twigs resemble white branches of coral sprinkled with diamonds, and
above a sky as blue as that belonging to the south, and he will say
that is a fairy land. Couldst thou suddenly remove him from his
dark cypresses and olive-trees to the north, where the fresh snow
lies upon the earth, where the white hoar-frost has powdered the
trees over, and the sun shines down from the blue heaven, then
would he recognize the description and call the north a fairy land.

This was the splendor which the friends admired. The large trees
upon the fortification-walls appeared crystallized when seen
against the blue sky. The Sound was not yet frozen over; vessels,
illuminated by the red evening sun, glided past with spread sails.
The Swedish coast seemed to have approached nearer; one might see
individual houses in Landskrona. It was lovely, and on this account
there were many promenaders upon the walls and the Langelinie.

"Sweden seems so near that one might swim over to it!" said
Wilhelm.

"The distance would be too far," answered Otto; "but I should love
to plunge among the deep blue waters yonder."

"How refreshing it is," said Wilhelm, "when the water plays about
one's cheeks! Whilst I was at home, I always swam in the Great
Belt. Yes, you are certainly half a fish when you come into the
water."

"I!" repeated Otto, and was silent; but immediately added, with a
kind of embarrassment which was at other times quite foreign to
him, and from which one might infer how unpleasant confessing any