upon it, Ginchen!"

She held out her hand for her friend to clasp; but the wife and mother
started up with a cry of joy, that vividly recalled the little house
swallow of former days, exclaiming: "Is it true? Are you sure? Oh!
dear, dearest Leah--" and she threw her arms around her neck in a
tumult of the most enthusiastic delight; "let me kiss and hug and
congratulate you, and no seven seals shall close my mouth, since I
guessed it before you said a word, and besides how could I conceal it?
Reinhold always says he reads my face better than a page printed in the
clearest type, the tease! and now your father and mother--everything
will be well again, and I take back every word I just said, merely to
drive away your longing. No! without a child--all the learning of a
whole library couldn't make me happy, or you either, dearest, and
because I knew that, I've always half grudged myself my own happiness,
and often--God forgive me the sin--thought whether it wouldn't be
better, if we didn't live in the same city; that's all my wickedness,
and now I'll keep still and you shall punish me soundly for my deceit,
and then let me kiss you for the good news. Merciful Heavens, what will
Edwin say!"

During this enthusiastic outburst of joy she had been dancing about the
room like a crazy person, and now suddenly sat down in Leah's lap,
threw her arms around her, and humbly bent her head, as if expecting
the chastisement would be given in good earnest. Leah bent toward her.
"You're a sweet child," she said, secretly drying her tearful eyes in
Reginchen's hair. "Come, be sensible. And I'm entirely in earnest about
keeping the matter a secret. Who knows whether I may not be
disappointed? Have I not twice cherished the hope, only to be doubly
unhappy? That's why Edwin must know nothing about it until I'm
perfectly sure. Oh! darling, I'll never, never forget that you have
rejoiced with me. It seems as if I had discovered to-day, for the first
time, that you really love me, and what a precious treasure you are.
The man would not deserve you at all, who would question of the books
you had read or the subjects you were able to discuss."

They held each other in a close embrace, and then with all the
unwearied energy of a woman's fancy, Reginchen began to picture the
happy future Leah might now expect. But she insisted that she should be
required to keep the secret from her Reinhold only so long as Edwin
himself knew nothing of it. She as