in Eva's own bosom. The result of all this
consideration was, that Eva wrote with tearful eyes the following answer
to her lover:

"My best, my truly good Friend!

"Ah! do not be angry with me that I cannot become for you that
which you wish. I shall certainly not marry. I am too happy in my
own home for that. Ah! this to be sure is egotistical, but I
cannot do otherwise. Forgive me! I am so very much, so heartily
attached to you; and I should never be happy again if you love not
hitherto as formerly

"Your little "Eva."

In the evening Eva received a beautiful and costly work-box, with the
following lines:

"Yes, yes, I can very well believe that the rough rock would be
appalling. You will not venture to lay your delicate white hand
upon it, little Miss Eva; will not trouble yourself to breathe
warmth upon my poor roses! Let them then remain in their grave!

"I shall now make a journey, nor see you again for a year and a
day. But, good heavens! as you have given me a basket,[13] you
shall receive in return a little box. I bought it for my--bride,
Eva! Yet now, after all, Eva shall have it; shall keep it for my
sake. She may return it when I cease to be

"Her true and devoted Friend."

"Do you think she is sorry for what she has done?" asked the Judge
anxiously from his wife, as he saw Eva's hot tears falling on the
work-box;--"but it cannot be helped. She marry! and that too with
Munter! She is indeed nothing but a child! But that is just the way;
when one has educated one's daughters, and taught them something of good
manners, just when one has begun to have real pleasure in them, that one
must lose them--must let them go to China if the lover chance to be a
Chinese! It is intolerable! It is abominable! I would not wish my worst
enemy the pain of having grown-up daughters. Is not Schwartz already
beginning to draw a circle about Sara? Good gracious! if we should yet
have the plague of another lover!"

FOOTNOTES:

[13] To say that "a gentleman has received a basket," is the same as
saying he is a rejected lover.--M. H.

CHAPTER XII.

MORE COURTSHIP STILL.

Judge Frank had, unknown to himself, spoken a striking word. It was true
that Schwartz had drawn ever narrower and darker circles around Sara,
and at the very time when she would appear free from his i