ghastly-pale
+and wild-looking sleep-walker, who, with eyes open--but fixed and
+glazed--and hair standing on end, had come in his night-gear from his
+sleeping-chamber.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Where didst thou lay my bones?' said Frants, as if he had become
+suddenly insane. 'Why was I not placed in my coffin?--why did I not
+enter a Christian burying-ground?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Your bones are safe enough,' replied the pallid terrible-looking
+dreamer, 'no one will harm them under my pear-tree.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But whom didst thou bury under my name--as a self-murderer, when thou
+didst fasten on me the stain of guilt in death?' asked Frants,
+astonished and frightened at the sound of his own voice, for it seemed
+to him as if a spirit from the other world were speaking through his
+lips.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It was the beggar,' replied the wretched somnambulist, with a
+frightful contortion of his fiendish face, a sort of triumphant grin.
+'It was only the foreign beggar to whom you gave your old grey cloak
+... but whom I drove from my door that Christmas-eve.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Where <i>he</i> lies shalt thou rot--by <i>his</i> side shalt thou meet me on
+the great day of doom!' cried Frants, who hardly knew what he was
+saying. He had scarcely uttered these words when he heard a fearful
+sound, something between a shriek and a groan--and he stood alone with
+his light and his hatchet--for the howling figure had disappeared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Was it a dream,' gasped Frants, 'or am I mad? Away, away from this
+scene of murder--but I know <i>now</i> where I shall find that which I
+seek.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He returned to Johanna, who was sitting quietly by the still sleeping
+child, and was reading the holy Scriptures.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants did not tell her what had taken place, and she was afraid to
+ask; he persuaded her to retire to rest, while he himself sat up all
+night to examine further the papers in the old Bible. The next day he
+carried them to a magistrate, and the whole case was brought before a
+court of justice for legal inquiry and judgment.</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">
+'Was I not right when I said that a coffin would come out of that
+house before the end of the year?' exclaimed the baker's wife at
+the corner of the street, to her daughter, when, some time after, a
+richly-ornamented coffin was borne out of Frants's house. The funeral
+procession, headed by Frants himself, was composed of all the joiners
+and most respectable artisans in the town, dressed in black.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is the coffin of old Mr. Flok,' said the baker's daughter, 'he is
+now going to be <i>really</i> buried, they say; I wonder if it be true that
+his bones were found under a tree in Mr. Stork's garden.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Quite true,' responded a fishwoman, setting down her creel, while she
+looked at the funeral procession.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Young Mr. Frants had everything proved before the judge--and that
+avaricious old Stork will have to give up his ill-gotten goods.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ay--and his ill-conducted life too, perhaps,' said the man who kept
+the little tavern near; 'if all be true that folks say, he murdered the
+worthy Mr. Flok.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I always thought that fellow would be hanged some day or other--he
+tried to cheat me whenever he could,' added the baker's wife.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But they must catch him first,' said another; 'nothing has been seen
+of him these last three or four days.'</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">
+On Christmas-eve there sat a cheerful family in the late Mr. Flok's
+house near the canal. The child had quite recovered, and Frants,
+filling the old silver goblet with wine, drank many happy returns of
+the season to his dear Johanna.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How little we expected a short time ago to be so comfortable now!' he
+exclaimed. 'Here we are, in our own house, which was intended for us by
+your kind uncle. I am no longer compelled to nail away alone at coffins
+until midnight, but can undertake more pleasant work, and keep
+apprentices and journeymen to assist me. My good old master's name is
+freed from reproach, and his remains now rest in consecrated ground,
+awaiting a blessed and joyful resurrection.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The lumber-room with its fearful recollections was shut up. The outside
+of the house was painted anew--and the mysterious inscription on the
+wall, thus obliterated, never reappeared.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Frants had occasion one day, shortly after this favourable turn in
+their affairs, to cross the long bridge; and as he passed near the
+Dead-house for the drowned, he went up to the little window, saying to
+himself--'Now I can look in without any superstitious fears, for I know
+that my old master never drowned himself,--THAT foul stain is no longer
+attached to his memory; and his remains have at length obtained
+Christian burial.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But when he glanced through the window he started back in horror, for
+the discoloured and swollen features of a dead man met his view, and in
+the dreadful-looking countenance before him, he recognized that of the
+murderer--Stork--who had been missing some time.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Miserable being!' he exclaimed, 'and you have ended your guilty career
+by the same crime with which you charged an innocent man! None will
+miss you in this world except the executioner, whose office you have
+taken on yourself. I know that you had planned my death, but enemy as
+you were, I shall have you laid decently in the grave, and may the
+Almighty have mercy on your soul!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Prosperity continued to attend the young couple--but the lessons of the
+past had taught them how unstable is all earthly good; the old family
+Bible--now a frequent and favourite study--became the guide of their
+conduct; and when their happiness was clouded by any misfortune, as all
+the happiness of this passing life must sometimes be, they resigned
+themselves without a murmur to the will of Providence, reminding each
+other of the watchman's song on that memorable night when all hope
+seemed to have abandoned them:</p>
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help<br>
+To make our burden light.'</p>
+</div>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_felon" href="#div1Ref_felon">THE FELON'S REVERIE.</a></h2>
+
+<hr class="W20">
+
+
+<p class="normal">In a narrow cell sat one who was a prisoner for life. Around him were
+the four dingy walls, covered with great black characters, scratched
+thereon at sundry times with bits of charcoal: but there was no
+pleasure in reading these hieroglyphics, for they were the fruit of
+solitude and melancholy, whose heavy, heavy thoughts had thus expressed
+themselves. High up was placed the little window, the only connection
+with life, with nature, and with the heavens; but the black iron bars
+kept watch over that, and obscured the clear daylight. The links of his
+chain, round his hand and his foot, kept the prisoner bound in his
+dreary cage, but they could not fetter the soul's deep longing after
+liberty.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Days and years had passed in this gloomy cell. A charming, fresh
+summer's morning it was, when the door of this prison was first closed
+on him, and when he was told that Death alone should set him free. Here
+he had remained ever since; severed from the rest of mankind, shut up
+from them as if he had been a wild beast; and their farewell words to
+him had been--that Death alone was to be his deliverer. This was so
+dreadful a thought that he did all he could to drive it away. He worked
+diligently, he whistled, he sang, and he engraved strange names and
+figures on the walls. He frequently gazed up at the window, though he
+could only see through it a dead wall, but over that wall were the blue
+skies. He soon came to know every stone in the wall; he knew where the
+sun cast its streaks of light: where the little streams of water
+trickled down when it rained; there was more variety in the sky--it
+seemed to have compassion upon him, for sometimes the clouds were
+chased along by the wind; sometimes they assumed strange, fantastic
+shapes, and arrayed themselves in crimson and gold, like the gorgeous
+garb of royalty; and sometimes they hung in heavy, dark masses over the
+lofty wall--the boundary of his external world. But he saw no living
+things; and once, when a daring swallow rested for a few minutes on the
+outside ledge of his iron-barred window, he scarcely breathed, in his
+anxiety to enjoy the sight of it as long as possible.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Winter was his saddest time, for <i>then</i> the snow blocked up his
+little window, and intervened between him and the skies; then, too, it
+became so early dark, and daylight was so long of coming. He sang and
+whistled no longer; he worked, indeed, but not so diligently, for his
+tormentor--<i>thought</i>--had more power over him. During the short day he
+could partly escape it; but when it became dark--oh! what had it not
+then to recall to him! And the worst was, he was obliged to bear it
+all. He could have silenced another, but he could not hush the voice
+that spoke within himself. In vain he sought to banish remembrance; it
+<i>would</i> haunt him: so he dropped his head upon his hands, and listened.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And it spoke to him of the time when he was a little boy with rosy
+cheeks, who had never done harm to a living being, and who sat or lay
+in the bright sunshine, humming the song his mother had taught him. And
+that mother, who loved him so dearly, who worked for him during the
+day, and slept with him at night--well! She was dead, God be praised!
+'Perhaps if she had lived,' said he to himself. No, no! Does he not
+remember well one day, when the little boy with rosy cheeks was coming
+from school, that he passed a blind old man who was begging, and
+holding out his hat in his hand, that he dived quickly into the hat,
+and caught up the pence some charitable persons had placed in it? No
+one saw him--no one knew that he had done this--why does he now
+remember it with such bitter regret?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His mother died, and a neighbouring family received the orphan kindly;
+consoled and caressed him, and he slept by the side of their dog. But
+they were very poor themselves, and could not maintain him long;
+therefore he was sent to other people, where some one paid a small
+board for him, and where he, the little stranger, was far from being
+well treated. He had too little to eat--and he stole food; therefore he
+was ignominiously turned away, and he fell among wicked people. They
+talked to him of the paths of virtue--but they followed vicious courses
+themselves, and he laughed at their admonitions. He grew older, and he
+went to be confirmed<a name="div2Ref_07" href="#div2_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a> in the House of God; and there he was admitted
+to the Holy Sacrament. The priest laid his hand with blessings on his
+head, and he there pledged his heart to God, and vowed to forsake all
+sin. How comes it that he now so distinctly remembers the solemn tones
+of the organ as he was leaving the church, and the large painting of
+the Saviour close by the altar, which he had turned to look at once
+more before he passed from the crowded aisle? He had never been in that
+church again to pray--alas! never.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He had, indeed, been there again--but it was on another and a reprobate
+errand--and <i>then</i> he was young at that time, and reflected less. Ah!
+<i>then</i>, too, he thought more of the young and beautiful girl who had
+knelt next to him at the altar, and with whom he had afterwards taken a
+quiet walk. On other evenings he was wont to spend his time with some
+wild, bad companions, and to join in their giddy mirth and mischievous
+sports; but that evening, their company wearied and disgusted him, and
+he followed the young girl to her father's house. He had now become an
+apprentice: but he was careless and idle: to sit hard at work did not
+suit his taste. And yet these were pleasant days when he looked back on
+them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He became a journeyman, and was betrothed to his pretty friend of the
+Confirmation-day. She had gone into service, and was a hard-working,
+honest, well-principled girl; <i>he</i> continued to be idle. Often and
+often she entreated him to be more industrious, to seek work, and not
+to waste his time on riot and strife; and often he promised to reform.
+But his only reformation was, that he took more pains to conceal from
+her his bad habits. When he was sitting with her, and her anxious look
+rested upon his dull eyes, or his faded cheek, he felt that it was time
+to stop in his career of evil, and resolved to become a steady and
+respectable workman. But these good resolutions vanished when he left
+her presence. At length the evil spirit within him conquered; he wanted
+money, and stole a watch from a fellow-workman. Then the arm of the law
+seized him, never again to let him go.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">After he had undergone the punishment awarded to his theft, he came,
+abashed and with downcast eyes, to his betrothed; but she had heard of
+his guilt. With bitter tears she reproached him for his conduct, and
+she forbade him ever again to show himself in her presence. He was
+furious at her reception of him, and left her, vowing to be revenged.
+Many wild schemes rushed through his brain:--now he determined to
+murder her; now, that she should also be dragged into disgrace. But one
+day he met her in the street, and her pale, tearful, melancholy
+countenance disarmed his wrath, and annihilated his plans of revenge.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And now, as the prisoner scrawls absently with that rusty nail on the
+wall, and his sunken eyes fill with warm tears, what is memory
+recalling to his saddened mind? Ah! is it not that short-lived time of
+early affection--is it not those sweet, calm features--those speaking
+eyes--that love, so true and so pure? Perhaps his fancy paints himself
+as an honest, industrious citizen, as a happy husband and father,
+with <i>her</i> by his side, and in a very different place from that dreary
+cell--in a comfortable home, enjoying all that he so madly threw
+away--love, happiness and respectability! But his thoughts wander on;
+he throws the nail away from him, and leans back, with arms folded
+across his chest.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He left the town and went into the country. There was a voice in his
+soul which urged him to reform. 'Return, return!' it said; 'return, for
+there is yet time!' But another voice also spoke--that of the demon
+which enslaved him; and that demon was--THE HABIT OF IDLENESS.
+Unhappily he then fell in with a depraved wretch--a villain experienced
+in crime--an escaped convict. They wandered about among the peasantry
+and begged; but every door was closed against his companion, with
+unmistakable signs of terror and distrust.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One summer night they had taken shelter in a stable, and he had fallen
+fast asleep. He was awakened by his comrade. 'Get up,' said he, 'men
+will give us nothing--the Lord must help us, therefore.' He thought the
+man alluded to some intended theft, and accompanied him without the
+least reluctance. They stole along the gardens and fences on towards
+the churchyard. He stopped his guide.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What are we to do here? 'he asked, with uneasiness. 'You surely will
+not--'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What?' asked the other, laughing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, let the dead rest in peace!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Fool!' cried the convict, 'do you think I am going to meddle with the
+dead? Follow me!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And he scaled the walls of the churchyard, and broke open the Gothic
+door of the church. Now he understood what his companion meant to do;
+but his heart beat as if it would have started out of his breast. As he
+went up the aisle, he felt as if he had lead in his shoes--as if the
+flooring held him back at every step--as if it were a whole mile to
+reach the altar. He had not entered the house of God since the day he
+had been there to take upon himself his baptismal vow, and dedicate his
+life to his Creator; and now--now he stood there to plunder! His hands
+trembled violently, as he held open the sack for his comrade, who cast
+into it the silver cups, the silver salvers, and everything that he
+could find of value; and had it not been for fear of his ferocious
+associate, he would assuredly have thrown down the sack and fled, for
+he thought that the picture of Christ over the altar looked earnestly
+and reproachfully at him. When his companion looked up from his
+sacrilegious work, and observed his eyes fixed, as it were, by some
+fearful fascination on the picture, he nodded to it in a scoffing
+manner, and then closed the sack, and left the church.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When they were out of it, the prisoner breathed more freely; and when
+they placed themselves on a tombstone to divide the booty, he received
+without hesitation the portion that his comrade chose to allot to him.
+They buried their treasure in the earth, and separated. But the massive
+altar-plate could not easily be disposed of. He was in want; he begged
+from door to door, but he was driven from them all; so he had again
+recourse to stealing. Since the night that he had been drawn into
+robbing the church, he had felt that he was an outcast from the whole
+world--an outcast from God himself. He knew that punishment was sure to
+overtake him, and he was miserable. His companion in guilt was soon
+after arrested; he confessed all, and they were both imprisoned, and
+put to hard labour.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But he had not yet quite lost all hope. He determined to work in future
+for his daily bread. He came out of gaol a half-savage, half-frightened
+being--lonely and deserted--bearing upon him that brand of infamy which
+never more could be erased; but he had made up his mind to labour, and
+he went far away to seek for employment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was the harvest-time. God had blessed the fields, and there were not
+reapers enough to gather in the corn. No question was asked whence he
+came, but his services were immediately accepted. There was something
+in this display of the bounty of the Creator, in this activity, in this
+working in the free open air, that pleased him; for the first time in
+his life he toiled cheerfully. But the country people did not like him;
+his look was downcast and dark--he was rough and passionate, abrupt in
+speech, and he spoke little. After the farm-servants had one day
+proposed to him to go to church, and he had refused positively, but
+with an air of embarrassment, he was looked upon with great suspicion.
+There was but one face that always smiled at him, and that was the face
+of the youngest boy upon the farm. He had won the child's heart by
+having once cut out some little boats for him, and sailed them in the
+pond; and from that time the child always clapped his hands with joy
+when he saw him. It was so new, so delightful to him to be beloved,
+that he felt himself insensibly attracted towards the little creature.
+He indulged him in all his childish whims, carried him about in his
+arms, made toys for him, and seemed to feel himself well rewarded by
+the innocent child's attachment.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Thus passed the winter. Peace, hitherto unknown to him, was creeping
+into his heart; and when he stood in spring on the fields with the
+sprouting seeds, and heard the lark's blithe carol, a new light began
+to dawn on his benighted mind. One day, when he returned from the
+fields towards the farm-yard, his little friend ran up to him, jumping
+and playing. He stretched out his arms to the child, but in an instant
+he started back, pale and horror-stricken. His former associate stood
+before him, with a malignant smile upon his sinister countenance, and
+held out his hand to him, while he said, in a tone of bitter irony,--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'So, from all I hear, you are playing the honest man in the place!
+Excuse me for interrupting your rural content, but I have been longing
+so much for you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Away, demon!' cried the unfortunate man. 'Go, go, and leave me in
+peace!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Not so fast!' replied the other, with a withering sneer. 'I have told
+the people of the farm who you are. Do you think I am going to lose so
+useful a comrade?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At that moment the grandfather of the child came up, and when he saw
+the little boy in the arms of him whom he had just been told was a
+malefactor, he snatched him hurriedly away, in spite of the child's
+tears and cries; and applying many abusive epithets to the man, ordered
+him instantly to leave the farm. The disturber of his peace carried him
+off with him, while his fiendish laughter rang around!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">See! the prisoner's chest is heaving with emotion. Hark! what deep
+sighs seem to rend his heart, while a few scalding tears are falling
+from his eyes! Of what is he dreaming now?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He sees himself, in the grey dawn of day, stealthily creeping along the
+hedges that surround the farm, to catch a glimpse of his little
+favourite. He beholds the infant's soft cheek wet with the tears of
+affection; he feels his tiny arms clasped lightly round his neck; the
+kind words of farewell ring in his ears; he listens again for the sound
+of the retiring little footsteps, as the child is leaving him, and sees
+the little hand waving to him a last adieu from the door of his
+mother's house. As he then threw himself down beneath the hedge on the
+dewy grass, and burst into tears, he now hides his face on his hard
+pallet, and sobs aloud.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But he has risen from that recumbent position. He wrings his hands, and
+his teeth chatter, in his solitary cell. What horror is passing through
+his mind? What agonizing remembrance has seized him, and is shaking
+soul and body, as the roaring tempest shakes the falling leaves? Let it
+stand forth from its dark concealment! In vain he presses his hands on
+his bloodshot eyes not to behold that scene--in vain he tries to close
+his ears against those voices--the blackest night of his gloomy prison
+cannot veil <i>that</i> picture, for it arises from the darkest depths of
+his inmost soul.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Listen how his evil-minded associate tempts him, and draws him on!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yon old man at the farm has plenty of money--ready money--do you hear?
+Do you think I lost my time there? His daughter and her husband are his
+heirs; they do not need his gold so much as we do. The old man sleeps
+in that low house near the larger one. It is but a step through the
+window, and we shall be rich for a long time.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But what if he should awake, and recognize us?' asked the prisoner,
+with much anxiety.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The other made a gesture which shocked him. He started back.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, no!' he cried, shuddering; 'no blood!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His companion laughed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What matters it whether the old man dies a few days sooner or later?
+People have generally no objection to the death of those to whom they
+are to be heirs. And have you forgotten how roughly he spoke to you?
+How he abused you, and drove you away? At that time I am sure you
+thirsted for revenge. Besides, how are you going to live? Perhaps you
+think you may find some good-natured fool to take a fancy to you; but
+you forget that <i>I</i> like you too well to separate from you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Want, fear, revengeful feelings, got the better of him; but at night,
+when like two spectres they glided along the road, it seemed to him
+constantly as if some one saw him; and notwithstanding his companion's
+ridicule, he frequently looked back. And truly there was ONE who
+watched him, but not with any mortal eye. They opened the window, and
+got in one after the other, and easily found the old man's desk, which
+was in the next room. The robber's practised hand soon opened it, and
+he was about to take its contents, when the door of the bedroom was
+suddenly thrown back and rapidly shut, and the old man, who was still
+hale and strong, entered, armed with a thick cudgel. A short but
+furious struggle ensued; he remembered having seized him by the back of
+his neck with both his hands, and dragged him down on the floor; he
+remembered having heard some dull blows, that made him shiver with
+horror, and then having stood in breathless dismay by a dead body. The
+two criminals looked at each other with faces of ashy hue; then the
+most hardened kicked the corpse to one side, and went to secure the
+booty, while the prisoner opened the door of the sleeping-room to
+search it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But--oh, anguish unspeakable! oh, avenging God!--who should spring
+forward to meet him, clinging to his knees and imploring his
+protection--who but his innocent, unfortunate little favourite! He
+started back, speechless and powerless; but when he beheld his comrade,
+without uttering one word, brandish his knife, he clasped the child
+with one arm in a convulsive embrace, and stretched out the other to
+defend him against the ruffian.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Shall he be left to betray us both to-morrow?' mumbled the wretch. 'He
+must die, for your sake as well as mine.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, let us take him with us!' prayed the other, in the deepest
+agitation, while he tried to keep off the knife, which, however, he did
+with difficulty, as the child held fast to his arm, and, in his terror
+at the murderous weapon, hid his little face on that breast where he
+had so often rested in happy confidence, his silver voice murmuring his
+childish love.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are mad,' said his companion. 'What should we do with the boy? Let
+go your hold of him, I say--we have no time to lose--let him go, or it
+will cost you your own life.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The quivering lips of the miserable man had scarcely uttered a prayer
+to wait, at least, till he could withdraw, when the child was torn from
+him, and like a maniac he rushed away, sprang out of the window, threw
+himself upon the ground, and buried his head among the long damp grass.
+What a moment of agony! Such agony, that at the remembrance of it the
+prisoner groaned aloud, and dashed his head against the stone wall,
+then coiled himself up like a worm, as if he would fain have shrunk
+into nothing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The dear-bought, blood-stained booty was divided, and the criminal
+associates separated. But suspicion fell upon them; they were pursued,
+and soon taken. On being carried before a magistrate, he denied it all;
+yet when he was placed by the dead body of the murdered child, guilt
+spoke in his stiff, averted head--in the tell-tale perspiration that
+stood on his brow--and in his clenched and trembling hands. He
+confessed, and implored to be removed, even to prison, from the
+harrowing spectacle. His accomplice was condemned to death, he himself
+to imprisonment for life.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There he was now, alone with the dreadful recollections of former
+days. The summer came and went, without bringing any other joy to him
+than that the sun's rays fell broader, and more golden in their gleams
+upon the wall outside that bounded his narrow view; and that now and
+then a bird would fly over it, quiver a few notes, then wing its flight
+away. That sight always awoke a voice in his heart that cried for
+'Freedom--freedom!' But he would hush it with the thought, that he
+could not be happier were he at liberty than in his dungeon cell. At
+other times, he would take a violent longing to see a green leaf--only
+a single green leaf--or a corn-blossom from the fields, or a blade of
+grass. Ah! these were vain wishes! When winter came, and the sun and
+the daylight forsook him so soon, he was still more gloomy, for he
+could not sleep the whole of the long, long night, and the phantoms
+that haunted him were terrific.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Once--it was a Christmas night--he was reflecting on all the joy that
+was abroad in the world, and he thought if it would not be possible for
+him to pray. Then long-forgotten words returned to his lips, and he
+faltered out, 'Our Father, which art in heaven!'--but <i>then</i> he
+stopped.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'God is in heaven,' thought he, 'how can He condescend to hear the sigh
+that arises from the hell within my breast? No, no--it is but mocking
+Him for <i>me</i> to pray!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Days and years had gone by since the prisoner had inhaled the breath of
+the fresh balmy air, had beheld the extended vault of heaven, or
+wandered in the bright, warm sunshine; at length the spirit had
+exhausted the body. He lay ill and feeble, and death was near. Then was
+the narrow door of his dungeon opened, and he was removed to a more
+cheerful place--to a place where the blessed air and light were freely
+admitted, and where the voices of human beings were around him. But
+their compassion came too late. Earnestly did he entreat them to let
+him see a minister of the Gospel; and when one came, he poured out the
+misery of his soul to him. He listened with the deepest attention while
+the holy man discoursed about Him, who, in His boundless love, shed His
+own blood to wash out the sins of mankind, and in whose name even the
+darkest and most guilty criminal might dare to raise his blood-stained
+hands in prayer. How consoling were not these precious words to him,
+'My God and my Saviour! With what an earnest longing he waited to be
+permitted to participate in that solemn rite which, by grace and faith,
+was to unite him to that Redeemer! And how he trembled lest the lamp of
+his mortal life should be extinguished before the first spark of that
+sacred flame was lighted, which was to be kindled for an endless
+eternity!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The time that his repentant spirit so thirsted for arrived. And when he
+had partaken of the holy communion, and tears of penitent sorrow had
+streamed over his burning cheeks, peace--long unknown--returned to his
+weary heart, and his gratitude found vent in thanksgivings and prayer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh!' he exclaimed, as he looked out of his open window, 'it is spring,
+my friends--I feel that it is spring, beautiful spring!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes,' replied the superintendent of the hospital, 'it is spring; even
+the old tree by the wall is green. See here, as I passed it, I broke
+off this budding twig for you;' and he placed the little green branch
+in the hand of the dying man.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh!' said he, with a melancholy smile and a tear in his eye, 'that
+old, decayed, withered tree--can it put forth new leaves--fresh, green,
+sweetly scented as these? May I not then venture to hope that the
+Almighty may call forth a new life from me in another world? Oh, that
+such may be His will!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And with the green bough--the proof of God's power and goodness in his
+hand, and with his Redeemer's promise on his lips, he passed to his
+everlasting doom, in the blessed hope that he also might touch the hem
+of his Saviour's garment, and hear these words of life--'Son, thy sins
+be forgiven thee!'</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_morten" href="#div1Ref_morten">MORTEN LANGÈ.</a></h2>
+
+<h2>A Christmas Story.</h2>
+
+<h3>BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.</h3>
+
+
+<p class="normal">Each midnight from the farthest Thule, to isles the South Sea laves,
+To exercise themselves awhile the dead forsake their graves;
+But when it is the Christmas time they stay much longer out,
+And may in the churchyard be seen, then, wandering about;
+And as they dance their merry rounds, the rattling of their bones
+Produces, 'midst the wintry blasts, somewhat unearthly tones.
+Poor things! For them there's neither wine, nor punch, nor supper
+there,
+The icicles are all they have, and a mouthful of fresh air.
+When shines the moon strange forms are seen, tall spectral giants
+some:
+Such sights as these might even strike a chattering Frenchman dumb.
+Scoff not at my poor hero, then, though once in a sad fright--
+He is a most discreet young man, and Morten Langè hight.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One Christmas night the fates ordained a journey he must make,
+So, for despatch, 'twas his resolve a horse and sledge to take.
+Dark was the hour, and in the skies the ranks of stars looked pale,
+While from a tower near hooted owls, as in a German tale.
+And Morten Langè, by-the-by, was not unlearned, for
+About Molboerne's exploits<a name="div2Ref_08" href="#div2_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a>--also the Trojan war,
+'Octavianus,' Nisses, Trolls, Hobgoblins well he knew,
+And all about 'the spectre white,' whose story is so <i>true</i>.
+Too soon the sledge stood at the door, with many a jingling bell;
+But ah! these sounds to his sad ears seemed like his funeral knell.
+Yet, though the snow-flakes fell around, of them he took no heed,
+But like a British runaway pair, he started at full speed.
+He passed a regiment of old trees, whitened from top to toe,
+And soon he gained an open plain, where nought he saw but snow.
+Like Matthison's 'Gedichte,' 'twas very, very cold,
+But still our hero tried to think that he was warm and bold.
+He did not care to gaze about, and so half-closed his eyes;
+Yet, spite of this precaution--lo! a curious sight he spies:
+A muster of the Elfin-folk enjoying a gay spree,
+The men were just five inches high, the women only three;
+And though 'twas at the chill Yule-time, when cold reigns over all,
+In clothes of flimsy cobwebs made, they capered at their ball;
+The ancient dames, however, wore some more substantial gear,
+For of bats' wings their shawls were formed--but, softly--what
+comes here?</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Twelve harnessed mice, with trappings grand, fit for a monarch's
+own,
+They draw a car of fairy work, where a lady sits alone.
+It stops, and Morten Langè sees the lady getting out--
+'Heav'n help me now! Heav'n help me now!' he sighed, for he dared
+not shout.
+'I'm no poltroon, and yet I feel the blood within my veins
+Is freezing fast.' In mortal fear, his cold hand dropped the reins;
+Then stooping to recover them out of the sledge he fell,
+And with it scampered off the horse, whither he could not tell.
+He felt that his last hour was come, all helpless as he lay--
+And with such thoughts upon his mind he fainted quite away.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At length, when consciousness returned, and when his swoon was o'er,
+He heard a fearful buzzing sound, that frightened him still more.
+What had he done to be exposed that night to such alarms?
+A troop of demons round him thronged--one imp secured his arms.
+Another seized his lanky legs, another caught his head--
+And powerless to resist them then, away with him they sped.
+They carried him to some strange place, flames shone upon the walls,
+Into another fainting-fit, half-dead with fright, he falls,
+But when the pains of death seemed past, and trembling he looked
+round,
+He saw that in the other life a sad fate he had found.
+The vaulted roof was black with smoke, and awful was the heat;
+The devils stood with naked arms--he dared not scan their feet.
+One held a hammer in his hand, and threatening, waved it nigh,
+And in a burning furnace there, red flames were flashing high.
+Soon guessed our hero where he was, and set himself to kneel,
+And lustily for mercy prayed--but they laughed at his appeal.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Then to his side an angel came, benignant was her smile,
+And holding out her small white hand, she said to him the while;
+'Well, Heaven be praised, you're better now! But why are you
+afraid?'
+Shaking with fear in every limb, in a faint voice he said:
+'Oh, angel! 'tis not death I dread, but help me out of hell!'
+The angel laughed: 'You're in good hands--you ought to know us well.
+This is the smithy--from your sledge thrown out upon the ground,
+Lying alone amidst the snow half-frozen you were found;
+And I'm no angel, bless your heart! I'm Annie, don't you see?'
+Rubbing his eyes, and staring round, up Morten jumped in glee;
+And that he soon forgot his fright 'tis needless to declare--
+The roasted goose, the foaming ale, and other Christmas fare,
+As might be guessed, put all to rights--and Annie by his side
+At supper sat, that Christmas night, as Morten Langè's bride.</p>
+<br>
+
+<h3><i>Note by the Translator</i>.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">The ghost-story alluded to--'Den hvide Qvinde' (The White Woman)--is to
+be found in Thiele's collection of Danish 'Folkesagn.' This spectre is
+said to haunt some old ruins near Flensborg. Two soldiers, long, long
+ago, were keeping their night-watch on the ramparts of the castle; one
+of them left his post for a short time, and when he was gone the other
+sentry was approached by a tall female figure in white, who accosted
+him thus:--'I am an unblessed spirit, who have wandered here for many
+hundred years, and have never found rest in the grave.' She then
+informed him that under the walls was buried an immense treasure, which
+could only be found by <i>three</i> men in the world, and that he was one of
+the three. The soldier, fancying his fortune made, promised to obey her
+in all things, and received her command to be on the spot the following
+midnight. In the meantime the other sentinel had returned to his post,
+and had overheard what the spectre had related to his comrade. He said
+not a word, however, but the next night he went to the appointed place,
+and concealed himself in some recess close by. When the soldier who was
+to dig for the treasure arrived, with his spade and other implements,
+the white spectre appeared to him, but knowing that he was watched, she
+put off the <i>digging</i> till another night. The man who had intended to
+act as a spy was taken suddenly ill as soon as he got home; and feeling
+that he was about to die, he sent for his comrade, confessed that he
+had watched him, implored him to avoid witchcraft and supernatural
+beings, and recommended him to consult the priest, who was a wise and
+good man.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The soldier took his advice, and laid the matter before the priest, who
+directed him to do the spectre's bidding, only taking care that <i>she</i>
+should be the first to touch the treasure. The man accordingly met the
+ghost at the appointed time and place, and she showed him the spot
+where the treasure was deposited; but before taking it up, she told him
+that one half would be for him, and the other half must be divided
+between the church and the poor. But the demon of avarice had entered
+into his heart, and he exclaimed: 'What! shall I not have the whole of
+it?' Scarcely had these words passed his lips, than the spirit uttered
+a fearful thrilling cry, and disappeared in a blue flame over the
+castle moat. The soldier was taken ill, and died three days afterwards.
+The story became noised about, and a poor student determined to try his
+luck. He repaired to the old castle at midnight, saw the wandering
+'White Woman,' told her his errand and offered his services. But she
+informed him that he was not one of the chosen three, and could not
+assist her, and that the walls would thenceforth stand so firmly, that
+hand of man should never overthrow them. However, she promised at some
+future time to reward him for his good intentions.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One day, long after, when he happened to be loitering near the old
+castle, and thinking with compassion of the fate of the restless spirit
+who haunted it, he stumbled over something; and, on stooping to see
+what it was, he discovered a large heap of gold, of which he forthwith
+took possession. As foretold by the spectre, the walls of the castle
+are still standing, and the story goes, that whenever any portion of
+them has been overthrown, it has always been raised again by invisible
+agents during the night. Matter-of-fact people assert that the locality
+of this ghost tradition is a <i>hill</i>, not a <i>castle</i>.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_tale" href="#div1Ref_tale">A TALE OF JUTLAND.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>BY S. S. BLICHER.</h3>
+
+
+<p class="normal">I had often beheld the highest hill in Denmark, but had not hitherto
+ascended it. Frequently as I had been in its neighbourhood, the
+objects of my journeys had always required me to turn off in another
+direction, and I was thus obliged to content myself with seeing at some
+distance the Danish Schwarzwald; and as I passed on, to cast a hurried
+glance down the valleys to the charming lake, dotted with green leafy
+islets, and which winds, as it were, round jagged tongues of land. At
+length I overcame all obstacles, and resolved to devote two days to a
+pleasure-trip amidst this much-admired scenery. My cousin Ludwig, who
+had just arrived from the capital, agreed to accompany me.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The morning was clear and warm, and gave the promise of a fine evening,
+but shortly after mid-day there gradually arose in the south-west a
+range of whitish clouds tinged at the sides with flame-colour. My
+cousin did not notice them; but I, who am experienced in the signs of
+the weather, recognized these indications of thunder, and announced to
+him 'that the evening would not be as fine as the morning.' We were
+riding exactly in such a direction that we had these clouds opposite to
+us, and could, therefore, perceive how they kept rising higher and
+higher, how they became darker at the base, and how they towered like
+mountains of snow over the summit of the hill. Imagination pictured
+them to us like the Alps of Switzerland, and we tried to fancy
+ourselves in that mountainous country; we saw Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn,
+and the Jungfrau; in the valleys between the clouds we pictured to
+ourselves the glaciers; and when a solitary mass of cloud, breaking
+suddenly, sank down, and seemed to mingle with the mountain chain, we
+called it an avalanche which would overwhelm villages and scattered
+chalets with everlasting snow. We continued, absolutely with childish
+pleasure, to figure to ourselves in the skies the majestic scenery of
+the Alps, and were quite wrapt up in our voluntary self-deception, when
+the sudden roar of thunder awoke us from our fantastic dreams. Already
+there stretched scarcely the thinnest line of light in the heavens
+above us, and the wood which lay before us seemed as if in a moment
+enveloped in a thick mist by the fast-falling rain. We had been too
+long dilatory, and now we rode as hard as possible to reach the nearest
+village; and we were soaked to the skin before we got to Alling, where
+we sought shelter under an open gateway.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The owner of the place, an elderly farmer, who seemed a sort of
+half-savage foreigner to us, received us with old Danish hospitality;
+he had our horses taken to his stable, and invited ourselves into his
+warm parlour. As soon as he observed our drenched condition, he offered
+us garments belonging to his two sons to wear while our own wet ones
+were dried by the blazing hearth. Joyfully did we avail ourselves of
+his kind proposal; and in a room upstairs, called the best apartment,
+we soon made the comfortable change of apparel, while laughing and
+joking at our unexpected travestie. Equipped as peasant lads in their
+Sunday's clothes, we shortly after rejoined the family. Our host was
+much amused at the change in our outward men, and warmly extolled our
+homely appearance, while his two daughters smiled, and stole sly
+glances at us--</p>
+
+
+<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">'Blushed the Valkyries, whilst they turned and laughed.'</p>
+
+
+<p class="normal">The coffee-urn stood ready on the table, surrounded by china cups; the
+refreshing beverage, amply provided with brown sugar and rich
+unadulterated cream, poured out and handed by one of the pretty
+daughters, speedily restored genial heat to our chilled blood; and then
+the father of the family thought it time to inquire the names,
+occupations, and places of abode of his unexpected guests.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Meanwhile the thunderstorm had passed away; the sun smiled again in the
+cloudless west; far away to the east, indeed, could still be heard the
+distant whistling and rattling of the winds, but where we were all was
+mild and tranquil. The spirits of the storm had folded their dripping
+wings, and the raindrops sparkled like diamonds upon every leaf and
+flower. The evening promised once more to resemble the morning in
+beauty.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And now for the ascent of the mountains!' we exclaimed to each other.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But your clothes?' interrupted the farmer. We hastened into an outer
+room, where the other fair daughter was busy drying them; but, alas!
+they were still quite damp, and she said she feared she could not
+promise that they would be in a fit state to be put on for at least an
+hour; and then it would probably be too late to enjoy the view from the
+top of the hill, as the ascent, proceeding from where we were at that
+moment, would take, perhaps, another hour. What was to be done? The
+good-natured countryman helped us out of our dilemma.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'If you are not ashamed of wearing the boys' clothes,' said he, 'why
+should you not keep them on?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is a capital idea,' we both replied, and thanking him for the
+offer, as we shook hands with him cordially, we asked him where we
+could find a guide.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I will myself be your guide,' he said, as he took from a corner a
+juniper-stick for each of us. We then lost no time in commencing our
+journey, and still more gaily than before, for we were much amused at
+our masquerade, especially my cousin, who seemed to feel no small
+admiration for himself in the rustic blue frock-coat, ornamented
+with silver buttons--the jack-boots--and the head surmounted by a
+high-crowned hat.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I sincerely wish,' said he, 'that we could fall in with some other
+travellers up yonder; that would be great fun.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Our guide laughed, and hinted that he would not be able to talk like
+the peasantry.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes, I can though,' said my cousin, who immediately began to speak in
+the Jutland dialect, to the infinite diversion of the worthy Peder
+Andersen who, however, found still another stumbling-block to the
+perfections of the pretended peasant--namely, that his nice white hands
+would betray him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I can put them in my pocket' ('A ka put em i e Lomm),' cried my gay
+cousin, who was determined to admit of no drawback to his assumed
+character.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Presently we reached the river Gudenade, which is here tolerably wide,
+and has rather a swift current. We crossed in a boat something like a
+canoe, and then entered on quite another kind of a country; for here
+commenced the moorlands, covered with heather whose dark tints formed
+a strong contrast to the bright green on the east of the river. We
+had yet a good way to walk, and as the heather, which almost reached up
+to our knees, was still wet with rain, we had good reason to be
+grateful to our long boots. We approached the wood--a wood of
+magnificent beech-trees--which appeared to me here doubly beautiful,
+standing out, as it did, against so dark a background. Amidst sloping
+dales the path wound always upward; but the thickness of the foliage
+for a time deprived us of any view. At last we emerged from the wood,
+and found ourselves upon the open summit of the mountain.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When I hear delightful music, or witness an interesting theatrical
+representation, I always like to enjoy it for a time in silence.
+Nothing acts more unpleasantly, jars more on my feelings, than when any
+one attempts to call my attention to either. The moment the remark is
+made to me, 'How beautiful that is!' it becomes less beautiful to me
+These audible outbursts of admiration are to me like cold shower-baths,
+they quite chill me. After a time, when I have been left undisturbed,
+and by degrees have cooled in my excitement, I am willing to exchange
+thoughts and mingle feelings with those of a friend, or of many
+friends; indeed, I find desire growing within me to unburden, if I may
+so express it, my overladen mind. It is thus that a poet utters his
+inspirations: at the sweet moment when he conceives his ideas, they
+glow within him, but he is silent; afterwards he feels constrained to
+give them utterance; the voice or the pen <i>must</i> afford the full heart
+relief. Our guide's anxiety to please was a dreadful drawback to my
+comfort, for, with the usual loquacity of a cicerone, he began to point
+out and describe all the churches that could be described from the
+place where we were standing, invariably commencing with, 'Yonder you
+see.' I left my cousin to his elucidation of the country round, and,
+wandering to some little distance, I sat down where I could <i>see</i>,
+without being compelled to <i>hear</i>.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When Stolberg had finished translating Homer into German, he threw down
+his pen, and exclaimed, despondingly, 'Reader, learn Greek, and burn my
+translation!' What is a description of scenery but a translation? Yet
+the most successful one must be as much inferior to the original as the
+highest hill in Jutland is lower than the highest mountain in Thibet.
+Therefore, kind reader, pardon my not describing to you all I saw.
+<i>What</i> I saw I might, perhaps, be able to relate to you, but scarcely
+<i>how</i> I saw it. My pen is no artist's pencil; go yourself and take a
+view of it! But you, who perhaps have stood on the summit of the
+Brochen, or of St. Bernard, smile not that I think so much of our
+little mountain! It is the loftiest that I, or perhaps many of my
+readers, have beheld; therefore, what is diminutive to you is grand to
+us.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was startled in my meditations by a thump on my shoulder--it was from
+my cousin, who was standing behind me. He informed me that our guide
+had gone home at least half-an-hour, and that I had been sitting for a
+long time perfectly motionless, without giving the slightest sign of
+life. He told me, moreover, that he was tired of such solemn silence,
+and I must really awaken from my fit of abstraction.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And at what have you been looking that has engrossed your thoughts so
+much?' he added.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The same as you have been looking at,' I replied: 'Air, and earth, and
+water.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well, cast your eyes down now towards the lake,' said he, handing me
+his spy-glass, 'and you will see that there are some strangers coming
+over this way.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I took the glass and perceived a boat a little way from the shore,
+which seemed to be steering straight across the water; it was full of
+people, and three straw bonnets indicated that there were women among
+them. My cousin proposed that we should await their coming, although it
+would be late before we should reach our quarters for the night at
+Alling. As the evening was so charming, I willingly consented; we could
+not have wished a finer one. The sun was about to set, but it seemed to
+us to sink more slowly than usual, as if it lingered to behold longer
+the beauty of earth when tinged with its own golden rays. The winds
+were hushed, not a blade of grass, not a leaf was stirring. The lake
+was as a mirror, wherein were reflected the fields, the groves, the
+houses that lay on its surrounding sides, while here and there, in the
+valleys towards the west, arose a thin column of smoke from dwellings
+that were concealed by trees. But if in the air all was silence, sounds
+enough proceeded from the earth. Feathered songsters carolled in the
+woods behind us, and before us the heath-lark's love-strains swelled,
+answering each other from the juniper-bushes. From the bulrushes which
+grew on the margin of the lake was heard the quacking of the wild
+ducks; and from a greater distance came the plashing of the fisherman's
+oar, as he was returning to his home, and the soothing tones of his
+vesper hymn.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The sun had now sunk below the horizon, and the bells that rang from
+many a church for evening prayer, summoned the weary labourer to rest
+and sleep. The heavy dews of night were already moistening the ground,
+and its mist was veiling the woods, the lake, and the sloping banks.
+Now broke upon the ear the cheering yet plaintive music of wind
+instruments. It seemed to come nearer and nearer, and must undoubtedly
+have proceeded from the boat we had observed putting off from the
+opposite shore. When the music ceased, we could distinctly hear the
+voices of the party in the boat, and presently after the slight noise
+made by their landing. We stood still for a few minutes, expecting to
+see them ascending the hill, but soon perceived that, on the contrary,
+they were going in another direction, for the sound of the voices
+became fainter and fainter, and was lost at last apparently among the
+woods to the west. Had it not been that the airs they had played were
+of the newest fashion, we might have fancied it a fairy adventure--a
+procession of woodland elves, or the bridal of the elf king himself.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The shades of night were falling around. Here and there a star
+glimmered faintly in the pale-blue skies. In the north-west was visible
+a red segment over the horizon, where the king of day was wandering
+beneath, on his way to lighten another hemisphere. Now, all was still;
+only at a distance on the heath we heard the plover's melancholy note,
+and beneath us, on the lake, the whizzing of the water-fowls' wings as
+they skimmed its darkened surface. 'Let us go homewards now!' cried my
+cousin. 'Yes, home!' I replied. But we had not gone far before we both
+stopped at once with a 'Hush! hark!' From the margin of the wood,
+through which we had just come, issued suddenly the sound of harmonious
+voices, singing as a duet a Tyrolese air. There is something
+indescribably charming and touching in this unison of voices,
+especially in the open air, when the sweet tones seem to float upon the
+gentle breeze; and now, at the calm evening hour, when the surrounding
+hills were awakened from the deep repose into which they had just
+subsided, the sweet tones had the effect of the nightingale's
+delightful song. My cousin seized my hand and pressed it, as if to
+entreat that I should not, by any exclamation, disturb his auricular
+treat. When the vocalists ceased, he sighed deeply. I gazed in
+astonishment on him; he was in general so gay, and yet at that moment
+tears actually stood in his eyes! I attributed to the mighty
+enchantment of music, the power of softening and agitating the hardest
+and the lightest heart, and I remarked this to him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ah, well!' he replied, 'the human breast is like a sounding-board,
+which, although untouched, yet gives an echo when certain chords are
+struck.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are right,' I said; 'as, for instance, the story of the tarantula
+dance.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He sighed again, and said gravely,--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But such chords must be connected with peculiar events--must awaken
+certain recollections--yes'--he took my hand, and pointing to the trunk
+of a tree which had fallen, we placed ourselves on it--'yes, my friend,
+yon air recalls to me a souvenir which I have in vain tried to forget.
+Will you listen to the story?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Tell it,' I said, 'though I can partly guess what it must be.'</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">
+It was on such an evening as this (he continued), about two years ago,
+that, accompanied by a friend, I had gone on a little tour of pleasure
+to Lake Esrom. We remained sitting a long time on a fallen tree before
+we could prevail on ourselves to wend our way homewards, so charmed
+were we with the beauty of the scenery and of the evening. We had
+just arisen when a Tyrolese air--the very one you and I have recently
+heard--sung delightfully as a duet, attracted our attention. It came
+from the side of the lake, but the sounds appeared to be gradually
+approaching nearer. We soon heard the plashing of oars, which kept time
+to the music, and shortly after we saw a boat making for the part of
+the shore where we were. When the song was ended, there was a great
+deal of talking and laughing in the boat, and the noise seemed to
+increase the nearer they came to the shore. We now saw distinctly the
+little skiff and its merry freight. 'Lay aside your oars!' said one; 'I
+will steer you straight in to the land.' They did so. 'I know a quicker
+way of making the land,' cried another, as he sprang up, and striding
+from gunwale to gunwale, set the boat rocking frightfully. 'Be quiet!
+be quiet!' roared a third; 'are you mad? The fool will upset the boat!'
+'You shall have a good ducking for that,' said the madcap, swaying the
+boat still more violently. Then came shouts of laughter mingled with
+oaths; in the midst of the uproar a loud voice called out, 'Be done. I
+tell you! Fritz cannot swim.' But it was too late--the boat was full of
+water--it upset. Happily it was only a short way from the shore. In one
+moment they were all silent; we heard only the splashing and hard
+breathing of those who were swimming. There were six of them. Presently
+one of them cried, 'Fritz! Fritz! come here! take hold of me!' Then
+cried another, 'Fritz, come to me!' And then several voices shouted,
+'Fritz! Fritz! where are you?' Two of them had by this time reached the
+shore, and they stood looking anxiously at those who were still
+swimming in the lake. One of them began counting, 'Three, four!' Then
+crying in a voice of extreme consternation, '<i>One</i> is wanting!' he
+sprang again into the water, and the other instantly followed his
+example!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My friend and I could no longer remain mere spectators of this scene;
+we threw off our coats and were speedily in the water, searching with
+the party for their lost friend. We thought he must be under the boat;
+therefore we all gathered round the spot where it lay keel upwards,
+and the best swimmer dived beneath it. In vain! he was not there. But
+at a little distance, amidst the reeds, one of us observed something
+dark--it was the missing Fritz! He was brought on shore; but he was
+lifeless. Zealously, anxiously, did we try all means of restoring him;
+they were of no avail. It was decided that he should be carried to the
+nearest house. A plank, which had formed one of the seats of the boat,
+and which had floated to the shore, was taken up; he was placed upon
+it, and they carried him towards the road. We followed them
+mechanically. What a contrast to their late boisterous mirth was their
+present profound silence! We had not proceeded far, when one of the
+foremost of the bearers turned round and exclaimed, 'Where is Sund?' We
+all looked back, and beheld the unfortunate madcap who had caused the
+accident half-hidden behind a tall bush, stuffing his pockets with
+pebbles.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'He will drown himself,' said the person who had just spoken; 'we must
+take him with us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">They stopped, and my companion and I offered our assistance to carry
+the body, whilst two of the party went to their repentant friend. The
+way to the house to which the drowned man was to be carried lay through
+a wood. It was so dark amidst the trees that we were close upon two
+female figures, dressed in white, before we observed them,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Good Heavens!' cried the foremost of the party; 'if it should be
+Fritz's betrothed! She said she would probably come to meet us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was indeed herself. You may imagine the painful scene: first, her
+horror at meeting us carrying a drowned man, and then her agony when
+she found out that the unfortunate victim was the one dearest to her on
+earth; for she could not be deceived, as she knew them all. She
+fainted, and her companion caught her in her arms as she was falling to
+the ground. What was to be done? My friend and I hastened to the
+assistance of the ladies, while the other gentlemen hurried on with the
+inanimate body to the house, which was at no great distance. I ran to
+the lake, and brought back some water in my hat; we threw a little on
+her face, when she soon came to herself again, poor thing!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Where is he?' she screamed; 'oh! where is he? He is not dead--let me
+go to him--let me go!' She strove to rise and rush forward.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Leave her, kind gentlemen,' said her companion, as she threw one arm
+round her waist, and with the other pressed her hand to her heart.
+'Thanks--thanks for your assistance, but do not trouble yourselves
+further; I know the way well.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We bowed and stood still, while she hastened on with her poor friend;
+and as they went we could hear the sorrowful wailing of the one, and
+the sweet soothing tones of the other. Having received no invitation we
+had no right to follow them, and we sought our carriage, both deeply
+impressed by the melancholy catastrophe which we had involuntarily
+witnessed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We were not acquainted with any member of the party, nor were we able
+to hear anything of them. In vain we searched all the newspapers, and
+conned over all the announcements of deaths in their columns; there
+never appeared the slightest reference to the unfortunate event I have
+just mentioned, nor did we ever hear it alluded to in society. We
+should certainly, after the lapse of some time, have looked upon the
+whole affair as a freak of the imagination--a phantom scene--had we not
+played a part in it ourselves. It did not make so light an impression
+on me, however; you will think it strange, perhaps absurd, but I
+actually was partially in love! Love has generally but one pathway to
+the heart--the eyes; it took a by-path with me--through the ears. It
+was so dark that I had not seen the young lady's features; I had only
+heard her voice. But, ah! what a voice it was! So soft--<i>that</i> does not
+describe it; so melodious--neither does that convey an idea of what it
+was. I can compare it to nothing but the echo of tones from celestial
+regions, or to the angel-voices which we hear in dreams. Her figure was
+as beautiful as her voice--graceful and sylph-like. If you have ever
+been bewitched in a night vision, you will be able to comprehend my
+feelings. I saw her, and I did not see her. Her slight form with its
+white drapery looked quite spiritual in the dim light, and reminded me
+of Dido in Elysium, floating past Æneas, who was still clothed in the
+garb of mortality.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Of whom are you speaking?' I asked. 'Of the friend?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Of course,' he replied; 'not of the widowed girl, as I may call the
+other.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I do not see anything so very extraordinary in what you have been
+telling me,' I said. 'When it is almost dark, fancy is more easily
+awakened; everything wears a different aspect from what it does in the
+glare of day--objects become idealized, and sweet sounds make more
+impression on the mind, while imagination is thus excited. But is this
+the end of your drama?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No; only the first act,' he replied. 'Now comes the second.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The summer passed away; winter came, and it too had almost gone, when I
+happened to attend a masquerade at one of the clubs. For about an hour
+I had been jostled among the caricaturists, and was becoming very
+tired,--and falling into sombre reflections upon the illusions of life,
+and the masks worn in society to conceal people's real characters from
+each other, when my attention was attracted by twelve shepherds and
+shepherdesses in the pretty costume of Languedoc, who came dancing in,
+hand in hand. The orchestra immediately struck up a French quadrille,
+and the French group danced so gracefully that a large and admiring
+circle was formed round them. When the quadrille was over, the circle
+opened, and the shepherds and shepherdesses mingled with the rest of
+the company. One of the shepherdesses, whose charming figure and
+elegance of motion had riveted my attention, as if by a magic power
+drew me after her. I followed wherever she went, until at last I got so
+near to her that I was able to address her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Beautiful shepherdess!' I said in French, 'how is it that our northern
+clime is so fortunate as to be favoured by a visit from you and your
+lovely sisters?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She turned quickly towards me, and after remaining silent a few
+moments, during which time a pair of dark eyes gazed searchingly at me,</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Monsieur,' she replied in French, 'we thought that fidelity had its
+true home in this northern clime.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You have each brought your lover with you,' I said.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Because we hoped that they would learn lessons of constancy here,' was
+her answer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Lovely blossom from the banks of the Garonne!' I exclaimed, 'who could
+be inconstant to you?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'There is no telling,' she continued, gaily. 'You are paying me
+compliments without knowing me. You call me pretty, yet you have never
+seen <i>me</i>. It must be my mask that you mean.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Your eyes assure me of your beauty,' said I; 'they must bear the blame
+if I am mistaken.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Just at that moment another dance commenced; I asked the fair
+shepherdess to be my partner, and consenting, she held out her hand to
+me. We took our places immediately. It was then that a recollection
+came over me of having heard her sweet voice before. I thought that I
+recognized it--yes! Surely it could be no other's than hers--my fairy
+of Esrom Wood! But I was determined to be certain of the fact. I said
+nothing, however, while we were dancing. The dance seemed to me very
+short, and at the same time endless.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I interrupted him somewhat uncivilly with--'At any rate your story
+seems endless.' He continued, however.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">After the dance was over I conducted her to a seat, and placed myself
+by her side.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It strikes me,' I remarked in Danish, 'that T have once before heard
+your voice, but not on the banks of the Garonne--'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No,' she replied, interrupting me, 'not there, but perhaps on the
+borders of Lake Esrom?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A sweet feeling at that moment, as it were, both expanded and
+contracted my breast. It was herself--the Unseen! She must also have
+remarked my voice, and preserved its tones in her memory.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'A second time we meet,' I sighed, 'without beholding each other. This
+is really like an adventure brought about by some magician's art; but,
+oh! how I long for the moment when you will no longer hide that
+charming countenance.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She laughed slightly; and there was something so sprightly, musical,
+and winning in her laugh, while her white teeth glistened like pearls
+under her mask, that I forgot what more I was going to say. She,
+however, began to speak.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why should I destroy your illusion? Leave our adventure, as you call
+it, alone; when a mystery is solved it loses its interest. If I were to
+remove my mask, you would only see the face of a very ordinary girl.
