aces, has been a great
pleasure. Mrs. Hardy has been, as Karl said, as kind as any one could
be, and I cannot say how grateful I am to her. We are to go to
Oscarshall to-day and many other places in Christiania; and Mr. Hardy
has asked me to write and say that we shall leave here to-morrow, and
shall call at Fredrikshavn and telegraph to you from there the time we
may expect to be at Aarhus, and they think you might like to come and
see the steamer, and stay the night on board, and return home the next
day with us. Herr Hardy has written a letter, which I enclose, as he
said you might wish to hear from him to say how glad his mother would
be to see you on English ground, as an English ship is as English
land. If you can come, dear little father, I should be so glad! I hope
Kirstin has managed everything for you in my absence. She said I was
wrong to go away from you, and perhaps I am, and it is a sad thought
to me; but it is not for long, and if I have been led away to do what
is not fitting, you will tell me, and I will do what you say. Axel is
very happy on board. Herr Hardy is very good to him, and his men are
so friendly and teach him how to tie knots and go fishing with him,
that he is very happy all day long.

"Mrs. Hardy greets you kindly, and Herr Hardy says I must say that he
thanks you for teaching him to love what is good and true. Live well,
little father.

"Your daughter,

"Helga Lindal."

John Hardy gave directions that the yacht should fill up with coal and
supplies; and in the two days they were at Christiania, a good deal
was seen. There is much to see, and much of natural beauty in
Christiania, and Helga was interested. When they got under way and
steamed down the Christiania Fjord and saw the effect of the sun
setting, which then had its special beauty, Helga thought she had
never seen anything so lovely.

"No! not even Rosendal?" asked John.

"Rosendal has its own charm," replied Helga; "there can be other
places that have their singular beauty."

"I am so glad that you say that," said Hardy. "You may even come to
think that the place where my fathers have lived in England has its
charm;" and he held her face in his hands, and looked into her eyes.

"I have promised to marry you, John," said Helga, "and it is not
whether your house is beautiful or not; wherever you live I will give
my life to you."

"Bless you, dearest," said John, "I will never forget what you say;"
and he never did.