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SKETCHES. S00
wall constituted its protection against the north and east,
gathering on the south the rays of the sun as in a focus.
Nature herself had cut out a “causeuse” in the rock, a
small seat for two persons, which Axel had made more
comfortable, and round which he had trailed the luxuriant
ivy and honeysuckle. ‘This he had done during the earlier
period of his love, and he had frequently brought his young
wife thither. Many a dark evening, when the sea was
glittering with phosphoric light, and the wind was softly
whispering, had they sat there exchanging words of love
and: looking with hopeful, bright cyes at future, coming
days, while the light-house on the fortress threw its dazzling
light upon the rising and falling billows.
A very long time had elapsed since they last had been
there — many years.
The honeysuckle and ivy tendrils grew as luxuriantly as
ever, but they were hanging round in wild confusion for
want of a tending hand.
Husband and wife sat again side by side, with the wide
sea around them, over which a gentle breeze came sweeping
to them which seemed to whisper: Speak! speak !
And Axel spoke, saying, while he drew Ellina closer to
him: “ Ellina, what is it that is gone, gone forever ?”
Oh, that voice! Jt sounded as in former happy days.
Twenty years gone by. rolled in a moment past Ellina’s
soul. She leant her forehead upon Axel’s shoulder, say-
ing only, “ Axel, do not ask me!” but she felt conscious
that he had read her heart, and she therefore added, in a
scarcely audible voice, “ you know it.”
Again they were silent, but the friendly breeze whis-
pered: Speak! speak !
“ Yes, I know it,” he said slowly — “ yes, I know how it
is. I have seen it for some time. Ellina, you cannot any
longer live here. You must be nearer your children,
nearer objects and persons who can give you what your
heart, what your soul, longs for, and what I cannot give.”
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