lthough it happened far too often that they might play at love with
them. "Such a lad as Salve Kristiansen, now," he remarked, in
conclusion, "that is the sort of stuff that will not disappoint you;"
and he thought he had played the diplomatist there with some skill.

"I didn't understand you to mean that exactly, grandfather, that time
you were going to beat him," she said.

The old man was rather nonplussed for the moment, but he growled out
something about youngsters requiring correction occasionally, and went
on, "He's a god lad, I tell you; and if he came and made up to you, he
should have you without a moment's hesitation; and then I should be easy
in my mind as to what would become of you when I'm gone."

Elizabeth made no further observation, but a certain expression about
her mouth seemed to denote that she reserved to herself the liberty to
have an opinion of her own in this matter. Salve Kristiansen had been
very dear to her as the only friend and confidant she had ever had; but
since she had seen the lieutenant, it had been he who had exclusively
occupied her thoughts. All that had formed the ideal of her young
enthusiasm had suddenly in his person appeared upon the rock; but
whether it was his uniform, or the bravery of the fleet, or himself,
that was the object of her admiration, she had never asked herself,
until hurt and rendered thoughtful by that warning of her grandfather.
Now, it was unmistakably himself, the handsome, brilliant embodiment of
it all. But at the same time there sprang up in her nature an
unconquerable feeling of pride, in obedience to the dictates of which
she absolutely resigned him, though still retaining her enthusiastic
admiration; and it was this double attitude of mind which her eyes
expressed, and which puzzled her admirer. When she heard afterwards from
her aunt in Arendal that people had been talking about them, she felt it
deeply, and more than ever then had become sensible that there was an
invisible barrier between them.

Carl's father meanwhile had been trudging daily over to the dry-dock to
see after the Juno, which had had to have her bottom scraped, her gaping
seams caulked, and to undergo a general repair: he was hardly at home to
meals. It was a case of urgency, as the delivery of her cargo at its
destination could not be delayed beyond a certain time.

About a month after Elizabeth had come into Captain Beck's house the
Juno was ready for sea again; and Carl's s