closely on its heels, and had work
enough to make the earth look green again, and deck it out in all its
finery for a little time, until the monster came creeping southward
again with its wreaths of new-fallen snow, and its dark-blue ice shining
like polished steel.

It was the 14th of May, and Uncle Richard was riding on Don Juan along
the road from Bratvold. To-morrow was the great day at Sandsgaard. The
ship was to be launched in the morning, and in the evening was to be
given the yearly ball.

The old gentleman was deep in thought, and Don Juan went pacing slowly
along, turning his well-shaped head on every side, while the south wind
that came swelling up along the coast persisted in lifting the locks of
his long mane and throwing them on the wrong side, and played with the
forelock on his brow.

The road led over swelling ground covered with heather, past
well-stocked farms, over moors, and desolate wastes thickly strewn with
boulders. Not a tree was to be seen as far as the eye could reach, and
it reached far, both out to sea and over the country, which sloped
gradually up to the mountains many a mile inland.

What a wealth of life seemed bursting from the thawing earth! How many
balmy odours seemed to rise; how many changing colours; how many wreaths
of mist were gliding over the pools, and hanging in the rushes, or
spreading themselves over the moorland; while the clear sunny air was
ringing with the song of larks singing in emulation! There were the
plovers racing after each other, the sandpipers, the snipes, starlings,
and ducks. A whole life of joyous bustle; while out to the westward
could be seen the line of bright yellow sand standing out against the
dark-blue sea.

Uncle Richard saw but little of all this as he went along. Things had
not gone well with him during the winter. While at home, Madeleine was
constantly in his thoughts; and when he went to Sandsgaard and saw her,
it did not tend to make him more cheerful.

She had told him about Pastor Martens's proposal to her; but there was
nothing to worry over in that, thought the _attache_, especially as she
had refused the offer. There must be some other cause for her
depression, and to-day he had made up his mind to talk to Christian
Frederick, who always gave such good advice. He had also determined that
he would at length take courage, and ask his brother how money matters
stood between them. It was really too bad not to have a clear knowledge