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the pleasures of the world for the domestic | two, the Major and Eva, still wished it, the evening circle, Eva appeared to find nothing question of their union might again be brought now pleasing at home, appeared only to be able forward. This middle path had been proposed to live in those circles and those pleasures in by Elise, who, through a progressively inward, which Major R. shone, and where she could see and more perfect fulfilment of duties, had acherself distinguished by him. Precisely there- quired an ever-increasing power over her husfore on account of these rencontres of the two, band, and thus induced him to accede to it, at the family went as little as possible into society. the same time that she endeavoured to infuse Still, notwithstanding all this, Eva's wishes upon into him the hope which she herself cherished, the whole were favoured. Leonoro accompa- namely, either that Eva, during the time of pronied her faithfully wherever she wished. The bation, would discover the unworthiness of the Judge was gloomy and disturbed in temper; Major, and won over by the wishes and the tenthe mother was mild and accommodating; and derness of her family, would conquer her love, as to Eva, she was in a high degree sensitive; or on the other hand, that the Major, ennobled by whilst whatever concerned her love, or seemed love and constant to her, would become worthy to oppose her wishes in the slightest degree, of her. It was one of the favourite axioms of brought her to tears and hysterical sobs, and her the Judge, that every man had the power of imfriends became ever more and more aware how proving himself, and he willingly conceded that violent and exclusive her love was to Major R. for this end there existed no more powerful The mere glimpse of him, the sound of his steps, means than a virtuous love. the tone of his voice, shook her whole frame. All earlier affectionate relationships had lost their power over her heart.

It not unfrequently happens that people, whether it arises from physical or moral causes, become wonderfully unlike themselves. Irrita bility, violence, indiscretion, and unkindness, suddenly reveal themselves in a hitherto gentle and amiable character, and as if by a magicstroke, a beautiful form has been transformed into a witch. It requires a great deal, under such circumstances, to keep friends warm and unchanged. A great demand of goodness, a great demand of clearness of vision, is made from any one when, under these circumstances, he is required to remain true in the same love, to persevere in the same faith, to wait patiently for the time when the magic shall lose its power, when the changed one shall come back again; and yet he, all the time, be able only to present himself by quiet prayers, mild looks, and affectionate care! I say great purity of vision, because the true friend never loses sight of the heavenly image of his friend; but sees it through every veil of casualty, even when it is concealed from all, nay even from the faulty one's self! He has faith in it; he loves it; he lives for it, and says, "Wait! have patience! it will go over, and then he (or she) comes back again!" And whoever has such a friend, comes back indeed!

So stood the quiet, affectionate Leonore, on the side of her altered sister.

All this time Henrik was beneficial to his whole family, and appeared to have regained all his former amiable animation, in order therewith to scare every disturbing sensation from the bosom of home. He accompanied his family, more than he had ever done before, into society, and had alway a watchful eye on his sister and the Major.

Before long the Major declared himself, and asked for Eva's hand. Her parents had prepared themselves for this event, and had decided on their line of conduct. They intended not to make their child unhappy by a decided negative to the wishes of her heart; but they had determined to demand a year of trial both from her and her lover, during which time they should have no intercourse with each other, should exchange no letters, and should consider themselves as free from every mutual obligation; and that then again after this interval of time, if they

The Judge now talked energetically yet tenderly with his daughter; explaining clearly to her the terms of this connexion, without concealing from her how bitter to him had been, and still was, the thought of this union, and appealed to her own sense and reason whether too much had been required in this prescribed time of trial.

Eva shed many tears; but deeply affected by the goodness of her parents, consented to their wishes, and promised, though not without pain, to fulfil them. The Judge wrote to the Major, who had made his declaration by letter, a candid and noble, but by no means sugared, answer; wherein he required from him, as a man of honour, that he should by no means whatever induce Eva to swerve from the promises which she had made to her parents, and by this means disturb her hitherto so happy connexion with her own family. This letter, which the father allowed his daughter to read, and which occasioned her fresh tears, whilst she in vain endeavoured to persuade him to remove expressions which she considered too severe, but which he, on the contrary, considered too mild, was dispatched the same day, and all was again quieter.

