she seemed to recognise familiar features--the noble
and beloved features of her mistress. But she looked younger and fairer
than formerly. At her feet she saw roses standing, and the sun shone
upon them; but all appeared to her so beautiful, so wonderful, that she
involuntarily whispered:

"Are we now in heaven?"

"Still on the earth," replied a voice, full of tenderness. "Thou wilt
here live for those who love thee."

"Ah! who loves me?" said Susanna, faint and spiritless.

"I!" answered the voice; "I and others. But be calm and quiet--a mother
watches over thee."

And Susanna continued calm and quiet, and resigned herself, in her great
state of weakness, with gratified confidence to the motherly guardian.
Mrs. Astrid's presence, the mere sound of her light tread, the mere
sight of her shadow, operated beneficially on her mind; all that she
received from her hand was to her delicious and healing. There arose
between them a relationship full of pleasantness. Mrs. Astrid, who saw
the young girl as it were born anew under her hands, conceived for her
an attachment which surprised herself, much as it made her happy. The
strong and healthy Susanna had stood too distant from her; the weak, and
in her weakness the so child-like affectionate one, had stolen into her
heart, and she felt her heart thereby bloom, as it were, anew.

Such is the operation of all true devotion, all true affection, and that
in every stage of life; for affection is the summer of life and of the
heart.

So soon as strength and clear memory again revived in Susanna, she
begged to be informed of the fate of all those who had made the mountain
journey. With astonishment and joy did she then learn how Mrs. Astrid
had discovered in Harald her sister's son; and how, by this, much
darkness had vanished from her life.

Through Sergeant Roenn, and the subsequent inquiries to which his
statement led, within a short time perfect clearness was obtained on all
that concerned the circumstances of Harald's childhood. It was then
discovered that Mr. K. had been a confidant of Colonel Hjelm's, and was
of a sufficiently worthless character to enter, for the sake of gain,
into the plans of the Colonel, and to receive Harald, and cause him by
degrees to forget his former circumstances. Sickness came in aid of
severe treatment; and after a sojourn of some months in K.'s house, he
found the poor boy so much stupified, that he could, without fear of the
betrayal o