me, was very angry, and said, 'I will not have her!' I remained with my
foster-mother. I never saw my brother after that time. The Colonel left
the city, and took him with him."

"O God!" cried Louise; "you have still some papers on this subject? Do
you not know your brother? It is impossible that it should be otherwise!
You are Otto's sister!"

"O Heavens!" exclaimed Eva; her hands trembled, and she became as pale
as a corpse.

"You are fainting!" cried Louise, throwing her arm around her waist and
kissing her eyes and her cheeks. "Eva! he is your brother! the dear,
good Otto! O, he will be so happy with you! Yes, your eyes are like his!
Eva, you beloved girl!"

Louise related to her all that Otto had confided to her. She told her
about German Heinrich, and how Otto had assisted Sidsel away, and how
they had met.

Eva burst into tears. "My brother! O Father in heaven, that I may but
live! live and see him! Life is so beautiful! I must not die!"

"Happiness will make you strong! There is no doubt but that he is your
brother! We must tell it to mamma. O Heavens! how delighted she will be!
and Otto will no longer suffer and be unhappy! He may be proud of you,
and happy in you! O, come, come!"

She led Eva out with her to her mother, who was already in bed; but how
could Louise wait till next morning?

"May the Lord bless thee, my good child!" said the lady, and pressed a
kiss upon her forehead.

Eva related now how the Colonel had, given a considerable sum to
her foster-mother; but that was all she was to receive, he had said.
Afterward, when the foster-mother died, Eva had still two hundred
rix-dollars; and on consideration of this the sister of the deceased
had taken Eva to live with her. With her she came to Copenhagen and to
Nyboder, and at that time she was ten years old. There she had to nurse
a little child--her brother she called it--and that was the little
Jonas. As she grew older, people told her that she was handsome. It was
now four years since she was followed one evening by two young men, one
of whom we know--our moral Hans Peter. One morning her foster-mother
came to her with a proposal which drove her to despair. The merchant
had seen her, and wished to purchase the beautiful flower. Upon this Eva
left her home, and came to the excellent people at Roeskelde; and from
that day God had been very good to her.

She sank down upon her knees before the elderly lady's bed. She was not
among strangers