Probably Eva would strictly have adhered to the wishes of her parents, which they endeavoured to make pleasant to her by much kindness, had not a letter from the Major been conveyed to her on the next evening, which quite excited and unhinged her again. He complained violently therein of her father's unreasonableness, injustice, and tyranny; and spoke, in the most passionate terms, of his love, of his unbounded sufferings, and of his despair. The consequence of this letter was, that Eva was ill but more so, however, in mind than bodyand that she demanded to have an interview with Assessor Munter.

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The friend and physician of the house came ifhmediately to her.

"Do you love me?" was Eva's first question when they were alone.

"Do I love you, Eva ?" answered he, and looking at her with an expression of eye which must have moved any heart to tenderness that had been otherwise occupied than hers was.

"If you love me, if you desire that I should not be really ill," continued Eva, speaking with quickness and great warmth, "you must convey this letter to Major R., and bring his answer back

into my hands. My father is set against him, | bosom of the family. Nobody named the Major

everybody is set against him; nobody knows him as well as I do! I am in a state of mind which will drive me to despair, if you have not compassion on me! But you must be my friend in secret. You will not? If you love me you must take this letter and

"Desire all things from me, Eva," interrupted he," but not this! and precisely because you are so dear to me. This man in fact is not worthy of you; he does not deserve

"Not a word about him!" interrupted Eva, with warmth: "I know him better than you all -I alone know him; but you all are his enemies, and enemies to my happiness. Once again I pray you-pray you with tears! Is it then so much that I desire from you? My benefactor, my friend, will you not grant this prayer of your Eva?"

"Let me speak with your father," said he. "On this subject? No, no! impossible!" claimed she.

and as, when spring-time comes, the grass grows and the leaves burst forth, although the heaven is yet dark, and many a northern blast yet lingers in the air-so did affectionate feelings and joyful hours spring up again in the family of the Franks, from the spontaneous vernal spirit which reigned there.

You might have seen the mother there, like the heart of the family, taking part in all that went forward, making every one so cheerful and comfortable, as she moved about here and there, so rich in grace and joy and consolation! Wherever she came, there came with her a something pleasant or animating, either in word or deed; and yet all this time she was very far from being herself calm. Care for her daughter was accompanied by anxiety on account of Henrik's prospects and happiness. She understood, better than any one else, his feelings, his wishex-es, and his thoughts; and on this account glances of friendly understanding were often exchanged between them, and from this cause also was it that on those days when the post came in from Stockholm, she became paler and paler the nearer post-time came-for it perhaps might bring with it important news for Henrik.

It

“Then, Eva, I must refuse your prayer. gives me more pain than I can express to refuse you anything in this world; but I will not stain my hand in this affair. I will not be a means of your unhappiness. Farewell!"

"Stop," cried Eva, "and hear me! What is it that you fear for me?"

"Everything from a man of R.'s character." "You mistake him, and you mistake me," returned she.

"I know him, and I know you," said he, "and on that account I would rather go into fire than convey letters between him and you. This is my last word.”

"You will not!" exclaimed she; "then you Love me not, and I have not a friend in this world!"

"Eva, Eva, do not say so! you sin against yourself. You know not-ask everything from me—ask my life—ah, through you, life has already lost its worth for me !-ask

"Empty words !", interrupted Eva, and turned impatiently away. "I desire nothing more from you, Mr. Munter! Pardon me that I have given you so much trouble!"

Munter looked at her for some moments in silence, laid his hand hastily on his heart as if he had a pain there, and went out more bowed than commonly.

Not long after this, an unexpected ray of light gladdened the painful condition of affairs between Eva and her family. She was calmer. The Major removed from the city into the country, to pass the Christmas with a relation of his there; and on the same day Eva came down into the library at the customary hour of tea, after she had passed several days in her own room. Every one received her with joy. Her father went towards her with open arms, called her sweet names, placed her on the sofa by her mother, and took her tea to her himself: a lover could not have been more tender or more attentive to her. One might see that Eva was not different to these marks of affection, and that yet she did not receive them altogether with joy. A burning red alternated with paleness on her cheek, and at times it seemed that a tear, a repentant tear filled her eyes.

