ted his soul. His eyes beamed with a gentle emotion as
he spoke of the future prospects of the children. Evelina's history,
which was still fresh in his and Elise's mind, seemed to spur him on to
call forth for his family quite another picture of life.

"We will bring up our children," said he warmly, "not for ourselves, but
for themselves. We will seek for their good, for their happiness; we
will rightly consider what may conduce to this, as much for one child as
for another; we will endeavour to win and to maintain their full
confidence; and should there, dear Elise, be any harshness or severity
in me, which would repel the children from me, you must assist me; let
their secret desires and cares come to me through you!"

"Yes! where else could they go?" returned she, with the deepest feeling;
"you are my support, my best strength in life! Without you how weak
should I be!"

"And without you," said he, "my strength would become sternness. Nature
gave me a despotic disposition. I have had, and have still, many times
the greatest difficulty to control it; but with God's help I shall
succeed! My Elise, we will improve ever. On the children's account, in
order to make them happy, we will endeavour to ennoble our own nature."

"Yes, that we will, Ernst!" said she; "and may the peace in the house
make betimes the spirit of peace familiar to their bosoms!"

"We will make them happy," began the father again, with yet increasing
warmth; "with God's help, not one of them shall wander through life
unhappy and infirm of spirit. My little girls! you shall not grow up
like half-formed human beings; no illusions shall blind your eyes to
what are the true riches of life; no noble desires shall you experience
unsatisfied. Ah, life is rich enough to satisfy all the birds under
heaven, and no one need be neglected on earth! Your innocent life shall
not fail of strength and joy; you shall live to know the actuality of
life, and that will bring a blessing on every day, interest on every
moment, and importance on every occupation. It will give you repose and
independence in sorrow and in joy, in life and in death!"

Whilst Elise listened to these words, she felt as if a refreshing breeze
passed through her soul. Nothing more seemed to her difficult. All the
troubles of life seemed light, on account of the bright end to be
attained. And then, as she thought on the manly warm heart which lived
so entirely for her good and the children's,