Nanna who during the busy activity of the morning had successfully endeavored to suppress her sorrow, was so much overcome as she was about stepping into the boat that she nearly fainted.  She saw in her imagination the pale and suffering countenance of her father; who was however smiling patiently as he stood ready to greet his children, that were to leave him again in his dreary and lonely prison.

The poor child in anticipation suffered all the pangs of a second farewell with her imprisoned parent.

“It will not do for you to accompany us,” said Magde in a firm and motherly tone, “you are ill, and therefore had better return.”

“I am afraid,” replied Nanna trembling violently, “that I shall be obliged to do so.  Give my love to him, and tell him—­” and now her long suppressed tears burst forth in torrents—­“tell him if I do not come, it is not because I do not love him.”

“Silence, silence my poor sister, I know myself what I have to say—­Go and may God be with you—­here is the key—­Lock the door—­Carl take the oars.”

CHAPTER XIII.

THE BANISHMENT—­THE RE-UNION.

When Magde’s boat passed the mansion at Almvik, two persons were walking on the verge of the shore near the lake.  The one was Mistress Ulrica, and her companion was Gottlieb, who had returned a few days before, from his trip through Norway.

As the boat shot round a rocky point of land, Gottlieb exclaimed, as he recognized its occupants, and bowed friendly to them:  “Where are they all going!  They look so sorrowful and dejected!”

“Sorrowful!” repeated Mrs. Ulrica, “you may thank God that it is not necessary for you to participate in the sorrows of the lower classes.”

“If they are in trouble, I do not see why I should not sympathise with them.”

Aunt Ulrica shook her head with a dissatisfied expression of countenance.

“You may certainly boast of your firmness of mind, and your knowledge of human nature; I have shown you the danger of associating with such persons.  I sent you away—­I—­”

“I beg your pardon,” interrupted Gottlieb, hastily, “I was not sent away.  I took a journey which I had decided on myself, and returned as I departed, with a heart ever ready to sympathise with the afflicted.”

“Then go, and participate in the sorrows of your beggar friends.  I suppose, from your liberal words, that you are well supplied with money.”

“What has happened to them?”

“The old man, in connection with his son, has been detected in smuggling foreign goods, and of course his property was confiscated.  The old gentleman in whose name the business was transacted, was sent to prison because he had no money to pay the penalty, and there he will remain until you go to his release.”

“And he shall not wait long,” replied Gottlieb.  “I have accomplished greater undertakings than that in my time.”