"My dear Elise," said the Judge, jesting affectionately, "to what purpose is all this unquiet, this incomprehensible anxiety? I grant that it would be a happiness to us all, and a prize of good luck, if Henrik could obtain the solicited situation-but if he did not get it—what then? he can get another in a little while. And his poem-suppose it should now and never more be regarded as a masterpiece, and should not obtain the prize-now, in heaven's name! what does it matter? He would perhaps, from the very circumstance of his having less fortune as a poet, be only the more practical man, and I confess that would not mortify me. And I shall wish the poem to the place where pepper grows if you are to become pale and nervous on its account! Promise me now next post-day to be reasonable, and not to look like the waning moon, else I promise you that I shall be downright angry, and will keep the whole post-bag to myself!"

To his children the father spoke thus: "Haveyou really neither genius or spirit of invention enough to divert and occupy your mother on the unfortunate post-day? Henrik, it depends upon you whether she be calm or not; and if you do not convince her that, let your luck in the world be whatever it may, you can bear it like a man, I must tell you that you have not deserved all the tenderness which she has shown you!

Henrik coloured deeply, and the Judge continued, “and you, Gabriele ! I shall never call you my clever girl again, if you do not make a riddle against the next post-day which shall so occupy your mother that she shall forget all the rest!"

The following post-day was an exceedingly merry one. Never before had more interesting topics of conversation been brought forward by Henrik; never before had the mother been so completely seduced into the discussions of the young people. At the very moment when the post-hour arrived, she was deeply busied in solving a riddle, which Henrik and Gabriele endeaFrom this time, however, the old state of feel-voured to make only the more intricate by their ing, and the old quiet, returned in part to the fun and jokes, whilst they were pretending to assist her in the discovery.

The riddle ran as follows:

Raging war and tumult
Am I never nigh;
And from rain and tempest,
To far woods I fly.
In cold, worldly bosoms

My deep grave is made,
And from conflagration
Death has me affrayed.
No one e'er can find me
In the dungeon glooms;
I have no abiding,

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Save where freedom blooms.
My morning sun ariseth,

Light o'er mind to fling;
O'er love's throbbing bosom
Rests my downy wing!
Like our Lord in heaven,

I am ever there;

And like him of children

Have I daily care.

What though I may sever
From thee now and then,

I forget thee never

I come back again!

m

In the morning's brightness,
Dear one, if thou miss me,
With the sunset's crimson

Come I back and kiss thee!

This riddle, which it must be confessed was by no means one of Gabriele's best, gave rise to a fund of amusement, and occasioned the maddest propositions on Henrik's part. The mother, however, did not allow herself to be misled; but examined, whilst she endeavoured to overpower the voices of her joking children, "The riddle is

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During the first moment of this news the joy was calm and mingled with emotion; afterward, however, it was lively, and shot forth like rockets in a thousand directions. Everything was in motion to celebrate the day and its hero; and while the father of the family set about to mix a bowl-for he would that the whole house should drink Henrik's health-the others laid plans for a journey to Stockholm. The whole family must be witnesses of Henrik's receiving the great gold medal-they must be present on the day of his triumph. Eva recovered almost her entire liveliness as she described a similar festival which she had witnessed in the Swedish Academy.

Henrik talked a deal about Stockholm; he longed to be able to show his mother and sisters the beautiful capital. How they would be delighted with the gallery of mineralogy-how they would be charmed with the theatres! how they would see and hear the lovely Demoiselle Hogquist and the captivating Jenny Lind!*-and then the castle!-the promenades-the prospects -the churches-the beautiful statues in the public places-Henrik would have been almost ready to have overthrown some of them-Oh, there was so much that was beautiful and delightful to see in Stockholm!

The mother smiled in joy over the occasion of the journey to Scotland; the father said "yes" to everything; the countenances of the young people beamed forth happiness; the bowl

What the riddle was, the reader may see by was fragrant with good luck. the title of our next chapter.

CHAPTER XXIX.

HAPPINESS.

"HAPPINESS!" repeated the Judge, as he entered the room at the same moment, with letters and newspapers in his hand.

"I fancy you have been busying yourselves here with prophesyings,” said he : "Gabriele, my child, you shall have your reward for it-read this aloud to your mother!" laying a newspaper before her.

