"Ah, heaven forbid, Fräulein," answered the philosopher, with suppressed voice, while a sudden radiance passed over his countenance, which, however, immediately again assumed its former gloom, when with his waiter he stepped before me.

The Fräulein soon floated along in the waltz as light as a bird.

Immediately after came my stepmother with the "rich bachelor" to me, and presented him with the words: "Your uncle, Court-Chamberlain X-"

My uncle seated himself beside me, and with much complacency commenced a conversation, which from a few compliments paid to me, passed from one criticisin to another, tolerably witty in tone, but not savouring of a good digestion in a mental sense. Whether I was tired with my journey and the din of the ball, or affected by the conversation I had just had I know not; but certain it is that a dull veil came over my eyes and the splendid and animated scene. Notwithstanding, I was pleased to hear him speak in high terms of my stepmother.

"A most excellent lady," said my uncle: "I do not know any person in whom I could repose so much confidence, nobody on whom I could so implicitly rely. If at any time I wish to do a little good privately, so that it may not come to light, I always apply to her."

The Viking had left the company, and before quitting the room cast a half-farewell glance at me, which like a little point of light remained alive in my recollection. "Signora Luna's" splendid appearance vanished from our horizon, to make her entrance into the palace, where she at present had her post of duty.

B

Selma I only saw, when during the intervening pauses of the dance she came skipping to me with some pleasant word or question; in the same manner I saw her approach her mother and some other senior member of the company, ever cheerful and attentive, as if anxious to please every body.

After supper something occurred that made a lasting impression on me. In the saloon an active movement took place, and I beheld my sister lifted up in her arm-chair under the chandelier, whose brilliant light reflected its radiance around her: to this resounded an enthusiastic "Vivat" from the surrounding gentlemen.

The "Baron" was one of the party who assisted in elevating the young heroine of the festival. Beautiful and like a princess she sat there in the bright lustre of the lights, beaming with youthful charm and modest joy. A shout of admiration and homage passed through the whole of the assembly. Casting down my eyes from the almost dazzling sight, they fixed themselves upon another countenance, whose expression pierced my very heart: it was Flora's. Vexation, envy, and indignation appeared in the almost convulsive movement which passed over and distorted her beautiful features, but only for a moment; for when her eye met mine her expression changed, and immediately after she laughed and jested with St. Orme, who seldom moved from her side, and whose cold observing look had something about it that annoyed me.

On attempting to steal away from the scene of festivity, my stepmother made a strong demonstration to me, expressive of her intention to accompany me to my room, but suffered herself to be persuaded by my warm

resistance to remain behind undisturbed, and not to let Selma, who was just commencing another dance, know any thing about my withdrawal.

"On coming into my room I found it perfectly changed: the habiliments before hanging about had disappeared, and order, taste, and benevolent care, had stamped their impress on every arrangement in the spacious and beautiful apartment.

"The Fräulein herself has been up stairs, and superintended every arrangement," said Karin, who supplied the towering flame in the stove with fresh fuel.

"Thanks, my young sister!" said I in my heart.

I was fatigued and soon fell asleep; but I was disturbed by restless dreams. All the persons on whom, during the course of the evening, I had directed my attention, I fancied I now saw before me in a quadrille, casting at each other threatening looks, and awaiting only the moment of attack. I was in the midst of it, and on the point of holding a tournament with my stepmother, when suddenly a sylph-like being with shining wings, smiling lips, enchanting and floating with zephyrlight movements, came dancing along between us, and embraced us closely with invisible but gentle hands; and this sylphide, this second Taglioni, was Selma. At her appearance the constraint slackened, the feeling of acrimony ceased, the foes made "chaine," and I sank into a sweet refreshing sleep, which made me forget ali the world, till the early morn awaked me.

"And while all in the house is yet still and appear to rest after the dance, I will take a somewhat nearer view of my past and present relative position.

"With my stepmother I have spent two very unequal periods-the first I call the period

OF MY IDOLATROUS WORSHIP.

At the age of eleven years I saw my stepmother for the first time, and felt myself captivated by her to adoration. This state of feeling continued till my fifteenth year, when I was separated from her. Bitter, however, were my days during this period of my idolatrous worship for never perhaps has a golden idol been more deaf and dumb to the prayers of its worshippers than my stepmother was to my affection. Besides I was a Ichild of a very warm temperament; and my general character was the opposite to the Beautiful and Charming, such as my stepmother so highly estimated and perpetually adverted to in quotations from the romances of Madame de Genlis. With the enchantresses therein mentioned I was compared and brought into disparaging contrast. In a word, my stepmother could not endure me, nor could I Madame de Genlis and her Graces, who occasioned me such bitter mortification. Ah, the wild sun-burnt damsel, who had grown up in the waste regions of Finland, who passed her life in the wood and on the heath, among hills, and amidst dreams as wild and marvellous as that nature with which she was familiar-she was in truth no creature for the saloon, or companion for French graces. Transplanted from the inartificial life in which her childhood had been passed, into the splendid residence where large mirrors reflected on all sides every movement, and seemed sneeringly to check every natural expression that did not bear the stamp of grace she became timid, afraid both of herself and of others; but especially of the goddess of the palace. The governess and domestics called me the Gipsy-girl," and the " Gipsy-boy."

66

My stepmother was never harsh in word or action,

but she annihilated me by her depreciating compassionate manner and cold disregard, so that I was soon unable to approach her without glowing cheeks, and a heart so full, so swelling with sighs of anguish (if I may so express myself), that my tongue sought for words in vain. As to any fault in my stepmother, that was what I never once suspected; but ah! I was at a loss to know how to act in order to be otherwise, and to gain her favour. I knew that at that time I more than once implored heaven on my knees to deny me a lover rather than the love of my mother; but I was obliged to learn to forego it. She felt herself relieved when I was separated from her, and I was removed into another sphere of life, which was also full of sorrows, but of another kind.

Five years later I returned home, and stayed there some time. This epoch, with regard to my former ideal, may be called

THE OPPOSITE.

For it was indeed the opposite to the former. By dint of hard struggles with myself and with life, I cultivated and formed myself into a character, rigid and truthloving, that would have the kernel of reality in every shell, and despised every thing that had but the semblance of gilding as valueless. French, worldly prudence, education, and grace, were an abomination to me, and I now regarded them with the same contempt as my stepmother had formerly shown for my artless deportment. The glittering veil through which I had hitherto seen her was now removed, and I not only discovered faults in her, but saw them through a magnifying glass. I still continued to like her, but I loved her no more.