he room was the work of her daughters; her
writing-table stood by the window; several beautiful pictures and a
quantity of very pretty china adorned the room. Elise saw, with thankful
delight, that all her favourite tastes, and all her little fancies, had
been studied and gratified both by husband and children.

A small curtained door, likewise, on the other side, conducted Elise
into her sleeping-room; and her husband made her observe how smoothly
these doors turned on their hinges, and how easily she, from either
side, could lock herself in and remain in quiet.

After this room, nothing gave Elise greater delight than the
arrangements for bathing, which the Judge had made particularly
convenient and comfortable; and he now turned the white taps with
remarkable pleasure, to exhibit how freely the warm water came out of
this, and the cold--no, out of this came the warm water, and out of the
other the cold. The cheerfulness and comfort of the whole arrangement
were intended to give to the bathing-day--which was almost as
religiously observed in this family as the Sunday--a double charm. In a
room adjoining that which was appropriated to dressing, the old cleanly
Brigitta had already her fixed residence. Here was she and the great
linen-press to grow old together. Here ticked her clock, and purred her
cat; here blossomed her geraniums and balsams, with the Bible and
Prayer-book lying between them.

The three light and pleasant rooms intended for the daughters lay in the
story above, and were simply but prettily furnished.

"Here they will feel themselves quite at home," said the father, as he
looked round with beaming eyes; "don't you think so, Elise? We will make
home so pleasant to our children that they shall not wish to leave it
without a really important and deserving cause. No disquiet, no
discontent with home and the world within it, shall drive them from the
paternal roof. Here they can have leisure and quiet, and be often alone,
which is a good thing. Such moments are needed by every one in order to
strengthen and collect themselves, and are good for young girls as well
as for any one else."

The mother gave her applause fully and cordially; but immediately
afterwards she was a little absent, for she had something of importance
to say to her eldest daughter; and as at that very moment Louise came
in, an animated conversation commenced between them, of which the
following reached the father's ear:

"And aft