Gabriele began to read, but threw the paper hastily down, gave a spring for joy, clapped her hands and exclaimed,

'Henrik's poetry has won the highest prize!" "And here, Henrik," said the father," are letters-you are nominated to-" The voice of the Judge was drowned in the general outbreak of joy. Henrik lay in the arms of his mother, surrounded by his sisters, who, amid all their jubilation, had tearful eyes.

The Judge walked up and down the room with long strides; at length he paused before the happy group, and exclaimed,

"Nay, only see! let me also have a little bit! Elise-my thanks to thee that thou hast given him to me—and thou, boy, come here-I must tell thee-" but not one word could he tell him.

The young Baron L., who liked Henrik extremely, and who liked still more every lively excitement to every uproar, was possessed by a regular phrenzy to celebrate the day. He waltzed with everybody;-Louise might not sit still; "the little lady" must allow herself to be twirled about; but the truth was that in her joy she was about as wild for dancing as he was himselfthe very Judge himself must waltz with him; and at last he waltzed with chairs and tables, whilst the fire of the punch was not very much calculated to abate his vivacious spirits.

It was very hard for the Judge that he was compelled on this very day to leave home, but pressing business obliged him to do so. He must make a journey that same evening, which would detain him from home three or four days, and although he left his family in the full bloom of their joy and prosperity, the short separation appeared to him more painful than common.

After he had taken his leave he returned-a circumstance very unusual with him-to the room again; embraced his wife yet a second time, flourished about with his daughters in his wolf-skin cloak as if out of liveliness, and then went out hastily, giving to the young Baron, who, in his wild joy had fallen upon his wolf'sskin like a dog, a tolerably heavy cuff. A few minutes afterwards, as he cast from his sledge a glance and a hand-greeting to his wife and daughters at the library window, they saw with astonishment that his eyes were full of tears.

The father, speechless from inward emotion, But the joy of the present, and the promises of embraced his son, and returned in the same man- the future, filled the hearts of those who remainner the affectionate demonstration of his daugh-ed behind to overflowing, and the evening passed amid gaiety and pleasure.

ters.

Many private letters from Stockholm contained flattering words and joyful congratulations to the young poet. All Henrik's friends seemed to accord in one song of triumph.

There was almost too much happiness for one time.

Baron L. drank punch with the domestics til both he and they were quite wrong in the head, and all Louise's good moral preaching was like so ments of the Stockholm theatre; the first an actress, * Emilie Högquist and Jenny Lind are two great o

second a singer.

many water-drops on the fire. Henrik was nobly gay, and the beaming expression of his animated, beautiful head, reminded the beholder of an Apollo.

"Where now are all your gloomy forebodings?" whispered Leonore tenderly joyful; "you look to me as if you could even embrace Sternhok."

"The whole world!" returned Henrik, clasping ais sister to his breast, "I am so happy!"

And yet there was one person in the house who was happier than Henrik, and that was his mother. When she looked on the beautiful, glorified countenance of her son, and thought of that which he was and what he would become; when she thought on the laurels which would engarland his beloved head, on the future which awaited her favourite, her summer child-Oh! then bloomed the high summer of maternal joy in her breast, and she revelled in a nameless happiness -a happiness so great that she was almost anxious, because it appeared to her too great to be borne on earth!

And yet for all that-and we say it with grateful joy-the earth can bear a great degree of happiness; can bear it for long without its bringing with it a curse or a disappointment. It is in stillness and in retirement where this good fortune blooms the best, and on that account the world knows little of it, and has little faith in it. But, thank God! it may be abundantly found in all times and in all countries; and it is-we whisper this to the blessed ones in order that we may rejoice with them-it is of extremely rare occurrence when it happens in actual life, as, for the sake of effect, it happens in books, that a strong current of happiness carries along with it unhappiness as in a drag-rope.

CHAPTER VI.

UNHAPPINESS.

NIGHT Succeeded the joyful evening, and the members of the Frank family lay deep in the arms of sleep, when suddenly, at the hour of midnight, they were awoke by the cry of" fire! fire!"

The house was on fire, and smoke and flames met them at every turn; for the conflagration spread with incredible speed. An inconceivable confusion succeeded: one sought for another; one called on another-mother, and children, and domestics!

