ht of
the future in this respect. There was a man who stated that a ship
would be wrecked at Torsminde, which would be laden with such heavy
timber that it would take four men to carry each of the pieces of
timber. He said he had the warning from a Strandvarsel. A year passed,
when a ship was wrecked, with such heavy railway iron that it took
four men to carry each rail. It was certainly a mistake for the omen
to say it would be timber when it was iron; but as it was correct
about four men having to carry each piece of railway iron, and the
ship did wreck at Torsminde, it was considered a true warning or
omen."

"But that brings the superstition down to quite recent time," said
Hardy.

"I have already told you that these superstitions yet live in the
hearts of the people; they do not confess them openly, but they do
exist here and there."

"What is the superstition about the Kirkegrim?" asked Hardy.

"The Kirkegrim," replied the Pastor, "is a spirit or gnome that
inhabits the church, and revenges any injury to it or the churchyard.
That is all; there are no stories about it, beyond what I have
related, that I know of."

"It is, in fact, a spiritual churchwarden," said Hardy, "after our
English notions. It is to be regretted we have not them in England."

"I think, little father, you have talked a long time, and you are
tired," said Froken Helga.

"You are right, Froken," said Hardy. "Thank you, Herr Pastor, for a
series of interesting legends. I can only say how sorry I am that I
must go to England shortly. My mother wishes to have me at home, as
she is lonely without me, and I cannot bear she should be so any
longer."

"And when, Herr Hardy, do you propose to leave?" inquired Helga.

"In about a week, Froken," replied Hardy, to whom he thought it
appeared a matter of indifference whether he went or stayed.

"My father will miss you much, and so shall we all," said Helga. "You
have been good and kind, and there has nothing happened about you that
we have not liked."

Hardy looked at her. It was clear that, as usual, she said nothing but
what she meant.

"If you come here again, you will go to Rosendal?" said the Pastor.

"Yes," replied Hardy. "My intention is to go to Rosendal in May, next
year, and I hope to bring my mother with me; but, meanwhile, I have
told the bailiff that the place is at your disposition, and Karl and
Axel can catch all the fish in the lake they can; and as it is my
intention to