ul, so
ready to take offence, then--oh, Ernst! love me! Look on me always as
now, then life will be bright to me; then shall I have strength to
overcome all--even my own weakness; then I shall feel that only a cloud,
only a shadow of mist, and no reality can come between us. But now all
is vanished. Now I can lay open to you all the innermost loopholes of my
heart--can tell you all my weaknesses----"

"Be still, be still now," said the Judge, with a bright and affectionate
look, and laying his hand on her mouth. "I have more failings than you;
but I am awake now. Weep not, Elise; let me kiss away your tears! Do you
not feel, as I do now, that all is right? Do we not believe in the
Eternal Good, and do we not believe in each other? Let us forgive and
forget, and have peace together. Hereafter, when the error of this time
has in some measure passed from our remembrance, we will talk it over,
and wonder how it ever came between us. Now, all is so bright between
us, and we both of us see our way clearly. Our errors will serve us for
warnings. Wherefore do we live in the world, unless to become better?
Look at me, Elise. Are you friendly towards me? Can you have confidence
in me?"

"I can! I have!" said she; "there is not a grain of dust any longer
between us."

"Then we are one!" said he, with a joyful voice. "Let us, then, in God's
name, go thus together through life. What He has united, let no man, no
accident, nothing in this world, separate!"

Night came; but light had arisen in the breast both of husband and wife.

* * * * *

The furrow of disunion bears commonly thorns and thistles, but it may
likewise bear seed for the granary of heaven.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] According to the Northern mythology, Nidhoegg, the snake-king, lives
in Niflhem, the nether world.

CHAPTER XI.

JACOBI.

When Jacobi entered his room, he found a letter lying on the table near
his bed. He recognised the handwriting as that of Judge Frank, and
quickly opened it. A bank-note of considerable value fell out; and the
letter contained the following words:

"You are indebted to several persons in the city, Jacobi, with
whom I wish, for your own sake, that you should have as little to
do as possible. Within, you will find the means of satisfying
their demands. Receive it as from a paternal friend, who sincerely
wishes you to regard him as such, and who embraces with pleasur