presence, met with such an icy reception that they were not
encouraged to pursue the subject.

Sarah was in a distracted state, pleased with the gift and with the
kind words he had spoken to her when he left, but otherwise she was
wretched, hopelessly wretched. At night when she lay in bed, she
wept, and prayed for strength to control herself.

One night her mother entered her bed-chamber; it was dark, and Sarah,
who was bathed in tears, heard nothing until she spoke. "You can see
now that I was right, my child. Thank the Lord that your eyes were
opened in time to the danger."

She said this in such an imperious and reproachful tone that Sarah
started up in her bed, and continued to sit up for some time without
weeping, whilst harsh and bitter thoughts took possession of her.

It was the old Adam! but she could not struggle against it. She
allowed the evil thoughts to take their course--wherever they would,
over all the faults she had detected among the Brethren or suspected
in her own mother; over Skipper Worse, with his oaths and his flavour
of stale tobacco-smoke, until he seemed quite unbearable--away, far
away into forbidden regions, where there was sunshine and joy, where
she was alone with a tall, strong man.

She threw herself back on the bed, dreaming and drowsy. When she
awoke in the morning, a mountain of misery seemed to weigh upon her.

At first, Jacob Worse was unaware of the happiness in store for him.
Many hints from Madame Torvestad were necessary before it dawned upon
him that the fair Sarah, whom he had seen grow up from childhood,
might be the wife for him.

But when he was awake to it, the sentiment which both blinds and
invigorates old men took possession of him.

There was a successful fishing that year, and Jacob Worse was
indefatigable and in high spirits. Thoughts of the snug room at
Madame Torvestad's, his comfortable place by the side of Sarah, the
soft white hands which brought him his tea--in which, as a great
favour, Madame Torvestad permitted a few drops of rum--all tended to
make him happy; and even when he was most actively engaged among the
herrings, a quiet almost dreamy smile, which few observed and none
understood, would steal over his weather-beaten face.

Never before had he been so enterprising or so successful. This year
he salted on account of the firm and for himself, and bought a
quantity of herrings. Brisk and cheerful, he brought life and gaiety
with him wherev