there such a depth of feeling for him in her breast? He had not uttered a word; but it had so overpowered his heart, that he had to constrain himself not to fall on his knees before Franziska's mother and kiss the hand which she raised avertingly towards him. He had looked at the mother gravely and lovingly; no words of gratitude and admiration passed his lips; but he told her how the jailer had deceived him, how he had never given him a word nor a token from Franziska ; he said also how he had found Maria again, after not having seen more of her for years, and how he had taken care of her until she died.

Frau Warning had heard too much that was strange and important to be able to keep it mutely and silently locked up within herself. She went, therefore, to Franziska and told her everything. She felt, moreover, that she owed it to her daughter that she should know why she had received no thanks from him. The fact that Johannes, within a few months ago, had had with him the unfortunate person to whom his heart was attached, until she died, tended not to his dishonour. Frau Warning appreciated fidelity, even in such circumstances; but if Franziska had preserved any weakness for him in any hidden crevice of her heart, she must now know how

rightly her lot had been directed.

An angry feeling of 'What a misunderAm I then blind and

Franziska, however, as she listened to her mother's recital, felt a glowing fire passing through her veins, and her tender feelings seemed to shrivel up under the flame. Maria's death appalled her, and yet she could not but envy her. 'Am I then nothing, ever nothing in this heart?' depression rose within her. standing has my life been! deaf in my feelings?' She was frightened at herself; she wished she had never seen him again; she shuddered at the anxiety and void which she felt around her, when she thought, 'He will soon be no longer here, he can easily do without me!' She had begged her mother to leave her alone, as all she had heard, did not, after all, concern her, and the mother went away wounded and sorrowful. Franziska was so agitated that she feared for herself, and in her thoughts she fled to her child ren, like some pursued fugitive, who throws herself down at the foot of ome consecrated altar; She threw herself into her chair by the window and struggled with her tears; but her pride made her rise again, for Johannes suddenly entered the

room.

He made no apology for having come in unannounced at such an unusual hour; she had recovered her self-command.

He was pale and still graver than usual; and, with a voice trembling with inward motion, he spoke to her and told her that he now knew all that she had done for him. For how many years, even now, I should not have been free from that hell!' He tried to say, 'I am in your debt for still more, and for still greater things; I am so deeply, and entirely, and for ever;' but he looked at Franziska, who was struggling for composure, and a thrill passed through his heart.

Both were silent. Franziska's voice was choked; she felt her knees totter, and she signed to him

to go.

'Not so, Franziska,' he said; 'I must once grasp your hand. Give it to me! Then it is over, and it shall be at an end for ever.'

Franziska shook her head and sat motionless.

Her

eye looked imploringly at him. He went, but he remained standing at the door. What a look was that with which he gazed at her! The door closed behind him. Franziska had a feeling as if now no time and no eternity could again separate her from him! She sat for a time. motionless, then she drew a deep breath. She had felt the happiness of the mother who holds the child in her arms, that she has brought forth in pain and agony, but the look with which he had

penetrated her heart was nevertheless the highest happiness of her life.

'I will be happy, I cannot lose him.' Exultation and regret by turns agitated her breast. 'Yet his life is not my life, his pain is not my pain; our paths are sundered!'

She did not recover her equanimity of mind till an hour afterwards, when she was summoned to her husband, who told her that he had received a letter which would bring to a speedy conclusion all their relations, desires, and experiences in their present home.

CHAPTER VI.

THE CONFLICT.

THE bailiff was suspended from his office. A Government commissioner had arrived, and had installed himself at the bureau. He knew not what had so suddenly called forth their severity towards him, but within four-and-twenty hours he was to be out of the country. His papers had been seized and sealed. Out of forbearance for his family, they were to be allowed to remain fourteen days longer in the house; the hospital was also during this time to be transported to Schleswig, and Doctor Olaf received orders to hold himself ready to depart at any hour. It had been communicated to him that he might indulge the hope of being speedily liberated from his captivity and set free from his parole.

The general condition of affairs was therefore hurrying on to an end. It is the happiness of a healthy state of things that they make fixed demands upon our activity; and thus Franziska also awoke again to the consciousness that she