Nora’s great eyes grew more sparkling, and the red spot in her pale cheeks burned more than ever, as she recited the Song of Paradise; while Elsli listened with growing wonder to her excited tones.  It seemed as if she saw the beauty that the song described, and her voice trembled with emotion.  When she ceased with the last words, “The sick are well again,” Elsli sat silent and motionless, oppressed with awe and with this wholly new experience, while Nora seemed absorbed in her own thoughts.

“Don’t you like the song?” asked she at last.

“Oh, yes, indeed!” said Elsli decidedly.

“Wouldn’t you like to go with me, where it is so beautiful?”

“Are you going?” asked Elsli.

“Oh, yes, very soon.  Clarissa told me long ago about it; and how Philo went, and I should go too.  She has talked to me again and again about it; and I long to go, because no one is ever sick or tired there.  And, when I go, wouldn’t you like to go with me, Elsli?”

“Yes, I should like it,” said Elsli, catching the enthusiasm of the beautiful hope which shone in Nora’s eyes.  “But can we go whenever we want to?”

“Oh, no; the good God calls us when our turn comes.  I only want to know if you want to go, as I do, so that we can talk about it together.  And perhaps we shall be called at the same time; and how delightful it would be to go together and walk in the bright gardens, and pick the roses and lilies by the shining river, and never be sick or tired any more, but be happy forever!”

So Nora talked on about the heavenly land, and Elsli’s eyes grew larger as the glories of the future life were pictured to her, and a wholly new world opened before her.  Time flew rapidly by, and they did not notice its passage.

Meantime, in the house of Dr. Stein, life was moving on in a much more lively manner.  After school, Oscar, Emma, and Fred had started off, each in a different direction.  Each was occupied with his own plans.  Fred took the road towards home.  He had a very interesting description of a rare little animal to read to his aunt, and he was very glad that the others were bound elsewhere, and he had the way clear before him.  When he saw Feklitus running after Elsli in hot haste, he called out, with a sarcastic laugh:—­

“Hallo, Feklitus! it’s a fine thing to have somebody like Elsli to make use of, isn’t it?” For he had noticed that when Feklitus couldn’t understand anything in his lessons, he always went to Elsli secretly for help, for he didn’t want the big boys to know that he couldn’t get along without it.

Content with this scathing sarcasm, Fred ran on to the house, where through the open door of the kitchen he saw his aunt standing by the table, stirring something in a pudding-bowl.  She was reading aloud from a paper that lay on the table before her.  “Take four large eggs, two spoonfuls of flour, and the rind of a lemon”; and she started back as Fred suddenly sprang in with a shout of delight at his good-fortune at finding her alone.  “This is splendid, aunty!  Now, just hear this!”