"If you would allow it to remain with you, Herr Pastor, during the
autumn and winter, I should be much indebted to you," said Hardy. "But
if Froken Helga would accept it as a recollection of a cool and
calculating Englishman, I will give it her with pleasure."

Before the Pastor could reply, his daughter had.

"I will accept it gratefully;" and she rose up and, after the Danish
manner, gave her hand to Hardy, and said, using a Danish expression,
"a thousand thanks."

"Thank you, Hardy, very much," said the Pastor. "You have done us many
kindnesses; but after visiting the poor and the sick in my parish, the
knowledge that I shall hear my daughter's voice, that is so like my
wife's, singing in the winter evenings, will be a comfort to me."

The next day they went to Rosendal, and met Macdonald with his plans.
The being on the spot and understanding what was proposed to be done
was a different thing to seeing the plans at the parsonage. The
reality struck Helga. She was much interested, and Hardy saw that she
understood and entered into everything. There was nothing to suggest
or to alter in Macdonald's plans, and Hardy at once arranged for their
execution. The Danish bailiff was at first obstructive, but Hardy's
quiet, decisive manner changed the position, and gradually it dawned
upon him that the place would be greatly improved, and that the
residence of an English family for part of the year at Rosendal would
not prejudice him.

Karl and Axel had been on the lake trolling, but they had caught
nothing, and came back disappointed to the mansion, and begged Hardy
to fish, if but to catch one pike.

Hardy said he could not leave the Pastor and his daughter while he
went fishing with them.

"We must have a pike for dinner," said the Pastor, "and as the boys
cannot catch one, you must, Hardy."

"May I go in the boat?" asked Helga. "I have never seen Herr Hardy
fish."

"Oh, pike-fishing is nothing," said Karl "It is trout-fishing with a
fly that Herr Hardy does so well."

Hardy got into the boat, and put his gear in order, which had been
disarranged by the boys' efforts to fish. A man accustomed to the lake
rowed it, and Helga stepped into it. She remarked it was wet and
dirty.

"That is the boys' doing," said Hardy, as he pulled off his coat for
her to sit on.

They rowed on the lake, and Hardy cast his trolling-bait with the long
accurate cast habitual to him, and caught four pike, and then directed
the b