The steps on which we stand are slippery: the stone walls drip with water, and only a step beyond the depth appears bottomless! O, thou wilt love this mill as I love it! Again having reached the light of day, and under free heaven, one only perceives the quiet, friendly little house.

Dost thou know, Otto, often as thou hast sat quiet and dreaming, silent as a statue, have I thought of my mill, and the repose which it presented?
and yet how wildly the stream roared in its bosom, how the wheels rushed round, and how gloomy it was in the depth!" "We will leave the mill!" said Otto, and sought to lead her from her reflections back to her own relation.

"We find ourselves in the wood, where the ringing of the evening-bell reaches our ear from the little chapel in Franche Compte." "There stands my father's house!" said Rosalie.

"From the corner-window one looks over the wood toward Aubernez, [Author's Note: A village in the canton Neufchatel, lying close upon the river Doub, where it forms the boundary between Switzerland and France.] where the ridge leads over the Doub.

The sun shines upon the river, which, far below, winds along, gleaming like the clearest silver." "And the whole of France spreads itself out before us!" said Otto.
"How beautiful! O, how beautiful!" exclaimed Rosalie, and her eyes sparkled as she gazed before her; but soon her glance became sad, and she pressed Otto's hand.