Only half-dressed, and without the means of saving the least thing, the inhabitants of the house assembled themselves in the market-place, where an innumerable crowd of people streamed together, and began to work the fire engines; whilst church bells tolled violently, and the alarm drums were beaten wildly and dully up and down the streets. Henrik dragged with him the young Baron L., who was speechless and much injured by the fire.

The mother cast a wild searching look around among her childen, and suddenly exclaiming "Gabriele!" threw herself with a thrilling cry of anguish into the burning house. A circle of people hastily surrounded the daughters, in order to prevent their following her, and at the same moment two men broke forth from them, and hastened with the speed of lightning after her. The one was her beautiful, now more than ever beautiful, son. The other resembled one of the Cyclops, as art has represented them at work in

their subterranean smithies, excepting that he had two eyes, which in this moment flashed forth flames, as if bidding defiance to those with which he was about to combat. Both vanished amid the conflagration.

A moment's silence ensued: the alarm drum ceased to beat; the people scarcely breathed; the daughters wrung their hands silently, and the fire-bell called anxiously to the ineffectual engine-showers, for the flames rose higher and higher.

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All at once a shout was sent from the mass of the people; all hearts beat joyfully, for the mother was borne in the arms of her son from amid the flames, which stretched forth their hissing tongues towards her!-and-now another shout of exultation! The modern Cyclop, in one word Mr. Munter, stood in the window of the second story, and, amid the whirlwind of smoke, was seen a white form, which he pressed to his bosom. A ladder was quickly raised, and Jeremias Munter, blackened and singed, but nevertheless happy, laid the fainting but unhurt Gabriele in the arms of her mother and sisters.

After this, he and Henrik returned to the burning house, from which they were fortunate enough to save the desk containing the Judge's most valuable papers. A few trifles, but of no great importance, were also saved. But this was all. The house, which was of wood, spite of every effort to save it, was burned to the ground, but, as it stood detached, without communicating the fire to any other.

But

When Henrik, enfeebled with his exertions, returned to his family, he found them all quartered in the small dwelling of the Assessor, which also lay in the market place; while he seemed to have multiplied himself into ten persons, in order to provide his guests with whatever they required; and his old housekeeper, what with the fire, and what with so many guests, who were to be provided for in that simply-supplied establishment, was almost crazed. the good master of the house had help at hand for every body: he prepared coffee, he made beds, and seemed altogether to forget his own somewhat severe personal injuries by the fire. He joked about himself and his affairs at the same time that he wiped tears from his eyes, which he could not but shed over the misfortunes of his friends. Affectionate and determined, he provided for every thing and for every one; whilst Louise and Leonore assisted him with quiet resolution.

"Wilt thou be reasonable, coffee-pot, and not boil over, since thou hast to provide coffee for ladies!" said the Assessor in jesting anger.

Here, Miss Leonore, are drops for the mother and Eva. Sister Louise, be so good as to take my whole storeroom in hand; and you, young sir," said he to Henrik, as he seized him suddenly by the arm, and gazed sharply into his face, "come you with me, for I must take you rather particularly in hand."

There was indeed not a moment to lose; a violent effusion of blood from the chest, placed the young man's life in momentary danger. Munter tore off his coat, and opened a vein at the very moment in which he lost all consciousness.

"Now then a tea-kettle!" said the doctor, as Henrik breathed again, "how can people be so foolish when they are such-clever fellows! Nay now all danger for the time is over. Death has been playing his jokes with us to-night! Now, like polite knights, let us be again in at

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THE sun of the next morning shone brightly on the glistening snow-covered roofs round the market-place, and dyed the smoke clouds, which rose slowly from the ruins of the burnt-down house, with the most gorgeous tints of purple, gold, and sulphur-blue, whilst hundreds of little sparrows raked and picked about in the ashyflakes which were scattered over the snow in the market-place and churchyard, with exulting twitterings.

