alue your good opinion. Surely that is not necessary?"

"No, by no means," said Pastor Lindal; "but I thought a reproof from
you----"

"You have given her reproof sufficient," interrupted Hardy, "and so
have I, and there is no need to repeat it. It is true, I spoke to her
without full knowledge of her conduct, but to say more is neither
necessary nor expedient."

The Pastor was surprised at the decided tone Hardy used. It had been
his intention to clear the matter up, so that nothing should rest in
Hardy's mind against Kirstin. He now understood that Hardy thought no
more of the matter than that a woman-servant in his employ had said a
foolish thing. This was a small matter, but it raised Hardy much in
the worthy Pastor's estimation.

Hardy had sent a note to proprietor Jensen, to say he was coming over
to fish on his property, and to ask leave to put his horses in his
stable. So Garth drove, and they got out of the carriage near the
stream they were to fish, and Karl and Axel were soon busy in putting
up the rods Hardy had given them. The stream ran through a flat
meadow, and here and there was covered with reeds. There was little
flow in the stream, but where it was deeper there were no reeds. The
water rush was abundant on the banks, growing along the flat banks and
out in the water. Hardy had heard there were plenty of trout there,
but it appeared difficult to catch them. The day was warm and still,
and it did not look at all propitious. Karl and Axel threw their flies
into the water for a long time with no result--not a trout moved.
Hardy did not fish, but looked on. It was clear the trout were not on
the feed, and, moreover, the sun was high and the day bright. Hardy
sat down and smoked. The two boys came back to him after their futile
attempts to fish. They saw Hardy had not wetted his line, but had
attached a dyed casting line to it, on which was a large but light
thin wired hook. He then sent the boys hunting for grasshoppers and
fernwebs, and letting out so much of the reel line as, with the
casting line, would be as long as his rod, he let the grasshopper that
he had put on the hook fall lightly on the water, and be carried down
by the sluggish stream; there was a swirl in the water, and Hardy was
fast in a big trout. The day, however, was so hot and bright that,
after catching eight trout with much difficulty and steady fishing,
Hardy decided to call at the Jensen's Herregaard, and give them the
fish he