utiful? I know, my dear
girl, that you only wish to do that which is right and good, and whoever
aims rightly at that object will not fail of the means also."

"Must I then dissimulate?" asked Louise. "Must I conceal my thoughts,
and be silent respecting that which I think wrong? That may indeed be
prudent, but it certainly is not Christian."

"Become Christian in temper, my child," said the mother, "and you will
easily discover the means of doing what is right in a proper and
effectual manner. You will learn to speak the truth without wounding; a
truly pure, truly affectionate spirit wounds no one, not even in
trifles. For that reason, one need not to be silent when one should
speak, but----"

"'_C'est le ton qui fait la chanson!_' Is it not so? he, he, he!"
interposed the shrill voice of Mrs. Gunilla, who had come in unobserved,
and who thus put an end to the discourse. Soon afterwards the Assessor
made his appearance, and they two fell into conversation, though not, as
commonly, into strife with each other. Mrs. Gunilla lamented to him
respecting Pyrrhus; she was quite in trouble about the little animal,
which had now for some time had a pain in the foot, which it always lay
and licked, and which, spite of that and of other means, got rather
worse than better. She did not know what she was to do with the little
favourite. The Assessor besought her, in the kindest manner, to allow
him to undertake his treatment. He said he had always been much more
successful in curing dogs than men, and that dogs were far more
agreeable, and far nicer patients than their masters. Mrs. Gunilla
thanked him much, and was heartily glad of his offer, and the following
morning, she said, Pyrrhus should be conveyed to him.

The family assembled themselves for tea, and the quick eyes of Mrs.
Gunilla soon discovered that all was not quite as it should be.

"Listen, now," said she, "my little Elise. I know that there will be
festivities, and balls, and banquets, given there at----_chose_! what do
they call it? and of course the young people here should all be at them
and figure a little. If there be any little embarrassments about the
toilet in which I can help, tell me candidly. Good heavens! one can
imagine that easily. Young girls!--a rosette is wanted here, and a
rosette is wanted there, and one thing and another--heart's-dearest! it
is so natural. I know it all so well. Now tell me----"

Elise thanked her cordially, but must decline