There really is much that is very distinguished and truly amiable in
her; you will see it, as you remain so much longer time with us."

"Yes, thank God!" said Henrik, "I can now reckon on that, on remaining
some months at home."

The conversation now turned on Henrik's future prospects. His father
wished him to devote himself to mining, and with this end in view he had
studied, but he felt ever, more and more, a growing inclination to
another profession, and this had become a ground of dissatisfaction in
the family. The mother now besought her first-born to prove himself
carefully and seriously before he deserted the path to which his father
was attached, and which Henrik himself had selected in common council
with his father. Henrik promised this solemnly. His soul was warm and
noble. His young heart possessed every fine sentiment, a pure enthusiasm
for virtue and for his country, a glowing desire to live for them, this
belonged to his heart in the richest measure. The wish to be useful to
the community generally, united itself with all his views of
self-advantage, and he only saw his own prosperity in connexion with
that of his family. These thoughts and sentiments poured themselves
forth in that sweet confidential hour freely and fully to his
mother--the happy mother, whose heart beat with joy and with proudest
hope of her first-born, the favourite of her soul, her summer child!

"And when I have made my own way in the world," added Henrik, joyfully
kissing the hand of his mother, "and have a house of my own, then,
mother, you shall come to me, and live with me, will you not?"

"And what would your father say to that?" said she, in a tone like his
own.

"Oh! he has all the sisters who can keep house for him," said Henrik,
"and----"

"Do you intend to sit up here the whole night?" asked a voice at the
door. It was the voice of the Judge, and both mother and son rose up as
if they had been caught in the fact of conspiracy. The conspiracy,
however, was immediately imparted to the Judge, whereupon he declared
that all this would lead to such fearful consequences that they had
better say no more about it.

Both mother and son laughed, and said "Good night" to each other. But as
Henrik conveyed the hand of his mother towards his lips, he fell into a
sort of ecstasy over it.

"Heavens! what a white hand! and what small fingers! nay, how can people
have such small fingers?" And with a sort of comic devotion he kisse