We listened; the melodious, panting sound came again and again, with every flying wind that came towards us from Ramm, but we could not connect together a whole. The trembling tones mounted and died away like the sighings of a sorrowful spirit, and, as I listened to them, I felt as many an inquirer of the old times must have felt when he pondered on the broken and incomprehensible melodies of being, and believed that the wind of Fate played upon the strings of the Eolian-harp of life. A longing took possession of me, almost an agony, which those only can understand who experience, like me, a passion for music.

In the mean while, as we had been absent nearly two hours, we found, on our return, Cousin Stellan apparently very sleepy, and Bear not quite as good-tempered as we had left him, which did not astonish me; but, however, he was soon perfectly right again, on my heartily praying for forgiveness. I feel at times a certain degree of pleasure in sinning, quarter or no quarter, and then in obtaining dispensation by flattery.

We ate our evening meal in quiet and cheerfulness; but Serena, who began to think of her old relatives, and expected to be sent for, turned her eyes towards Rosenvik.

The carriage arrived the moment our boat "I must hear this near!" exclaimed I, with reached the shore, and, after we had agreed that decision. "Serena, we two will row towards the next singing-lesson should be on Friday, she Ramm, and obtain a clear idea of this music, for I shall become mad if I hear these tones without their intelligence. Remain lying there, dear Bear, and smoke your pipe in peace. Pray let us go; and you remain there, Cousin Stellan; we would be alone, Serena and I-we shall soon be back again."

left us, Cousin Stellan attending her to the carriage, and showing her many polite attentions. It is remarkable how becoming all such are to a young man.

The gentlemen looked dissatisfied; Bear growled as he continued to lie on the grass, while Stellan accompanied us to the boat. Serena and I were quite joyous and ardent. I rowed the little boat easily. The little voyage was enchanting; for the nearer we approached, the more significant became the music. I could have fancied that the boat sped of itself, as if drawn onward by the invisible might of that wonderful music. The evening was calm; the sunbeams trembled into ever darker gold through the wood; higher ever rose the melodious tempest. Serena and I both experienced an elevated delight, although in a different manner. My heart beat violently, and tears of raptute filled my eyes. Serena was calmer; her white hand played with the waves, while an expression of pure delight and child-like piety gleamed in her clear, beautiful eyes.

Both of us remained silent, eager more distinctly to hear that captivating music. The boat approached nearer and nearer to the black walls of Ramm, and at last lay still as smuggler'scraft, in the shadow of the alder-bushes, close under an open window.

"Come very soon again," cried I, after Serena; and her friendly blue eyes smiling an assent from under her little straw hat, she waved an adieu with her hand, and vanished between the green trees.

"That was a splendid girl," said Stellan to me, as we yet wiled away a little time under the alder-trees, "only it is a pity that she is lame." "To you, Cousin Stellan," said I, laughing, "everything in this world limps." "But I must confess," returned he, "that I have hardly ever seen a less fault in a lady."

"I agree with you, Cousin," returned I; "and I can even believe it possible that, under certain circumstances, such a fault as this can be seen only as real beauty."

He smiled, and made a motion with his head, as though he might think so too. "Franziska," said he, detaining me as I was about to depart, and with a deep earnestness in his voice, "for the last few days, Franziska, you have not been so friendly towards me as you were. Have I grieved you in any way?"

"Yes," answered I, frankly, "by very nearly convincing me that you cared nothing for my esteem-that grieved me."

"Forgive me," said he, kindly, but gravely, "and think yet well of me. I could not willingly live without your esteem, Franziska. Give me your hand upon it, that you believe me, and forgive me."

have Stellan's esteem instead of his courtesy, and somewhat satisfied, also, with myself.

To-morrow Ma chère mère has a great dinnerparty, at which the whole neighbourhood will be assembled. Mr. De Romilly, also, has been invited, although he had paid no visit to Carlsfors. I am very curious to see this enigmatical person again; his music has prepossessed me in his favour; a being who can awaken such melodies must possess deep and strong sentiment.

There we heard tones which seemed to come from no human hand, the beloved melody of the Neck, Polika, an interweaving of rich melodies, which, for beauty and power, surpassed all that "There," said I, giving my hand joyfully, but I had ever heard or imagined before. They taking care, at the same time, that he did not kiss were the children of a mighty inspiration. En-it, and went in then to Lars Anders, satisfied to raptured, and carried away, as it were, I bowed my head in my hand, and dreamed that the king of the sea, inspired by the beauty of the evening and of nature, made known to us, himself, his wonderful life; that life which he leads in the mysterious depths, and in the crystal castles of the ocean. But all at once the tones ceased, and I woke out of my dream to a consciousness of the present. I seized the oar involuntarily, and, with one little stroke, turned the boat away from the shore; at the same moment both Serena and I turned our eyes to the open window above, but turned them hastily away again, for there stood the dark De Romilly, in his own gloomy person, with his eyes fixed upon us. We blushed, took each an oar, and returned in much shorter time, I fancy, than we went, although our oars had now to keep time without the accompaniment

of the music.

