er scheme, shook his head over it,
at first, doubtfully, but afterwards fell into it, and lent a helping
hand to its accomplishment, as well by obtaining the fir-trees, as by
fitting out the angel. Susanna was quite charmed with her beautiful
little messenger, and followed silently and softly at his heels, as with
some anxiety about his own head and its glittering crown he tripped
lightly to Mrs. Astrid's chamber.

Harald softly opened the door for the boy. From thence they saw the lady
sitting in an easy-chair in her room, her head bowed upon her hands. The
lamp upon the table cast a faint light upon her black-appareled figure.
The audible movement at the door roused her; she looked up, and stared
for some time with a wild glance at the apparition which met her there.
Then she arose hastily, pressed her hands to her breast, uttered a faint
cry of horror, and sank lifeless to the floor. Susanna pushed her angel
violently aside, and rushed to her mistress, who with indescribable
feelings of anguish she raised in her arms and carried to bed. Harald,
on the contrary, busied himself with the poor angel, who with his crown
had lost his balance, and while the hot tallow ran down over brow and
cheeks broke out into the most deplorable tones of lamentation.

Susanna soon succeeded in recalling her mistress to life; but for a long
time her mind seemed to be confused, and she spoke unintelligible
unconnected sentences, of which Susanna only understood the words,
"Apparition--unfortunate child--death!" Susanna concluded therefore that
the fabricated angel had frightened her, and exclaimed with tears, "Ah,
it was only Hans Guttormson's little fellow that I had dressed up as an
angel in order to give you pleasure!"

Susanna saw now right well how little fortunate had been this thought;
but Mrs. Astrid listened with great eagerness to Susanna's explanation
respecting the apparition which had shook her so much, and at length her
convulsive state passed off in a flood of tears. Susanna beside herself
for grief, that instead of joy she had occasioned trouble to her lady,
kissed, with tears, her dress, hands, feet, amid heartfelt prayers for
forgiveness.

Mrs. Astrid answered mildly, but with excitement: "Thou meant it well,
Susanna. Thou couldst not know how thou wouldst grieve me. But--think no
more about it; never more attempt to give me pleasure. I can never more
be joyful, never more happy! There lies a stone upon my breast which