he window and took up the little lamp from the table; but
suddenly replaced it again. Why should she let him read her feelings in
her face? So she went through the dark entry, opened the door, and felt
herself clasped in his arms; but passionate as was his embrace, she
noticed that he did not seek to press his lips against hers, but rested
his forehead on her shoulder, repeating her name over and over again.

"I'm with you once more, my dearest, we have each other again. It seems
as if we'd been parted for years--Leah, my faithful darling--"

"Come into the room," she murmured. "You're exhausted, and your
forehead is wet with perspiration. Why did you hurry so recklessly?"

"Yes, yea, scold me, dear Wisdom. It's hard to keep within bounds. But
I'm here again, all is well now. What's the matter?" he continued, as
he entered the room and saw how his pale face, now fully revealed by
the lamp-light, startled her. "I'm perfectly well--that is, I have
suffered a few days from a nervous attack, similar to my old ones, but
the famous household medicine--so-called because it can only be used
out of the house--air and exercise,--has done wonders. And now--I'm as
delighted as a child to see the green sofa again,--all our furniture;
it can hardly be called princely, we must admit, but it's pretty, very
pretty; and my dear little wife--I'll wager you have painted a whole
table service while I was away, and the famous surprise is that the
roses on your cheeks have been transplanted to the china. Well, I
repeat again as I see--"

While uttering these hasty words he had sunk down on the sofa and
closed his eyes, evidently in the greatest exhaustion. A strange smile,
that cut her to the heart, rested on his lips. When he again looked up,
she was kneeling beside him, clasping his hands and gazing with an
expression of the most loving anxiety into his face, to seek for some
consoling glance that would explain all this as only the consequences
of over fatigue.

"Dear wife," said he, "if you could give me a mouthful to eat, or no,
only a sip of the Spanish wine mamma sent us--and then--then we'll go
to rest."

She instantly started up and hurried out of the room, soon returning
bringing with her wine, bread and cold meat. Edwin nodded smilingly.
"Little housewife!" he exclaimed, drawing her down beside him on the
sofa. But he only touched her forehead with his lips, and did not
appear to notice the glass of wine she poured out for him