And，indeed，shewassadlychanged！Herfeatureshadbecomesharper，andthefirmlinesabouthermouthexpressedseverity，almoststernness。Herclearblueeyesseemedtohavegrownlarger，andtheirglancebetrayedsecret，ever—watchfulcare。Onlyheryellowhairhadresistedtheforceoftimeandsorrow;foritstillfellinrichandwavyfoldsoverasmoothwhiteforehead。Shewas，indeed，halfashamedofit，andoftentookpainstoforceitintoasober，matronlyhood。Onlyatnights，whenshesatalonetalkingwithherboy，shewouldallowittoescapefromitsprison;andhewouldlaughandplaywithit，andinhischild’swayevenwonderatthecontrastbetweenhersternfaceandheryouthfulmaidenlytresses。
ThisThomas，herson，wasastrangechild。
HehadaNorseman’stasteforthefabulousandfantastic，andalthoughheneverheardataleofNeckenortheHulder，hewouldoftenstartlehismotherbythemostfancifulcombinationsofimaginedevents，andbybolderpersonificationsthaneversprungfromthelegendarysoiloftheNorseland。Shealwaystookcaretocheckhimwheneverheindulgedintheseimaginaryflights，andheatlastcametolookuponthemassomethingwrongandsinful。Theboy，ashegrewup，oftenstrikinglyremindedherofherfather，as，indeed，heseemedtohaveinheritedmorefromherownthanfromHalvard’srace。Onlythebrightflaxenhairandhissquare，somewhatclumsystaturemighthavetoldhimtobethelatter’schild。Hehadahottemper，andoftendistressedhismotherbyhisstubbornness;
andthentherewouldcomeagreatburstofrepentanceafterwards，whichdistressedherstillmore。Forshewasafraiditmightbeasignofweakness。\"Andstronghemustbe，\"
saidshetoherself，\"strongenoughtoovercomeallresistance，andtoconqueragreatnameforhimself，strongenoughtoblessamotherwhobroughthimintotheworldnameless。\"