ilderness,
and sought to suffocate her beneath piles of snow and ice, which they
flung upon her. Susanna combated with desperate exertions against them,
for she knew that if she fell, the defence for those she loved would be
taken away, and that the subterranean ones could seize upon it; and
therefore any mass of snow which the spirits cast upon her, she cast
back upon them. Finally, the subterranean ones desired a parley, and
promised that if she would voluntarily accompany them, they would permit
her friends to be at peace; yes, even heap upon them wealth and
happiness. Then strove Susanna no longer; but saluting the beautiful
heaven, and earth with its green dales and beloved people, whom she
should behold no more, let herself be dragged down in silence by the
spirits, into their subterranean dwellings, and experienced there
inexpressible torments. But she was contented to suffer for those she
loved; and out of the dark, cold abyss, where she was doomed to dwell,
she sent up the most affectionate, moving farewells to her Hulda, to her
mistress, to Harald, and Alette, revealing thereby, unknown, to herself,
all her heart's secrets, conflicts, and sufferings.

One day it seemed to her that she had already dwelt hundreds of years in
the under world, and she was now in their church, for her time was up,
and she should now die, and in death (that she knew) should she be
delivered from the power of the mountain spirits. But she could feel no
joy over this, so faint was her heart, so chilled was her bosom. She lay
stretched out upon a stone floor, and over her vaulted itself a roof of
ice. That was her funeral vault, and there should she die. And by
degrees all feelings and senses grew benumbed, all torments vanished,
and there came a sleep so deep, but so secret and peaceful, that
Susanna, who still retained her consciousness, regarded death as a
salutary repose, and wished not to awaken. But it seemed to her that the
door of the vault opened, and she saw a light, like that of the sun; and
some one approached her, and touched her lips with a flame--a flame as
of life. Then beat her heart more rapidly, the blood streamed warmly
through her veins, and she looked up and saw a female figure stand by
her pillow, which bent over her with a look full of love and compassion.
The look, the beautiful life-giving look, Susanna seemed to have seen
some time before, and the longer she gazed on the face of this female
shape, the better