e be any
delay?"

Joergen was radiant. Mary retired, that the two might have a confidential
talk.

When Joergen and she met again, he understood that the watchword was:
"Look, but do not touch!" This was hard; but he acknowledged it to be
only just that one who had presumed as he had should be compelled to
control himself. Mary intended to be her own mistress.

In her triumphant mood she was more beautiful than ever. It seemed to
Joergen an act of grace when she addressed him as "thou." And she
condescended no further. He went on hoping, but she gave no more--not
the whole of that day. He betook himself to the piano and there poured
forth his lament. Mary opened the doors, so that Mrs. Dawes might hear
the music. "Poor boy!" said Mrs. Dawes.

Next day Mary did not come downstairs until it was time to set off on
their expedition to Uncle Klaus's.

"You are _la grande dame_ to-day, and no mistake!" said Joergen,
inspecting her admiringly. She was in her most elegant Parisian walking
costume. "Is it to make an impression on Uncle Klaus?"

"Partly. But it is Sunday, you know.--Tell me," and she suddenly became
serious; "does Uncle Klaus know about father's misfortune?"

"He knows about his illness, if you mean that."

"No; I mean the cause of it?"

"That I can't say. I came straight from home. I have told nothing--even
at home."

Of this Mary approved. Consequently they were on the pleasantest, most
confidential terms, both during the walk down to the steamer and on
board. There they sat talking in whispers of their wedding, of furlough
for the first month after it, of life in Stockholm, of her visits to him
there, of his visit to Krogskogen at Christmas, of a trip to Christiania
now--in short, there was not a cloud in their sky.

They found Uncle Klaus in his smoke-filled den, where they rather
imagined than saw him. He himself was quite startled when Mary in all
her glory appeared before him. He led them hurriedly into the large,
stiff drawing-room. Even before they were seated, Joergen said: "We have
come, Uncle, to tell you--"

He got no farther, for Uncle Klaus saw in their radiant faces the news
which they brought.

"My heartiest congratulations!" The tall man bowed, offering a hand to
each. "Yes--every one says that you are the handsomest couple ever seen
in this town. For," he added, "we engaged you to each other long ago."

Hardly were they seated before his face became gloomy. He looked
compassi