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SKETCHES. 355
sacrifices. It is possible that I may have hitherto overesti-
mated them. And now, if my plans should not after all
be realized, if the hopes which I have raised should after
all be disappointed, or be so, at any rate for some time,
will you submit to this patiently, Ellina; will you still try
to be happy, to love me —as formerly?”
“No, not as formerly, no, but a thousand times more !”
ejaculated Ellina with overflowing heart. “Oh! why speak
of missing, of waiting, of disappointed hopes now, when I
see how you think of me, when I see that you love me!”
“ But how — how could you have doubted?”
“ Alas, Axel! you have been so very much changed ;
therefore every thing round me has become changed.”
“ And you, Ellina, have you always been the same as
formerly? Have you not often been cold, when I ap-
proached you with warm feelings? Have you not in later
years often stood aloof from me, when —and this very
evening — yes, J might have reason to doubt that you still
love me.”
Ellina was silent and looked down. She felt conscious
that it was as Axel had said.
He went on: “I am too proud, Ellina, and perhaps too
sensitive also, to enforce a love which is not voluntarily
yielded to me. I have stood aloof, because — you stood
aloof. But perchance, I have been more proud than I
ought to have been, more distant than I wanted to be. It
is difficult, Ellina, to see how far we err. But one thing is
certain. I cannot, I will not go on as we have done now
for some time. Give me your hand, and —if you can do
it— give me back your heart; read mine and you will
see what I mean, and — pardon me.”
“Oh, hush!” said Ellina, kissing away the words from
his lips. “Oh, say nothing more! Oh! that I had
rightly understood you, you would not then have had any
reason to complain. But now— God bless you for having
said what you have said! Be it with our removal from
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