thought of him feel, as it were, a sunshine in my heart? One thing I know for a certainty,-it is not love! My relative position, however, towards him affords me pleasure. For some time past I have enjoyed much of his company, and feel at all times happy in his presence. I like to talk to him of my Finnish father-land, of Aura's wild scenes, of the peculiarities of its people and manners, of its wondrous mythic legends and songs, its magic arts and mighty primeval words-the keys to the spiritual essence of thingsabout my own energetic days of childhood on the banks of the rushing pearl-abounding streams, beneath the shades of the thick-leaved elm trees. How pleasantly -nay, how gladly does he listen to me, how well does he answer the expression of my thoughts and feelings, sometimes seriously, and sometimes with benignant playfulness. At times he allows me, also, to call to his remembrance incidents of his own troubled life, images from the anti-polar circles, from ocean and desert, from torrid Africa, and wondrous Egypt, scenes of battle-fields around Mount Atlas. It is very rarely that he communicates any thing about these, his adventures; but eagerly do I then listen to them. There is such grandeur and sublimity in these pictures; and I feel at the same time something grand in the nature that apprehends them.

And what feeling can it be, I wonder, that induces the Viking so obviously and so cordially to court my society? Love?—No, that I never can nor will believe, at least, not in the usual acceptation of the word. The pretty generally prevailing notion, that man and woman only approach each other in heart under the influence of this feeling, is by no means a

correct one. They mutually seek and require each other, because they admire a peculiar kind of excellence in each other; because they reciprocally contribute to the completion of each other's character. He, for instance, finds inspirations of life in her; while she, on the other hand, finds her own world brightly illuminated in him, and thus they find through the medium of each other the harmony of existence-the plenitude of life.

Such have been my reflections to-day while contemplating my bright sky amid the enjoyment of my fresh, free air.

The horizon of our family had since New Year's Day, exhibited itself tolerably free from clouds. My stepmother is in very excellent spirits amid a multitude of New Year's visits. This has prevented us from falling into a radical debate; but since the emancipation question of the fair sex we have been extremely on our guard towards each other; and my stepmother seems to suspect some conspiracies and revolutionary plots secretly fermenting beneath many of my perfectly innocent expressions.

January 11th.

St. Orme pays us sometimes an early morning visit, requesting secret interviews with my stepmother. On such occasions she always looks perplexed; and when she returns from these private conferences, she is generally for some time afterwards peevish and troubled, till fresh impressions banish this state of feeling. I rather surmise that these private applications relate to some pecuniary matters, about some money which St. Orme wishes to borrow from my stepmother.

May her kindness not lead her into embarrassment! I have heard some unfounded reports about St. Orme's

affairs, his life, and his connections. Felix, also, seduced by his sophisms and the example of his friends, the Rutschenfelts, is said to be following evil ways. I have spoken to Brenner about my suspicion of St. Orme. But the Viking takes his part, and has, since his residence in Paris, had some connections with him, which renders him reluctant to believe any thing bad of him.

January 13th

My untoward foreboding has its good, i. e. its bad foundation. Hellfrid Rittersvärd addressed a note this morning to Selma, soliciting the loan of thirty Riksdaler. She was pressingly in want of this sum to pay her youngest brother's boarding-school account, and will be enabled to return it in two months. With eyes beaming with the desire of fulfilling Hellfrid's request, Selma showed the letter to her mother, and not happening to be just at the moment in possession of the demanded sum, begged her to advance the same.

"With infinite pleasure, my dear child! "exclaimed my stepmother, ever ready to give, and hastening to her writing-desk, opened a drawer, in which she usually keeps her money; but suddenly she seemed to bethink herself, and turned pale. She took up a purse, which the day before was full of weighty silver coin, put her hand instinctively into it, but fetched out merely a few Dalers. A painful confusion showed itself in her features, while, with an almost stammering voice, she said:

"Ah, I have not, I cannot, at present! St. Orme has borrowed all my money. He has promised me to

repay it in a few days, but, till then, what shall we do?"

My stepmother had tears in her eyes-and her troubled countenance, her pale cheeks-I instantly flew up into my room, and in a moment came down again with some Canary birds. (Such is the name which my stepmother and Selina playfully give to the larger species of yellow bank notes, while to the others they assign a different name of birds, according to their appearance and value.)

Selma embraced me, and danced for joy, at the sight of the yellow notes. But my stepmother accepted them with a sort of embarrassment and unpleasant condescension, which moved me a little. She promised that I should soon have them again, and if at

any time I should wish to borrow of her, I might be sure I should not be disappointed," &c. Her coldness completely chilled me; notwithstanding in the afternoon we jointly ruled the state, and systematically treated several matters of importance. I do not presume so very minutely to say according to what system, if not that of confusion. I had my thoughts elsewhere; they accompanied Felix and Selma. He appeared to be craving an interview entre eux, which she seemed anxiously concerned to avoid, and succeeded.

January 15th.

To-day Felix came to our house at an unusually early hour. Selma and I were alone in the inner apartment. She was tending her flowers at the window. After a few minutes' conversation with me, Felix advanced towards her. Selma went to another window; he

followed her; she would have escaped into the adjoining room, but was suddenly intercepted by Felix, who placed himself in the door-way and barred the passage against her, exclaiming in a tone of entreaty :

"No, Selma, you shall not evade me any longer! Selma, grant me an hour's interview, if you do not wish that I should quite despair!

A deep blush suffused itself over Selma's countenance; a sort of anguish appeared to take possession of her heart, but she stuggled with herself, and while casting down her eyes on a monthly rose that she held in her hand, she seemed as if disposed to await what Felix would say to her. I, for my part, deemed it proper to go my way, and to leave the two young people to explain themselves to each other, and I took my departure, not without some feeling of disquietude.

In the saloon I met my stepmother, in a mysterious conference with the Chamberlain. She looked more than ever like Metternich. I took no notice, and proceeded to my room, where immediately after I received a visit from Hellfrid Rittersvärd. And out of this visit there arose quite unexpectedly a confidence, which well, well, my gracious diplomatic lady stepmother, I suppose I may also have my state secrets! But to my Diary I may indeed confide the fact, that Hellfrid Rittersvärd, after manifold considerations and conflicts, has yielded to Ake Sparrsköld's true devotion and solicitations, and promises to be his, as soon as their pecuniary circumstances will permit of an alliance between them. It may, however, be a long time before they can accomplish their object. Before Sparrsköld gets a company, their can be no thoughts of it; and Captain Rummel, his superior, will, in all probability,