an explanation of the matter, as I could expect
from you," she observed, smiling. "But to return to my story. Our
mutual attachment attracted general attention, and was the subject of
much observation. But we had no enemies: and when we were met strolling
together in the shady lanes, gathering wild flowers, or wandering
through the woods in search of wild strawberries, no one thought it
necessary to make any remark if we had our arms round each other's
waist. My father, if he heard anything about it, did not interfere.
Young Reichardt had made himself so useful to him, and showed himself so
remarkably clever in everything he undertook, that the old man loved him
as his own son.

"It was a settled thing between us, that we were to become man and wife,
as soon as we should be permitted. And many were our plans and schemes
for the future. Heinrich considered himself to be in the position of
Jacob, who served such a long and patient apprenticeship for Rachel; and
though he confessed he should not like to wait so long for his wife as
the patriarch had been made to do, he acknowledged he would rather serve
my father to the full period, than give up all hope of possessing me.

"This happy state of things was, however, suddenly put an end to, by Dr
Brightwell one day sending for my father. It was a long time before he
came back, and when he did, he looked unusually grave and reserved. In
an hour or so, he communicated to me the result of his long interview
with the Rector. The Doctor had resolved to send young Reichardt to a
distant place, where many learned men lived together in colleges, for
the purpose of farther advancing his education, and fitting him for a
religious teacher, to which vocation he had long expressed a desire to
devote himself. The idea of separation seemed very terrible, but I at
last got reconciled to it, in the belief that it would be greatly for
Heinrich's advantage, and we parted at last with many tears, many
protestations, some fears, but a great many more hopes.

"For some days after he had left me, everything seemed so strange, every
one seemed so dull, every place seemed so desolate, that I felt as if I
had been transported into some dismal scene, where I knew no one, and
where there was no one likely to care about me in the slightest degree.
My father went about his avocations in a different spirit to what he had
so long been used to exhibit; it was evident he missed Heinrich as much
a