nter looked at her for some moments in silence, laid his hand hastily
on his heart as if he had a violent pain there, and went out more bowed
than commonly.

Not long after this, an unexpected ray of light gladdened the painful
condition of affairs between Eva and her family. She was calmer. The
Major removed from the city into the country, to pass the Christmas with
a relation of his there; and on the same day Eva came down into the
library at the customary hour of tea, after she had passed several days
in her own room. Every one received her with joy. Her father went
towards her with open arms, called her sweet names, placed her on the
sofa by her mother, and took her tea to her himself: a lover could not
have been more tender or more attentive to her. One might see that Eva
was not indifferent to these marks of affection, and that yet she did
not receive them altogether with joy. A burning red alternated with
paleness on her cheek, and at times it seemed that a tear, a repentant
tear, filled her eyes.

From this time, however, the old state of feeling, and the old quiet,
returned in part to the bosom of the family. Nobody named the Major; and
as, when spring-time comes, the grass grows and the leaves burst forth,
although the heaven is yet dark, and many a northern blast yet lingers
in the air, so did affectionate feelings and joyful hours spring up
again in the family of the Franks, from the spontaneous vernal spirit
which reigned there.

You might have seen the mother there, like the heart of the family,
taking part in all that went forward, making every one so cheerful and
comfortable, as she moved about here and there, so rich in grace and joy
and consolation! Wherever she came, there came with her a something
pleasant or animating, either in word or deed; and yet all this time she
was very far from being herself calm. Care for her daughter was
accompanied by anxiety on account of Henrik's prospects and happiness.
She understood, better than any one else, his feelings, his wishes, and
his thoughts; and on this account glances of friendly understanding were
often exchanged between them, and from this cause also was it that on
those days on which the post came in from Stockholm, she became paler
and paler the nearer post-time came--for it perhaps might bring with it
important news for Henrik.

"My dear Elise," said the Judge, jesting affectionately, "to what
purpose is all this unquiet, this incomprehensible an