32 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



finished books, and especially the completed work, his 

 tribute to his friend Artedi. ' Preserved and sanctified 

 by inward light,' this soothed his illness. Though 

 Artedi and he should both be dead in this fatal Holland, 

 their work would live ; they were not the unknown 

 student lads who had dreamed and starved together at 

 Upsala. Furious with his faithless friend, with Dr. 

 Morseus, and all besides but one, his heart clung closer 

 to his Elizabeth. He knew she would be true ; but she 

 was waiting for him, surrounded by persons trying to 

 bias her against him. She too was sad, and worn, and 

 weary ; and would be the more anxious on hearing of 

 his illness. He longed to be with her to remove her 

 from those unsympathising people and lighten her 



burden. 



Some tenderest girl, now 



Overweighted, expectant of him, is it ? Who shall, if only 

 Duly her burden be lightened not wholly removed from her, 



mind you 

 Lightened if but by the love, the devotion man only can offer. 



His love had hitherto been that ( which influences, 

 does not make, the destiny of a life,' or so it had seemed ; 

 but circumstances had given it vitality, warmth, growth. 

 It had been like mummy wheat, or like a coal-seam, or 

 like the Dalecarlian petroleum mountain. 



Oh that he could fly to her ! He must take pains 

 with his recovery. 



To move on angel's wings were sweet, 

 But who would therefore scorn his feet ? 



Illness showed him who his real friends were, where 



