for him to do so. Had my Hans met me a little sooner, we should not now
have to mourn our poor Ulrich. I know--for I have tried often enough to
soothe his resentment--how greatly he incensed your lover. Oh, how sad
it all is! But your aunt, the abbess, was right when she told us before
our confirmation, 'When the cross that is imposed upon us weighs too
heavily, an angel often comes, lifts it, and twines it with lovely
roses!' That has been my experience, dear Els; and what great injustice
I did you when I kept out of your way so meanly! I always felt drawn to
you. But when that evil gossip began I turned against them all and bade
them be silent in my presence, for it was all false, base lies. I upheld
your Eva, too, as well as you, though she had been very ungracious
whenever we met."

How joyously Els opened her heart to these confessions! How warmly she
interceded for her sister! The girls had passed their arms around each
other, as if they had returned to the days of their childhood, and when
Ursel's lover glanced at his betrothed bride, who, spite of her well-
formed figure and pleasant face, could not be classed amongst the most
beautiful of women, he thought she might compare in attractiveness with
the loveliest maidens, but no one could equal her in kindness of heart.
She saw this in the warm, loving look with which he sought her pleasant
grey eyes, as he approached to remind her that it was time to go; but
beckoning to him, she begged him to wait just a moment longer, which she
employed in whispering to Els: "You should find shelter with us, and no
one else, if my father---- Don't think he refused to let me invite you
on account of poor Ulrich, or because he was angry with you. It's only
because---- After the session to-day they all praised his noble heart,
and I don't know what else, so loudly and with such exaggeration that it
was too much to believe. If he interceded for the Eysvogel firm and you
poor children, it was only because, as a just man, he could not do