This riddle, which it must be confessed was by no means one of Gabriele's best, gave rise to a fund of amusement, and occasioned the maddest propositions on Henrik's part. The mother, however, did not allow herself to be misled; but exclaimed, whilst she laughingly endeavoured to overpower the voices of her joking children,
"The riddle is——"
What the riddle was, the reader may see by the title of our next chapter.
CHAPTER V.
HAPPINESS.
"Happiness!" repeated the Judge, as he entered the room at the same moment, with letters and newspapers in his hand.
"I fancy you have been busying yourselves here with prophesyings," said he: "Gabriele, my child, you shall have your reward for it—read this aloud to your mother!" laying a newspaper before her.
Gabriele began to read—but threw the paper hastily down, gave a spring for joy, clapped her hands, and exclaimed,
"Henrik's poetry has won the highest prize!"