I  am  glad  you  spoke ;  for  now  I  can  ex-
press a  hope  which  has  to-day  given  me
new  spirits.  Fru  P.  told  me  you  wished  to
leave  Stockholm  as  soon  as  possible,  but  had
been  disappointed  in  your  companions  ;  I,
too,  wish  to  do  so,  but  dare  not  travel  alone;
she  thought  you  would  allow  me  to  travel
with  you ;  at  least  to  Germany,  where  I
should  once  more  feel  myself  really  on  the
continent  of  Europe  ;  though  I  think  I  may
have  to  go  to  Rome."

"  I  shall  be  rejoiced  to  have  your  com-
pany," was  my  answer ;  "  but  will  not  the
baroness  object  to  my  carrying  away  her
guest  ? "

"  No  ;  my  arrival  was  unexpected,  I  might
say,  uninvited;  I,  who  never  knew  a  mo-
ther's love,  or  a  sister's,  or  a  brother's,
have  found  all  among  these  dear  people.
I  love  them  all,  as  if  I  belonged  to  them:
I  could  have  wished  to  have  stayed  with
them,  but  I  ought  not,  must  not ;  yet  they


EVELYN.  83

are  perhaps   the   only  friends  I  shall  ever
desire  to  see  again."

She  spoke  in  a  sorrowful  accent,  and  the
last  words  were  uttered  as  if  unconsciously.
