th old John. Oh, that was so
beautiful! But once Mother was disobedient to grandfather, for she
wanted to go far away with my father, and grandfather would not have it;
but she went, and then she was not allowed to come back, and everything
was over."

Sally had listened with breathless attention. Now she burst out: "Dear,
dear, what a pity! That is exactly like Adam and Eve in Paradise! But
where did your mother go to? And who is now on that beautiful estate?"

"Mother went far away to Paris, then to many other places, and at last
we came to Middle Lot. My grandfather still lives on the estate."

"Oh, Erick, we will write a letter at once to your grandfather and ask
him whether you may now come home again?"

"Oh, no, no! I dare not do that," opposed Erick. "I must not go to my
grandfather until I have become an honorable man, so that I may say to
him: 'I will not bring shame on your name, Grandfather, but Mother would
like to make up through me for what you have suffered through her!' I
have promised that to my mother!"

"Oh, what a pity, what a pity!" lamented Sally, "you may never go to the
beautiful estate until you are a man; that will be a terrible long time.
And then you have to go away in the winter to quite strange people, to
an institute. Oh, if you only could go to the beautiful estate, to
Grandfather! Can it not be brought about, Erick? Can no one help you?"

"No, that is quite impossible," said Erick, thoroughly convinced. "But
now, since you know all, I will tell you a good deal more about the
estate, for I know much more, and Mother and I have talked so often
about it," so Erick told more and more until they reached home, where
both of them were much distracted, for both were wandering in thought
about the beautiful estate far away. The mother looked several times now
at the one, then at the other, for nothing unusual in her children ever
escaped her motherly eye; but she said nothing. When later she had
prayed with the children, and was now standing in her own bedroom, she
heard how Sally, in her little bedroom beside hers, was praying loud and
earnestly to God.

The mother wondered what could so occupy the thoughts of her little
girl, who was usually so open and communicative. What had happened this
evening, and what was urging her to such a pleading prayer, and why had
she not said a word about it? Could the child have a secret trouble? She
softly opened the door a little, and now heard how Sall