rable if she could think so," sighed Orga.
"She will die soon, if she goes on to suffer as she does. I wish the
good bishop would come: for I do not think M. Kollsen gives her any
comfort. Look now! what can she have to say to Hund?"

What Erica had to say to Hund was, "I believe some of the things you
have told. I believe that you did not lay hands on Rolf."

"Bless you! Bless you for that!" interrupted Hund, almost forgetting
how far he really was guilty in the satisfaction of hearing these words
from the lips that spoke them.

"Tell me, then," proceeded Erica, "how you believe he really perished.--
Do you fully believe he perished?"

"I believe," whispered Hund, "that the strong hand pulled him down--down
to the bottom."

"I knew it," said Erica, turning away.

"Erica,--one word," exclaimed Hund. "I must stay here--I am very
miserable, and I must stay here, and work and work till I get some
comfort. But you must tell me how you think of me--you must say that
you do not hate me."

"I do hate you," said Erica, with disgust, as her suspicions of his
wanting to fill Rolf's place were renewed. "I mistrust you, Hund, more
deeply than I can tell."

"Will no penitence change your feelings, Erica? I tell you I am as
miserable as you."

"That is false, like everything else that you say," cried Erica. "I
wish you would go,--go and seek Rolf under the waters--"

Hund shuddered at the thought, as it recalled what he had seen and heard
at the islet. Erica saw this, and sternly repeated, "Go and bring back
Rolf from the deeps; and then I will cease to hate you. Ah! I see the
despair in your face. Such despair never came from any woman's words
where there was not a bad conscience to back them."

Hund felt that this was true, and made no reply.

As Erica slowly returned into Peder's house, Oddo ran past, and was
there before her. He closed the door when she had entered, put his hand
within hers, and said, "Did Rolf really tell you that he should be safe
anywhere near Vogel islet?"

"Yes," sighed Erica,--"safe from the pirates. That was his answer when
I begged him not to go so far down the fiord: but Rolf always had an
answer when one asked him not to go into danger. You see how it
ended;--and he never would believe in _that_ danger."

"I shall never be happy again, if this is Nipen's doing," said Oddo.
"But, Erica, you went one trip with me, and I know you are brave. Will
you go another? Will you