+Your imagination gallantly pictures me beautiful as some Circassian, or
+some Houri; let me remain such in your idea, at least till the watchman
+cries the hour of midnight, and wakes you from your dreams.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'All dreams are not delusive,' I said. 'They often speak the truth,' I
+added; 'yet sometimes one is tempted to wish that truths were but
+dreams; as, for instance, the very unfortunate event which was the
+occasion of our first meeting.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She looked surprised, while she repeated--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Unfortunate? Ah! true. You probably never heard--' At that moment one
+of the shepherds ran up, and carried her off hurriedly to a quadrille
+which was just forming.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I was following the couple with my eyes, when my sister tapped me on
+the arm and asked me to dance with her, as she was not engaged.
+Mechanically I took my place in the quadrille, the same in which my
+<i>incognita</i> was dancing, and mechanically I went through the figures
+until she had to give me her hand in the chain. I pressed it warmly,
+but there was no response. Ashamed and angry, I determined not to cast
+another glance at her; and resolutely I turned my head away. The
+quadrille was over, and once more I found myself constrained to look at
+her. But she was gone--the shepherds and shepherdesses had all
+disappeared. Whether they had left the ball, or--what was more
+probable--had changed their attire, I saw them no more. In vain at the
+supper-table my eyes wandered over all the ladies, to guess, if
+possible, which was the right one. Many of them were pretty; many had
+dark eyes and white teeth; but which of all these eyes and teeth were
+hers? It was by the voice alone that I could recognize her; but I could
+not go from the one to the other, and ask them to speak to me. And thus
+ended the second part of my drama.</p>
+<br>
+
+<p class="normal">
+'Now, then, for the third act,' said I, with some curiosity.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'For that,' he replied, 'I have waited in vain, above a year and a
+day.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But do you not know her name?' I asked.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Or none of the party of shepherds and shepherdesses?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I found out shortly after that I knew two of the shepherds; but of
+what use was that to me? I could not describe my shepherdess so that
+they could distinguish her among the twelve; they mentioned a dozen
+names, all equally unknown to me. That gave me no clue; to me she was
+both nameless and invisible.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">I could not help smiling at my usually-gay cousin's doleful
+countenance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are laughing at me,' said he. 'Well, I don't wonder at it. To fall
+in love with a girl one has never seen is certainly great folly. But do
+not fancy that I am going to die of despair. I only feel a sort of
+longing come over me when I think of her.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The singers had now come so near that we could hear their conversation.
+After a few moments my cousin whispered to me that he knew one of them
+by his voice, and that he was an officer from Copenhagen. In another
+minute they made their appearance. There were three of them, all
+dressed as civilians, but the moustaches of one showed that he was a
+military man. My cousin squeezed my arm, and whispered again--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is he, sure enough; let us see if he knows me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We rose, and stood stiffly, with our caps in our hands. They nodded to
+us, and the officer said--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Put your hats on, lads. Will you earn a shilling for something to
+drink, and help to erect our tent?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We agreed to his proposal, and at his desire we joined two men in
+fetching, from a cart near, the canvas and other things required to put
+the tent up; also cloaks, cushions, baskets with provisions, and
+bottles of wine, benches for seats, and a wider one for a table. When
+our services were no longer needed, the officer held out some money to
+me, which, of course, I would not receive. My cousin also refused
+payment; whereupon he swore that we should at least take something to
+drink, and, filling a tumbler from his flask, he handed it to my
+cousin, who received it with a suppressed laugh.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What are you grinning at, fellow?' said the officer; but, as my cousin
+carried the tumbler to his lips, he exclaimed--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Your health, Wilhelm!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The individual thus addressed started back in astonishment, while his
+two companions peered into our faces. My cousin burst into a fit of
+laughter; and the officer, who now recognized him, cried, laughing
+also,--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Ludvig! What the deuce is all this? and why are you equipped in that
+preposterous garb?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The matter was speedily explained; the three travellers expressed much
+pleasure at meeting us, and pressed us so cordially to join their
+party, and stay the night with them, that we at length acceded to their
+request.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One of the officer's companions was a young, handsome, and very
+fashionable-looking man; he was extremely rich, we understood,
+therefore they called him <i>the merchant</i>, and they would not tell us
+his name, or if that were his <i>real</i> position in society. The other
+introduced himself to us with these words:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gentlemen, of the respectable peasant class! my name here in Jutland
+is Farniente. My agreeable occupation is to do nothing--at least
+nothing but amuse myself.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was a great deal more joking among our hosts, and then we
+presented each other in the same bantering way, after which we all
+adjourned to the tent, where we wound up with a very jovial supper. At
+midnight the merchant reminded us that we had to rise next morning with
+the first rays of the sun, and that it was time to retire to rest. We
+made up a sort of couch, with cushions and cloaks, and on it we five
+faithful brothers stretched ourselves as best we might. The other four
+soon fell asleep. I alone remained awake; and when I found that slumber
+had fled my pillow, rose as quietly as possible, and left the tent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">All around was still as the grave. The skies were without a cloud, but
+of their millions of eyes only a few were now open, and even these
+shone dimly and feebly, as if they were almost overcome by sleep. The
+monarch of light, who was soon to overpower their fading brightness,
+was already clearing his path in the north-east. It is not the
+darkness, still less the tempest, that renders night so extremely
+melancholy; it is that deep repose, that corpse-like stillness in
+nature; it is to see oneself the only waking being in a sleeping
+world--one living amidst the vast vaults of the grave--a creature
+trembling with the fearful, giddy thought of death and eternity. How
+welcome then is any sound which breaks the oppressive silence of that
+nocturnal solitude, and reminds us that human beings are about to
+awaken to their daily round of occupation and pleasure--and, it must be
+added, of anxiety and trouble! How cheerful seems the earliest crowing
+of the cocks from the nearest huts, rising almost lazily on the dusky
+air! The drowsy world was beginning to move; and after a time I
+discerned faint, sweet tones proceeding from the direction of the
+wood. I listened attentively, and soon became convinced that it was
+music--the music of wind instruments--which I heard. To me music is as
+welcome as the first rosy streaks of morn to the benighted wanderer, or
+a glimpse of the brilliant sun amidst the gloom of a dark wintry sky.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The sweet sounds ceased, and I began to ponder whether it might not
+have been unearthly strains which I had heard--whether they might not
+have come from the fairies who perhaps dwell amidst the surrounding
+glades, or among the wild flowers that enamelled the sloping sides of
+the hills. The music, however, was certainly Weber's, and the question
+was, whether the elfin people had learned the airs from him, or he from
+them. I returned to the tent, where the still sleeping party produced a
+very different and somewhat nasal kind of music.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Gentlemen! gentlemen!' I shouted, 'there are visitors coming.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My cousin was the first to awaken, then the officer, who sprang up, and
+immediately endeavoured to arouse the other two.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'The ladies will be here presently,' he said; 'get up both of you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'They are too early,' groaned one; 'I have not had half my sleep.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Let them wait outside the tent till I am ready,' said Farniente. 'Good
+night!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The rest of us, however, went towards the wood to meet the three
+ladies, who were making their way to our temporary domicile, preceded
+by two musicians playing the horn, and two youths bearing torches, the
+latter being the sons of a clergyman in the neighbourhood, at whose
+house the ladies had slept. Observing the peasant costume of my friend
+and myself, the ladies asked who we were, and were told by the military
+man that we were two soldiers of his regiment, who, being in the
+adjacent village, had assisted in putting up the tent.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Lads,' said he, addressing us in a tone of command, 'can you fetch
+some water for us from the nearest stream, and get some wood for us to
+boil our coffee? I will go with you.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, no, sir--that would be a shame,' said my cousin, in the Jutland
+dialect; 'we will bring all that is wanted ourselves.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When we returned to the tent it was broad daylight; Farniente had been
+compelled to vacate his couch of cloaks, and in his lively way was
+greeting the fair guests with 'Good morning, my three Graces.' The
+officers told us, aside, that two of the ladies were his sisters, and
+were about to tell us more, when a waltz on the turf was proposed by
+Farniente, who seized one of the ladies, whom he called Sybilla, as his
+partner. <i>The merchant</i> danced with another, to whom it appeared he was
+engaged, and the officer took his youngest sister. Their hilarity was
+infectious, and my cousin dragged me round for want of a better
+partner, whereupon the fair Sybilla, who had observed our dancing,
+remarked that we were 'really not at all awkward for peasant lads.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">While they were taking their coffee afterwards, during which time we
+stood respectfully at a little distance, my cousin whispered to me how
+much he admired the lieutenant's youngest sister, who was indeed
+extremely pretty. He had not hitherto heard her voice, but he could not
+help seeing that she looked attentively--even inquisitively at him. By
+Farniente's request, the ladies handed us some coffee, after having
+done which they made some remarks upon us to each other in German. At
+that moment my cousin let his coffee-cup drop suddenly to the ground,
+and standing as motionless as one of the trees in the wood, he fixed
+his eyes upon the youngest girl with a very peculiar expression, which
+called the deepest blushes to her cheek. We all looked on in surprise,
+but I began to suspect the truth. Farniente was the first to speak.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Min Herre!' said he, 'it is time that you should lay aside your
+incognito, for it is evident that you and this lady have met before.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My cousin had by this time recovered his speech and his
+self-possession. He went up to the young lady, and said:--'For the
+first time to-day have I had the happiness of seeing those lips from
+which I have twice heard a voice whose accents delighted me. In that
+voice I cannot be mistaken, so deep was the impression it made upon me.
+Dare I flatter myself that my voice has not been quite forgotten by
+you?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Catherina--that was her name--replied with a smile,--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I have neither forgotten your voice nor your face, though last time we
+met you were a Spanish grandee.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What is all this?' exclaimed the officer; 'old acquaintances--another
+masquerade!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'We are now truly all partaking of rural life,' said Farniente; 'so
+come, you two peasants, and place yourselves with the fair shepherdess
+and us.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">We joined the circle, and after our names having been told, my cousin,
+leading the conversation to Lake Esrom, and the events which took place
+on its banks, asked Catherina how her poor friend had taken that sad
+affair, and if she had ever recovered her spirits?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh yes, she has,' replied Catherina; and pointing to the young lady
+who was engaged to <i>the merchant</i>, 'there she is!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">My cousin started, and said, in some embarrassment, 'It was a sad
+event, but--'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Not so very sad,' cried <i>the merchant</i>, interrupting him, 'for the
+drowned man returned to life. He was no other than myself.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'God be thanked!' exclaimed my cousin, sincerely rejoiced at the
+pleasant intelligence. 'That is more than we <i>then</i> dared to hope. But
+what became of the poor foolish madcap who first upset the boat and
+then wished to drown himself?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Here he is,' said Farniente, pointing to himself; 'and as I once
+thought I might be promoted to the dignity of court jester, I took a
+wife, and there,' bowing to Sybilla, 'sits the fair one who has
+undertaken to steer my boat over the dangerous ocean of life.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The morning mists by degrees cleared away from the wooded valleys and
+the hill-encircled waters; the larks had ended their early chorus, and
+the later songsters of the grove had commenced their sweet harmonies;
+all seemed joy around, and I looked with pleasure at the gay group
+before me. Never had the cheering light of day shone upon a circle of
+more contented human beings, and among them none were happier than
+Ludwig and his recently-found shepherdess, whose countenance beamed in
+the radiant glow of dawning love.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Six months have passed since then, and they are now united for this
+world and for that which is to come.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_secret" href="#div1Ref_secret">THE SECRET WITNESS.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>BY B. S. INGEMANN.</h3>
+
+
+<p class="normal">In the year 1816 there lived in Copenhagen an elderly lady, Froken
+F----, of whom it was known that she sometimes involuntarily saw what
+was not visible to anyone else. She was a tall, thin, grave-looking
+person, with large features, and an expressive countenance. Her dark,
+deep-set eyes had a strange glance, and she saw much better than most
+people in the twilight; but she was so deaf, that people had to speak
+very loudly to her before she could catch their words, and when a
+number of persons were speaking at the same time in a room, she could
+hear nothing but an unintelligible murmur. A sort of magnetic
+clairvoyance had, doubtless, in the somewhat isolated condition in
+which she was placed, been awakened in her mind, without, however, her
+being thrown into any peculiar state. She only seemed at times to be
+labouring under absence of mind, or to have fallen into deep thought,
+and then she was observed to fix her eyes upon some object invisible to
+all others. What she saw at those moments were most frequently the
+similitude of some absent person, or images of the future, which were
+always afterwards realized. Thus she had often foreseen unexpected
+deaths, and other unlooked-for fatal accidents. As she seldom beheld in
+her visions anything pleasing, she was regarded by many as a bird of
+ill omen, and she therefore did not visit a number of families; those,
+however, who knew her intimately both respected and loved her. She was
+quiet and unpretending, and it was but rarely that she said anything,
+unsolicited, of the results of her wonderful faculty.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">She was a frequent guest in a family with whom she was a great
+favourite. The master of the house was an historical painter, and his
+wife was an excellent musician. The deaf old lady was a good judge of
+paintings, and extremely fond of them; also, hard of hearing as she
+was, music had always a great effect upon her; she could add in fancy
+what she did not hear to what she did hear; she had been very musical
+herself in her youthful days, and when she saw fingers flying over the
+pianoforte, she imagined she heard the music, even when anyone, to dupe
+her, moved their fingers back and forwards over the instrument, but
+without playing on it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">One day she was sitting on a sofa in the drawing-room at the house of
+the above-mentioned family, engaged in some handiwork. The artist had a
+visitor who was a very lively, witty, satirical person, and they were
+standing together near a window, discoursing merrily; they often
+laughed during their conversation, and the tones of their voices seemed
+to change, occasionally, as if they were imitating some one, whereupon
+their hilarity invariably increased, which, however, was far from being
+as harmless and goodnatured as mirth and gaiety generally were in that
+house.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When the visit was over, and the artist had accompanied his friend to
+the door, and returned to the drawing-room, the old lady asked him who
+had been with him.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He mentioned the name of his lively friend, whom, he said, he thought
+she knew very well.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, yes, I know him well enough,' she replied; 'but the other?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What other?' asked the painter, starting.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Why the tall man with the long thin face, who stood yonder; he with
+the dark, rough, uncombed-looking hair, and the bushy eyebrows--he who
+so often laid his hand on his breast, and pointed upwards, especially
+when you and your merry friend laughed heartily.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Did you ever see him before?' inquired the artist, turning pale. 'Did
+you observe how he was dressed, and if he had any peculiar habit?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I do not remember having ever seen him before; as to his dress, it was
+very singular, much like that of an old-fashioned country
+schoolmaster.' And she described minutely his long frock-coat, with
+large buttons and side-pockets, and his antiquated boots, that did not
+appear to have been brushed for a very long time. 'The peculiar habit
+you speak of,' she added, 'was probably the manner in which he slowly
+shook his head, when he seemed to differ in opinion from you and your
+other guest; in my eyes there was something noble and striking in this
+movement, there was an expression of pain or sadness in his
+countenance, which interested me; it was particularly observable when
+he laid his right hand on his breast, and raised his left hand upwards,
+as if he were solemnly affirming something, or calling God to witness
+to the truth of what he said. Nevertheless, I remarked with surprise,
+that I scarcely saw him open his lips. It was of course impossible for
+me to hear what you were all talking about.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The terrified artist became still paler--he tottered for a moment, and
+was obliged to lean on the back of a chair for support. Shortly after
+he seized his hat and hurried out of the house. The individual whom the
+old lady had so graphically described had been a friend of his in
+youth, but with whom he had been on bad terms for the last two years,
+and whom he had not seen lately.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The whole conversation with his amusing visitor had been about this
+very man. They had been engaged in a laughable and, at the same time,
+merciless criticism of his character, and appearance, and had been
+turning into ridicule every little peculiarity he had; his very voice
+they had mimicked, and in their facetious exaggeration, had not only
+made a laughing-stock of his person and manners, which were indeed odd,
+but had attributed to him want of heart and want of judgment, which
+latter sentence they based upon his somewhat peculiar taste, and a kind
+of dry, pedantic, schoolmaster tone in conversation, from which he was
+not free.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That old maid is mad--and she has made me mad, too,' mumbled the
+artist, pausing a moment when he had gained the street. '<i>He</i> certainly
+was not there--we do not meet any longer. She never saw him before.
+There is something strangely mysterious in this matter--perhaps it
+bodes some calamity. But, whether she is deranged--or I--or both of us,
+I have wronged him--shamefully wronged him--and I must see him, and
+tell him all.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He stepped into a bookseller's shop, and asked to look at a Directory.
+After about half-an-hour's walk he entered a house in a small back
+street, and ascending to the third story, he rang at a door. A girl
+opened it, and, in answer to his inquiries, told him that the person he
+asked for was ill, and could not see anyone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But I must see him--I must speak to him,' cried the painter, almost
+forcing himself in.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He was then ushered into a darkened room, where he found his poor
+friend of bygone days looking pale and emaciated, lying perfectly still
+upon a sofa, in his old grey frock-coat and soiled boots. The kind
+anxiety with which the unexpected visitor asked about his health seemed
+equally to surprise and please the invalid.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You!' he exclaimed, '<i>you</i> here! Do you still take any interest in me?
+Have you any regard left for me? I did you shameful injustice two years
+ago, when I saw your great masterpiece; and had not an enthusiastic
+word for what I have though, often since, thought of with the greatest
+admiration. Nay, within this very last hour I have wronged you, though
+in quite a different manner. I was dreaming of you, and I fancied you
+were speaking of me with scorn and derision--pulling me to pieces in a
+jesting conversation with a very satirical person, who vied with you in
+ridiculing me, and in mimicking all my oddities.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Forgive me--oh, forgive me! you dreamed the truth,' cried the painter,
+in great agitation, while he threw himself down by the sick man's
+couch, and embraced his knees.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">An explanation ensued between the two friends who had so long been
+estranged from each other--mutual confessions were made--old feelings
+were revived in the hearts of both--and an entire reconciliation
+immediately took place. The unusual emotion, and the surprise at the
+event related to him, did not, as might have been expected, increase
+the illness of the nervous and debilitated invalid; on the contrary,
+the meeting with his former friend appeared to have had a good effect
+on his health, for in the course of a few weeks he had quite recovered.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The old lady's qualifications as a seer, or rather her strange faculty
+of beholding, to others invisible, apparitions, had been productive of
+good; but it was such an extraordinary revelation, agreeing so entirely
+with what both the reconciled friends knew to be the truth, that they
+could only look upon it as a proof of the reality of what was then
+beginning to be so much talked of--the magnetic clairvoyance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">They continued unalterable friends from that time. From that time,
+also, the artist felt an involuntary horror at ridiculing the absent,
+or making or listening to any censorious remarks upon them; he always
+fancied that the injured party might be standing <i>as a secret witness</i>
+by his side, with one hand on his breast, and the other raised in an
+appeal to that great Judge, who alone can know what is passing in every
+heart and every soul.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_agnete" href="#div1Ref_agnete">AGNETE AND THE MERMAN.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>BY JENS BAGGESEN.</h3>
+
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0">Agnete she was guileless.</p>
+<p class="t1">She was beloved and true,</p>
+<p class="t0">But solitude, it charm'd her,</p>
+<p class="t1">And mirth she never knew--</p>
+<p class="t8">She never knew--</p>
+<p class="t0">She made the joy of all around</p>
+<p class="t0">Yet never felt it too.</p>
+<p class="t1">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Over the dark blue waves,</p>
+<p class="t1">Agnete, gazing, bends,</p>
+<p class="t0">When lo! a merman rising there</p>
+<p class="t1">From ocean's depths ascends;</p>
+<p class="t8">Up he ascends.</p>
+<p class="t0">Yet still, Agnete's bending form</p>
+<p class="t1">With the soft billows blends.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">His glossy hair, it seemed as spun</p>
+<p class="t1">Out of the purest gold,</p>
+<p class="t0">His beaming eye, it brightly glow'd</p>
+<p class="t1">With warmest love untold--</p>
+<p class="t8">With love untold!</p>
+<p class="t0">And his scale-cover'd bosom held</p>
+<p class="t1">A heart that was not cold.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">The song he sang Agnete,</p>
+<p class="t1">On love and sorrow rang;</p>
+<p class="t0">His voice it was so melting soft,</p>
+<p class="t1">So sadly sweet he sang--</p>
+<p class="t8">Sadly he sang.</p>
+<p class="t0">It seemed as if his beating heart</p>
+<p class="t1">Upon his lips it sprang.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'And hearken, dear Agnete!</p>
+<p class="t1">What I shall say to thee--</p>
+<p class="t0">My heart, oh! it is breaking, sweet!</p>
+<p class="t1">With longing after thee!</p>
+<p class="t8">Still after thee!</p>
+<p class="t0">Oh! wilt thou ease my sorrow, love,</p>
+<p class="t1">Oh! wilt thou smile on me?'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Two silver buckles lay</p>
+<p class="t1">Upon the rocky shore,</p>
+<p class="t0">And aught more rich, or aught more bright,</p>
+<p class="t1">No princess ever wore,</p>
+<p class="t8">No, never wore.</p>
+<p class="t0">'My best beloved,'--so sang he--</p>
+<p class="t1">'Add these unto thy store!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Then drew he from his breast</p>
+<p class="t1">A string of pearls so rare--</p>
+<p class="t0">None richer, no, or none more pure</p>
+<p class="t1">Did princess ever wear--</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh! ever wear.</p>
+<p class="t0">'My best beloved,' so sang he,</p>
+<p class="t1">'Accept this bracelet fair!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Then from his finger drew he</p>
+<p class="t1">A ring of jewels fine--</p>
+<p class="t0">And none more brilliant, none more rich,</p>
+<p class="t1">Midst princely gems might shine;</p>
+<p class="t8">'Here, here from mine.</p>
+<p class="t0">My best beloved,' so sang he,</p>
+<p class="t1">'Oh, place this upon thine!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete, on the deep sea</p>
+<p class="t1">Beholds the sky's soft hue,</p>
+<p class="t0">The waves they were so crystal clear,</p>
+<p class="t1">The ocean 'twas so blue!</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh! so blue!</p>
+<p class="t0">The merman smiled, and thus he sang,</p>
+<p class="t1">As near to her he drew:--</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Ah! hearken, my Agnete,</p>
+<p class="t1">What I to thee shall speak:</p>
+<p class="t0">For thee my heart is burning, love,</p>
+<p class="t1">For thee, my heart will break!</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh! 'twill break!</p>
+<p class="t0">Say, sweet, wilt thou be kind to me,</p>
+<p class="t1">And grant the love I seek?'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Dear merman! hearken thou,</p>
+<p class="t1">Yes, I will list to thee!</p>
+<p class="t0">If deep beneath the sparkling waves</p>
+<p class="t1">Thou'lt downward carry me--</p>
+<p class="t8">Take thou me!</p>
+<p class="t0">And bear me to thine ocean bow'r</p>
+<p class="t1">There, I will dwell with thee.'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Then stoppeth he her ears,</p>
+<p class="t1">Her mouth then stoppeth he;</p>
+<p class="t0">And with the lady he hath fled,</p>
+<p class="t1">Deep, deep beneath the sea!</p>
+<p class="t8">Beneath the sea!</p>
+<p class="t0">There kiss'd they, and embraced they,</p>
+<p class="t1">So fond, and safe, and free!</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">For full two years and more,</p>
+<p class="t1">Agnete, she lived there,</p>
+<p class="t0">And warm, untiring, faithful love</p>
+<p class="t1">They to each other bear;</p>
+<p class="t8">Such love they bear.</p>
+<p class="t0">Within the merman's shelly bower</p>
+<p class="t1">Are born two children fair.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete--she sat tranquilly.</p>
+<p class="t1">And to her boys she sang;</p>
+<p class="t0">When hark! a sound of earth she hears,</p>
+<p class="t1">How solemnly it rang!</p>
+<p class="t8">Ding--dong--dang!</p>
+<p class="t0">It was the church's passing bell</p>
+<p class="t1">In Holmé Vale that clang.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete, from the cradle,</p>
+<p class="t1">Springs suddenly away,</p>
+<p class="t0">She hastes to seek her merman dear,</p>
+<p class="t1">'Loved merman, say I may--</p>
+<p class="t8">Say--Oh say,</p>
+<p class="t0">That I, ere midnight's hour, may take</p>
+<p class="t1">To Holmé's church my way?'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Thou wishest ere the midnight</p>
+<p class="t1">To Holmé church to go?</p>
+<p class="t0">See then that thou, ere day, art back</p>
+<p class="t1">Here, to thy boys below--</p>
+<p class="t8">Go--go--go!</p>
+<p class="t0">But ere the morning light return</p>
+<p class="t1">Come to thy sons below!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">He stoppeth then her ears,</p>
+<p class="t1">Her mouth then stoppeth he;</p>
+<p class="t0">And upwards they together rise</p>
+<p class="t1">Till Holmé Vale they see.</p>
+<p class="t8">'Now part we!'</p>
+<p class="t0">They part, and he descends again</p>
+<p class="t1">Beneath the deep blue sea.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Straight on to the churchyard,</p>
+<p class="t1">Agnete's footsteps hie:</p>
+<p class="t0">She meets--O God! her mother there,</p>
+<p class="t1">And turns again to fly.</p>
+<p class="t8">'Why--O why?'</p>
+<p class="t0">Her mother's voice her steps arrests</p>
+<p class="t1">Thus speaking with a sigh:--</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Oh hearken, my Agnete,</p>
+<p class="t1">What I shall say to thee,</p>
+<p class="t0">Where has thy distant dwelling been</p>
+<p class="t1">So long away from me?</p>
+<p class="t8">Away from me!</p>
+<p class="t0">Say, where hast thou, my child, been hid</p>
+<p class="t1">So long and secretly?'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'O mother! I have dwelt</p>
+<p class="t1">Beneath the boundless main,</p>
+<p class="t0">Within a merman's coral bower,</p>
+<p class="t1">And we have children twain,</p>
+<p class="t8">Beneath the main.</p>
+<p class="t0">I came to pray--and then I go</p>
+<p class="t1">Back to the deep again!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'But hearken thou, Agnete,</p>
+<p class="t1">What I to thee shall say--</p>
+<p class="t0">Here thy two little daughters weep</p>
+<p class="t1">Because thou art away;</p>
+<p class="t8">By night, by day,</p>
+<p class="t0">Thy little girls bemoan and grieve;</p>
+<p class="t1">With them thou'lt surely stay?'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Well--let my daughters small</p>
+<p class="t1">For me both grieve and long,</p>
+<p class="t0">My ears are closed--I cannot hear</p>
+<p class="t1">Their cries yon waves among!</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh! I belong</p>
+<p class="t0">To my dear sons, and they will die</p>
+<p class="t1">If I my stay prolong.'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Have pity on thy babes--</p>
+<p class="t1">Let them not pine away!</p>
+<p class="t0">Oh! think upon thy youngest child</p>
+<p class="t1">Who in her cradle lay!</p>
+<p class="t8">With them oh stay!</p>
+<p class="t0">Forget yon elves, and with thine own,</p>
+<p class="t1">Thy lawful children stay!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Nay, let them bloom or fade--</p>
+<p class="t1">The two--as Heav'n may will!</p>
+<p class="t0">My heart is closed--their cries no more</p>
+<p class="t1">Can now my bosom thrill--</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh! no more thrill!</p>
+<p class="t0">For now my merman's sons alone</p>
+<p class="t1">All my affections fill.'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Alas! though thou canst thus</p>
+<p class="t1">Thy smiling babes forget;</p>
+<p class="t0">Yet think upon their father's faith,</p>
+<p class="t1">Thy noble lord's regret,</p>
+<p class="t8">The fate he met!</p>
+<p class="t0">As soon as thou wert lost to him</p>
+<p class="t1">His sun of joy was set.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Long--long he search'd for thee,</p>
+<p class="t1">He went a weary way;</p>
+<p class="t0">At last from yonder shelving rock</p>
+<p class="t1">He cast himself one day--</p>
+<p class="t8">One dismal day.</p>
+<p class="t0">His corpse upon the pebbly strand</p>
+<p class="t1">In the dim twilight lay!</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'And here--'twas not long since--</p>
+<p class="t1">His coffin they did bring;</p>
+<p class="t0">Ha! list, my daughter, hearest thou?</p>
+<p class="t1">The midnight bells they ring!</p>
+<p class="t8">Ding--dong--ding!'</p>
+<p class="t0">Away her mother hastens then</p>
+<p class="t1">As loud the church bells ring.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete, o'er the church-door</p>
+<p class="t1">Stepp'd softly from without,</p>
+<p class="t0">When all the little images</p>
+<p class="t1">They seem'd to turn about;</p>
+<p class="t8">Round about.</p>
+<p class="t0">Within the church, the images</p>
+<p class="t1">They seem'd to turn about.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete gazes on</p>
+<p class="t1">The altar-piece so fair;</p>
+<p class="t0">The altar-piece it seem'd to turn,</p>
+<p class="t1">And the altar with it there.</p>
+<p class="t8">All where'er</p>
+<p class="t0">Her eye it fell within the church,</p>
+<p class="t1">Seem'd turning, turning there!</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete, on the ground</p>
+<p class="t1">She gazed in thoughtful mood,</p>
+<p class="t0">When lo! she saw her mother's name</p>
+<p class="t1">That on a tomb-stone stood.</p>
+<p class="t8">There it stood!</p>
+<p class="t0">Then, sudden from her bursting heart,</p>
+<p class="t1">Flow'd back her chill'd life's blood.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Agnete--first she stagger'd back,</p>
+<p class="t1">She fainted, then she fell.</p>
+<p class="t0">Now may her children long in vain</p>
+<p class="t1">For her they loved so well.</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh, so well!</p>
+<p class="t0">Now, neither sons nor daughters more</p>
+<p class="t1">To her their wants may tell.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Ay! Let them weep, and let them long,</p>
+<p class="t1">And seek her o'er and o'er!</p>
+<p class="t0">Dark, dark, are now her eyes so bright,</p>
+<p class="t1">They ne'er shall open more!</p>
+<p class="t8">Oh, never more!</p>
+<p class="t0">And crush'd is now that death-cold heart,</p>
+<p class="t1">So warm with love before.</p>
+</div>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_waking" href="#div1Ref_waking">A WAKING DREAM.</a></h2>
+<hr class="W20">
+
+<p class="normal">He sat alone. It was not twilight, it was night, deep, dark night. He
+had extinguished the lamp, for he wished that all around him should be
+gloomy as his own sad thoughts. Even the pitiful glimmering light,
+which was cast by the fire in the stove on the objects near it, was
+disagreeable to him, for it showed him a portion, at least, of the
+scene of his bygone happiness. His bitter sorrow seemed to have
+petrified all his faculties, and entirely blasted his life; he did not
+appear to reflect, he only felt. The deep sighs that every now and then
+burst from his compressed lips were all that gave sign of existence
+about him. That agitated tremor, those wild lamentations, those burning
+tears,--the glowing look which griefs volcano casts forth, lay hidden
+amidst the ashes of mute and agonized suffering.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But a few years before he had been the most hopeful of lovers; and
+somewhat later, the happiest of husbands and of fathers. Now all--all
+was lost! Death had stretched forth his mighty hand and taken his
+treasures from him; blow after blew had fate thus inflicted on
+his bleeding heart. He--the strong man--the high-minded--the
+richly-endowed--sat there like a lifeless statue, without purpose,
+without motion, without energy: all had been swept away in the
+earthquake which had engulphed the happiness of his home, and he had
+not power to raise a new structure upon the ruins of the past.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">While he was sitting thus, a momentary blaze in the fire showed him the
+portrait of his departed wife, which hung against the wall. How many
+recollections the sight of it awakened! Oh, how distinctly he
+remembered the day when that painting had been finished for him! It was
+a short time before his marriage; he was gazing on it in an ecstasy of
+delight, when the lovely original cast her beaming eyes on him and
+whispered, 'Do you really think it beautiful? Is it so beautiful that
+when I become old and grey-headed, you may look at my picture and
+remember your love, your feelings for me, when we were both young?' And
+when he assured her, that for him she would always be young, she
+replied so sweetly, 'Oh, I am not afraid of becoming old by your side;
+it will be so delightful to have lived a long life of love with you!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Alas! he was still young, but he had to wander through perhaps a long,
+long life alone. How had he beheld her last? She was lying in her
+coffin--young and lovely, but pale and motionless. And he--who
+still breathed and felt--he it was who had clung in despair to that
+coffin--he who, with a breaking heart, had laid her dark hair smoothly
+on her marble-white cheek, had pressed his lips for the last time on
+her cold forehead, had folded her transparent hands and bedewed them
+with his tears, and had laid his throbbing head on that so lately
+beating heart, which never, never more would thrill with sorrow or with
+joy. But who could describe that depth of grief, that rending of the
+soul, that agonizing convulsion of the heart, when the last farewell
+look on earth--the long, eager, parting look--was taken, and the head
+was raised from the harrowing contemplation of these beloved features,
+which were soon to be snatched and hidden from his gaze! Then despair
+seized upon him, and his grief could find no relief in tears.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In these heart-breaking recollections his spirit was long absorbed; at
+length he pressed his hands on his aching temples, burst into a flood
+of tears, and exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, thou whom I loved so truly! hast thou indeed forsaken me? Can it
+be possible that thou hast dissevered thyself from my soul! Oft
+have I dreamed that thou wert harkening to my lamentations, that
+thou wert lingering by my side, and soothing my sorrow! But it was
+fancy--cheating fancy! Thou who didst feel so much affection for
+me--thou who wert never deaf to my prayers--hast thou heard me, and yet
+not answered me? How often during the sad weary night have I not called
+upon thee! See--I stretch forth my arms and embrace only the empty
+air--I gaze around for thee, but am left in oppressive solitude. Oh, if
+thou <i>canst</i> hear me, beloved spirit! if it be possible that thou canst
+hear me--come, oh come!' His voice was choked by tears.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At last, when the water mist had passed from his eyes, removing, as it
+were, a veil from before them, he gazed wearily on the darkness around,
+and perceived a faint ray of light, which gradually seemed to become
+clearer. At first he thought it was the moon casting its uncertain
+gleams through the window; but the light seemed to extend itself. The
+corner of the room opposite to him seemed illumined by a pale,
+tremulous lustre that spread down to the floor. His heart beat
+violently as he gazed intently at the miraculous light. By degrees it
+assumed something like a shape, an airy, transparent figure, clad in a
+shining garment that glittered like the stars of heaven; and when it
+turned its countenance towards him, he recognized the features of her
+he had lost, but radiant in celestial peace and glory. Her clear eyes,
+which were fixed upon him, beamed with an expression of indescribable
+benignity.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The deep grief that had oppressed his spirit gave place to a wonderful,
+a mysterious feeling of holy calmness which he had never before
+experienced.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, speak!' he entreated softly, as if he were afraid to disturb the
+beautiful apparition, and holding his clasped hands beseechingly
+towards it--'Oh let me hear that voice, the echo of whose dear accents
+still lives in my heart! Hast thou taken compassion on me?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Didst thou not call me?' replied the apparition in a faint, subdued
+tone, yet so full of tenderness and affection that it seemed to inspire
+him with new life. 'Hast thou not often called me? I could no longer
+withstand thy supplication. The sorrows and sufferings of earth have
+lost their bitterness and their sting for those who have become
+heavenly spirits--those who have seen the Omnipotent face to face; but
+thy grief touched my heart even in the midst of blessedness. I could
+not be happy whilst thou wert wretched. Often have I hovered around
+thee, often lingered by thy side, often wafted coolness to thy burning
+brow; and when thy sadness would seem to be somewhat soothed, I have
+lain at thy feet, and contemplated thy beloved countenance. I was by
+thee when thou didst lean weeping over my coffin, and in an agony of
+woe didst cling to that body whence my soul had fled. Oh! how much I
+wished then that thou couldst look up at me, and know how near I was to
+thee! Oh! how willingly I would have embraced thee, had the Almighty
+permitted me! I was also with thee when our beloved infant lay in its
+last earthly struggle. My dying child called for me, and the heart of
+the mother yearned to respond to that call which had reached her, even
+when surrounded by the happiness of eternity, I came down to earth to
+answer it. Like an airy shadow, I glided through the garden paths in
+the still summer night, and all the plants and the flower exhaled their
+sweetest fragrance to salute me, for they felt that I had come from a
+better world. And Nature spoke to me with its spirit voice, and
+besought me to consecrate its soil with my ethereal step. The dark
+elder-tree and the blushing rosebush made signs to me, asking me if I
+remembered how often they had shed their perfume around us, when you
+and I, wrapped in our mutual happiness, used to wander in the soft
+evenings, arm in arm--heart answering heart--eye meeting eye--through
+the verdant alleys and flower-enamelled walks; but I could not linger
+over these sweet remembrances, I passed on to watch the death-bed of
+the little innocent who longed so for its mother. And when thou, my
+beloved! overcome by affliction, let thine aching head sink in helpless
+sorrow on its couch, our child lay, peaceful and joyous, in my embrace,
+and ascended to heaven with me to pray for thee. Oh, dearest one I how
+canst thou think that death has power to sever hearts that have once
+been united in everlasting love!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He listened in mute and breathless ecstasy to these words, which
+sounded as the softest melody to his enraptured ear. When the voice
+ceased, he stretched forth his arms towards the beloved shade, and said
+beseechingly:</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Forgive me, angel of Paradise--forgive me! I feel now that the
+happiness of heaven is so great that nothing mortal can compare with
+it. Yet for my sake thou hast left awhile this inconceivable felicity,
+and deigned to assuage my grief, and to speak balm to my heart. Thanks,
+blessed spirit--thanks! My path shall no longer be gloomy--my life no
+longer lonesome!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Thou wilt sigh no more--thou wilt no longer weep?' asked the spirit,
+with a radiant smile.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Thou shalt be my guardian angel, blessed spirit!' he replied, in deep
+emotion.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'God be thanked!' ejaculated the spirit in holy joy. It waved its
+shadowy hand to him, and as it seemed to turn to move away, its airy
+robe sparkled luminously for a moment; it then glittered more and more
+faintly, till it looked like the twinkling of some distant star.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Then earth-born wishes seized again upon <i>his</i> heart.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Alas;' he cried, as he made an involuntary movement towards the
+vanishing shadow, 'shall I, then, never behold thee more in this
+world?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">A holy light passed over the scarcely defined features of the spirit,
+while it replied, as if from afar--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Yes! once more--but only once. When thy last hour approaches--when the
+bitterness of death is passed--then shalt thou tell those that watch by
+thy couch, and who, incredulous, will deem thy words the raving of
+delirium--then shalt thou tell them that a messenger from a glorious
+world is standing by thy side. That messenger will be me. I shall come
+to kiss the last breath from thy pale quivering lips, to gladden the
+last glance of thy closing eyes, and, after the heart's last pulsation,
+to receive thy parted soul, and be its guide to the realms of endless
+happiness, where I now await thee.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He listened and bowed his head. When he raised it--all was dark and
+empty. He went to the window, and looked out upon the dazzling snow,
+and up to the brilliant star-lit heavens, and prayed in sadness, but
+with earnest devotion.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He lives to perform his duties, to do good to his fellow-creatures, to
+serve his God. He is never gay nor lively; but he is tranquil and
+content. He loves quiet and solitude. He loves in winter to lose
+himself in meditation while gazing on the calm, cold face of nature;
+and in summer to loiter in silence, till a late hour at night, amidst
+his garden's sweetly-scented walks. He is a lonely wanderer on the
+earth; yet not quite so lonely as he is thought to be, for he is often
+soothed by delightful dreams, and then he smiles happily, as if in his
+visions he had been consoled by the presence of a beloved being.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">If his soul sometimes ventures humbly to indulge in the wish that it
+might soon enter into death's peaceful land, none can tell; his silent
+aspirations are known to none--to none but <i>Him</i> who sees into the
+deepest recesses of the human heart.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_confessional" href="#div1Ref_confessional">THE CONFESSIONAL.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>BY CHRISTIAN WINTHER.</h3>
+
+
+<p class="normal">In the Magdalene Church at Girgenti<a name="div2Ref_09" href="#div2_09"><sup>[9]</sup></a> preparations had been made for a
+grand festival. It was adorned, as usual on such occasions, with red
+tapestry and flowers. The hour of noon had struck, the workmen had left
+the church, and there reigned around that deep, solemn stillness which,
+in Catholic places of worship, is so appropriate and so imposing.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Two gentlemen, who conversed in a low tone of voice, were pacing up and
+down the long aisle that runs along the northern side of the building,
+and seemed to be enjoying the shade and coolness of the church, as if
+it had been a public promenade. The elder was a man of about thirty
+years of age, stout, broad-shouldered, and strongly built, with a grave
+countenance, in which no trace of passion was visible: this was Don
+Antonio Carracciolio, Marquis d'Arena. The other, who seemed a mere
+youth, had a slender, graceful figure, an animated, handsome face, and
+dark eyes, soft almost as those of a woman--which wandered from side to
+side with approving glances, as if he had some peculiar interest in the
+interior of the sacred edifice. And such he certainly had; for he was
+the architect who had planned the church and superintended its
+erection. He was called Giulio Balzetti, and had only lately returned
+from Rome. Suddenly they stopped.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I shall entrust you with a secret, which I think will amuse you,
+Signor Marquis,' said the younger man, in the easy intimate tones in
+which one speaks to a friend at whose house one is a daily visitor--'a
+secret with which, I believe, no one is acquainted but myself. You see
+the effects of acoustics sometimes play us builders strange tricks
+where we least expect or wish them. Chance, a mere accident, has
+revealed to me, that when one stands here--here upon this white marble
+slab--one can distinctly overhear every syllable, even of the lowest
+whisper, uttered far from this, yonder, where you may observe the
+second last confessional; while, in a straight line between this point
+and that, you would not be sensible of any sound, were you even much
+nearer the place. If you will remain standing here, I will go yonder to
+the confessional in question, and you will be astonished at this
+miracle of nature.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He went accordingly, but scarcely had he moved the distance of a couple
+of steps, when the Marquis distinctly heard a whisper, the subject of
+which seemed to make a strong impression upon him. He stood as rigid
+and marble-white as if suddenly turned to stone by some magician's
+wand; while the painfully anxious attention with which he listened, and
+which was expressed in his otherwise stony features, gave evidence that
+he was hearing something of excessive importance. He did not move a
+muscle--he scarcely breathed--he was like one who is standing on the
+extreme verge of an abyss, into which he is afraid of falling, and his
+rolling eyes and beating heart alone gave signs of his violent
+agitation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In a very few minutes the young architect came back smiling, and called
+out from a little distance, 'I could not manage to make the experiment,
+for some one was in the confessional--from the glimpse I got, a lady
+closely veiled--but, Heavens! what is the matter with you?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The only answer which the Marquis gave the Italian was to place his
+finger on his mouth, and he continued to stand motionless. After a
+minute or two he drew a deep sigh. The statue passed out of its
+speechless magic trance, and returned again to life.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'It is nothing, dear Giulio!' said he, in a friendly tone. 'Do not
+think that I am superstitious; but I assure you this mysterious and
+wonderful natural phenomenon has taken me so much by surprise, that it
+has had a strange effect on me. Come, let us go! I shall recover myself
+in the fresh air,' he added, as he took Balzetti's arm, and led him to
+the promenade on the outside of the town.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The two gentlemen walked up and down there for about an hour, when the
+Marquis bade the young man adieu, saying, at the same time, 'Tomorrow,
+after the festival is over, will you come out as usual to our villa?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At a very early hour the next morning the Marquis entered his wife's
+private suite of apartments. The waiting-maid, who just at that moment
+was coming into the anteroom by another door, started, and looked quite
+astounded.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Did your lady ring?' asked the Marquis.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, your excellency!' replied the woman, curtseying low and colouring
+violently.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Then wait till you are called,' said the Marquis, as he opened the
+door of the dressing-room, which separated the sleeping-room from the
+antechamber.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">As he crossed the threshold he was met by his lovely young wife,
+attired in a morning-gown so light and flowing, that it looked as if it
+must have been the one in which she had arisen from her couch. The
+Marquis stopped and stood still, as if struck with his wife's extreme
+beauty. He did not appear to observe the uneasiness, the inward tempest
+of feelings that, chasing all the blood from her cheeks, had sent it to
+her heart, and caused its beating to be too plainly visible under the
+robe of slight fabric which was thrown around her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'You are up early this morning, Antonio!' said the young Marchioness,
+in a scarcely audible tone of voice, with a deepening blush and a
+forced smile. 'What do you want here?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Could you be surprised, my Lauretta? Light of my eyes!' said the
+Marquis, in the blandest and most insinuating of accents, 'could you be
+surprised if I came both early and late? And yet, dearest, this morning
+my visit is not to you alone. You know to-day is the feast of the Holy
+Magdalene, and a great festival in the Church. I have taken it into my
+head to usher in this day by paying my tribute of admiration to the
+glorious Magdalene of Titian, which you had placed in your own sleeping
+apartment. Will you permit me?' he asked, very politely, as with slow
+steps, but in a determined manner, he walked towards the door.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Everything is really in such sad disorder there,' said his young wife,
+with a rapid glance through the half-open door; 'but ... go, since you
+will. I shall begin making my toilette here in the mean time.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">And he went in.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How charming,' he cried, in a peculiar tone of voice--'how charming is
+not all this disorder! This graceful robe thrown carelessly down--these
+fairy slippers! There is something that awakens the fancy, something
+delicious in the very air of this room! All this is absolutely poetry.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">His searching look fastened itself upon the snow-white couch, the
+silken coverlet of which was drawn up and spread out, but could not
+entirely conceal the outline of a human figure, lying as flat as
+possible, evidently in the endeavour to escape observation.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I will sit down awhile,' said the Marquis, in the cheerful voice of a
+person who has no unpleasant thought in his mind, 'and contemplate this
+master-work.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">As he said this he took up a pillow, its white covering trimmed with
+wide lace, and laid it on the spot where he thought the face of the
+concealed person must be, and placed himself upon it with all the
+weight of his somewhat bulky figure, whilst he placed his right hand
+upon the chest of the reclining form, and pressed on it with all his
+force.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Without heeding the involuntary, frightful, and convulsive
+heavings--the death-throes of his wretched victim--the Marquis
+exclaimed, in a calm, firm voice,--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'How beautifully that picture is finished! How noble and chaste does
+not the lovely penitent look, all sinner as she was, with her rich
+golden locks waving over that neck and those shoulders whiter than
+alabaster, while these graceful hands are clasped, and these contrite,
+tearful eyes seem gazing up yonder, whence alone mercy and pardon can
+be obtained! One could almost become a poet in gazing on so splendid a
+work of art. But ah! I never had the happy talent of an improvisatore.
+In place, therefore, of poetizing, I will tell you something that
+happened yesterday. Our little friend Giulio Balzetti took me round the
+Magdalene Church; and, whilst we were wandering about, he pointed out a
+particular spot to me, and bade me stand quite still there, telling me
+that <i>there</i> might be overheard what was said at another spot at some
+distance in the church. And he was right. At that other place stood the
+confessional No. 6. I had hardly placed myself on the marble flag
+indicated to me, than I heard a charming voice--God knows who it was
+speaking!--but she was confessing the sorrows of her heart and her
+little sins to the holy father. She had a husband, she said, whom she
+loved--yes, she loved him, and he loved her: he was very kind to her,
+and left her much at liberty; in short, she gave the husband credit for
+all sorts of good qualities, but, unfortunately, she had fallen in love
+with another man! She did not mention his name. I should like to have
+heard it. He must be one of our handsome young cavaliers about the
+town. And this other loved her, too--she could not help it, poor
+thing!--and so she found room for him in her heart as well as
+for the husband. This other one was so handsome, so pleasing, so
+fascinating!... Well ... if her husband did not know what was going on,
+he could not be vexed, and ... it would do him no harm. So she had
+promised to admit the lover early this morning. Do you hear? This is
+what the French dames call &quot;passer ses caprices.&quot; At last, she begged
+the good priest to give her absolution beforehand. And he did so: he
+gave the absolution! What do you think of all this, my love?' said the
+Marquis, as he rose from the couch, where all was now still as death,
+'Well,' he continued, in a jocular tone, 'our worthy priests are almost
+too complaisant and indulgent--at least, most of them. Our old Father
+Gregorio, however, would have taken <i>you</i> to task after a different
+fashion, if you ...'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He broke off abruptly, while he quietly laid the pillow in its own
+place, and deliberately turned down the embroidered coverlet. It was
+the architect Giulio Balzetti whom the Marquis beheld: he had ceased to
+breathe!</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Have you been to confession lately, my Laura?' asked the Marquis.
+There was no answer.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Is it long since you have been to confession?' he asked, in a louder
+and sterner voice.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No!' replied the young woman, in the lowest possible tone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Apropos,' said the Marquis, as he covered the frightfully distorted
+and blue face of the corpse with the coverlet, 'shall we not go to the
+grand festival at the church to-day? The procession begins exactly at
+twelve o'clock. I shall order the carriage--we really must not miss
+it.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">He returned to the dressing-room. The Marchioness was sitting in a
+large cushioned lounging-chair, the thick tresses of her dark hair
+hanging negligently down, her lips and cheeks as pale as death, and her
+hands resting listlessly on her lap.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'What is the matter, my dear child?' asked the Marquis, inwardly
+triumphing at her distress, but with fair and friendly words upon his
+lips. 'You have risen too early, my little Laura; and you have also
+fatigued yourself in trying to dress without assistance. Where is
+Pipetta? I shall ring for her now.' He pulled the bell-rope--approached
+his wife--slightly kissed her brow--and then left her apartments.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At mid-day, when all the bells of the churches were pealing, the
+Marquis's splendid state carriage, with four horses adorned with
+gilded trappings, stood before the gate of his palace, and a crowd of
+richly-dressed pages, footmen, and grooms, were in waiting there.
