ry, Ernst," said Elise; and the Judge, making a sudden
pause, gazed at her with astonishment; whilst she, half raising herself
in bed, looked at him with a countenance beaming with joy. "Come,"
continued she, "and I will recall something to your memory which
occurred fifteen years ago."

"What sort of a history can that be?" said he, smiling gaily, whilst he
seated himself on the bed, and took the hand which Elise extended to
him.

"Five-and-twenty years ago," began she.

"Five-and-twenty years!" interrupted he, "Heaven help me! you promised
to go no farther back than fifteen."

"Patience, my love!--this is part the first of my story. Do you not
remember, then," said she, "how, five-and-twenty years ago, at the
commencement of our married life, you made plans for a journey into the
beautiful native land of your mother? I see now, Ernst, that you
remember it. And how we should wander there you planned, and enjoy our
freedom and God's lovely nature. You were so joyful in the prospect of
this; but then came adversity, and cares, and children, and never-ending
labour for you, so that our Norwegian journey retreated year by year
more into the background. Nevertheless, it remained like a point of
light to you in the future; but now, for some time, you seem to have
forgotten it; yes, for you have given up all your own pleasures in
labouring for your family; have forsaken all your own enjoyments, your
own plans, for your own sphere of activity and your home. But I have not
forgotten the Norwegian journey, and in fifteen years have obtained the
means of its accomplishment."

"In fifteen years!--what do you mean?" asked he.

"Now I am arrived," she answered, "at part the second of my history. Do
you still remember, Ernst, that fifteen years ago we were not so happy
as we are now? You have forgotten? Well, so much the better; I scarcely
remember it myself any more, for the expansive rind of love has grown
over the black scar. What I, however, know is, that at that time I was
not so properly at home in actual life, and did not rightly understand
all the good that it offered me, and that to console myself on that
account I wrote a romance. But now it happened that by reason of my
novel I neglected my duties to my lord and husband--for the gentlemen
are decidedly unskilled in serving themselves----"

"Very polite!" interposed the Judge, smiling.

"Be content!" continued she: "now it happened that one evening his tea
and my