Part 15 (1/2)

But her thoughts still hovered around her first-born, her handsome and richly endowed son. She uttered a glowing prayer for his perfecting in all good, whilst all were sleeping sweetly the first night in the new house.

FOOTNOTES:

[4] A wild and animated Swedish national dance.

CHAPTER II.

THE MORROW.

How pleasant it must have been to the family the next morning to a.s.semble round the amply-supplied breakfast-table in a handsome and s.p.a.cious drawing-room. But drawing-room, and breakfast-table, and all outward comforts, signify nothing, if the inward are wanting; if affectionate dispositions and kind looks do not make the room bright, and the breakfast well-flavoured. But nothing was wanting on this morning to the family of the Franks--not even the sun. It shone in brightly to illumine the bright scene.

Henrik made a speech to Madame Folette, in testimony of his love and reverence for her, and of his joy on meeting her again in so good a state of preservation.

Louise, with the help of Eva, served tea and coffee, bread and b.u.t.ter, etc., taking particular care that everybody had just what they liked best. The basket which held sugar-biscuits was constantly in the neighbourhood of Jacobi.

”How glorious this is!” exclaimed Henrik, rubbing his hands, and casting a glance of pleasure around on his parents and sisters, ”it is quite paradisiacal! What does your Majesty desire? Ah, your most devoted servant! Coffee, if I might ask it, excellent Madame Folette!”

”After breakfast,” said the mother, ”I have something for you to guess.”

”Something to guess?” said Henrik, ”what can it be? Tell me, what is it like, sweet mamma? what name does it bear?”

”A wedding,” replied she.

”A wedding? A most interesting novelty! I cannot swallow another morsel till I have made it out! Jacobi, my best fellow, can I possess myself of a biscuit? A wedding! Do I know the parties?”

”Perfectly well.”

”It cannot possibly be our excellent Uncle Munter, himself?” suggested he. ”He seems to me very odd, and, as it were, a little touched in the heart.”

”Oh, no, no! He'll not marry.”

”He is already so horribly old,” said Eva.

”Old!” exclaimed the Judge. ”He is something above forty, I fancy; you don't call that so horribly old, my little Eva. But it is true he has always had an old look.”

”Guess better,” said the mother.

”I have it! I have it!” said Petrea, blus.h.i.+ng. ”It is Laura! Aunt Evelina's Laura!”

”Ah, light breaks in,” said Henrik; ”and the bridegroom is Major Arvid G. Is it not?”

”Precisely,” said his mother. ”Laura makes a very good match. Major G.

is a very good-looking, excellent young man; and beyond this, has a good property. He has persuaded Evelina to remove with Karin to his beautiful seat at Axelholm, and to consider Laura's and his home as theirs for the future. Eva dear, set the ham before Henrik. What do you want, my angel Gabriele? Another rusk? Heavens! how quick you are! Leonore, may I give you some more bread and b.u.t.ter, my child? No?”

”But I hope,” exclaimed Henrik, ”that we shall be invited to the wedding. Evelina, who is such a sensible woman, must have the good sense to invite us. Most gracious sister Queen-bee, these rolls--very nouris.h.i.+ng and estimable rolls--were they baked before or after the Flood?”

”After,” replied Louise, a little piqued, yet with a smile.

”Oh! I humble myself in the dust,” said he. ”I pray your Majesty most graciously to pardon me--[_aside_--but after all they taste remarkably either of the ark or of a cupboard]. But what in all the world sort of breakfast are you making, Petrea? Nay, dear sister, such, a superfluity in eating never can prosper. I pray you do not eat yourself ill!”