veins, the thoughts in thy
soul; but do not forever cling to this one black spot! Neither wilt
thou! it will spur thee on to activity, will enervate thy soul, not
depress thee! The melancholy surprise of thy grandfather's death, whom
thou didst believe active and well, has now made thee dejected, and thy
thoughts so desponding. But there will come better days! happy days!
Thou art young, and youth brings health for the soul and body!"

She led Otto into the garden, where the willow plantations protected the
other trees from the sharp west wind. The gooseberry-bushes bore fruit,
but it was not yet ripe: one bush Otto had planted when a cutting; it
was now large. Rosalie had tied the twigs to a palisade, so that, as an
espalier, it could thoroughly drink in the sun's rays. Otto regarded the
fetters more than the good intention.

"Let it grow free!" said he; "if that brittle palisade should tumble
down, the twigs would be broken." And he cut the bands.

"Thou art still the old Otto," said Rosalie.

They went into her little room, where the crucifix, and before it a
small vase of flowers, adorned the table. Above the cross hung a garland
of withered heather.

"Two years ago didst thou give me that, Otto!" said Rosalie. "There
were no more flowers, there was nothing green but the heath, and thou
twinedst a garland of it for me. Afterward I would not take it down from
the crucifix."

They were interrupted by a visit. It was from the old preacher.

CHAPTER XV

"His coal was coarse, its fashion old;
He asked no dress of greater worth
Than that which kept from storm and cold
The Baptist when he preached on earth."
C. J. BORE.

Not alone of Otto's affairs, but also of "the city yonder," as the
preacher called Copenhagen, would he speak. Only once a week came the
"Viborg Collector" to hint, and the Copenhagen papers were a whole month
going their round. "One would willingly advance with the time," said he.
Yesterday, at the interment, he had not found it seemly to gratify his
desire of hearing dear Otto talk about the city, but to-day he thought
it might well be done, and therefore he would not await Otto's visit but
come over to pay one himself.

"Thou hast certainly seen our good king?" was his first question. "Lord
help the anointed one! he is then as vigorous and active as ever--my
good King Frederik!" And now he must relate a trait which had touched
his