Both mother and daughters looked with tearful eyes towards the smoking place, where had so lately stood their dearly-beloved home; but yet no one gave themselves up to sorrow. Eva alone wept much, but that from a cause of grief concealed in her own heart. She knew that Major R. had passed the night in the city, and yet for all that she had not seen him.

venture, however, not the less on that accoun to give our conjectures-thus, it is very probable that the fire had its origin in the chamber of the young Baron L., and that also he, in his scarcely half sober state, might have been the occasion of it. Probably he himself regarded the affair in this light-but this however is certain, that this event, in connexion with the behaviour of the Franks towards him, occasioned a great change in the temper and character of this young man. His father came for him shortly after this, and took him to consult a celebrated oculist in Copenhagen, in consequence of his eyes having suffered severely in the fire. Our eyes will see him again, only at a much later period of our history.

The daughters of the house busied themselves earnestly with the already-spoken-of plans for themselves, that they might lighten the anxieties of their parents in their adverse circumstances, and that without being burdensome to anybody else. Eva wished at first to receive an invitation to a country-seat in the neighbourhood, not far from that where Major R. was at present. Axelholm opened itself, heart, arms, main-building and wings, for the members of the Frank family; there were wanting no opportunities for colonization; but the With the morning came much bustle and a Judge besought his children so earnestly to decrowd of people into the dwelling of the Asses-cline all these, and for the present to remain alsor. Families came who offered to the roofless household both shelter and entertainment; young girls came with their clothes; servants came with theirs for the servants of the family; elegant services of furniture were sent in; the baker sent baskets full of bread; the brewer beer; another sent wine, and so on. It was a scene in social life of the most beautiful description, and which showed how greatly esteemed and beloved the Franks were.

Mrs. Gunilla came so good and zealous, ready to contend with anybody who would contend with her, to convey her old friends in her carriage to the dwelling which she had prepared for them in all haste. The Assessor did not strive with her, but saw, in silence, his guests depart, and with a tear in his eye looked after the carriage which carried Eva away from his house. The house seemed now so dark and desolate to him.

On the evening of this same day the father returned into his family circle, and pressed them all to his breast with tears of joy-yes, tears of joy, for all were left to him!

A few days after this he wrote thus to one of

his friends

together.

In a few months," said he, "perhaps in spring, you can do what you like; but nowlet us remain together. I must have you all around me, in order to feel that I really possess you all. I cannot bear the thoughts of losing any one of you at present."

The thought of parting appeared likewise soon to weigh heavily upon him. Henrik, since the night of the conflagration, had scarcely had a moment free from suffering; a violent, incessant beating of the heart had remained since then, and the pain of this was accompanied by dangerous attacks of spasms, which, notwithstanding all remedies, appeared rather to increase than otherwise. This disturbed the Judge so much the more, as now, more than ever, he loved and valued his son. Since the night of the fire it might be said that, for the first time, affection was warm between father and son.

The Mahomedan says beautifully, that when the angel of death approaches, the shadow of his wings falls upon him from a distance. From the beginning of his illness Henrik's soul appeared to be darkened by unfriendly shadows,

and the first serious outbreak of disease revealed "Before this occurrence, I knew not how itself in depression and gloom. Oh! it was not much I possessed in my wife and children; easy for the young man, richly gifted as he was knew not that I had so many good friends and with whatever could beautify life on earth, standneighbours. I thank God, who has given me ing as he did at the commencement of a path such a wife, such children, and such friends! where fresh laurels and the roses of love beckThese last have supplied, nay over-supplied all oned to him, it was not easy to turn his glance the necessities of my family. I shall begin in from a future like this, to listen to the words spring to rebuild my house on the ol! foundation. which night and day his beating heart whisper"How the fire was occasioned I know not, ed to him: "Thou wilt descend to thy grave and do not trouble myself to discover. The mis-nor will I cease knocking till the door of the fortune has happened, and may serve as a warn- tomb opens to thee!" ing for the future, and that is enough. My house has not become impoverished in love, even though it may be so in worldly goods, and that sustains and heals all. The Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord!"

Probably the Judge would listen to no conjectures respecting the origin of the fire. We will

But to a mind like Henrik's the step from darkness to light was not wide. There was that something in his soul which enables man to say to the Lord of life and earth

The dreaded judgment-doom in thine own hand is writ-
We kiss it; bow our heads, and silently submit.

Henrick had one day a long conversation with

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