+Presently the Marquis appeared in his brilliant court costume, with
+glittering stars on his breast, his hat in one hand, whilst with the
+other he led his young and beautiful but deadly-pale wife. With the
+utmost attention he handed her down the marble steps, and while her
+countenance looked as cold and stony as that of a statue, his eyes
+flashed with a fire that was unusual to them. The servants hurried
+forwards, the carriage-door was opened, the noble pair entered it, and
+it drove off towards the town. In the crowded streets the foot
+passengers turned round to gaze at it, and exclaimed to each other,
+'There go a happy couple!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The architect had disappeared. No one suspected that on the day of the
+grand festival he lay dead--a blue and terrible-looking corpse--amidst
+boots and shoes, at the bottom of a noble young dame's wardrobe; or
+that, the following night, without shroud or coffin, his body was
+secretly transported by the lady's faithful servants to a neighbouring
+mountain, and there thrown into a deep cave. But the lady paid a large
+sum to the convent of the Magdalens for the sake of his soul's repose.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The monk Gregorio--the accommodating and favourite confessor of the
+fashionable world--was also soon after missing. But <i>he</i> was not
+dead--he lingered for some years in a subterranean prison belonging to
+a monastery of one of the strictest orders: a punishment to which he
+had been condemned through the influence of the Marquis d'Arena.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">That the confessional No. 6 was removed, will be easily believed.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The Marquis never alluded to these events before his wife. When they
+appeared in public together, as also in society at his own home, he
+treated her with respect, often with attention. But he never again
+spoke to her in private, nor did he ever again enter those apartments
+which had once been the scene of so dreadful a tragedy.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_ancestress" href="#div1Ref_ancestress">THE ANCESTRESS; OR, FAMILY PRIDE.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>FROM THE SWEDISH OF THE LATE BARONESS KNORRING.</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+<h3>I.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">Adelgunda was one of the most beautiful creatures ever moulded by the
+great Master's hand, and one on whom He might deign to look with the
+same paternal complacency as Pygmalion looked on his Galathea.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Adelgunda was also as the apple of their eye to her father and mother;
+but not the less did they bring her up with the utmost strictness and
+severity, in the awful loftiness of their aristocratic principles,
+which made no allowance for a single error, a single imperfection, a
+single weakness even, among any who belonged to them. Everyone was to
+be super-excellent, and supremely high-bred like their ancestors; for
+their ancestors had only <i>virtues</i>, their failings being entombed with
+their bodies. The slightest infringement of the stately decorum,
+the formal propriety--and, to the honour of their ancestors we must
+add--the rectitude, the loyal and chivalric conduct of these worthies,
+called forth as unmerciful punishment as a heinous fault. And
+Adelgunda, from her earliest infancy, learned to form grand ideas about
+her noble, ancient, and opulent family; it was impressed on her mind
+that she would be very degenerate indeed if she did not resemble all
+those long departed, and now mouldering dames and damsels, whose
+portraits hung in long rows in the great picture-gallery, as a large
+old-fashioned apartment was called, which, in spite of accidental
+fires, of repairs and renovations in the old baronial castle, had
+preserved unaltered its antique appearance since the middle of the
+sixteenth century.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In her infancy, Adelgunda had often been taken into this venerable
+saloon, and, counting with her five small fingers, she could repeat the
+names of all those haughty-looking, long-bearded cavaliers, equipped in
+heavy armour, or these stiff, richly-dressed nobles, most of them
+decorated with jewelled orders, or other tokens of a high worldly
+position; and these grand-looking ladies, encased in whalebone and
+stiff corsets, with towering powdered heads and magnificent jewellery,
+evincing the wealth of the family. These ladies and gentlemen hung, as
+has been said, in straight rows on each side of the long, narrow, dark,
+oak-paneled hall; and they were all half-length portraits in oval or
+almost square frames, the gilding of which had long since faded into a
+sort of a brownish-yellow cinnamon tint. But at the end of the hall,
+between two deep Gothic windows, with small old-fashioned panes of
+glass, there hung alone in state the great <i>ancestress</i>, or founder of
+the family--a tall, dark, stern-looking woman, whose countenance was
+grave, austere, and almost menacing, though the features, when narrowly
+examined, were regular and beautiful.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In contrast to the half-length portraits around, this picture was
+almost colossal in size; and the noble lady it represented, who in
+Roman Catholic times had ended her days as the Abbess of a convent,
+stood there so stately and so stiff in the close black garb, with the
+unbecoming white linen band across her forehead, and with one hand, in
+which she held a crucifix, resting on a dark-looking stand, on which a
+missal, a skull, and a rosary, lay near each other, the other hand hung
+carelessly down by her side, and almost reached the lower portion of
+the picture-frame, which seemed considerably darker and more time-worn
+than all the rest. This picture was painted on thick wood, or on canvas
+stretched on wood, it was not certain which, but everyone knew that it
+was as heavy as lead--and so it proved to be.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The likeness of the patriarch of the family--of the father of the
+race--painted to correspond in size and everything else to that of the
+high-born lady above mentioned, had in former days hung also in this
+saloon, but had been destroyed in a fire which had taken place between
+the years 1740 and 1750, so that the stern imperious-looking dame now
+occupied the place of honour alone.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Her parents had never omitted, when they accompanied Adelgunda into the
+picture gallery, to take her up first to one, then to another of the
+noble ladies whose lineaments adorned the walls, saying, 'How fortunate
+for you if you could be as good as <i>this</i> ancestress of yours was--as
+clever as <i>that</i> one--as beautiful as <i>she</i> was--as dutiful and
+affectionate as <i>yon</i> lady!' Adelgunda would fix her eyes on each by
+turns, and every time she looked at them her desire to resemble them
+increased. But the great gloomy portrait of the tall dark lady always
+awakened a thrill of terror in the little girl's mind. This was partly
+owing to the tales with which the servants frightened her about this
+harsh, awful-looking abbess, partly to her being obliged, whenever she
+was naughty, to go into the sombre apartment where the picture was,
+and, curtseying before it, to beg pardon of the stern, threatening
+figure.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">With her tearful looks fixed upon it, she had often fancied that the
+eyes of the portrait moved; but it was a still greater trial to poor
+Adelgunda, when she had been guilty of some great offence, to be
+condemned, as a punishment, to stand for a quarter of an hour, or
+half-an-hour, under the dreaded portrait with her back to it.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">There was a tradition in the family that many, many years back, during
+the lifetime of one of the more ancient lords of the castle, a little
+girl, a member of the race, who was undergoing a similar punishment,
+distinctly felt the terrible lady's hand, which hung unemployed by her
+side, stretch over the picture-frame and seize roughly hold of her
+hair. The recollection of that tradition was martyrdom to Adelgunda
+when this most dreaded penance was inflicted on her; and on one
+occasion, when her conscience was not of the clearest, and she had
+cried herself almost into a fever from fright, she fancied that she
+actually felt a grasp at her little golden tresses.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It is easy to imagine how anxious, in consequence of all this,
+Adelgunda was to avoid committing any faults, and with what terror the
+picture inspired her. And even in riper years, when she began to lay
+aside her childish dress and childish ideas, and when reason told her
+that a painted figure could have no more power or influence than any
+other inanimate object, she still looked with a certain degree of awe
+upon the portrait of her frowning ancestress, especially when her
+conscience told her that she had been guilty of any slight
+indiscretion; while, on the contrary, she felt some pleasure at gazing
+on the other family pictures, which all seemed to smile upon her.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But years and time wore on, and the aristocratic bones of Adelgunda's
+proud, high-born parents were laid in the dust to mingle with the
+honoured remains of the old stock. She was then still in her minority,
+and found a new home with a kind aunt, who had resided too short a time
+under the same roof with the ancestral portraits, and in the place
+which had been the cradle of their race, to have imbibed their
+exaggerated family pride.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The estate, which was entailed, with everything belonging to it,
+including the much-prized portrait, passed in trust, for future
+generations, to Adelgunda's only brother, of whom we purposely have not
+spoken, that we might not be obliged to give an account of all the
+exaggerated ideas of the consequence of his family which his father and
+mother had diligently and zealously laboured to imprint on the mind of
+their son--the only male scion of that ancient house, which was now
+threatened with speedy extinction--he who, after them, was alone to
+represent the glory of their time-honoured ancestry. What precepts and
+exhortations he, the only son and last hope, received under his
+progenitor's portrait--what deference and devotion were inculcated to
+the name of the haughty-looking abbess, whose severe virtue and pious
+deeds were held to reflect honour on her descendants--what aristocratic
+ideas and exclusive principles were there engrafted on his soul, we
+will not stop to relate--they would be incomprehensible to many, and do
+not require to be dwelt on in our short tale.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">In the aunt's cheerful, hospitable, pleasant, light modern villa quite
+another tone prevailed, and quite another mode of life from that within
+the solid walls of the old baronial castle or under its gloomy roof. At
+Adelgunda's age new impressions are soon received, new associations and
+new ideas are welcomed with avidity, and seldom fail to influence the
+mind. Adelgunda--truth obliges us to confess--soon forgot a very
+stringent and important paragraph in the paternal and maternal
+lectures--forgot the faithful portraits of the defunct females of her
+noble house, and even the threatening glance--the dark eye that shone
+from beneath the white linen fillet of the haughty abbess--forgot them
+all amidst new-born and overflowing happiness in the arms of an adored
+and adoring husband, a young naval officer, rich in all nature's
+brightest gifts, and standing high in the opinion of the world, but on
+whom the great ancestress would certainly never have permitted her hand
+to be bestowed, had she known of the matter; for his patent of nobility
+was not mouldy from age, was not even made out, and still worse, was
+not likely ever to be drawn up, because he did not feel the slightest
+wish ever to possess one.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Adelgunda, nevertheless, felt unspeakably happy, and her noble brother,
+to whom the family mode of thinking had descended as an heirloom in
+conjunction with the entailed property, winked at the plebeian
+match--partly because he well knew that Adelgunda's very limited
+portion would never tempt any among the needy and impoverished of his
+own class to lay their hearts at her feet--partly because it was the
+preservation of the family name and tree in his own person that lay
+nearest to his heart, not the offshoots from the female line--and
+partly that, though he was a proud man, and unflinching in his
+aristocratical notions, he had a kind heart, was fondly attached to his
+sister, rejoiced in her happiness, and was well aware how much superior
+in character his estimable brother-in-law was to the generality of the
+young men of the day.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But for himself, this brother and lord of the castle sought a spouse
+who should entwine no vulgar burgher twig around the fair branches of
+his genealogical tree, but one who counted as many generations as other
+good qualities; for ancient lineage is not apt, like wealth, to corrupt
+the heart, and Adelgunda's sister-in-law was truly an amiable lady.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Again the lordly halls of the ancient castle became the abode of
+domestic happiness; and it was admitted that it could not be otherwise,
+for not one alone, but many of the old servants who had passed into the
+service of the heir of entail, and who were not notorious for their
+superstition, had clearly and distinctly observed that the first time
+the young countess entered the picture gallery, the majestic ancestress
+had relaxed her stern lips almost into a smile of approbation, which
+had never happened but once before--in the year 1664, on a similar
+occasion; a remarkable event, which had been recorded by the chaplain
+of the castle, with many subscribing witnesses, in a document which was
+preserved like a holy relic amidst the family's most valued papers,
+parchments, and deeds.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">When the young count and countess were happily wedded, and comfortably
+settled at the castle, which however, did not happen until about five
+years after Adelgunda's marriage to her delightful naval hero, the
+brother and sister felt a strong wish to meet once more under the
+paternal roof. And Adelgunda's husband promised that on his return in
+autumn from an expedition in which he was then engaged, he, his wife,
+and their little son, a boy about four years of age, should without any
+delay accept of the count's invitation, and make the visit so much
+desired by all parties--even by the young countess, Adelgunda's
+sister-in-law, who was by no means a stranger to her. They had been
+friends in childhood, indeed were distantly related to each other; for
+it so happens that almost all the families amongst the most ancient of
+the Swedish nobility are connected by ties of consanguinity.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">At length the long-looked-for day arrived, and Adelgunda beheld, with
+tears of mingled joy and sorrow, the grey old towers of the castle
+where she was born, and where she had spent her earliest years--those
+years which, on comparing them with the subsequent epochs of our life,
+we denominate the gayest and the happiest. Adelgunda and her husband,
+who had had a long day's journey, arrived late in the evening at the
+castle, and were shortly after conducted to their sleeping-rooms, a
+suite of lofty arched apartments in one of the farthest towers, and in
+the olden time the principal guest-chambers, but which did not bear the
+best of reputations as regarded spectres, midnight noises, groans,
+rattling of chains, and the like horrors. Adelgunda had all her life
+entertained great respect for, but also no little fear of, these
+apartments; and those feelings were probably heightened by an old
+tradition which averred that some most extraordinary and mysterious
+events had taken place in these chambers. Some pretended to know that
+one of these apartments, which along with the picture-gallery had
+remained most unchanged during the lapse of years, had served as the
+bridal-chamber for the great ancestress of the family; at any rate,
+there was something that savoured of awe and discomfort about them.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Never in her life had Adelgunda slept in any of these gloomy
+apartments, and in former days nothing would have induced her to do so;
+but now, with her brave, bold sailor by her side, she smiled at her old
+childish fears,--at least when he laughed at her recital of them. She
+would not, however, on any account, allow her little Victor to sleep in
+the first antechamber with the trembling waiting-maid, but placed the
+child's crib close to her own bed, and often during the long, dark, and
+stormy autumnal night, when the wind shook the panes of glass, and
+howled through the adjacent forest, and she was awakened by its
+violence, she turned quickly, and with a beating heart, towards the
+child, leaned over his little bed, and felt unhappy until she had
+ascertained that her darling was sleeping soundly and peacefully.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Well!' said her husband the next morning, when the sun was already
+pretty high in the heavens, and cast his cheerful rays through the
+narrow casements of these haunted chambers--'well, dearest Adelgunda,
+have you heard or seen any spectre last night--been visited in any way
+by a ghost?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No,' she replied laughingly, as the bright sunshine restored her
+courage; there was but one spirit near me last night--one dear, good
+spirit;' and she embraced her husband.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'And you, Annette?' cried the incredulous visitor to the poor
+waiting-maid, 'I hope you have not been disturbed by the ghosts
+either?'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But Annette, who was half-dead from fear, asserted that she had not
+closed her eyes the whole night; that she had distinctly heard sighs
+and groans, and heavy footsteps up and down the floor; and there had
+been many other frightful things that she could not describe.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Now, in the cheering daylight, Adelgunda laughed heartily at these
+<i>fancies</i>, as she called them; but the previous night she would not
+have done so,--at least not with a heart so much at ease.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'I wonder what his uncle and aunt will say of my little Victor, now
+that he is nicely dressed, and not so sleepy and cross as he was last
+night, after that long fatiguing journey!' said Adelgunda to Annette,
+with a mother's pride in her pretty boy, and while they were both
+engaged in arranging his curly hair, and putting on his handsome new
+green dress.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Adelgunda's husband had risen early and gone out to stroll round the
+old castle, and the former young lady of the mansion, who had now
+become a wife and mother, took up her little son in her arms to go down
+to her sister-in-law, who had already sent to inquire how she had
+slept, and to let her know that breakfast was ready.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Humming an air, Adelgunda proceeded with her light burden through the
+dear old well-remembered passages where her very footsteps echoed,
+until she came close to the door which opened into the picture-gallery;
+she then stopped, seized suddenly with a strong impulse to enter it,
+while a strange, sad foreboding of evil filled her heart. Influenced,
+as it were, by an invincible power over which she had no control, she
+laid her hand upon the lock, turned it, and stood, she scarcely knew
+how, in presence of the mute family, who seemed gazing on her from both
+sides. Adelgunda's heart beat quickly; recollections from her childhood
+and her youthful days began to rush back on her. These aristocratic
+feelings, which had so long slumbered, began to start up in her mind,
+and she dared not look towards the terrible lady at the extreme end,
+for fear of meeting her angry, implacable glance.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'That is a pretty lady! And there is another nice lady! What a grand
+gentleman! and see, yonder is a fine gentleman, too!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">Such were little Victor's exclamations, as Adelgunda went slowly with
+him past all these well-known portraits of uncles and aunts,
+grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and other members of the family, all
+long since asleep in their graves.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'But, oh, mother, look!' cried Victor, as he first caught sight of the
+largest; 'see how horrible that one up yonder looks! See, mother, how
+that tall woman there on the wall frowns down at us!' And Victor knit
+his little brows, and drew in his small mouth, to make his face look
+very terrible in return.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Oh, do not speak so--do not speak so!' exclaimed his mother, trying
+in vain to hush the child. 'On the contrary,' she added, in a
+faltering voice, 'she is an excellent lady, and very kind to all good,
+well-behaved children. We will go up yonder, and beg her pardon and her
+blessing.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'No, no!' screamed Victor, kicking his little legs with all his might;
+'I won't have anything to do with her: she looks as cross as if she
+would bite me.'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Again his mother entreated Victor to be a reasonable, good boy, and by
+that time they stood under the great lady's picture. A tremor crept
+over Adelgunda as she encountered that austere, repulsive look, and
+involuntarily she dropped her eyes beneath it. But reason soon
+triumphed; she approached closer to the portrait, and said to her
+little son, whom she still held in her arms, 'Now we shall say good
+morning to that lady;' and she curtseyed herself, and bent with her
+hand the obstinate little head; 'and we shall beg her to look kindly
+and gently down upon us, for your dear, good papa's sake, and we will
+kiss her hand.' And Adelgunda kissed the hand in the picture that was
+hanging down; but when she attempted to raise the child's face up
+towards the hand, the little fellow, in whose infantine breast was
+aroused a portion of his father's bold spirit, and perhaps impetuous
+temper, and who, though somewhat frightened, felt his courage rising,
+and was, withal, extremely angry, struggled furiously, clenched his
+little fist, and instead of kissing the great lady's drooping hand,
+thumped it with all his might--and at that moment he was strong enough.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>II.</h3>
+
+<p class="normal">Adelgunda's brother and sister-in-law waited in vain for her appearance
+at the breakfast-table. She came not! But at length the startling
+intelligence was brought to them that a strange, frightful noise had
+been heard in the picture-gallery. No one knew what was the cause of
+it, for no one had dared to venture in to see what had happened, but
+now every one rushed in. A cloud of dust, a heap of mortar and wood was
+before them; and a sight so dreadful, so shocking, so appalling, met
+their eyes, that every heart was like to break.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">But only one heart <i>did</i> break, for notwithstanding his strength of
+mind--his unconquerable spirit--his undeniable fortitude, the bereaved
+husband and father almost sank beneath the frightful calamity that had
+suddenly deprived him of the wife he adored, and the child on whom all
+his hopes were centred. Yet he was the first--the only one who had
+sufficient energy, and presence of mind to drag the lifeless remains of
+his wife and son from under the destroying weight of the heavy
+portrait.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">It was a frightful event, and made a great sensation. A rotten rope,
+and the mouldering state of the wall which should have upheld the
+enormously heavy wooden frame, had done all the evil.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The naval officer passed over distant seas to many a foreign land--the
+world was all before him, but he never forgot what he had lost.</p>
+
+<p class="normal">The picture of the awful ancestress met with little injury in its fall;
+but several years elapsed before it was hung up again in its former
+place. It was, however, at length restored to its old position, but
+fastened with new rope, and everything necessary to make it more
+secure. The dreadful occurrence was beginning to be forgotten, and the
+brotherly affection which had somewhat cooled, seemed to have displayed
+itself sufficiently in having banished the lofty dame for some years to
+a lumber-room. She could not always be left there! So at length she
+hung in her old place again, as stern, as frowning as formerly. And the
+count, who had now become an old man, generally when he alluded to the
+terrible event, reasonably ascribed it to natural causes. But, once
+upon a time, when he observed his youngest daughter, a girl not much
+more than sixteen years of age, casting <i>furtive</i> and <i>rather friendly</i>
+glances at a young man, the son of a country parson, who, on account of
+his handsome person and pleasant manners, was often received at the
+baronial castle,--when he saw this, by means of some sidelong looks
+with the corner of his eye, which were not perceived by the young
+couple, then he took his daughter by the hand, led her silently and
+solemnly into the picture-gallery, walked with her up to the replaced
+portrait of their great ancestress, and said with the gravity of an
+anxious father, and the dignity of an aristocratic nobleman,--</p>
+
+<p class="normal">'Beware, my daughter! Remember the fate of your aunt!'</p>
+
+<p class="normal">These words were all he uttered.</p>
+
+<hr class="W10">
+
+<p class="normal">'And this happened in the nineteenth century, and here in our
+father-land? 'Such an inquiry will assuredly be made by one or other of
+our readers. But we will not answer it ourselves; we shall only advise
+the inquirer to address himself to the descendants of <i>one of the most
+ancient families in Scania</i>, and ask <i>them</i> whether it be true or not.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h2><a name="div1_man" href="#div1Ref_man">THE MAN FROM PARADISE.</a><a name="div2Ref_10" href="#div2_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></h2>
+
+<h2>A Comic Tale.</h2>
+
+<h3>FROM THE DANISH OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.</h3>
+
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0">
+There was a widow, once upon a time--<br>
+Yet stop--with <i>truth</i> we must commence our rhyme--<br>
+She <i>had</i> been such, but now another spouse<br>
+Had sought her love, and won the widow's vows.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">One evening she was quite alone at home<br>
+(For the best husbands sometimes like to roam);<br>
+She sat, her cheek reposing on her hand,<br>
+The tea-things spread upon the table, and<br>
+The kettle singing by, or on the fire--<br>
+A sort of a monotonous steam lyre:<br>
+Her thoughts from this low world of fogs had flown<br>
+Up to the husband she first called her own;<br>
+She could not <i>quite</i> the dear, kind soul forget--<br>
+And ah! the other one was absent yet.<br>
+'But thou art happy now,' she cried--'in case<br>
+In Abraham's bosom thou hast found a place:<br>
+Thou pitiest us, in these rooms close and old,<br>
+Where one so often gets a cough or cold.'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Then into a brown study she did fall,<br>
+When suddenly some sounds her thoughts recall;<br>
+She hears a gentle knocking at the door;<br>
+She starts--looks at the roof, then at the floor--<br>
+Then peers into each corner, as she cries,<br>
+'Well--who is there?' To be right brave she tries,<br>
+But truth to tell, she almost shook with fear<br>
+To see some ghost, or corpse-like form appear.<br>
+Another knock--then in the doorway stood<br>
+No spectre, but a youth of flesh and blood<br>
+'Twas an apprentice who had run away<br>
+From work, and chose from town to town to stray:<br>
+The rogue lived by his wits as best he might,<br>
+For nought he scrupled at--except to fight.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">The quondam widow very soon perceived<br>
+The intruder was not what she had believed--<br>
+That he was mortal, not a form of air.<br>
+She questioned whence he came, and also where<br>
+He might be bound. 'I'm on my way,' said he,<br>
+'To Paris, madam, <i>viâ</i> Germany.'<br>
+With joyous heart she listened to his tale,<br>
+And then she placed before him meat and ale,<br>
+Kindly inviting him to eat and drink;<br>
+While she exclaimed, 'How very strange to think<br>
+That you to Paradise are journeying on!--<br>
+Why, that's the land where my first husband's gone!<br>
+Please give my love to him, our daughter's, too,<br>
+And--<i>his successor's compliments</i>, will you?'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Quickly the knave observed that the good dame<br>
+In her geography was rather lame--<br>
+That <i>Paradise</i> with <i>Paris</i> she confounded.<br>
+And though one moment he looked up astounded,<br>
+The next into her droll conceit he fell,<br>
+Saying, 'Oh, yes! I know the good man well.'<br>
+'What! have you really been already there?'<br>
+She cried. 'Then say, how does the dear one fare?'<br>
+'Ah! very badly. 'Tis a tale of woe!<br>
+I was up there about a month ago.<br>
+A sort of a dog's life the poor thing led,<br>
+Early he had to rise--get late to bed;<br>
+Worked hard, and scarce a stitch of clothing had.<br>
+His shroud and grave-clothes from the first were bad;<br>
+They very soon wore out, and now he goes<br>
+Without a coat, and with bare legs and toes.'<br>
+These words went like a dagger to her heart;<br>
+She shuddered--groaned--then, with a sudden start,<br>
+She rose, and soon an ample bundle made<br>
+Of linen, coats, warm woollen socks; and said,<br>
+Whilst with big tear-drops both her eyes looked dim.<br>
+'This package, sir, I pray you take to him.<br>
+Tell the poor fellow I shall send him more<br>
+By the first opportunity--a store<br>
+I'll surely send. Oh dear! oh dear! 'tis sad<br>
+His fate in yonder place should be so bad!'</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">The rogue had stuffed quite to his heart's content,<br>
+So, taking up the bundle, off he went;<br>
+But first he thanked her for the food, and vowed<br>
+The clothes she sent should soon replace the shroud.<br>
+Long, long she sits, her eyes still full of tears;<br>
+The absent husband now at length appears<br>
+('Tis to the <i>second</i> one that I allude--<br>
+The <i>first</i>, as has been shown, was gone for good).</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Well, I have curious tidings for your ear--<br>
+A man from Paradise has just been here;<br>
+He knew poor <i>Thi--is</i> there.' (Such was the name<br>
+Of him who was first husband to the dame.)<br>
+And thereupon, with a most serious face,<br>
+She told him all that had just taken place.<br>
+The husband, when he heard her, smelled a rat,<br>
+But only saying he would have a chat<br>
+Himself with the great traveller, he sent<br>
+For his best horse, and after him he went.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Twas a sweet night, the moon was shining clearly--<br>
+Just such a night as poets love most dearly;<br>
+The nightingales were pouring forth their notes,<br>
+The owls were exercising, too, their throats;<br>
+But, what was better still, he found the track<br>
+The thief had ta'en, and hoped to bring him back.<br>
+Thieves, by the way, like the moon's silver rays<br>
+Far better than the sun's meridian blaze.<br>
+And now, how fared it with the thief himself,<br>
+Thus making off with his ill-gotten pelf?</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">He spied a man, who like old Nick was riding,<br>
+And felt that he was in for a good hiding;<br>
+Therefore into a neighbouring ditch he flung<br>
+The burden that across his back had slung,<br>
+Then casting himself down upon a bank,<br>
+Quite in a lounging attitude he sank,<br>
+And gazing on the clear calm skies above,<br>
+He sang some ditty about ladies' love.<br>
+Up comes the rider at a rapid trot--<br>
+The pace had made him and his steed both hot--<br>
+And asked abruptly, reining in his grey,<br>
+If he had seen a rascal pass that way,<br>
+Who on his shoulders a large bundle bore--<br>
+A horrid thief he was, the horseman swore.<br>
+'Why, yes,' was the reply. 'I have just seen<br>
+A fellow with long legs pass by--I ween<br>
+It is the same you seek; for he looked round<br>
+Soon as your horse's footfall on the ground<br>
+Was heard--and then, as quickly as he could,<br>
+He fled to hide himself in yonder wood.<br>
+If you make haste, you there will catch him soon.'<br>
+The horseman thanked him much and craved a boon--<br>
+It was to hold his steed, while in pursuit<br>
+He went himself into the wood on foot.<br>
+'Twas granted, and the husband rushed among<br>
+The bushes tall--while the thief laughing sprung<br>
+Upon the horse; he took the bundle too,<br>
+And fast away he rode, or rather flew.</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">Angry, fatigued, and scratched till he was sore,<br>
+The husband came, his bootless errand o'er.<br>
+Fancy what was his grief, his rage, to find<br>
+The horse he thought he left so safe behind,<br>
+Gone too! he cried, 'Hey! hey!' its name he called,<br>
+But all in vain he shouted and he bawled--<br>
+The clever thief the faster rode away.<br>
+There was no creature near on whom to lay<br>
+The blame; so the poor foolish dupe abused<br>
+The moon, for having thus her light misused.<br>
+Home on his weary legs he had to trudge;<br>
+His steed to the vile thief did he not grudge!</p>
+<p class="t0">&nbsp;</p>
+
+<p class="t0">'Well, did you find him?' asked his smiling wife.<br>
+He answered, in a tone subdued, 'My life,<br>
+I did. I found him, and--and--for <i>your</i> sake,<br>
+Our best, our swiftest horse I let him take,<br>
+That he with greater speed might find his way.'<br>
+The dame smiled on him, and in accents gay<br>
+Exclaimed, 'O best of husbands! who could find<br>
+Your equal--one so thoughtful, wise, and kind!'</p>
+</div>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>MORAL.</h3>
+<div class="poem2">
+<p class="t0">
+The moral of this story shows,<br>
+Though knaves on women oft impose,<br>
+That men are sometimes quite as <i>green</i>,<br>
+But hold their tongues themselves to screen.</p>
+</div>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: A Danish
+title, signifying councillor of justice.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Danish mile, equal to about 4 3/4 English miles.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: Fourteen and a quarter English miles.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: 'To give a basket,' in Danish, signifies a refusal.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: A Danish title.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_06" href="#div2Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: 'Aprilsnarrene.' A Danish vaudeville.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_07" href="#div2Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: The ceremony of Confirmation is deemed of the highest
+importance in Denmark, and is never neglected in any rank of life, from
+the prince to the peasant.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_08" href="#div2Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: For these, and 'Octavianus,' see Ludwig Tieck's works.
+They have been translated into Danish by Adam Oehlenschlæger.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_09" href="#div2Ref_09">Footnote 9</a>: A town of Sicily, in the Val di Mazzara, on the site of
+the ancient Agrigenum, the magnificent ruins of which are still to be
+seen.</p>
+<br>
+<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_10" href="#div2Ref_10">Footnote 10</a>: Manden Fra Paradiis. En komisk Fortælling.</p>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h3>END OF VOL. I.</h3>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<h5>LONDON. PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,<br>
+AND CHARING CROSS.</h5>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol.
+I (of 3), by Various
+
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diff --git a/37831.txt b/37831.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e68fce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/37831.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7255 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I
+(of 3), by Various
+
+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 Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I (of 3)
+       A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish Authors
+
+Author: Various
+
+Translator: Mrs. (Anna S.) Bushby
+
+Release Date: October 23, 2011 [EBook #37831]
+Last Updated: May 3, 2016
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANES SKETCHED BY THEMSELVES, VOL I ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+   1. Page scan source:
+      http://www.archive.org/details/danessketchedbyt01bush
+      digitized by University of Toronto.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                               BENTLEY'S
+                             POPULAR WORKS.
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+                       One Shilling and Sixpence.
+
+   Tales from Bentley, Vols. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
+
+
+                      Two Shillings and Sixpence.
+
+   What to do with the Cold Mutton.
+   Everybody's Pudding Book; or, Puddings, Tarts, &c., for all the Year
+       round.
+   The Lady's Dessert Book. By the Author of 'Everybody's Pudding
+      Book.'
+   Nelly Armstrong. A Story of Edinburgh Life.
+   Rita: an Autobiography.
+   The Semi-Detached House. Edited by Lady Theresa Lewis.
+   The Semi-Attached Couple. By the same Author.
+   The Ladies of Bever Hollow. By the Author of 'Mary Powell.'
+   Village Belles. By the same Author.
+   Easton. By Hon. Lena Eden.
+   The Season Ticket.
+   Notes on Noses. By Eden Warwick.
+   Salad for the Social. Books, Medicine, Lawyers, the Pulpit, &c.
+   Say and Seal. By the Author of 'Wide Wide World.'
+
+
+                     Three Shillings and Sixpence.
+
+   Quits. By the Author of 'The Initials.'
+   Anthony Trollope's The Three Clerks.
+
+
+                            Four Shillings.
+
+   Dr. M'Causland's Sermons in Stones; or, Scripture confirmed by
+      Geology.
+   Lady Chatterton's Translations from Plato.
+   Julia Kavanagh's Madeline, a Tale of Auvergne. Gilt edges.
+
+
+                            Five Shillings.
+
+   The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels. 58th Thousand.
+   Francatelli's Cook's Guide. 100 Recipes and 40 Woodcuts. 15th
+      Thousand.
+   Bentley Ballads. The best Ballads and Songs from Bentley's
+      Miscellany. 5th Thousand.
+   Lord Dundonald's Autobiography, with Portrait. 6th Thousand.
+   Anecdotes of Animals. A Boy's Book, with eight spirited
+      Illustrations by Wolff. Handsomely bound, with gilt edges.
+   Ellet's Lives of Women Artists of all Ages and Countries. A Girl's
+      Book. Handsomely bound, gilt edges.
+   Mrs. Ellis' Mothers of Great Men.
+   Hayes' Arctic Boat Voyage. Beautifully bound.
+   Lamartine's Celebrated Characters. Nelson, Cromwell, Tell, Bossuet,
+      Milton. &c.
+   Smith's Anecdotes of the Streets of London, and of their more
+      Celebrated Residents.
+   Colonel Graham's History of the Art of War.
+   Dr. Maginn's Shakespeare Characters, Polonius, Falstaff, Bottom the
+      Weaver, Macbeth, Hamlet, &c.
+
+
+                             Six Shillings.
+
+   Ned Locksley. With two Illustrations.
+   The Last of the Cavaliers. With two Illustrations.
+   The Initials. With two Illustrations.
+   Mrs. Wood's East Lynne.
+   ------------The Channings.
+   ------------Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles.
+   Buckland's Curiosities of Natural History, First Series.
+   -------------------------------------------Second Series.
+   Wilkie Collins' Notes taken afoot in Cornwall; or, Rambles beyond
+      Railways.
+   Mignet's Life of Mary Queen of Scots. Two Portraits.
+   Guizot's Life of Oliver Cromwell. Portrait.
+   James' Naval History of Great Britain. 6 vols. 6_s_. each.
+   Timbs' Anecdote Lives. With Illustrations. First Series, Statesmen.
+   -----------------------Second Series, Painters.
+   -----------------------Third Series, Wits and Humourists.
+   -----------------------Fourth Series, Wits and Humourists.
+   Rev. Herman Douglas' Jerusalem the Golden, and the Way to it.
+   Thiers' History of the Great French Revolution. 5 vols. 6_s_. each,
+      with 41 exquisite Engravings.
+   Dr. Stebbing's Lives of the Principal Italian Poets.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                               THE DANES
+
+                        Sketched by Themselves.
+
+                A SERIES OF POPULAR STORIES BY THE BEST
+                            DANISH AUTHORS,
+
+
+
+                       TRANSLATED BY MRS. BUSHBY.
+
+
+
+                      _IN THREE VOLUMES.--VOL. I_.
+
+
+
+                                LONDON:
+                RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
+                                 1864.
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+               [_The right of Translation is reserved_.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+        LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
+                           AND CHARING CROSS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Most of the following stories have appeared, from time to time, in the
+'New Monthly Magazine,' and a few in other periodicals. They are now
+gathered together, and it is hoped that they may convey a favourable
+impression of the lighter literature of Denmark,--a country rich in
+genius, science, and art.
+
+
+
+
+                          CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
+
+
+   Cousin Carl.--By Carl Bernhard.
+   The Doomed House.--By B. S. Ingemann.
+   The Felon's Reverie.
+   Morten Lange. A Christmas Story.--By Hans Christian Andersen.
+   A Tale of Jutland.--By S. S. Blicher.
+   The Secret Witness.--By B. S. Ingemann.
+   Agnete and the Merman.--By Jens Baggesen.
+   A Waking Dream.
+   The Confessional.--By Christian Winther.
+   The Ancestress; or, Family Pride.--From the Swedish of the late
+      Baroness Knorring.
+   The Man from Paradise.--By Hans Christian Andersen.
+
+
+
+
+                               THE DANES
+
+                        Sketched by Themselves.
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+                              COUSIN CARL.
+
+                   FROM THE DANISH OF CARL BERNHARD.
+
+
+                                PART I.
+
+When I was a young man about twenty years of age, I was a sad
+hair-brained fellow. I lived entirely in the passing hour, the time
+gone by was quite forgotten, and about the future I never took the
+trouble to think a moment. Inclined to every possible species of
+foolish prank, I was always ready to rush headlong into any kind of
+frolic--anything that promised fun, even if that were a row; and never
+did I let slip the opportunity of amusing myself. I was a living proof
+that proverbs are not always infallible; for if 'bought wit is best,'
+that is to say, wisdom bought by experience, I must have become wise
+long ago; if 'a burned child or a scalded cat dreads the fire,' I was
+singed and scalded often enough to have felt some dread; and 'to pay
+the piper' had frequently fallen upon me. But I was none the wiser or
+more prudent. This preface was necessary in order to introduce the
+following episode of my mirth-loving youthful days.
+
+My father thought that the best way of breaking off my intimacy with a
+somewhat riotous clique of young men, in whose jovial society I passed
+a good deal of my time, was to send me to Hamburg, where I was placed
+in the counting-house of a merchant, who was expected to keep a strict
+watch over me, on account of his well-known reputation for the most
+rigid morality; as if one could not find pleasant society in Hamburg if
+one were inclined to be gay! Before fourteen days had elapsed, I had at
+least three times outwitted the worthy man's vigilance, and twice out
+of these three times had not got home till close upon the dawn of day,
+without having been engaged in any fray; a pretty fair evidence that I
+sought good company, where the risk of getting a drubbing existed
+between the hours of one and three. But fate spread her protecting hand
+over me, and at the expiration of a year I returned safe and sound to
+Copenhagen, bringing back with me much experience in all manner of
+jolly diversions, and no small desire to carry my knowledge of them
+into continued practice.
+
+I was of course destined to be bound hand and foot with the
+counting-house chains; but before putting them on I obtained leave to
+take a month's holiday in the country, and visit my uncles and my aunts
+in various parts of Zealand. One fine afternoon in the month of
+September, I sought out a common conveyance, such as is used by the
+peasantry, to take me the first few miles of my journey; and with my
+knapsack in my hand I was standing in the court-yard of the inn ready
+to step into the rustic carriage, when a servant entered the court and
+asked if there were any opportunity for Kjoege.
+
+'That person standing there is going straight to Kjoege,' said the
+ostler of the inn.
+
+The servant touched his hat. 'Here is a letter which it is of great
+consequence to my master should reach Kerporal's Inn at ----, where a
+private carriage will be waiting for him; he is not able to go where he
+is expected, as he has been taken ill. I would give the letter to the
+driver, but fear he might lose it.'
+
+'Well, let me have it,' said I. 'I will be your master's messenger.
+What is his name?' He mentioned a name quite unknown to me. I pocketed
+the letter, and drove off.
+
+My usual good luck did not attend me on this journey. In general I
+seldom drove a mile without meeting with some little adventure, if no
+better than taking up a passenger on the road, or mystifying some
+good-natured countryman, or playing the fool with some coquettish
+barmaid; but this time everything seemed bewitched, and I was tired to
+death. The Kjoege road is the stupidest of all possible roads--the
+wayfarers are too ragged and dirty for anyone to venture to take them
+up, the peasantry are deeper than coal-pits in cunning, and the
+barmaids are either as ugly as sin or engaged to the tapsters and
+cellarmen--in both cases disqualified for the situations they fill. I
+was dreadfully _ennuye_, and, as if to add to my despair, one of the
+horses became lame, and they proceeded leisurely, step by step, at a
+snail's pace.
+
+Whoever has felt as weary of his own company on a journey as I did, if
+he will put himself in my place, will not think it strange that I
+sometimes got out of the vehicle and walked, sometimes jumped in again,
+sometimes sang, sometimes whistled, sometimes thrust my hands into my
+pockets playing with everything there, then dragged them out and
+buttoned up my coat. But all this impatient rummaging in my pockets did
+no good to the stranger's letter, which became so crushed and crumpled
+that at last I discovered with some dismay that it looked more like a
+scrap of soiled paper than a respectable letter. It was in such a
+condition that it would be scarcely possible to deliver it--it was
+really almost in tatters. There was nothing to be done but to gain a
+knowledge of its contents, and deliver the same verbally to the
+coachman. Luckily the person who had sent it did not know who I was.
+
+With the help of a little conjecture, I at length extracted from the
+maltreated epistle pretty much what follows:--
+
+
+'Dear Uncle,--I have duly received your esteemed favour of the 7th
+instant, and see by it that my father had informed you of my arrival in
+Copenhagen by the steam-boat, and that you are so good as to say you
+would send your carriage to meet me on the 11th, about seven o'clock in
+the evening, at Kerporal's Inn, in order to convey me from thence to
+your house. A severe cold, which I caught on the voyage, obliges me to
+keep my room for the present, and to put off my visit to your dear
+unknown family for eight days or so. In making this communication I beg
+to assure you of my sincere regret at the delay, and to offer my best
+compliments to my beautiful cousins.' Then came one or two inflated and
+pedantic paragraphs, and the letter was subscribed
+
+                             'Respectfully yours,
+
+                                               'Carl.'
+
+
+The short and the long of the matter was that he would come in a week,
+being detained by a bad cold. 'Well, these interesting communications
+can be made in a few words to the coachman. It is surprising how much
+paper people think it necessary to waste when they want to trump up a
+reason for not doing anything!' With this sage remark I threw the
+letter down on the road, where it must speedily have become utterly
+illegible, for--one evil more--a shower came on, and it soon increased
+till the rain fell in torrents. Misfortunes, it is said, never come
+alone; on the contrary, pieces of good fortune seldom come in pairs.
+
+At length we approached Kerporal's Inn. It was pouring of rain, it was
+eight o'clock, and it was already almost dark. A travelling-carriage
+was waiting under a shed, and its horses were stamping as if with
+impatience at a long detention. The gifts of fortune are surely very
+unequally distributed, methought, as I reflected on the solitary
+journey before me, and that it was impossible I could reach my uncle's
+parsonage until very late at night.
+
+'To whom does that carriage belong?' I asked.
+
+'It belongs to the Justitsraad,[1] at ---- Court,' replied the
+coachman. This place was situated about a mile[2] from my uncle's
+house.
+
+'Oh! then it is you who are waiting for a gentleman from Copenhagen?'
+said I.
+
+'Yes, sir. And since you are the gentleman, we had as well set off as
+fast as we can. The horses are baited, and we shall have no better
+weather this evening, sir,' said the coachman.
+
+'Done!' thought I. 'This is not such a bad idea. I shall get so far dry
+and snugly; I can get out at the gate, or else carry the message
+myself. People are so hospitable in the country that they will surely
+offer me a night's lodging, and at an early hour to-morrow I shall
+proceed on foot to my uncle's house.' So the journey was not to be
+ended without an adventure.
+
+It is pleasant to exchange a hard, wet conveyance, little better than a
+cart, which goes crawling along, for a comfortable carriage getting
+over the ground at a brisk pace; so I yielded to the temptation, and
+deposited myself in the latter, whilst I envied the pedant who could
+travel in such luxurious ease to beautiful unknown cousins--I who had
+neither equipages nor cousins--and he could stay at home to take care
+of his cold! _I_ would not have done that in _his_ place. The three
+miles[3] were soon got over--in fact, they did not seem more than one
+mile to me; for during the two last I was fast asleep, the carriage
+having rocked me into slumbers as gently as if it had been a cradle.
+
+Suddenly it stopped, and as suddenly I awoke in a state of utter
+unconsciousness as to where I was. In a moment the door was opened,
+lights and voices around bewildered me still more, and I was almost
+dragged out of the carriage.
+
+'It is he--it is cousin Carl!' was shouted in my ears, and the circle
+pressed more closely around me.
+
+I was at ---- Court. I was about to execute my commission in the best
+manner I could, and make some apology for having brought the message
+myself instead of having delivered it to the coachman, when I spied a
+charming-looking little cousin, who thrust her pretty head forward with
+evident curiosity. How pretty she was! I could not take my eyes off of
+her, and stood staring at her for a moment in silence; but during that
+moment's silence I had been kindly welcomed by the family as 'Cousin
+Carl'--I who was only his unworthy messenger. Was I not in luck?
+
+The Justitsraad carried me straight to the dining-room, and they sat
+down immediately to table, as if their repast had been retarded on my
+important account. I know not how I carried off my embarrassment; every
+moment my situation was becoming more and more painful; my spirits
+sank, and my usual effrontery ... ah! it failed me at the very time
+that I needed it most.
+
+We were quite a family party. There were but the uncle; his wife, who
+was a pleasant, good-looking, elderly lady, apparently about fifty;
+cousin Jette, who was pale and silent, but seemed very interesting;
+cousin Hanne, the charming little Venus who had caused my awkward
+position; and cousin Thomas, a lanky, overgrown boy, about twelve years
+of age, with long arms in jacket-sleeves too short for them. From sheer
+flurry I ate as if I had not seen food for a fortnight, and with each
+glass I emptied down my throat I started in my own mind one plan after
+another to escape from the dilemma into which my thoughtlessness had
+plunged me.
+
+'I am very glad to see that you do not make strangers of us, but really
+are eating heartily,' said the Justitsraad as he filled my plate for
+the fifth time. 'I can't bear to see young men, or anyone, under
+restraint in my house; here everyone must do exactly as if he were at
+home. I am very glad you are not sitting like a stick, or looking as if
+you were afraid of us and of the viands before you. And now let us
+drink to your happy return to your native land. I am pleased to see
+that you are able now to pledge one in a glass of wine. When you were a
+boy, you had every appearance of turning out a regular milksop. But, to
+be sure, eleven years make great changes in everybody.'
+
+I drank to the health of my father and mother, then to the welfare of
+the whole family, and then a special toast to cousin Jette's health,
+which was proposed by her father himself. When we were about to drink
+it, he nodded to me with an air of intelligence, as if we were
+_d'accord_ with each other; but the pretty cousin scarcely touched the
+glass with her lips, and did not vouchsafe me a single glance; it
+seemed as if she were far from pleased at the compliment paid her.
+Cousin Hanne, who sat near me, filled my glass every time it was empty,
+and she had so industriously employed herself in this manner, that my
+head was beginning to be a good deal confused.
+
+'And now it is time to go to bed, my children!' said the Justitsraad.
+'It is late; to-morrow we will hear all that your cousin has to tell
+us.'
+
+I was on the point of requesting a moment's private conversation with
+him; but the moment for doing so passed away unseized--in the next it
+was no longer possible. The family bade each other good night, a
+servant showed me to my room, and I was left to my reflections. The
+reflections of a harum-scarum fellow of one-and-twenty! You are right,
+dear reader, they certainly were not worth much. Hanne's pretty face
+and the Justitsraad's good wine had taken a somewhat potent effect upon
+my brain; I hastened to seek repose, and, like the Theban tyrant,
+deferred grave business till the morrow.
+
+But I could not fall asleep, for conscience plagued me; it is its
+custom to wake up when everybody is sleeping, and without the least
+mercy it compelled me to listen to its lectures. It became so
+importunate that it drove me out of bed, and induced me to admit that
+it would be better to jump out of the window, and carry my baggage on
+my shoulders to my uncle's parsonage, than to be treated to-morrow as
+an impudent puppy--_that_ I should not so much mind--but also as a
+scamp of an impostor who had palmed himself upon them for the sake of
+obtaining a drive and a good supper gratis--_that_ I should mind a
+great deal, for it would touch my honour. It is thus one reasons at
+twenty-one.
+
+It rained no longer, but it was as dark as pitch. Darkness would favour
+my intention; but how was I to find my way in a place utterly unknown
+to me? I determined to keep awake till the dawn of day, then take
+myself off, and leave the family to make inquiries about the cousin,
+until the real one thought fit to recover from his cold. But that
+little Hanne's charming face, was I never to behold it again? Well, it
+was very foolish to have come there, but after all, it would be still
+more foolish to remain.
+
+I left a little piece of my window open, and sat down near it in order
+to watch for the first streaks of daylight. I had, however, a long time
+to wait, for it was just half-past twelve o'clock. As I sat there,
+fretting at myself for my folly, I heard something or some one,
+stirring beneath the window, and a moment afterwards among the branches
+of a tree close by. It was some person climbing the tree, but his visit
+was not intended for me, for he crept up much higher, and appeared to
+have mounted to a level with an upper window, as one was opened very
+gently and cautiously. Ah! an assignation! a secret appointment!
+
+It is really an advantage to have a tender conscience; without that I
+should have been fast asleep, and should never have known what was
+going on so near me. But who could it be? Could cousin Thomas, though
+only twelve years of age, be making love to one of the housemaids? Let
+us listen.
+
+'For God's sake make no noise!' said a whispering voice at the window
+above mine. 'He has arrived; he occupies the room just below, and he
+can hardly be asleep yet.'
+
+'The light has been extinguished for at least half an hour,' replied
+the voice in the tree. 'Such an ape has nothing to wake or watch for.'
+
+An ape, forsooth! as if I were not quite as wide awake as himself.
+
+'Dear Gustav, think of my distress,' continued the voice at the window;
+'my father drank my health at table, and nodded to him in such a
+significant manner! Oh, how I hate that man! Tomorrow, perhaps, he will
+begin to treat me as his betrothed; my father will give him every
+opportunity, and he will take upon himself to be intimate, and to make
+me presents. Oh! how unhappy I am!'
+
+'You see, dearest Jette, this is the consequence of our silence; if we
+had spoken to him before the accursed cousin came here, perhaps your
+father might have been persuaded to have given up this absurd childish
+betrothal.'
+
+'No--no; he would never have done that,' replied Jette; 'he is too much
+attached to his brother; and he will do everything in his power to have
+the agreement fulfilled, which eleven years ago they entered into with
+each other at their children's expense.'
+
+'Why did not that man break his neck on the way! Such fellows can
+travel round the whole world without the slightest accident ever
+happening to them,' said Gustav. 'But he may, perhaps, repent coming
+here; I shall pick a quarrel with him, I will call him out, he shall
+fight with me, and either he or I shall be put out of the way.'
+
+'May God protect you, my dearest Gustav!' exclaimed my cousin. 'But how
+can you have the heart to frighten me with such threats? Am I not
+wretched enough? Would you increase the burden that is weighing me down
+to the grave? I see nothing before me but misery and despair; no
+comfort--no escape.' Poor Jette was weeping; I could hear how she
+sobbed in her woe. I now perceived why the poor girl had been so pale
+and distant--I was betrothed to her.
+
+'Forgive me, dearest girl! I hardly know what I am saying; but take
+comfort, do not weep so bitterly. Heaven will not desert us, and we
+shall find some means of softening your father; besides, no rational
+man would wish to obtain a wife upon compulsion. If he has the least
+pride or spirit, he will himself draw back.'
+
+'Ah, Gustav! if there were any chance of his drawing back, he would not
+have come here. His father wrote that he was coming expressly to claim
+his--his promised rights; and that--and that we should learn to know
+each other before the wedding. We had been betrothed for eleven years,
+he wrote, and it was time that ... No! I cannot think of it without
+despair.'
+
+'What sort of looking person is he? Is he handsome? Whom does he
+resemble?'
+
+'He is not in the least like what he was as a boy, he is very much
+changed; he has improved very much in looks, and, indeed, may be called
+handsome now.'
+
+'That is a girl with a good taste,' thought I; 'I wish I could help her
+out of her troubles.'
+
+'Handsome!--I congratulate you, Miss Jette--handsome people generally
+make a favourable impression, and by degrees one becomes quite
+reconciled to them, and pleased with them--don't you think so?'
+
+The lover grasped the branch nearest him so roughly in his anger, that
+he made the whole tree shake.
+
+'Gustav! are you in earnest?' exclaimed Jette, in a tone of voice that
+would have gone to the heart of a stone, if stones had hearts.
+
+'Dearest, dearest Jette! Sweet, patient angel!' He stretched himself so
+far out from the tree that I think he must have reached her hand and
+kissed it.
+
+'Indeed, you have no reason to be jealous of him,' said Jette, 'for one
+quite forgets his being handsome, when one observes how awkward he is.
+He does not seem to be at all accustomed to society; he eats like a
+shark, and you should have seen how he drank. Hanne amused herself in
+filling his glass, and I do believe that for his own share alone he
+emptied two bottles of wine. And he never uttered a single word. Oh! he
+is my horror--that man; but my father seems pleased with him, and
+praised him after he had left the room. Dear Gustav! how unfortunate we
+are!'
+
+Should I allow these imputations to rest upon me? A blockhead--a
+glutton--and a drunkard! And cousin Hanne had been making a fool of me,
+forsooth!--the little jade, with her pretty face. I was certainly in a
+pleasant position.
+
+'I will speak to your father to-morrow,' said Gustav, after a little
+consideration. 'He is very fond of you, he will not be deaf to our
+prayers, or expect impossibilities from you. What can he bring forward
+against me? I shall soon be in a position to maintain a wife, my family
+are quite on an equality with his own, my father is not poor, and my
+situation in life is now, and always will be, such, that I can satisfy
+any inquiry he can make into it. Deny then no longer your consent,
+dearest Jette; let us no longer conceal our attachment from him, and
+depend on it all will go well.'
+
+'Ah, Gustav! you do not know my father. He will positively insist that
+I shall fulfil this engagement. Vows are sacred in his eyes, and he
+himself has never broken his word. When I gave that promise I was but a
+child, and I wore the plain gold ring without ever reflecting that it
+was a link of that never-to-be-broken chain which was to bind me to a
+life of misery. Oh, God, have mercy upon me!'
+
+'Doubt not _His_ help, my beloved girl! He will spread His protecting
+hand over us, even if all else shall fail us.'
+
+The sorrowing lovers whispered then so softly that I could not overhear
+what further they said, but I concluded they were comforting each
+other. The first streak of day cast a pale line of light across the
+tops of the trees and the roofs of the outhouses near. It was almost
+time for me to commence _my_ flight, but everything must be quiet
+first. I gathered together my effects with as little noise as possible.
+The conversation on the outside recommenced, and I approached the
+window impatiently.
+
+'How long is he going to stay here?' asked Gustav.
+
+'I do not know; perhaps only a few days. Alas! my only hope is in him,'
+replied Jette. To-morrow I shall have a private conversation with him,
+which, of course, will lead to an explanation. I will make an
+appointment with him in the garden,--if you will promise me not to be
+jealous,' added Jette, with a degree of archness in her tone which
+enchanted me.
+
+'It is hard that my rival is to be my sheet anchor,' said Gustav; 'but,
+since it must be so, speak to him, dearest. However, if that fails,
+then, my sweet girl, then ...'
+
+'Then I promise you ... But what noise is that? I thought I heard some
+one stirring. For God's sake go! Let no one see you here!'
+
+'To-morrow night, then, at one o'clock. Farewell, dear Jette.'
+
+Then came a kiss. Was it on the hand or the lips?
+
+'Take care how you get down. To-morrow night. Adieu till then!'
+
+The faithful knight-errant swung himself from branch to branch with an
+adroitness which proved that he was experienced in that mode of
+descent. As soon as he set foot on the ground the window above was
+closed.
+
+It was now my turn to get into the trees. Gustav had taught me that
+trick. I wondered what sort of a looking fellow he was. Poor Jette--to
+have chosen for herself, and yet to be condemned to be sacrificed to a
+man who could begin a letter about his intended bride with, 'I have
+duly received your esteemed favour of the 5th instant,' and who could
+absent himself from such a charming girl, merely because he had a
+slight cold! Well! it is a wretched world, this, in which we live. It
+was becoming more and more light. To-day she wished to have a private
+conversation with me--her only hope was in me; there was to be an
+explanation between us, an assignation in the garden. Who the deuce
+could run away from all this? But.... Well! nobody knew me--the real
+cousin was not coming for a week ... surely I might stay _one_ day on
+the strength of personifying him? I am a fatalist; destiny has sent me,
+and it will aid me.... I will not forsake Jette ... and I will revenge
+myself upon that little Mademoiselle Hanne, who wanted to drink me
+under the table, and I will show the whole accomplished family that I
+have studied good manners in Hamburg, and am neither a blockhead, a
+glutton, nor a drunkard. It is a matter that touches my honour; I will
+stay!... But ... suppose they take it into their heads to question me?
+Humph! If the worst comes to the worst, I can but stuff a little linen
+into my great-coat pocket, make a pretext to get outside the gate, and
+take to flight at once. In the meantime, I will make some inquiries
+about the neighbourhood and the roads, for at present I have not the
+most remote idea whether I ought to turn to the right hand or the left.
+And to-morrow night--good-by to this darling family, with many thanks
+for their kind welcome. Whilst they are all sleeping, or keeping
+nocturnal assignations, I shall vanish without leaving the slightest
+trace behind. It will give them something to talk of till Christmas.
+
+Whilst this monologue was in progress of utterance, I was busily
+undressing myself. I jumped into bed, and soon slept as soundly as if I
+had a lawful right to be there, and were the dreaded cousin himself.
+
+But when I was summoned to breakfast next morning I was in a very
+different frame of mind. I had slept off the effects of the wine, sober
+reason had resumed her sway, fear followed at my heels like a bad
+spirit; and I would assuredly have made my escape if the well-dressed
+valet-de-chambre had left me a moment to myself. I was compelled to
+resign myself to my fate, and allow myself to be marshalled to the
+breakfast-parlour; but as I approached the scene of my threatened
+exposure, despair restored my courage, I remembered that it was
+incumbent on me to wipe out the disgrace of the preceding evening, and
+I found my habitual impudence and lightness of heart upon the very
+threshold of the door.
+
+I went up to them all, and shook hands with them, and as I now knew
+that I was engaged to Jette, I kissed her hand with all possible
+amorous gallantry. The poor girl looked as if she could have sunk into
+the earth, and I coloured up to my temples, for I just recollected that
+I had on no betrothal ring. Jette wore the plain gold ring I had heard
+her mention, but it was almost hidden by another ring, with a simple
+enamelled 'Forget-me-not.' Might not _that_ have been a gift from the
+unknown Gustav?
+
+'How are you this morning, my dear?' said the Justitsraad. 'Jette has
+not been very well lately,' he added; 'she looks poorly, and has no
+appetite. It must be that abominable _nervousness_, of which young
+ladies now-a-days are always complaining.'
+
+Jette assured him that she felt quite well. I doubted if her mother or
+her sister were so much in her confidence as I was at that moment; but
+neither of them had been sitting at an open window between twelve
+o'clock at night and three o'clock in the morning.
+
+At first all went on smoothly, for the conversation was on the safe
+subjects of wind and weather; but a change for the worst was coming.
+
+'Now, nephew, tell us something about the old people yonder. How is my
+brother looking?'
+
+'Extremely well, uncle. He is looking quite fresh.'
+
+'But the gout--the gout in his feet? that sticks to him yet--and it is
+not the most pleasant of companions.'
+
+'Oh, yes--the gout! But he is accustomed to that.'
+
+'And your mother?'
+
+'She is also well, only she is getting older every day.'
+
+'Ah! that is what we are all doing. And aunt Abelone? How goes it with
+her?'
+
+'She is very well too.'
+
+'What! _very well_--with her broken leg! Why, you must be joking?'
+
+'Oh dear, no! I ... I only meant to say as well ... as well as anyone
+can be with a broken leg,' I stammered out. In truth, I knew nothing
+about, and cared as little for, Abelone's mishap.
+
+'Listen to that madcap. He speaks of a broken leg as if it were
+absolutely a trifling matter.'
+
+The danger was over for a moment, but another attack soon followed. I
+had scarcely swallowed a cup of tea, before my _soi-disant_ uncle
+demanded from me a particular account of the new system of agriculture
+my father had introduced on his property--I, who did not even know
+where that property lay! But this time his wife came to the rescue, for
+she declared that we could discuss systems of husbandry when we were
+strolling in the fields together, or out hunting, and that she and her
+daughters did not take much interest in agricultural questions.
+
+'Well, we will talk of this another time,' said the Justitsraad. 'But
+tell us at present something of your travels. Women-folk are always
+pleased to hear adventures of travellers. You have visited Paris,
+Berlin, Vienna, and many other places. A man who has travelled so much
+might talk for a whole month without being at a loss for a subject.'
+
+Very well did I know that I had never beheld a single building either
+in Paris or Berlin, except in engravings. What was I to say? I busied
+myself in getting up a good tale.
+
+'Upon my word, nephew, I should not suspect you of being very bashful;
+but if you don't like to speak of your travels, let them alone, my
+boy,--everybody shall do as he likes in my house. Many years ago, I
+remember, I went to Hamburg, and when I came home I almost tired
+them all out by describing what I had seen. But I suppose it is
+old-fashioned now to make any comments on what one has witnessed
+abroad.'
