her. As you
sow, so will you reap. Shall I answer the letter?"

"Yes; I should be very grateful to you, if you would, Sarah," said
Jacob Worse. It was a great relief to him.

It was surprising to see how readily Sarah assumed her position, and
how completely she changed everything, and put the house in order. It
was, in fact, necessary; for there was much waste and mismanagement,
as was natural where the head of the house was a man, who was,
moreover, often absent from home.

During the first weeks after the marriage, Sarah took no interest in
anything. When her half-developed youth, her dawning wishes and hopes
were suddenly and unmercifully crushed, a thick cloud seemed to
descend upon her, obscuring her life, and leaving no prospect of
escape, except by a welcome death.

But one day a new feeling was awakened in her. Returning home from
shopping in the town, she found her mother making a clearance in her
rooms, placing chairs along the walls, and laying her small books
about upon the tables.

As Sarah entered, her mother said, and in a voice not quite so
resolute as was her wont: "I think we will hold the meeting here in
your rooms; they are larger and lighter than mine."

"Have you asked my husband?"

"My husband!" It was the first time, and there was such a stiffness
and determination about these two words, that the widow unconsciously
drew herself back.

Sarah quietly collected her mother's small books in a heap, which she
placed on a seat by the door, put a couple of chairs back into their
proper places, and, without looking up, said: "I cannot have a
meeting in my house without having consulted my husband."

"You are quite right, dear Sarah," said Madame Torvestad, in an
affectionate tone, but with quivering lips; "and I ought to have
thought of it. I hope you will come over to us in the evening."

"If my husband will."

Upon this her mother left, taking her books with her. Sarah pressed
her hands upon her bosom; for, quietly as the affair had passed off,
both felt that there had been a struggle, and that the daughter had
remained the victor. She stood for some time looking at the solid
mahogany furniture, the curtains, mirrors, and the key-cupboard, the
key of which she carried in her pocket. She opened it, and looked at
the numerous keys which hung inside.

It was true that her husband, in the first fulness of his happiness,
had said: "See, all this is yours, and you can do what you will with