*A water-spirit.

18th.

I was deceived in my hope of being able to observe closer the gloomy neighbour at Ramm. He came, it is true, to Carlsfors, and his entrance made a great sensation. For myself, an unpleasant feeling passed through me, as I glanced at the lofty, black-apparelled figure, which, in entering, drew together the fierce eyebrows with an almost threatening expression.

Ma chère mère, who was en grande toilette, and really looked very well, approached him majes

"I thank you, my good ones," said Serena, smiling, very quietly, "but it is above a year now since I had any pain."

"No, really !" answered one of them. "Heav

ucarly, and made an oration to him in French, which was equally polite and stately; but which, however, the stranger seemed to understand no more than if it had been Laplandish. He stood immovable, with downcast eyes; and, when Maens! I fancied you were always ill, you look so pale-but then that is the fault of your dress; what material is it? What! old-world Levantine! Heavens! you are quite oldfashioned, little Serena !"

chère mère had ended, returned, in a low voice, a few words, which were inaudible to me, bowed very low, and left her. I fancy Ma chère mère was but little edified by the foreign politeness which she had praised so much before; and as if she had been infected by Mr. De Romilly's mood, she, too, contracted her eyebrows, and returned to her seat.

The next moment an extraordinary commotion took place at the end of the room. The gentlemen rushed together; and, as the group opened itself again, De Romilly was seen as pale as death, and almost insensible, supported by two persons, and about to leave the room. Lars Anders attended him out, and Ma chère mère ordered whatever the house contained to be at his service, and after a few minutes, taking me with her, she went out to him herself.

"I am not just come from Paris," said Serena, with all that cheerful goodness which removed bitterness from her own heart, as well as from that of another. She then observed the dresses of the censorious young ladies, admired them, questioned them about Paris, and listened, with evident pleasure, to all that they could relate to her. Even these two sisters seemed to me to become agreeable while they conversed with Serena.

Cousin Stellan passed about from one to an other; had at first a lively conversation with Miss Von P., which seemed soon to weary him; took tribute then of the brothers Stälmark, who Mr. De Romilly, who sat in a corner of the had sat themselves down in a corner of the room, sofa, seemed then to have recovered himself, but with other gentlemen, to talk about dogs and his face was concealed by his pocket-handker- horses; steered away then to several landea chief. Ma chère mère questioned him most kind-proprietors, who were talking over together the ly of his health. He replied, in a hollow voice, brandy monopoly. As he made his way from that he found himself compelled to leave the these, he was snapped up by Mrs. Von P., and, house, since the violent headache from which he on account of his sins, was he doomed to hear was suffering would render him unfit for compa- her expatiate on art and education. At length ny. Ma chère mère said everything which a po- he tore himself from her and made a halt by Selite hostess could say on such an occasion, to rena, in whose graceful society he seemed to feel which he only bowed in silent acknowledgment; himself right. and then, recommending him to Lars Anders's care, we left him, and heard him shortly after drive off.

And now for a few words on the pleasures of the day.

I will commence by passing over the dinner, which, like all other great dinners, was rather heavy. Ma chère mère was not in one of her most brilliant humours, and this affected us all; so now for the afternoon.

Mrs. Von P. had, at her entrance, given me only a gracious little nod of the head, and after this she concerned herself no farther with me; on the contrary, she was very friendly with Jane Maria.

Jane Maria played her heavy piece from Herz. It is her cheval de bataille, and that it is warlike one must acknowledge, as well as that it was performed excellently. The moment it was finished, Mrs. Von P. hastened to her, and exclaimed, "Charming! charming! None but our master composers can write thus. Oh! Weber is whimsical, Rossini often poor in melody; but Meyerbeer excels both; he is, as one may say, 'le prince de la musique.'

"The piece which I have just played," returned Jane Maria, somewhat dryly, "is from Herz."

"Yes, he is excellent! excellent!" repeated Mrs. Von P. "My dear Baroness, art it is alone which exalts man above brutes; education is the truest anstocracy, which equalizes all differences of rank and wealth among men. We live, truly, in an enlightened age."

