turned and kissed her at
the open door. This night every thing was in confusion. Snorro had
carried all her belongings into the house, but they were unpacked and
unarranged. Still he had done a great deal. A large fire was burning,
the kettle boiling on the hearth, and on the little round table before
it he had put bread and milk and such things as would be necessary for
a first meal. Then, with an innate delicacy he had gone away, fully
understanding that at the first Margaret would wish to be quite
alone.

She stood a minute and looked around. Then she opened the box in which
her china and silver were packed. In half an hour the tea-table was
spread. She even made a kind of festival of the occasion by giving
little Jan the preserved fruit he loved with his bread. It seemed to
her as if food had never tasted so good before. She was again at her
own table; at her own fireside! Her own roof covered her! There was
no one to gloom at her or make her feel uncomfortable. Work, poverty,
all things, now seemed possible and bearable.

When Jan had chattered himself weary she laid him in his cot, and sat
hour after hour in the dim light of the glowing peats, thinking,
planning, praying, whispering Jan's name to her heart, feeling almost
as if she were in his presence. When at length she rose and turned the
key in her own house again, she was as proud and as happy as a queen
who has just come into her kingdom, and who lifts for the first time
the scepter of her authority.

CHAPTER XI.

SNORRO IS WANTED.

"Now the great heart
Leaps to new action and appointed toil
With steady hope, sure faith, and sober joy."

During the next two years, Margaret's life appeared to be monotonously
without incident. In reality it deepened and broadened in a manner but
slightly indicated by the stillness of its surface. Early in the
morning following her re-occupation of her own house, she had two
visitors, Dr. Balloch and her old servant, Elga.

"Elga's husband is with the Greenland fleet," said the minister; "she
is poor and lonely, and wants to come back and serve thee."

"But I can not afford a servant."

"Thou can well afford it, take my word for that; besides, thou art not
used to hard work nor fit for it. Also, I have something better for
thee to do. When thy house is in order, come to the manse and see me,
then we will talk of it."

So Elga quietly resumed her old duties, and ere two weeks were g