is what we admire most in history."

"My faith is that it is the free and independent spirit of your
institutions for ages," replied the Pastor. "You now enjoy the changes
wrought by Cromwell, for which the English people then were ripe. But
do light your cigar, and hear a suggestion I have to make for
to-morrow. There is an old Danish place near here, called Rosendal.
Its special beauty is the idyllic landscape of beech trees, a lake,
and a valley where they grow such roses as will resist our Danish
climate. The house is an old house, but has been restored by
successive owners. The place is visited by people far and near. It is
thoroughly Danish, and especially Jydsk (Jutlandsk). It is only two
English miles from here, and my daughter Helga's only enthusiasm is
Rosendal. She will go with you, with Karl and Axel. Is the walk too
far?"

"No, certainly not," said Hardy; "do we go before breakfast or after?"

"Helga, order breakfast earlier," said the Pastor.

"Yes, father," said Froken Helga; "but is it necessary for me to go to
Rosendal, the boys can show Herr Hardy the way?"

"You always like to go there and enjoy it," said her father. "You have
been in the house some days preparing to receive Herr Hardy, and the
walk will do you good. Go by all means."

CHAPTER III.

"And I will make thee beds of roses,
And then a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle."
_The Complete Angler._

John Hardy had risen early, and had time before breakfast to inspect
the surroundings of the little Danish parsonage. The house was low, of
two stories, with a large cellarage underneath, in which was stored
articles of all kinds that might be injured by the frost of winter.
The roof was brown tiles, with a high pitch, so that the snow should
slip off easily. The chief entrance was through a little shrubbery
surrounded by a white-washed wall leading up to a few steps to the
front door. The living rooms were to the left of the inner hall, and
the Pastor's study to the right, which was so arranged that access was
easy from the front door, or by passing through an inner vestibule to
the back of the house. The kitchen was to the rear of the left side,
and the outbuildings, which consisted of stables for cows, horses, and
sheep, were to the back of the main building. The Pastor had two
horses, for the farm work of his glebe, and these were used for
jour