have been filled with amazement at her courage
and her strength. But "God's angel," whom the old man had prayed might
guide her, seemed to be with her on the way, for the fall of snow
ceased, and ever and anon shot a moonbeam forth, and showed her some of
the objects which Harald had described as landmarks. Besides, the din of
the Storlie-force grew ever louder and louder, like the trumpet of the
resurrection in her ears. A strong resolve to attempt the uttermost, a
secret joy in testifying her affection, even though it should be with
the sacrifice of her life, gave wings to her feet, and prevented her
courage falling for a single minute.

So passed two hours. Susanna now heard the water roaring beneath her
feet. She seemed to be on the point of plunging into an abyss; all
around was darkness and snow. She stood still. It was a moment of
terrible uncertainty. Then parted the clouds, and the half-moon in full
glory beamed forth, just as it was about to sink behind a rock. Susanna
now saw the abyss on whose brink she stood; she saw the Storlie-force
spread its white masses of water in the moonlight, saw the Saeter-huts
there below!...

Beneath the stone vault where Mrs. Astrid and Harald found themselves,
prevailed for some time after Susanna's departure, a deep and wild
silence. This was at length broken by Mrs. Astrid, who said in a solemn
tone--

"I have a request to make of you, Harald!"

"Command me," answered he. "Might I but be able to fulfil your wish!"

"We seem both," resumed Mrs. Astrid, "now to stand near the grave; but
you are stronger and younger than I, you I hope will be rescued. I must
confide to you an important commission, and I rely on the honour and the
soundness of heart which I have observed in you, that you will
conscientiously execute it, in case I myself am not in a condition to
do, and you as I trust, will outlive me!"

Mrs. Astrid had uttered this with a firm voice, but during the following
relation, she was frequently agitated by contending emotions. She spoke
rapidly, and in short, abrupt sentences, as thus--

"I had a sister. How I loved her I am not able to express. She was as
gay and gentle in her mood as I was serious. When I married, she
accompanied me to my house. But there was no good luck.--The fortune
which my sister possessed placed her in a condition to follow her own
heart's bias, and she gave her hand to a poor but amiable young man, a
Lieutenant Wolf, and lived with him