+
+Here was a piece of good luck. I knew Hamburg as well as my own
+pockets, and now I was like my uncle after _his_ return. There was no
+end to my descriptions and anecdotes. The old man seemed to take real
+delight in hearing about all the alterations which had been made in the
+old town since the days of his youth, inquiring often for places which
+no longer exist. I endeavoured to make my discourse as amusing as
+possible. Cousin Thomas rested his elbows on the table, listened with
+open mouth, and laughed outright several times; my aunt often let her
+knitting-needle fall, to look at the pencil sketches with which I was
+illustrating my descriptions; cousin Jette looked less sourly at me
+than before; and Hanne--the pretty, coquettish, little Hanne--for whose
+sake I was sitting apparently so much at my ease among them, was
+unwearied in her queries about the Hamburg ladies, fashions, and
+theatres. Happily these had been the objects of my most intense study.
+
+'I perceive now, that when once his tongue is set a-going, he has
+plenty to say,' remarked my worthy uncle. 'How long were you in
+Berlin?'
+
+'Nay; stop, uncle! we are at Hamburg just now. I have still a great
+deal to tell about that city. Everything should be arranged in due
+order. Today I will confine myself to Hamburg; to-morrow we shall
+travel to Berlin.' 'Catch me here tomorrow,' thought I to myself; 'if I
+only can get through to-day, I will take French leave before we come to
+Berlin.'
+
+'Come! since you give such a good reason, we will let you off Berlin
+just now. I am a lover of order myself, and here everything goes by
+clockwork. During the first part of the morning every one must look out
+for himself; at twelve we meet for luncheon--at three o'clock we dine.
+Amuse yourself in the mean time as well as you can; you will find
+plenty of books in the library--yonder hang fire-arms--and in the
+stables there are horses at your service; do exactly as if you were at
+home, and take care of yourself.'
+
+'I will take a turn in the garden,' said I, with a glance at Jette--one
+of those looks _d'intelligence_ from which I expected great things; but
+she took no notice of it, and I was under the necessity of remarking,
+that being a stranger I did not know the way. But even this opening for
+a _tete-a-tete_ she allowed to pass, and I could not imagine how she
+intended to bring about our secret conference.
+
+'A stranger!' cried my uncle. 'But true, in eleven years one forgets a
+great deal. Let me see--how old were you then? you are three-and-twenty
+now ... twelve years of age you were; who could have guessed then that
+you would have become such a free-and-easy, off-hand sort of a fellow?
+Well, let him be shown the grounds, children. Thomas must go to his
+studies; my wife has her household matters to attend to; Jette, you
+must ...'
+
+'I really am not able, my dear father--I have a dreadful headache,'
+said the poor timid girl. And she looked as if she spoke nothing but
+the truth,--she was so pale, and her eyes were so red.
+
+'A woman's malady,' said her father, looking vexed; 'it is, of course,
+incumbent on you to ... Well; all that will vanish when you are better
+acquainted. _We_ know what these qualms mean,' he added, turning
+towards me. I nodded, as if I would have said--_Sat sapienti_. 'Have
+you also got a headache, Hanne? Are you also suffering from
+nervousness? or can you stand the fresh morning air, my girl?' he
+asked. I looked eagerly at the little gipsy.
+
+'Oh! I can endure the fresh morning air very well,' she replied.
+
+'Then take charge of your cousin Carl, and show him round the garden
+and the shrubberies; and don't forget the pretty view from the rising
+ground where the swing is.'
+
+The Justitsraad held out his hand to me, and I pressed it with all the
+warmth of sincere gratitude.
+
+'Come, cousin,' said Hanne. 'Shall we call each other by our first
+names, or not? But we can settle that as we go along.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake, let us call each other by our baptismal names, else
+we should not seem like cousins. Don't you think so, uncle?'
+
+'You are of my own people, my boy. Always be merry and frank--that is
+my motto. I am right glad that you have not adopted the stiff German
+manners. Your father was always very grave; but you have rubbed off all
+that solemnity abroad, I am happy to see.'
+
+In my delight at the promised stroll with Hanne, I forgot that it was
+my duty to kiss Jette's hand on leaving her. Just as I had reached the
+door I suddenly remembered it; and rushing back, I went through the
+salutation in the speediest manner possible, expressing at the same
+time my hope to find her better on my return. They all laughed, and
+even Jette could not help smiling,--there was something so comical in
+my hurried return, and equally hurried performance of the ceremony
+etiquette demanded.
+
+Was I not right in calling myself a madcap? Here was I actually walking
+with the charming little Hanne all over the grounds! I--her pretended
+cousin; I--who ought to have been sent to the House of Correction, for
+having, under another man's name, presumed to thrust myself into the
+midst of a respectable family; I--who had committed, a positive
+depredation, and broken the sacred privacy of a seal;--here was I
+wandering about arm-in-arm with the Justitraad's daughter at ----
+Court, the captivating, innocent, beautiful little Hanne; I--who
+deserved to be driven away with all the dogs on the estate at my heels!
+Well! goodness and justice do not always carry the day in this world!
+
+
+                                PART II.
+
+When I looked at my companion I was almost appalled at my audacity.
+Think of the face you love the best in this world--the face that you
+never can behold without a beating heart--which you dwell on with
+rapture, which is the object of your waking and your sleeping dreams!
+Ah! quite as charming as such looked Hanne in her pink gingham
+morning-dress, with a little blue handkerchief tied carelessly round
+her throat, and a becoming white bonnet. She was irresistible!
+
+We strayed here and there like two children; plucked flowers to teach
+each other their botanical names; gathered a whole handful to commence
+a herbarium, and threw them away again to chase some gaudy butterfly.
+Then we sauntered on slowly, and Hanne communicated many little things
+to me of which she thought her cousin ought to be informed; and at
+length I began to fancy that I actually was the real cousin Carl. Of
+all the young girls that ever I beheld, Hanne was the most delightful;
+such grace, such vivacity, such naivete, were not to be met with either
+in Copenhagen or in Hamburg.
+
+'It is a pity Jette could not accompany you,' said she; 'but to-morrow,
+probably, her headache will be gone.'
+
+I assured her that I did not regret Jette's absence, since I had _her_
+company.
+
+'That is a pretty declaration from a bridegroom who has allowed himself
+to be waited for eleven years,' said Hanne.
+
+'Jette did not look as if she were glad at my arrival.'
+
+'You must not think anything of that; she has looked out of spirits for
+a month past, at least: she is apt to be melancholy at times, but it
+passes off. Her character is sedate. She is much better, therefore,
+than I am, or than anyone I know. You can hardly fancy how good she
+is.'
+
+'But I want a lively wife, for I am myself of a very gay disposition,'
+said I.
+
+'That is not what we thought you were,' replied my fair companion. 'We
+always looked upon you as a quiet, grave, somewhat heavy young man, and
+you have been described to us as a most tedious, wearisome person. I
+used often to pity Jette in my own mind; for a stupid, humdrum man is
+the greatest bore on earth. But I do not pity her anymore, now.'
+
+I could have kissed her, I was so pleased.
+
+'So you thought of me with fear and disgust, you two poor girls? Pray,
+who painted my portrait so nicely?'
+
+'Why, your own father did; and the letter which you wrote Jette when
+she was confirmed, and when you sent her the betrothal-ring, did not at
+all improve our opinion of you. I'll tell you what, Carl; that was a
+miserable epistle. It was with the utmost difficulty that my father
+prevailed on Jette to answer it, when she was obliged to send you a
+ring in return. However, you were little more than a boy then--it is
+long ago, and it was all forgotten when we never heard again from you.
+I can venture to affirm that Jette has not thought six times about you
+in the six years that have elapsed since that time--and perhaps this is
+lucky for you. It was not until your father wrote us that you had come
+home, and until he began to bombard Jette with presents and messages
+from you, that you were mentioned again among us; but my father never
+could bear our laughing at your renowned epistle.'
+
+I listened with the utmost avidity to every little circumstance that
+could elucidate the part I had taken upon myself to play. In this
+conversation I learned more than I could have gathered the whole
+morning.
+
+'It is very absurd to betroth children to each other. What should they
+know of love?' said Hanne.
+
+'It is more than absurd, Hanne; it is positive barbarity. It is
+trampling the most sacred feelings and rights under foot.'
+
+'Nevertheless you may thank God for that barbarity,' said she; 'without
+it you would never have got Jette. She has plenty of admirers.'
+
+'Indeed! And who are they, if I may take the liberty of asking? You
+make me quite jealous.'
+
+'Oh, I have observed that both the young clergyman at ---- Town and
+Gustav Holm are much attached to her. And Jette has no dislike to
+Gustav.'
+
+'Who is Gustav Holm? He appears to be the most dangerous.'
+
+'He is learning farming, or rather, I ought to say, agricultural
+affairs, with a country gentleman not far from this. He has been coming
+to our house now about three years; I think, and I could wager a large
+sum, that it is for Jette's sake.'
+
+'Or for your own, little Hanne?'
+
+'Pshaw! nonsense! If anyone were dangling here after me, I should make
+no secret of it. Jette is a greater favourite than I am, and she
+deserves to be so.'
+
+'But perhaps Jette cares more for Gustav Holm than for me, whom she
+really does not know?'
+
+One often asks a question in this hypocritical world about what one
+knows best oneself.
+
+'No, oh no! That would be a sad affair. Has she not been engaged to you
+for eleven years, and is she not going to be married to you?'
+
+'But if you had been in Jette's place, how would you have felt?'
+
+'I would perhaps have preferred ... No, I don't think I would though.
+But I am not so mild and amiable as Jette; and the day that I was
+confirmed no one should have imposed a betrothal-ring upon me, I can
+assure you, sir; and, least of all, accompanied by such an elegant
+billet as yours.'
+
+Hanne picked up a blade of grass, formed it into a string, and twisting
+it round her finger in an artistic manner, made it into a knot.
+
+'Can you make such?' said she.
+
+I tried it, but could not succeed, and she took hold of my hand to do
+it for me.
+
+'But how is this, Carl?' she exclaimed. 'Where is your betrothal-ring?'
+
+'It is ... I have ... I wear it attached to a ribbon round my neck; ...
+it annoyed me to have to answer the many questions it was the cause of
+my being asked. Therefore I determined to wear it near my heart.'
+
+'It annoyed you! Did ever anyone hear such an assertion? Jette has
+faithfully worn hers, and placed a "_Forget-me-not_" into the bargain
+by its side, to remind herself, I suppose, not to forget you. But _you_
+found it a bore, even to be asked if you were engaged! Such gallants as
+you do not deserve to be remembered. But come now, I will show you a
+beautiful view.'
+
+We passed together through a charming shady wood, where several paths,
+diverging among the trees, crossed each other. Hanne walked before,
+light and graceful as Diana in her fluttering drapery; I followed her,
+like the enamoured Actaeon. Alas! the resemblance would soon become
+stronger, I thought--how soon might I not be discovered, driven forth
+as a miserable intruder, and delivered over to regret and remorse,
+which would prey upon me, and tear me to atoms, as the hounds tore
+Actaeon!
+
+Upon a rising ground stood a swing, the posts of which towered above
+the tops of the trees, and the erection looked at a distance like a
+gallows. From this spot the view was very extensive--a number of
+country churches could be seen from it, and among others that of my
+uncle.
+
+'But why have you placed that gallows upon this lovely spot?' I asked.
+
+'Gallows! No one ever presumed to give such an appellation to my swing
+before,' said Hanne, angrily. 'If it were not very uncivil, I would say
+that it evinces an extremely debased and disordered state of the
+imagination to make a gallows out of my innocent swing.'
+
+The girl spoke the absolute truth. It will hereafter come to be called
+gallows, thought I--and tomorrow my fair fame will hang dangling there,
+as a terror and a warning to all counterfeit cousins.
+
+'But never mind, cousin, I did not mean to be so sharp with you. Don't,
+however, let my father hear you say anything disparaging of this place;
+he would not so easily forgive you. Come, you shall atone for your sin
+by swinging me,' added Hanne, as she settled herself in the swing.
+
+'Ah, Hanne! would that I could as easily atone for all my sins towards
+you!'
+
+I could have swung her for a lifetime, I do believe, without becoming
+weary of gazing at her; but she compassionately stopped, fancying I
+must be tired.
+
+'You will be quite fatigued, poor fellow--it would be a shame to make
+you work longer,' said she. 'Get in, and you shall find that the swing
+stands in a good situation; that is to say, if you are not afraid of
+the gallows,' she added, as she made room for me.
+
+'For your sake, I would not shun even the gallows,' said I, as I sprang
+up.
+
+The swing went at full speed; it was pleasant to be carried thus over
+the tops of the trees, and behold the earth as if stretched out beneath
+one's feet. I felt as if in heaven. I was flying in the air with an
+angel.
+
+'How delightful this is!' I cried, throwing my arm round Hanne's waist.
+
+'What, to be on a gallows? But pray hold on by the rope, cousin, and
+not by me. Now let us get down--we have had enough of this pastime.'
+
+'I have an earnest prayer to make to you, dear Hanne,' I said, seizing
+her hand. 'Listen to me before we leave this place. I foresee that the
+swing, at least in your recollection, will retain the name I
+accidentally gave it. Promise me that you will come here when you hear
+evil of me, and doubt my honour, and that you will then remember that
+it was here I entreated you to judge leniently of the absent. Fate
+plays strange tricks with us, dear Hanne; it throws us sometimes into
+temptations which we are too weak to withstand. Promise me that you
+will not condemn me irrevocably, although appearances may be against
+me.'
+
+The lovely girl looked at me for a moment with surprise and
+earnestness, and then suddenly burst into an immoderate fit of
+laughter; another moment, and my confession would have been made.
+
+'I promise you,' said she, 'that I shall come here and think of you as
+well as you deserve--that is to say, if I have nothing else to do, and
+nothing else to think of. But at present I have no time to spare for
+gallows'-reflections, the bell is ringing for luncheon, and my father
+likes us to appear punctually at table.'
+
+Jette did not come down to luncheon, her headache confined her to her
+room, poor girl! I felt very sorry for her, and when I reflected that
+my principal, whose unworthy messenger I was, would torment her still
+more, my heart really grieved for her. The family were very cheerful,
+and it was long since I had been among so pleasant and sociable a
+little party. Alas! half the day was now gone, and when the other half
+were passed it would be all over with my enjoyments.
+
+After luncheon, cousin Thomas came to me and begged that I would go out
+with him for a few hours' shooting, the afternoon being his time for
+exercise and amusement. I wished to be on good terms with all the
+family, and therefore accepted his invitation; besides, I thought he
+might be in a talkative humour, and that I might be able to extract
+from him some particulars of their domestic history. We took a couple
+of guns and sallied forth. I had already become so hardened that I
+did not feel the slightest twinge of conscience at thus abusing the
+open-hearted confidence of twelve years of age. 'Give the Devil an
+inch, and he will take an ell,' says the proverb.
+
+But cousin Thomas was too keen a sportsman to have ears for anything
+except sporting anecdotes, and I soon began to grudge the time I had
+wasted upon him. There was no help for me, however. I was in for it,
+and I had to follow him from one moor to another, removing myself every
+moment farther from his father's abode.
+
+'Who is that person yonder?' I asked by mere chance, only not to seem
+quite silent.
+
+'Where? Oh! that is Gustav Holm,' said Thomas. 'He is coming, I dare
+say, from Green Moor--the very best moor in the whole neighbourhood.'
+
+'We must speak to him.--Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm! Good morning, Mr. Holm.'
+
+The person thus hailed stopped for a moment, and then came up to us. I
+forthwith introduced myself as a newly-arrived relative of the family
+at ---- Court, and he cast on me the pleasant glance with which one
+generally eyes a rival.
+
+'What sort of sport have they to-day at Green Moor?' I asked; and I
+attacked him with questions and stuck to him like a burr, though I saw
+that he would fain have got rid of me. But that was impossible. Mr.
+Holm was exceedingly chary of his words; therefore if either was a
+blockhead, as I had been described the night before, it was he rather
+than I.
+
+'I will do poor Jette a service while I can,' thought I; and I invited
+Mr. Holm to return with us to ---- Court. 'You visit at my uncle's, I
+think,' I added; 'it strikes me that I have heard my cousin speak of
+you.'
+
+He grew as red as fire, poor fellow.
+
+'I don't think little Hanne will pick a quarrel with me because I beg
+you to accompany us home,' said I, slily; and the luckless lover became
+still more embarrassed. He tried to excuse himself, but I would take no
+denial; he was obliged to give way, and in triumph I brought my
+prisoner back with me. 'Thomas will bear witness to the ladies how much
+trouble I had in prevailing on you to come, and they will therefore the
+more highly appreciate your self-sacrifice,' said I.
+
+When we reached the gate, he tried again to negotiate for his freedom,
+but Thomas found his reluctance so amusing, that he would not allow him
+to make his escape. Giving way at length, he exclaimed,
+
+'You are going to afflict your party with a tiresome addition, for I
+have a dreadful headache to-day.'
+
+'You will feel better when you have dined,' I replied; 'and if you
+would like to have some sal volatile, you can get some from my
+_fiancee_; she has a headache also to-day. There must be something in
+the air to cause it, since you are similarly affected.'
+
+Mr. Holm evidently writhed under my mode of treatment; and at the term
+_fiancee_ he looked as if I had trodden heavily upon his corns. It was
+certainly very trying, but I had comfort in the background for him.
+
+Neither the Justitsraad nor his wife seemed to be much pleased at the
+arrival of their unexpected guest; nevertheless, they received him
+politely, and assigned to him a place at table between them. He could
+not have demanded a more honourable seat. Thomas was inexhaustible in
+his descriptions of Mr. Holm's unwillingness to give himself up as a
+captive, and how clever he had been in securing him. Poor Jette dared
+hardly look up from her plate.
+
+'Mr. Holm ought to know that he is always welcome,' said the
+Justitsraad; but it was evident that the remark was the result of good
+breeding, rather than of any cordial pleasure he had in seeing him.
+
+'Very true, uncle; that is just what I said. Hanne spoke of him to me
+so highly this morning, that I really became quite eager to make his
+acquaintance. The friends of the family must also be my friends. I knew
+right well that Hanne would not be angry at me if I brought him home
+with me.'
+
+'I! What did I say?' exclaimed Hanne, colouring deeply. 'How can you
+make such an assertion? I believe ...'
+
+'That I am a sad gossip, and never can keep to myself what I hear--I
+confess the truth of the impeachment.'
+
+Her parents looked at her with surprise; Jette cast an inquiring glance
+towards her, and Gustav forced a smile. Hanne was very angry, but her
+wrath did not last long; time was precious to me, and I speedily
+effected a reconciliation with her.
+
+'I do verily believe that you are not quite sober to-day, Carl,' said
+Hanne in a whisper to me, when we rose from table.
+
+'Truth to tell, Hanne, I am not, but that is your fault. Why did you
+try to make me drink myself under the table last night? It is only a
+judgment from Heaven on you; those who dig a pit for other people often
+fall into it themselves.'
+
+'Hark ye, cousin! I am very near wishing that you had been in reality
+as stupid a nonentity as we were given to understand you were.'
+
+'What if you should be taken at your word? You may get your wish more
+easily than you imagine; by this day week the transformation may have
+been brought about; see if you don't wish me back again then.'
+
+Her father took my arm, and proposed adjourning to the garden with our
+cigars. I had nearly fled the field at this invitation, so much did I
+dread a _tete-a-tete_ with him; nothing on earth could have detained me
+but the expected secret meeting with Jette, whose good genius I was to
+be. I felt that I could almost rather have faced his Satanic Majesty
+himself at that moment, had the choice between the two companions been
+mine; but what was I to do? There was nothing for it but to accompany
+my host quietly.
+
+'Listen, my son,' said the old gentleman, when we had exhausted our
+first cigars; 'I cannot say I am much pleased at your having brought
+that Mr. Holm back with you. He is a very respectable young man, but
+... Why should we encumber ourselves with him?... To speak out, you
+should have been the last person to have brought _him_ to this house.'
+
+'_I!_ How so? I really had planned to make him one of my most intimate
+friends. Hanne said so much in his favour.'
+
+'Hanne does not care a straw for him--she is only a child.'
+
+'A child! and on the 12th of November she will be seventeen years old!
+No, no, uncle, girls give up thinking themselves children when they
+arrive at ten years of age.'
+
+'But I tell you, Hanne does not care in the least for him; nor does he
+for her.'
+
+'Very well, uncle, so much the better, for there is no sort of danger
+then in his coming here.'
+
+'Danger! Oh! I don't look upon him as at all dangerous; but I can't
+bear to see him looking so woe-begone.'
+
+'I shall soon enliven him. Only leave him to me, and you will see that
+he shall become quite gay. I will take him in hand if he can come here
+every day.'
+
+'Confound the fellow! I must just tell you plainly out then--he is a
+great admirer of Jette. Do you understand me now?'
+
+'May I ask how you know that, sir?'
+
+'How I know that?... Well ... No matter how. Suffice it to say, I know
+it. Jette cannot endure him, that I know also; but his sighs might make
+some impression on her, so it were better that he kept entirely away.
+Besides, if he gets no encouragement, his fancy will wear out. Don't
+you agree with me that he had better not come here?'
+
+'I can't call it a sin to be in love with Jette, for I am so myself;
+she is a girl that it would be impossible not to admire. If we were to
+drive away every one who was guilty of admiring her, we should be
+compelled at last to live as hermits.'
+
+'What the devil, nephew! Do _you_ say all this--you, who are to be her
+future husband?'
+
+'One must be somewhat liberal, uncle--one must seem not to observe
+everything. Suspicion does a great deal of harm, and jealousy would
+only encourage the evil. Jette shall find me as gentle as a lamb.
+Besides, you have assured me that she cannot endure him.'
+
+'Well!... Perhaps she does not exactly hate him ... she has no
+particular fault to find with him ... but he embarrasses her ... he
+embarrasses her ... and when a person embarrasses one ...' The good man
+had got into a dilemma, and he was not able to get out of it; so he
+stopped short.
+
+'Oh! that will pass off when she accustoms herself to see him. It is a
+great misfortune to let oneself be embarrassed by the presence of
+others; really, after a time this would lead one to become a
+misanthrope--a hater of one's species.'
+
+The Justitsraad looked at me with astonishment, while he replied:
+
+'I wish you had not gone on your travels; I fear your morality has
+suffered not a little in consequence. I hardly knew you again, you are
+so much changed. You are not like the same being who, eleven years ago,
+was such a quiet, bashful boy. And your father, who constantly wrote
+that you were not the least altered, he must scarcely recognize you
+himself.'
+
+'That is very probable, uncle, for I hardly know myself again. But
+travelling abroad is sure always to make some little change in people.'
+
+'It must have been Berlin that has done the mischief, and made such a
+transformation in you; for the letters your father sent me, which you
+had written from Vienna, did not in the slightest degree lead me to
+imagine that you had become such a hair-brained, thoughtless fellow.'
+
+'True enough it is that I am thoughtless and hair-brained, but, believe
+me, I have never been guilty of any deliberate wrong. I know I am too
+often carried away by the impulse of the moment, and too often forget
+what may be the consequences.'
+
+'One must make some allowance for youth,' replied the old gentleman.
+'So it was at Berlin you studied folly in all its branches--Berlin,
+which I had always believed to be a most correct and exemplary city,
+whither one might send a young man without the least risk! Well, well!
+let us consign to oblivion all the pranks you must have played to have
+been metamorphosed from a milksop to a madcap. We must all sow our wild
+oats some time or other, and I hope you have sown yours, and are done
+with them.'
+
+'No, indeed, I fear not; on the contrary, I feel that I am in the midst
+of that period; but I promise you that it shall soon be over, and that
+then nothing shall tempt me to such follies. As to youthful imprudence,
+if it be not carried too far, I shall rely upon your indulgence. Will
+you not wink a little at it, and let your kind, generous heart plead
+for me when your reason might condemn me?'
+
+'You are a queer fellow, nephew, and a wild one, I fear; but it is not
+possible to be angry with you.'
+
+'Would to Heaven that you may always be inclined to entertain such
+friendly feelings towards me!' I replied, as I pressed his hand. There
+was good reason for my bespeaking his indulgence; it would be amply
+required the very next day.
+
+I skilfully managed to bring the subject back to Gustav Holm, and soon
+perceived that he had really nothing to say against him. Holm's
+position was good in all respects, and the old gentleman would have
+considered him a very good match for one of his daughters, if he had
+not had another project in his head. But he had set his heart so
+entirely on the family alliance, that he could not admit the idea of
+any other. In eleven years there had been time for it to become deeply
+rooted in his mind.
+
+When we sought the rest of the party, we found them all standing round
+the swing. Hanne was busy attaching a piece of paper to one of the
+poles.
+
+'What are you doing there, child?' asked her father.
+
+'It is Carl's name which I am putting on the gallows, as a
+well-deserved punishment for all the follies of which he has been
+guilty in word and deed to-day,' she replied, continuing her
+employment. 'Only think, he disgraced my swing by pretending to mistake
+it for a gallows. So there stands his name; and there it shall stand,
+to his eternal shame and reproach, and in ridicule of him when he is
+gone. We must have something to recall him to our recollection.'
+
+'Nemesis,' thought I, 'already!' I was as much moved inwardly, as the
+worthy emperor, Charles V., must have been when he witnessed his own
+funeral. Humph! no one likes jesting about such serious matters. Who
+knows in what it might end?
+
+We amused ourselves with swinging--we chattered nonsense, or discoursed
+gravely--we sauntered about, all together or in groups by turns. Hanne
+was the life of the party, and by degrees everyone seemed to partake of
+her gaiety. Even Jette talked more. I had seized on the unhappy lover,
+and held him fast by the arm, in the charitable intention of bringing
+him near his lady-love, without anyone's remarking his proximity to
+her; but the overcautious girl avoided us, and Gustav himself had not
+courage to begin a conversation on different subjects. I was quite
+distressed about them, poor things! 'We must try what can be done in
+the wood,' thought I; 'there are paths enough in it, the party will
+become more scattered, and I shall then be able to manage, perhaps, to
+get them into some secluded spot.' But our progress was arrested by a
+servant, who came to announce that some visitors had arrived.
+
+_Visitors!_ At that word my ears tingled as if all the blood in my
+body had rushed up into them. Visitors! I felt sure they would be
+betrayers--they would be persons who either knew me, or the real
+cousin, and then good-by to my _incognito_--good-by to the secret
+interview! What would become of it when I had to take to flight?
+
+'Visitors! How very tiresome,' exclaimed Hanne. The servant mentioned
+a name unknown to me; that, as it appeared, of a family in the
+neighbourhood. I was not acquainted with them--but the cousin, my other
+self ...
+
+'Visitors!' I exclaimed, in dismay. 'Do I know them? Will anybody have
+the great kindness to tell me if they are acquainted with me?'
+
+They all laughed, and assured me that I was not acquainted with them.
+It was a family who had only lately settled in the neighbourhood,
+having exchanged a property in Jutland for one in Zealand, and with
+whom they were themselves but slightly acquainted. I recovered my
+spirits, and we turned our steps back towards the house. Gustav seized
+the opportunity to make his escape, the Justitsraad made no effort to
+detain him, and I was too much occupied with my own affairs to trouble
+myself at that moment about those of other people. The poor dear
+Jutland family had made a most unseasonable visit.
+
+I thanked Heaven that I had never seen them before; and I cannot say
+that I should feel any regret at never beholding them more. They were a
+set of tiresome bores, who deprived me of the brightest afternoon of my
+life, and took the evening also; so that I had reason not to forget
+them in a hurry. My cousins had to amuse the silly daughters, the elder
+individuals on both sides discoursed together, and it fell to my share
+to entertain the son and his tutor. I looked a hundred times at my
+watch; I foretold that we were going to have thunder and lightning and
+rain in torrents--in short, I left no stone unturned to get rid of them
+early--but to no avail; I only reaped jeers and bantering from Hanne
+for my pains; and when at length they seemed themselves to think it
+expedient to go, she pressed them to stay longer, only to annoy me, and
+was mischievous enough to say, 'You surely will not refuse my cousin
+his first request to you,' thereby, as it were, making me pronounce my
+own doom. It was enough to put one into a rage.
+
+We went to supper with all due formality, and for the first time I
+remembered that it was my duty to offer my arm to Jette. She
+accompanied me like a lamb led to the sacrificial altar, and took the
+earliest opportunity of informing me that her headache had not yet left
+her. Headache is an absolute necessity for ladies; I do not know what
+they would do if no such thing as headache existed.
+
+It was not possible to utter a word which could not be overheard by the
+tutor, who sat on the other side of her; at length it occurred to me to
+engage him in a conversation with Hanne, and with some difficulty I
+managed to do this. But fate had no compassion on me that evening.
+Presently I heard my real name pronounced by the father of the family
+who were visiting us; I felt as much shocked and alarmed as if he had
+shouted '_Seize that thief!_' I had nearly dropped my fork.
+
+'He is a most respectable man, I can assure you; I recommend you to
+send all your corn to him; he is very fair in his dealings. I have
+known him for a long time.'
+
+It was of my father he was speaking.
+
+'I shall consider about it,' said the Justitsraad; 'I do not know the
+house myself. And he has a son, you say. Is the son a partner?'
+
+'It was intended that he should be,' said my personal enemy; 'but he is
+such a sad scamp that I think the father will hardly venture to take
+him into partnership. He played such foolish, wild pranks at home, that
+he was sent to Hamburg; but he did not go on a bit better there, as I
+have heard.'
+
+'I am sorry for the poor father,' said the Justitsraad.
+
+'A good character is valuable,' thought I. 'Here is the second time
+to-day that my name has been stigmatized. Now, both my person and
+my name are contraband at ---- Court. Cruel fate!' I became quite
+silent--willingly would I also have taken refuge in a headache; there
+was enough to give me one, at any rate; and I took leave in the coldest
+and most distant manner of the party who had prolonged their visit on
+my account.
+
+'Pray come and see us soon with your betrothed,' said the old wretch
+who had made so free with my town character.
+
+It was with difficulty that I kept my temper, and poor Jette seemed
+also to be on thorns.
+
+'What nice people they are!' exclaimed Hanne; 'the daughters have
+promised me to come here at least twice a week. But you were quite
+silent and stupid this evening, cousin.'
+
+'It was what you wished me to be in the morning,' I replied; 'I only
+conducted myself according to your desire.'
+
+'Let me always find you so obedient. Goodnight! To-morrow I shall
+command you to be gay again. That becomes you best, after all.' She
+held out her pretty little hand as a token of reconciliation.
+
+'And I beg of you to come into the grove to-morrow morning, after
+breakfast; I wish very much to have a little private conversation with
+you,' whispered Jette, almost in tears, as I kissed her hand. She could
+hardly bring herself to pronounce the words; I saw what a pang it cost
+her. A warm pressure of her hand was my only reply; she little knew how
+friendly my feelings were towards her.
+
+'So my adventures are not finished even with this day,' said I to
+myself as I opened a little of the window in my room; 'shall I make up
+my mind to this delay, or shall I take myself off at once! What! leave
+poor Jette in the lurch? Yet how can I help her? What is the use of my
+remaining longer here?--I shall but entangle myself still more deeply
+in a net of untruth, which will bring me into disgrace. Have I not had
+warnings enough--the gallows scene, my Hamburg reputation, and the many
+uneasy moments I have passed to-day? I am vexed and annoyed this
+evening; it will cost me less, therefore, perhaps, to recover my
+freedom tonight than to-morrow night; another day with Hanne will only
+make me feel the separation still more acutely. Then, in case of a
+discovery, how shall I excuse this prolonged mystification? By
+confessing my love for Hanne?--a pretty apology, to be sure! But am I
+_really_ in love with her? _I_ in love! and if I were, what would be
+the result? Is it at all likely that the Justitsraad would give his
+daughter to an impertinent puppy, who had made her acquaintance first
+by such an unwarrantable trick--to a "sad scamp" who had only made
+himself remarkable by his wild pranks? Or--shall I climb up yon tree,
+perch myself like a singing-bird before Jette's window, make my
+confession to her, and then start on my pedestrian journey? Or--shall I
+go to bed, and let to-morrow take care of itself? I will consult my
+buttons--I will try my fate by them. Let me see: I will ... I will not
+... I will ... I will go to bed. ... Aha! I am to go to bed--chance has
+so decided it for me. But to go to bed in love! that such a catastrophe
+should happen to me! I had thought it was quite foreign to my nature;
+however, here I am, up to my ears in love. Ah! why was that little
+fairy, Hanne, so bewitching? why were the whole family so frank and
+pleasant? It was all their own fault; they forced the cousinship
+upon me. Heaven knows I came to them quite innocent of nefarious
+designs--fast asleep and snoring--perfectly honourable.... _Apropos_ of
+honour, let me close the window; what Gustav and Jette have to talk
+about is nothing to me--it would be very indelicate to play the
+listener--wounding to my better feelings. My better feelings! I can't
+help laughing at the idea of _my_ being inconvenienced by any symptoms
+of honourable, or delicate, or _better_ feelings. It is my cursed
+levity and folly that lead me astray; after all, there _are_ honesty
+and uprightness in me, _au fond_, and my heart is in its right place. I
+will no longer be the slave of caprice and impulse. I will be something
+better than a mere madcap; and here, even here, they shall learn to
+speak of me with respect.... Ah! it will be a confounded long time,
+however, before I can teach them that ... and ... in the meantime, I
+positively am in love.'
+
+Having arrived at this conclusion, I betook myself to my couch, and
+closed my eyes, at the same time burying my ears in my pillows, not to
+overhear any portion of the discourse which was to be carried on about
+one o'clock in the morning, on the outside of my window, and also the
+sooner to dream of Hanne. I succeeded in both, for I heard or saw
+nothing whatsoever of the two unfortunate lovers, and I dreamed of
+Hanne the livelong night. The morning was far advanced, when Thomas
+thrust his head into my room, and rated me for being as heavy a
+slumberer as one of the seven sleepers;--the little wretch! I was at
+that moment swinging with Hanne, and would have given the wealth of the
+East India Company to have been permitted to end my dream undisturbed.
+
+When I entered the breakfast-room they were all at table. Jette looked
+very pale, but she allowed that her headache was better, though she
+said she still felt far from well. Hanne and her father teased me
+unmercifully about the visitors of the day before, who had put me so
+much out of humour, and about my predictions of a thunderstorm
+wherewith I endeavoured to drive them away. 'But you are quite an
+ignoramus in regard to the weather, cousin; that I perceived,' said
+Hanne, 'I shall present you with a barometer on your birthday, so that
+you may not make such mistakes again as that of yesterday evening.
+Which is the important day?'
+
+'It is quite old-fashioned to keep birthdays, Hanne; that custom has
+been long since exploded,' said I, 'and therefore I am not going to
+tell you.'
+
+'But we are very old-fashioned here, and you will be expected to do as
+we do in respect to keeping birthdays. First, let me refresh your
+memory. When is my birthday?'
+
+'On the 12th of November you will be seventeen years of age.'
+
+'Right. And Jette's? How old will she be her next birthday?'
+
+It was a trying examination, but it was well deserved; why had I not
+taken myself off the night before, when I could so well have made my
+escape?
+
+'Come, begin; tell us Jette's birthday, and my father's, and my
+mother's? Let us have them all at once. Now we shall see whether you
+are skilled in your almanac.'
+
+'Are you seriously bent on this examination? Do you fancy I have
+forgotten one of them?' I asked, in an offended tone. 'I will not
+answer such questions.'
+
+This was one way of escaping. When do people most easily take offence?
+Answer: When they are in the wrong.
+
+'I see how it is,' said Hanne; 'as it annoys you to be asked if you are
+betrothed, it probably annoys you to be expected to remember the
+birthday of her to whom you are engaged. Only think,' she added,
+addressing the rest of the party, 'he does not wear his betrothal-ring,
+because he does not like answering any question to which his having it
+on his finger might give rise. As if it were a question of conscience.'
+
+'So it may be, sometimes,' I replied. 'But since questioning is the
+order of the day, I beg to ask why _you_ wear that little ring on your
+finger?'
+
+'I never gratify impertinent curiosity,' said the little devil,
+colouring up to the very roots of her hair. She seemed very much vexed,
+and turned angrily away.
+
+'Now--now--children! can you never agree?' said the Justitsraad. 'You
+two will be getting into quarrels every moment, that I foresee; you
+resemble each other too much; it is from the absolute similarity
+between you that you cannot be in peace.'
+
+'You flatter me very much, uncle,' said I; 'would that it were really
+so.'
+
+'I say nothing of the kind,' cried Hanne; 'I beg to decline the
+compliment. Gentlemen full of whims are my aversion. But, happily for
+both of us, you are not engaged to me. Jette is much too good--she will
+put up with your bad habits.'
+
+Jette smiled kindly to her, and that seemed immediately to appease her
+wrath. She ran to her sister, kissed her, and said, 'For your sake I
+will bear with him; but believe me, you will not make an endurable
+husband of him if you do not begin in time to drive his caprices out of
+him. He should be accustomed to do as he is bid, and answer the
+questions that are put to him.'
+
+Both Jette and myself turned our faces away to conceal our confusion.
+Hanne held out her hand to me. 'Do you repent of your sins?'
+
+'With my whole heart.'
+
+'Will you beg pardon, and promise henceforth to be better?'
+
+'Yes. I confess that I am a great sinner, but I humbly beg pardon, and
+will try to do better for the future.' So saying, I pressed a long,
+long kiss on her hand; I could hardly get my lips away from it.
+
+'So--that is enough. Now go and beg Jette's pardon, because you have
+been naughty in her presence; and,' she added, 'kiss her hand
+prettily.'
+
+I did so.
+
+'Very well. But I don't think you have ever kissed her as your
+betrothed yet. Let me see you go through that ceremony, properly too.'
+
+Poor Jette became crimson at this challenge, which did not in the least
+embarrass me.
+
+I felt that it was going a little too far, but what could I do? Dear
+reader! I was compelled to kiss the young lady--do not judge of me too
+severely because I did it. But I obeyed the command in as formal a
+manner as possible; it was scarcely a kiss, yet it burned on my lips
+like fire; as to how it burned my conscience--well, I will say nothing
+of that.
+
+'He is really quite timid,' exclaimed Hanne, who stood by with her
+hands folded, watching the performance of her command; 'I did not
+expect such an assured young gentleman to be so ceremonious; one would
+think it were his first essay!'
+
+'And peace being now restored and sealed,' said the Justitsraad, 'I
+hope it will be a Christian, a universal, and an eternal peace, both
+for the present and the future; that is to say, at least till you fall
+out again. And in order that such may not be the case for a few hours,
+we will leave the ladies, nephew, and pay a visit to the new horse I
+bought the other day. We shall see if you are as good a judge of horses
+as you are of the Hamburg theatricals.'
+
+'You really should give poor Carl some peace,' said my considerate
+aunt; 'you will make him quite tired of us all. One insists
+upon catechizing him as to dates, another as to his veterinary
+knowledge--there is only wanting that I should attack him about
+culinary lore. You shall not be so plagued by them, Carl: as to the
+horse it was my husband's own choosing; and if you should not instantly
+discover, by looking at its teeth, that it is young and handsome, and
+has every possible good quality, you will be called an ignoramus.'
+
+'Any how he may be called that,' said Hanne; 'but I forgot, peace has
+been proclaimed, so let my words be considered as unspoken.'
+
+
+                               PART III.
+
+About an hour before luncheon I stole away into the wood to wait for
+Jette, and it was with a beating heart I listened for any approaching
+footsteps; had I not kissed her, I should have felt easier in my own
+mind. Ought I now to confess to her the impositions of which I had been
+guilty? Perhaps it would be better to do so ... But the kiss ... would
+she forgive that?
+
+I discerned her white dress a good way off, and I almost felt inclined
+to hide myself, and let her take the trouble of finding me; but again I
+bethought me that it was not the part of the cavalier to be shamefaced
+in a secret assignation. I therefore went forward to meet her. As soon
+as she caught a glimpse of me, she stopped, and suddenly changed
+colour. The poor girl--how sorry I was for her! She could not utter one
+word. I led her to a rural seat near.
+
+'Cousin,' at length she said, 'it must doubtless surprise you, and
+naturally so too, that I should in such a secret manner have requested
+an interview with you. If you could conceive how painful this moment is
+to me, I am sure you would compassionate me.'
+
+'My dear young lady, I owe you an explanation, and I thank you for
+having given me an opportunity ...'
+
+'Dear cousin, be not offended with me--do not speak to me in that
+distant and ceremonious manner--it makes the step more painful which I
+am about to take, and which cannot be longer delayed. It is I who owe
+you an explanation--alas! an explanation that will deprive me of your
+esteem and your friendship. I am very unhappy.'
+
+'Do not weep so, dear cousin; you cannot imagine how it grieves me to
+see you so miserable. Believe me, I have your happiness sincerely at
+heart. You little know what delight it would give me if I were able to
+say to myself that I had contributed to it.'
+
+The double signification which my words might bear drew forth more
+tears. Jette cried, without making any reply.
+
+'There is comfort for every affliction,' I continued. 'God has
+mercifully placed the antidote alongside of the poisonous plant. Tell
+me, at least, what distresses you--let me at least endeavour to console
+you, even if I cannot assist you, and do not doubt my good will, though
+my power may be but limited.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake, Carl, do not speak so kindly to me,' cried Jette,
+with some impetuosity. 'Do not speak thus--I have not deserved it. If
+you would be compassionate, say that you hate me--that you abhor me.'
+
+'And if I said so, I should only deceive you. No, Jette, my
+complaisance cannot go so far.'
+
+'You would hate me--you would despise me!' she exclaimed, sobbing, 'if
+you only knew ... oh! I shall never be able to tell ... if you only
+knew ... how unfortunate I am ... how I ...'
+
+'Dear Jette,' said I, in some agitation, 'you have come to enter into
+an explanation with me; allow me to assist your confession, and help to
+lighten the burden which weighs so heavily on your heart. You have
+come, I know, to break off with me.'
+
+'_You know!_' she exclaimed, in consternation. And she seemed as if she
+were going to faint. 'Take pity on me, Carl; leave me for a few
+minutes; I dare not look you in the face.'
+
+She buried her own face in her pocket-handkerchief, and wept bitterly.
+I kissed her hand, and left her.
+
+Very much out of spirits myself, I wandered to and fro under the trees.
+
+'How is all this to end?' said I to myself; 'the poor girl will fret
+herself to death if she cannot have her Gustav, and get rid of her
+cousin. Gustav is a fine fellow, and a very good match; even the father
+allows that. The cousin must be an idiot to let himself be betrothed by
+his father's orders to a girl he knows nothing about--and a tiresome
+one too, according to what is reported of him. Jette is a girl with a
+great deal of feeling--but he must be a clod with none; he can't care
+in the least for her, or he would have been here long ere this. He
+shall not have her. What, if I were to advise them to run away an hour
+or two before I take myself off? or, suppose we were all three to elope
+together? Nonsense! How can I think of such folly? Poor girl! it would
+melt a heart of stone to see her crying there. What if I were to stay
+and play the cousin a little longer--formally renounce her hand--give
+her up to Gustav? I should like to act such a magnanimous part ... and
+when it was all well over, and the real cousin arrived, to let him find
+that he had come on a fool's errand, and go back to nurse his cold ...
+or, it might be better to drop him a line by the post to save a scene?
+I'll do it. By Jove! I'll do it! The god of love himself must have sent
+me here; no man in the wide world could do the thing better than
+myself. But what right have I to decide thus the fate of another man--a
+man whom I have never even beheld? Right! It is time to talk about
+_right_, forsooth, after I have been doing nothing but wrong for
+thirty-six hours. No, no, let conscience stand to one side, for the
+present at least; it has no business in this affair. I have acted most
+unwarrantably, I know, but I will make up for my misdeeds by one good
+deed--one blessing will I take with me; and when I am gone, two happy
+persons at least will remember me kindly, and Hanne will be less harsh
+in her judgment of my conduct, since it will have brought about her
+sister's happiness. Let me set my shoulders to the wheel--there is no
+time to lose. No, they shall not all execrate me.'
+
+Jette was still sitting on the bench where I had left her. I placed
+myself beside her, and tried to reassure her.
+
+'I said I owed you some explanation; allow me in a few words to tell
+you all you wish to communicate. You do not care for me--you love
+Gustav Holm--you will be wretched if you cannot find some good pretext
+for breaking off the match with me--you have many reasons to love him,
+none to love me--you want to let me know how the matter stands, and to
+give me a basket,[4] but to do it in so amicable a manner, that you
+hope I will accept it quietly like a good Christian, and not make too
+much fuss about it. All this is what you would have told me sooner or
+later. Am I not right, Jette? or is there more you would have entrusted
+to me?'
+
+She hid her face with her hands.
+
+'My window was partly open the other night,' I added. 'I overheard your
+conversation with Gustav Holm, and I knew immediately, of course, what
+I had to expect. You will believe, I hope, that I have sufficient
+feeling not to wish to force myself upon one who cannot care for me.
+Forgive me that I have caused you any uneasiness; it was against my own
+will. I would much rather have convinced you sooner that you have no
+enemy in me, but, on the contrary, a sincere friend.'
+
+'Dearest, best Carl! Noblest of men! You restore me to freedom--you
+restore me to life! The Almighty has heard my prayers! You do not know
+how earnestly I have prayed that you might find me detestable.'
+
+'Therein your prayers have not been heard, Jette,' said I. 'If you
+could have loved me, I could not have wished a better fate. I love you
+and Hanne much more than you think.' I felt that every word I had just
+spoken was positive truth. Jette wrung my hand.
+
+'You have removed a mountain from my heart,' she replied. 'Would that I
+could thank you as you deserve!'
+
+I was quite ashamed of all the thanks she poured out, and all the
+gratitude she expressed. It is an unspeakable pleasure to promote the
+happiness of one's fellow-creatures; it is an agreeable feeling which I
+would not exchange for any other.
+
+When the first burst of joy was over, Jette consulted with me how it
+would be best to break the matter to her father. I told her of his good
+opinion of Gustav, and built upon it the brightest hopes.
+
+Jette shook her head. 'He will insist that I shall keep my promise,'
+said she, mournfully. 'He will not relinquish a plan which he has
+cherished for so many years. How dreadful it is for me to disappoint
+him!'
+
+'Very well, take me.'
+
+'Oh! do not jest with me, dear Carl. My only dependence is on you.'
+
+'I shall take my departure immediately, and leave a letter renouncing
+my engagement to you. That will go far to help you.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake, stay! You are the only one who can speak to him,'
+said she. 'You have already acquired much influence over him.'
+
+'Then let us proceed at once to the _eclaircissement_. I shall tell him
+that I have discovered that your heart belongs to Gustav Holm, not to
+me; and that I cannot accept any woman's hand unless her heart
+accompanies it.'
+
+'Oh! what a terrible moment it will be when that is said! I tremble at
+the very idea of it. You do not know what he can be when his anger is
+thoroughly roused.'
+
+'Then would you prefer to elope with Gustav? Like a loyal cousin, I
+will assist you in your escape.'
+
+'That would enrage him still more; he has always been so kind and
+gentle to me.'
+
+'I wish we had Gustav here, that something might be determined on.
+These anticipated terrible moments are never so dreadful in reality as
+in expectation; you have had a proof of this in the one you have just
+gone through.'
+
+'Gustav will be here soon; he knows that I had requested this private
+conversation with you ... he will meet me here in the wood ... he will
+come when--when....' She stopped, and blushed deeply.
+
+'He will come when I am gone,' I said, laughing. 'That was very
+sensibly arranged, but the arrangement must be annulled nevertheless,
+and he must make the effort of showing himself while I am here. I dare
+say he is not many miles off--perhaps within hail. Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm!'
+I roared at the top of my voice. 'He knows my manner of inviting him,
+and you will see that he will speedily present himself. Good morning,
+Mr. Holm!' I added.
+
+'For God's sake do not shout so loudly, you will be overheard,' said
+Jette. 'Oh! how will all this end?'
+
+'Uncommonly well,' thought I. 'Here comes the lover.'
+
+Gustav came, almost rushing up; his countenance and manner expressed
+what was passing in his mind, namely, uncertainty whether he was to
+look on me as a friend or a foe.
+
+'Gustav--Carl!...' exclaimed Jette, sinking back on the bench. She
+found it impossible to command her voice; but her eyes, which dwelt
+with affection on us both, filled up the pause, and expressed what
+words would not.
+
+I took his hand and led him up to Jette. He knelt at her feet, she
+threw her arms round his neck, while I bent over them, and beheld my
+work with sincere satisfaction. There was a rustling in the bushes, and
+Hanne and her father stood suddenly before us! The lovers did not
+observe them, although I did my utmost by signs to rouse their
+attention.
+
+'What the devil is all this?' exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a voice of
+thunder. 'What does this mean? Carl, what are you doing?'
+
+'I am bestowing my cousinly benediction and full absolution and
+remission of sins, as you ought to do, my worthy uncle,' I replied, as
+cheerfully as I possibly could. It was necessary to appear to keep up
+one's courage. Gustav rose hastily, and Jette threw herself into her
+sister's arms.
+
+'My dear sir!' said Gustav, imploringly.
+
+'Mr. Holm!' cried the Justitsraad, drawing himself up.
+
+'Dear uncle!' I exclaimed, interrupting them both, 'allow me to speak.
+Gustav adores Jette, and she returns his love. There can be no more
+question about me; I am her cousin, and nothing either more or less. I
+am not such an idiot as to wish to force a woman to be my wife whose
+heart is given to another. I have dissolved the engagement between
+Jette and myself, deliberately, and after due reflection. I _could_ not
+make her happy, and I _will not_ make her unhappy. There stands the
+bridegroom, who only awaits your blessing. Give it, dear uncle, and let
+this day become the happiest of my life, for it is the first time I
+ever had an opportunity of doing good.'
+
+'Heavens and earth! a pretty piece of work, indeed!' The Justitsraad
+was as blustering as a German, and would on no account allow himself to
+hear reason. A great deal of his anger was naturally directed against
+me. I tried to smooth matters down. Jette wept and sobbed. It was a
+hundred to one against us. 'I shall write to your father this very
+day,' he said, at length; 'he only can absolve me from my vow; but that
+he will not do--that he certainly will not do on any account. This
+marriage has been his greatest wish, for I do not know how many years,
+as well as mine.'
+
+'But he will be obliged to do it,' said I; 'this very afternoon I shall
+take my departure, and you shall never hear of me more. My father's
+power over me by no means extends so far as you seem to fancy. I will
+not make Jette miserable, merely to indulge his whims. Dear uncle, let
+me persuade you to believe that your contract is null and void: give
+your blessing to Gustav and Jette, and leave me to settle the matter
+with my father. Feelings cannot be forced. Jette does not care for me,
+and you ought not, in this affair, to be less liberal than I am.'
+
+'Liberal--liberal indeed! He is always prating about such folly,'
+exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a rage. 'It is that abominable Berlin
+liberality that has entirely ruined him.'
+
+Berlin liberality! It was the first time I had ever heard _that_
+bewailed. But what absurd things do people not stumble upon when they
+are angry, and speak without reflection.
+
+'Well, it was Berlin that ruined me, according to my uncle, and so
+utterly ruined me ... that I am betrothed in Berlin, and cannot be
+betrothed again. It is against the law both here and in Prussia to have
+two wives.'
+
+This was an inspiration prompted by the exigency of the occasion; what
+did one untruth more or less signify? I was a Jesuit at that moment,
+and excused myself with Loyola's doctrine--that the motive sanctifies
+the means.
+
+'Betrothed!' exclaimed the Justitsraad--'betrothed in Berlin! Make a
+fool of me! Hark ye, Carl ...'
+
+'Betrothed!' interrupted Hanne. 'Upon my word, you are a fine fellow,
+cousin. That is the reason he does not wear Jette's betrothal-ring. And
+I to be standing here admiring his magnanimity!'
+
+Jette silently held out her hand to me from one side, Gustav from the
+other; these were well-meant congratulations.
+
+'Yes, betrothed,' I continued. 'Abuse me at your will, hate me, curse
+me, say and do what you please, but betrothed I am, and betrothed I
+must remain.'
+
+This was a settler. The wrath of the Justitsraad cooled by degrees;
+that really kind-hearted man could not withstand so many anxious looks
+and earnest prayers; and fear of all the gossip and ridicule to which
+his holding out longer under the circumstances might give rise, also
+had effect upon him.
+
+'You are a sad scapegrace, Carl,' he said, 'and Jette may be thankful
+she is not to have you for her husband; but she shall not be left in
+the lurch on account of your foolish freaks.' He took her hand and
+placed it in Gustav's, saying, 'You must make up to me for the failure
+of those hopes which I have cherished through so many years. But,' he
+added, with a sigh, 'what will my brother say when he hears this
+history?'
+
+Jette cast herself upon his neck; she almost fainted in his arms; the
+rest of us surrounded him. There was no end to embraces and thanks.
+
+'And now let us hasten to my mother,' said Hanne; 'the revolution shall
+end there. I would not be in your place, cousin, for any money; you
+will be soundly rated.'
+
+'You shall be my advocate, Hanne, and shall defend my case; it is only
+under your protection that I dare appear before my aunt. Take me under
+your wing--I positively will not leave you.'
+
+I slipped my arm round her waist, and I think, if I remember aright, I
+was going to kiss her.
+
+'Hands off, Mr. Cousin! Now that you are not to be my brother-in-law
+you must not make so free. Remember your intended in Berlin.'
+
+Alas! to help others I had injured myself. Hanne, her father, and I
+walked on first, the lovers followed us a little way behind. As we came
+along we met some of the peasantry on the estate going to their work.
+
+'Hollo! good people!' cried I to them, 'this evening we must be all
+merry, and drink your master's good health, and dance on Miss Jette's
+betrothal-day. Hurrah for Miss Jette and Mr. Holm!'
+
+'Hurrah!' cried the people. And the declaration was made.
+
+'Be quiet, you good-for-nothing!' cried the Justitsraad, 'and don't
+turn everything topsy-turvy in a place that does not belong to you. A
+feast, forsooth--drink my health, indeed! It is easy for you to be
+generous at another's man's expense. I declare the fellow is determined
+to take the whip-hand of us all.'
+
+My aunt heard the noise, and came out on the steps to ask what was the
+matter. I crept behind Hanne and hid myself.
+
+'A complete revolution, my dear, which that precious fellow Carl has
+brought about. When the luncheon-bell had rung for some time in vain,
+without their making their appearance, Hanne and I went to look for
+Jette and Carl in the wood; I expected to have found him at Jette's
+feet; but instead of him there lay another, and he was actually busying
+himself in making up a match between them. Truly, it is an edifying
+story. Come in, and I will tell you all about it, and you will see to
+what purpose he has travelled. He has betrothed himself in Berlin,
+fancy--and very probably in Hamburg, in Paris, in Vienna, wherever he
+may have been. He is a fine fellow! A pretty viper we were nourishing
+in our hearts!'
