atch on the outside, and sate before the fire wrapped in his
cloak. Susanna laid herself softly down at his mistress's feet, which
she hoped by this means to keep warm. Strange shapes flitted before her
inward sight whilst her eyelids were closed. Shapes of snow and ice came
near to her, and seemed to wish to surround her--but suddenly vanished,
and were melted before the warm looks of love, and the sun shone forth
in glory; and happy, sweet feelings blossomed forth in her soul. Amid
such she slept. Then a new image showed itself. She was again in
Heimdal; she stood upon the bank of the river, and looked with fearful
wonder on the opposite shore; for there, amid the dark fir-trees, shone
forth something white, mist-like, but which became ever plainer; and as
it approached the brink of the river, Susanna saw that it was a child,
and she knew again her little Hulda. But she was pale as the dead, and
tears rolled down her snow-white cheeks, while she stretched forth her
little arms to Susanna, and called her name. Susanna was about to throw
herself into the waves which separated them, but could not; she felt
herself fettered by an invisible power. At this, as she turned round
with inexpressible anguish to free herself, she perceived that it was
Harald who thus held her; he looked so cold, so severe, and Susanna felt
at the game time both love and hatred for him. Again anxiously called
the tender child's voice, and Susanna saw her little sister sink upon
the stones of the shore, and the white waves beat over her. With a
feeling of wild despair Susanna now awoke from sleep, and sprang up.
Cold perspiration stood upon her brow, and she looked bewildered around.
The cave darkly vaulted itself above her; and the blazing fire outside
threw red confused beams upon its fantastically decorated walls. Susanna
went softly out of the cave; she wished to see the heavens, the stars;
she must breathe the free fresh air, to release herself from the terrors
of her dream. But no beaming star looked down upon her, for the heavens
were covered with a grey roof of cloud, and the pale moonlight which
pressed through cast a troubled light over the dead country, and gloomy
and hideous shapes. The fire had burnt low, and flickered up, as if
sleepily, now and then, with red flames. The peasants slept heavily,
lying around it. Susanna saw not Harald at this moment, and she was glad
of it. In order to dissipate the painful impression she had experienced