the day, furnished materials for
much development of mind, for much conversation and much thought,
especially among the young people. The father had great pleasure in
hearing thus their interchange of opinion, although he himself seldom
mingled in their discussions, with the exception of now and then a
guiding word.

"I fancy all is going on quite right," said he, joyfully, to his wife
one day. "The children live gaily at home, and are preparing themselves
for life. Indeed, if they only once open their eyes and ears, they will
find subjects enough on which to use them; and will be astonished at all
that life will present them with. It is well when home furnishes
nourishment for mind as well as heart and body. I rejoice too,
extremely, over our new house. Every land, every climate, has its own
advantages as well as its own difficulties, and the economy of life must
be skilfully adjusted if it is to be maintained with honour and
advantage. Our country, which compels us to live so much in the house,
seems thereby to admonish us to a more concentrated, and at the same
time more quiet and domestic life, on which account we need, above all
things, comfortable houses, which are able to advance and advantage
soul as well as body. Thank God! I fancy ours is pretty good for that
purpose, and in time may yet be better; the children too look happy;
Gabriele grows now every day, and Louise has grown over all our heads!"

The young people were very much occupied with plans for the future. Eva
and Leonore built all their castles in the air together. A great
intimacy had grown up between these two sisters since they were alone
during the absence of the others at Axelholm. One might say, that ever
since that evening, when they sate together eating grapes and reading a
novel, the seed of friendship which had long been sprouting in their
hearts, shot forth thence its young leaves. Their castles in the air
were no common castles of romance; they had for their foundation the
prosaic but beautiful thought of gaining for themselves an independent
livelihood in the future--for the parents had early taught their
daughters to direct their minds to this object--and hence beautiful
establishments were founded, partly for friendship and partly for
humanity: for young girls are always great philanthropists.

Jacobi also had many schemes for the future of himself and his wife, and
Louise many schemes how to realise them. In the mean time there were