+
+My aunt was easily reconciled to the course of events, and she gave the
+young couple her maternal blessing. But it was me whom they all wanted
+for a son-in-law and a brother-in-law. It was very flattering to be
+such a favourite; however, as I was not to be had, they received Gustav
+(for whom they had a great regard) with open arms. We all became as
+sprightly as a parcel of children, and I would have been very happy had
+not the many affectionate good wishes for the future welfare of myself
+and my unknown _fiancee_ in Berlin fallen like burning drops of molten
+lead on my soul, and had I not had constantly before me the remembrance
+that I must soon leave this pleasant circle, and for ever! My
+proposition to spend that day entirely by ourselves was agreed to, and
+orders were given to admit no visitors.
+
+'Let me but live this day undisturbed to the end,' thought I, 'and I
+shall demand nothing more from Fortune, which has hitherto been so kind
+to me.' It was a day, the like of which I have never spent. You will,
+perhaps, think it strange, dear reader, that my conscience should be so
+much at ease; but I must frankly confess that the good action I had
+accomplished, and the happiness I had bestowed, had entirely had the
+effect of quieting that internal monitor. Jette was right when she said
+that I had already obtained some influence over her father; for I can
+positively assert that my sudden and public announcement of the state
+of affairs had been taken in good part. I was all activity and
+excitement; and my exuberant mirth, which was almost without bounds,
+did not permit a serious word, scarcely a serious thought. I obliged
+them all to exert themselves, and fly about in order to make
+preparations for a little dance in a round summer-house at one end of
+the garden: the Justitsraad had to send to the village for two
+fiddlers; his wife had to give out sheets and curtains to make hangings
+for the walls; the young ladies wove garlands; Gustav and I
+manufactured chandeliers out of barrel-hoops and vegetables. Everybody
+was set to work, and before the evening the prettiest little ball-room
+that could be was arranged; and the people on the estate declared they
+had never seen anything so splendid before; 'but, to be sure, there had
+never been a betrothal feast in the family before.'
+
+'You are a clever fellow, Carl,' said the Justitsraad; 'you have got
+this up so prettily and so well, that one might almost give a real
+ball. Were it not that I should have my wife and children up in arms
+against me, I really fancy I should like a dance. But there would be
+too many difficulties in the way.'
+
+Hanne flew up to her father, and hugged him in her joy; he was taken at
+his word, and nothing else was talked of but the ball, which in the
+course of eight days was to be given to celebrate Jette's betrothal.
+
+'We will set about writing the invitations at once,' said Hanne; 'there
+is an hour or more yet before the people are to begin to dance, and we
+have nothing to do. Let us fetch pen, ink, and paper; I will dictate,
+and Carl shall write; it will be done directly, almost, and early
+to-morrow morning we shall send off the invitations. So, all the
+difficulties are overcome. Now, cousin, mend your pen; you write a good
+hand,' said Hanne.
+
+'Write! No, that I won't,' thought I. 'I shall take good care not to
+betray myself by that.'
+
+'Gustav can write what you want; I have hurt my hand,' said I, looking
+round; but Gustav and Jette had both disappeared.
+
+'How? Let me see,' said Hanne. 'It is not true. Gustav and Jette have
+gone into the garden; we must let them alone; so you shall come, and
+you may as well do it at once.'
+
+'But I have really hurt my finger, Hanne; it is extremely painful. I
+shall not be able to make the most wretched pothooks--my finger is
+quite swollen.'
+
+'Or rather you are extremely lazy, and won't take the trouble,' said
+Hanne. 'But at least you shall help me to write a list of the people to
+be invited, before I forget half of them; I have got them all in my
+head just now, and your pothooks are good enough for that. Begin now!
+Put down first our neighbours who were here yesterday. Kammerraad[5]
+Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the tutor. Have
+you got them down?' Hanne looked over my shoulder at the paper. 'But
+what in the world stands there?' she asked.
+
+'Kammerraad Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the
+tutor,' I replied. 'These are Greek characters, Hanne; I can write
+nothing but Greek with this finger.'
+
+'But I can't read Greek, you refractory monster!' cried Hanne,
+dolefully.
+
+'You must learn it, then, Hanne. Task for task; if you force me to
+write the list, I will force you to read Greek.'
+
+'That's right, my boy!' exclaimed the Justitsraad, laughing heartily.
+'If one gives the girls an inch, they are sure to take an ell; they
+would take the command of us altogether, if they could.'
+
+After a great deal of joking and foolery, we accomplished making out
+the list, and the last name given was that of my good uncle, the worthy
+pastor, whom it was my purpose to visit, and whose guest I would be
+before the sun rose on the following day.
+
+'Do you know him, too?' I asked, with a feeling of mingled surprise and
+annoyance.
+
+'He confirmed both Jette and me,' said Hanne; 'he is an excellent man,
+therefore I kept him to the last. You can hardly imagine how much we
+are all attached to him. If ever I marry, he shall perform the
+ceremony, I think you must remember him; at least, you saw him in this
+house more than once when you were here as a child.'
+
+'Very true. I think I recollect him; he is a tall, old man, with a
+hooked nose. Yes, I remember him distinctly.'
+
+This time, at least, I had no need to help myself out with lies! In a
+situation such as mine, one seizes with avidity every opportunity to
+speak truth; it is so very refreshing when one is up to the ears in
+untruth.
+
+Our chandeliers answered their purpose exceedingly well: the fiddlers
+scraped loudly and merrily, and the floor shook under the powerful
+springs and somewhat weighty footing of the country swains and damsels
+who were dancing in honour of Miss Jette's betrothal. I had taken a
+turn in the waltz with each of the village belles, and danced that
+furious _Fangedands_ with Hanne--a dance that one must have seen the
+peasantry execute, in order to form an idea how violent it is. Glee and
+good-humour reigned around, and even the Justitsraad entered heartily
+into the joyous spirit which seemed to prevail. And, although from time
+to time, he whispered to me, 'I ought to be very angry at you--you have
+played me a pretty trick,' yet he was not in the slightest degree
+angry; on the contrary, he submitted with an extremely good grace to
+what he could not help. But I--I who had been the originator and cause
+of all this gaiety and gladness--I felt only profound melancholy, and
+stole away to indulge in it amidst the most lonely walks of the garden,
+or in the wood beyond. The hour of my departure was drawing rapidly
+near.
+
+Perhaps you may imagine, dear reader, that it would be impossible for
+me to be sad or serious. Could you have beheld me wandering about the
+grounds alone, that September evening, when every one else was dancing,
+you would have found that you were mistaken in your opinion of me. I
+ascended the sloping hill, on which stands Hanne's favourite swing. By
+day the view from thence is beautiful; and even at night it is a place
+not to be despised. The garden, stretching out darkly immediately
+beneath, looked like an impenetrable wood. The moon was in its first
+quarter, and therefore shed but a faint uncertain light over objects at
+a little distance, while its trembling rays fell more brightly on the
+far-off waves of the Baltic Sea, making them appear nearer than they
+really were. On the right, the walls and chimneys of the dwelling-house
+gleamed through the openings of the trees; on the left, light blazed
+from the illuminated summer-house, whence came the sound of a hundred
+feet, tramping in time to the overpowered music. All else was as still
+around me as it generally is in the evening in the country, where the
+occasional bark of some distant dog, with its echo resounding from the
+wood, is the only sign of life. Behind me lay the pretty grove; and
+above my head stood the swing, on one of whose tall supporters my name
+was fastened in derision.
+
+Had you seen how carefully I detached the piece of paper from the wood,
+and placing myself in the swing where I had sat with Hanne, allowed
+myself to rock gently backwards and forwards, while I gazed on the
+strange name that had become dearer to me than my own, because _she_
+had pronounced it and written it, you would have perceived that I also
+could have my sad and serious moments. But people of my temperament
+seek to avoid observation when a fit of blue-devils seizes them, and
+only go forth among their fellow-beings when the fit has subsided.
+
+Jette and Gustav took me by surprise. They had passed in silence
+through the garden, and arm-in-arm they had as silently ascended the
+little eminence.
+
+'What, you here! in solitude, and so serious, dear cousin?' said Jette;
+'you look quite out of spirits. Everyone connected with me should be
+happy on this my betrothal day, and I must reckon you among the nearest
+of those--you, whom I have to thank for my happiness. Come and take a
+share in the joy you have created; if I did not know better, I might be
+inclined to fancy that you are grieving over the irreparable loss you
+have had in me: you really do assume such a miserable countenance.'
+
+'Do not ridicule me, Jette; I have perhaps just lost more than I can
+ever be compensated for.'
+
+'It is well that a certain person in Berlin cannot overhear what
+politeness induces you to say in Zealand,' replied Jette. 'But a truce
+to compliments at present, they only cast a shade of doubt over your
+truthfulness: keep them for those who know less of your affairs than I
+do, and let us speak honestly to each other. In reality, you are glad
+not to become more nearly connected with us than you are already: you
+cannot deny that.'
+
+'Do you think so? And if that were far from the fact?--if, on the
+contrary, that were the cause of my melancholy--the knowledge of the
+impossibility of my being so--what would you say?'
+
+'I should be under the necessity of pitying you very much, poor
+fellow!' said Jette, laughing. 'But who would have thought that this
+morning?'
+
+'You may indeed pity me, Jette, for when I leave this place my heart
+and my thoughts will remain behind, with you--with all your dear
+family; and I must leave you soon.'
+
+'Soon! Are you going abroad again?' asked Gustav.
+
+'Two days after your arrival among us!' exclaimed Jette; 'no, no, we
+cannot agree to that.'
+
+'And yet it must be,' I said. 'I shall be gone, perhaps, sooner than
+you think. I have my own peculiar manner of coming and going, and ...'
+
+'But what whim is this, Carl?' asked Jette, interrupting me. 'Did you
+not come to spend some time with us? You may depend on it my father
+will not hear of your going, though our wishes and requests may have no
+influence over you.'
+
+'I am compelled to go, dear Jette; I must leave you for some time.
+Perhaps we shall meet again ... but should that be impossible, I shall
+write you, if you will permit me. And when I am gone, will you take my
+part, if I should be made the subject of animadversion? Let me hope,
+dear Jette, that you and Gustav will think kindly of me, and that on
+the anniversary of this day you will not forget me when you stroll
+together through that wood which was this morning the scene of my
+dismissal.'
+
+They both shook hands with me.
+
+'But Carl, I hardly understand you,' said Jette; 'you are so grave, so
+strange; you speak as if we were about to part for ever. Have you any
+idea of settling in Berlin?'
+
+'I beseech you, Jette, speak not of Berlin--that was a subterfuge, a
+story, which came suddenly into my mind; I could not pitch upon any
+better excuse wherewith to upset your father's plan in a hurry, or I
+would not have lied against myself. I assure you I have never put my
+foot in Berlin, nor am I betrothed to anyone.'
+
+Jette stepped back a few paces, and fixed on me a look of surprise and
+earnest inquiry.
+
+'What!' she exclaimed, 'you have never been at Berlin? You have told
+what is not true about yourself to help me? You are not engaged?'
+
+'No; as certainly as that I stand at this moment in your presence, I am
+not engaged, and have never attempted to become so. I have only put
+myself in the way of receiving one refusal in my life,' I added,
+smiling, as Jette began to look suspiciously at me, 'and that was this
+morning in yonder wood. Were it not superfluous, I could with ease give
+you the most minute particulars.'
+
+There was a short silence; then Jette exclaimed,
+
+'You are a noble creature, Carl; may God reward you, for I cannot. But
+day and night I will pray for your welfare.' She was much affected, her
+voice faltered. Gustav shook my hand cordially.
+
+'My dear friends,' said I, 'do not accord to me more praise than I
+deserve, for the higher one is praised the greater is the fall when
+opinions change. Hear me before you promise to pray for me, and let me
+tell you how ... but no, no, let me keep silence--let me say nothing.
+Pardon my seeming caprice. Promise me that you will be my sincere and
+unshaken friends, and let us go and dance again. May I have the honour
+of engaging the bride for the next waltz?'
+
+I had been on the point of confessing all my foolish pranks, and how I
+was imposing on them; but false shame prevented me. Was it better or
+not? I scarcely knew myself. I begged them to accompany me back to the
+summer-house. In the alley of pine-trees which led to it we met Hanne,
+who, according to her own account, was looking about for us; she almost
+ran against us before she perceived us.
+
+'But, good Heavens I have you all become deaf? I have been calling you
+over and over, without receiving the slightest answer, and now I find
+you gliding about in deep silence, like ghosts, scaring people's lives
+out of them. I suppose Carl has been amusing himself, as usual, with
+mischief, and has been haunting you two poor lovers, and disturbing
+you. Do you not know, Carl, that you have no sort of business to be--in
+short, are quite an incumbrance where Jette and Holm are? Now answer
+me--do you know this, or do you not, Carl?'
+
+'No,' I replied, shortly.
+
+'"_No!_" Is that a fitting answer to a lady? Be so good as to reply
+politely. I must take upon myself to teach you good manners before you
+go abroad again, else we shall have reason to be ashamed of you.'
+
+And then she began to hum the song of 'Die Wiener in Berlin:'
+
+
+                 'In Berlin, sagt er,
+                  Musz du fein, sagt er,
+                  Und gescheut, sagt er,
+                  Immer sein, sagt er....'
+
+
+'I wish Berlin were at the devil, Hanne!' I exclaimed, interrupting
+her; 'that is my most earnest desire, believe me.'
+
+'A very Christian wish, and expressed in choicely elegant phraseology,
+everyone must admit.'
+
+'Only think, Hanne, he has _never_ been at Berlin, and is _not_
+betrothed there. Carl only made these assertions because he could think
+of no other way of making my father agree to our wishes,' said Jette,
+almost crying.
+
+'What! he is not engaged? He has never been in Berlin? Well! he is the
+greatest story-teller I ever met. Did he not stand up, and make
+positive declarations of these events, with the most cool audacity? It
+is too bad. Lying is the worst of all faults--it is the root of all
+evil.'
+
+'No, my little Hanne, idleness is the root of all evil.'
+
+'I dare say you abound in that root too. But I don't think you can ever
+have studied the early lesson-books, from which all children should be
+instructed. I shall myself hear you your catechism to-morrow, and
+rehearse to you the first principles of right and wrong; so that when
+you leave us, you may be a little better acquainted with the doctrines
+of Christianity than you are at present.'
+
+'But he leaves us to-morrow, Hanne; he has assured us of that.'
+
+'We positively will not allow him to make his escape,' said Hanne. 'At
+night we shall lock him in his room, and during the day Thomas shall
+watch him. That boy sticks as fast as a burr,--he won't easily shake
+him off.'
+
+'But suppose I were to get out by the window? You cannot well fasten
+that on the outside.'
+
+'And break your neck, forsooth. No, no; that way of making your exit
+won't answer.'
+
+'Oh, people can climb up much higher than my window, and descend again
+without breaking their necks,' said I.
+
+Jette and Gustav coloured violently.
+
+'Well, we can discuss that point to-morrow. This evening, at least, you
+will remain with us, on account of its being Jette's betrothal day.
+Come, give me your arm, and let us take a walk; it is charming, yonder
+in the garden--within the summer-house one is like to faint from the
+heat.'
+
+We strolled on, two and two, in the sweet moonlight; sometimes each
+pair sauntering at a little distance from the other--Hanne and I
+chatting busily, while Gustav and Jette often walked in the silence of
+a happiness too new and too deep for the language of every-day life.
+
+'Is it really true that you are going to leave us?' asked Hanne.
+
+'It is, indeed, too true; I must quit this place.'
+
+'Why? if I may venture to ask. But do not tell me any untruth.'
+
+'Because I have been here too long already--because a longer residence
+among you all ... near you, dear Hanne, would but destroy my peace.'
+
+'I expressly desired you not to tell me any lies. Good Heavens! is it
+impossible for you to speak truth two minutes together?'
+
+'And is it impossible for you to speak seriously for two minutes
+together? What I have just said is the honest truth.'
+
+'Humph! However, tell me, is it true or not true that you are engaged
+in Berlin? Who have you hoaxed--Jette and me, or my father and mother?
+I beseech you speak truth this once.'
+
+'If any one is hoaxed, it is your father, Hanne; but at the moment I
+could think of nothing else to shake his determination, or I certainly
+should not have composed such a story, for telling which I blamed
+myself severely.'
+
+'Oh, of course I believe you! To make a fool of one's own excellent
+uncle! It is a sin that ought to lie very heavy on your conscience,
+Carl. It is almost as great a sin as to make fools of one's cousins.'
+
+'That is a sin from which I hope you will absolve me. Ah, Hanne! what
+has most distressed me was, that my character must have appeared
+dubious in your eyes. From the first moment I was wretched, because I
+could not tell you that it was only a pretended engagement.'
+
+'I do not see what _I_ have to do with your being betrothed in Berlin
+or not. As far as I am concerned, you might be betrothed in China, if
+you liked.'
+
+'Your gaiety of temper makes you take everything lightly, and yet it is
+you who have taught me that life has serious moments. You have
+transformed me, Hanne; if you could only know what an influence the
+first sight of you, the night I arrived here, has exercised upon my
+fate ...'
+
+'Indeed! Do tell me all about it; what was the wondrous and fearful
+effect of the sight of me?' said Hanne, laughing.
+
+'Dear Hanne, without intending it, you have pitched upon the right
+words, in calling it "wondrous and fearful." Yes, it will follow me
+like a heavy sentence from a judgment-seat, ever reproaching me with my
+thoughtlessness. Awake, and in dreams, will I implore forgiveness; I
+will kneel and pray for it. Look at me once more with that captivating
+glance which, yon evening, made me forget myself, and tell me that you
+will not hate me--loathe me--despise me: see, upon my knee I entreat
+one kind look--one kind word!'
+
+I had actually fallen on one knee before Hanne, and had seized her
+hand--
+
+'Let my hand go, you are squeezing it, so that you quite hurt me. That
+is not at all necessary to the part you are acting. Get up, cousin; you
+will have green marks on your knees, and I can't endure to see men in
+such an absurd, old-fashioned plight. You should be thankful that it is
+no longer the mode, when one is making love in earnest, to fall down on
+one's knees. These pastoral attitudes are very ridiculous; they savour
+of a shepherd's crook, and a frisky lamb with red ribbon round its
+neck.'
+
+I arose quite crestfallen.
+
+'At any rate I must allow that you promise to be a capital actor,'
+added Hanne. 'Next Christmas, when you come back, we shall get up some
+private theatricals: that will be charming! Last year we could not
+manage them, because we had no lover; Holm positively refused to act
+the part, unless I would undertake to be his sweetheart; and a play
+without love is like a ball without music.'
+
+'Hanne, let us speak seriously for once. I really am going away, and
+shall be gone, perhaps, before you expect it; for I hate farewell
+scenes. It is not without emotion that I can think of leaving my
+amiable cousins, and God only knows if we shall ever meet again. Laugh
+at me if you will, I cannot forbid your doing that; but believe me when
+I tell you that your image will be present with me wherever I may go,
+and ...'
+
+'You will travel in very good company, then,' said Hanne, interrupting
+me.
+
+'Let me take the happy hope with me that I shall live in your friendly
+remembrance. Sink the cousin if you choose, dear Hanne; cousinship is
+not worth much, and let the term _friend_ supersede it. That is a
+voluntary tie, for which I should have to thank but your own feelings.
+It is as a friend that I shall think of you when I go from this dear
+place, and as a friend that your image will follow me throughout the
+world.'
+
+'Oh, it won't be very troublesome to you,' said Hanne. 'As to me, I
+don't happen to be in want of cousins, still less of friends. Let me
+see, in what office shall I instal you? Make a confidant of you? We do
+not employ any in our family; I am my own confidante: assuredly I could
+have none safer. I shall follow in this the example of my silent
+sister, who never gave me the slightest hint of her love for Gustav. A
+counsellor? Truly, such an accomplished fibber would make a trustworthy
+counsellor? No, I am afraid, if you throw up the post you hold, you
+will find it difficult to replace it by any other.'
+
+'Very well, let me retain it then, but not as the gift of chance. You
+must yourself, of your own free will, bestow on me the title of your
+cousin, your chosen cousin: that is a distinction of which I shall be
+proud.'
+
+'And will you, then, promise to come back at Christmas, and act plays
+with us?'
+
+'I promise you into the bargain a summer representation, before autumn
+is over,' said I. 'The Fates only know if I shall preserve the dramatic
+talent I now have until winter.'
+
+I had caught a portion of Hanne 's gaiety, and my sentimental feelings,
+so much jeered at, shrank into the background.
+
+'Then I will dub you my cousin of cousins; and besides, on account of
+your many great services and merits, I will confer on you the
+distinguished title of my court story-teller.'
+
+'And on the occasion of receiving this new title, I must, as in duty
+bound, kiss your hand; wherefore I remove this little brown glove,
+which henceforth shall be placed in my helmet, in token of my vassalage
+to a fair lady.'
+
+'No, stop! give up my glove, cousin--I cannot waste it upon you. It is
+a good new glove, without a single hole in it. Give it up, I tell you;
+the other will be of no use without it.'
+
+She tried to snatch it from me, but I held it high above her head, and
+speedily managed to seize its fellow-glove.
+
+'You must redeem them, Hanne; a kiss for each of the pair is what I
+demand; and they are well worth it, for they are really nice new
+gloves. I will not part with them for less.'
+
+'I think you must be a fool, Carl, to fancy for one moment that I would
+kiss you to recover my own gloves. No, I will die first,' she
+exclaimed, in a tone of comic indignation.
+
+In answer to her mock heroics, I apostrophized the gloves in glowing
+terms, finishing with--'On your smooth perfumed surface I press my
+burning lips. Tell your fair mistress what I dare not say to her, what
+I at this moment confide to you.' I kissed the gloves.
+
+'Well, well, give me back my gloves and I will let you kiss me,' said
+Hanne. 'But it shall be the slightest atom of a kiss, such as they give
+in the Christmas games, the most economical possible; it must not be
+worth more than four marks, for that was the price of the gloves. Now,
+are you not ashamed to take a kiss valued so low?'
+
+'No, I will take it. But the value I put upon it is very different, for
+the slightest kiss from your lips, Hanne, is worth at least a million.
+You will make me a _millionnaire_, Hanne.'
+
+I gave her the gloves, and was just on the point of kissing her, when
+the voice of the Justitsraad broke on the silence around, calling,
+'Jette, Hanne, Carl, hollo! where are you all?'
+
+'Here,' cried Hanne, bursting away from me. 'We are coming.'
+
+'But dearest, dearest Hanne! my kiss--my million?'
+
+'We will see about it to-morrow; you must give me credit this evening.'
+
+'My dearest Hanne, to-morrow will be too late; for Heaven's sake, have
+compassion on me! I am going away to-night; there is no to-morrow for
+me here. Give me but half the million now--but the quarter--but the
+four marks' worth which you owe me! Dear Hanne, pay me but the smallest
+mite of my promised treasure.'
+
+'Nonsense! we must make the best of our way home, or we shall be well
+scolded.'
+
+Gustav and Jette joined us at that moment. The gloves and the kiss were
+for ever lost!
+
+'Why, children, what has become of you, all this time?' exclaimed the
+Justitsraad. 'Come in now, and have a country-dance with the good folks
+before we leave them and go to have some mulled claret. Stop, stop,
+Carl, you can't dance with Hanne; she is engaged to one of the young
+farmers. You must take another partner. There is poor Annie, the lame
+milkmaid, she has scarcely danced at all; it is a sin that she is to
+sit all the evening, because one leg is a little shorter than the
+other. Go, dance with her.'
+
+'Don't turn the poor girl's head with your enormous fibs,' cried Hanne
+to me, as I was entering the summer-house. 'Have pity on her
+unsophisticated heart, and do not speculate upon _a million there_; the
+herdsman would probably not allow it.'
+
+'A million? The herdsman? What is all that stuff you are talking?'
+asked her father.
+
+'Ill-nature--downright ill-nature, uncle.'
+
+'Fie! cousin; that is not a chivalrous mode of speaking. But do go and
+foot it merrily with lame Annie, and I promise you the dance shall last
+at least an hour.'
+
+The dance was over--the mulled wine was finished--the happy Gustav had
+gone to his home--the family had bid each other good night, and I was
+alone in my chamber.
+
+'This was the last evening,' thought I to myself; 'the short dream was
+now over, and I had to leave that pleasant house, never more to return
+to it.' A deep sigh responded to these reflections. 'My deception will
+soon be discovered; they will revile and despise me. I shall most
+probably be the cause of their being exposed to the ridicule of the
+whole neighbourhood; that will annoy them terribly, and they will be
+very angry that anyone should have presumed to impose so impudently on
+their frank hospitality. And my kiss ... my million ... the realization
+of that delightful promise!... What if I were to remain yet another
+day--half a day--another morning even? Remain!--in order to add another
+link to the chain which binds me here, and which I am already almost
+too weak to sever? No--I will go hence. In about an hour the moon will
+set, and when its tell-tale light is gone I will go too. One short
+hour! Alas! how many melancholy hours shall I not have to endure when
+_that one_ has passed. It is incomprehensible to me how I became
+involved in all this. Chance is sometimes a miraculous guide, when we
+allow ourselves to be blindly led by it. But a truce to these tiresome
+reflections; I have no time to think of anything but Hanne, now that I
+am about to leave her for ever ... _For ever!_ These are two detestable
+words. Everything is now quite still in the house. I hear no sound but
+poor Pasop, rustling his chains in his kennel; he will not bark when he
+sees it is only I passing. They are all friendly to me here, even the
+very dogs; yet how false I have been to them!'
+
+I threw my clothes and other little travelling appurtenances into my
+_valise_, and opened the window.
+
+'But ought I to run away without leaving one word behind? The worthy
+family might be alarming themselves about me. What shall I write? I
+suppose I must play the cousin to the end; at any rate I must try to
+put them on a wrong scent. I shall address my note to Hanne, that she
+may see that my last thoughts were with her.'
+
+I seized a pencil and wrote:--
+
+'Hanne's cruelty has caused my bankruptcy and my flight. She could
+have made me a _millionnaire_, but she has left me a beggar. Poor and
+sad I quit this hospitable house, leaving behind my blessings on its
+much-respected and amiable inmates, including the hard-hearted fair one
+who has compelled me to seek a refuge at Fredericia, which, from the
+time of Axel, has afforded _jus asyli_ to unfortunate subjects.'
+
+I stuck the paper in the dressing-glass, where it would speedily be
+observed.
+
+I had played out my comedy, and the sober realities of life were now
+before me. I fell into a deep reverie, which lasted until the first
+dawn of day, when I started up to prepare for my departure. First, I
+threw my carpet-bag out of the window, and then, getting out myself
+upon the tree, and cautiously descending from branch to branch, I
+reached the ground safely and quietly. Taking a circuitous route, I at
+length passed the woody village near my uncle's abode; and the sun
+stood high in the heavens when, weary and dispirited, and out of humour
+with the whole world, I entered the parsonage-house.
+
+
+                                PART IV.
+
+Eight days after my arrival, I was sitting in the dusk with the old
+people, while my thoughts were at ---- Court. The good clergyman,
+according to habit, was shoving the skull-cap he wore on his head to
+and fro, and talking half-aloud to himself. At length he exclaimed,
+
+'In good sooth, nephew, I am quite surprised at you. Is it natural for
+a young man to sit so much within doors? You have never gone a step
+beyond the garden and our little shrubbery, and really there is some
+very pretty scenery in our neighbourhood, quite worth your seeing.'
+
+'It is a sin that he should be shut up here with us two old people,'
+said his wife; 'if our son had been at home, it would have been more
+pleasant for him. It is very unlucky that he should be at Kiel just
+now. How can we amuse such a young man, my dear? I am quite sorry for
+him.'
+
+I assured them that I had everything I wished at their house, and
+was extremely comfortable. But the fact was, that I felt extremely
+uncomfortable. I was miserable at knowing that I was so near ----
+Court, and yet could have no communication with its inhabitants; I was
+certain that I must have thrown everything there into the greatest
+commotion, yet, since my flight, I had heard nothing of or from the
+place round which my heart's dearest thoughts hovered continually.
+
+'Why, instead of a wild, mischievous, merry madcap, as you were
+represented to be, we find a staid, quiet, grave young man. It is not a
+good sign when a gay temper takes such a sudden turn. You seem to be
+quite changed, nephew. Indeed, it strikes me your very appearance has
+altered; your hair looks darker to me, within these eight days, and
+your skin is as yellow as if you had the jaundice.'
+
+'Oh, Heaven forbid! The Lord preserve him from that!' cried my worthy
+aunt, much alarmed.
+
+I relieved her mind by assuring her that my health was excellent.
+
+'And you are allowing the hair on your upper lip to grow to a pair of
+moustaches,' continued my uncle. 'You will soon look like an officer of
+hussars. If you were not such a sensible, quiet youth, I should think
+it was a piece of conceit and affectation, to look smart in the eyes of
+the girls.'
+
+Without having formed any settled plan connected with the change of my
+appearance, but not without considerable trouble, had I by degrees
+blackened my hair, and darkened my complexion with walnut juice, so
+that I could not be recognized if any of the people from ---- Court
+should meet me. I had also cultivated moustaches for the same purpose,
+but they were as yet very diminutive.
+
+'Just tell me, nephew, what do you want with moustaches?'
+
+'I want them because ... I wish ... I must ... I belong to the corps of
+riflemen, uncle, and the new regulation is, that every rifleman is to
+have moustaches ... so I must mount a pair.'
+
+'What a foolish regulation! Don't you think so, wife? But I suppose it
+is a case in which one must do as others do.'
+
+This settled, I was left, as to my disguise, in peace. But my venerable
+uncle commenced another attack. 'I must positively have you to go out
+and look about you, Adolph. I am going to-morrow to see my friends
+Justitsraad ----, whose country seat is not far from this. You shall
+drive over there with me; the road is very pretty.'
+
+I was in agony. 'I would, much rather remain at home, uncle; I don't
+know these people.'
+
+'I will introduce you to them. They are a very amiable, charming
+family, and you will soon become acquainted with them. You absolutely
+must go.'
+
+What excuse was I to manufacture? I had recourse to fibs again.
+
+'The Justitsraad and my father are personal enemies--they quarrelled
+about some matter of business. They are deadly foes--I should be very
+unwelcome--my name is proscribed at ---- Court.'
+
+'How very strange that I never heard of this before!' exclaimed the
+unsuspecting old man. 'People should not hate each other for the sake
+of sinful mammon. We must bring about a reconciliation between them. I
+shall certainly preach upon the subject of forgiveness next Sunday--a
+powerful discourse will I give.'
+
+'It is also my wish that they should be reconciled, dear uncle, and
+therefore, I think it would be most prudent not to mention my name
+_yet_. If I make the acquaintance of the Justitsraad without his
+knowing who I am, I shall feel more at my ease with him. I assure you
+this will be best.'
+
+'Well--so be it,' said my uncle; 'I will not then mention your being
+here. But I shall throw out a few hints about forgiveness and Christian
+feelings--these can do no harm.'
+
+'No--that they cannot,' said my aunt. 'But I quite agree with Adolph. I
+think his plan a good one.'
+
+As soon as the old people had retired to rest, I stole softly through
+the garden, and reaching the high road, took the way to ---- Court. As
+I approached it, I saw with pleasure the white summer-house on the
+outskirts of the garden. Soon after I reached the hill, where stood the
+well-known swing. The moon was shining brightly, and it was a lovely
+night. All was so still around, that I could hear the wind whistling
+through the adjacent alleys of trees--and the rustling of the wind
+amidst the branches of the pine and the fir has a peculiar sound. Far
+away in the wood was to be heard the melancholy tinkling of the bells
+worn by the sheep round their necks. There is a sadness in this
+monotonous, yet plaintive sound, which has a great effect upon the
+heart that is filled with longing--and where is the human being who has
+nothing to long for? But such sadness is not hopeless, and as the bells
+give tones sometimes higher, sometimes deeper, from different parts of
+the woods or fields, so tranquillizing voices whisper to our souls,
+'There is comfort for every sorrow--we shall not always long in vain.'
+
+The moon shed its soft light over the quiet garden, the clock struck
+eleven--that was generally the time at which the family retired to
+rest--therefore I ventured to leave my place of concealment, without
+the fear of encountering anyone. Presently after I stood again behind
+the bushes of fragrant jasmine, immediately beneath the windows, and
+beheld one light extinguished after the other. In the room I lately
+occupied, all was dark. At length the light also disappeared in Hanne's
+chamber.
+
+
+              Sleep, sweetly sleep! Dream blessed dreams!
+
+
+I whispered with Baggesen, and my heart added, in the words of the same
+poet,
+
+
+                 I love--I love--I love but only thee!
+
+
+In Jette's room there was still a candle burning; doubtless she was
+thinking of her Gustav, perhaps writing a few kind words to him. I
+could hardly refrain myself from climbing up _the_ tree, and speaking
+to her; I had a claim upon her indulgence, for had I not laid the
+fountain of her happiness? _Laid the foundation!_ How did I know that
+the real cousin had not arrived? But even in that case it would be
+scarcely possible to undo what had been done. I clung to the pleasing
+idea that I had effected some good.
+
+At length Jette's candle was extinguished also. The last--last light--I
+had gazed on it, till I was almost blinded. With an involuntary sigh I
+turned my steps slowly back towards the garden; something was moving
+close behind me; it was my quondam friend, a greyhound belonging to the
+Justitsraad, but he followed growling at my heels, as if he wished to
+hunt me off the grounds I polluted by my presence.
+
+'Watchel! my boy! is that you? So--so--be still, be still, Watchel!' I
+turned to pat his head, but he showed his white teeth, and barked at
+me; and presently all the other dogs near began to bark also.
+'Forgotten!' I exclaimed bitterly to myself, 'forgotten, and disliked!'
+Watchel followed me, snarling, to the extremity of the garden, and
+barked long at my shadow as I crossed the field.
+
+The next day my uncle drove over to ---- Court. The moment he was gone
+I hurried up to his study, which looked towards the east, and arranged
+his large telescope to bear upon that place which had so much interest
+for me. I could overlook the whole plain; at its extremity was some
+rising ground studded with trees--this was the garden; to the left lay
+the grove, and close to it was the hillock on which stood the swing!
+Suddenly the swing, until then empty, seemed to be occupied with
+something white, which put it in motion. 'It is Hanne who is swinging!'
+I exclaimed aloud in my joy; and I spent the whole afternoon in gazing
+through the telescope, with a beating heart, and with my eyes fixed
+upon the swing to catch another glimpse of her who had vanished, alas!
+too soon. One glance at the folds of her white dress had thrown my
+blood into a tumult of excitement, but how wildly did not all my pulses
+beat when, towards evening, my uncle's carriage rolled up the avenue of
+the rectory.
+
+After he had greeted my aunt with all due affection, and delivered
+the complimentary messages with which he was charged, inquired how
+things had gone on during the hours of his absence, settled himself
+comfortably in his old easy-chair, and lighted his pipe, he began
+with--
+
+'I heard some very strange news over yonder; I really can think of
+nothing else.'
+
+'What is it, dear? A great rise in the price of anything?' asked his
+wife.
+
+'Oh no, my dear, not at all. It is a very ridiculous story. It is not
+to be mentioned; but I know you will keep it to yourself when I
+particularly request you to do so. Well--I will tell you all about it;
+it is really quite a mysterious affair.'
+
+And the good man proceeded to relate how, one evening when they were
+expecting a cousin who was betrothed to Jette, a person arrived who
+answered every question about the family, seemed to know all their
+affairs, gave himself out to be Carl, whom they had not seen for eleven
+years, and, as might be supposed, insinuated himself into the good
+graces of the whole of them. 'He found out that Jette was attached to
+that young man Holm, who is studying agricultural affairs in this
+neighbourhood; so he insisted on annulling his engagement to her,
+declaring that he was not in love with her, but was betrothed abroad.
+The Justitsraad was at first very angry, but he gave way at last, and
+there were gay doings at ---- Court that evening. Next morning the
+cousin was nowhere to be found; but he left behind him a paper of which
+nobody can make anything. They expected him during two whole days, but
+he did not make his appearance again. On the third day, another person
+arrived, who also declared himself to be a cousin, said he was called
+Carl, and that he was the expected guest. He brought letters from his
+father, about whose handwriting there could be no doubt, and the whole
+family recognized him at once from many things. The first, of course,
+was an impostor. But Jette is now betrothed to Holm as well as to the
+cousin, who had come to arrange about the wedding. There was an awful
+scene--he insisted on Holm's giving up Jette to him, and her father had
+at last to interfere to prevent the rivals carrying their wrath to some
+fearful extremity. The cousin's obstinacy gave great offence, and he
+took his departure the day after he had arrived. But he was so angry,
+that it was with great difficulty he was induced to promise that he
+would hold his tongue, and not blab about this absurd affair.'
+
+'May the Lord graciously preserve us all! It must have been some wicked
+sharper!' exclaimed my aunt, clasping her hands in great agitation,
+when her husband had finished his recital.
+
+'Of course he was an impostor. But it is a very curious story. For what
+could he have come--will anyone tell me that?'
+
+'Why, to steal, to be sure. Did he break into none of the
+keeping-places? Is there nothing missing--none of the plate? no forks
+or spoons?'
+
+'Not the slightest article, and he was there for two days, and went
+about like one of themselves.'
+
+'It is very surprising; but the fact is, he must have come to
+reconnoitre the premises, and, when the nights are longer and darker,
+they will hear of him again.'
+
+'It is a most incomprehensible affair,' said I, in a voice that might
+have betrayed, me to more acute observers. 'And can they not guess at
+all who he is--have they no clue to him?'
+
+'Not the slightest, nephew. They all describe him as a handsome,
+gentlemanly young man, who knew how to conduct himself in good society;
+and he acquitted himself so well in his assumed character, that none of
+them had the least notion what a trick he was playing them.'
+
+'Believe me, my dear sirs, this person was no other than the celebrated
+MORTEN FREDERICHSEN, who was arrested and imprisoned at Roeskilde, but
+made his escape. He must be a very clever fellow, that,' said my aunt;
+'I have been told that he pretended to be a Russian officer once in
+Copenhagen, made his way into the higher circles, and spoke Russian as
+if it had been his mother tongue. No doubt he has contrived to get free
+again; and he is a dangerous man. Heaven preserve us from him! Where
+_he_ is, there is always mischief going on. I will take care to see
+that the house-doors are well bolted and secured, and I shall tell the
+servants to let Sultan loose at night. One cannot be too careful when
+there are such characters lurking in the neighbourhood.'
+
+The old lady went out to superintend the safe fastening of the house,
+without dreaming that he who caused her such alarm was dwelling under
+her own peaceful roof.
+
+The next day nothing else was spoken of, and it was easy for me to draw
+from my uncle all that I wished to hear. I ascertained that the real
+cousin had not made a favourable impression; and that, in fact, they
+were all glad that the engagement between him and Jette was at an end.
+My extraordinary and mysterious disappearance had set them all
+guessing, but they despaired of ever solving the riddle, since all the
+investigations and inquiries which could be quietly instituted had
+failed to yield the slightest trace of me. Gustav, following up the
+hint I had given in the note I had left, had written to a friend in
+Fredericia, but, of course, this had led to no result. Thomas daily
+scoured the country round, searching the woods and the moors to find
+me; but every succeeding day lessened his hopes of being able to bring
+me a prisoner to his home.
+
+My imprudence, then, had been productive of no bad effects; fortune had
+befriended the rash fool, as it so often does. I cannot describe with
+what joy I gathered this happy intelligence; and when I had reflected
+on it for some days, I came to the conclusion that I _might_ venture
+again to show myself at ---- Court, and entreat forgiveness of my sad
+delinquencies. I formed a thousand plans and relinquished them again.
+At length I wrote to Copenhagen for new clothes, and sent a letter, to
+be forwarded from thence by the post to the Justitsraad, wherein I made
+a confession, and candidly avowed all that my inclination for a frolic
+and a succession of accidental circumstances had led me into. I threw
+myself upon Miss Jette's kindness to intercede for me, trusting that
+she would not refuse me this favour; I dwelt on my contrition and deep
+regret, and implored forgiveness for my misdemeanours. Nothing did I
+conceal, except my name and my love for Hanne. I hope, dear reader,
+that you will not find it necessary to ask why I concealed these.
+
+The blue coat arrived at length from Copenhagen, with information that
+the letter had been forwarded. It was not difficult for me to put it
+into my uncle's head to drive over to ---- Court, and ascertain if
+there had been any elucidation of the mysterious story that had almost
+entirely chased sleep from my good aunt's couch. I had intended to have
+accompanied him, but when the time came my courage failed, and,
+pleading a headache, I left him to go alone.
+
+'You are not well, my dear nephew, that I can easily perceive,' said
+he, as I saw him into his carriage; 'we must positively send for the
+doctor. You will turn quite black in the long run, for in a fortnight
+only you have become as dark as a Tartar, and that is not a healthy
+colour. Perhaps you have got worms.'
+
+The worthy man little knew that I was purposely obliterating my good
+complexion more and more, and had the greatest trouble in giving myself
+this Tartar tint. 'He shall drink some of my decoction of wormwood,'
+said my aunt; 'it is better than any apothecary's mixtures, and will do
+him a great deal of good.' Whereupon she invited me to go with her to
+her sanctum, and there I was compelled to swallow a horrid bitter
+potion, which was enough to bring the most hardened sinner to a sense
+of his guilt.
+
+'Well, tell me, have they found Morten Frederichsen?' asked my aunt,
+when my uncle returned. 'Has he broken in over yonder?'
+
+'No, no, my dear. There was no housebreaker in question at all. Truly,
+it is a laughable story. The man has written the Justitsraad from
+Copenhagen.'
+
+'Written? A threatening letter? A defiance? It is making nothing at all
+of the police--a positive insult to them. But, God be thanked, he is no
+longer in our neighbourhood.'
+
+'Now, my good wife, you are quite mistaken,' replied my uncle, who then
+proceeded to relate the contents of my letter, which, it appeared, had
+still further excited the baffled curiosity of the worthy family.
+
+My aunt could not recover from the state of amazement into which she
+had been thrown.
+
+'But what says the Justitsraad?' I asked.
+
+'Why, what can he say? He is glad that the intruder was a gentleman,
+for the letter is evidently written by one in that rank of life, but of
+course he is angry at having been so hoaxed. But it was Jette who
+pacified him, for she did not stop entreating him until he promised her
+not to vex himself any longer about the matter. I thought of you,
+nephew, and took the opportunity to say a few words about forgiveness
+and placability, grounding my lesson of Christian duty on the excellent
+admonitions of the Scriptures. They talked a great deal about the
+mysterious personage; and the Justitsraad said at length that he would
+not wreak his vengeance upon him if he could see him, but would rather
+feel a pleasure in meeting him again. The girls wanted their father to
+put an advertisement in the papers addressed in a roundabout way to
+him, but Mr. Holm dissuaded them from this.'
+
+'That was very right of Mr. Holm,' said my aunt. 'He is a sensible
+young man; for if the person really was a thief--of which there can be
+no doubt--for he who tells a lie will also steal ...'
+
+'That does not by any means follow, dear aunt,' said I.
+
+'Well, be that as it may, we are invited to ---- Court to-morrow, and I
+promised that we would go, and you, too, Adolph. I told them I had a
+nephew on a visit to me at present.'
+
+'I ... but ... you know, uncle, my father and the Justitsraad ...'
+
+'Oh, we must manage to set all that to-rights; to entertain feelings of
+enmity is quite unworthy of two such men. Leave the matter to me. I
+have not yet mentioned your name, therefore you need be under no
+embarrassment in presenting yourself to the Justitsraad. He is a very
+pleasant man.'
+
+'Sooner or later--it makes but little difference,' thought I; 'and if I
+can but look him full in the face, without dreading to be discovered, I
+shall be willing to acknowledge all his good qualities.'
+
+'Had we not better take the bottle of wormwood with us in the
+carriage?' said my aunt, next day. 'Adolph looks so black under the
+eyes this morning, that I am sure he is worse than he was yesterday.'
+
+'I confess I do not like his looks,' said my uncle; 'but perhaps that
+dark shade is cast by his moustaches. One might really fancy, nephew,
+that you had darkened your face with burnt cork. You don't look at all
+like yourself. Truly, the rifle corps has a great deal to answer for.'
+
+My endeavours had been successful. Instead of the gay, fresh-looking,
+light-hearted cousin, in a dark-green frock-coat, that had left
+---- Court, came, along with the clergyman and his lady, a grave,
+silent, dark-haired nephew, in a blue coat; with an olive complexion,
+very sallow, and with black moustaches; my transformation was complete.
+I scarcely recognized myself when I saw myself in the glass. The worst
+that could happen would be to be taken for myself--the agreeably
+characterized '_sad scamp_' from Hamburg. But for what would I not be
+taken to see Hanne again!
+
+None of them knew me; the Justitsraad addressed me as 'Mr. Adolph,' and
+received me very courteously. The guests were Kammerraad Tvede, the
+Jutlander, and his family, Gustav, a friend of his, and ourselves. I do
+not doubt that my heightened colour might have been visible even
+through the swarthy shade of my cheek when Hanne entered the room. She
+had become ten times prettier than ever in these fourteen days; she
+looked really quite captivating. Gustav and Jette cast many speaking
+glances at each other, and her mother looked kindly at them. I stood
+silent and grave in a corner window; the various feelings that rushed
+upon me assisted me in playing the part of a somewhat embarrassed
+stranger. Watchel rose from his mat, and walked round the room as if to
+greet his master's well-known guests; he wagged his tail in token of
+welcome to my uncle and aunt, but he growled at me, whereupon Hanne
+called him away, and made him lie down in his usual place.
+
+'But tell me, my dear friend, how does this happen? When I was here
+last your daughter was engaged to another gentleman. What has become of
+him?' said the inquisitive neighbour, Tvede.
+
+'Oh, that was only a jest from their childhood,' said the Justitsraad.
+'He was my brother's son, and was on a visit to us. Jette was betrothed
+at that time to Mr. Holm, though her engagement was not generally
+known.'
+
+'Oh, indeed; but where is your nephew now?'
+
+'He left us some time ago.'
+
+'A very nice young man your nephew is; perhaps what was only jest
+between him and the elder sister may become earnest between him and the
+younger one. What say you to that, Miss Hanne?'
+
+Hanne blushed scarlet, but made no answer. The Justitsraad looked a
+little confused, and smiled to my uncle; I sat as if on thorns.
+
+'So your father resides in Copenhagen, Mr. Adolph?' said the
+indefatigable questioner, turning towards me.
+
+I rose in a fright, and bowed.
+
+'He is a merchant, is he not? and has a good deal to do with the West
+Indies?'
+
+'Yes, he has a good deal to do with the West Indies,' I replied, in a
+feigned voice, as different from my own as I possibly could make it.
+
+'My brother-in-law does a great deal of business with the provinces
+also--commission-business--as a corn-merchant,' said my uncle; 'that is
+safer than West India business.'
+
+'Ah, so he is your brother-in-law--married to your sister, no doubt?
+Well, your nephew seems a fine young man. He is in the army, I
+suppose?'
+
+'No, my dear sir, he is a clerk in his father's office; but as he has
+joined a rifle corps, according to a new regulation he is obliged to
+have moustaches,' replied my uncle, honestly believing the truth of my
+assertion.
+
+The observation of all present was drawn upon me. I turned crimson.
+Gustav and his friend cast a meaning glance at each other, and both
+smiled, I interpreted the smile into this, 'He is a vain, conceited
+puppy; the regulation is the coinage of his own brain.' What an
+unmerciful interpreter is conscience! We were to take our coffee in the
+garden; thither, therefore, we all proceeded. I approached Jette, and
+began to talk to her about the pretty country round.
+
+'Have you been long at your uncle's?' she asked.
+
+'I have been there some little time, and I should have left it before
+now, had not a strange commission been imposed on me--one which I find
+it very difficult to fulfil. It is a commission which relates to the
+family here,' I added, when I found she was not inclined to ask any
+questions.
+
+'To us?' said Jette; 'and the commission is so difficult?'
+
+'It is no other than to obtain for a man the restoration of that peace
+of mind of which his inconsiderate folly has deprived him, and to
+procure for him your father's forgiveness--his pardon of an injury that
+otherwise will weigh him down with regret and remorse for the remainder
+of his life.'
+
+Jette looked at me in astonishment.
+
+'What--Mr. Adolph? I do not understand.'
+
+'A friend of mine has written to me from Copenhagen, and charged me to
+try and make his peace with the Justitsraad; but the papers which he
+has forwarded to me containing his case, really present it in such a
+perplexing and unfortunate light, that I cannot attempt to carry out
+his wishes, unless you, to whom he particularly desired me first to
+apply, will grant me your valuable assistance. He certainly did most
+shamefully abuse your confidence.'
+
+'You know ... it is ... you are acquainted with that strange story?'
+exclaimed Jette, much embarrassed.
+
+'I know it thoroughly; and though this is the first time I have had the
+honour of seeing you, I think I may say you yourself are not better
+acquainted with the particulars of that affair than I am. It is on your
+kindness that I principally rely; yet I may not mention my friend's
+name until he has obtained entire forgiveness. He has given me very
+positive directions.'
+
+'I cannot but be much surprised that a person who insulted my father
+and us all so much, should ...'
+
+'Insulted you, my dear young lady? I am shocked to hear it; I am sorry
+that he should have written me what was not true; his letter led me to
+believe that, on the contrary, he had rather been of service to you.'
+
+Jette blushed deeply, and I thought I perceived tears in her eyes. 'He
+shall certainly not find me ungrateful,' she said; 'I have not
+forgotten what I owe him. What do you require of me?'
+
+'My friend entreats you, through me, to grant him your forgiveness for
+a mystification to which purely accidental circumstances led at first,
+but which was continued solely from an interest in your fate, and an
+anxious desire to serve you. He entreats that you will use your
+influence to mollify your father towards him, and procure for me a
+private interview with him, which I trust will end in the pardon of my
+friend, who has no dearer wish than to be received again into a circle
+he so highly esteems and respects, and to be permitted to prove to them
+how deeply he regrets his thoughtless folly.'
+
+Some others of the same party now approached, and I was obliged to drop
+the conversation. Gustave and Hanne were disputing.
+
+'Jeer at me as you will,' said Hanne, 'I hold to my opinion, that
+nothing is so tiresome as family connections. If one only could choose
+one's kindred those sort of ties would be much stronger. It is a pity
+not to go a step further, and let it be a fixed rule, that relations to
+a certain extent remote, should marry whether they suit each other or
+not. This would certainly extirpate _love_, but it would be vastly
+convenient, and in a recent case it would have hindered many doubts and
+hopes, and all that followed.'
+
+'Pray recollect your last election; there was not much to boast of in
+him. The ties of consanguinity could hardly have furnished any family
+with a less desirable member.'
+
+'Yes they could, for the member who came after him was much inferior,
+notwithstanding he bore on his brow the stamp of legitimacy. Even
+though my "election," as you call it, fell upon one who was
+treacherous, he was at any rate pleasant, lively, and amusing, whereas
+the legitimate one was cold, stupid, pedantic, tiresome; wearying one
+with every slow word he uttered. You do not mean one syllable of all
+the evil you speak of the stranger. The properly installed cousins and
+nephews whom I have latterly seen have been miserable creatures, who
+looked as if they could not count five, and as if they had not a
+thought to bestow on anything but their own pitiful persons, on which
+they placed the most exorbitant value, without the slightest grounds
+for so doing.'
+
+As she finished this tirade, Hanne cast a side-glance at me, who, in
+truth, played capitally the part of the most tiresome, self-satisfied
+blockhead of a nephew anyone could imagine. She had no conception how
+part of her harangue had enchanted me.
+
+'Legitimate right is a good thing; in that I quite agree with the young
+lady,' said the Jutlander, who had just approached us, and thought fit
+to join in the conversation. He had only caught a word or two of what
+Hanne had been saying, and mistook entirely her meaning.
+
+While we continued to stroll about, Jette took her sister aside, and
+whispered something to her. Hanne turned her eyes full on me, and
+looked keenly at me. As soon as it was possible, I went up to her, and
+began to talk about the weather, that invariable preface to even the
+most important and most interesting subjects. We soon fell into
+conversation, and it turned upon the communication Jette had just made.
+
+'My sister tells me that your friend is anxious to obtain our
+forgiveness,' said she. 'We have already given him that, for he has
+done us a greater service than he thinks. Our regard is another affair;
+that would be more difficult to bestow, and doubtless he does not
+entertain the slightest idea of ever winning it.'
+
+'You would condemn him to a severe doom if you would forbid his
+striving at least to deserve it. Without your good opinion, your
+forgiveness would be a mere passing act of charity; without the former
+he would be a beggar all his life, with it _he would become a
+millionnaire_.'
+
+Hanne coloured at the reminiscences these words awakened; but she only
+said,
+
+'You put a high value on it.'
+
+'Not higher than my friend does. _Your_ regard, charming Miss Hanne, is
+what he seeks, and were he not attracted to this place by a perhaps too
+vivid _souvenir_ of you, I should not be standing here as his
+spokesman. Your sister has kindly promised to obtain for me a few
+minutes' private conversation with your father; if your hatred of my
+unfortunate friend cannot be softened, tell me so, I pray you, at once,
+and I shall spare your father a communication which may perhaps remind
+him of disagreeable impressions, for without your entire pardon I
+cannot fulfil my errand, and I will not attempt to do it by halves.'
+
+'You are a very zealous agent, there is no denying that. Well, you may
+speak to my father; I will not be the most hard-hearted of the family.
+Besides, I really feel that your friend has an advocate in my own
+inclination for a joke, though his jest was carried rather too far.'
+
+'I expected this goodness from you, or my friend would not have painted
+you in true colours.'
+
+'And pray in what colours did he paint me, if I may venture to ask? It
+would be difficult to give anyone's likeness on so short an
+acquaintance.'
+
+'They were as radiant as if he had borrowed for his pencil tints from
+heaven to do justice to the original ... He adores you, to say the
+absolute truth.'
+
+'Indeed! He really does me too much honour,' she said, stiffly, and in
+an offended tone of voice.
+
+At the 'tints from heaven,' and 'justice to the original,' she had
+smiled; at the 'absolute truth,' she became angry.
+
+We were at the foot of the hillock, on which stood the swing.
+
+'There must be a fine view from the top of that rising ground,' said I.
+
+Politeness obliged her to ascend the bank. Gustav and his friend
+followed us at a little distance in earnest conversation; the rest of
+the party had gone to the summer-house, where coffee was prepared.
+
+'Really, this is a lovely view!' I remarked, mechanically.
+
+'Yonder lies your uncle's church,' said Hanne; 'it makes the twelfth
+spire we can see from this hill.'
+
+'I have remarked this place from my uncle's window; these white poles
+shine out against the dark-green background.'
+
+'Were you afraid of them? Did you fancy they were ...'
+
+'A gallows!' I exclaimed, interrupting her. 'No, Miss Hanne; I am
+rather more rational than my foolish friend.'
+
+Hanne looked inquisitively at me.
