ougher sea. They were bound for
Christiania, where it was decided Thelma's marriage should at once take
place--after which Sir Philip would leave his yacht at the disposal of
his friends, for them to return in it to England. He himself intended to
start directly for Germany with his bride, a trip in which Britta was to
accompany them as Thelma's maid. Olaf Gueldmar, as he had just stated,
purposed making a voyage in the _Valkyrie_, as soon as he should get her
properly manned and fitted, which he meant to do at Christiania.

Such were their plans,--and, meanwhile, they were all together on the
_Eulalie_,--a happy and sociable party,--Errington having resigned his
cabin to the use of his fair betrothed, and her little maid, whose
delight at the novel change in her life, and her escape from the
persecution of her grandmother, was extreme. Onward they sailed,--past
the grand Lofoden Islands and all the magnificent scenery extending
thence to Christiansund, while the inhabitants of Bosekop looked in vain
for their return to the Altenfjord.

The short summer there was beginning to draw to a close,--some of the
birds took their departure from the coast,--the dull routine of the
place went on as usual, rendered even duller by the absence of the
"witch" element of discord,--a circumstance that had kept the
superstitious villagers, more or less on a lively tension of religious
and resentful excitement--and by-and-by, the rightful minister of
Bosekop came back to his duties and released the Reverend Charles
Dyceworthy, who straightway returned to his loving flock in Yorkshire.
It was difficult to ascertain whether the aged Lovisa was satisfied or
wrathful, at the departure of the Gueldmars with her granddaughter Britta
in their company--she kept herself almost buried in her hut at Talvig,
and saw no one but Ulrika, who seemed to grow more respectably staid
than ever, and who, as a prominent member of the Lutheran congregation,
distinguished herself greatly by her godly bearing and uncompromising
gloom.

Little by little, the gossips ceased to talk about the disappearance of
the "white witch" and her father--little by little they ceased to
speculate as to whether the rich Englishman, Sir Philip Errington,
really meant to marry her--a consummation of things which none of them
seemed to think likely--the absence of their hated neighbors, was felt
by them as a relief, while the rumored fate of the crazy Sigurd was of
course looked