Ah, how pleasant it is to see you!" said the Misses Adèle and Julie, hastening up to Serena, and speaking with affected sprightliness, in fine ornamental voices. "How pleasant it is to see you, little Serena! How are you now, little Serena? Have you always now pain in your hip, poor little Serena ?"

In the mean time, I took a lesson from my friend Brita Kaisa on housewifery and maidservants; but, perceiving myself sleepy therefrom, I sought out the patriarchs, with whom I endeavoured to accomplish my great work-the having Serena with me for fourteen days at Rosenvik; nor did it seem impossible that I should succeed. Long live eloquence!

Miss Hellevi Hausgiebel was prevented, by a previous engagement, from being at the great Carlsfors feast. This circumstance, Ma chère mère's serious humour, and the great heat without and within, caused there to be no particular life in the company.

When Serena had left, with her grand-parents, which was very early, it grew heavier and heavier; and I was glad when I was once more seated in the cabriolet by my own Lars Anders, on the way to our delightful Rosenvik.

19th.

Oh, the violent, hideous, cruel, detestable ! you shall hear whom.

Cousin Stellan was gone yesterday afternoon into the city to pay a visit to the Dahls, and Lars Anders and I rejoiced to be alone. He had brought out his workbench; I had drawn my little worktable to the sofa, and just opened the third part of "The Watchtower in Koatven," which I was reading aloud. That book is to me horrible; the only good lesson which it seems to me people can derive from it is-I have skim med it through to the end-to feel what a moral extravagance the life of many people and many things in this world would present, if we did not cast one glance to the solving of the great riddle, to the sequel of the history on the other side of the grave. For my part, I would gladly throw the book into the fire, but my husband insists on it that we should finish it. I fancy all the grisliness of the book gave him pleasure.

At the very moment, however, when I was

about to begin reading, I glanced through the that one leap which he was urged to. The rider window. The leaves of the elder-bushes whis- sat with unexampled skill, moved himself to the pered in the wind, the swans moved their white motions of the horse, and ever again was the rewings, collected softly towards the west, and it fractory animal brought to the same spot. The seemed to me as if all beckoned and whispered, same demand was made, and ever again began "Come out! come out!" impelling me, with an the same contest. Thus, certainly for a whole indescribable desire, into the fresh air and green-hour, did the two strive together. The horse ness. I seized Bear by the ear, and whispered my wishes. He grumbled a little, stretched himself, and then, after a few moments, stood up and took his hat. The good Bear!

I soon put on my bonnet and shawl, and was ready to take his arm, but, the moment we were about to pass through the door, he looked around with a peculiar long glance, as if he had forgotten something, and 1-for I know very well the meaning of his looks—sprang in immediately, took his pipe, filled it, struck fire, and lighted it myself, to his great delight.

then appeared weary, became still, but made no attempt to obey the will of his master. The blood ran down his spur-fretted sides; the man dismounted, and threw the bridle loose; the horse stood quiet, and looked at him; he took something from his breast-pocket, held it to the forehead of the horse. "It is the third time we have striven," said he, sullenly; "farewell!"

There was a flash before the horse, a shot was fired, and he fell dead at the feet of his master. We saw it stretch forth its head, when dying, as if for a caress; we heard a dull groan, and then all was still.

My husband pressed my arm to him with a violence which I had never seen before, struck his clinched fist to his brow, and, drawing back, exclaimed to himself, "It is Bruno! Lord, my God! yes, it is he!"

"It was Bruno !" repeated he again, as we re-entered the wood. "Where was I, that I did not sooner-but now he was so like himself— wild, unmanageably wild, at every oppositionand that expression of brow and mouth! Bruno alive! Bruno here!"

He had a wish to go and look about in the park at Ramm. We procured a rower, and very cool and pleasant was the sail across that peaceful lake. Bear puffed the long volumes of smoke from his pipe, I sang little barcaroles; and never noticing where we went, about a quarter of a mile on our backward way, struck upon the land by the shadowy shore of Ramm. We landed tolerably far from the house, and then, arm in arm, went into the beautiful, gloomy park. I felt myself happy to be wandering on Bear's arm in the still wood; to feel how the fresh, delicious air, played on my cheek; to know my husband to be so good, and the heaven above us so clear. Also he was happy to be wandering with his wife amid the remembrances of his childhood. He looked around him, breathed deeply, and said, I was violently agitated, and was obliged to in a low voice, while he pressed my arm to him, sit down. Lars Anders, also, was pale, and re"How glorious!" And know, my Maria, if he peated, with a mixture of disquiet, joy, and pain, says one word, it has more weight than a hun-"Bruno here again! Bruno! what will his moth dred out of the mouth of another.

