g, too! Dear Magnhild, so many
people thank me and Marie; she and I take the lead now, it is
true, but we all know to whom we owe our excellent means of
support, the good times we have together, and our opportunities
for helping one another. Now that you have left us it seems very
dreadful to think that we never did anything to give you
pleasure, and that you do not really know us.

I can assure you we could do much for you in return for your
kindness to us if you would only let us. Do not leave us! Or if
you must, come back to us when your journey is over!
Your devoted, heartily grateful
LOUISE.

There was added to the letter an extremely neat postscript from Marie.

I was so grieved when Louise told me you had gone. She has more
energy than I, poor hunchback. She has written and said what we
all, yes, all of us, think of the matter.

But I have the _greatest_ cause to write to you. What in the
world would have become of me if you had not come to the school
and made me skillful in work that is just suited to me. Without
you I should have been a burden to others, or at least I should
never have learned to take pleasure in work. Now I feel that I
am engaged in something which is continually growing. Yes, now I
am happy.

I have told you this at last. How often have I wished to open my
heart to you, yet did not quite dare, because you were so
reserved!

What delightful times we might have had together! But can we not
have them yet?
Your
MARIE.

Postscript.--You may think I mean that you took no interest in
us. No: I did not mean that. You were too patient with us for me
to have any such thought. But it seemed as if you were
indifferent to everything about you, people as well as all else;
that is what I had in mind.

Cannot you, as Louise says, come to us? We will gather about
you, as bees about their queen, dear Magnhild.

There is no better way to express what now happened to Magnhild, than to
say that a new life-spring welled up within her. This help from what she
had never thought of as anything but a pastime and a monotonous routine
worked wonders. She felt that she must endeavor to deserve this
devotion; she knew now what it was her duty to do.

She was walking and talking