condition of the place at that time--an old town of new
ideas, narrow, crooked, unenlightened, and yet religious; at the same
time fresh and bright, looking down upon the blue sea with its
gallant ships and hardy seamen.

It should be seen on a summer day, in bright sunshine and a clear
northerly wind, when the gulls fly out over the fjord and backwards
and forwards along the front of the white-painted warehouses of the
harbour, where they are unloading salt, and the wind bears the sound
of the sailors' chorus. "Amalia Maria, from Lisbon we come," as the
salt rustles along the broad wooden trough down into the lighters
alongside, with a never-to-be-forgotten merry sound; the whole town
smelling somewhat of herrings, but chiefly of the sea, the fresh
North Sea.

Those who had been long away from home, and who had travelled the
whole world round, declared that such an air is to be met with
nowhere else.

CHAPTER VI

Sarah and Henrietta sat in the workroom winding yarn. Henrietta
talked in a whisper. Their mother sat writing letters in the parlour,
the door of which was open. She was a little hard of hearing.

"... And, then, you must know--yes, is it not strange what people
will do? for they stole a rope. Just fancy!"

"Who, Henrietta?"

"Why, Lauritz and the others."

"Stole, did you say?"

"Are you out of your senses?" said Henrietta, scandalized at the
suggestion. "Do you suppose that Lauritz steals? No; they only took a
rubbishing piece of old rope not worth sixpence, which was hanging
behind the door of Skipper Worse's storehouse. The rich Skipper
Worse, as if such a thing were worth notice!"

"But, Henrietta, you know that it does not depend upon its value.
Every one who steals----"

"Is a thief; yes, I know!" exclaimed Henrietta. "But now you must
know what they did with the rope; Lauritz told me yesterday
afternoon, when I was in the kitchen getting tea ready."

"Whilst there was a meeting here!" said Sarah, in a tone of
remonstrance.

Henrietta nodded assent. "On no account must you tell our mother.
Lauritz is so funny, I can't help laughing at him. Just imagine! they
stretched a rope across the street when it got dark, and two of them
held each end. When any one came whom they disliked, they tightened
it, and tripped him up. After a time the Commissioner came--you know,
the one who is so cross and red-faced--and he tumbled head over
heels, and broke his arm."

"I think you must be o