fancied that Oestanvik and all its splendour might be a little
captivating to you! And now do you really feel that you have had no loss
in rejecting so rich a worldly settlement?"

"Loss!" repeated Louise, "no, not now, certainly; and yet I should say
wrong if I denied that it has had temptations for me; and for that
reason I never would go to Oestanvik, because I knew how improper it
would be if I allowed it to influence me, whilst I never could endure
such a person as Cousin Thure; and, besides that, I liked Jacobi so
much, and had done so for many years! Once, however, the temptation was
very powerful, and that was on our return from Axelholm. As I rode along
in Cousin Thure's easy landau, it seemed to me that it must be very
agreeable to travel through life so comfortably and pleasantly. But at
that time I was very unhappy in myself; life had lost its best worth for
me; my faith in all that I loved most was poisoned! Ah! there arose in
me then such a fearful doubt in all that was good in the world, and I
believed for one moment that it would be best to sleep out life, and
therefore the easy rocking of the landau seemed so excellent. But now,
now is this heavy dream vanished! now life is again bright, and I
clearly see my own way through, it. Now I trouble myself no more about a
landau than I do about a wheelbarrow; nay, I would much rather now that
my whole life should be a working day, for which I could thank God! It
is a delight to work for those whom one highly esteems and loves; and I
desire nothing higher than to be able to live and work for my own
family, and for him who is to-day become my promised husband before
God!"

"God will bless you, my good, pure-hearted girl!" said the mother,
embracing her, and sweet affectionate tears were shed in the still
evening.

CHAPTER XI.

YET MORE WOOING.

Early on the following morning Eva received a nosegay of beautiful
moss-roses, among which was a letter to herself; she tore it open, and
red the following words:

"I have dreamed that I could live; and truly a life more beautiful
and more perfect than any romance makes one dream of. Little Miss
Eva, whom I have so often carried in my arms--good young girl,
whom I would so willingly sustain on my breast through, life, thou
must hear what I have dreamed, what I sometimes still dream.

"I dreamed that I was a rough, unsightly rock, repulsive and
unfruitful. But a h