him with regard to the fixed time. But he was not to be deceived nor removed. It was his arms that held her in that trying hour; her eyes at the same time rested on his, and for his sake she endured all the agonies without a murmur.

She was permitted to live three years longer for him, and to be happy through him during this extended term of her existence. Her disease then broke out again, and this time fatally. Giving utterance to her bright hopes of immortality, and of her assurance of meeting him again, while at the same time she exhorted her son to "kind forbearance and patience with his father," she expired in his arms.

The effects of this loss on the youth, now attained to his eighteenth year, was dreadful, and tended to hasten his maturity to manhood. His disposition of mind at this period, and his love for those studies in which he had at an early age found pleasure, privately determined him to enter the ministerial office.

At the university he devoted himself, as did once the greatest statesman of Sweden, pre-eminently to divinity. In this career, however, he-as was also the case with Axel Oxenstjerna-was interrupted, being induced by his father to travel through foreign countries. Accordingly he set out to Vienna as Secretary to the Swedish embassy. The fortune which there attended him, and the talents he displayed, proved according to his father's wishes, decisive in favour of his future prospects; and in his diplomatic career he has now for many years past ably acquired respect and confidence.

After my stepmother and the Viking had thus alternately glanced at Lennartson's life, Selma reminded me of an expression I made use of the first evening of

my meeting with him here, namely, that I had already formed his acquaintance some time previously. I now had to relate where and when I had done so, and accordingly stated:

"It is now about fifteen years since, when at a dinner party I happened to meet with General Lennartson and his son. The company, which was large, consisted chiefly of the general's relatives and acquaintances. A corner of the table only separated me from young Lennartson. This distinguished man was kind enough to entertain himself with me, then a timid girl of fourteen, and to amuse me with the details of Schiller's Wallenstein, which so engrossed my attention that I forgot both eating and drinking. The general topic of conversation at table was about disturbances which had recently taken place in the military school, and they mentioned a young man as their leader who had been guilty of several misdemeanours, and was in consequence expelled. Several of the guests gave the young man very harsh names, such as "gallows-bird," &c. Young Lennartson alone undertook his defence, and did so with warmth, showing at the same time how the latter had been provoked in the last disputes in question, and how his very aberrations bore traces of a noble heart. The old General took the side in opposition to his son, and grew more and more violent against the accused party. Young Lennartson, however, now determined to defend him even against his father, with all due respect, of course, but with great firmness. All at once the old General was seized with a sort of frenzy, and he turned against his son personally with a battery of insults and violent accusations. From the very instant that his father

attacked him he was perfectly silent. His cheeks and lips turned pale, it is true, but his look at his father was so stedfast, his entire demeanour so calm, as would have almost led any one to suppose him insensible to this unworthy treatment.

"While, with a degree of fearful suspense, the look of all were passing from father to son, mine eyes were lingering with a sort of admiration on the noble features of the latter. Involuntarily they remained fixed on a little spot of his smooth white forehead, which gradually increased in size, and became more striking in appearance; at length it moved, and a transparent drop of perspiration ran down, as it were, to hide itself in the dark eye-brows. This was the only mark which betrayed his inward conflict. The General, at last, was silent for the want of words and breath, and for a moment a death-like stillness prevailed. Young Lennartson was as still as all the rest; no affectation of indifference or defiance distorted his noble and unaffected deportment. He appeared to me admirable on account of his perfect self-control, and many of those present seemed to share this impression with me. But all manifested their anxious endeavours to relieve this painful suspense by starting a general conversation. Unconstrained, young Lennartson also took part in the same, but he was more serious than he had been before, and-the conclusion of Wallenstein I did not learn."

"Do you remember," inquired the Viking, "the name of the young man whose conduct gave occasion to this

scene?"

"No; his name I have either forgotten, or probably never heard. But I have heard several traits of him of which I have some recollection, that represented him as an unsteady and violent character."

"And that was the first thing you heard of me!" rejoined the Viking, in a low but emphatic tone.

I looked up to him confounded; his eyes were directed to me with troubled earnestness, and I could read such gloomy recollections in them that I quickly turned my face away, grieved, and almost repenting that I had awakened them.

My stepmother said, designedly: "Lennartson is in truth a rare character, and I could wish that young men would take him for their pattern."

"Yes! who would not be like him?" exclaimed Felix Delphin, who seemed to apply the moral to himself. "Ah, if he were only-what shall I say a little less superior. But he stands so high that one shrinks from a mere attempt to approach him. He is too immaculate!"

"Lennartson is not without faults, no more than any other person," said Brenner, "but they are such as are peculiar to great natures. They prevent him, however, from being happy."

"Is he not happy?" exclaimed Selma, and looked up with an expression of sorrow and astonishment.

"He is not happy," said Brenner, "because he is so seldom satisfied with himself. He has an insatiable self-consuming thirst."

"After what?" inquired I.

"After perfection!"

A general silence ensued. Brenner's words and tone had greatly excited us. At length Felix said:

"It is that very grandeur of soul in him which lowers and discourages inferior minds. He makes a more imposing than encouraging impression. I for my part confess that I admire, and no less fear him."

"And yet, Felix," rejoined Selma, "you know that he is very kind."

"Yes; when my conduct merits kindness, Selma! and there, you see, lies the root of the matter! 1 frequently do not deserve it, and then . . . . Ah, how often when I have been with him, when I have heard and seen him act, have I despised myself because I am so unlike him! And then I have always formed the best resolutions. But when I get into the world again I forget myself and him, commit follies like others, and then I fear his presence and looks, for this corresponds with my conscience and-condemns me!"

Selma extended her hand to her cousin and regarded him with bright tearful eyes. Young Delphin, evidently affected, took hold of Selma's outstretched hand, kissed it several times ardently, and hastened out of the

room.

It is impossible tha t Selma can be indifferent to this amiable young man!

Shortly after the Viking also went away in a gloomy state of mind.

When we were alone, my stepmother gave me the following sketch of the Viking's early life:

"William Brenner was distinguished in his youth by his good heart and restless disposition. At the military academy he was a universal favourite, while his conduct and irregularities involved him both in contentions and troubles. He was without any stability, and hence carried away by the impulse of the moment. By various misdemeanours, he incurred some severe impositions which he violently opposed and defied, and was in consequence expelled from Carlsberg. relatives, provoked at his conduct, treated him with

His