s, a swing was fixed. Somewhat later a sailing
party was arranged. A small yacht belonging to the merchant lay, just
unladen, near the bridge of boats.

Otto found Maren and the young lady from Holstebro sitting in the arbor.
Somewhat startled, they concealed something at his entrance.

"The ladies have secrets! May one not be initiated?"

"No, not at all!" replied Maren.

"You have manuscript poems in the little book!" said Otto, and boldly
approached. "Perhaps of your own composition?"

"O, it is only a memorandum-book," said Maren, blushing. "When I read
anything pretty I copy it, for we cannot keep the books."

"Then I may see it!" said Otto. His eye fell upon the written sheet:--

"So fliessen nun zwei Wasser
Wohl zwischen mir und Dir
Das eine sind die Thraenen,
Das andre ist der See!"
[Note: Des Knaben Wunderhorn.]

he read. "That is very pretty! 'Der verlorne Schwimmer,' the poem is
called, is it not?"

"Yes, I have copied it out of the secretary's memorandum-book; he has so
many pretty pieces."

"The secretary has many splendid things!" said Otto, smiling.
"Memorandum-book, musical snuff-box"--

"And a collection of seals!" added the young lady from Holstebro.

"I must read more!" said Otto; but the ladies fled with glowing cheeks.

"Are you already at your tricks, Mr. Thostrup?" said the mother, who
now entered the garden. "Yes, you do not know how Maren has thought of
you--how much she has spoken of you. You never wrote to us; we never
heard anything of you, except when Miss Rosalie related us something
out of your letters. That was not nice of you! You and Maren were always
called bride and bridegroom. You were a pair of pretty children, and
your growth has not been disadvantageous to either of you."

At four o'clock the evening party assembled--a whole swarm of young
ladies, a few old ones, and the secretary, who distinguished himself by
a collection of seals hanging to a long watch-chain, and everlastingly
knocking against his body; a white shirt-frill, stiff collar, and a
cock's comb, in which each hair seemed to take an affected position.
They all walked down to the bay. Otto had some business and came
somewhat later. Whilst he was crossing, alone, the court-yard, he heard,
proceeding from the back of the house, a fearful, wild cry, which ended
in violent sobbing. Terrified, he went nearer, and perceived the aunt
sittin