So wandered we deeper and deeper into the wood. The high, thick-leaved trees; the shade, the silence, the recollections which seemed to abide under these shades, the loneliness, and the image of the gloomy hermit of Ramm; and Ramm itself, which stood there like the Genius of the place, all combined to produce in us a solemnity of mood. But, as we slowly wandered onward, we heard, at first dull, then more distinctly, a treading and stamping, as of a wild horse, which some one was endeavouring, but in vain, to master. I, for my part, have no great fancy for unbroken horses; but Lars Anders, on the contrary, must have had, for he hastened his steps towards the place from whence the noise proceeded. We advanced to an open space, and there making halt, were fascinated, as it were, by the wild, but fine spectacle.

"I wish he were far enough from here," said I, fiercely. "He is a fearful man, and will murder us all, if we do not all the madnesses which he will require from us."

er say?"

"Ah! she will let him go again," said I. "I wish he were in Botany Bay, to which place he belongs."

"You should not wish so, Fanny," said my husband; "Bruno is not bad. He has his wild moments; but, if he be the least like what he was, he has also his good ones. Mildness and love may work an unknown effect upon him. His coming back alone, his residence here, speak volumes in favour of his heart," said the good Lars Anders, with more fervour than I had al most ever seen in him before.

"And what will now be done?" asked I, full of disquiet.

"He must be reconciled with his mother; he must remain among us," replied my husband. "The bandit! the murderer!" I exclaimed. "We shall see, we shall see!" said Lars An ders.

"We will go away from him, otherwise he will shoot us because we stand in his way,' continued I. "Oh, let us go back to our peaceful little Rosenvik."

We did so; and it seemed to me as if I came from a tempested sea, so much was I disturbed and disquieted.

The same man, and the same horse, which we had seen once before wandering together in such lyllian peace, we here beheld again; but now in violent contest. The man sat commandingly on the back of the horse, which he would compel to leap over a broad ditch. The beautiful creature trembled and backed. It threw itself to the left and to the right; it pawed, it would not take the leap; and the foam fell from its black and When we came back to our home, we-that shining body. But, like an increpid, despoticis, Lars Anders and I-talked, backward and will, the man sat firm, admonishing, punishing, forward, of that which had happened, what could compelling. be done, and what would happen. He went, The noble animal developed in this wild strife with his hands behind him, up and down the the whole beauty of his race. His eyes spark-room, exclaiming, "Hum! hum!" led, his wide, outspread nostrils seemed to dart forth fire, while he struck the earth with his hoofs, and with a hundred leaps sought to escape

At length, we became unanimous that nothing farther was to be done than to keep the discovery which we had made secret, and await the time.

Lars Anders slept not a wink this night; nei-, ther did I till morning, when I slumbered, and dreamed that Bruno had struck a dagger into the heart of his mother. I heard her thrilling cry, My blood! my own flesh and blood!" and then seemed to see her sink into a deep abyss. When I awoke, I was so agitated that I burst into tears; 1 and yet once more must I give vent to my feelings, while, out of the depths of my heart, I exclaim, "Oh, the violent, cruel, aboniinable man!" 20th.

No, I cannot detest him yet. Bruno has a heart, although he is cruel to horses.

Yesterday evening he came to us, and my heart opposed itself against him, like a wild horse, and I could not speak a friendly word to him. The visit began with almost general silence; but I looked to Lars Anders, and I saw that this brother's heart yearned towards him, and I could not longer contain.

reading; "but is it natural? is it true? Is it not
one of the terror-pictures which the romances of
our age call forth, but which have no counter-
part in reality? Crimes and criminals I can
conceive, but not an obdurate man-hater-not a
devil in a human form."
"At

Cousin Stellan shrugged his shoulders.
all events," said he, "the representation is suc-
cessful, and full of effect."

"And precisely because it is quite natural, quite true," said Bruno, emphatically; "the sinner must become a devil, who has no hope." "And who need be without hope?" asked Lars Anders, with the confidence which becomes a pure heart so well. "Who can, who, indeed, need live without hope?"

"Can you," inquired Bruno, in a tone of reproof, "cast the burden of remorse or of pain from a human breast, so that it may open itself to hope? Can you prevent passion from shattering and imbittering? To hope! Then take out of the world punishment ten times harder than the crime deserves-then take away words from the soul, which, once spoken, burn there forever!"

