it was for her!  That the veil should be lifted but for him and dropped as soon as any one else could see.  Was not that as it must be between them?  That love’s secrecy is like a sacred place, that in it is hidden earth’s highest happiness.  She trembled as she recognised it.  The music swept the words over her like ice-cold water, this perfect comprehension made her shiver, with fear and joy at the same time.  No one saw her, that was her safeguard.  She dreaded every fresh word before it came, and each one again made her shiver.  With her arms pressed against her breast, her head bowed over her hands, she stood and trembled as though waves surged over her.  And when the second verse came with the line, “The greatest joy this world can give,” and especially when it was repeated, her tears would well forth, as they had done once before.  She checked them with all her might, but remembering how little it had helped her then, her powers of resistance gave way, she was almost sobbing when the very word was used in the song.  The coincidence was too superb, it swept all emotion aside, she could have laughed aloud instead.  She was sure of everything, everything now.  It thus happened that the last line in its literal sense, in its jubilant sympathy, came to her like a flash of lightning, like the stab of a knife.  The song ran thus: 

  My young love’s veiled to all but me,
  No eyes save mine those eyes may see,
    Which, while to others all unknown,
    Command, melt, beam for me alone. 
  Down falls the veil, would others see.

  In every good, where two are one,
  A twofold holiness doth reign;
    The greatest joy this world can give
    Is when earth’s long desires shall live,
  When two as soul to soul are born again.

  Why must my love then veiled be? 
  Why sobs she piteous, silently,
    As though her heart must break for love? 
    Because that veil from pain is wove,
  And all our joy in yearning need we see.

Startling, deafening applause!  They must, they would have the song again, this time Aaroe’s haughty opposition should be useless; but he would not give way, and at last some of the audience gave up the attempt, though others continued insistent.

During this interval several ladies escaped out of the crowd:  they passed near Ella.

“Did you see Fru Holmbo, how she hid herself and cried?”

“Yes, but did you see her during the first song?  Up on the bench?  It was to her that he was singing the whole time.”

Not long afterwards—­it might have been about two in the morning—­a little cloaked figure flew along the streets.  By her hood and wraps the watchman judged that she must be one of the ladies from the ball.  They generally had some one with them, but the ball was not over yet.  Something had evidently happened; she was going so quickly too.

It was Ella.  She passed near the deserted Town Hall, which was now used as a warehouse.  The outer walls still remained, but the beautiful interior wood-work had been sold and removed.  That is how it is with me, thought Ella.  She flew along as fast as she could, onward to sleepless nights and joyless days.