tenderness, drew her to his side on
the sofa, and placing one arm round her waist, took her hand in his, and
inquired, with a searching glance, "Do you want anything from me, my
child? Can I do anything for you? Tell me!"

Encouraged by his kindness, Eva described the state of her mind to her
father, and explained how she wished to commence a more active life in
order to overcome her weakness, and to regain strength and quiet. The
situation of teacher in a girl's school in the city was vacant, and she
wished immediately to take it, but only for the summer, during which
time she and Leonore would prepare themselves to open a school in
autumn. It was a plan of which they had long thought, and which would
afford them a useful and independent life. Eva besought the acquiescence
of her father to this proposition.

"Leonore and I," continued she, "have this morning talked a deal on the
subject; we hope that with the counsel and countenance upon which we may
reckon, to be able to make it succeed. Ah, father! I am become quite
anxious about it on account of my own weakness. I must speedily resort
to external means, that I may overcome it. I will become active; I will
work; and whilst thus employed I shall forget the past and myself, and
only live for the happiness of those who love me, and to whom I have
caused so much trouble."

"My child! my dear child, you are right; you do rightly!" said the
father, deeply affected, and clasping his daughter in his arms; "your
wish shall be granted, and whatever is in my power will I do to forward
your plans. What a many institutions for education will there not
proceed from our house! But there is no harm at all in that--there are
no more useful institutions on the face of the earth! One reservation,
however, I must make from your and Leonore's determination. You may
dedicate the autumn and the winter to your school--but the summer you
must devote to your father!--and Madame B. may find a teacher where she
can, only not from my family--for I am not now in a condition to furnish
her one."

"Ah, father," said she, "every unemployed hour is a burden to me!"

"We will bear the burden together, my child! Leonore, I, and you, in our
wanderings towards the west. In a few weeks I am thinking of undertaking
a journey, after which I have longed for these many years; I will visit
the beautiful native land of my mother. Will you, Eva, breathe this
fresh mountain air with me? I should have very l