Tales and Novels Volume I Part 63

_Mrs. Ulrica._ Ay, my little Kate, you may speak now as much as you will.--(_Their father kisses them eagerly._)--Ay, kiss them, kiss them; they are as good children as ever were born--and as honest: Kate, show him the purse, and ask him if it be his.

_Kate._ Is it yours, father?--(_holds up the purse_).

_Christiern._ 'Tis mine; 'twas in my knapsack; but how it came here, Heaven knows.

_Ulric._ We found it in the wood, father, as we were going home, just at the foot of a tree.

_Charles_ (_comes forward_). Why, mayhap, now I recollect, I might have dropped it there--more shame for me, or rather more shame for them--(_looking back at his companions_)--that were playing the fool with me, and tumbled out all the things on the ground. Master, I hope there's no harm done: we poor peasant fellows have brought home all the other knapsacks safe and sound to the relations of them that died; and yours came by mistake, it seems.

_Christiern._ It's a very lucky mistake; for I wouldn't have lost a waistcoat which there is in that knapsack for all the waistcoats in Sweden. My Catherine, 'twas that which you gave me the day before I went abroad--do you remember it?

_Charles._ Ay, that she does; it had like to have been the death of her--for she thought you must be dead for certain when he saw it brought home without you--but I knew he was not ead, mistress--did not I tell you, mistress, not to give way to sorrow while there was hope left?

_Cath_. O joy! joy!--too much joy!

_Aleft_. Now are you sorry you came with me when I bade you?--but I'm a fool!--I'm a fool!

_Ulric_. But where's the cap and coat you used to wear?

_Kate_. You are quite another man, uncle.

_Aleft_. The same man, niece, only in another coat.

_Mrs. Ulrica (laughing)_. How they stare!----Well, Christiern, you are not angry with my master and me for keeping you now?--but angry or not, I don't care, for I wouldn't have missed seeing this meeting for any thing in the whole world.

_Enter Count_ HELMAAR, ELEONOKA, _and_ CHRISTINA.

_Christina_. Nor I.

_Eleon_. Nor I.

_Helmaar_. Nor I.

_The Peasants_. Nor any of us

_Helmaar (to little Ulric)_. My honest little boy, is that the purse which you found in the wood?

_Ulric_. Yes, and it's my own father's.

_Helmaar_. And how much money is there in it?

[_The child opens the purse, and spreads the money on the floor_.]

_Ulric (to Mrs. Ulrica)_. Count you, for I can't count so much.

_Mrs. Ulrica (counts)_. Eight ducats, five rixdollars, and let me see how many--sixteen carolines[2]:--'twould have been pity, Catherine, to have lost all this treasure, which Christiern has saved for you.

[Footnote 2: A rixdollar is 4s. 6d. sterling; two rixdollars are equal in value to a ducat; a caroline is 1s. 2d.]

_Helmaar_. Catherine, I beg that all the money in this purse may be given to these honest peasants. (_To Kate_) Here, take it to them, my little modest girl. As for you and your children, Catherine, you may depend upon it that I will not neglect to make you easy in the world: your own good conduct, and the excellent manner in which you have brought up these children, would incline me to serve you, even if your husband had not saved my life.

_Cath_. Christiern, my dear husband, and did _you_ save Count Helmaar's life?

_Mrs. Ulrica_. Ay, that he did.

_Cath_. (_embracing him_.) I am the happiest wife, and--(_turning to kiss her children_)--the happiest mother upon earth.

_Charles_ (_staring up in Count Helmaar's face_). G.o.d bless him! I've seen him face to face at last; and now I wish in my heart I could see his wife.

_Christina_. And so do I most sincerely: my dear brother, who has been all his life labouring for the happiness of others, should now surely think of making himself happy.

_Eleonora_ (_giving her hand to Helmaar_). No, leave that to me, for I shall think of nothing else all my life.