tage, at least for the
present. In about an hour they both fell back in their chairs and
appeared to sleep.

"`Marcella, dear, did you hear?' said my brother, in a low tone.

"`Yes,' replied Marcella in a whisper, `I heard all. Oh! brother, I
cannot bear to look upon that woman--I feel so frightened.'

"My brother made no reply, and shortly afterwards we were all three fast
asleep.

"When we awoke the next morning, we found that the hunter's daughter had
risen before us. I thought she looked more beautiful than ever. She
came up to little Marcella and caressed her: the child burst into tears,
and sobbed as if her heart would break.

"But, not to detain you with too long a story, the huntsman and his
daughter were accommodated in the cottage. My father and he went out
hunting daily, leaving Christina with us. She performed all the
household duties; was very kind to us children; and, gradually, the
dislike even of little Marcella wore away. But a great change took
place in my father; he appeared to have conquered his aversion to the
sex, and was most attentive to Christina. Often, after her father and
we were in bed would he sit up with her, conversing in a low tone by the
fire. I ought to have mentioned that my father and the huntsman
Wilfred, slept in another portion of the cottage, and that the bed which
he formerly occupied, and which was in the same room as ours, had been
given up to the use of Christina. These visitors had been about three
weeks at the cottage, when, one night, after we children had been sent
to bed, a consultation was held. My father had asked Christina in
marriage, and had obtained both her own consent and that of Wilfred;
after this, a conversation took place, which was, as nearly as I can
recollect, as follows.

"`You may take my child, Meinheer Krantz, and my blessing with her, and
I shall then leave you and seek some other habitation--it matters little
where.'

"`Why not remain here, Wilfred?'

"`No, no, I am called elsewhere; let that suffice, and ask no more
questions. You have my child.'

"`I thank you for her, and will duly value her; but there is one
difficulty.'

"`I know what you would say; there is no priest here in this wild
country: true; neither is there any law to bind; still must some
ceremony pass between you, to satisfy a father. Will you consent to
marry her after my fashion? if so, I will marry you directly.'

"`I will,' replied my father.

"`Then