es out. Petrea and I
have taken such long excursions with him, and then he was mild and
lively; then he botanised with us, told us of the natural families
in the vegetable kingdom, and related the particular life and
history of many plants. Do you know it is the most agreeable
thing in the world to know something of all this; one feels
oneself on such familiar terms with these vegetable families. Ah!
how often when I feel thus am I made aware how indescribably rich
and glorious life is, and I fancy that every one must live happily
on earth who has only eyes and sense awakened to all that is
glorious therein, and then I can sing like a bird for pure
life-enjoyment. In the mean time, Uncle Jeremias and I cultivate
flowers in the house quite enthusiastically, and intend at
Christmas to make presents of both red and white lilacs; but,
indeed, I have almost a mind to cry that the nose of my Petrea
cannot smell them.

"But I must come to an end, for you must know that occasionally I
have undertaken to have a watchful eye over the breakfast-table,
and therefore I go now to look after it. Bergstroem has fortunately
done all this, so that I have nothing now to do; next I must go
and look after my moss-rose, and see whether a new bud has yet
made its appearance; then I shall go and see after mamma; one
glance must I give through the window to the leaves in the garden,
which nod a farewell to me before they fall from the twigs; and to
the sun also, which now rises bright and beaming, must I send a
glance--a beam from the sun of my eyes and out of the depth of my
thankful heart; and therefore that I may be able, for the best
well-being of the community, to attend to all these important
matters, I must say to you, farewell! to you who are so dear to
me."

CHAPTER II.

PETREA TO LEONORE.

From the Inn at D----.

"It is evening, and my father is gone out in order to make
arrangements for our to-morrow's voyage. I am alone: the mist
rises thick without, before the dirty inn-windows; my eyes also
are misty; my heart is heavy and full, I must converse with you.

"Oh, Leonore! the bitter step has thus been taken--I am separated
from my own family, from my own home; and not