into her
little boudoir. She had as yet not been able to speak one word to him
alone. Now she questioned him on everything, small and great, which
concerned him, and how freely and entirely he opened his whole heart to
her!

They talked of the circumstances of the family; of the purchase of this
new property; of the debt which they had thereby contracted; of the
means through which, by degrees, it would be paid off, and of the
necessity there was for greater economy on all sides. They talked, too,
of the daughters of the house.

"Louise is superb," said Henrik, "but her complexion is rather muddy;
could she not use some kind of wash for it? She would be so much
handsomer if she had a fresher complexion; and then she looks, the least
in the world, cathedral-like. What a solemn air she had to-night, as
Jacobi made some polite speech to her! Do you know, mother, I think the
sisters sit too much; it is in that way that people get such grave
cathedral-like looks. We must make them take more exercise; we must find
out some lively exhilarative exercise for them. And Eva! how she is
grown, and how kind and happy she looks! It is a real delight to see
her--one can actually fall in love with her! But what in all the world
is to be done with Petrea's nose? It does, indeed, get so large and
long, that I cannot tell what is to be done! It is a pity, though, for
she is so good-hearted and merry. And Leonore! How sickly and unhappy
she looks at times! We must endeavour to cheer her up."

"Yes, that we will," said the mother; "if she were but healthy, we could
soon manage that; but how does little Gabriele please you?"

"Ah! she is very lovely, with her high-bred little airs--quite
fascinating," said Henrik.

"And Sara!" asked she.

"Yes," said he, "she is lovely--very lovely, I think; but still there is
something, at least to my taste, very unpleasant in her. She is not like
my sisters; there is something about her so cold, so almost repulsive."

"Yes," said the mother, sighing; "there is at times something very
extraordinary about her, more particularly of late. I fear that a
certain person has too great, and that not a happy, influence over her.
But Sara is a richly gifted and truly interesting girl, out of whom
something very good may be made, if--if----She gives us, indeed, anxiety
at times, for we are as much attached to her as if she were our own
child. She has a most extraordinary talent for music--you must hear her.