last time."] and for all the good in your house! How does your
mother do? This amiable young lady's acquaintance I made last
summer when we were in the country, and at last she is so good as
to keep her promise and visit me. Counsellor Bagger--Miss Hjelm."

The Counsellor wasn't sure that it was She, but he was convinced
that it ought to be. Not to speak of Ingeborg Hjelm's being really
amiable and distinguee, his heart was now prepared, as a
photographer's glass which has received collodium, and took the
first girl picture that met it. He was quite afraid that there
would come more to choose among. Yet the fairy brightness of the
unknown had at this moment lost itself for him; for, however
brilliant it may appear to the fancy, it cannot be compared with
the warm, beautiful reality, particularly so long as this itself
is new and unknown.

He approached and spoke to Miss Hjelm with painful hidden emotion
of soul. She was friendly and open, for the name Counsellor Bagger
did not occur to her; and the idea she had formed of him did not
at all compare with the young, elegant, handsome man she was now
speaking with. True enough, his manner was somewhat peculiarly
gallant, which a lady cannot easily mistake; but this gallantry
was united with such an unmistakable respect, or more properly
awe, that he gave her the impression of a poetical, knightly
nature.

By and by there came more ladies, both married and unmarried, but
Bagger had almost forgotten what errand they could have with him.
At last Miss Brandt came also, accompanied by her sister. As she
opened the door, and saw Bagger by the side of Miss Hjelm, she