Cousin Stellan had just begun to read to us, aloud, a part out of "The Jew" of Spindler, which he admired as a masterpiece among works of ..orror. Bruno's arrival interrupted the reading, and a few moments afterward Stellan laid down the book. Bruno perceived this, and beg- Stellan here was called out by the Brothers ged that, if we were engaged in reading, he Stalmark, who, in hunting-dress, and followed might be permitted to be one of the auditors. | by a pack of dogs, crossed the court. He was, Cousin Stellan, therefore, explained to him, short-or, rather, he wished to be, athirst for the chase, ly, of what this part of the book treated; said and left us. Thus he did not hear how I, burnhow the Jew, Zodik, had been baptized to a re- ing in soul against Bruno, on account of his horse ligion which he detested by criminal means, and and various other causes, answered him somethrough the cruellest act of power of a Christian what bitterly. knight, and then, on this very account, had been barbarously jested and sneered at by the knight himself; how, under these circumstances, the most terrible despair took possession of his soul; he felt himself cast out of heaven and earth.

"If you remove haughtiness, if you remove anger and evil passions out of the soul of man, then you will see that punishment improves, and that misfortune purifies, and leads to humility and hope."

"Every paradise is closed against me! Must "Punishment!" exclaimed Bruno, with mournI, then, be lost? Villanous Gojim! you have ful warmth; "believe me, there are sins which stolen my soul from me! I curse you! I vow punishment cannot reform-there are natures revenge upon you! retribution! revenge!" whom severity only hardens. They plunge themThese were the words with which Stellan had selves only deeper upon the sword which is ceased to read, and he continued farther: "These sheathed in their breast. Would you save a thoughts animated the unhappy one, torn with criminal of this kind from eternal perdition— doubt and despondency, with a spark which pro- would you change the heart in his breast, reach ceeded not from heaven, but from the deep. Zo-to him the hand of love; forgive him, even if he dik collected together his thoughts, and, with do not deserve forgiveness; but repel him not, streaming hair, glared wildly up to the jagged cast him not off! A heart may vibrate long beclouds, which sent down in vain their thickest tween good and evil-it may be long before it snow-flakes to cool that raging Moloch image. can be saved-but the hour comes. If," continu'The bond is rent!' yelled he forth, the only liv-ed he, "the only bosom after which it longs in ing being under the still, icy rain. 'Samiel, prince of the wilderness,' continued he, 'prince of death, and consort of the horrible night-Queen Lilis, the mother of fearful ghosts and of all sins-to thee I resign myself! Defend me from the anger of our God! Conceal me from the wrath of-bitter, bitter!" Edom! Teach me to bear the sword against that law which is mine no longer! Permit me to take vengeance on Israel as well as on Esau, till thou takest home my soul in the tempest of thy wrath!'"

the world closes itself against him, then is every paradise of life closed against him! If one horrible, unappeasable remembrance comes, and comes again, forever,' night and day, falls upon the soul every moment, like an ice-shower, then

Bruno supported his forehead on his hand; he seemed to have forgotten us, and everything around him; the thunderbolt upon his forehead was spread out in sharp angles. After a few moments, he looked up again, and resumed: "And The narrative relates, farther, how Zodik hard- under such circumstances, shall a man reform ened himself in hellish sentiments. He became himself, become good, and hope ?" He laughed calmer; he conceived that it was permitted, on bitterly. "Ah, you good, happy people,” said earth, to the lost one, to live twofold, in his own he, "go out into the world; visit the prisons, the joys and in the sufferings of others. He decla- galleys; look into those hearts which wear heavred all men outlawed; and, drunken with a sav-ier fetters than their bodies, and talk to them of age joy from the horrible pictures which ascended in his soul, he thanked Fate for the occasion which had lent him power to quench his thirst for revenge, and to become the enemy of the whole human race.

"That is horrible," said I, as Stellan ceased H

reform! There are furies in life, in hearts-the legends of them in the olden times are no invention; go out to those who are driven by the Furies, and preach of hope, if you have courage to do so!"

"Yes, the thousand!" cried Lars Anders,

compose ourselves, when we heard Cousin Stellan returning. "Secret!" said Bruno, in a low emphatic voice, and again we seated ourselves, as quietly, and with as much indifference as possible. After Stellan's entrance, Bruno remained for a long time silent; at length said he, "One of "He undertakes something," thought I to my- my people at Ramm is dangerously ill; could I self; "yet, nevertheless, he is right!" and I rejoi-beg you, Dr. Werner, to visit him? I should ced over my husband. prefer this evening, or perhaps to-morrow." "I should prefer this evening," returned Lars Anders; "the earlier the better, before it be too late."

"Would you," said Bruno, slowly, his cheek blanching, while he supported his head with his hand, "would you also talk of hope to those who sustained the curse of father or mother? and who They made themselves, therefore, immediatehad deserved it?" added he, with an almost inar-ly ready to depart; and, as my husband took leave, he whispered to me to be quite easy, even if he did not return till late at night.