mile that was almost mournful on herface？
Mr。 Alfred again spoke of Italy； and of the glorious colors inItalian scenery； the purple hills； the deep blue of the Mediterranean；the azure of southern skies； whose brightness and glory could onlybe surpassed in the north by the deep…blue eyes of a maiden； and hesaid this with a peculiar intonation； but she who should haveunderstood his meaning looked quite unconscious of it； which alsowas charming。
〃Beautiful Italy！〃 sighed some of the guests。
〃Oh； to travel there！〃 exclaimed others。
〃Charming！ Charming！〃 echoed from every voice。
〃I may perhaps win a hundred thousand dollars in the lottery；〃said the naval officer's widow； 〃and if I do； we will travel… I and mydaughter； and you； Mr。 Alfred； must be our guide。 We can all threetravel together； with one or two more of our good friends。〃 And shenodded in such a friendly way at the pany； that each imaginedhimself to be the favored person who was to acpany them to Italy。〃Yes； we must go；〃 she continued； 〃but not to those parts wherethere are robbers。 We will keep to Rome。 In the public roads one isalways safe。〃
The daughter sighed very gently； and how much there may be in asigh； or attributed to it！ The young man attributed a great deal ofmeaning to this sigh。 Those deep…blue eyes； which had been lit up thisevening in honor of him； must conceal treasures； treasures of heartand mind； richer than all the glories of Rome； and so when he left theparty that night； he had lost it pletely to the young lady。 Thehouse of the naval officer's widow was the one most constantly visitedby Mr。 Alfred； the sculptor。 It was soon understood that his visitswere not intended for that lady； though they were the persons who keptup the conversation。 He came for the sake of the daughter。 They calledher Kaela。 Her name was really Karen Malena； and these two names hadbeen contracted into the one name Kaela。 She was really beautiful； butsome said she was rather dull； and slept late of a morning。
〃She has been accustomed to that；〃 her mother said。 〃She is abeauty； and they are always easily tired。 She does sleep ratherlate； but that makes her eyes so clear。〃
What power seemed to lie in the depths of those dark eyes！ Theyoung man felt the truth of the proverb； 〃Still waters run deep：〃and his heart had sunk into their depths。 He often talked of hisadventures； and the mamma was as simple and eager in her questionsas on the first evening they met。 It was a pleasure to hear Alfreddescribe anything。 He showed them colored plates of Naples； andspoke of excursions to Mount Vesuvius； and the eruptions of firefrom it。 The naval officer's widow had never heard of them before。
〃Good heavens！〃 she exclaimed。 〃So that is a burning mountain； butis it not very dangerous to the people who live near it？〃
〃Whole cities have been destroyed；〃 he replied； 〃for instance；Herculaneum and Pompeii。〃
〃Oh； the poor people！ And you saw all that with your own eyes？〃
〃No； I did not see any of the eruptions which are represented inthose pictures； but I will show you a sketch of my own； whichrepresents an eruption I once saw。〃
He placed a pencil sketch on the table； and mamma； who had beenover…powered with the appearance of the colored plates； threw a glanceat the pale drawing and cried in astonishment； 〃What； did you see itthrow up white fire？〃
For a moment； Alfred's respect for Kaela's mamma underwent asudden shock； and lessened considerably； but； dazzled by the lightwhich surrounded Kaela； he soon found it quite natural that the oldlady should have no eye for color。 After all； it was of very littleconsequence； for Kaela's mamma had the best of all possessions；namely； Kaela herself。
Alfred and Kaela were betrothed； which was a very naturalresult； and the betrothal was announced in the newspaper of the littletown。 Mama purchased thirty copies of the paper； that she might cutout the paragraph and send it to friends and acquaintances。 Thebetrothed pair were very happy； and the mother was happy too。 She saidit seemed like connecting herself with Thorwalsden。
〃You are a true successor of Thorwalsden；〃 she said to Alfred； andit seemed to him as if； in this instance； mamma had said a cleverthing。 Kaela was silent； but her eyes shone； her lips smiled； everymovement was graceful；… in fact； she was beautiful； that cannot berepeated too often。 Alfred decided to take a bust of Kaela as wellas of her mother。 They sat to him accordingly； and saw how hemoulded and formed the soft clay with his fingers。
〃I suppose it is only on our account that you perform thismon…place work yourself； instead of leaving it to your servant todo all that sticking together。〃
〃It is really necessary that I should mould the clay myself；〃 hereplied。
〃Ah； yes； you are always so polite；〃 said mamma； with a smile； andKaela silently pressed his hand； all soiled as it was with the clay。
Then he unfolded to them both the beauties of Nature； in all herworks； he pointed out to them how； in the scale of creation； inanimatematter was inferior to animate nature； the plant above the mineral；the animal above the plant； and man above them all。 He strove toshow them how the beauty of the mind could be displayed in the outwardform； and that it was the sculptor's task to seize upon that beauty ofexpression； and produce it in his works。 Kaela stood silent； butnodded in approbation of what he said； while mamma…in…law made thefollowing confession：…
〃It is difficult to follow you； but I go hobbling along afteryou with my thoughts； though what you say makes my head whirl roundand round。 Still I contrive to lay hold on some of it。〃
Kaela's beauty had a firm hold on Alfred； it filled his soul；and held a mastery over him。 Beauty beamed from Kaela's every feature；glittered in her eyes； lurked in the corners of her mouth； andpervaded every movement of her agile fingers。 Alfred； the sculptor；saw this。 He spoke only to her； thought only of her； and the twobecame one； and so it may be said she spoke much； for he was alwaystalking to her； and he and she were one。 Such was the betrothal； andthen came the wedding； with bride's…maids and wedding presents； allduly mentioned in the wedding speech。 Mamma…in…law had set upThorwalsden's bust at the end of the table； attired in adressing…gown； it was her fancy that he should be a guest。 Songswere sung； and cheers given； for it was a gay wedding； and they were ahandsome pair。 〃Pygmalion loved his Galatea；〃 said one of the songs。
〃Ah； that is some of your mythologies；〃 said mamma…in…law。
Next day the youthful pair started for Copenhagen； where they wereto live； mamma…in…law acpanied them； to attend to the 〃coarsework；〃 as she always called the domestic arrangements。 Kaela lookedlike a doll in a doll's house； for everything was bright and new；and so fine。 There they sat； all three； and as for Alfred； a proverbmay describe his position… he looked like a swan amongst the geese。The magic of form had enchanted him； he had looked at the casketwithout caring to inquire what it contained； and that omission oftenbrings the greatest unhappiness into married life。 The casket may beinjured； the gilding may fall off； and then the purchaser regretshis bargain。
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