received for ornaments and for some of my own manufactures, which
I sold. Buy something with it which will give pleasure to Louise
and Jacobi; but do not let them surmise, I earnestly beseech you,
that it comes from Petrea. If I could only sell myself for a
respectable price, and make them rich, then----

"I shall have a deal of time for myself here, and I know how I
shall employ it. I will go out a great deal. I will wander through
wood and field, in storm, snow, and every kind of weather, till I
am, at least, bodily weary. Perhaps then it may be calmer in the
soul! I desire no longer to be happy. What does it matter if one
is not happy, if one is only pure and good? Were the probation-day
of life only not so long! Leonore, my good angel, pray for me!

"May all be happy!

"Greet all tenderly from your

"Petrea.

"P. S.--My nose makes its compliments to Gabriele, and goes in the
accompanying picture to pay her a visit. She must not imagine that
I am cast down. I send also a little ballad or romance; the wood
sung it to me last evening, and every harmonious sound, which life
in my soul sings, must--go home! Oh, how I love you all!"

* * * * *

And now, whilst our Petrea appears in rural solitude to prepare herself
for a new life, whilst the snow fell upon the earth in order to prepare
it for now springs, we turn back to our well-known home in the town, and
describe the occurrences there.

FOOTNOTES:

[16] Poor Petrea makes a little pun here. The Swedish word oerongodt
(pillow) meaning literally good for the ear.--M. H.

CHAPTER III.

A CONVERSATION.

Jacobi had left. October was come, with its storms and its long
twilight, which is so dark and heavy for all such as have it not cheered
by kindly glances and bright thoughts.

One evening, as Henrik came down to tea, he was observed to look
uncommonly pale, and in answer to the inquiry of his sisters as to the
cause, he replied that he had headache, and added, half in jest, half in
earnest, that it would be very beautiful to be only once freed from this
heavy body--it was so sadly in one's way!

"How you talk!" said Louise; "at all events, it is right to treat it
well and rationally; not to go sitting up all night and studying so that
one has headache all day!"

"Thank your