Part 28 (2/2)
”He is teasing me,” she said, as she laid her head on Mrs. Hardy's lap.
”John,” said Mrs. Hardy, as she touched Helga's cheek, ”you do not take care of your Scandinavian princess; her skin is so thin and clear, that this little cheek is at fever heat with the action of the sun and wind. Tell my maid to bring the lotion I use, and a sponge.”
”Thank you, Mrs. Hardy,” said Helga, ”but I do not mind the sun burning me; it makes my face a little warm, that is all.”
”She does not know how handsome she is, John,” said Mrs. Hardy, in French; ”but her beauty lies in this, that there is nothing so beautiful as what is true.”
After lunch, John Hardy told one of his men to fetch some rope quoits, to amuse Axel, and cleared part of the deck for the purpose. Helga, however, joined in the game with the zest of a child; her clear voice and laughter and natural grace made conquests of the yacht sailors.
”Uncommon neat about the spars!” exclaimed an old salt; ”a smart craft when she's got all her sails bent, I'll be bound.”
”Well, pilot,” said Hardy, ”where can you put us in for shelter for the night? We want to go up the Christiania Fjord by daylight, and when the ladies will be on deck. It has, besides, been a long run for the engineers.”
”We shall have Frederikstad abeam at ten tonight, if she goes as she's going, and we can lay off there until the morning,” replied the pilot.
”There is no anger in the weather, and it will be a fine night. In fact, there will be no night; we are close on St. Hans' night, the longest day.”
”We will keep the fires banked, anyway,” said Hardy, ”and set a watch.''
”Yes, better weigh,” said the pilot. ”The chances are the custom-house officers will board, and you had best keep your burgee and ensign flying, as then they may not trouble you.”
At six the wind fell, and the sails were taken in, and the sea was soon without a ripple. Mrs. Hardy and Helga sat on deck after dinner, enjoying the changing beauty of the sh.o.r.e and the soft tints that rest on the northern lands at close of day. Hardy had wraps brought up from below, to keep the dew off his mother and the Scandinavian princess, and chatted with them.
When they determined to go below, Helga, in her Danish manner, shook hands with Hardy, and said, ”Tak for i dag” (thank you for to-day). ”I have never enjoyed life so much.”
”Mother,” said John, when Helga had gone, ”you surprised me when you said you would rather go up to Christiania; you did so that I might see my princess for a few days when her mind is animated by what is strikingly novel to her, so that the bright transparency of her character should be more apparent. Thank you, my mother!”
”We have one heart, John,” replied his mother.
John Hardy went on deck, anything but disposed to sleep. ”Pa.s.s the word to get up for drift-lines and two men to go in a boat fis.h.i.+ng.”
The night, or rather the softer daylight, was favourable for catching, Pollock and one man rowing. John Hardy worked two lines and the other man two. They pulled in round the islands and soon caught many fish, which made a welcome addition to the breakfast-table the next day.
At eight they were under weigh, steaming up the grander scenery of the Christiania Fjord. Helga had come on deck, and Hardy saw she was interested in the scenery they were pa.s.sing.
”We are in the Christiania Fjord,” he said.
”How lovely and lake-like!” said Helga, when the breakfast-bell rang.
”Must we go below, John?”
”There is no need whatever, now that you have called me, John;” and he directed her breakfast and his own to be brought on deck, and that his mother should be informed they were having breakfast on deck, which brought Mrs. Hardy up with them.
”We are making progress, mother,” said Hardy, ”and, for the first time, I have been called John; but only under desperate threats.”
”You will not let him tease me, Mrs. Hardy?” said Helga, with an appealing look and earnest tone.
”Do you wish me to punish him?” said Mrs. Hardy, smiling. ”Shall I have him thrown overboard, or put in irons?”
<script>