ld see by a
glance at her that she must have a remarkable character; but as to her
uncommon beauty there prevailed different opinions in feminine circles.
It was, at all events, a pity that she was so forlorn; and the Becks, it
was thought, were now morally bound to look after her.

For the present she had gone to live with her aunt up in one of the
narrow streets at the back of the town, and there came pouring in, with
and without the owners' names, all sorts of friendly advice, with black
dress materials and ornaments from the young men and shop lads; and a
couple of the bustling ladies of the town even came in person to see her
aunt and talk over the girl's future. When Carl Beck, however, gave out
that he looked upon these presents as slights upon himself, they ceased.
He had only been up there once, and then his eldest sister was with him:
but his manner on that occasion had been most attractive, he had
sympathised with such winning sincerity, and at the same time so
unassumingly, in Elizabeth's grief; and when leaving assured her, with
emotion which he made no attempt to conceal, that they owed it to her
that their father was still alive.

When he was gone, his sister had proceeded to the real matter of her
visit. She had come to propose to the aunt that Elizabeth should live
with them for the present with the view of qualifying herself for a
housekeeper's place, as she must not be exposed to the necessity of
going out as a common servant-girl. It was her brother, she added, who
had made this plan for Elizabeth's future.

The offer was a highly desirable one for persons in their position, and
was accepted by the aunt with unmixed satisfaction. Over Elizabeth's
face, however, there passed a momentary cloud. She felt, without knowing
why, a sense of oppression at the prospect of coming into closer contact
with the young lieutenant; but at the same time she would not for a
great deal have refused the offer.

CHAPTER VIII.

As for Salve, during the first few days after coming home he was a happy
man. He was in love: he had received from his captain a hundred-daler
note, accompanied by a promise that as soon as he had learnt navigation
he should be third mate on board the Juno; and he heard himself admired
on all sides by his equals and associates. There was so much work to be
done, though, in discharging the cargo and getting the vessel into dock
for repairs--they had managed to get her up as far as Arend