t
being a father to her, but when he reached the middle of the
sentence, it struck him that it was not appropriate. When he essayed
to utter something more suitable, there was no sense in it.

He therefore squeezed the hand of Madame Torvestad somewhat severely;
and then, taking that of his betrothed more tenderly, was pleased to
find how soft and delicate it was.

He comported himself very awkwardly all the evening; but he was so
thoroughly happy, that he never noticed the expression of Sarah's
pale face.

When he returned to his own house, he paced up and down in ecstasy.
It was Tuesday--only four days to Sunday. He must put his house to
rights; it was not half smart enough.

When he had left, madame sent Henrietta to bed; Sarah would have gone
also, but her mother detained her.

"You should thank God for all His loving-kindness, Sarah."

"Yes, Mother."

"Will you not also thank me?"

Sarah stood silent and unmoved.

Her mother felt as if she had been pierced through. "Sarah!" she
said, sharply.

But when Sarah looked up, there was a something in her steadfast eyes
which made her mother recoil; she said no more, except to bid her
"Good night," and upon this her daughter left.

Madame Torvestad fell into a reverie. The memories of her own youth
rose up before her, and they were not very pleasant. She, too, had
been given to a man whom she did not know; he, too, was older than
she was, but he had known how to deal with her in the right way. She
remembered the tears she had shed at the first, and how in time all
went well with her. She had been saved from worldly vanities, and
from these she would now protect her daughter.

But in that look of Sarah's there was something which made her
shrink, and which stung her deeply. She, who was generally so
confident about herself and all that she did, felt a painful
misgiving.

All these newly revived memories, and a vague feeling that she did
not fully comprehend this impassive daughter, made her slumbers
uneasy, and troubled her with evil dreams.

Henrietta, who heard Sarah sobbing, crept into her bed, and strove to
comfort her.

CHAPTER VIII

The first shadow which fell on Skipper Worse's happiness was the
meeting with Consul Garman, when he went to report his betrothal to
him.

"Good morning, Worse," said the Consul. "The Bremen captain has just
been here; he will take you with the greatest pleasure, and as he is
quite ready to go to sea, it m