The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ticket No. "9672", by Jules Verne, Translated
by Laura E. Kendall

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Title: Ticket No. "9672"

Author: Jules Verne

Release Date: September 26, 2004 [eBook #13527]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

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TICKET NO. "9672"

by

JULES VERNE

Translated from the French by Laura E. Kendall

CHAPTER I.

"What time is it?" inquired Dame Hansen, shaking the ashes from her
pipe, the last curling rings from which were slowly disappearing
between the stained rafters overhead.

"Eight o'clock, mother," replied Hulda.

"It isn't likely that any travelers will come to-night. The weather is
too stormy."

"I agree with you. At all events, the rooms are in readiness, and if
any one comes, I shall be sure to hear them."

"Has your brother returned?"

"Not yet."

"Didn't he say he would be back to-night?"

"No, mother. Joel went to take a traveler to Lake Tinn, and as he
didn't start until very late, I do not think he can get back to Dal
before to-morrow."

"Then he will spend the night at Moel, probably."

"Yes; unless he should take it into his head to go on to Bamble to see
Farmer Helmboe."

"And his daughter Siegfrid."

"Yes. Siegfrid, my best friend, whom I love like a sister!" replied
the young girl, smiling.

"All, well, Hulda, shut up the house, and let's go to bed."

"You are not ill, are you, mother?"

"No; but I want to be up bright and early to-morrow morning. I must go
to Moel."

"What for?"

"Why, we must be laying in our stock of provisions for the coming
summer, and--"

"And I suppose the agent from Christiania has come down with his wagon
of wines and provisions."

"Yes; Lengling, the foreman at the saw-mill, met him this afternoon,
and informed me of the fact as he passed. We have very little left in
the way of ham and smoked salmon, and I don't want to run any risk of
being caught with an empty larder. Tourists are likely to begin their
excursions to the Telemark almost a