such a family--but if the truest----"

"Ah!" hastily interrupted Gabriele, "don't speak of disturbing anything,
of changing anything--everything is so good as it now is!"

He was silent, with an expression of sorrow.

"Let us be all happy together," said Gabriele, bashfully and cordially;
"you will stop some time with us. It is so charming to have friends and
sisters--this united life is so agreeable with them."

The Baron's countenance brightened. He seized Gabriele's hand, and would
have said something, but she hastened from him to her father, whose arm
she took.

Jacobi conducted Petrea; they were cheerful and confidential together,
as happy brother and sister. She spoke to him of her present happiness,
and of the hope which made up her future. He took the liveliest interest
in it, and spoke with her of his plans; of his domestic happiness; and
with especial rapture of his boys; of their obedience to the slightest
word of their parents; of their mutual affection to each other--and
see--all this was Louise's work! And Louise's praise was sung forth in a
harmonious duet--ever a sweet scent for "our eldest," who appeared,
however, to listen to no one but her father.

They soon reached home. The mother stood with the silver ladle in her
hand, and the most friendly smile on her lips, in the library, before a
large steaming bowl of punch, and with look and voice bade the entering
party welcome.

"My dear Elise," said the Judge, embracing her, "you are become twenty
years younger to-day."

"Happiness makes one young," answered she, looking on him
affectionately.

People seated themselves.

"Don't make so much noise, children!" said Louise to her eight, seating
herself with the little Elise on her knees; "can't you seat yourselves
without so much noise and bustle."

Jeremias Munter had placed himself in a corner, and was quiet, and
seemed depressed.

On many countenances one saw a sort of tension, a sort of consciousness
that before long a something uncommon was about to happen. The Judge
coughed several times; he seemed to have an unusual cause for making his
throat clear. At length he raised his voice and spoke, but not without
evident emotion, "Is it true that our friend Jeremias Munter thinks of
soon leaving us, in order to seat himself down in solitude in the
country? Is it true, as report says, that he leaves us so soon as
to-morrow morning, and that this is the last evening which brings him
into our c