c on the cross is a God for the sick and aged. What of us
others? When shall the modern man, strong, scientifically schooled, find
a temple for the sacred music, the anthem of eternity in his soul?

The sun rose up from behind a distant hill-crest, scattering gold
over the million spires of the pine-forest. Peer bent forward, with
red-gleaming dewdrops on his hand and his white sleeve, and patted the
neck of his restless beast.

It was two o'clock. The fires of morning were lit in the clouds and in
all the waters over the earth. The dew in the meadows and the pearls on
the wings of butterflies began to glisten.

"Now then, Bijou!--now for home!"

And he dashed off down the grass-grown forest paths, the chestnut
snorting as he galloped.

Chapter VII

"Hei, Merle; We're going to have distinguished visitors--where in the
world have you got to!" Peer hurried through the rooms with an open
telegram in his hand, and at last came upon his wife in the nursery.
"Oh, is it here you are?"

"Yes--but you shout so, I could hear you all through the house. Who is
it that's coming?"

"Ferdinand Holm and Klaus Brock. Coming to the christening after all.
Great Caesar!--what do you say to that, Merle?"

Merle was pale, and her cheeks a little sunken. Two years more had
passed, and she had her second child now on her knee--a little boy with
big wondering eyes.

"How fine for you, Peer!" she said, and went on undressing the child.

"Yes; but isn't it splendid of them to set off and come all that way,
just because I asked them? By Jove, we must look sharp and get the place
smartened up a bit."

And sure enough the whole place was soon turned upside-down--cartloads
of sand coming in for the garden walks and the courtyard, and painters
hard at work repainting the houses. And poor Merle knew very well that
there would be serious trouble if anything should be amiss with the
entertainment indoors.

At last came the hot August day when the flags were hoisted in honour of
the expected guests. Once more the hum of mowing machines and hay-rakes
came from the hill-slopes, and the air was so still that the columns of
smoke from the chimneys of the town rose straight into the air. Peer
had risen early, to have a last look round, inspecting everything
critically, from the summer dress Merle was to wear down to the horses
in the stable, groomed till their coats shone again. Merle understood.
He had been a fisher-boy beside the well-