A sympathetic sentiment seemed to have pervaded the entire family, for during their excursion Nanna and Ragnar conversed almost entirely about her young friend Gottlieb.  So nicely had Ragnar probed his sister’s heart that he knew almost as much about its true condition as Carl had previously learned.  Although Ragnar would have desired to have believed as Carl did, he did not think it proper to offer Nanna any further consolation, than by saying that since he had received a captaincy she was placed on a more equal footing with Gottlieb and that he would do everything in his power to render her happy.

“I know you will, Ragnar,” replied Nanna, “but only one thing can ever afford me happiness.”

After these words the conversation ceased, and the brother and sister commenced their homeward ride.

In his great haste Gottlieb nearly ran into the water, in which Ragnar was standing fastening the boat; but so much was he astonished by the marvellous change which taken place in Nanna’s appearance that he was forced to start back and gaze silently upon her.  Nanna in the meantime appeared abstracted.  She had not observed Gottlieb’s approach; but sat in the boat slowly moving one of the oars, apparently in the deepest thought.

But how can we describe Nanna’s joyful surprise when she discovered Gottlieb.  Ragnar’s presence prevented her from giving vent to her joy in words; but the joyful expression of her eyes was a more than sufficient welcome.

We will not describe the first interview between Ragnar and Gottlieb—­suffice it to say it was the meeting of two brothers; not of two strangers.  Neither will we describe the first hour of mutual congratulations; but we will at once draw the reader’s attention to a pleasing picture near the fountain in the meadow.  Here the two lovers had proceeded that they might confer with each other uninterrupted.

“You see, my little nymph, I have come back.  Do you think that I have an honorable spirit and a true heart?  Now tell me, have you grown so beautiful, for me; yes so beautiful that I can well be proud of you as my own little wife?”

“Wife! are you then serious?”

“Serious we shall never be, we will make a third agreement, which is that we shall live henceforth without a gloomy thought or serious foreboding.  Although we shall marry, as it is said, for ’love in a cottage,’ yet we are both so familiar with the reality of the cottage, that our romantic dreams, if we have any, will be fully realized.”

“True, very true,” said Nanna smiling, and her countenance radiant with joy, appeared still more beautiful, “and now I am—­”

“—­Betrothed,” said Gottlieb joyfully embracing her.

How happy were the inmates of the little cottage that evening!

* * * * *

When the news of Gottlieb’s betrothal reached Almvik, Mrs. Ulrica foretold that nothing but evil would result from the wedding.