A MOMENT.

In our northern folk-songs there commonly occurs between the minor key of the beginning and the end, an interval of a few bars in the major key which, in the most delicious manner, soothe the ear and touch the feelings, in which the soul seems to cast a bright glance, rich in promise, into a future affluent in spring and love. The evening on which Yngve, according to the appointment of the Director, again found himself at Kullen, resembled such a major key in the life of the lovers.

The Director, who seemed to have taken his resolution with regard to Yngve, received him with politeness, and, without any repulsive coldness, allowed him to explain his prospects, and then replied that he wished to become better acquainted with him; wished him a more important position in society, as well as more certain prospects of an independent income before he could consent to his marriage with Hertha. Hertha, it was true, possessed some property from her mother, but not as much as people generally believed; and not sufficient of itself for the maintenance of a family. It was the Director's duty, therefore, as her father and guardian, to watch over her future prospects. The future alone could decide the issue of Yngve's wishes with regard to Hertha, but he might openly plead his own cause with her, and in the mean time would be welcome to the house of Hertha's father.

All this was reasonable enough, and was more than Yngve expected after the scene of the preceding evening. He therefore thanked the Director cordially, and expressed his hope that before long he might be able to satisfy his reasonable demands, and offer to Hertha a position in life secure from pecuniary difficulties. Yngve also contrived to create an

interest in the mind of the Director for the undertakings in which he was interested, and in which his future prospects were involved. He produced altogether so agreeable an impression upon the Director, that he received from him an invitation to stay to supper.

Such an event as a young man being invited to stay to supper, had not occurred for many a long year, never since the time when Alma's lover visited with them.

The dining-room at Kullen exhibited this evening an unusually agreeable aspect. The large fire of pine-logs, which crackled and flamed merrily, threw a joyous light upon the father of the family, who sate in a comfortable corner, smoking his pipe and talking with Yngve about the various schemes for railroads and water conveyances in Sweden and other countries: upon little Aunt Nella, who sate by the fire busily winding off her yarn, and muttering to herself with an unusually pleased expression; on the supper-table, which was spread and adorned with flowers by Martha and Maria; and lastly on Hertha, who came and went, as she silently attended to her household duties. She appeared to Yngve, this while, so noble and beautiful, that he sometimes became quite absorbed, and forgot that it was needful to answer the questions of the Director about railroads, or else he replied wholly at random. For instance, when questioned about a certain branch of railway, he answered like one in a dream, an actual Iduna!" and as to the direction of another railroad, he replied with warmth, "to all eternity!"

66

The director looked at him in astonishment, but when he observed the direction of his eyes, he smiled, puffed the smoke from his tobacco-pipe, and did not seem offended. They had scarcely ever seen the Director so civil and so kind to any one before. How happy the sight of this made Hertha, and the pleasant anticipations for the future which it gave rise to, both in her breast and that of Yngve, may easily be conceived.

The evening meal became, under these circumstances, one of the most joyous which had ever been partaken of in that home. When it was ended the Director spoke to Yngve

about his mother, and now made her, through her son, that offer of a place in his family, which Hertha had prepared him for. Yngve perceived that the Director regarded this matter as an affair which would be advantageous to the family, and he silently commended her consideration.

Before they separated Hertha led her friend into the room which she had prepared and arranged for his mother.

"See, Yngve," said she, "your book-case shall stand there, and here in this easy chair your mother shall sit, and I here, beside her, when we read together your books and your letters. Here, at this writing-table, will your mother, and—I also sometimes-write to you."

Hertha wished, in this moment of separation, to leave upon Yngve's mind the impression of her close connection with his mother, and of the life she would lead in her new home. She wished that he, in memory, should see them together.

Yngve was at the same time so affected, and rendered so happy by all that had taken place, that when he took leave of Hertha's sisters, he pressed them to his heart with an earnest tenderness that at once astonished and affected them; he kissed Aunt Nella's hand and then her cheek, which caused her to make such a start of pleasurable surprise, as broke her yarn-thread; for she discovered, all at once, a great resemblance between Yngve and one of the ball-room admirers of her young days, and she began to puzzle her brain about some secret intrigue in connection with this circumstance. Yngve was disposed to clasp the Director and the whole family in his embrace, but the distant though polite demeanor of the former checked any extraordinary demonstration as regarded him. Nevertheless, when Yngve, with an expression of filial reverence and gratitude in his frank and handsome countenance, yet once more shook his hand at parting, the Director accompanied him to the door, and said, with undisguised good-will:

"I wish you all success and a happy return. You are still quite young, and while the Patriarch Jacob could wait seven years, and again seven years, for his betrothed, it ought not to

appear long to you to wait a year or two for one who is dear to you. Time flies fast."

Hertha, this evening, kissed her father's hand, as she had not kissed it since the time when she looked up to him in blind obedience and love.

SEVEN YEARS:

THE PATRIARCHAL RELATIONSHIP.

WE read in the history of the Patriarch Jacob, that the seven years which he served for Rachel "seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her." And I knew a Swedish girl who devoted herself for ten years to wait upon her blind and necessitous father, and who, although she was young and blooming when she entered upon this service, and was pale and withered when it was ended (at her father's decease), yet who found not those ten years to be either long or oppressive. The reason of this was, that affection had been the impelling principle, had sustained the soul, given wings to time, had made even weariness dear, and changed life into a beautiful pastime.

How different must it be when the service is for those whom we cannot love, or when force or injustice enchain the free soul to a lot which it has not chosen! how oppressive the days then become; how interminable the years; how gloomy the heart, life, the future, Providence-everything!

We will pass with light and hasty steps over those years of Hertha's history which we have now to describe, and only by a few touches delineate their lights and shadows.

Half a year after the parting which we have described in the foregoing chapter, Yngve returned to Sweden, his health re-established, and full of earnestness, hope, and activity. Two years afterwards he was advanced to a position in his profession which gave him the certain prospect of a modest competency for the future, and he now renewed his request to Hertha's father for his consent to their union. The Director replied that he did not consider Yngve's prospects as yet