of running away to sea,
or giving his master, Mr. Aalbom, some rat-poison in his toddy, and he
ended by feeling jealous of Delphin.

Fanny had for some time remarked that Delphin was openly paying his
attentions to Madeleine, and the more plainly her sharp eyes took in the
situation, the more clearly did she perceive that she had been relegated
to the unenviable position of third person. She knew that Delphin had
been used to the society of Christiania; he was neither so young nor so
green as most of her father's assistants, and she therefore found his
society agreeable. But when she found that, as usual, he began at once
to show his admiration for her, she thought to herself he was no
different to the rest. But now she began to take a little more notice of
him; perhaps it was hardly worth while to let him slip entirely out of
her hands; and when she looked at herself in the glass, she could not
help laughing and thinking how absurd it was for any one, with her
pretensions to beauty, to be contented to accept her present humiliating
position.

Fanny had arranged that Madeleine should take music lessons in the town,
and Delphin had got to know exactly when these music lessons took place.
Madeleine met him very frequently, and they generally managed to go a
little out of the way on her return, either in the streets, or in the
park. Madeleine found these meetings rather amusing, and talked gaily
and openly with her admirer.

"Now, Mr. Delphin," she said to him one day, "how is it you are so
sarcastic and critical when you are in society? When we are alone you
are much more agreeable."

"The reason is, Miss Madeleine, that when I am talking alone with you, I
show more of my natural character; when I am in conversation with other
people, I rather prefer to conceal my opinions."

"So you conceal your opinions?" said she, laughing.

"Yes. What I mean is, I don't care for every passer-by to pry into my
mind. I generally keep the blinds down."

"Yes, now I understand," she answered seriously; not that she remarked
the preference shown her, but she could not help thinking how much of
her own life was also concealed by a curtain.

In one of the small streets near the sea they had to pass through a
crowd of fishermen, who had been out all night, and were carrying home
their lines, tarpaulins, and large baskets full of fish.

"Bah!" said Delphin, when they had passed, "I can't bear that smell of
fish. But I forgot, Miss G