The warm sun-beam which broke forth so beautifully in his character, when he found himself recognized and embraced by Björn has vanished with that moment. His thunder-cloud nature has regained its predominance, and Bruno is gloomy and reserved. This singular man has, nevertheless, a secret influence over us all. I fear Serena feels it deeper than I could wish, although I cannot assert it with certainty. Bruno, on the other hand, appears to be evidently thoroughly interested in her. He looks at her, listens to and watches for every word proceeding from her lips, as one listens to a music, of which one does not like to lose a single sound. Serena is kind and gentle towards him, and so, by-the-bye, is she also towards Stellan; but to whom is she not so? I think, however, I have perceived her betraying a sort of embarrassment towards Bruno, which she does not manifest towards Stellan, and that is no good omen. Perhaps this is a natural consequence of the dissimilar nature and character of these men; even I myself am not quite at ease when associating with Bruno. I should not like to see either of them the husband of Serena, but Stellan rather than Bruno.

The 5th August.

Aha, cousin Stellan ! Is this the state of affairs? Only think, dearest Maria, our former marriagedespiser has actually been sitting here for a whole hour, talking of nothing else but of the happiness of a suitable union, of the comforts and joys which may be found in domestic life; followed by sighs and melancholy looks and confessions, that he also would regard

it as the greatest happiness to settle down to domestic life, with a really amiable and well-informed wife. But I opposed him with some of his former objections. "But, cousin Stellan, the nasty paste? But, cousin Stellan, the scouring-buckets? Your wife will be obliged to have some scouring in the house? But, cousin Stellan, the screaming of children? All little children-even those of the best-bred parents-do cry. And, then, the apple, which is found in all families, &c." Stellan was now prepared with replies on all these points, the principal of which was, that in the case of a really prudent and amiable wife all earthly discomforts might be looked upon as fleeting clouds, which only appear for a moment and vanish in a bright atmosphere. I was perfectly of the same opinion, and at length expressed myself to that effect. "Yes," said

Stellan, "one only perceives this clearly; only when we find at last a person, who, by her lovely, harmonious character, spreads lustre and rapture all around her. It is then alone that a man feels that the mind can influence the external world, that his circumstances are under his controul."

"Yes, so it is, cousin Stellan; and I confess, that I have long since anticipated this revolution in your views."

"How so?" inquired Stellan, blushing.

"Confess, that one of our neighbours has especially contributed to exhibit the picture of domestic life and matrimony to you in a more attractive light."

"Hm-well, yes, perhaps! I cannot dispute it." "I have long since noticed it; I am not surprised at this, cousin Stellan. You could not contemplate Miss

Hellevi Hausgiebel and her Bird-cage, with feelings of indifference."

"What? Whom? How?" he started up, quite scared, and looked at me with dire consternation. I was obliged to laugh. Stellan grew angry, and said: "You are jesting, Franciska, and that is not kind from you."

"Forgive me, Stellan," said I; "but do confess that the Bird-cage possesses none of those annoyances, which appear so great in your eyes; there never can be any smell of 'nasty glue' there, and scouring certainly only occurs once a year there; besides this, Miss Hellevi is a person, with whom life never can become irksome and tedious."

"Heaven keep me! Her unceasing vivacity gives me the cholera; eight days at the Bird-cage-and I should be a corpse, from mortification; she might then embalm me, and think herself lucky, in getting me, in the shape of a mummy, for her museum. No thank you, cousin Franciska! you may look about in some other quarter."

"I have done so too, cousin, but then some great But has come in the way; she is charming indeed— but she is-lame!"

"The celebrated, fair La Vallier was lame too!"

"Ah, that's true, and alters the case very materially with people at Court," said I aside.

"But she seems, however, to have a greater fault, which I abominate in a female!"

"Heaven forbid! and what is it?"

"She appears to me to be phlegmatic,—there is a calmness in her demeanour which borders on indifference, this is a great defect in a female!"

"You astonish me, Stellan; I have never observed any coolness in Serena !"

"Still I believe that she possesses it. How glad should I be to find myself mistaken, for she is indeed most fascinating; but icy natures are a chilling sort of thing after all." Cousin Stellan repeated this in a natural and tolerably indifferent tone, whilst he rose and walked out.

Ah, Cousin! you are very cunning-but you can't deceive me! I see very well how matters stand. Stellan wants me to pump out Serena's heart, and then to tell him whether it beats warm or cool for him. In the first case, he will come forward with confidence; in the second, retreat behind "the great fault in a female;" and then he endangers neither his equanimity nor his dignity. But is love really at the bottom of such cautious conduct? At all events, it is amusing to see, how the nasty glue can at once turn sweet; I shall indeed endeavour, on the first opportunity I have, to find out, whether Serena is warmly or coolly disposed towards my nice cousin. Whether I shall tell him anything of the result of my investigation, that is another matter.

August 6th.

Now I know how the land lies, and you shall know it too, my dear Maria! Oh Serena! Serena!

I was yesterday afternoon alone with her. I thought of Stellan, and asked her, without any circumlocution, what she thought of our young visitor.

To my astonishment, I discovered that she had thought very little of him. She considered that he was handsome, agreeable, and very talented, but she

expressed her approbation with most chilling indifference. Then I began to abuse him a little. Love, thought I, has strange lurking-places, and often, when it cannot be got out with sugar, one may get it out with salt. But in vain did I season my remarks with salt respecting Stellan's conceit, thoughtlessness, etc. I could not discover the slightest point of an arrow, from Love's quiver, in Serena's replies. Serena made apologies for his conduct, as christian charity is wont to do, even whilst she owned his faults.

"You are very indulgent towards him, Serena !" said I; "would you be willing to take him under your training? viz., as his wife?"

"Ah! no, no!" said Serena, laughing.

"Why, 'Ah! no, no!'? You own yourself that he has many good qualities, and you are warm in excusing his faults."

"Yes! but still I could not fancy him for a husband."

"And why not, Serena?"

"What shall I say? I believe that he is very agreeable and amiable, but I do not believe that he could sincerely love any one or any thing but himself."

"I should suppose, Serena, you would much rather take my Björn ?"

"Take him! he who is so kind towards every body, so sympathising, so active for the good of others?— O yes!"

""Tis well for me that I have made him secure to myself. But tell me, dear Serena-forgive me if I press my inquiries too eagerly-is there no one else in the way of cousin Stellan--for I really believe, that other