heart, that he saw in him the highest of
what could be found on this earth,--all this over-powered Erick so much
that he was not able to comprehend his good fortune, and with a deep
breath he asked: "Are you sure, Grandfather?"

"Yes, yes, my boy," the grandfather assured him, laughing. "Come, I hope
you can start at once. You will not have much to pack?"

"Oh, no," said Erick. "You see,"--and he counted on his fingers: "three
writing-books, three school-books, the pen-box and the beautiful
Christmas present that I received here in the parsonage."

"That is well, that will make a small bundle," but the old gentleman
looked at his grandson, rather surprised, and said: "I am astonished,
little waif, that you look so fine."

"Yes, I believe you, Grandfather," answered Erick. "That is good stuff
that I am wearing; it comes from you. You see, when in the old suit
which I had worn so long, the patches became holes, then Mother brought
out the beautiful velvet cloak, with the broad lace, and said: 'That is
good, that comes from Grandfather, you can wear that a long time.' And
then she cut everything apart and sewed everything together again, and
so there came out what I am now wearing. And Mother received a great
deal of money for the broad lace. But only when all was finished and I
was wearing it, she became glad again; during the cutting and the sewing
together, she was very quiet."

The grandfather too had become still, and he turned away for a while. No
doubt he too thought of the time and what happy days they were when he
had hung around his beloved child the rich mantle, and how sweetly she
stood before him, she whom he was never to see again.

"Come, my boy," he said, turning again to Erick. "What has become of
your foster-parents? It is time that we thank them."

The pastor's wife had seen at once that the grandfather had recognized
his grandson, and as the latter was standing before him, she gently
urged her husband and children, as well as Marianne, out of the room and
closed the door after her; and outside, in the long passage, she let the
interested crowd ask their loud questions, and give their loudest
answers, undisturbed. But when the colonel, holding Erick by the hand,
came out of the study, she at once made an open path for them through
the assembled people, to bring them upstairs to the quiet reception
room, where at last the family and their guest could be among
themselves. Here the beaming grandfathe