es, that he would," rejoined the other. "He did love to watch the
snowflakes come down, and talk of longing to see an Arctic winter; but I
hope it will not fall so heavily as to block the railway, and prevent us
from getting any letters."

"I hope not," replied Lorischen sympathisingly. "That would be a bad
look-out, especially at Christmas time! Look, the roof of the Marien
Kirche is covered already: what must it not be in the open country!"

The old town presented a very different aspect now to what it had done
when Madame Dort had walked by Eric's side to the railway station, for
the red tiles of the houses were hidden from view by the white covering
which now covered the face of nature everywhere--the frozen canal ways
and river, with the ice-bound ships along the quays and the tall poplar
trees and willows on the banks, as well as the streets and market-place,
being thickly powdered, like a gigantic wedding-cake, with snow-dust;
while icicles hung pendent, as jewels, from the masts of the vessels and
the boughs of the trees alike, and from the open-work galleries of the
market hall and groined carvings of the archways and outside staircases
that led to the upper storeys of the ancient buildings around. These
latter glittered in every occasional ray of sunshine that escaped every
now and then from the overhanging clouds, flashing out strange radiant
shades of colouring to light up the monotonous tone of the landscape.

Madame Dort rose from her chair and went to the window where she
remained for some little time watching the fast descending flakes that
came down in never-ceasing succession.

"I'm afraid it is going to be a very heavy fall," said she presently,
after gazing at the scene around in the street below. Then, lifting her
eyes, she noticed that the heavy mass of snow-clouds on the horizon had
now crept up to the zenith, totally obscuring the sun, and that the wind
had shifted to the north-east--a bad quarter from whence to expect a
change at that time of year.

"But, dear me, there is Fritz! I wonder what brings him home so early
to-day?" she exclaimed again after another pause. "See," she added,
"the dear child! He has got something white in his hand, and is waving
it as he comes up the stairway. It's a letter, I'm sure; and it must be
from Eric!"

Old Lorischen bounced out of her chair at this announcement and was at
the door of the room almost as soon as her mistress; but, before either
co