+
+'Have you remembered what he begged of you on this spot? That when you
+heard evil of him, and doubts of his honour, you would come up here,
+and judge leniently of the absent; that you would not condemn him
+totally, although appearances might be against him?'
+
+'He must have favoured you with a remarkably minute report of his
+sayings and doings here,' said Hanne, laughing. 'You have got his
+speeches by heart--word for word.'
+
+'Every word which he exchanged with you remains for ever engraved on
+his memory. You promised this to him. Dare he flatter himself that you
+have not forgotten that promise, and have not deserted him, while he
+relied on your compassion?'
+
+'I have taken his part a great deal more than he deserves,' she
+replied. 'But now that is no longer necessary, and if he return here,
+he shall find me his worst enemy, for I do not allow myself to be made
+a fool of without taking my revenge.'
+
+'Have some mercy, fair lady! See, I sue for grace--he cannot stand your
+ire. I have come to throw myself at your feet--acquitted by you, he
+will have courage to meet any storm ... Miss Hanne,' I added, with my
+own natural voice, 'you are the only one who knows that the unfortunate
+sinner is here; condemn me irrevocably, if you have the heart to do
+so--I will hear my sentence from your lips.'
+
+Hanne looked at me with an arch smile.
+
+'You will not betray me, or misuse my confidence,' I added, in a
+supplicatory tone. 'Bestow on me your forgiveness, and procure for me
+that of your parents. Without this I cannot live. You have discovered
+me, notwithstanding my disguise; it was only under its shelter that I
+ventured to come near you during the light of day. Ah! at night, I have
+often been here, standing outside of the house, looking up at your
+window, until the light was extinguished in your room, and I had no
+longer any evidence of your proximity to feast upon.'
+
+She looked at me for a moment with unusual softness,--nay, with
+kindness; then clapping her hands together, she called out,
+
+'Gustav! Linden! Come here--make haste! Here he is--here he is!'
+
+'Who? What is it?' cried the two young men, as they came hurrying
+towards us.
+
+'For Heaven's sake--Miss Hanne--you surely will not ... you abuse the
+confidence I placed in you--I did not expect this of you. Will you
+betray me? Will you disgrace me before that stranger?' I stammered out,
+amazed and vexed at her sudden change.
+
+'There he is--the false cousin--standing yonder. Now he is caught,'
+added Hanne, skipping about with joy.
+
+'The cousin--he!' exclaimed Gustav, in great astonishment; 'but tell me
+then ...'
+
+'Mr. Holm,' said I, 'and you, sir, with whom I have not the pleasure of
+being acquainted ...'
+
+'True!' cried Hanne, interrupting me, 'I owe you an explanation. You
+need not excuse yourself to Gustav, in his heart he acknowledges you to
+be his benefactor; and this gentleman, _with whom you have not the
+pleasure of being acquainted_, is quite as cognisant of your exploits
+as any of us. "YOU WILL NOT BETRAY ME, OR MISUSE MY CONFIDENCE,"' said
+she, mimicking me, 'therefore let me present to you Mr. Linden, my
+bridegroom elect. You once asked me what this ring I wear betokened--do
+you remember that? I was then obliged to give you an evasive answer;
+now I will confide the secret to you, my much honoured cousin--and much
+admired truth-teller.'
+
+Could I have guessed _this_, or have had the slightest suspicion of it,
+two hours earlier, I never again would have put my feet within the
+doors of ---- Court.
+
+There was nothing for it now but to let myself patiently be dragged
+about by them, after I had muttered something, that might as well have
+been taken for a malediction as a felicitation.
+
+My uncle was walking in the alley of pine-trees with the Justitsraad
+and Jette; she had been preparing him for the audience I told her I
+wished of him, but she had not yet the least idea that I was the person
+for whom she had been pleading. I appeared before them as a poor
+culprit.
+
+'Dear father,' said Hanne, 'I bring a deserter, who has given himself
+up to me. He relies on your forgiveness, for which I have become
+surety, and if you withhold it, my word will be broken.'
+
+'Let me speak, child,' said my uncle, who fancied that a disagreement
+between my father and the Justitsraad was the affair in question.
+
+'As the servant of the Lord, it is my duty to exhort everyone to peace,
+and forgiveness of injuries; you should all remember the divine mission
+of Him who is the fountain of love, and who came to bring goodwill on
+earth; remembering His example you should chase away hatred, and all
+evil passions and thoughts from your mind. See, this young person comes
+to you with confiding hope, and now do shake hands with him in sign of
+reconciliation, and let not two worthy men remain longer enemies. Speak
+kindly to him, my old friend, and do not oblige him longer to conceal
+his name, because it is one which you once disliked--let the past be
+now forgotten!'
+
+'What, _you_ also pleading for him, my worthy friend? Then, indeed, I
+must give in. Well, the foolish madcap has found intercessors enough, I
+think,' said the Justitsraad, as he held out his hand to me.
+
+'He is petitioning for his friend,' said Jette.
+
+'For my benefactor,' said Gustav.
+
+'For his old father,' said my uncle.
+
+'For himself,' said Hanne. 'This is the pretended cousin himself, in
+disguise; this is the very man himself who threw our family into such
+confusion; but what his real name may be, Heaven only knows.'
+
+'He is my sister's son--Adolph Kerner, a son of Mr. Kerner, the
+well-known Copenhagen merchant; he has no need to be ashamed of his
+name,' said my uncle.
+
+Everyone was astonished; there was a general silence from amazement.
+
+At length Jette exclaimed, 'The pretended cousin himself?'
+
+'The young Kerner who went to Hamburg?' asked the Justitsraad.
+
+'What! the impostor my own nephew?' cried my uncle, upon whom the truth
+began to dawn. The formidable explanation was given, forgiveness
+followed, and we were reconciled. The Justitsraad shook hands with me
+cordially.
+
+'And now let us seek my mother,' said Hanne, 'and fall at her feet. For
+the honour of our sex, I hope Mr. Kerner will have to undergo the pains
+of purgatory in her presence.'
+
+We proceeded to the summer-house where the rest of the party were
+sitting at table, taking coffee. The Justitsraad led me up to his wife,
+and said, 'I beg to present to you your lost nephew, who returns, like
+the prodigal son, and begs for forgiveness. Tomorrow he will show
+himself without these moustaches, in his own fair hair, and he hopes to
+find the same kind aunt in you whom the false cousin Carl learned so
+speedily to love.'
+
+The lady gave me her hand, after having held up her finger as if to
+threaten me.
+
+'And here you see Morten Frederichsen, my dear, against whom Sultan was
+to have guarded our house. The good-for-nothing, he has certainly
+hoaxed all us old ones,' said my uncle, laughing. 'His liver-complaint
+was nothing but a trick.'
+
+'What is that you say? Morten Frederichsen! How the idea of that
+dreadful creature frightened me! But I have retaliated upon him with my
+wormwood, I rather think.' The good woman was much puzzled, and could
+hardly comprehend how it all came about.
+
+'And now I beg to introduce to Kammerraad Tvede, the younger Kerner,
+son of Mr. Kerner of Copenhagen, a youth who has lately returned from
+an educational trip to Hamburg,' said the mischief-loving Hanne,
+pulling me up to the Jutlander.
+
+'A very fine young man,' stammered the Kammerraad. 'I have the pleasure
+of knowing your father, and am aware of the high standing of your
+house.'
+
+I made my escape over to Jette and Gustav, who kindly took compassion
+on me.
+
+'Don't you all see now that it was not so stupid of me to propose
+examining him in the almanack?' said Hanne.
+
+'At any rate, to _you_ belongs the credit of having placed me in the
+most painful dilemma,' said I, with some bitterness. 'Be merciful now,
+and do not play with me as a cat does with a mouse; the conqueror can
+afford to be magnanimous to the vanquished.'
+
+'Well, the sun is about to set, and I suppose I must let my just
+resentment go with it. I will forgive you for all your misdemeanours
+upon one condition, that, according to our late agreement, you will
+return by-and-by, and assist us in getting up some private theatricals,
+to which I have the pleasure of inviting all now present. I think you
+will shine in "_The April Fools_."'[6]
+
+'Shame on you all!' cried Jette. 'How can you be so revengeful, and
+still persecute Mr. Kerner in this inhuman way?'
+
+'I trust he will excuse the persecution,' said her father; 'and I hope
+that it will not frighten him from a house which will always be open to
+him, and where he will henceforth be as well received under his own
+name as he was under that of--COUSIN CARL.'
+
+
+
+
+                           THE DOOMED HOUSE.
+
+                           BY B. S. INGEMANN.
+
+
+'The house near Christianshavn's canal is again for sale--your worthy
+uncle's house, Johanna! and now upon very reasonable terms,' said the
+young joiner and cabinet-maker, Frants, one morning to his pretty wife,
+as he laid the advertisement sheet of the newspaper upon the cradle,
+and glanced at his little boy, an infant of about three months old, who
+was sleeping sweetly, and seemed to be sporting with heavenly cherubs
+in his innocent dreams.
+
+'Let us on no account think of the dear old house,' replied his wife,
+taking up the newspaper and placing it on the table, without even
+looking at the advertisement. 'We have a roof over our heads as long as
+Mr. Stork will have patience about the rent. If we have bread enough
+for ourselves, and for yon little angel, who will soon begin to want
+some, we may well rest contented. Notwithstanding our poverty, we are,
+perhaps, the happiest married couple in the whole town,' she added
+gently, and with an affectionate smile, 'and we ought to thank our God
+that he did not let the wide world separate us from each other, but
+permitted you to return from your distant journey, healthy and
+cheerful, and that he has granted us love and strength to bear our
+little cross with patience.'
+
+'You are ever the same amiable and pious Johanna,' said Frants,
+embracing the lovely young mother, who reminded him of an exquisite
+picture of the Madonna he had seen abroad, 'and you have made me better
+and more patient than I was, either by nature or by habit. But I really
+cannot remain longer in this miserable garret--I have neither room nor
+spirits to work here; and if I am to make anything by my handicraft, I
+must have a proper workshop, and space to breathe in and to move in.
+
+'Your good uncle's house, near the canal, is just the place for me; how
+many jovial songs my old master and I have sung there together over our
+joiner's bench! Ah! _then_ I shall feel comfortable and at home. It was
+there, also, that I first saw you--there, that I used to sit every
+evening with you in the nice little parlour, with the cheerful green
+wainscoting, when I came from the workshop with old Mr. Flok. I
+remember how, on Sundays and on holidays, he used to take his silver
+goblet from the cupboard in the alcove, and drink with me in such a
+sociable way. And when my piece of trial-work as a journeyman was
+finished, and the large, handsome coffin was put out in state in the
+workshop, do you remember how glad the old man was, and how you sank
+into my arms when he placed your hand in mine, over the coffin, and
+said:
+
+'"Take her, Frants, and be worthy of her! My house shall be your home
+and hers, and everything it contains shall be your property when I am
+sleeping in this coffin, awaiting a blessed resurrection."'
+
+'Ah! but all that never came to pass,' sighed Johanna; 'the coffin lies
+empty up in yonder loft, and frightens children in the dark. The dear
+old house is under the ban of evil report, and no one will buy it, or
+even hire it, now, so many strange, unfortunate deaths have taken place
+there.'
+
+'These very circumstances are in our favour, Johanna; on account of
+this state of things Mr. Stork will sell it at a great bargain, and
+give a half year's credit for the purchase-money. In the course of six
+months, surely, the long-protracted settlement of your uncle's affairs
+will be brought to a close, and we shall, at least, have as much as
+will pay what we owe. The house will then be our own, and you will see
+how happy and prosperous we shall be. Surely, it is not the fault of
+the poor house that three children died there of measles, and two
+people of old age, in the course of a few months; and none but silly
+old women can be frightened because the idle children in the street
+choose to scratch upon the walls, "_The Doomed House_." The house is,
+and always will be, liked by me, and if Mr. Stork will accept of my
+offer for it, without any other security than my own word, that
+dwelling shall be mine to-day, and we can move into it to-morrow.'
+
+'Oh, my dear Frants, you cannot think how reluctant I am to increase
+our debt to this Mr. Stork. Believe me, he is not a good man, however
+friendly and courteous he may seem to be. Even my uncle could not
+always tolerate him, though it was not in his nature to dislike any of
+God's creatures. Whenever Mr. Stork came, and began to talk about
+business and bills--my uncle became silent and gloomy, and always gave
+me a wink to retire to my chamber.'
+
+'I know very well Mr. Stork was looking after you then,' said Frants,
+with a smile of self-satisfaction, 'but _I_ was a more fortunate
+suitor. It was a piece of folly on the part of the old bachelor; all
+that, however, is forgotten now, and he has transferred the regard he
+once had for you to me. He never duns me for my rent, he lent me money
+at the time of the child's baptism, and he shows me more kindness than
+anyone else does.'
+
+'But I cannot endure the way in which he looks at me, Frants, and I put
+no faith either in his friendship or his rectitude. The very house
+that he is now about to sell he hardly came honestly by, as he gives
+out--and I cannot understand how he has so large a claim upon the
+property my uncle left; I never heard my uncle speak of it. God only
+knows what will remain for us when all these heavy claims that have
+been brought forward are satisfied; yet my uncle was considered a rich
+man.'
+
+'The lawyers and the proper court must settle that,' replied Frants; 'I
+only know this, that I should be a fool if I did not buy the house
+now.'
+
+'But to say the truth, dear Frants,' urged Johanna, in a supplicating
+tone, 'I am almost afraid to go back to that house, dear as every
+corner of it has been to me from my childhood. I cannot reconcile
+myself to the reality of the painful circumstances said to have
+attended my poor uncle's death. And whenever I pass over _Long Bridge_,
+and near the Dead-house for the drowned, with its low windows, I always
+feel an irresistible impulse to look in, and see if he is not there
+still, waiting to be placed in his proper coffin, and decently buried
+in a churchyard.'
+
+'Ah--your brain is conjuring up a parcel of old nursery tales, my
+Johanna! We have nothing to fear from your good, kind uncle. If indeed
+his spirit could be near us, here on earth, it would only bring us
+blessings and happiness. I am quite easy on that score; he was a pious,
+God-fearing man, and there was nothing in his life to disturb his
+repose after death. Report said that he had drowned himself on purpose,
+but I am quite convinced that was not true. If I had not unluckily been
+away on my travels as a journeyman, and you with your dying aunt--your
+mother's sister, we would most likely have had him with us now. How
+often I have warned him against sailing about alone in Kalleboe Bay!
+But he would go every Sunday. As long as I was in his employ, I always
+made a point of accompanying him, and when I went away he promised me
+never to go without a boatman.'
+
+'Alas! that was an unfortunate Christmas!' sighed Johanna, 'it was not
+until he had been advertised as missing in the newspapers, and Mr.
+Stork had recognized his corpse at the Dead-house for the drowned, and
+had caused him to be secretly buried as a suicide,--it was not until
+all this was over, that I knew he had not been put into his own coffin,
+and laid in consecrated ground.'
+
+'Let us not grieve longer, dear Johanna, for what it was not in our
+power to prevent; but let us rather, in respect to the memory of our
+kind benefactor, put the house in order which he occupied and where he
+worked for us, inhabit it cheerfully, and rescue it from mysterious
+accusations and evil reports. _Our_ welfare was all he thought of, and
+laboured for.'
+
+'As you will then, dear Frants!' said Johanna, yielding to his
+arguments. She hastened at the same moment to take up from its cradle
+the child, who had just awoke, and holding it out to its young father,
+she added, 'May God protect this innocent infant, and spare it to us!'
+
+Frants kissed the mother and the child, smoothed his brown hair, and
+taking his hat down from its peg, he hurried off to conclude the
+purchase on which he had set his heart.
+
+He returned in great spirits, and the next day the little family
+removed to the house which belonged to Mr. Flok, Frants was rejoiced to
+see his old master's furniture, which he had bought at an auction,
+restored to its former place, and he felt almost as if the easy-chair
+and the bureau, formerly in the immediate use of the old man, must
+share in his gladness. But the baker's wife at the corner of the street
+shrugged her shoulders, and pitied the handsome young couple, whom she
+considered doomed to sickness and misfortune, because five corpses
+within the last six months had been carried out of that house; and
+because there was an inscription on its walls, that however often it
+had been effaced had always reappeared. 'Et Forbandet Haus'--'The
+Doomed House'--stood there, written in red characters, and all the old
+crones in the neighbourhood affirmed that the words were _written in
+blood!_
+
+'Mark my words,' said the baker's wife at the corner of the street, to
+her daughter, 'before the year is at an end, we shall have another
+coffin carried out of that house.'
+
+
+Frants the joiner had bestirred himself to set all to rights in the
+long-neglected workshop, and Johanna had put the house in nice order,
+and arranged everything as it used to be in days gone by. The little
+parlour, with the green wainscoting and the old fashioned alcove, had
+its former chairs and tables replaced in it; the bureau occupied its
+ancient corner, and the easy-chair again stood near the stove, and
+seemed to await its master's return. Often, as the young couple sat
+together in the twilight, while the blaze of the fire in the stove cast
+a cheerful glare through its little grated door on the hearth beneath,
+they missed the old man, and talked of him with sadness and affection.
+But Johanna would sometimes glance timidly at the empty leather
+arm-chair--and when the moon shone in through the small window panes,
+she would at times even fancy that she saw her uncle sitting there--but
+pale and bloody, and with dripping wet hair.
+
+She would then exclaim, 'Let us have lights; the baby seems restless. I
+must see what is the matter with it.'
+
+One evening there were no candles downstairs. She had to go for them up
+to the storeroom in the garret. She lighted a small taper that was in
+the lantern, and went out of the room, while Frants rocked the infant's
+cradle to lull it to sleep. But she had only been a few minutes gone,
+when he heard a noise as if of some one having fallen down in the loft
+above, and he also thought he heard Johanna scream; he quitted the
+cradle instantly, and rushing upstairs after her, he found her lying in
+a swoon near the coffin, with the lantern in her hand, though its light
+was extinguished. Exceedingly alarmed he carried her downstairs,
+relighted the taper, and used every effort to recover her from her
+fainting fit. When she was better, and somewhat composed, he asked in
+much anxiety what had happened. 'Oh! I am as timid as a foolish child,'
+said Johanna. 'It was only my poor uncle's coffin up yonder that
+frightened me. I would have begged you to go and fetch the candles, but
+I was ashamed to own my silly fears, and when the current of air blew
+out the light in my lantern up there, it seemed to me as if a spectre's
+death-cold breathing passed over my face, and I fancied I saw amidst
+the gloom the lid of the coffin rising--so I fainted away in my
+childish terror.'
+
+'That coffin shall not frighten you again,' said Frants, 'I will
+advertise it to-morrow for sale.' He did so, but ineffectually, for no
+one bought it.
+
+One day Mr. Stork made his appearance, bringing with him the contract
+and deed of sale.
+
+He was a tall, strongly-built man, with a countenance by no means
+pleasant, though it almost always wore a smile; but the smile, if
+narrowly scrutinized, had a sinister expression, and seemed to convulse
+his features. He sported a gaudy waistcoat, and was dressed like an old
+bachelor, who was going on some matrimonial expedition, and wished to
+conceal his age. This day he was even more complaisant than usual,
+praised the beauty of the infant, remarked its likeness to its lovely
+mother, and offered Frants a loan of money to purchase new furniture,
+and make any improvements he might wish in the interior of the house.
+Franks thanked him, but declined the offer, assuring him that he was
+quite satisfied with the house and furniture as they were, and wished
+everything about him to wear its former aspect. However, he said, he
+certainly would like to enlarge the workshop by adding to it the old
+lumber-room at the back of the house, the entrance to which he found
+was closed.
+
+Mr. Stork then informed him that there was a door on the opposite side
+of the lumber-room, which opened into the house _he_ occupied, and that
+he had lately been using this empty place as a cellar for his firewood;
+but he readily promised to have it cleared out as speedily as possible,
+and to have the entrance into his own house stopped up.
+
+'Yet,' he added, in a very gracious manner, 'it is hardly necessary to
+have any separation between the two houses, when I have such
+respectable and agreeable neighbours as yourselves.'
+
+'What made you look so crossly at that excellent Mr. Stork, Johanna?'
+asked her husband, when their visitor was gone. 'I am sure he is
+kindness itself. He cannot really help that he has that unfortunate
+contortion of the mouth, which gives a peculiar expression to his
+countenance.'
+
+'I sincerely wish we had some other person as our neighbour, and had
+nothing to do with him!' exclaimed Johanna. 'I do not feel safe with
+such a man near us.'
+
+Frants now worked with equal diligence and patience--and often remained
+until a late hour in the workshop, especially if he had any order to
+finish. He preferred cabinet-making to the more common branches of his
+trade, and was always delighted when he had any pretty piece of
+furniture to construct from one of the finer sorts of wood. But he was
+best known as a coffin-maker, and necessity compelled him to undertake
+more of this gloomy kind of work than he liked. Often when he was
+finishing a coffin, he would reflect upon all the sorrow, and perhaps
+calamity which the work, that provided him and his with bread, would
+bring into the house into which it was destined to enter. And when he
+met people in high health and spirits, on the public promenades, he
+frequently sighed to think how soon he might be engaged in nailing
+together the last earthly resting-places of these animated forms.
+
+One night he was so much occupied in finishing a large coffin, that he
+did not remark how late it had become, until he heard the watchman call
+out 'Twelve.'
+
+At that moment he fancied he heard a hollow voice behind him say,
+
+'Still hammering! And for whom is that coffin?'
+
+He started--dropped the hammer from his hand--and looked round in
+terror, but no one was to be seen.
+
+'It is the old gloomy thoughts creeping back into my mind, and
+affecting my brain, now at this ghastly hour of midnight,' said he; but
+he put away the hammer and nails, and took up his light to go to his
+bed-room. Before he reached the door of the workshop, however, the
+candle which had burned down very low--quite in the socket of the
+candlestick, suddenly went out. He was left in the dark, and in vain he
+groped about to find the door--at any other time he would have laughed
+at the circumstance, but now it rather added to his annoyance that
+three times he found himself at the door of the lumber-room, instead of
+getting hold of the one which opened into his house. The third time he
+came to it, he stopped and listened, for he fancied he heard something
+moving within the empty room; a light also glimmered through a chink in
+the door which was fastened, and on listening more attentively he
+thought he distinctly heard a sound as if buckets of water were being
+dashed over the floor, and some one scrubbing it with a brush. 'It is
+an odd time to scour the floor,' he thought, and then knocking at the
+door, and raising his voice--he called out loudly to ask who was there,
+and what they were doing at so late an hour. At that moment the light
+disappeared, and all became as still as death.
+
+'I must have been mistaken,' thought Frants, as he again tried to find
+the door he had at first sought. In spite of himself, a dread of some
+evil--or of something supernatural, seemed to haunt him, and the image
+of his old master--who was drowned--appeared before him in that dark
+workshop, where they had spent so many cheerful hours together. At last
+he found the door, and retired as quickly as possible to his chamber,
+where his wife and child were both fast asleep. He, too, at length fell
+asleep, but he was restless in his slumbers, and disturbed by strange
+dreams. In the course of the night he dreamed that his wife's uncle,
+Mr. Flok, stood before him, and said,
+
+'Why was I not placed in my coffin? Why was I not laid in a Christian
+burying-ground? Seek, and you will find--destroy the curse, before it
+destroys you also!'
+
+In the morning when he awoke he looked so pale and ill that Johanna was
+quite alarmed; but he did not like to frighten her by telling her his
+dreams, and, indeed, he was ashamed at the impression they had made
+upon himself, for, notwithstanding all the confidence he had expressed
+on coming to the house, he could not help feeling nervous and
+uncomfortable.
+
+Nor did the unpleasant sensation wear off, his gay spirits vanished,
+and he was also unhappy because the time was approaching when the
+purchase-money for the house would become due, and the settlement of
+the old man's affairs, to which he had looked forward in expectation of
+obtaining his wife's inheritance, seemed to be as far off as ever. He
+found it difficult to meet the small daily expenses of his family, and
+he feared the threatening future.
+
+'Seek and you will find!' he repeated to himself; 'destroy the curse
+before it destroys you! What curse? I begin to fear that there really
+is some evil doom connected with this house.'
+
+It was also a very unaccountable circumstance that however often he
+scratched out the mysterious inscription from the wall--'The Doomed
+House'--it appeared again next day in characters as fresh and red as
+ever. His health began to give way under all his anxiety, and the child
+also became ill. One evening he had been taking a solitary walk to a
+spot which had now a kind of morbid fascination for him--the Dead-house
+for the drowned--and when he returned home, he found Johanna weeping by
+the cradle of her suffering infant.
+
+'You were right,' he exclaimed, 'we were happier in our humble garret
+than in this ill-fated house. Would that we had remained there! Tell
+me, Johanna, of what are you thinking? Has the doctor been here? What
+does he say of our dear little one?'
+
+'If it should get worse towards night, there lies our last hope,' she
+replied, pointing towards the table.
+
+Frants took up the prescription, and gazed on the incomprehensible
+Latin words, as if therein he would have read his fate. The tears stood
+in his eyes.
+
+'And to-morrow,' said Johanna, 'to-morrow will be a day of misery. Have
+you any means of paying Mr. Stork?'
+
+'None whatever! But _that_ is a small evil compared to _this_,' he
+answered, as he pointed to the feverish and moaning infant. 'Have you
+been to the workshop?' he continued, after a pause, 'the large coffin
+is finished; perhaps it may be our own last home--it would hold us
+all!'
+
+'Oh! if that could only be!' exclaimed Johanna, as she threw her arms
+round him. 'Could we only all three be removed together to a better
+world, there would be no more sorrow for us! But the hour of separation
+is close at hand; to-morrow, if you cannot pay Mr. Stork, you will be
+cast into prison, and I shall sit alone here with that dying child!'
+
+'What do you say? Cast into prison! How do you know that? Has that man
+been here frightening you? He has not hinted a syllable of such a
+threat to me.'
+
+Johanna then related to him how Mr. Stork had latterly often called,
+under pretence of wishing to see Frants, but always when he was out. He
+had made himself very much at home, and had overwhelmed her with
+compliments and flattering speeches; he had also declared frequently
+that he would not trouble Frants for the money he owed him, if she
+would pay the debt in another manner. At first, she said, she did not
+understand him, and when she _did_ comprehend his meaning, she did not
+like to mention it to Frants, for fear of his taking the matter up
+warmly, and quarrelling with Stork, which would bring ruin on himself.
+Mr. Stork, however, had become more bold and presuming, and that very
+evening, on her repelling his advances and desiring him to quit her
+presence, he had threatened that if she mentioned a syllable of what
+had passed to her husband, nay, farther, if she were not prepared to
+change her behaviour towards himself before another sun had set, Frants
+should be thrown into prison for debt, and might congratulate himself
+in that pleasant abode on the fidelity of his wife.
+
+'Well,' said Frants, with forced composure, 'he has got me in his
+toils--but his pitiful baseness shall not crush me. I have, indeed,
+been blind not to detect the villany that lay behind that satanic
+smile, and improvident to let myself be deluded by his pretended
+friendship. But if the Almighty will only spare and protect you, and
+that dear child, I shall not lose courage. Be comforted, my Johanna!'
+
+It was now growing late--the child awoke from the restless sleep of
+fever--it seemed worse, and Frants ran to an apothecary with the
+prescription. 'The last hope!' he sighed, as he hurried along; 'and if
+it should fail--who will console poor Johanna to-morrow evening, when I
+am in a prison, and she has to clad the child in its grave clothes! Oh,
+how we shall miss you--sweet little angel! Was _this_ the happiness I
+dreamt of in the old house? Yes--people are right--it _is_ accursed!'
+
+The apothecary's shop was closed, but the prescription had been taken
+in through a little aperture in the door, and Frants sat down on the
+stone steps to wait until the medicine was ready. It was a clear,
+starry December night, but the sorrowing father sat shivering in the
+cold, and gazing gloomily on the frozen pavement--he was not thinking
+of the stars or of the skies. The watchman passed and bade him 'good
+morning.'
+
+'It will be a good morning, indeed, for me,' thought poor Frants. 'A
+morning fraught with despair.'
+
+At that moment the clock of a neighbouring church struck _one_, and the
+watchman sang, in a full, bass voice, these simple words:
+
+
+                 'Help us, O Jesus dear!
+                  Our earthly cross to bear;
+                  Oh! grant us patience _here_,
+                  And be our Saviour _there!_'
+
+
+Frants heard the pious song, and a change seemed to come over his
+spirit--he raised his saddened eye to the magnificent heavens
+above--gazed at the calm stars which studded the deep blue
+vault--clasped his hands and joined in the watchman's concluding
+words--
+
+
+                 'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help
+                  To make our burden light.'
+
+
+A small phial with the medicine was just then handed out to him,
+through the little sliding window; he paid his last coin for it, and,
+full of hope that _his_ burden might be lightened, hastened to his
+home.
+
+'Did you hear what the watchman was singing, Johanna?' asked Frants,
+when he entered the little green parlour, where the young mother was
+watching by her child.
+
+'Hush, hush,' she whispered, 'he has fallen into an easy and quiet
+sleep. God will have pity upon us--our child will do well now.'
+
+'Why, Johanna, you look as happy as if an angel from heaven had been
+with you, telling you blessed truths.'
+
+'Yes, blessed truths have, as it were, been communicated to me from
+heaven!' replied Johanna, pointing to an old Bible which lay open upon
+the table. 'Look! this is my good uncle's family Bible--that I have not
+seen since he died, and God forgive me--I have thought too little
+lately of my Bible. I found this one to-night far back on the highest
+shelf of the alcove--and its holy words have given me strength and
+comfort. Read this passage, Frants, about putting our whole trust in
+the Lord, whatever may befall us.'
+
+Frants read the portion pointed out to him, and then began to turn over
+the leaves of the well-worn, silver-clasped book. He found a number of
+pieces of paper here and there, but as he saw at a glance that they
+were only accounts and receipts, he did not care to examine them, but
+his attention was suddenly caught by a paper which appeared to be part
+of a journal kept by the old man, the last year of his life. He looked
+through it eagerly, Johanna observed with surprise how his countenance
+was darkening. At length he started up and exclaimed,
+
+'It is horrible!--horrible--Johanna! Some one must have sought to take
+your uncle's life. See, here it is in his own handwriting--listen!' and
+he read aloud:
+
+'God grant that my enemy's wicked plot may not succeed! Why did I let
+my gold get into such iniquitous hands, and place my life at the mercy
+of one more ferocious than a wild beast? He has, cunningly plundered me
+of my wealth--he has bound my tongue by an oath--and now he seeks to
+take my life in secret. But my money will not prosper in his unworthy
+hands--and accursed be the house over whose threshold his feet pass.
+There are human beings who can ruin others in all worldly matters, but
+mortal man has no power over the spirit when death sets it free.'
+
+'What can this mean?' cried Frants, almost wild with excitement. Who is
+the mortal enemy to whom he alludes, but whom he does not name? Who has
+got possession of his house and his means? The same person, no doubt,
+who bound him by an oath to silence, and threatened his life in secret;
+who proclaimed to the world that he had drowned himself, and caused him
+to be buried like a suicide? Why was no other acquaintance called to
+recognize the body? We have no certainty that the drowned man was he.
+Perhaps his bones lie nearer to us than we imagine. Ha! old master, in
+my dream I heard you say, "Seek, and you shall find--why was I not
+put into consecrated ground?" Johanna! what do you think about that
+old lumber-room? There have been some mysterious doings there at
+midnight--there are some still--that floor is washed while we are
+sleeping. Before to-morrow's sun can rise I shall have searched that
+den of murder, from one end to the other.'
+
+'Oh, dearest Frants, how wildly you talk; you make me tremble.'
+
+But as Frants was determined to go, she sat down by the cradle to watch
+her sleeping child, while he took a light and proceeded to the
+workshop. There he seized a hatchet and crow bar, and thus provided
+with implements, he approached the door of the locked chamber.
+
+'The room belongs to me,' said he to himself, 'who has a right to
+prevent me from entering it?'
+
+To force the door by the aid of the iron crowbar, was the work of an
+instant, and without the slightest hesitation he went in, though it
+must be confessed he felt a momentary panic. But that wore off
+immediately, and he began at once to examine the place. Nothing
+appeared, however, to excite suspicion. There were some sacks of wood
+in a corner, and he emptied these, almost expecting to see one of them
+filled with the bones of dead men, but there was no vestige of anything
+of the kind. The floor seemed to be recently washed, for it was yet
+scarcely dry. He then began to take up the boards. At that moment he
+heard the handle of the door which led into the neighbouring house
+turning; holding the hatchet in one hand, and the light, high above his
+head, in the other, he put himself in an attitude of defence, while he
+called out:
+
+'Has anyone a desire to assist me?'
+
+Presently all was still. Frants put down his light, and began again
+hammering at the boards; almost unconsciously he also began to hum
+aloud an air which his old master used always to sing when he was
+engaged in finishing any piece of work. But he had not hammered or
+hummed long before the handle of the door was again turned. This time
+the door opened, and a tall, white figure slowly entered, with an
+expression of countenance as hellish as if its owner had just come from
+the abode of evil spirits.
+
+'What, at it again, old man? Will you go on hammering and nailing till
+Doomsday? Must that song be heard to all eternity?' said a hollow but
+well-known voice--and Frants recognized with horror the ghastly-pale
+and wild-looking sleep-walker, who, with eyes open--but fixed and
+glazed--and hair standing on end, had come in his night-gear from his
+sleeping-chamber.
+
+'Where didst thou lay my bones?' said Frants, as if he had become
+suddenly insane. 'Why was I not placed in my coffin?--why did I not
+enter a Christian burying-ground?'
+
+'Your bones are safe enough,' replied the pallid terrible-looking
+dreamer, 'no one will harm them under my pear-tree.'
+
+'But whom didst thou bury under my name--as a self-murderer, when thou
+didst fasten on me the stain of guilt in death?' asked Frants,
+astonished and frightened at the sound of his own voice, for it seemed
+to him as if a spirit from the other world were speaking through his
+lips.
+
+'It was the beggar,' replied the wretched somnambulist, with a
+frightful contortion of his fiendish face, a sort of triumphant grin.
+'It was only the foreign beggar to whom you gave your old grey cloak
+... but whom I drove from my door that Christmas-eve.'
+
+'Where _he_ lies shalt thou rot--by _his_ side shalt thou meet me on
+the great day of doom!' cried Frants, who hardly knew what he was
+saying. He had scarcely uttered these words when he heard a fearful
+sound, something between a shriek and a groan--and he stood alone with
+his light and his hatchet--for the howling figure had disappeared.
+
+'Was it a dream,' gasped Frants, 'or am I mad? Away, away from this
+scene of murder--but I know _now_ where I shall find that which I
+seek.'
+
+He returned to Johanna, who was sitting quietly by the still sleeping
+child, and was reading the holy Scriptures.
+
+Frants did not tell her what had taken place, and she was afraid to
+ask; he persuaded her to retire to rest, while he himself sat up all
+night to examine further the papers in the old Bible. The next day he
+carried them to a magistrate, and the whole case was brought before a
+court of justice for legal inquiry and judgment.
+
+
+'Was I not right when I said that a coffin would come out of that
+house before the end of the year?' exclaimed the baker's wife at
+the corner of the street, to her daughter, when, some time after, a
+richly-ornamented coffin was borne out of Frants's house. The funeral
+procession, headed by Frants himself, was composed of all the joiners
+and most respectable artisans in the town, dressed in black.
+
+'It is the coffin of old Mr. Flok,' said the baker's daughter, 'he is
+now going to be _really_ buried, they say; I wonder if it be true that
+his bones were found under a tree in Mr. Stork's garden.'
+
+'Quite true,' responded a fishwoman, setting down her creel, while she
+looked at the funeral procession.
+
+'Young Mr. Frants had everything proved before the judge--and that
+avaricious old Stork will have to give up his ill-gotten goods.'
+
+'Ay--and his ill-conducted life too, perhaps,' said the man who kept
+the little tavern near; 'if all be true that folks say, he murdered the
+worthy Mr. Flok.'
+
+'I always thought that fellow would be hanged some day or other--he
+tried to cheat me whenever he could,' added the baker's wife.
+
+'But they must catch him first,' said another; 'nothing has been seen
+of him these last three or four days.'
+
+
+On Christmas-eve there sat a cheerful family in the late Mr. Flok's
+house near the canal. The child had quite recovered, and Frants,
+filling the old silver goblet with wine, drank many happy returns of
+the season to his dear Johanna.
+
+'How little we expected a short time ago to be so comfortable now!' he
+exclaimed. 'Here we are, in our own house, which was intended for us by
+your kind uncle. I am no longer compelled to nail away alone at coffins
+until midnight, but can undertake more pleasant work, and keep
+apprentices and journeymen to assist me. My good old master's name is
+freed from reproach, and his remains now rest in consecrated ground,
+awaiting a blessed and joyful resurrection.'
+
+The lumber-room with its fearful recollections was shut up. The outside
+of the house was painted anew--and the mysterious inscription on the
+wall, thus obliterated, never reappeared.
+
+Frants had occasion one day, shortly after this favourable turn in
+their affairs, to cross the long bridge; and as he passed near the
+Dead-house for the drowned, he went up to the little window, saying to
+himself--'Now I can look in without any superstitious fears, for I know
+that my old master never drowned himself,--THAT foul stain is no longer
+attached to his memory; and his remains have at length obtained
+Christian burial.'
+
+But when he glanced through the window he started back in horror, for
+the discoloured and swollen features of a dead man met his view, and in
+the dreadful-looking countenance before him, he recognized that of the
+murderer--Stork--who had been missing some time.
+
+'Miserable being!' he exclaimed, 'and you have ended your guilty career
+by the same crime with which you charged an innocent man! None will
+miss you in this world except the executioner, whose office you have
+taken on yourself. I know that you had planned my death, but enemy as
+you were, I shall have you laid decently in the grave, and may the
+Almighty have mercy on your soul!'
+
+Prosperity continued to attend the young couple--but the lessons of the
+past had taught them how unstable is all earthly good; the old family
+Bible--now a frequent and favourite study--became the guide of their
+conduct; and when their happiness was clouded by any misfortune, as all
+the happiness of this passing life must sometimes be, they resigned
+themselves without a murmur to the will of Providence, reminding each
+other of the watchman's song on that memorable night when all hope
+seemed to have abandoned them:
+
+
+                 'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help
+                  To make our burden light.'
+
+
+
+
+                          THE FELON'S REVERIE.
+
+                           *   *   *   *   *
+
+
+In a narrow cell sat one who was a prisoner for life. Around him were
+the four dingy walls, covered with great black characters, scratched
+thereon at sundry times with bits of charcoal: but there was no
+pleasure in reading these hieroglyphics, for they were the fruit of
+solitude and melancholy, whose heavy, heavy thoughts had thus expressed
+themselves. High up was placed the little window, the only connection
+with life, with nature, and with the heavens; but the black iron bars
+kept watch over that, and obscured the clear daylight. The links of his
+chain, round his hand and his foot, kept the prisoner bound in his
+dreary cage, but they could not fetter the soul's deep longing after
+liberty.
+
+Days and years had passed in this gloomy cell. A charming, fresh
+summer's morning it was, when the door of this prison was first closed
+on him, and when he was told that Death alone should set him free. Here
+he had remained ever since; severed from the rest of mankind, shut up
+from them as if he had been a wild beast; and their farewell words to
+him had been--that Death alone was to be his deliverer. This was so
+dreadful a thought that he did all he could to drive it away. He worked
+diligently, he whistled, he sang, and he engraved strange names and
+figures on the walls. He frequently gazed up at the window, though he
+could only see through it a dead wall, but over that wall were the blue
+skies. He soon came to know every stone in the wall; he knew where the
+sun cast its streaks of light: where the little streams of water
+trickled down when it rained; there was more variety in the sky--it
+seemed to have compassion upon him, for sometimes the clouds were
+chased along by the wind; sometimes they assumed strange, fantastic
+shapes, and arrayed themselves in crimson and gold, like the gorgeous
+garb of royalty; and sometimes they hung in heavy, dark masses over the
+lofty wall--the boundary of his external world. But he saw no living
+things; and once, when a daring swallow rested for a few minutes on the
+outside ledge of his iron-barred window, he scarcely breathed, in his
+anxiety to enjoy the sight of it as long as possible.
+
+Winter was his saddest time, for _then_ the snow blocked up his
+little window, and intervened between him and the skies; then, too, it
+became so early dark, and daylight was so long of coming. He sang and
+whistled no longer; he worked, indeed, but not so diligently, for his
+tormentor--_thought_--had more power over him. During the short day he
+could partly escape it; but when it became dark--oh! what had it not
+then to recall to him! And the worst was, he was obliged to bear it
+all. He could have silenced another, but he could not hush the voice
+that spoke within himself. In vain he sought to banish remembrance; it
+_would_ haunt him: so he dropped his head upon his hands, and listened.
+
+And it spoke to him of the time when he was a little boy with rosy
+cheeks, who had never done harm to a living being, and who sat or lay
+in the bright sunshine, humming the song his mother had taught him. And
+that mother, who loved him so dearly, who worked for him during the
+day, and slept with him at night--well! She was dead, God be praised!
+'Perhaps if she had lived,' said he to himself. No, no! Does he not
+remember well one day, when the little boy with rosy cheeks was coming
+from school, that he passed a blind old man who was begging, and
+holding out his hat in his hand, that he dived quickly into the hat,
+and caught up the pence some charitable persons had placed in it? No
+one saw him--no one knew that he had done this--why does he now
+remember it with such bitter regret?
+
+His mother died, and a neighbouring family received the orphan kindly;
+consoled and caressed him, and he slept by the side of their dog. But
+they were very poor themselves, and could not maintain him long;
+therefore he was sent to other people, where some one paid a small
+board for him, and where he, the little stranger, was far from being
+well treated. He had too little to eat--and he stole food; therefore he
+was ignominiously turned away, and he fell among wicked people. They
+talked to him of the paths of virtue--but they followed vicious courses
+themselves, and he laughed at their admonitions. He grew older, and he
+went to be confirmed[7] in the House of God; and there he was admitted
+to the Holy Sacrament. The priest laid his hand with blessings on his
+head, and he there pledged his heart to God, and vowed to forsake all
+sin. How comes it that he now so distinctly remembers the solemn tones
+of the organ as he was leaving the church, and the large painting of
+the Saviour close by the altar, which he had turned to look at once
+more before he passed from the crowded aisle? He had never been in that
+church again to pray--alas! never.
+
+He had, indeed, been there again--but it was on another and a reprobate
+errand--and _then_ he was young at that time, and reflected less. Ah!
+_then_, too, he thought more of the young and beautiful girl who had
+knelt next to him at the altar, and with whom he had afterwards taken a
+quiet walk. On other evenings he was wont to spend his time with some
+wild, bad companions, and to join in their giddy mirth and mischievous
+sports; but that evening, their company wearied and disgusted him, and
+he followed the young girl to her father's house. He had now become an
+apprentice: but he was careless and idle: to sit hard at work did not
+suit his taste. And yet these were pleasant days when he looked back on
+them.
+
+He became a journeyman, and was betrothed to his pretty friend of the
+Confirmation-day. She had gone into service, and was a hard-working,
+honest, well-principled girl; _he_ continued to be idle. Often and
+often she entreated him to be more industrious, to seek work, and not
+to waste his time on riot and strife; and often he promised to reform.
+But his only reformation was, that he took more pains to conceal from
+her his bad habits. When he was sitting with her, and her anxious look
+rested upon his dull eyes, or his faded cheek, he felt that it was time
+to stop in his career of evil, and resolved to become a steady and
+respectable workman. But these good resolutions vanished when he left
+her presence. At length the evil spirit within him conquered; he wanted
+money, and stole a watch from a fellow-workman. Then the arm of the law
+seized him, never again to let him go.
+
+After he had undergone the punishment awarded to his theft, he came,
+abashed and with downcast eyes, to his betrothed; but she had heard of
+his guilt. With bitter tears she reproached him for his conduct, and
+she forbade him ever again to show himself in her presence. He was
+furious at her reception of him, and left her, vowing to be revenged.
+Many wild schemes rushed through his brain:--now he determined to
+murder her; now, that she should also be dragged into disgrace. But one
+day he met her in the street, and her pale, tearful, melancholy
+countenance disarmed his wrath, and annihilated his plans of revenge.
+
+And now, as the prisoner scrawls absently with that rusty nail on the
+wall, and his sunken eyes fill with warm tears, what is memory
+recalling to his saddened mind? Ah! is it not that short-lived time of
+early affection--is it not those sweet, calm features--those speaking
+eyes--that love, so true and so pure? Perhaps his fancy paints himself
+as an honest, industrious citizen, as a happy husband and father,
+with _her_ by his side, and in a very different place from that dreary
+cell--in a comfortable home, enjoying all that he so madly threw
+away--love, happiness and respectability! But his thoughts wander on;
+he throws the nail away from him, and leans back, with arms folded
+across his chest.
+
+He left the town and went into the country. There was a voice in his
+soul which urged him to reform. 'Return, return!' it said; 'return, for
+there is yet time!' But another voice also spoke--that of the demon
+which enslaved him; and that demon was--THE HABIT OF IDLENESS.
+Unhappily he then fell in with a depraved wretch--a villain experienced
+in crime--an escaped convict. They wandered about among the peasantry
+and begged; but every door was closed against his companion, with
+unmistakable signs of terror and distrust.
+
+One summer night they had taken shelter in a stable, and he had fallen
+fast asleep. He was awakened by his comrade. 'Get up,' said he, 'men
+will give us nothing--the Lord must help us, therefore.' He thought the
+man alluded to some intended theft, and accompanied him without the
+least reluctance. They stole along the gardens and fences on towards
+the churchyard. He stopped his guide.
+
+'What are we to do here? 'he asked, with uneasiness. 'You surely will
+not--'
+
+'What?' asked the other, laughing.
+
+'Oh, let the dead rest in peace!'
+
+'Fool!' cried the convict, 'do you think I am going to meddle with the
+dead? Follow me!'
+
+And he scaled the walls of the churchyard, and broke open the Gothic
+door of the church. Now he understood what his companion meant to do;
+but his heart beat as if it would have started out of his breast. As he
+went up the aisle, he felt as if he had lead in his shoes--as if the
+flooring held him back at every step--as if it were a whole mile to
+reach the altar. He had not entered the house of God since the day he
+had been there to take upon himself his baptismal vow, and dedicate his
+life to his Creator; and now--now he stood there to plunder! His hands
+trembled violently, as he held open the sack for his comrade, who cast
+into it the silver cups, the silver salvers, and everything that he
+could find of value; and had it not been for fear of his ferocious
+associate, he would assuredly have thrown down the sack and fled, for
+he thought that the picture of Christ over the altar looked earnestly
+and reproachfully at him. When his companion looked up from his
+sacrilegious work, and observed his eyes fixed, as it were, by some
+fearful fascination on the picture, he nodded to it in a scoffing
+manner, and then closed the sack, and left the church.
+
+When they were out of it, the prisoner breathed more freely; and when
+they placed themselves on a tombstone to divide the booty, he received
+without hesitation the portion that his comrade chose to allot to him.
+They buried their treasure in the earth, and separated. But the massive
+altar-plate could not easily be disposed of. He was in want; he begged
+from door to door, but he was driven from them all; so he had again
+recourse to stealing. Since the night that he had been drawn into
+robbing the church, he had felt that he was an outcast from the whole
+world--an outcast from God himself. He knew that punishment was sure to
+overtake him, and he was miserable. His companion in guilt was soon
+after arrested; he confessed all, and they were both imprisoned, and
+put to hard labour.
+
+But he had not yet quite lost all hope. He determined to work in future
+for his daily bread. He came out of gaol a half-savage, half-frightened
+being--lonely and deserted--bearing upon him that brand of infamy which
+never more could be erased; but he had made up his mind to labour, and
+he went far away to seek for employment.
+
+It was the harvest-time. God had blessed the fields, and there were not
+reapers enough to gather in the corn. No question was asked whence he
+came, but his services were immediately accepted. There was something
+in this display of the bounty of the Creator, in this activity, in this
+working in the free open air, that pleased him; for the first time in
+his life he toiled cheerfully. But the country people did not like him;
+his look was downcast and dark--he was rough and passionate, abrupt in
+speech, and he spoke little. After the farm-servants had one day
+proposed to him to go to church, and he had refused positively, but
+with an air of embarrassment, he was looked upon with great suspicion.
+There was but one face that always smiled at him, and that was the face
+of the youngest boy upon the farm. He had won the child's heart by
+having once cut out some little boats for him, and sailed them in the
+pond; and from that time the child always clapped his hands with joy
+when he saw him. It was so new, so delightful to him to be beloved,
+that he felt himself insensibly attracted towards the little creature.
+He indulged him in all his childish whims, carried him about in his
+arms, made toys for him, and seemed to feel himself well rewarded by
+the innocent child's attachment.
+
+Thus passed the winter. Peace, hitherto unknown to him, was creeping
+into his heart; and when he stood in spring on the fields with the
+sprouting seeds, and heard the lark's blithe carol, a new light began
+to dawn on his benighted mind. One day, when he returned from the
+fields towards the farm-yard, his little friend ran up to him, jumping
+and playing. He stretched out his arms to the child, but in an instant
+he started back, pale and horror-stricken. His former associate stood
+before him, with a malignant smile upon his sinister countenance, and
+held out his hand to him, while he said, in a tone of bitter irony,--
+
+'So, from all I hear, you are playing the honest man in the place!
+Excuse me for interrupting your rural content, but I have been longing
+so much for you.'
+
+'Away, demon!' cried the unfortunate man. 'Go, go, and leave me in
+peace!'
+
+'Not so fast!' replied the other, with a withering sneer. 'I have told
+the people of the farm who you are. Do you think I am going to lose so
+useful a comrade?'
+
+At that moment the grandfather of the child came up, and when he saw
+the little boy in the arms of him whom he had just been told was a
+malefactor, he snatched him hurriedly away, in spite of the child's
+tears and cries; and applying many abusive epithets to the man, ordered
+him instantly to leave the farm. The disturber of his peace carried him
+off with him, while his fiendish laughter rang around!
+
+See! the prisoner's chest is heaving with emotion. Hark! what deep
+sighs seem to rend his heart, while a few scalding tears are falling
+from his eyes! Of what is he dreaming now?
+
+He sees himself, in the grey dawn of day, stealthily creeping along the
+hedges that surround the farm, to catch a glimpse of his little
+favourite. He beholds the infant's soft cheek wet with the tears of
+affection; he feels his tiny arms clasped lightly round his neck; the
+kind words of farewell ring in his ears; he listens again for the sound
+of the retiring little footsteps, as the child is leaving him, and sees
+the little hand waving to him a last adieu from the door of his
+mother's house. As he then threw himself down beneath the hedge on the
+dewy grass, and burst into tears, he now hides his face on his hard
+pallet, and sobs aloud.
+
+But he has risen from that recumbent position. He wrings his hands, and
+his teeth chatter, in his solitary cell. What horror is passing through
+his mind? What agonizing remembrance has seized him, and is shaking
+soul and body, as the roaring tempest shakes the falling leaves? Let it
+stand forth from its dark concealment! In vain he presses his hands on
+his bloodshot eyes not to behold that scene--in vain he tries to close
+his ears against those voices--the blackest night of his gloomy prison
+cannot veil _that_ picture, for it arises from the darkest depths of
+his inmost soul.
+
+Listen how his evil-minded associate tempts him, and draws him on!
+
+'Yon old man at the farm has plenty of money--ready money--do you hear?
+Do you think I lost my time there? His daughter and her husband are his
+heirs; they do not need his gold so much as we do. The old man sleeps
+in that low house near the larger one. It is but a step through the
+window, and we shall be rich for a long time.'
+
+'But what if he should awake, and recognize us?' asked the prisoner,
+with much anxiety.
+
+The other made a gesture which shocked him. He started back.
+
+'No, no!' he cried, shuddering; 'no blood!'
+
+His companion laughed.
+
+'What matters it whether the old man dies a few days sooner or later?
+People have generally no objection to the death of those to whom they
+are to be heirs. And have you forgotten how roughly he spoke to you?
+How he abused you, and drove you away? At that time I am sure you
+thirsted for revenge. Besides, how are you going to live? Perhaps you
+think you may find some good-natured fool to take a fancy to you; but
+you forget that _I_ like you too well to separate from you.'
+
+Want, fear, revengeful feelings, got the better of him; but at night,
+when like two spectres they glided along the road, it seemed to him
+constantly as if some one saw him; and notwithstanding his companion's
+ridicule, he frequently looked back. And truly there was ONE who
+watched him, but not with any mortal eye. They opened the window, and
+got in one after the other, and easily found the old man's desk, which
+was in the next room. The robber's practised hand soon opened it, and
+he was about to take its contents, when the door of the bedroom was
+suddenly thrown back and rapidly shut, and the old man, who was still
+hale and strong, entered, armed with a thick cudgel. A short but
+furious struggle ensued; he remembered having seized him by the back of
+his neck with both his hands, and dragged him down on the floor; he
+remembered having heard some dull blows, that made him shiver with
+horror, and then having stood in breathless dismay by a dead body. The
+two criminals looked at each other with faces of ashy hue; then the
+most hardened kicked the corpse to one side, and went to secure the
+booty, while the prisoner opened the door of the sleeping-room to
+search it.
+
+But--oh, anguish unspeakable! oh, avenging God!--who should spring
+forward to meet him, clinging to his knees and imploring his
+protection--who but his innocent, unfortunate little favourite! He
+started back, speechless and powerless; but when he beheld his comrade,
+without uttering one word, brandish his knife, he clasped the child
+with one arm in a convulsive embrace, and stretched out the other to
+defend him against the ruffian.
+
+'Shall he be left to betray us both to-morrow?' mumbled the wretch. 'He
+must die, for your sake as well as mine.'
+
+'Oh, let us take him with us!' prayed the other, in the deepest
+agitation, while he tried to keep off the knife, which, however, he did
+with difficulty, as the child held fast to his arm, and, in his terror
+at the murderous weapon, hid his little face on that breast where he
+had so often rested in happy confidence, his silver voice murmuring his
+childish love.
+
+'You are mad,' said his companion. 'What should we do with the boy? Let
+go your hold of him, I say--we have no time to lose--let him go, or it
+will cost you your own life.'
+
+The quivering lips of the miserable man had scarcely uttered a prayer
+to wait, at least, till he could withdraw, when the child was torn from
+him, and like a maniac he rushed away, sprang out of the window, threw
+himself upon the ground, and buried his head among the long damp grass.
+What a moment of agony! Such agony, that at the remembrance of it the
+prisoner groaned aloud, and dashed his head against the stone wall,
+then coiled himself up like a worm, as if he would fain have shrunk
+into nothing.
