Lennartson was gone her outward fortitude also disappeared, and almost fainting she sank into my arms. Perhaps she, like myself, felt something peculiar in Lennartson's silent adieu; perhaps it is true, as report says, that this evening he will appear at the palace as Flora's betrothed, and receive the congratulations of the royal family and of the whole world.

When about to retire to rest, Selma asked me if I knew any thing about Flora.

I answered that I had heard that she had returned on that day from her excursion to Swartzjö, and would be present with her sister at the Palace Ball. I could not refrain from adding at the same time some serious words of censure on Flora's conduct.

"Ah!" sighed Selma, "it is really strange! I cannot comprehend her; but no doubt every thing will one day be clear, and Flora's character also. I have loved her so dearly."

Saying these words, Selma began to weep bitterly.

I left my stepmother reading aloud to Selma by the evening lamp, and retired to my room, longing to be alone with my own thoughts.

And now I sit here, recording the scenes of the past, amid the dull rattle of carriages, which roll over the Norr bridge up to the palace. It is now midnight, and all is still in the streets. From the palace windows towards the Lion-hill a bright reflection of lights is seen through the semi-dark May night;-there are situated the great state-rooms: and when I think on the different scenes there and here,-when I fancy to myself Flora shining in joy and beauty, hailed with homage as the bride of Lennartson, whilst she forgets her nearest connections in their affliction, leaving her

friend and deliverer to a life full of privation; then my heart grows embittered against her, and I feel that the hatred at which we played for a time has turned to earnest. If at this moment she was standing before me, she should hear words that would cover her face with shame, inspire her with self-abhorrence, and . . . sooner or later she shall hear them.

May 4th.

Last-night I was interrupted by a carriage stopping before our door, followed by a gentle stir in the house; immediately afterwards I heard, to my great surprise, soft footsteps on the little staircase which led to my room and to Flora's.

It was about one o'clock in the morning. With a light in my hand I went out into the corridor to see who the night-walker might be, and started not a little when I beheld before me-Flora, Flora in her brilliant ball-dress, with a wreath of white roses upon her head, but so pale, so altered, that she appeared rather like one come from the grave than from a splendid ball. "Can I speak a word with you,” said she, in a voice which I also thought altered. "But pray put the light out, for my eyes cannot bear it. I have seen too much light lately!"

I complied with Flora's request and followed her into my room, where she threw herself into an easychair. We were both silent. I forgot all about my condemnatory lecture.

"Is it not true, Sophia," Flora at last began, "that latterly, especially this night, you have hated me in good earnest?"

"Yes, that is true," answered I.

"I am not surprised at it," continued Flora; "but you have not acted altogether right in so doing, and soon perhaps you will- -hate me no longer."

"You have more than once been kind to me, Sophia, and therefore I now request you-after the fashion of the world-to extend your kindness to me still further, and give me a patient hearing. I know the baneful influence of bitter feelings, and will endeavour to extinguish those I have inspired you with, if possible, before- But I must hasten to my purpose. "You have found me a strange and incomprehensible being, and I will now give you the key thereto. You have sometimes talked to us about primeval words, and the primeval word of my mysterious being lies deeply rooted in my childhood and youth, in the influences that surrounded my cradle and accompanied me to my twentieth year. My mother was a good. natured, but weak and vain woman; my father a stern and haughty man, who despised all women, probably because he had found none whom he could properly esteem. Discord prevailed in the house in one thing only were my parents agreed to educate their child merely for outward attraction, merely for brilliant display, by which she might make her fortune in the world. From an early period vanity and ambition contended in my mind against nobler impulses; but the latter were soon compelled to yield to the former: the heart that might have beat for a noble affection, was forced to beat for paltry and ignoble objects; and all the endowments that might have been subservient to higher and better purposes, were soon debased to the service of vanity. O fatal lot of woman!-In child

hood my mind was already poisoned by flattery and presents when in company I acquitted myself with éclat, and attracted attention and admiration. This continued throughout the whole period of my youth; to make a great match, to gain a brilliant position in life, was represented to me as the sole object of my existence. Accordingly I lived more and more for this end, and studied only to foster my ever-increasing and almost boundless vanity. My natural gifts favoured me, and whenever I would I made conquests; but wantonly I rejected such easy triumphs; refused soon to aid the intentions of my parents, and lived exclusively for the gratification of my own pleasures. That by such conduct I became the cause of unhappiness to some honourable men served but to flatter my vanity. I myself remained cold.

"About that time I met St. Orme. You are aware how his reputation, his talents, and his personal appearance enchanted me. For the first time I became acquainted with love: his courteous attention flattered my self-love. His principles completed the annihilation of the little good which I still possessed-he imposed upon me by a certain superiority of will and thought, and for a time exercised an extraordinary But this was of a demoniacal nature, power over me. and had not properly taken root in my heart, in my better self. Seeing myself forsaken by him, my pride and love of the world enabled me to achieve forgetfulness of him in turn. New impressions also came to my aid. Selma, with whom at this time I was in more constant intercourse, exercised a healthful and beneficial influence over me; I clave to her as far as my egotism would permit ; and this inward friendship fostered and

developed many a better feeling in my bosom, reanimated by her pure and lovely nature.

"My father was dead, and by his will had appointed Lennartson my guardian, probably in the expectation that he would become yet more to me. My vanity and ambition indicated him as in every respect a most eligible partie; and I needed not my mother's hints to determine on making a conquest of him. This appeared easy enough; but I was in error, for the more I penetrated the depths of his mind, the more I became aware that his soul, his energies and aspirations, were all replete with a grandeur, in comparison with which all that I had hitherto desired and aimed at seemed dwarfish and contemptible. Besides, he was so amiable, so conciliating even when he blamed me, that my heart soon became involved in my project, and he became the goal of my existence. I saw clearly enough that he had not been quite proof against me; and although he had rallied his whole resolution and fortitude against my enchantments, still I doubted nothing that I should ultimately be victor, under some of the ever shifting guises which, Proteusl-ike, I was wont to assume to suit various dispositions and temperaments. But the shapes I had taken were all soul-less; and as the sun's far darting beams disperse the gloomy uncertainties of the darkness, so did Lennartson's clear glance penetrate and turn to confusion these fictitious sembiances. His character was more and more powerful, more and more crushing to my self-esteem, and not less perilous to my peace of mind. And never had I been so keenly sensible of his power, as at the moment when I was aware that he saw through and-despised