We will not follow the principal characters of our story step for
step, but merely present the prominent moments of their lives to
our readers, be these great or small; we seize on them, if they in
any way contribute to make the whole picture more worthy of
contemplation.

The winter was over, the birds of passage had long since returned;
the woods and fields shone in the freshest green, and, what to the
friends was equally interesting, they had happily passed through
their examen philologicum. Wilhelm, who, immediately after its
termination, had accompanied his sister home, was again returned,
sang with little Jonas, reflected upon the philosophicum, and also
how he would thoroughly enjoy the summer,--the summer which in the
north is so beautiful, but so short. It was St. John's Day.
Families had removed from Copenhagen to their pretty country-seats
on the coast, where people on horseback and in carriages rushed
past, and where the highway was crowded with foot-passengers. The
whole road presented a picture of life upon the Paris Boulevard.
The sun was burning, the dust flew up high into the air; on which
account many persons preferred the pleasanter excursion with the
steamboat along the coast, from whence could be seen the traffic on
the high-road without enduring the annoyance of dust and heat.
Boats skimmed past; brisk sailors, by the help of vigorous strokes
of the oar, strove to compete with the steam-packet, the dark smoke
from which, like some demon, partly rested upon the vessel, partly
floated away in the air.

Various young students, among whom were also Wilhelm and Otto,
landed at Charlottenlund, the most frequented place of resort near