Part 30 (1/2)
Helga looked at John. She saw at once that his mother not only knew all about it, but had probably suggested it. ”I thought it too costly to accept,” said Helga.
John put his hands on her two shoulders and shook her gently. ”You must not,” he said in Danish, ”be stiff-necked on your birthday. My mother bought what I have given you in London, and the jewellery was sent to Copenhagen for us to select from. It is all my mother's choice.”
”In the winter?” said Helga.
”Yes, my child, in the winter. I understood John, although he had so many doubts and fears. He told me so much about you that I ordered the dressing-case, which John has paid for,” said Mrs. Hardy, ”and if I were you I would thank him.”
She thanked him in the pretty Danish manner that so well became her, and said, ”Thank you, Mr. Hardy; you are so good to me.”
If the black-bearded steward had not come in at this moment, it is to be feared that John would have run the risk of being summarily adjudicated upon as before described.
”Where is Axel?” asked John.
”He is out fis.h.i.+ng, sir; been out since six o'clock, with one of the men forard,” replied the steward. This was explained to Helga, and breakfast proceeded.
”I think,” said Mrs. Hardy, ”that Helga should write her father, and say that we have arrived here and shall leave to-morrow evening; and, John, you could ask him to meet us at Aarhus when we arrived. I fear the worthy Pastor may think you have carried off his daughter, John.”
”The very course I intend to take, mother, and in which you have aided and abetted, and I bless and thank you for it,” said John.
CHAPTER XXIII.
”Come, live with me and be my love.
And we will all the pleasures prove, That valleys, groves, or hills, or field, Or woods and sleepy mountains yield.”
_The Complete Angler._
Helga wrote her father as follows:--
”My All-dearest Father,
”You were written to that we were going to Christiania from Elsinore.
I did not know that it was so far, but the steams.h.i.+p Herr Hardy has sails as fast as the steamer from Aarhus to Copenhagen, and everything is so clean and nice, and seeing fresh places, has been a great pleasure. Mrs. Hardy has been, as Karl said, as kind as any one could be, and I cannot say how grateful I am to her. We are to go to Oscarshall to-day and many other places in Christiania; and Mr. Hardy has asked me to write and say that we shall leave here to-morrow, and shall call at Fredrikshavn and telegraph to you from there the time we may expect to be at Aarhus, and they think you might like to come and see the steamer, and stay the night on board, and return home the next day with us. Herr Hardy has written a letter, which I enclose, as he said you might wish to hear from him to say how glad his mother would be to see you on English ground, as an English s.h.i.+p is as English land. If you can come, dear little father, I should be so glad! I hope Kirstin has managed everything for you in my absence. She said I was wrong to go away from you, and perhaps I am, and it is a sad thought to me; but it is not for long, and if I have been led away to do what is not fitting, you will tell me, and I will do what you say. Axel is very happy on board. Herr Hardy is very good to him, and his men are so friendly and teach him how to tie knots and go fis.h.i.+ng with him, that he is very happy all day long.
”Mrs. Hardy greets you kindly, and Herr Hardy says I must say that he thanks you for teaching him to love what is good and true. Live well, little father.
”Your daughter,
”Helga Lindal.”
John Hardy gave directions that the yacht should fill up with coal and supplies; and in the two days they were at Christiania, a good deal was seen. There is much to see, and much of natural beauty in Christiania, and Helga was interested. When they got under way and steamed down the Christiania Fjord and saw the effect of the sun setting, which then had its special beauty, Helga thought she had never seen anything so lovely.
”No! not even Rosendal?” asked John.
”Rosendal has its own charm,” replied Helga; ”there can be other places that have their singular beauty.”
”I am so glad that you say that,” said Hardy. ”You may even come to think that the place where my fathers have lived in England has its charm;” and he held her face in his hands, and looked into her eyes.
”I have promised to marry you, John,” said Helga, ”and it is not whether your house is beautiful or not; wherever you live I will give my life to you.”