e word from our mother makes impression upon him; and he
is actually more regardful of the ungracious demeanour of our little
lady, than of the moral preaching of our eldest. He is just nineteen.
Old Brigitta is quite afraid of him, and will hardly trust herself to
pass him lest he should leap over her. Oh, how happy she, like everybody
else, will be to see you back again! She fears lest you should get
married, and stop in 'the hole,' as she calls Stockholm.

"Henrik will remain with us over Christmas, but you must come and help
to enliven him; he is not so joyous as formerly. I fancy that the
misunderstanding between him and Stjernhoek distresses him. Ah! why would
not these two understand one another! For the rest, many things are now
at stake for Henrik; God grant that all may go well, both on his account
and mamma's!

"We shall not see Petrea again till after Louise's marriage. When shall
we all be again all together at home? Sara! ah? it is now above four
years since we heard anything of her, and all inquiry and search after
her has been in vain. Perhaps she lives no longer! I have wept many
tears over her; oh! if she should return! I feel that we should be
happier together than formerly; there was much that was good and noble
in her, but she was misled--I hear my mother's light steps, and that
predicts that she has something good for me----

"Ah, yes! she has! she has a letter from you, my Eva! You cannot fix the
day of your return, and that is very sad--but you come soon! You love
Stockholm; so do I also; I could embrace Stockholm for that reason.

"I am now at the very edge of my paper. Gabriele has bespoken the other
side. I leave you now, in order to write to _her_ who left us with
tears, but who, as I cordially hope, will return to us with smiles."

FROM GABRIELE.

In the Morning.

"I could not write last evening, and am now up before the sun in
order to tell you that nothing can console me for Petrea's
absence, excepting your return. We are all of us terribly longing
after 'our Rose.' I know very well who beside your own family
longs for this same thing.

"I must tell you that a little friendship has been got up between
Uncle Jeremias and me. All this came about in the fields, for he
is never particularly polite within doors; whilst in a walk, the
beautiful side of his character always com