at expectations of what the day would bring with it.

It seemed as if the soup with swedes in it would never be ready, so that
they could have dinner. And afterwards there was endless waiting for
Georgina, who could not finish adorning herself.

At last she came out, tightly laced, and with a strip of crochet in the
neck of her dress. What sort of oil or fatty substance she had plastered
down her hair with may be left unsaid; but Silla in her brown straw hat
and a plain white collar, felt for a moment insignificant beside her.
But she quickly took her friend's arm; now they were off to amuse
themselves!

Down to the town they went, Silla impatiently champing the bit in her
desire to get there in time to take part in the day's pleasures.

In the streets and the park at this respectable time in the afternoon,
crowds of people clad in their best were strolling up and down looking
at one another, and for a long time Silla and Georgina had enough to do
in directing one another's attention to the finest and most fashionable
dresses, and especially the long white flowing scarfs wound under the
chin and thrown over the shoulder. These, and white straw hats with
light blue or pink ribbons and roses, were the objects of their vehement
admiration.

They went up and down, lost sight of and met again the same dresses, and
the same stiff quiet Sunday faces.

This was repeated until it became wearisome, and Silla proposed that
they should go somewhere else, which, under Georgina's guidance, led to
a walk round the fortress.

Nature was not their object; and they only met one or two tired, bored
individuals who evidently did not know what to do with themselves on
Sunday afternoon: now and then they stopped and looked up at the trees.

A sentry called his long-drawn "Relieve guard!" It sounded like a mighty
yawn in the afternoon. Out on the calm, shining fjord lay boats and
vessels drifting in the breathless heat.

There was nothing here, so they made their way down to the harbour.

Here, too, was emptiness and Sunday desolation, the vessels seemed to
have died out.

Another cruise up the street.

On the market-place stood some unemployed forces, who had found a Sunday
amusement in exchanging watches,[5] while the bells of the church behind
them were ringing in the congregation to evening service.

[Footnote 5: In Norway this is a pastime often resorted to by men on
holidays, when time hangs heavy on their hands. I have s