!"

"It was beautiful!" said Otto, bending himself involuntarily, and
kissing Louise's hand.

"Yes, that is water to his mill!" exclaimed Wilhelm. "I think nothing of
such things!"

"We will not talk about it to anyone," said the mother. "The steward
shall not proceed any further in it. We have recovered the old silver
tankard, and the losing that was my greatest trouble. We will thank God
that we are well rid of her! Poor thing! she will come to an unfortunate
end!"

"Are you still unwell, Mr. Thostrup?" said Sophie, and looked at him.

"I am a little feverish," replied he. "I will take a very long walk, and
then I shall be better."

"You should take a few drops," said the lady.

"O, he will come to himself yet!" said Wilhelm; "he must take exercise!
His is not a dangerous illness."

Otto went into the wood. It was to him a temple of God; his heart poured
forth a hymn of thanksgiving. Louise had been his good angel. He felt
of a truth that she would never betray his secret. His thoughts clung to
her with confidence. "Are you still unwell?" Sophie had said. The tones
of her voice alone had been like the fragrance of healing herbs; in her
eye he had felt sympathy and--love. "O Sophie!" sighed he. Both sisters
were so dear to him.

He entered the garden and went along the great avenue; here he met
Louise. One might almost have imagined that she had sought for him:
there was no one but her to be seen in the whole avenue.

Otto pressed her hand to his lips. "You have saved my life!" said he.

"Dear Thostrup!" answered she, "do not betray yourself. Yon have come
happily out of the affair! Thank God! my little part in it has concealed
the whole. For the rest I have a suspicion. Yes, I cannot avoid it. May
not the whole be an error? It is possible that she is that which you
said! Tell me all that you can let me know. From this seat we can see
everybody who comes into the avenue. No one can hear us!"

"Yes, to you alone I can confide it!" said Otto; "to you will I tell
it."

He now related that which we know about the manufactory, which he called
the house, in which German Heinrich had first seen him, and had tattooed
his initials upon his shoulder; their later meeting in the park, and
afterwards by St. Ander's Cross.

Louise trembled; her glance rested sympathizingly upon Otto's pale and
handsome countenance. He showed her the letter which had been brought to
him the last evening, and related to her what Hein