It was therefore an accident which opened Mr. Fabian’s eyes to Gottlieb’s crime; but he had not wished to play the part of an accuser, O, no, for such love affairs were common to all young men, at least he thus assured his wife.

“Make no excuse for him, sir,” interrupted Mistress Ulrica sharply, “this indeed is excellent, and will become still richer if not prevented in time.  The reproaches of a mother on the one hand, and the curses of a father on the other; a seduced girl, perhaps something worse; a criminal investigation, and a scandal in which our house, and possibly ourselves, will figure largely; all this we must expect.  As true as my name is Ulrique Eugenie, this matter shall have an end, and a speedy end, too.”

“But how will you accomplish that?” inquired Fabian.

“That I shall attend to myself.  Gottlieb has said that he should like to travel over the mountains into Norway.  Now then he can go to Amal, and from thence he may commence his journey.  He shall have money, but must obey me.”

* * * * *

The following morning, after Mistress Ulrica had convinced herself by her own eyes of the truth of her husband’s report, for she followed Gottlieb to the meadow that morning instead of taking her usual ride, Gottlieb was summoned to her apartment, and underwent an examination that nearly exhausted his entire stock of patience.  The interview resulted in his determination to accept his aunt’s proposal, that he should take a journey into Norway.  He did not inform Nanna, however, of the cause of his sudden departure, for he feared that it would grieve her.

Their last interview was cheered by bright anticipations of the day when Gottlieb should return and observe the improvement which Nanna should make, both in her performance on the guitar, and in her education; for when his aunt had made a contract of peace with him, Gottlieb had insisted that Nanna should have the guitar, to which clause the old lady consented.

The young couple parted in the hope of a joyful meeting, and Gottlieb’s farewell kiss did not assist Nanna to forget him.

The next day after Gottlieb had taken his departure, Jon Jonson’s sloop arrived in the bay opposite the little cottage in the valley.

CHAPTER XII.

GRIEF.

Nearly two months had elapsed since those remarkable days on which Nanna had received her first kiss, and Magde had heard from her husband by the arrival of Jon Jonson’s sloop.

Great had been her joy when Ragnar’s gifts arrived in safety.—­She then thought that everything had come to a good conclusion.  But greatly was she deceived!  There was a man to whom Magde had invariably conducted herself with cool indifference, and who, after having been defeated by her in the manner which we have before described bestowed upon her a parting glance which had caused her to shudder as if she had trodden upon a serpent.  And he was indeed a serpent in human guise, for soon she felt the delayed sting of the venomous reptile.