"Will you not give us a week, Rosa, seven short days?" said Axel, tenderly reproachful.

"Seven years," exclaimed Rosa, "if I could do it with an easy conscience. But now, aunt, and Axel, do not desire from me one day, one hour, when I could be on my way home. I should not have rest either night or day during the whole week whilst I was thinking that my father might be wanting me, perhaps in his heart calling for me, although he is too noble, too tender, to let me know that it is so. You do not know him; but I know him, and I must, must go to him!"

Rosa had risen from her seat, and the tears ran down her pale cheeks, as with almost passionate energy she uttered these words. She continued:

"Do not think me ungrateful for your kindness, nor insensible to this separation, nor to the wishes of my aunt;" and she took her hand and kissed it tenderly. "Perhaps I may be able to return soon, or in a little while to you-and that I will if I can, most gladly, gladly! But now do not attempt to detain me!"

.

Axel gazed at Rosa for some moments in silence, then taking her hand he said:

"Sit down, be calm, and let us talk together. I see how it is, and I think I see what is right to be done. Mamma, Rosa must go home now; that is to say, to-morrow morning. It is not possible to go earlier. She has one of those independent women's wills which are terrible when they once resolve upon anything. I expected it when I saw her step on shore with a walking-stick in her hand. But the long and short of the matter is, she must have her own will. But then we also shall have ours, in due time. Because Rosa must return hither with her father to consult our skilful physician, and then to settle down here. For what good advice, or what amusement can any one find in Gothland? It may be all very well for those who know nothing better, but it is a place of country-banishment to any one who knows what life is in the capital. Is it not so, Rosa? You will return to us?"

"Yes, if my father likes it. His will is my law," said Rosa.

"But Rosa," said the Baroness, "you forget that you are no longer a child, but an independent woman, made so by the law of your country. You have a right to determine for yourself; no one has the right to prescribe the law to you."

"That is true,” replied Rosa, "but there is an inner bond. Love constrains freedom; love is a stronger obligation than law! My father gave me freedom, but he has bound my heart to him, and I cannot, and I will not break the bond!"

That is terrible with those bonds of the heart," said Axel, with an expression between joke and earnest. "I see and I feel it now! Mamma, we must give up to Rosa now; but we shall wait for her here a week, and we shall console ourselves with the assurance that she will return to us some day; and we will not leave any art, either black or white, unpractised, to draw her over to our side. Just see whether we cannot forge a band as strong as that Gothland cable! And now, my gracious mamma, let us have a game of piquet, and send Rosa up to her own room, like a naughty child who cries, and therefore must go to bed. It is I

who lead; I won the game last evening. Good night, little cousin!"

Rosa warmly thanked her cousin in her heart for the assistance he had given her at this moment, nor was this all. He helped her in the kindest manner the following day, to arrange everything for her journey; made, by his pleasant half-jocular manner, the parting between her and his mother much more easy, and then accompanied her in the Baroness's carriage down to the harbour.

During the whole drive thither he sate silent, but with an expression of countenance and thoughts evidently very dissimilar to those with which, not many months before, he had accompanied Rosa from the harbour to his mother's house.

AN EXPLANATION..

PERHAPS Axel's watch was too fast; for he had very much hurried Rosa's departure, and when they reached the steamer, which was that day going to Wisby, they found that they were there a full hour too soon, and before any of the other passengers had arrived. When Rosa's luggage was safely deposited, the two young friends settled themselves upon one of the benches on the deck of the steamer.

Axel placed himself close to Rosa, and said with that musical voice which she so well knew: "Shall you, in your home, sometimes think of me?"

"No, not sometimes, Axel, but often, very often!" replied Rosa, cordially.