It was talked of at the Amtmand's--a house with two handsome daughters, where Lieutenant Beck was a daily visitor--and it was in everybody's mouth how, all alone out on Torungen with her dying grandfather, she had been the means of saving the Juno, and had since risked her life on the ice.

Every one could see by a glance at her that she must have a remarkable character; but as to her uncommon beauty there prevailed different opinions in feminine circles.
It was, at all events, a pity that she was so forlorn; and the Becks, it was thought, were now morally bound to look after her.
For the present she had gone to live with her aunt up in one of the narrow streets at the back of the town, and there came pouring in, with and without the owners' names, all sorts of friendly advice, with black dress materials and ornaments from the young men and shop lads; and a couple of the bustling ladies of the town even came in person to see her aunt and talk over the girl's future.

When Carl Beck, however, gave out that he looked upon these presents as slights upon himself, they ceased.
He had only been up there once, and then his eldest sister was with him: but his manner on that occasion had been most attractive, he had sympathised with such winning sincerity, and at the same time so unassumingly, in Elizabeth's grief; and when leaving assured her, with emotion which he made no attempt to conceal, that they owed it to her that their father was still alive.
When he was gone, his sister had proceeded to the real matter of her visit.

She had come to propose to the aunt that Elizabeth should live with them for the present with the view of qualifying herself for a housekeeper's place, as she must not be exposed to the necessity of going out as a common servant-girl.

It was her brother, she added, who had made this plan for Elizabeth's future.
The offer was a highly desirable one for persons in their position, and was accepted by the aunt with unmixed satisfaction.