own country; and it must be added that
Norway suffered very much in the comparison, for the people are slow
to adopt innovations upon the methods of their fathers.

Early in the morning--for steamers in Norway and Sweden have a
villanous practice of starting at unseemly hours--the students
embarked for Eidsvold, and were on board the vessels long before the
late sunset. On the quarter, waiting for the principal, was Clyde's
courier, who had arrived that morning, after the departure of the
excursionists. He evidently had not hurried his journey, though he had
been told to do so. He delivered Sanford's brief note, which was
written in pencil, and Mr. Lowington read it. The absentees were safe
and well, and would arrive by Thursday. He was glad to hear of their
safety, but as the squadron was now ready to sail, he regretted the
delay.

"Where did you leave the boys?" asked the principal of the courier.

"At Apalstoe," replied the guide, whose name was Poulsen.

"Do you belong there?"

"No, sir; I live in Christiania. I went down there with a young
gentleman last Saturday."

"Who was he?"

"Mr. Blacklock, sir; a young English gentleman."

"Ah! did you? And where is Mr. Blacklock now?"

"I left him at Apalstoe with a party of young gentlemen who were
dressed like the people here; and he sent me back with this letter,"
replied Poulsen, who proceeded to explain that Clyde had engaged him
as courier for Christiansand, but had changed his mind when he met the
party belonging to the ship, and had concluded to return to
Christiania with them.

This was precisely what he had been told to say by the young Briton,
and probably he believed that it was a correct statement. The
principal saw no reason to doubt the truth of it, for Clyde must be
satisfied that his mother was in Christiania by this time, and would
naturally wish to join her. Anxious to console Mrs. Blacklock, Mr.
Lowington called for a boat, and hastened on shore to see her. He
found her, her daughter, and Paul Kendall and lady, in the
reading-room at the Victoria--a unique apartment, with a fountain in
the centre, a glass gallery over the court-yard, and lighted with
many-colored lamps. The principal communicated the intelligence he had
received of her son to Mrs. Blacklock, whose face lighted up at the
news.

"Then you have heard from the absentees, Mr. Lowington," said Paul
Kendall.

"Yes; they are on their way to Christiania, and Sanford says they wil