owing old, we, in our turn, amuse ourselves by making fun of them. If
women could buy back their lost youth by the blood of those nearest and
dearest to them, what crimes the world would witness!

How I used to hate Richard when I saw him so completely at his ease
among young people, and able to take them so seriously.

* * * * *

Christmas Eve! In honour of Jeanne, I put on one of my very best
frocks--Paquin. Moreover, I have decorated myself with rings and chains
as though I were a silly Christmas Tree myself.

Jeanne has enjoyed herself to-day. She and Torp rose before it was light
to deck the rooms with pine branches. Over the verandah waves the
Swedish flag, which Torp generally suspends above her bed, in
remembrance of Heaven knows who. I gave myself the pleasure of
surprising Jeanne, by bestowing upon her my green _crepe de Chine_. In
future grey and black will be my only wear.

After the obligatory goose, and the inevitable Christmas dishes, I spent
the evening reading the letters with which "my friends" honour me
punctiliously.

Without seeing the handwriting, or the signature, I could name from the
contents alone the writer of each one of them. They all write about the
honours which have befallen Joergen Malthe: a hospital here; a palace of
archives there. What does it matter to me? I would far rather they
wrote: "To-day a motor-car ran over Joergen Malthe and killed him on the
spot."

I have arrived at that stage.

But to-night I will not think about him; I would rather try to write to
Magna Wellmann. I may be of some use to her. In any case I will tell her
things that it will do her good to hear. She is one of those who take
life hard.

DEAR MAGNA WELLMANN,

It is with great difficulty that I venture to give you advice at this
moment. Besides, we are so completely opposed in habit, thought, and
temperament. We have really nothing in common but our unfortunate middle
age and our sex; therefore, how can it help you to know what I should do
if I were in your place?

May I speak quite frankly without any fear of hurting your feelings? In
that case I will try to advise you; but I can only do so by making your
present situation quite clear to you. Only when you have faced matters
can you hope to decide upon some course of action which you will not
afterwards regret. Your letter is the queerest mixture of self-deception
and a desire to be quite frank. You try to th