+
+The dear-bought, blood-stained booty was divided, and the criminal
+associates separated. But suspicion fell upon them; they were pursued,
+and soon taken. On being carried before a magistrate, he denied it all;
+yet when he was placed by the dead body of the murdered child, guilt
+spoke in his stiff, averted head--in the tell-tale perspiration that
+stood on his brow--and in his clenched and trembling hands. He
+confessed, and implored to be removed, even to prison, from the
+harrowing spectacle. His accomplice was condemned to death, he himself
+to imprisonment for life.
+
+There he was now, alone with the dreadful recollections of former
+days. The summer came and went, without bringing any other joy to him
+than that the sun's rays fell broader, and more golden in their gleams
+upon the wall outside that bounded his narrow view; and that now and
+then a bird would fly over it, quiver a few notes, then wing its flight
+away. That sight always awoke a voice in his heart that cried for
+'Freedom--freedom!' But he would hush it with the thought, that he
+could not be happier were he at liberty than in his dungeon cell. At
+other times, he would take a violent longing to see a green leaf--only
+a single green leaf--or a corn-blossom from the fields, or a blade of
+grass. Ah! these were vain wishes! When winter came, and the sun and
+the daylight forsook him so soon, he was still more gloomy, for he
+could not sleep the whole of the long, long night, and the phantoms
+that haunted him were terrific.
+
+Once--it was a Christmas night--he was reflecting on all the joy that
+was abroad in the world, and he thought if it would not be possible for
+him to pray. Then long-forgotten words returned to his lips, and he
+faltered out, 'Our Father, which art in heaven!'--but _then_ he
+stopped.
+
+'God is in heaven,' thought he, 'how can He condescend to hear the sigh
+that arises from the hell within my breast? No, no--it is but mocking
+Him for _me_ to pray!'
+
+Days and years had gone by since the prisoner had inhaled the breath of
+the fresh balmy air, had beheld the extended vault of heaven, or
+wandered in the bright, warm sunshine; at length the spirit had
+exhausted the body. He lay ill and feeble, and death was near. Then was
+the narrow door of his dungeon opened, and he was removed to a more
+cheerful place--to a place where the blessed air and light were freely
+admitted, and where the voices of human beings were around him. But
+their compassion came too late. Earnestly did he entreat them to let
+him see a minister of the Gospel; and when one came, he poured out the
+misery of his soul to him. He listened with the deepest attention while
+the holy man discoursed about Him, who, in His boundless love, shed His
+own blood to wash out the sins of mankind, and in whose name even the
+darkest and most guilty criminal might dare to raise his blood-stained
+hands in prayer. How consoling were not these precious words to him,
+'My God and my Saviour! With what an earnest longing he waited to be
+permitted to participate in that solemn rite which, by grace and faith,
+was to unite him to that Redeemer! And how he trembled lest the lamp of
+his mortal life should be extinguished before the first spark of that
+sacred flame was lighted, which was to be kindled for an endless
+eternity!
+
+The time that his repentant spirit so thirsted for arrived. And when he
+had partaken of the holy communion, and tears of penitent sorrow had
+streamed over his burning cheeks, peace--long unknown--returned to his
+weary heart, and his gratitude found vent in thanksgivings and prayer.
+
+'Oh!' he exclaimed, as he looked out of his open window, 'it is spring,
+my friends--I feel that it is spring, beautiful spring!'
+
+'Yes,' replied the superintendent of the hospital, 'it is spring; even
+the old tree by the wall is green. See here, as I passed it, I broke
+off this budding twig for you;' and he placed the little green branch
+in the hand of the dying man.
+
+'Oh!' said he, with a melancholy smile and a tear in his eye, 'that
+old, decayed, withered tree--can it put forth new leaves--fresh, green,
+sweetly scented as these? May I not then venture to hope that the
+Almighty may call forth a new life from me in another world? Oh, that
+such may be His will!'
+
+And with the green bough--the proof of God's power and goodness in his
+hand, and with his Redeemer's promise on his lips, he passed to his
+everlasting doom, in the blessed hope that he also might touch the hem
+of his Saviour's garment, and hear these words of life--'Son, thy sins
+be forgiven thee!'
+
+
+
+
+                             MORTEN LANGE.
+
+                           A Christmas Story.
+
+                      BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
+
+
+   Each midnight from the farthest Thule, to isles the South Sea laves,
+   To exercise themselves awhile the dead forsake their graves;
+   But when it is the Christmas time they stay much longer out,
+   And may in the churchyard be seen, then, wandering about;
+   And as they dance their merry rounds, the rattling of their bones
+   Produces, 'midst the wintry blasts, somewhat unearthly tones.
+   Poor things! For them there's neither wine, nor punch, nor supper
+      there,
+   The icicles are all they have, and a mouthful of fresh air.
+   When shines the moon strange forms are seen, tall spectral giants
+      some:
+   Such sights as these might even strike a chattering Frenchman dumb.
+   Scoff not at my poor hero, then, though once in a sad fright--
+   He is a most discreet young man, and Morten Lange hight.
+
+   One Christmas night the fates ordained a journey he must make,
+   So, for despatch, 'twas his resolve a horse and sledge to take.
+   Dark was the hour, and in the skies the ranks of stars looked pale,
+   While from a tower near hooted owls, as in a German tale.
+   And Morten Lange, by-the-by, was not unlearned, for
+   About Molboerne's exploits[8]--also the Trojan war,
+   'Octavianus,' Nisses, Trolls, Hobgoblins well he knew,
+   And all about 'the spectre white,' whose story is so _true_.
+   Too soon the sledge stood at the door, with many a jingling bell;
+   But ah! these sounds to his sad ears seemed like his funeral knell.
+   Yet, though the snow-flakes fell around, of them he took no heed,
+   But like a British runaway pair, he started at full speed.
+   He passed a regiment of old trees, whitened from top to toe,
+   And soon he gained an open plain, where nought he saw but snow.
+   Like Matthison's 'Gedichte,' 'twas very, very cold,
+   But still our hero tried to think that he was warm and bold.
+   He did not care to gaze about, and so half-closed his eyes;
+   Yet, spite of this precaution--lo! a curious sight he spies:
+   A muster of the Elfin-folk enjoying a gay spree,
+   The men were just five inches high, the women only three;
+   And though 'twas at the chill Yule-time, when cold reigns over all,
+   In clothes of flimsy cobwebs made, they capered at their ball;
+   The ancient dames, however, wore some more substantial gear,
+   For of bats' wings their shawls were formed--but, softly--what
+      comes here?
+
+   Twelve harnessed mice, with trappings grand, fit for a monarch's
+      own,
+   They draw a car of fairy work, where a lady sits alone.
+   It stops, and Morten Lange sees the lady getting out--
+   'Heav'n help me now! Heav'n help me now!' he sighed, for he dared
+      not shout.
+   'I'm no poltroon, and yet I feel the blood within my veins
+   Is freezing fast.' In mortal fear, his cold hand dropped the reins;
+   Then stooping to recover them out of the sledge he fell,
+   And with it scampered off the horse, whither he could not tell.
+   He felt that his last hour was come, all helpless as he lay--
+   And with such thoughts upon his mind he fainted quite away.
+
+   At length, when consciousness returned, and when his swoon was o'er,
+   He heard a fearful buzzing sound, that frightened him still more.
+   What had he done to be exposed that night to such alarms?
+   A troop of demons round him thronged--one imp secured his arms.
+   Another seized his lanky legs, another caught his head--
+   And powerless to resist them then, away with him they sped.
+   They carried him to some strange place, flames shone upon the walls,
+   Into another fainting-fit, half-dead with fright, he falls,
+   But when the pains of death seemed past, and trembling he looked
+      round,
+   He saw that in the other life a sad fate he had found.
+   The vaulted roof was black with smoke, and awful was the heat;
+   The devils stood with naked arms--he dared not scan their feet.
+   One held a hammer in his hand, and threatening, waved it nigh,
+   And in a burning furnace there, red flames were flashing high.
+   Soon guessed our hero where he was, and set himself to kneel,
+   And lustily for mercy prayed--but they laughed at his appeal.
+
+   Then to his side an angel came, benignant was her smile,
+   And holding out her small white hand, she said to him the while;
+   'Well, Heaven be praised, you're better now! But why are you
+      afraid?'
+   Shaking with fear in every limb, in a faint voice he said:
+   'Oh, angel! 'tis not death I dread, but help me out of hell!'
+   The angel laughed: 'You're in good hands--you ought to know us well.
+   This is the smithy--from your sledge thrown out upon the ground,
+   Lying alone amidst the snow half-frozen you were found;
+   And I'm no angel, bless your heart! I'm Annie, don't you see?'
+   Rubbing his eyes, and staring round, up Morten jumped in glee;
+   And that he soon forgot his fright 'tis needless to declare--
+   The roasted goose, the foaming ale, and other Christmas fare,
+   As might be guessed, put all to rights--and Annie by his side
+   At supper sat, that Christmas night, as Morten Lange's bride.
+
+
+                       _Note by the Translator_.
+
+The ghost-story alluded to--'Den hvide Qvinde' (The White Woman)--is to
+be found in Thiele's collection of Danish 'Folkesagn.' This spectre is
+said to haunt some old ruins near Flensborg. Two soldiers, long, long
+ago, were keeping their night-watch on the ramparts of the castle; one
+of them left his post for a short time, and when he was gone the other
+sentry was approached by a tall female figure in white, who accosted
+him thus:--'I am an unblessed spirit, who have wandered here for many
+hundred years, and have never found rest in the grave.' She then
+informed him that under the walls was buried an immense treasure, which
+could only be found by _three_ men in the world, and that he was one of
+the three. The soldier, fancying his fortune made, promised to obey her
+in all things, and received her command to be on the spot the following
+midnight. In the meantime the other sentinel had returned to his post,
+and had overheard what the spectre had related to his comrade. He said
+not a word, however, but the next night he went to the appointed place,
+and concealed himself in some recess close by. When the soldier who was
+to dig for the treasure arrived, with his spade and other implements,
+the white spectre appeared to him, but knowing that he was watched, she
+put off the _digging_ till another night. The man who had intended to
+act as a spy was taken suddenly ill as soon as he got home; and feeling
+that he was about to die, he sent for his comrade, confessed that he
+had watched him, implored him to avoid witchcraft and supernatural
+beings, and recommended him to consult the priest, who was a wise and
+good man.
+
+The soldier took his advice, and laid the matter before the priest, who
+directed him to do the spectre's bidding, only taking care that _she_
+should be the first to touch the treasure. The man accordingly met the
+ghost at the appointed time and place, and she showed him the spot
+where the treasure was deposited; but before taking it up, she told him
+that one half would be for him, and the other half must be divided
+between the church and the poor. But the demon of avarice had entered
+into his heart, and he exclaimed: 'What! shall I not have the whole of
+it?' Scarcely had these words passed his lips, than the spirit uttered
+a fearful thrilling cry, and disappeared in a blue flame over the
+castle moat. The soldier was taken ill, and died three days afterwards.
+The story became noised about, and a poor student determined to try his
+luck. He repaired to the old castle at midnight, saw the wandering
+'White Woman,' told her his errand and offered his services. But she
+informed him that he was not one of the chosen three, and could not
+assist her, and that the walls would thenceforth stand so firmly, that
+hand of man should never overthrow them. However, she promised at some
+future time to reward him for his good intentions.
+
+One day, long after, when he happened to be loitering near the old
+castle, and thinking with compassion of the fate of the restless spirit
+who haunted it, he stumbled over something; and, on stooping to see
+what it was, he discovered a large heap of gold, of which he forthwith
+took possession. As foretold by the spectre, the walls of the castle
+are still standing, and the story goes, that whenever any portion of
+them has been overthrown, it has always been raised again by invisible
+agents during the night. Matter-of-fact people assert that the locality
+of this ghost tradition is a _hill_, not a _castle_.
+
+
+
+
+                           A TALE OF JUTLAND.
+
+                           BY S. S. BLICHER.
+
+
+I had often beheld the highest hill in Denmark, but had not hitherto
+ascended it. Frequently as I had been in its neighbourhood, the
+objects of my journeys had always required me to turn off in another
+direction, and I was thus obliged to content myself with seeing at some
+distance the Danish Schwarzwald; and as I passed on, to cast a hurried
+glance down the valleys to the charming lake, dotted with green leafy
+islets, and which winds, as it were, round jagged tongues of land. At
+length I overcame all obstacles, and resolved to devote two days to a
+pleasure-trip amidst this much-admired scenery. My cousin Ludwig, who
+had just arrived from the capital, agreed to accompany me.
+
+The morning was clear and warm, and gave the promise of a fine evening,
+but shortly after mid-day there gradually arose in the south-west a
+range of whitish clouds tinged at the sides with flame-colour. My
+cousin did not notice them; but I, who am experienced in the signs of
+the weather, recognized these indications of thunder, and announced to
+him 'that the evening would not be as fine as the morning.' We were
+riding exactly in such a direction that we had these clouds opposite to
+us, and could, therefore, perceive how they kept rising higher and
+higher, how they became darker at the base, and how they towered like
+mountains of snow over the summit of the hill. Imagination pictured
+them to us like the Alps of Switzerland, and we tried to fancy
+ourselves in that mountainous country; we saw Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn,
+and the Jungfrau; in the valleys between the clouds we pictured to
+ourselves the glaciers; and when a solitary mass of cloud, breaking
+suddenly, sank down, and seemed to mingle with the mountain chain, we
+called it an avalanche which would overwhelm villages and scattered
+chalets with everlasting snow. We continued, absolutely with childish
+pleasure, to figure to ourselves in the skies the majestic scenery of
+the Alps, and were quite wrapt up in our voluntary self-deception, when
+the sudden roar of thunder awoke us from our fantastic dreams. Already
+there stretched scarcely the thinnest line of light in the heavens
+above us, and the wood which lay before us seemed as if in a moment
+enveloped in a thick mist by the fast-falling rain. We had been too
+long dilatory, and now we rode as hard as possible to reach the nearest
+village; and we were soaked to the skin before we got to Alling, where
+we sought shelter under an open gateway.
+
+The owner of the place, an elderly farmer, who seemed a sort of
+half-savage foreigner to us, received us with old Danish hospitality;
+he had our horses taken to his stable, and invited ourselves into his
+warm parlour. As soon as he observed our drenched condition, he offered
+us garments belonging to his two sons to wear while our own wet ones
+were dried by the blazing hearth. Joyfully did we avail ourselves of
+his kind proposal; and in a room upstairs, called the best apartment,
+we soon made the comfortable change of apparel, while laughing and
+joking at our unexpected travestie. Equipped as peasant lads in their
+Sunday's clothes, we shortly after rejoined the family. Our host was
+much amused at the change in our outward men, and warmly extolled our
+homely appearance, while his two daughters smiled, and stole sly
+glances at us--
+
+
+        'Blushed the Valkyries, whilst they turned and laughed.'
+
+
+The coffee-urn stood ready on the table, surrounded by china cups; the
+refreshing beverage, amply provided with brown sugar and rich
+unadulterated cream, poured out and handed by one of the pretty
+daughters, speedily restored genial heat to our chilled blood; and then
+the father of the family thought it time to inquire the names,
+occupations, and places of abode of his unexpected guests.
+
+Meanwhile the thunderstorm had passed away; the sun smiled again in the
+cloudless west; far away to the east, indeed, could still be heard the
+distant whistling and rattling of the winds, but where we were all was
+mild and tranquil. The spirits of the storm had folded their dripping
+wings, and the raindrops sparkled like diamonds upon every leaf and
+flower. The evening promised once more to resemble the morning in
+beauty.
+
+'And now for the ascent of the mountains!' we exclaimed to each other.
+
+'But your clothes?' interrupted the farmer. We hastened into an outer
+room, where the other fair daughter was busy drying them; but, alas!
+they were still quite damp, and she said she feared she could not
+promise that they would be in a fit state to be put on for at least an
+hour; and then it would probably be too late to enjoy the view from the
+top of the hill, as the ascent, proceeding from where we were at that
+moment, would take, perhaps, another hour. What was to be done? The
+good-natured countryman helped us out of our dilemma.
+
+'If you are not ashamed of wearing the boys' clothes,' said he, 'why
+should you not keep them on?'
+
+'That is a capital idea,' we both replied, and thanking him for the
+offer, as we shook hands with him cordially, we asked him where we
+could find a guide.
+
+'I will myself be your guide,' he said, as he took from a corner a
+juniper-stick for each of us. We then lost no time in commencing our
+journey, and still more gaily than before, for we were much amused at
+our masquerade, especially my cousin, who seemed to feel no small
+admiration for himself in the rustic blue frock-coat, ornamented
+with silver buttons--the jack-boots--and the head surmounted by a
+high-crowned hat.
+
+'I sincerely wish,' said he, 'that we could fall in with some other
+travellers up yonder; that would be great fun.'
+
+Our guide laughed, and hinted that he would not be able to talk like
+the peasantry.
+
+'Yes, I can though,' said my cousin, who immediately began to speak in
+the Jutland dialect, to the infinite diversion of the worthy Peder
+Andersen who, however, found still another stumbling-block to the
+perfections of the pretended peasant--namely, that his nice white hands
+would betray him.
+
+'I can put them in my pocket' ('A ka put em i e Lomm),' cried my gay
+cousin, who was determined to admit of no drawback to his assumed
+character.
+
+Presently we reached the river Gudenade, which is here tolerably wide,
+and has rather a swift current. We crossed in a boat something like a
+canoe, and then entered on quite another kind of a country; for here
+commenced the moorlands, covered with heather whose dark tints formed
+a strong contrast to the bright green on the east of the river. We
+had yet a good way to walk, and as the heather, which almost reached up
+to our knees, was still wet with rain, we had good reason to be
+grateful to our long boots. We approached the wood--a wood of
+magnificent beech-trees--which appeared to me here doubly beautiful,
+standing out, as it did, against so dark a background. Amidst sloping
+dales the path wound always upward; but the thickness of the foliage
+for a time deprived us of any view. At last we emerged from the wood,
+and found ourselves upon the open summit of the mountain.
+
+When I hear delightful music, or witness an interesting theatrical
+representation, I always like to enjoy it for a time in silence.
+Nothing acts more unpleasantly, jars more on my feelings, than when any
+one attempts to call my attention to either. The moment the remark is
+made to me, 'How beautiful that is!' it becomes less beautiful to me
+These audible outbursts of admiration are to me like cold shower-baths,
+they quite chill me. After a time, when I have been left undisturbed,
+and by degrees have cooled in my excitement, I am willing to exchange
+thoughts and mingle feelings with those of a friend, or of many
+friends; indeed, I find desire growing within me to unburden, if I may
+so express it, my overladen mind. It is thus that a poet utters his
+inspirations: at the sweet moment when he conceives his ideas, they
+glow within him, but he is silent; afterwards he feels constrained to
+give them utterance; the voice or the pen _must_ afford the full heart
+relief. Our guide's anxiety to please was a dreadful drawback to my
+comfort, for, with the usual loquacity of a cicerone, he began to point
+out and describe all the churches that could be described from the
+place where we were standing, invariably commencing with, 'Yonder you
+see.' I left my cousin to his elucidation of the country round, and,
+wandering to some little distance, I sat down where I could _see_,
+without being compelled to _hear_.
+
+When Stolberg had finished translating Homer into German, he threw down
+his pen, and exclaimed, despondingly, 'Reader, learn Greek, and burn my
+translation!' What is a description of scenery but a translation? Yet
+the most successful one must be as much inferior to the original as the
+highest hill in Jutland is lower than the highest mountain in Thibet.
+Therefore, kind reader, pardon my not describing to you all I saw.
+_What_ I saw I might, perhaps, be able to relate to you, but scarcely
+_how_ I saw it. My pen is no artist's pencil; go yourself and take a
+view of it! But you, who perhaps have stood on the summit of the
+Brochen, or of St. Bernard, smile not that I think so much of our
+little mountain! It is the loftiest that I, or perhaps many of my
+readers, have beheld; therefore, what is diminutive to you is grand to
+us.
+
+I was startled in my meditations by a thump on my shoulder--it was from
+my cousin, who was standing behind me. He informed me that our guide
+had gone home at least half-an-hour, and that I had been sitting for a
+long time perfectly motionless, without giving the slightest sign of
+life. He told me, moreover, that he was tired of such solemn silence,
+and I must really awaken from my fit of abstraction.
+
+'And at what have you been looking that has engrossed your thoughts so
+much?' he added.
+
+'The same as you have been looking at,' I replied: 'Air, and earth, and
+water.'
+
+'Well, cast your eyes down now towards the lake,' said he, handing me
+his spy-glass, 'and you will see that there are some strangers coming
+over this way.'
+
+I took the glass and perceived a boat a little way from the shore,
+which seemed to be steering straight across the water; it was full of
+people, and three straw bonnets indicated that there were women among
+them. My cousin proposed that we should await their coming, although it
+would be late before we should reach our quarters for the night at
+Alling. As the evening was so charming, I willingly consented; we could
+not have wished a finer one. The sun was about to set, but it seemed to
+us to sink more slowly than usual, as if it lingered to behold longer
+the beauty of earth when tinged with its own golden rays. The winds
+were hushed, not a blade of grass, not a leaf was stirring. The lake
+was as a mirror, wherein were reflected the fields, the groves, the
+houses that lay on its surrounding sides, while here and there, in the
+valleys towards the west, arose a thin column of smoke from dwellings
+that were concealed by trees. But if in the air all was silence, sounds
+enough proceeded from the earth. Feathered songsters carolled in the
+woods behind us, and before us the heath-lark's love-strains swelled,
+answering each other from the juniper-bushes. From the bulrushes which
+grew on the margin of the lake was heard the quacking of the wild
+ducks; and from a greater distance came the plashing of the fisherman's
+oar, as he was returning to his home, and the soothing tones of his
+vesper hymn.
+
+The sun had now sunk below the horizon, and the bells that rang from
+many a church for evening prayer, summoned the weary labourer to rest
+and sleep. The heavy dews of night were already moistening the ground,
+and its mist was veiling the woods, the lake, and the sloping banks.
+Now broke upon the ear the cheering yet plaintive music of wind
+instruments. It seemed to come nearer and nearer, and must undoubtedly
+have proceeded from the boat we had observed putting off from the
+opposite shore. When the music ceased, we could distinctly hear the
+voices of the party in the boat, and presently after the slight noise
+made by their landing. We stood still for a few minutes, expecting to
+see them ascending the hill, but soon perceived that, on the contrary,
+they were going in another direction, for the sound of the voices
+became fainter and fainter, and was lost at last apparently among the
+woods to the west. Had it not been that the airs they had played were
+of the newest fashion, we might have fancied it a fairy adventure--a
+procession of woodland elves, or the bridal of the elf king himself.
+
+The shades of night were falling around. Here and there a star
+glimmered faintly in the pale-blue skies. In the north-west was visible
+a red segment over the horizon, where the king of day was wandering
+beneath, on his way to lighten another hemisphere. Now, all was still;
+only at a distance on the heath we heard the plover's melancholy note,
+and beneath us, on the lake, the whizzing of the water-fowls' wings as
+they skimmed its darkened surface. 'Let us go homewards now!' cried my
+cousin. 'Yes, home!' I replied. But we had not gone far before we both
+stopped at once with a 'Hush! hark!' From the margin of the wood,
+through which we had just come, issued suddenly the sound of harmonious
+voices, singing as a duet a Tyrolese air. There is something
+indescribably charming and touching in this unison of voices,
+especially in the open air, when the sweet tones seem to float upon the
+gentle breeze; and now, at the calm evening hour, when the surrounding
+hills were awakened from the deep repose into which they had just
+subsided, the sweet tones had the effect of the nightingale's
+delightful song. My cousin seized my hand and pressed it, as if to
+entreat that I should not, by any exclamation, disturb his auricular
+treat. When the vocalists ceased, he sighed deeply. I gazed in
+astonishment on him; he was in general so gay, and yet at that moment
+tears actually stood in his eyes! I attributed to the mighty
+enchantment of music, the power of softening and agitating the hardest
+and the lightest heart, and I remarked this to him.
+
+'Ah, well!' he replied, 'the human breast is like a sounding-board,
+which, although untouched, yet gives an echo when certain chords are
+struck.'
+
+'You are right,' I said; 'as, for instance, the story of the tarantula
+dance.'
+
+He sighed again, and said gravely,--
+
+'But such chords must be connected with peculiar events--must awaken
+certain recollections--yes'--he took my hand, and pointing to the trunk
+of a tree which had fallen, we placed ourselves on it--'yes, my friend,
+yon air recalls to me a souvenir which I have in vain tried to forget.
+Will you listen to the story?'
+
+'Tell it,' I said, 'though I can partly guess what it must be.'
+
+
+It was on such an evening as this (he continued), about two years ago,
+that, accompanied by a friend, I had gone on a little tour of pleasure
+to Lake Esrom. We remained sitting a long time on a fallen tree before
+we could prevail on ourselves to wend our way homewards, so charmed
+were we with the beauty of the scenery and of the evening. We had
+just arisen when a Tyrolese air--the very one you and I have recently
+heard--sung delightfully as a duet, attracted our attention. It came
+from the side of the lake, but the sounds appeared to be gradually
+approaching nearer. We soon heard the plashing of oars, which kept time
+to the music, and shortly after we saw a boat making for the part of
+the shore where we were. When the song was ended, there was a great
+deal of talking and laughing in the boat, and the noise seemed to
+increase the nearer they came to the shore. We now saw distinctly the
+little skiff and its merry freight. 'Lay aside your oars!' said one; 'I
+will steer you straight in to the land.' They did so. 'I know a quicker
+way of making the land,' cried another, as he sprang up, and striding
+from gunwale to gunwale, set the boat rocking frightfully. 'Be quiet!
+be quiet!' roared a third; 'are you mad? The fool will upset the boat!'
+'You shall have a good ducking for that,' said the madcap, swaying the
+boat still more violently. Then came shouts of laughter mingled with
+oaths; in the midst of the uproar a loud voice called out, 'Be done. I
+tell you! Fritz cannot swim.' But it was too late--the boat was full of
+water--it upset. Happily it was only a short way from the shore. In one
+moment they were all silent; we heard only the splashing and hard
+breathing of those who were swimming. There were six of them. Presently
+one of them cried, 'Fritz! Fritz! come here! take hold of me!' Then
+cried another, 'Fritz, come to me!' And then several voices shouted,
+'Fritz! Fritz! where are you?' Two of them had by this time reached the
+shore, and they stood looking anxiously at those who were still
+swimming in the lake. One of them began counting, 'Three, four!' Then
+crying in a voice of extreme consternation, '_One_ is wanting!' he
+sprang again into the water, and the other instantly followed his
+example!
+
+My friend and I could no longer remain mere spectators of this scene;
+we threw off our coats and were speedily in the water, searching with
+the party for their lost friend. We thought he must be under the boat;
+therefore we all gathered round the spot where it lay keel upwards,
+and the best swimmer dived beneath it. In vain! he was not there. But
+at a little distance, amidst the reeds, one of us observed something
+dark--it was the missing Fritz! He was brought on shore; but he was
+lifeless. Zealously, anxiously, did we try all means of restoring him;
+they were of no avail. It was decided that he should be carried to the
+nearest house. A plank, which had formed one of the seats of the boat,
+and which had floated to the shore, was taken up; he was placed upon
+it, and they carried him towards the road. We followed them
+mechanically. What a contrast to their late boisterous mirth was their
+present profound silence! We had not proceeded far, when one of the
+foremost of the bearers turned round and exclaimed, 'Where is Sund?' We
+all looked back, and beheld the unfortunate madcap who had caused the
+accident half-hidden behind a tall bush, stuffing his pockets with
+pebbles.
+
+'He will drown himself,' said the person who had just spoken; 'we must
+take him with us.'
+
+They stopped, and my companion and I offered our assistance to carry
+the body, whilst two of the party went to their repentant friend. The
+way to the house to which the drowned man was to be carried lay through
+a wood. It was so dark amidst the trees that we were close upon two
+female figures, dressed in white, before we observed them,
+
+'Good Heavens!' cried the foremost of the party; 'if it should be
+Fritz's betrothed! She said she would probably come to meet us.'
+
+It was indeed herself. You may imagine the painful scene: first, her
+horror at meeting us carrying a drowned man, and then her agony when
+she found out that the unfortunate victim was the one dearest to her on
+earth; for she could not be deceived, as she knew them all. She
+fainted, and her companion caught her in her arms as she was falling to
+the ground. What was to be done? My friend and I hastened to the
+assistance of the ladies, while the other gentlemen hurried on with the
+inanimate body to the house, which was at no great distance. I ran to
+the lake, and brought back some water in my hat; we threw a little on
+her face, when she soon came to herself again, poor thing!
+
+'Where is he?' she screamed; 'oh! where is he? He is not dead--let me
+go to him--let me go!' She strove to rise and rush forward.
+
+'Leave her, kind gentlemen,' said her companion, as she threw one arm
+round her waist, and with the other pressed her hand to her heart.
+'Thanks--thanks for your assistance, but do not trouble yourselves
+further; I know the way well.'
+
+We bowed and stood still, while she hastened on with her poor friend;
+and as they went we could hear the sorrowful wailing of the one, and
+the sweet soothing tones of the other. Having received no invitation we
+had no right to follow them, and we sought our carriage, both deeply
+impressed by the melancholy catastrophe which we had involuntarily
+witnessed.
+
+We were not acquainted with any member of the party, nor were we able
+to hear anything of them. In vain we searched all the newspapers, and
+conned over all the announcements of deaths in their columns; there
+never appeared the slightest reference to the unfortunate event I have
+just mentioned, nor did we ever hear it alluded to in society. We
+should certainly, after the lapse of some time, have looked upon the
+whole affair as a freak of the imagination--a phantom scene--had we not
+played a part in it ourselves. It did not make so light an impression
+on me, however; you will think it strange, perhaps absurd, but I
+actually was partially in love! Love has generally but one pathway to
+the heart--the eyes; it took a by-path with me--through the ears. It
+was so dark that I had not seen the young lady's features; I had only
+heard her voice. But, ah! what a voice it was! So soft--_that_ does not
+describe it; so melodious--neither does that convey an idea of what it
+was. I can compare it to nothing but the echo of tones from celestial
+regions, or to the angel-voices which we hear in dreams. Her figure was
+as beautiful as her voice--graceful and sylph-like. If you have ever
+been bewitched in a night vision, you will be able to comprehend my
+feelings. I saw her, and I did not see her. Her slight form with its
+white drapery looked quite spiritual in the dim light, and reminded me
+of Dido in Elysium, floating past AEneas, who was still clothed in the
+garb of mortality.
+
+'Of whom are you speaking?' I asked. 'Of the friend?'
+
+'Of course,' he replied; 'not of the widowed girl, as I may call the
+other.'
+
+'I do not see anything so very extraordinary in what you have been
+telling me,' I said. 'When it is almost dark, fancy is more easily
+awakened; everything wears a different aspect from what it does in the
+glare of day--objects become idealized, and sweet sounds make more
+impression on the mind, while imagination is thus excited. But is this
+the end of your drama?'
+
+'No; only the first act,' he replied. 'Now comes the second.'
+
+The summer passed away; winter came, and it too had almost gone, when I
+happened to attend a masquerade at one of the clubs. For about an hour
+I had been jostled among the caricaturists, and was becoming very
+tired,--and falling into sombre reflections upon the illusions of life,
+and the masks worn in society to conceal people's real characters from
+each other, when my attention was attracted by twelve shepherds and
+shepherdesses in the pretty costume of Languedoc, who came dancing in,
+hand in hand. The orchestra immediately struck up a French quadrille,
+and the French group danced so gracefully that a large and admiring
+circle was formed round them. When the quadrille was over, the circle
+opened, and the shepherds and shepherdesses mingled with the rest of
+the company. One of the shepherdesses, whose charming figure and
+elegance of motion had riveted my attention, as if by a magic power
+drew me after her. I followed wherever she went, until at last I got so
+near to her that I was able to address her.
+
+'Beautiful shepherdess!' I said in French, 'how is it that our northern
+clime is so fortunate as to be favoured by a visit from you and your
+lovely sisters?'
+
+She turned quickly towards me, and after remaining silent a few
+moments, during which time a pair of dark eyes gazed searchingly at me,
+
+'Monsieur,' she replied in French, 'we thought that fidelity had its
+true home in this northern clime.'
+
+'You have each brought your lover with you,' I said.
+
+'Because we hoped that they would learn lessons of constancy here,' was
+her answer.
+
+'Lovely blossom from the banks of the Garonne!' I exclaimed, 'who could
+be inconstant to you?'
+
+'There is no telling,' she continued, gaily. 'You are paying me
+compliments without knowing me. You call me pretty, yet you have never
+seen _me_. It must be my mask that you mean.'
+
+'Your eyes assure me of your beauty,' said I; 'they must bear the blame
+if I am mistaken.'
+
+Just at that moment another dance commenced; I asked the fair
+shepherdess to be my partner, and consenting, she held out her hand to
+me. We took our places immediately. It was then that a recollection
+came over me of having heard her sweet voice before. I thought that I
+recognized it--yes! Surely it could be no other's than hers--my fairy
+of Esrom Wood! But I was determined to be certain of the fact. I said
+nothing, however, while we were dancing. The dance seemed to me very
+short, and at the same time endless.
+
+I interrupted him somewhat uncivilly with--'At any rate your story
+seems endless.' He continued, however.
+
+After the dance was over I conducted her to a seat, and placed myself
+by her side.
+
+'It strikes me,' I remarked in Danish, 'that T have once before heard
+your voice, but not on the banks of the Garonne--'
+
+'No,' she replied, interrupting me, 'not there, but perhaps on the
+borders of Lake Esrom?'
+
+A sweet feeling at that moment, as it were, both expanded and
+contracted my breast. It was herself--the Unseen! She must also have
+remarked my voice, and preserved its tones in her memory.
+
+'A second time we meet,' I sighed, 'without beholding each other. This
+is really like an adventure brought about by some magician's art; but,
+oh! how I long for the moment when you will no longer hide that
+charming countenance.'
+
+She laughed slightly; and there was something so sprightly, musical,
+and winning in her laugh, while her white teeth glistened like pearls
+under her mask, that I forgot what more I was going to say. She,
+however, began to speak.
+
+'Why should I destroy your illusion? Leave our adventure, as you call
+it, alone; when a mystery is solved it loses its interest. If I were to
+remove my mask, you would only see the face of a very ordinary girl.
+Your imagination gallantly pictures me beautiful as some Circassian, or
+some Houri; let me remain such in your idea, at least till the watchman
+cries the hour of midnight, and wakes you from your dreams.'
+
+'All dreams are not delusive,' I said. 'They often speak the truth,' I
+added; 'yet sometimes one is tempted to wish that truths were but
+dreams; as, for instance, the very unfortunate event which was the
+occasion of our first meeting.'
+
+She looked surprised, while she repeated--
+
+'Unfortunate? Ah! true. You probably never heard--' At that moment one
+of the shepherds ran up, and carried her off hurriedly to a quadrille
+which was just forming.
+
+I was following the couple with my eyes, when my sister tapped me on
+the arm and asked me to dance with her, as she was not engaged.
+Mechanically I took my place in the quadrille, the same in which my
+_incognita_ was dancing, and mechanically I went through the figures
+until she had to give me her hand in the chain. I pressed it warmly,
+but there was no response. Ashamed and angry, I determined not to cast
+another glance at her; and resolutely I turned my head away. The
+quadrille was over, and once more I found myself constrained to look at
+her. But she was gone--the shepherds and shepherdesses had all
+disappeared. Whether they had left the ball, or--what was more
+probable--had changed their attire, I saw them no more. In vain at the
+supper-table my eyes wandered over all the ladies, to guess, if
+possible, which was the right one. Many of them were pretty; many had
+dark eyes and white teeth; but which of all these eyes and teeth were
+hers? It was by the voice alone that I could recognize her; but I could
+not go from the one to the other, and ask them to speak to me. And thus
+ended the second part of my drama.
+
+
+'Now, then, for the third act,' said I, with some curiosity.
+
+'For that,' he replied, 'I have waited in vain, above a year and a
+day.'
+
+'But do you not know her name?' I asked.
+
+'No.'
+
+'Or none of the party of shepherds and shepherdesses?'
+
+'I found out shortly after that I knew two of the shepherds; but of
+what use was that to me? I could not describe my shepherdess so that
+they could distinguish her among the twelve; they mentioned a dozen
+names, all equally unknown to me. That gave me no clue; to me she was
+both nameless and invisible.'
+
+I could not help smiling at my usually-gay cousin's doleful
+countenance.
+
+'You are laughing at me,' said he. 'Well, I don't wonder at it. To fall
+in love with a girl one has never seen is certainly great folly. But do
+not fancy that I am going to die of despair. I only feel a sort of
+longing come over me when I think of her.'
+
+The singers had now come so near that we could hear their conversation.
+After a few moments my cousin whispered to me that he knew one of them
+by his voice, and that he was an officer from Copenhagen. In another
+minute they made their appearance. There were three of them, all
+dressed as civilians, but the moustaches of one showed that he was a
+military man. My cousin squeezed my arm, and whispered again--
+
+'It is he, sure enough; let us see if he knows me.'
+
+We rose, and stood stiffly, with our caps in our hands. They nodded to
+us, and the officer said--
+
+'Put your hats on, lads. Will you earn a shilling for something to
+drink, and help to erect our tent?'
+
+We agreed to his proposal, and at his desire we joined two men in
+fetching, from a cart near, the canvas and other things required to put
+the tent up; also cloaks, cushions, baskets with provisions, and
+bottles of wine, benches for seats, and a wider one for a table. When
+our services were no longer needed, the officer held out some money to
+me, which, of course, I would not receive. My cousin also refused
+payment; whereupon he swore that we should at least take something to
+drink, and, filling a tumbler from his flask, he handed it to my
+cousin, who received it with a suppressed laugh.
+
+'What are you grinning at, fellow?' said the officer; but, as my cousin
+carried the tumbler to his lips, he exclaimed--
+
+'Your health, Wilhelm!'
+
+The individual thus addressed started back in astonishment, while his
+two companions peered into our faces. My cousin burst into a fit of
+laughter; and the officer, who now recognized him, cried, laughing
+also,--
+
+'Ludvig! What the deuce is all this? and why are you equipped in that
+preposterous garb?'
+
+The matter was speedily explained; the three travellers expressed much
+pleasure at meeting us, and pressed us so cordially to join their
+party, and stay the night with them, that we at length acceded to their
+request.
+
+One of the officer's companions was a young, handsome, and very
+fashionable-looking man; he was extremely rich, we understood,
+therefore they called him _the merchant_, and they would not tell us
+his name, or if that were his _real_ position in society. The other
+introduced himself to us with these words:
+
+'Gentlemen, of the respectable peasant class! my name here in Jutland
+is Farniente. My agreeable occupation is to do nothing--at least
+nothing but amuse myself.'
+
+There was a great deal more joking among our hosts, and then we
+presented each other in the same bantering way, after which we all
+adjourned to the tent, where we wound up with a very jovial supper. At
+midnight the merchant reminded us that we had to rise next morning with
+the first rays of the sun, and that it was time to retire to rest. We
+made up a sort of couch, with cushions and cloaks, and on it we five
+faithful brothers stretched ourselves as best we might. The other four
+soon fell asleep. I alone remained awake; and when I found that slumber
+had fled my pillow, rose as quietly as possible, and left the tent.
+
+All around was still as the grave. The skies were without a cloud, but
+of their millions of eyes only a few were now open, and even these
+shone dimly and feebly, as if they were almost overcome by sleep. The
+monarch of light, who was soon to overpower their fading brightness,
+was already clearing his path in the north-east. It is not the
+darkness, still less the tempest, that renders night so extremely
+melancholy; it is that deep repose, that corpse-like stillness in
+nature; it is to see oneself the only waking being in a sleeping
+world--one living amidst the vast vaults of the grave--a creature
+trembling with the fearful, giddy thought of death and eternity. How
+welcome then is any sound which breaks the oppressive silence of that
+nocturnal solitude, and reminds us that human beings are about to
+awaken to their daily round of occupation and pleasure--and, it must be
+added, of anxiety and trouble! How cheerful seems the earliest crowing
+of the cocks from the nearest huts, rising almost lazily on the dusky
+air! The drowsy world was beginning to move; and after a time I
+discerned faint, sweet tones proceeding from the direction of the
+wood. I listened attentively, and soon became convinced that it was
+music--the music of wind instruments--which I heard. To me music is as
+welcome as the first rosy streaks of morn to the benighted wanderer, or
+a glimpse of the brilliant sun amidst the gloom of a dark wintry sky.
+
+The sweet sounds ceased, and I began to ponder whether it might not
+have been unearthly strains which I had heard--whether they might not
+have come from the fairies who perhaps dwell amidst the surrounding
+glades, or among the wild flowers that enamelled the sloping sides of
+the hills. The music, however, was certainly Weber's, and the question
+was, whether the elfin people had learned the airs from him, or he from
+them. I returned to the tent, where the still sleeping party produced a
+very different and somewhat nasal kind of music.
+
+'Gentlemen! gentlemen!' I shouted, 'there are visitors coming.'
+
+My cousin was the first to awaken, then the officer, who sprang up, and
+immediately endeavoured to arouse the other two.
+
+'The ladies will be here presently,' he said; 'get up both of you.'
+
+'They are too early,' groaned one; 'I have not had half my sleep.'
+
+'Let them wait outside the tent till I am ready,' said Farniente. 'Good
+night!'
+
+The rest of us, however, went towards the wood to meet the three
+ladies, who were making their way to our temporary domicile, preceded
+by two musicians playing the horn, and two youths bearing torches, the
+latter being the sons of a clergyman in the neighbourhood, at whose
+house the ladies had slept. Observing the peasant costume of my friend
+and myself, the ladies asked who we were, and were told by the military
+man that we were two soldiers of his regiment, who, being in the
+adjacent village, had assisted in putting up the tent.
+
+'Lads,' said he, addressing us in a tone of command, 'can you fetch
+some water for us from the nearest stream, and get some wood for us to
+boil our coffee? I will go with you.'
+
+'No, no, sir--that would be a shame,' said my cousin, in the Jutland
+dialect; 'we will bring all that is wanted ourselves.'
+
+When we returned to the tent it was broad daylight; Farniente had been
+compelled to vacate his couch of cloaks, and in his lively way was
+greeting the fair guests with 'Good morning, my three Graces.' The
+officers told us, aside, that two of the ladies were his sisters, and
+were about to tell us more, when a waltz on the turf was proposed by
+Farniente, who seized one of the ladies, whom he called Sybilla, as his
+partner. _The merchant_ danced with another, to whom it appeared he was
+engaged, and the officer took his youngest sister. Their hilarity was
+infectious, and my cousin dragged me round for want of a better
+partner, whereupon the fair Sybilla, who had observed our dancing,
+remarked that we were 'really not at all awkward for peasant lads.'
+
+While they were taking their coffee afterwards, during which time we
+stood respectfully at a little distance, my cousin whispered to me how
+much he admired the lieutenant's youngest sister, who was indeed
+extremely pretty. He had not hitherto heard her voice, but he could not
+help seeing that she looked attentively--even inquisitively at him. By
+Farniente's request, the ladies handed us some coffee, after having
+done which they made some remarks upon us to each other in German. At
+that moment my cousin let his coffee-cup drop suddenly to the ground,
+and standing as motionless as one of the trees in the wood, he fixed
+his eyes upon the youngest girl with a very peculiar expression, which
+called the deepest blushes to her cheek. We all looked on in surprise,
+but I began to suspect the truth. Farniente was the first to speak.
+
+'Min Herre!' said he, 'it is time that you should lay aside your
+incognito, for it is evident that you and this lady have met before.'
+
+My cousin had by this time recovered his speech and his
+self-possession. He went up to the young lady, and said:--'For the
+first time to-day have I had the happiness of seeing those lips from
+which I have twice heard a voice whose accents delighted me. In that
+voice I cannot be mistaken, so deep was the impression it made upon me.
+Dare I flatter myself that my voice has not been quite forgotten by
+you?'
+
+Catherina--that was her name--replied with a smile,--
+
+'I have neither forgotten your voice nor your face, though last time we
+met you were a Spanish grandee.'
+
+'What is all this?' exclaimed the officer; 'old acquaintances--another
+masquerade!'
+
+'We are now truly all partaking of rural life,' said Farniente; 'so
+come, you two peasants, and place yourselves with the fair shepherdess
+and us.'
+
+We joined the circle, and after our names having been told, my cousin,
+leading the conversation to Lake Esrom, and the events which took place
+on its banks, asked Catherina how her poor friend had taken that sad
+affair, and if she had ever recovered her spirits?'
+
+'Oh yes, she has,' replied Catherina; and pointing to the young lady
+who was engaged to _the merchant_, 'there she is!'
+
+My cousin started, and said, in some embarrassment, 'It was a sad
+event, but--'
+
+'Not so very sad,' cried _the merchant_, interrupting him, 'for the
+drowned man returned to life. He was no other than myself.'
+
+'God be thanked!' exclaimed my cousin, sincerely rejoiced at the
+pleasant intelligence. 'That is more than we _then_ dared to hope. But
+what became of the poor foolish madcap who first upset the boat and
+then wished to drown himself?'
+
+'Here he is,' said Farniente, pointing to himself; 'and as I once
+thought I might be promoted to the dignity of court jester, I took a
+wife, and there,' bowing to Sybilla, 'sits the fair one who has
+undertaken to steer my boat over the dangerous ocean of life.'
+
+The morning mists by degrees cleared away from the wooded valleys and
+the hill-encircled waters; the larks had ended their early chorus, and
+the later songsters of the grove had commenced their sweet harmonies;
+all seemed joy around, and I looked with pleasure at the gay group
+before me. Never had the cheering light of day shone upon a circle of
+more contented human beings, and among them none were happier than
+Ludwig and his recently-found shepherdess, whose countenance beamed in
+the radiant glow of dawning love.
+
+Six months have passed since then, and they are now united for this
+world and for that which is to come.
+
+
+
+
+                          THE SECRET WITNESS.
+
+                           BY B. S. INGEMANN.
+
+
+In the year 1816 there lived in Copenhagen an elderly lady, Froken
+F----, of whom it was known that she sometimes involuntarily saw what
+was not visible to anyone else. She was a tall, thin, grave-looking
+person, with large features, and an expressive countenance. Her dark,
+deep-set eyes had a strange glance, and she saw much better than most
+people in the twilight; but she was so deaf, that people had to speak
+very loudly to her before she could catch their words, and when a
+number of persons were speaking at the same time in a room, she could
+hear nothing but an unintelligible murmur. A sort of magnetic
+clairvoyance had, doubtless, in the somewhat isolated condition in
+which she was placed, been awakened in her mind, without, however, her
+being thrown into any peculiar state. She only seemed at times to be
+labouring under absence of mind, or to have fallen into deep thought,
+and then she was observed to fix her eyes upon some object invisible to
+all others. What she saw at those moments were most frequently the
+similitude of some absent person, or images of the future, which were
+always afterwards realized. Thus she had often foreseen unexpected
+deaths, and other unlooked-for fatal accidents. As she seldom beheld in
+her visions anything pleasing, she was regarded by many as a bird of
+ill omen, and she therefore did not visit a number of families; those,
+however, who knew her intimately both respected and loved her. She was
+quiet and unpretending, and it was but rarely that she said anything,
+unsolicited, of the results of her wonderful faculty.
+
+She was a frequent guest in a family with whom she was a great
+favourite. The master of the house was an historical painter, and his
+wife was an excellent musician. The deaf old lady was a good judge of
+paintings, and extremely fond of them; also, hard of hearing as she
+was, music had always a great effect upon her; she could add in fancy
+what she did not hear to what she did hear; she had been very musical
+herself in her youthful days, and when she saw fingers flying over the
+pianoforte, she imagined she heard the music, even when anyone, to dupe
+her, moved their fingers back and forwards over the instrument, but
+without playing on it.
+
+One day she was sitting on a sofa in the drawing-room at the house of
+the above-mentioned family, engaged in some handiwork. The artist had a
+visitor who was a very lively, witty, satirical person, and they were
+standing together near a window, discoursing merrily; they often
+laughed during their conversation, and the tones of their voices seemed
+to change, occasionally, as if they were imitating some one, whereupon
+their hilarity invariably increased, which, however, was far from being
+as harmless and goodnatured as mirth and gaiety generally were in that
+house.
+
+When the visit was over, and the artist had accompanied his friend to
+the door, and returned to the drawing-room, the old lady asked him who
+had been with him.
+
+He mentioned the name of his lively friend, whom, he said, he thought
+she knew very well.
+
+'Oh, yes, I know him well enough,' she replied; 'but the other?'
+
+'What other?' asked the painter, starting.
+
+'Why the tall man with the long thin face, who stood yonder; he with
+the dark, rough, uncombed-looking hair, and the bushy eyebrows--he who
+so often laid his hand on his breast, and pointed upwards, especially
+when you and your merry friend laughed heartily.'
+
+'Did you ever see him before?' inquired the artist, turning pale. 'Did
+you observe how he was dressed, and if he had any peculiar habit?'
+
+'I do not remember having ever seen him before; as to his dress, it was
+very singular, much like that of an old-fashioned country
+schoolmaster.' And she described minutely his long frock-coat, with
+large buttons and side-pockets, and his antiquated boots, that did not
+appear to have been brushed for a very long time. 'The peculiar habit
+you speak of,' she added, 'was probably the manner in which he slowly
+shook his head, when he seemed to differ in opinion from you and your
+other guest; in my eyes there was something noble and striking in this
+movement, there was an expression of pain or sadness in his
+countenance, which interested me; it was particularly observable when
+he laid his right hand on his breast, and raised his left hand upwards,
+as if he were solemnly affirming something, or calling God to witness
+to the truth of what he said. Nevertheless, I remarked with surprise,
+that I scarcely saw him open his lips. It was of course impossible for
+me to hear what you were all talking about.'
+
+The terrified artist became still paler--he tottered for a moment, and
+was obliged to lean on the back of a chair for support. Shortly after
+he seized his hat and hurried out of the house. The individual whom the
+old lady had so graphically described had been a friend of his in
+youth, but with whom he had been on bad terms for the last two years,
+and whom he had not seen lately.
+
+The whole conversation with his amusing visitor had been about this
+very man. They had been engaged in a laughable and, at the same time,
+merciless criticism of his character, and appearance, and had been
+turning into ridicule every little peculiarity he had; his very voice
+they had mimicked, and in their facetious exaggeration, had not only
+made a laughing-stock of his person and manners, which were indeed odd,
+but had attributed to him want of heart and want of judgment, which
+latter sentence they based upon his somewhat peculiar taste, and a kind
+of dry, pedantic, schoolmaster tone in conversation, from which he was
+not free.
+
+'That old maid is mad--and she has made me mad, too,' mumbled the
+artist, pausing a moment when he had gained the street. '_He_ certainly
+was not there--we do not meet any longer. She never saw him before.
+There is something strangely mysterious in this matter--perhaps it
+bodes some calamity. But, whether she is deranged--or I--or both of us,
+I have wronged him--shamefully wronged him--and I must see him, and
+tell him all.'
+
+He stepped into a bookseller's shop, and asked to look at a Directory.
+After about half-an-hour's walk he entered a house in a small back
+street, and ascending to the third story, he rang at a door. A girl
+opened it, and, in answer to his inquiries, told him that the person he
+asked for was ill, and could not see anyone.
+
+'But I must see him--I must speak to him,' cried the painter, almost
+forcing himself in.
+
+He was then ushered into a darkened room, where he found his poor
+friend of bygone days looking pale and emaciated, lying perfectly still
+upon a sofa, in his old grey frock-coat and soiled boots. The kind
+anxiety with which the unexpected visitor asked about his health seemed
+equally to surprise and please the invalid.
+
+'You!' he exclaimed, '_you_ here! Do you still take any interest in me?
+Have you any regard left for me? I did you shameful injustice two years
+ago, when I saw your great masterpiece; and had not an enthusiastic
+word for what I have though, often since, thought of with the greatest
+admiration. Nay, within this very last hour I have wronged you, though
+in quite a different manner. I was dreaming of you, and I fancied you
+were speaking of me with scorn and derision--pulling me to pieces in a
+jesting conversation with a very satirical person, who vied with you in
+ridiculing me, and in mimicking all my oddities.'
+
+'Forgive me--oh, forgive me! you dreamed the truth,' cried the painter,
+in great agitation, while he threw himself down by the sick man's
+couch, and embraced his knees.
+
+An explanation ensued between the two friends who had so long been
+estranged from each other--mutual confessions were made--old feelings
+were revived in the hearts of both--and an entire reconciliation
+immediately took place. The unusual emotion, and the surprise at the
+event related to him, did not, as might have been expected, increase
+the illness of the nervous and debilitated invalid; on the contrary,
+the meeting with his former friend appeared to have had a good effect
+on his health, for in the course of a few weeks he had quite recovered.
+
+The old lady's qualifications as a seer, or rather her strange faculty
+of beholding, to others invisible, apparitions, had been productive of
+good; but it was such an extraordinary revelation, agreeing so entirely
+with what both the reconciled friends knew to be the truth, that they
+could only look upon it as a proof of the reality of what was then
+beginning to be so much talked of--the magnetic clairvoyance.
+
+They continued unalterable friends from that time. From that time,
+also, the artist felt an involuntary horror at ridiculing the absent,
+or making or listening to any censorious remarks upon them; he always
+fancied that the injured party might be standing _as a secret witness_
+by his side, with one hand on his breast, and the other raised in an
+appeal to that great Judge, who alone can know what is passing in every
+heart and every soul.
+
+
+
+
+                         AGNETE AND THE MERMAN.
+
+                           BY JENS BAGGESEN.
+
+
+   Agnete she was guileless.
+     She was beloved and true,
+   But solitude, it charm'd her,
+     And mirth she never knew--
+                  She never knew--
+   She made the joy of all around
+     Yet never felt it too.
+
+
+   Over the dark blue waves,
+     Agnete, gazing, bends,
+   When lo! a merman rising there
+     From ocean's depths ascends;
+                  Up he ascends.
+   Yet still, Agnete's bending form
+     With the soft billows blends.
+
+   His glossy hair, it seemed as spun
+     Out of the purest gold,
+   His beaming eye, it brightly glow'd
+     With warmest love untold--
+                  With love untold!
+   And his scale-cover'd bosom held
+     A heart that was not cold.
+
+   The song he sang Agnete,
+     On love and sorrow rang;
+   His voice it was so melting soft,
+     So sadly sweet he sang--
+                  Sadly he sang.
+   It seemed as if his beating heart
+     Upon his lips it sprang.
+
+   'And hearken, dear Agnete!
+     What I shall say to thee--
+   My heart, oh! it is breaking, sweet!
+     With longing after thee!
+                  Still after thee!
+   Oh! wilt thou ease my sorrow, love,
+     Oh! wilt thou smile on me?'
+
+   Two silver buckles lay
+     Upon the rocky shore,
+   And aught more rich, or aught more bright,
+     No princess ever wore,
+                  No, never wore.
+   'My best beloved,'--so sang he--
+     'Add these unto thy store!'
