l at
the pierhead.

"Your father is on the pier, Helga, and you can see him with this
glass," said Hardy, handing her his binocular. This she found
difficult to do, as there were so many other heads appearing; but all
doubt was at an end as the yacht glided past the pierhead of the outer
harbour, for there was the worthy Pastor himself.

The yacht was soon brought to, and Pastor Lindal stepped on deck, to
be met with much affection from his daughter and Axel. It was clear to
Mrs. Hardy that Helga's attachment to her father was one of simple
trust in each other, the same as existed between herself and her own
boy John.

The Pastor was ceremoniously polite to Mrs. Hardy, but he greeted John
Hardy with much warmth and thanks. He was pleased with the yacht and
its many clever contrivances for saving space and arriving at comfort,
and at dinner was, for him, merry. He was delighted to see his
daughter with such a fresh and healthy look, after the cruise to
Christiania. Axel, usually a quiet and retiring lad, talked
incessantly; he had so much to relate of all that passed since leaving
Copenhagen, that at length the Pastor stopped him; but Hardy
intervened, "Let him run on, Herr Pastor; he is describing very well.
He will come to an end with what he has to say, shortly."

The Pastor had thus, from Axel's point of view, the whole history of
the cruise from beginning to end.

"And what do you say, Helga?" asked the Pastor.

"I never thought that life could be made so pleasant and so happy,
little father," replied Helga. "Mrs. Hardy is kinder than I can say."

"And Hardy was not?" said the Pastor, smiling.

"He is like his mother, little father; their natures are the same,"
replied Helga. "But he is a man, and men are never so good as women."

John Hardy laughed, and, as the conversation was in Danish, told his
mother what Helga had said.

"It is her simple naturalness that makes her say that, John," said
Mrs. Hardy. "She sees in me what she thinks a perfect woman, although
I am an ordinary Englishwoman; while she does not understand the
rougher nature men possess. Her thorough truth in thought and feeling
is her greatest charm."

Axel, however, put his oar in. "Why, father how can Helga say Herr
Hardy is not as good as Fru Hardy? He gave her a toilet box with
costly things in it."

"Yes, little father, it is true," said Helga; "but it was too costly a
present, and I did not like to accept it."

When dinner was