Vanda touched the horse which set out at a trot, and made the bells ring.  The air was cold, and the road as hard as glass.  Just above the horizon a pale sun began to throw his golden beams upon the snowy landscape.  In a few minutes Noroe was out of sight behind them.

CHAPTER IV.

At Stockholm.

Doctor Schwaryencrona lived in a magnificent house in Stockholm.  It was in the oldest and most aristocratic quarter of the charming capital, which is one of the most pleasant and agreeable in Europe.  Strangers would visit it much more frequently if it were better known and more fashionable.  But tourists, unfortunately for themselves, plan their journeys much upon the same principle as they purchase their hats.  Situated between Lake Melar and the Baltic, it is built upon eight small islands, connected by innumerable bridges, and bordered by splendid quays, enlivened by numerous steam-boats, which fulfill the duties of omnibuses.  The population are hardworking, gay, and contented.  They are the most hospitable, the most polite, and the best educated of any nation in Europe.  Stockholm, with its libraries, its museums, its scientific establishments, is in fact the Athens of the North, as well as a very important commercial center.

Erik, however, had not recovered from the sadness incident upon parting from Vanda, who had left them at the first relay.  Their parting had been more sorrowful than would have been expected at their age, but they had not been able to conceal their emotion.

When the carriage stopped before a large brick house, whose double windows shone resplendently with gaslight, Erik was fairly dazzled.  The copper knocker of the door appeared to him to be of fine gold.  The vestibule, paved with marble and ornamented with statues, bronze torches, and large Chinese-vases, completed his amazement.

A footman in livery removed his master’s furs, and inquired after his health with the affectionate cordiality which is habitual with Swedish servants.  Erik looked around him with amazement.

The sound of voices attracted his attention toward the broad oaken staircase, covered with heavy carpet.  He turned, and saw two persons whose costumes appeared to him the height of elegance.

One was a lady with gray hair, and of medium height, who wore a dress of black cloth, short enough to show her red stockings with yellow clock-work, and her buckled shoes.  An enormous bunch of keys attached to a steel chain hung at her side.  She carried her head high, and looked about her with piercing eyes.  This was “Fru,” or Madame Greta—­Maria, the lady in charge of the doctor’s house, and who was the undisputed autocrat of the mansion in everything that pertained to the culinary or domestic affairs.  Behind her came a little girl, eleven or twelve years old, who appeared to Erik like a fairy princess.  Instead of the national costume, the only one which he had ever seen worn by a child of that age, she had on a dress of deep blue velvet, over which her yellow hair was allowed to fall loosely.  She wore black stockings and satin shoes; a knot of cherry-colored ribbon was poised in her hair like a butterfly, and gave a little color to her pale cheeks, while her large eyes shone with a phosphorescent light.