en, it may be said, with more cheerfulness. It appeared as if he was
endeavoring, by light-heartedness as much as by devotion, to quicken
Ottilie's torpor into life, and dissolve her silence. He seated himself
in the same position as he used to do, that she might look over his
book; he was uneasy and distracted unless she was doing so, unless he
was sure that she was following his words with her eyes.

Every trace had vanished of the unpleasant, ungracious feelings of the
intervening time. No one had any secret complaint against another; there
were no cross purposes, no bitterness. The Major accompanied Charlotte's
playing with his violin, and Edward's flute sounded again, as formerly,
in harmony with Ottilie's piano. Thus they were now approaching Edward's
birthday, which the year before they had missed celebrating. This time
they were to keep it without any outward festivities, in quiet enjoyment
among themselves. They had so settled it together, half expressly, half
from a tacit agreement. As they approached nearer to this epoch,
however, an anxiety about it, which had hitherto been more felt than
observed, became more noticeable in Ottilie's manner. She was to be seen
often in the garden examining the flowers: she had signified to the
gardener that he was to save as many as he could of every sort, and she
had been especially occupied with the asters, which this year were
blooming in beautiful profusion.

CHAPTER XVIII

The most remarkable feature, however, which was observed about Ottilie
was that, for the first time, she had now unpacked the box, and had
selected a variety of things out of it, which she had cut up, and which
were intended evidently to make one complete suit for her. The rest,
with Nanny's assistance, she had endeavored to replace again, and she
had been hardly able to get it done, the space being over full, although
a portion had been taken out. The covetous little Nanny could never
satisfy herself with looking at all the pretty things, especially as she
found provision made there for every article of dress which could be
wanted, even the smallest. Numbers of shoes and stockings, garters with
devices on them, gloves, and various other things were left, and she
begged Ottilie just to give her one or two of them. Ottilie refused to
do that, but opened a drawer in her wardrobe, and told the girl to take
what she liked. The latter hastily and awkwardly dashed in her hand and
seized what she c