+
+   Then drew he from his breast
+     A string of pearls so rare--
+   None richer, no, or none more pure
+     Did princess ever wear--
+                  Oh! ever wear.
+   'My best beloved,' so sang he,
+     'Accept this bracelet fair!'
+
+   Then from his finger drew he
+     A ring of jewels fine--
+   And none more brilliant, none more rich,
+     Midst princely gems might shine;
+                  'Here, here from mine.
+   My best beloved,' so sang he,
+     'Oh, place this upon thine!'
+
+   Agnete, on the deep sea
+     Beholds the sky's soft hue,
+   The waves they were so crystal clear,
+     The ocean 'twas so blue!
+                  Oh! so blue!
+   The merman smiled, and thus he sang,
+     As near to her he drew:--
+
+   'Ah! hearken, my Agnete,
+     What I to thee shall speak:
+   For thee my heart is burning, love,
+     For thee, my heart will break!
+                  Oh! 'twill break!
+   Say, sweet, wilt thou be kind to me,
+     And grant the love I seek?'
+
+   'Dear merman! hearken thou,
+     Yes, I will list to thee!
+   If deep beneath the sparkling waves
+     Thou'lt downward carry me--
+                  Take thou me!
+   And bear me to thine ocean bow'r
+     There, I will dwell with thee.'
+
+   Then stoppeth he her ears,
+     Her mouth then stoppeth he;
+   And with the lady he hath fled,
+     Deep, deep beneath the sea!
+                  Beneath the sea!
+   There kiss'd they, and embraced they,
+     So fond, and safe, and free!
+
+   For full two years and more,
+     Agnete, she lived there,
+   And warm, untiring, faithful love
+     They to each other bear;
+                  Such love they bear.
+   Within the merman's shelly bower
+     Are born two children fair.
+
+   Agnete--she sat tranquilly.
+     And to her boys she sang;
+   When hark! a sound of earth she hears,
+     How solemnly it rang!
+                  Ding--dong--dang!
+   It was the church's passing bell
+     In Holme Vale that clang.
+
+   Agnete, from the cradle,
+     Springs suddenly away,
+   She hastes to seek her merman dear,
+     'Loved merman, say I may--
+                  Say--Oh say,
+   That I, ere midnight's hour, may take
+     To Holme's church my way?'
+
+   'Thou wishest ere the midnight
+     To Holme church to go?
+   See then that thou, ere day, art back
+     Here, to thy boys below--
+                  Go--go--go!
+   But ere the morning light return
+     Come to thy sons below!'
+
+   He stoppeth then her ears,
+     Her mouth then stoppeth he;
+   And upwards they together rise
+     Till Holme Vale they see.
+                  'Now part we!'
+   They part, and he descends again
+     Beneath the deep blue sea.
+
+   Straight on to the churchyard,
+     Agnete's footsteps hie:
+   She meets--O God! her mother there,
+     And turns again to fly.
+                  'Why--O why?'
+   Her mother's voice her steps arrests
+     Thus speaking with a sigh:--
+
+   'Oh hearken, my Agnete,
+     What I shall say to thee,
+   Where has thy distant dwelling been
+     So long away from me?
+                  Away from me!
+   Say, where hast thou, my child, been hid
+     So long and secretly?'
+
+   'O mother! I have dwelt
+     Beneath the boundless main,
+   Within a merman's coral bower,
+     And we have children twain,
+                  Beneath the main.
+   I came to pray--and then I go
+   Back to the deep again!'
+
+   'But hearken thou, Agnete,
+     What I to thee shall say--
+   Here thy two little daughters weep
+     Because thou art away;
+                  By night, by day,
+   Thy little girls bemoan and grieve;
+     With them thou'lt surely stay?'
+
+   'Well--let my daughters small
+     For me both grieve and long,
+   My ears are closed--I cannot hear
+     Their cries yon waves among!
+                  Oh! I belong
+   To my dear sons, and they will die
+     If I my stay prolong.'
+
+   'Have pity on thy babes--
+     Let them not pine away!
+   Oh! think upon thy youngest child
+     Who in her cradle lay!
+                  With them oh stay!
+   Forget yon elves, and with thine own,
+     Thy lawful children stay!'
+
+   'Nay, let them bloom or fade--
+     The two--as Heav'n may will!
+   My heart is closed--their cries no more
+     Can now my bosom thrill--
+                  Oh! no more thrill!
+   For now my merman's sons alone
+     All my affections fill.'
+
+   'Alas! though thou canst thus
+     Thy smiling babes forget;
+   Yet think upon their father's faith,
+     Thy noble lord's regret,
+                  The fate he met!
+   As soon as thou wert lost to him
+     His sun of joy was set.
+
+   'Long--long he search'd for thee,
+     He went a weary way;
+   At last from yonder shelving rock
+     He cast himself one day--
+                  One dismal day.
+   His corpse upon the pebbly strand
+     In the dim twilight lay!
+
+   'And here--'twas not long since--
+     His coffin they did bring;
+   Ha! list, my daughter, hearest thou?
+     The midnight bells they ring!
+                  Ding--dong--ding!'
+   Away her mother hastens then
+     As loud the church bells ring.
+
+   Agnete, o'er the church-door
+     Stepp'd softly from without,
+   When all the little images
+     They seem'd to turn about;
+                  Round about.
+   Within the church, the images
+     They seem'd to turn about.
+
+   Agnete gazes on
+     The altar-piece so fair;
+   The altar-piece it seem'd to turn,
+     And the altar with it there.
+                  All where'er
+   Her eye it fell within the church,
+     Seem'd turning, turning there!
+
+   Agnete, on the ground
+     She gazed in thoughtful mood,
+   When lo! she saw her mother's name
+     That on a tomb-stone stood.
+                  There it stood!
+   Then, sudden from her bursting heart,
+     Flow'd back her chill'd life's blood.
+
+   Agnete--first she stagger'd back,
+     She fainted, then she fell.
+   Now may her children long in vain
+     For her they loved so well.
+                  Oh, so well!
+   Now, neither sons nor daughters more
+     To her their wants may tell.
+
+   Ay! Let them weep, and let them long,
+     And seek her o'er and o'er!
+   Dark, dark, are now her eyes so bright,
+     They ne'er shall open more!
+                  Oh, never more!
+   And crush'd is now that death-cold heart,
+     So warm with love before.
+
+
+
+
+                            A WAKING DREAM.
+
+
+He sat alone. It was not twilight, it was night, deep, dark night. He
+had extinguished the lamp, for he wished that all around him should be
+gloomy as his own sad thoughts. Even the pitiful glimmering light,
+which was cast by the fire in the stove on the objects near it, was
+disagreeable to him, for it showed him a portion, at least, of the
+scene of his bygone happiness. His bitter sorrow seemed to have
+petrified all his faculties, and entirely blasted his life; he did not
+appear to reflect, he only felt. The deep sighs that every now and then
+burst from his compressed lips were all that gave sign of existence
+about him. That agitated tremor, those wild lamentations, those burning
+tears,--the glowing look which griefs volcano casts forth, lay hidden
+amidst the ashes of mute and agonized suffering.
+
+But a few years before he had been the most hopeful of lovers; and
+somewhat later, the happiest of husbands and of fathers. Now all--all
+was lost! Death had stretched forth his mighty hand and taken his
+treasures from him; blow after blew had fate thus inflicted on
+his bleeding heart. He--the strong man--the high-minded--the
+richly-endowed--sat there like a lifeless statue, without purpose,
+without motion, without energy: all had been swept away in the
+earthquake which had engulphed the happiness of his home, and he had
+not power to raise a new structure upon the ruins of the past.
+
+While he was sitting thus, a momentary blaze in the fire showed him the
+portrait of his departed wife, which hung against the wall. How many
+recollections the sight of it awakened! Oh, how distinctly he
+remembered the day when that painting had been finished for him! It was
+a short time before his marriage; he was gazing on it in an ecstasy of
+delight, when the lovely original cast her beaming eyes on him and
+whispered, 'Do you really think it beautiful? Is it so beautiful that
+when I become old and grey-headed, you may look at my picture and
+remember your love, your feelings for me, when we were both young?' And
+when he assured her, that for him she would always be young, she
+replied so sweetly, 'Oh, I am not afraid of becoming old by your side;
+it will be so delightful to have lived a long life of love with you!'
+
+Alas! he was still young, but he had to wander through perhaps a long,
+long life alone. How had he beheld her last? She was lying in her
+coffin--young and lovely, but pale and motionless. And he--who
+still breathed and felt--he it was who had clung in despair to that
+coffin--he who, with a breaking heart, had laid her dark hair smoothly
+on her marble-white cheek, had pressed his lips for the last time on
+her cold forehead, had folded her transparent hands and bedewed them
+with his tears, and had laid his throbbing head on that so lately
+beating heart, which never, never more would thrill with sorrow or with
+joy. But who could describe that depth of grief, that rending of the
+soul, that agonizing convulsion of the heart, when the last farewell
+look on earth--the long, eager, parting look--was taken, and the head
+was raised from the harrowing contemplation of these beloved features,
+which were soon to be snatched and hidden from his gaze! Then despair
+seized upon him, and his grief could find no relief in tears.
+
+In these heart-breaking recollections his spirit was long absorbed; at
+length he pressed his hands on his aching temples, burst into a flood
+of tears, and exclaimed:
+
+'Oh, thou whom I loved so truly! hast thou indeed forsaken me? Can it
+be possible that thou hast dissevered thyself from my soul! Oft
+have I dreamed that thou wert harkening to my lamentations, that
+thou wert lingering by my side, and soothing my sorrow! But it was
+fancy--cheating fancy! Thou who didst feel so much affection for
+me--thou who wert never deaf to my prayers--hast thou heard me, and yet
+not answered me? How often during the sad weary night have I not called
+upon thee! See--I stretch forth my arms and embrace only the empty
+air--I gaze around for thee, but am left in oppressive solitude. Oh, if
+thou _canst_ hear me, beloved spirit! if it be possible that thou canst
+hear me--come, oh come!' His voice was choked by tears.
+
+At last, when the water mist had passed from his eyes, removing, as it
+were, a veil from before them, he gazed wearily on the darkness around,
+and perceived a faint ray of light, which gradually seemed to become
+clearer. At first he thought it was the moon casting its uncertain
+gleams through the window; but the light seemed to extend itself. The
+corner of the room opposite to him seemed illumined by a pale,
+tremulous lustre that spread down to the floor. His heart beat
+violently as he gazed intently at the miraculous light. By degrees it
+assumed something like a shape, an airy, transparent figure, clad in a
+shining garment that glittered like the stars of heaven; and when it
+turned its countenance towards him, he recognized the features of her
+he had lost, but radiant in celestial peace and glory. Her clear eyes,
+which were fixed upon him, beamed with an expression of indescribable
+benignity.
+
+The deep grief that had oppressed his spirit gave place to a wonderful,
+a mysterious feeling of holy calmness which he had never before
+experienced.
+
+'Oh, speak!' he entreated softly, as if he were afraid to disturb the
+beautiful apparition, and holding his clasped hands beseechingly
+towards it--'Oh let me hear that voice, the echo of whose dear accents
+still lives in my heart! Hast thou taken compassion on me?'
+
+'Didst thou not call me?' replied the apparition in a faint, subdued
+tone, yet so full of tenderness and affection that it seemed to inspire
+him with new life. 'Hast thou not often called me? I could no longer
+withstand thy supplication. The sorrows and sufferings of earth have
+lost their bitterness and their sting for those who have become
+heavenly spirits--those who have seen the Omnipotent face to face; but
+thy grief touched my heart even in the midst of blessedness. I could
+not be happy whilst thou wert wretched. Often have I hovered around
+thee, often lingered by thy side, often wafted coolness to thy burning
+brow; and when thy sadness would seem to be somewhat soothed, I have
+lain at thy feet, and contemplated thy beloved countenance. I was by
+thee when thou didst lean weeping over my coffin, and in an agony of
+woe didst cling to that body whence my soul had fled. Oh! how much I
+wished then that thou couldst look up at me, and know how near I was to
+thee! Oh! how willingly I would have embraced thee, had the Almighty
+permitted me! I was also with thee when our beloved infant lay in its
+last earthly struggle. My dying child called for me, and the heart of
+the mother yearned to respond to that call which had reached her, even
+when surrounded by the happiness of eternity, I came down to earth to
+answer it. Like an airy shadow, I glided through the garden paths in
+the still summer night, and all the plants and the flower exhaled their
+sweetest fragrance to salute me, for they felt that I had come from a
+better world. And Nature spoke to me with its spirit voice, and
+besought me to consecrate its soil with my ethereal step. The dark
+elder-tree and the blushing rosebush made signs to me, asking me if I
+remembered how often they had shed their perfume around us, when you
+and I, wrapped in our mutual happiness, used to wander in the soft
+evenings, arm in arm--heart answering heart--eye meeting eye--through
+the verdant alleys and flower-enamelled walks; but I could not linger
+over these sweet remembrances, I passed on to watch the death-bed of
+the little innocent who longed so for its mother. And when thou, my
+beloved! overcome by affliction, let thine aching head sink in helpless
+sorrow on its couch, our child lay, peaceful and joyous, in my embrace,
+and ascended to heaven with me to pray for thee. Oh, dearest one I how
+canst thou think that death has power to sever hearts that have once
+been united in everlasting love!'
+
+He listened in mute and breathless ecstasy to these words, which
+sounded as the softest melody to his enraptured ear. When the voice
+ceased, he stretched forth his arms towards the beloved shade, and said
+beseechingly:
+
+'Forgive me, angel of Paradise--forgive me! I feel now that the
+happiness of heaven is so great that nothing mortal can compare with
+it. Yet for my sake thou hast left awhile this inconceivable felicity,
+and deigned to assuage my grief, and to speak balm to my heart. Thanks,
+blessed spirit--thanks! My path shall no longer be gloomy--my life no
+longer lonesome!'
+
+'Thou wilt sigh no more--thou wilt no longer weep?' asked the spirit,
+with a radiant smile.
+
+'Thou shalt be my guardian angel, blessed spirit!' he replied, in deep
+emotion.
+
+'God be thanked!' ejaculated the spirit in holy joy. It waved its
+shadowy hand to him, and as it seemed to turn to move away, its airy
+robe sparkled luminously for a moment; it then glittered more and more
+faintly, till it looked like the twinkling of some distant star.
+
+Then earth-born wishes seized again upon _his_ heart.
+
+'Alas;' he cried, as he made an involuntary movement towards the
+vanishing shadow, 'shall I, then, never behold thee more in this
+world?'
+
+A holy light passed over the scarcely defined features of the spirit,
+while it replied, as if from afar--
+
+'Yes! once more--but only once. When thy last hour approaches--when the
+bitterness of death is passed--then shalt thou tell those that watch by
+thy couch, and who, incredulous, will deem thy words the raving of
+delirium--then shalt thou tell them that a messenger from a glorious
+world is standing by thy side. That messenger will be me. I shall come
+to kiss the last breath from thy pale quivering lips, to gladden the
+last glance of thy closing eyes, and, after the heart's last pulsation,
+to receive thy parted soul, and be its guide to the realms of endless
+happiness, where I now await thee.'
+
+He listened and bowed his head. When he raised it--all was dark and
+empty. He went to the window, and looked out upon the dazzling snow,
+and up to the brilliant star-lit heavens, and prayed in sadness, but
+with earnest devotion.
+
+He lives to perform his duties, to do good to his fellow-creatures, to
+serve his God. He is never gay nor lively; but he is tranquil and
+content. He loves quiet and solitude. He loves in winter to lose
+himself in meditation while gazing on the calm, cold face of nature;
+and in summer to loiter in silence, till a late hour at night, amidst
+his garden's sweetly-scented walks. He is a lonely wanderer on the
+earth; yet not quite so lonely as he is thought to be, for he is often
+soothed by delightful dreams, and then he smiles happily, as if in his
+visions he had been consoled by the presence of a beloved being.
+
+If his soul sometimes ventures humbly to indulge in the wish that it
+might soon enter into death's peaceful land, none can tell; his silent
+aspirations are known to none--to none but _Him_ who sees into the
+deepest recesses of the human heart.
+
+
+
+
+                           THE CONFESSIONAL.
+
+                         BY CHRISTIAN WINTHER.
+
+
+In the Magdalene Church at Girgenti[9] preparations had been made for a
+grand festival. It was adorned, as usual on such occasions, with red
+tapestry and flowers. The hour of noon had struck, the workmen had left
+the church, and there reigned around that deep, solemn stillness which,
+in Catholic places of worship, is so appropriate and so imposing.
+
+Two gentlemen, who conversed in a low tone of voice, were pacing up and
+down the long aisle that runs along the northern side of the building,
+and seemed to be enjoying the shade and coolness of the church, as if
+it had been a public promenade. The elder was a man of about thirty
+years of age, stout, broad-shouldered, and strongly built, with a grave
+countenance, in which no trace of passion was visible: this was Don
+Antonio Carracciolio, Marquis d'Arena. The other, who seemed a mere
+youth, had a slender, graceful figure, an animated, handsome face, and
+dark eyes, soft almost as those of a woman--which wandered from side to
+side with approving glances, as if he had some peculiar interest in the
+interior of the sacred edifice. And such he certainly had; for he was
+the architect who had planned the church and superintended its
+erection. He was called Giulio Balzetti, and had only lately returned
+from Rome. Suddenly they stopped.
+
+'I shall entrust you with a secret, which I think will amuse you,
+Signor Marquis,' said the younger man, in the easy intimate tones in
+which one speaks to a friend at whose house one is a daily visitor--'a
+secret with which, I believe, no one is acquainted but myself. You see
+the effects of acoustics sometimes play us builders strange tricks
+where we least expect or wish them. Chance, a mere accident, has
+revealed to me, that when one stands here--here upon this white marble
+slab--one can distinctly overhear every syllable, even of the lowest
+whisper, uttered far from this, yonder, where you may observe the
+second last confessional; while, in a straight line between this point
+and that, you would not be sensible of any sound, were you even much
+nearer the place. If you will remain standing here, I will go yonder to
+the confessional in question, and you will be astonished at this
+miracle of nature.'
+
+He went accordingly, but scarcely had he moved the distance of a couple
+of steps, when the Marquis distinctly heard a whisper, the subject of
+which seemed to make a strong impression upon him. He stood as rigid
+and marble-white as if suddenly turned to stone by some magician's
+wand; while the painfully anxious attention with which he listened, and
+which was expressed in his otherwise stony features, gave evidence that
+he was hearing something of excessive importance. He did not move a
+muscle--he scarcely breathed--he was like one who is standing on the
+extreme verge of an abyss, into which he is afraid of falling, and his
+rolling eyes and beating heart alone gave signs of his violent
+agitation.
+
+In a very few minutes the young architect came back smiling, and called
+out from a little distance, 'I could not manage to make the experiment,
+for some one was in the confessional--from the glimpse I got, a lady
+closely veiled--but, Heavens! what is the matter with you?'
+
+The only answer which the Marquis gave the Italian was to place his
+finger on his mouth, and he continued to stand motionless. After a
+minute or two he drew a deep sigh. The statue passed out of its
+speechless magic trance, and returned again to life.
+
+'It is nothing, dear Giulio!' said he, in a friendly tone. 'Do not
+think that I am superstitious; but I assure you this mysterious and
+wonderful natural phenomenon has taken me so much by surprise, that it
+has had a strange effect on me. Come, let us go! I shall recover myself
+in the fresh air,' he added, as he took Balzetti's arm, and led him to
+the promenade on the outside of the town.
+
+The two gentlemen walked up and down there for about an hour, when the
+Marquis bade the young man adieu, saying, at the same time, 'Tomorrow,
+after the festival is over, will you come out as usual to our villa?'
+
+At a very early hour the next morning the Marquis entered his wife's
+private suite of apartments. The waiting-maid, who just at that moment
+was coming into the anteroom by another door, started, and looked quite
+astounded.
+
+'Did your lady ring?' asked the Marquis.
+
+'No, your excellency!' replied the woman, curtseying low and colouring
+violently.
+
+'Then wait till you are called,' said the Marquis, as he opened the
+door of the dressing-room, which separated the sleeping-room from the
+antechamber.
+
+As he crossed the threshold he was met by his lovely young wife,
+attired in a morning-gown so light and flowing, that it looked as if it
+must have been the one in which she had arisen from her couch. The
+Marquis stopped and stood still, as if struck with his wife's extreme
+beauty. He did not appear to observe the uneasiness, the inward tempest
+of feelings that, chasing all the blood from her cheeks, had sent it to
+her heart, and caused its beating to be too plainly visible under the
+robe of slight fabric which was thrown around her.
+
+'You are up early this morning, Antonio!' said the young Marchioness,
+in a scarcely audible tone of voice, with a deepening blush and a
+forced smile. 'What do you want here?'
+
+'Could you be surprised, my Lauretta? Light of my eyes!' said the
+Marquis, in the blandest and most insinuating of accents, 'could you be
+surprised if I came both early and late? And yet, dearest, this morning
+my visit is not to you alone. You know to-day is the feast of the Holy
+Magdalene, and a great festival in the Church. I have taken it into my
+head to usher in this day by paying my tribute of admiration to the
+glorious Magdalene of Titian, which you had placed in your own sleeping
+apartment. Will you permit me?' he asked, very politely, as with slow
+steps, but in a determined manner, he walked towards the door.
+
+'Everything is really in such sad disorder there,' said his young wife,
+with a rapid glance through the half-open door; 'but ... go, since you
+will. I shall begin making my toilette here in the mean time.'
+
+And he went in.
+
+'How charming,' he cried, in a peculiar tone of voice--'how charming is
+not all this disorder! This graceful robe thrown carelessly down--these
+fairy slippers! There is something that awakens the fancy, something
+delicious in the very air of this room! All this is absolutely poetry.'
+
+His searching look fastened itself upon the snow-white couch, the
+silken coverlet of which was drawn up and spread out, but could not
+entirely conceal the outline of a human figure, lying as flat as
+possible, evidently in the endeavour to escape observation.
+
+'I will sit down awhile,' said the Marquis, in the cheerful voice of a
+person who has no unpleasant thought in his mind, 'and contemplate this
+master-work.'
+
+As he said this he took up a pillow, its white covering trimmed with
+wide lace, and laid it on the spot where he thought the face of the
+concealed person must be, and placed himself upon it with all the
+weight of his somewhat bulky figure, whilst he placed his right hand
+upon the chest of the reclining form, and pressed on it with all his
+force.
+
+Without heeding the involuntary, frightful, and convulsive
+heavings--the death-throes of his wretched victim--the Marquis
+exclaimed, in a calm, firm voice,--
+
+'How beautifully that picture is finished! How noble and chaste does
+not the lovely penitent look, all sinner as she was, with her rich
+golden locks waving over that neck and those shoulders whiter than
+alabaster, while these graceful hands are clasped, and these contrite,
+tearful eyes seem gazing up yonder, whence alone mercy and pardon can
+be obtained! One could almost become a poet in gazing on so splendid a
+work of art. But ah! I never had the happy talent of an improvisatore.
+In place, therefore, of poetizing, I will tell you something that
+happened yesterday. Our little friend Giulio Balzetti took me round the
+Magdalene Church; and, whilst we were wandering about, he pointed out a
+particular spot to me, and bade me stand quite still there, telling me
+that _there_ might be overheard what was said at another spot at some
+distance in the church. And he was right. At that other place stood the
+confessional No. 6. I had hardly placed myself on the marble flag
+indicated to me, than I heard a charming voice--God knows who it was
+speaking!--but she was confessing the sorrows of her heart and her
+little sins to the holy father. She had a husband, she said, whom she
+loved--yes, she loved him, and he loved her: he was very kind to her,
+and left her much at liberty; in short, she gave the husband credit for
+all sorts of good qualities, but, unfortunately, she had fallen in love
+with another man! She did not mention his name. I should like to have
+heard it. He must be one of our handsome young cavaliers about the
+town. And this other loved her, too--she could not help it, poor
+thing!--and so she found room for him in her heart as well as
+for the husband. This other one was so handsome, so pleasing, so
+fascinating!... Well ... if her husband did not know what was going on,
+he could not be vexed, and ... it would do him no harm. So she had
+promised to admit the lover early this morning. Do you hear? This is
+what the French dames call "passer ses caprices." At last, she begged
+the good priest to give her absolution beforehand. And he did so: he
+gave the absolution! What do you think of all this, my love?' said the
+Marquis, as he rose from the couch, where all was now still as death,
+'Well,' he continued, in a jocular tone, 'our worthy priests are almost
+too complaisant and indulgent--at least, most of them. Our old Father
+Gregorio, however, would have taken _you_ to task after a different
+fashion, if you ...'
+
+He broke off abruptly, while he quietly laid the pillow in its own
+place, and deliberately turned down the embroidered coverlet. It was
+the architect Giulio Balzetti whom the Marquis beheld: he had ceased to
+breathe!
+
+'Have you been to confession lately, my Laura?' asked the Marquis.
+There was no answer.
+
+'Is it long since you have been to confession?' he asked, in a louder
+and sterner voice.
+
+'No!' replied the young woman, in the lowest possible tone.
+
+'Apropos,' said the Marquis, as he covered the frightfully distorted
+and blue face of the corpse with the coverlet, 'shall we not go to the
+grand festival at the church to-day? The procession begins exactly at
+twelve o'clock. I shall order the carriage--we really must not miss
+it.'
+
+He returned to the dressing-room. The Marchioness was sitting in a
+large cushioned lounging-chair, the thick tresses of her dark hair
+hanging negligently down, her lips and cheeks as pale as death, and her
+hands resting listlessly on her lap.
+
+'What is the matter, my dear child?' asked the Marquis, inwardly
+triumphing at her distress, but with fair and friendly words upon his
+lips. 'You have risen too early, my little Laura; and you have also
+fatigued yourself in trying to dress without assistance. Where is
+Pipetta? I shall ring for her now.' He pulled the bell-rope--approached
+his wife--slightly kissed her brow--and then left her apartments.
+
+At mid-day, when all the bells of the churches were pealing, the
+Marquis's splendid state carriage, with four horses adorned with
+gilded trappings, stood before the gate of his palace, and a crowd of
+richly-dressed pages, footmen, and grooms, were in waiting there.
+Presently the Marquis appeared in his brilliant court costume, with
+glittering stars on his breast, his hat in one hand, whilst with the
+other he led his young and beautiful but deadly-pale wife. With the
+utmost attention he handed her down the marble steps, and while her
+countenance looked as cold and stony as that of a statue, his eyes
+flashed with a fire that was unusual to them. The servants hurried
+forwards, the carriage-door was opened, the noble pair entered it, and
+it drove off towards the town. In the crowded streets the foot
+passengers turned round to gaze at it, and exclaimed to each other,
+'There go a happy couple!'
+
+The architect had disappeared. No one suspected that on the day of the
+grand festival he lay dead--a blue and terrible-looking corpse--amidst
+boots and shoes, at the bottom of a noble young dame's wardrobe; or
+that, the following night, without shroud or coffin, his body was
+secretly transported by the lady's faithful servants to a neighbouring
+mountain, and there thrown into a deep cave. But the lady paid a large
+sum to the convent of the Magdalens for the sake of his soul's repose.
+
+The monk Gregorio--the accommodating and favourite confessor of the
+fashionable world--was also soon after missing. But _he_ was not
+dead--he lingered for some years in a subterranean prison belonging to
+a monastery of one of the strictest orders: a punishment to which he
+had been condemned through the influence of the Marquis d'Arena.
+
+That the confessional No. 6 was removed, will be easily believed.
+
+The Marquis never alluded to these events before his wife. When they
+appeared in public together, as also in society at his own home, he
+treated her with respect, often with attention. But he never again
+spoke to her in private, nor did he ever again enter those apartments
+which had once been the scene of so dreadful a tragedy.
+
+
+
+
+                   THE ANCESTRESS; OR, FAMILY PRIDE.
+
+            FROM THE SWEDISH OF THE LATE BARONESS KNORRING.
+
+
+                                   I.
+
+Adelgunda was one of the most beautiful creatures ever moulded by the
+great Master's hand, and one on whom He might deign to look with the
+same paternal complacency as Pygmalion looked on his Galathea.
+
+Adelgunda was also as the apple of their eye to her father and mother;
+but not the less did they bring her up with the utmost strictness and
+severity, in the awful loftiness of their aristocratic principles,
+which made no allowance for a single error, a single imperfection, a
+single weakness even, among any who belonged to them. Everyone was to
+be super-excellent, and supremely high-bred like their ancestors; for
+their ancestors had only _virtues_, their failings being entombed with
+their bodies. The slightest infringement of the stately decorum,
+the formal propriety--and, to the honour of their ancestors we must
+add--the rectitude, the loyal and chivalric conduct of these worthies,
+called forth as unmerciful punishment as a heinous fault. And
+Adelgunda, from her earliest infancy, learned to form grand ideas about
+her noble, ancient, and opulent family; it was impressed on her mind
+that she would be very degenerate indeed if she did not resemble all
+those long departed, and now mouldering dames and damsels, whose
+portraits hung in long rows in the great picture-gallery, as a large
+old-fashioned apartment was called, which, in spite of accidental
+fires, of repairs and renovations in the old baronial castle, had
+preserved unaltered its antique appearance since the middle of the
+sixteenth century.
+
+In her infancy, Adelgunda had often been taken into this venerable
+saloon, and, counting with her five small fingers, she could repeat the
+names of all those haughty-looking, long-bearded cavaliers, equipped in
+heavy armour, or these stiff, richly-dressed nobles, most of them
+decorated with jewelled orders, or other tokens of a high worldly
+position; and these grand-looking ladies, encased in whalebone and
+stiff corsets, with towering powdered heads and magnificent jewellery,
+evincing the wealth of the family. These ladies and gentlemen hung, as
+has been said, in straight rows on each side of the long, narrow, dark,
+oak-paneled hall; and they were all half-length portraits in oval or
+almost square frames, the gilding of which had long since faded into a
+sort of a brownish-yellow cinnamon tint. But at the end of the hall,
+between two deep Gothic windows, with small old-fashioned panes of
+glass, there hung alone in state the great _ancestress_, or founder of
+the family--a tall, dark, stern-looking woman, whose countenance was
+grave, austere, and almost menacing, though the features, when narrowly
+examined, were regular and beautiful.
+
+In contrast to the half-length portraits around, this picture was
+almost colossal in size; and the noble lady it represented, who in
+Roman Catholic times had ended her days as the Abbess of a convent,
+stood there so stately and so stiff in the close black garb, with the
+unbecoming white linen band across her forehead, and with one hand, in
+which she held a crucifix, resting on a dark-looking stand, on which a
+missal, a skull, and a rosary, lay near each other, the other hand hung
+carelessly down by her side, and almost reached the lower portion of
+the picture-frame, which seemed considerably darker and more time-worn
+than all the rest. This picture was painted on thick wood, or on canvas
+stretched on wood, it was not certain which, but everyone knew that it
+was as heavy as lead--and so it proved to be.
+
+The likeness of the patriarch of the family--of the father of the
+race--painted to correspond in size and everything else to that of the
+high-born lady above mentioned, had in former days hung also in this
+saloon, but had been destroyed in a fire which had taken place between
+the years 1740 and 1750, so that the stern imperious-looking dame now
+occupied the place of honour alone.
+
+Her parents had never omitted, when they accompanied Adelgunda into the
+picture gallery, to take her up first to one, then to another of the
+noble ladies whose lineaments adorned the walls, saying, 'How fortunate
+for you if you could be as good as _this_ ancestress of yours was--as
+clever as _that_ one--as beautiful as _she_ was--as dutiful and
+affectionate as _yon_ lady!' Adelgunda would fix her eyes on each by
+turns, and every time she looked at them her desire to resemble them
+increased. But the great gloomy portrait of the tall dark lady always
+awakened a thrill of terror in the little girl's mind. This was partly
+owing to the tales with which the servants frightened her about this
+harsh, awful-looking abbess, partly to her being obliged, whenever she
+was naughty, to go into the sombre apartment where the picture was,
+and, curtseying before it, to beg pardon of the stern, threatening
+figure.
+
+With her tearful looks fixed upon it, she had often fancied that the
+eyes of the portrait moved; but it was a still greater trial to poor
+Adelgunda, when she had been guilty of some great offence, to be
+condemned, as a punishment, to stand for a quarter of an hour, or
+half-an-hour, under the dreaded portrait with her back to it.
+
+There was a tradition in the family that many, many years back, during
+the lifetime of one of the more ancient lords of the castle, a little
+girl, a member of the race, who was undergoing a similar punishment,
+distinctly felt the terrible lady's hand, which hung unemployed by her
+side, stretch over the picture-frame and seize roughly hold of her
+hair. The recollection of that tradition was martyrdom to Adelgunda
+when this most dreaded penance was inflicted on her; and on one
+occasion, when her conscience was not of the clearest, and she had
+cried herself almost into a fever from fright, she fancied that she
+actually felt a grasp at her little golden tresses.
+
+It is easy to imagine how anxious, in consequence of all this,
+Adelgunda was to avoid committing any faults, and with what terror the
+picture inspired her. And even in riper years, when she began to lay
+aside her childish dress and childish ideas, and when reason told her
+that a painted figure could have no more power or influence than any
+other inanimate object, she still looked with a certain degree of awe
+upon the portrait of her frowning ancestress, especially when her
+conscience told her that she had been guilty of any slight
+indiscretion; while, on the contrary, she felt some pleasure at gazing
+on the other family pictures, which all seemed to smile upon her.
+
+But years and time wore on, and the aristocratic bones of Adelgunda's
+proud, high-born parents were laid in the dust to mingle with the
+honoured remains of the old stock. She was then still in her minority,
+and found a new home with a kind aunt, who had resided too short a time
+under the same roof with the ancestral portraits, and in the place
+which had been the cradle of their race, to have imbibed their
+exaggerated family pride.
+
+The estate, which was entailed, with everything belonging to it,
+including the much-prized portrait, passed in trust, for future
+generations, to Adelgunda's only brother, of whom we purposely have not
+spoken, that we might not be obliged to give an account of all the
+exaggerated ideas of the consequence of his family which his father and
+mother had diligently and zealously laboured to imprint on the mind of
+their son--the only male scion of that ancient house, which was now
+threatened with speedy extinction--he who, after them, was alone to
+represent the glory of their time-honoured ancestry. What precepts and
+exhortations he, the only son and last hope, received under his
+progenitor's portrait--what deference and devotion were inculcated to
+the name of the haughty-looking abbess, whose severe virtue and pious
+deeds were held to reflect honour on her descendants--what aristocratic
+ideas and exclusive principles were there engrafted on his soul, we
+will not stop to relate--they would be incomprehensible to many, and do
+not require to be dwelt on in our short tale.
+
+In the aunt's cheerful, hospitable, pleasant, light modern villa quite
+another tone prevailed, and quite another mode of life from that within
+the solid walls of the old baronial castle or under its gloomy roof. At
+Adelgunda's age new impressions are soon received, new associations and
+new ideas are welcomed with avidity, and seldom fail to influence the
+mind. Adelgunda--truth obliges us to confess--soon forgot a very
+stringent and important paragraph in the paternal and maternal
+lectures--forgot the faithful portraits of the defunct females of her
+noble house, and even the threatening glance--the dark eye that shone
+from beneath the white linen fillet of the haughty abbess--forgot them
+all amidst new-born and overflowing happiness in the arms of an adored
+and adoring husband, a young naval officer, rich in all nature's
+brightest gifts, and standing high in the opinion of the world, but on
+whom the great ancestress would certainly never have permitted her hand
+to be bestowed, had she known of the matter; for his patent of nobility
+was not mouldy from age, was not even made out, and still worse, was
+not likely ever to be drawn up, because he did not feel the slightest
+wish ever to possess one.
+
+Adelgunda, nevertheless, felt unspeakably happy, and her noble brother,
+to whom the family mode of thinking had descended as an heirloom in
+conjunction with the entailed property, winked at the plebeian
+match--partly because he well knew that Adelgunda's very limited
+portion would never tempt any among the needy and impoverished of his
+own class to lay their hearts at her feet--partly because it was the
+preservation of the family name and tree in his own person that lay
+nearest to his heart, not the offshoots from the female line--and
+partly that, though he was a proud man, and unflinching in his
+aristocratical notions, he had a kind heart, was fondly attached to his
+sister, rejoiced in her happiness, and was well aware how much superior
+in character his estimable brother-in-law was to the generality of the
+young men of the day.
+
+But for himself, this brother and lord of the castle sought a spouse
+who should entwine no vulgar burgher twig around the fair branches of
+his genealogical tree, but one who counted as many generations as other
+good qualities; for ancient lineage is not apt, like wealth, to corrupt
+the heart, and Adelgunda's sister-in-law was truly an amiable lady.
+
+Again the lordly halls of the ancient castle became the abode of
+domestic happiness; and it was admitted that it could not be otherwise,
+for not one alone, but many of the old servants who had passed into the
+service of the heir of entail, and who were not notorious for their
+superstition, had clearly and distinctly observed that the first time
+the young countess entered the picture gallery, the majestic ancestress
+had relaxed her stern lips almost into a smile of approbation, which
+had never happened but once before--in the year 1664, on a similar
+occasion; a remarkable event, which had been recorded by the chaplain
+of the castle, with many subscribing witnesses, in a document which was
+preserved like a holy relic amidst the family's most valued papers,
+parchments, and deeds.
+
+When the young count and countess were happily wedded, and comfortably
+settled at the castle, which however, did not happen until about five
+years after Adelgunda's marriage to her delightful naval hero, the
+brother and sister felt a strong wish to meet once more under the
+paternal roof. And Adelgunda's husband promised that on his return in
+autumn from an expedition in which he was then engaged, he, his wife,
+and their little son, a boy about four years of age, should without any
+delay accept of the count's invitation, and make the visit so much
+desired by all parties--even by the young countess, Adelgunda's
+sister-in-law, who was by no means a stranger to her. They had been
+friends in childhood, indeed were distantly related to each other; for
+it so happens that almost all the families amongst the most ancient of
+the Swedish nobility are connected by ties of consanguinity.
+
+At length the long-looked-for day arrived, and Adelgunda beheld, with
+tears of mingled joy and sorrow, the grey old towers of the castle
+where she was born, and where she had spent her earliest years--those
+years which, on comparing them with the subsequent epochs of our life,
+we denominate the gayest and the happiest. Adelgunda and her husband,
+who had had a long day's journey, arrived late in the evening at the
+castle, and were shortly after conducted to their sleeping-rooms, a
+suite of lofty arched apartments in one of the farthest towers, and in
+the olden time the principal guest-chambers, but which did not bear the
+best of reputations as regarded spectres, midnight noises, groans,
+rattling of chains, and the like horrors. Adelgunda had all her life
+entertained great respect for, but also no little fear of, these
+apartments; and those feelings were probably heightened by an old
+tradition which averred that some most extraordinary and mysterious
+events had taken place in these chambers. Some pretended to know that
+one of these apartments, which along with the picture-gallery had
+remained most unchanged during the lapse of years, had served as the
+bridal-chamber for the great ancestress of the family; at any rate,
+there was something that savoured of awe and discomfort about them.
+
+Never in her life had Adelgunda slept in any of these gloomy
+apartments, and in former days nothing would have induced her to do so;
+but now, with her brave, bold sailor by her side, she smiled at her old
+childish fears,--at least when he laughed at her recital of them. She
+would not, however, on any account, allow her little Victor to sleep in
+the first antechamber with the trembling waiting-maid, but placed the
+child's crib close to her own bed, and often during the long, dark, and
+stormy autumnal night, when the wind shook the panes of glass, and
+howled through the adjacent forest, and she was awakened by its
+violence, she turned quickly, and with a beating heart, towards the
+child, leaned over his little bed, and felt unhappy until she had
+ascertained that her darling was sleeping soundly and peacefully.
+
+'Well!' said her husband the next morning, when the sun was already
+pretty high in the heavens, and cast his cheerful rays through the
+narrow casements of these haunted chambers--'well, dearest Adelgunda,
+have you heard or seen any spectre last night--been visited in any way
+by a ghost?'
+
+'No,' she replied laughingly, as the bright sunshine restored her
+courage; there was but one spirit near me last night--one dear, good
+spirit;' and she embraced her husband.
+
+'And you, Annette?' cried the incredulous visitor to the poor
+waiting-maid, 'I hope you have not been disturbed by the ghosts
+either?'
+
+But Annette, who was half-dead from fear, asserted that she had not
+closed her eyes the whole night; that she had distinctly heard sighs
+and groans, and heavy footsteps up and down the floor; and there had
+been many other frightful things that she could not describe.
+
+Now, in the cheering daylight, Adelgunda laughed heartily at these
+_fancies_, as she called them; but the previous night she would not
+have done so,--at least not with a heart so much at ease.
+
+'I wonder what his uncle and aunt will say of my little Victor, now
+that he is nicely dressed, and not so sleepy and cross as he was last
+night, after that long fatiguing journey!' said Adelgunda to Annette,
+with a mother's pride in her pretty boy, and while they were both
+engaged in arranging his curly hair, and putting on his handsome new
+green dress.
+
+Adelgunda's husband had risen early and gone out to stroll round the
+old castle, and the former young lady of the mansion, who had now
+become a wife and mother, took up her little son in her arms to go down
+to her sister-in-law, who had already sent to inquire how she had
+slept, and to let her know that breakfast was ready.
+
+Humming an air, Adelgunda proceeded with her light burden through the
+dear old well-remembered passages where her very footsteps echoed,
+until she came close to the door which opened into the picture-gallery;
+she then stopped, seized suddenly with a strong impulse to enter it,
+while a strange, sad foreboding of evil filled her heart. Influenced,
+as it were, by an invincible power over which she had no control, she
+laid her hand upon the lock, turned it, and stood, she scarcely knew
+how, in presence of the mute family, who seemed gazing on her from both
+sides. Adelgunda's heart beat quickly; recollections from her childhood
+and her youthful days began to rush back on her. These aristocratic
+feelings, which had so long slumbered, began to start up in her mind,
+and she dared not look towards the terrible lady at the extreme end,
+for fear of meeting her angry, implacable glance.
+
+'That is a pretty lady! And there is another nice lady! What a grand
+gentleman! and see, yonder is a fine gentleman, too!'
+
+Such were little Victor's exclamations, as Adelgunda went slowly with
+him past all these well-known portraits of uncles and aunts,
+grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and other members of the family, all
+long since asleep in their graves.
+
+'But, oh, mother, look!' cried Victor, as he first caught sight of the
+largest; 'see how horrible that one up yonder looks! See, mother, how
+that tall woman there on the wall frowns down at us!' And Victor knit
+his little brows, and drew in his small mouth, to make his face look
+very terrible in return.
+
+'Oh, do not speak so--do not speak so!' exclaimed his mother, trying
+in vain to hush the child. 'On the contrary,' she added, in a
+faltering voice, 'she is an excellent lady, and very kind to all good,
+well-behaved children. We will go up yonder, and beg her pardon and her
+blessing.'
+
+'No, no!' screamed Victor, kicking his little legs with all his might;
+'I won't have anything to do with her: she looks as cross as if she
+would bite me.'
+
+'Again his mother entreated Victor to be a reasonable, good boy, and by
+that time they stood under the great lady's picture. A tremor crept
+over Adelgunda as she encountered that austere, repulsive look, and
+involuntarily she dropped her eyes beneath it. But reason soon
+triumphed; she approached closer to the portrait, and said to her
+little son, whom she still held in her arms, 'Now we shall say good
+morning to that lady;' and she curtseyed herself, and bent with her
+hand the obstinate little head; 'and we shall beg her to look kindly
+and gently down upon us, for your dear, good papa's sake, and we will
+kiss her hand.' And Adelgunda kissed the hand in the picture that was
+hanging down; but when she attempted to raise the child's face up
+towards the hand, the little fellow, in whose infantine breast was
+aroused a portion of his father's bold spirit, and perhaps impetuous
+temper, and who, though somewhat frightened, felt his courage rising,
+and was, withal, extremely angry, struggled furiously, clenched his
+little fist, and instead of kissing the great lady's drooping hand,
+thumped it with all his might--and at that moment he was strong enough.
+
+
+                                  II.
+
+Adelgunda's brother and sister-in-law waited in vain for her appearance
+at the breakfast-table. She came not! But at length the startling
+intelligence was brought to them that a strange, frightful noise had
+been heard in the picture-gallery. No one knew what was the cause of
+it, for no one had dared to venture in to see what had happened, but
+now every one rushed in. A cloud of dust, a heap of mortar and wood was
+before them; and a sight so dreadful, so shocking, so appalling, met
+their eyes, that every heart was like to break.
+
+But only one heart _did_ break, for notwithstanding his strength of
+mind--his unconquerable spirit--his undeniable fortitude, the bereaved
+husband and father almost sank beneath the frightful calamity that had
+suddenly deprived him of the wife he adored, and the child on whom all
+his hopes were centred. Yet he was the first--the only one who had
+sufficient energy, and presence of mind to drag the lifeless remains of
+his wife and son from under the destroying weight of the heavy
+portrait.
+
+It was a frightful event, and made a great sensation. A rotten rope,
+and the mouldering state of the wall which should have upheld the
+enormously heavy wooden frame, had done all the evil.
+
+The naval officer passed over distant seas to many a foreign land--the
+world was all before him, but he never forgot what he had lost.
+
+The picture of the awful ancestress met with little injury in its fall;
+but several years elapsed before it was hung up again in its former
+place. It was, however, at length restored to its old position, but
+fastened with new rope, and everything necessary to make it more
+secure. The dreadful occurrence was beginning to be forgotten, and the
+brotherly affection which had somewhat cooled, seemed to have displayed
+itself sufficiently in having banished the lofty dame for some years to
+a lumber-room. She could not always be left there! So at length she
+hung in her old place again, as stern, as frowning as formerly. And the
+count, who had now become an old man, generally when he alluded to the
+terrible event, reasonably ascribed it to natural causes. But, once
+upon a time, when he observed his youngest daughter, a girl not much
+more than sixteen years of age, casting _furtive_ and _rather friendly_
+glances at a young man, the son of a country parson, who, on account of
+his handsome person and pleasant manners, was often received at the
+baronial castle,--when he saw this, by means of some sidelong looks
+with the corner of his eye, which were not perceived by the young
+couple, then he took his daughter by the hand, led her silently and
+solemnly into the picture-gallery, walked with her up to the replaced
+portrait of their great ancestress, and said with the gravity of an
+anxious father, and the dignity of an aristocratic nobleman,--
+
+'Beware, my daughter! Remember the fate of your aunt!'
+
+These words were all he uttered.
+
+                               *   *   *
+
+'And this happened in the nineteenth century, and here in our
+father-land? 'Such an inquiry will assuredly be made by one or other of
+our readers. But we will not answer it ourselves; we shall only advise
+the inquirer to address himself to the descendants of _one of the most
+ancient families in Scania_, and ask _them_ whether it be true or not.
+
+
+
+
+                       THE MAN FROM PARADISE.[10]
+
+                             A Comic Tale.
+
+              FROM THE DANISH OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.
+
+
+   There was a widow, once upon a time--
+   Yet stop--with _truth_ we must commence our rhyme--
+   She _had_ been such, but now another spouse
+   Had sought her love, and won the widow's vows.
+
+   One evening she was quite alone at home
+   (For the best husbands sometimes like to roam);
+   She sat, her cheek reposing on her hand,
+   The tea-things spread upon the table, and
+   The kettle singing by, or on the fire--
+   A sort of a monotonous steam lyre:
+   Her thoughts from this low world of fogs had flown
+   Up to the husband she first called her own;
+   She could not _quite_ the dear, kind soul forget--
+   And ah! the other one was absent yet.
+   'But thou art happy now,' she cried--'in case
+   In Abraham's bosom thou hast found a place:
+   Thou pitiest us, in these rooms close and old,
+   Where one so often gets a cough or cold.'
+
+   Then into a brown study she did fall,
+   When suddenly some sounds her thoughts recall;
+   She hears a gentle knocking at the door;
+   She starts--looks at the roof, then at the floor--
+   Then peers into each corner, as she cries,
+   'Well--who is there?' To be right brave she tries,
+   But truth to tell, she almost shook with fear
+   To see some ghost, or corpse-like form appear.
+   Another knock--then in the doorway stood
+   No spectre, but a youth of flesh and blood
+   'Twas an apprentice who had run away
+   From work, and chose from town to town to stray:
+   The rogue lived by his wits as best he might,
+   For nought he scrupled at--except to fight.
+
+   The quondam widow very soon perceived
+   The intruder was not what she had believed--
+   That he was mortal, not a form of air.
+   She questioned whence he came, and also where
+   He might be bound. 'I'm on my way,' said he,
+   'To Paris, madam, _via_ Germany.'
+   With joyous heart she listened to his tale,
+   And then she placed before him meat and ale,
+   Kindly inviting him to eat and drink;
+   While she exclaimed, 'How very strange to think
+   That you to Paradise are journeying on!--
+   Why, that's the land where my first husband's gone!
+   Please give my love to him, our daughter's, too,
+   And--_his successor's compliments_, will you?'
+
+   Quickly the knave observed that the good dame
+   In her geography was rather lame--
+   That _Paradise_ with _Paris_ she confounded.
+   And though one moment he looked up astounded,
+   The next into her droll conceit he fell,
+   Saying, 'Oh, yes! I know the good man well.'
+   'What! have you really been already there?'
+   She cried. 'Then say, how does the dear one fare?'
+   'Ah! very badly. 'Tis a tale of woe!
+   I was up there about a month ago.
+   A sort of a dog's life the poor thing led,
+   Early he had to rise--get late to bed;
+   Worked hard, and scarce a stitch of clothing had.
+   His shroud and grave-clothes from the first were bad;
+   They very soon wore out, and now he goes
+   Without a coat, and with bare legs and toes.'
+   These words went like a dagger to her heart;
+   She shuddered--groaned--then, with a sudden start,
+   She rose, and soon an ample bundle made
+   Of linen, coats, warm woollen socks; and said,
+   Whilst with big tear-drops both her eyes looked dim.
+   'This package, sir, I pray you take to him.
+   Tell the poor fellow I shall send him more
+   By the first opportunity--a store
+   I'll surely send. Oh dear! oh dear! 'tis sad
+   His fate in yonder place should be so bad!'
+
+   The rogue had stuffed quite to his heart's content,
+   So, taking up the bundle, off he went;
+   But first he thanked her for the food, and vowed
+   The clothes she sent should soon replace the shroud.
+   Long, long she sits, her eyes still full of tears;
+   The absent husband now at length appears
+   ('Tis to the _second_ one that I allude--
+   The _first_, as has been shown, was gone for good).
+
+   'Well, I have curious tidings for your ear--
+   A man from Paradise has just been here;
+   He knew poor _Thi--is_ there.' (Such was the name
+   Of him who was first husband to the dame.)
+   And thereupon, with a most serious face,
+   She told him all that had just taken place.
+   The husband, when he heard her, smelled a rat,
+   But only saying he would have a chat
+   Himself with the great traveller, he sent
+   For his best horse, and after him he went.
+
+   'Twas a sweet night, the moon was shining clearly--
+   Just such a night as poets love most dearly;
+   The nightingales were pouring forth their notes,
+   The owls were exercising, too, their throats;
+   But, what was better still, he found the track
+   The thief had ta'en, and hoped to bring him back.
+   Thieves, by the way, like the moon's silver rays
+   Far better than the sun's meridian blaze.
+   And now, how fared it with the thief himself,
+   Thus making off with his ill-gotten pelf?
+
+   He spied a man, who like old Nick was riding,
+   And felt that he was in for a good hiding;
+   Therefore into a neighbouring ditch he flung
+   The burden that across his back had slung,
+   Then casting himself down upon a bank,
+   Quite in a lounging attitude he sank,
+   And gazing on the clear calm skies above,
+   He sang some ditty about ladies' love.
+   Up comes the rider at a rapid trot--
+   The pace had made him and his steed both hot--
+   And asked abruptly, reining in his grey,
+   If he had seen a rascal pass that way,
+   Who on his shoulders a large bundle bore--
+   A horrid thief he was, the horseman swore.
+   'Why, yes,' was the reply. 'I have just seen
+   A fellow with long legs pass by--I ween
+   It is the same you seek; for he looked round
+   Soon as your horse's footfall on the ground
+   Was heard--and then, as quickly as he could,
+   He fled to hide himself in yonder wood.
+   If you make haste, you there will catch him soon.'
+   The horseman thanked him much and craved a boon--
+   It was to hold his steed, while in pursuit
+   He went himself into the wood on foot.
+   'Twas granted, and the husband rushed among
+   The bushes tall--while the thief laughing sprung
+   Upon the horse; he took the bundle too,
+   And fast away he rode, or rather flew.
+
+   Angry, fatigued, and scratched till he was sore,
+   The husband came, his bootless errand o'er.
+   Fancy what was his grief, his rage, to find
+   The horse he thought he left so safe behind,
+   Gone too! he cried, 'Hey! hey!' its name he called,
+   But all in vain he shouted and he bawled--
+   The clever thief the faster rode away.
+   There was no creature near on whom to lay
+   The blame; so the poor foolish dupe abused
+   The moon, for having thus her light misused.
+   Home on his weary legs he had to trudge;
+   His steed to the vile thief did he not grudge!
+
+   'Well, did you find him?' asked his smiling wife.
+   He answered, in a tone subdued, 'My life,
+   I did. I found him, and--and--for _your_ sake,
+   Our best, our swiftest horse I let him take,
+   That he with greater speed might find his way.'
+   The dame smiled on him, and in accents gay
+   Exclaimed, 'O best of husbands! who could find
+   Your equal--one so thoughtful, wise, and kind!'
+
+
+                                 MORAL.
+
+   The moral of this story shows,
+   Though knaves on women oft impose,
+   That men are sometimes quite as _green_,
+   But hold their tongues themselves to screen.
+
+
+
+                               FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: A Danish title, signifying councillor of justice.]
+
+[Footnote 2: Danish mile, equal to about 4 3/4 English miles.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Fourteen and a quarter English miles.]
+
+[Footnote 4: 'To give a basket,' in Danish, signifies a refusal.]
+
+[Footnote 5: A Danish title.]
+
+[Footnote 6: 'Aprilsnarrene.' A Danish vaudeville.]
+
+[Footnote 7: The ceremony of Confirmation is deemed of the highest
+importance in Denmark, and is never neglected in any rank of life, from
+the prince to the peasant.]
+
+[Footnote 8: For these, and 'Octavianus,' see Ludwig Tieck's works.
+They have been translated into Danish by Adam Oehlenschlaeger.]
+
+[Footnote 9: A town of Sicily, in the Val di Mazzara, on the site of
+the ancient Agrigenum, the magnificent ruins of which are still to be
+seen.]
+
+[Footnote 10: Manden Fra Paradiis. En komisk Fortaelling.]
+
+
+
+
+                             END OF VOL. I.
+
+
+
+
+        LONDON. PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,
+                           AND CHARING CROSS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol.
+I (of 3), by Various
+
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