as concluded in great haste, and we stood during the interview. I took
my leave, and at first determined not to call again for the letter. On
reflection, however, I changed my mind, ascribed my unfriendly reception
to important and perhaps disagreeable business, and called again two days
afterwards. Then the letter was handed to me by a servant; the high
people, whom I could hear conversing in the adjoining apartment, probably
considered it too much trouble to deliver it to me personally.

On paying my respects to this amiable family in Reikjavik, I was not a
little surprised to recognise in Frau von H--- one of those ladies who in
Copenhagen had not had the civility to ask me to be seated. Five or six
days afterwards, Herr von H--- returned my call, and invited me to an
excursion to Vatne. I accepted the invitation with much pleasure, and
mentally asked pardon of him for having formed too hasty an opinion.
Frau von H---, however, did not find her way to me until the fourth week
of my stay in Reikjavik; she did not even invite me to visit her again,
so of course I did not go, and our acquaintance terminated there. As in
duty bound, the remaining dignitaries of this little town took their tone
from their chief. My visits were unreturned, and I received no
invitations, though I heard much during my stay of parties of pleasure,
dinners, and evening parties. Had I not fortunately been able to employ
myself, I should have been very badly off. Not one of the ladies had
kindness and delicacy enough to consider that I was alone here, and that
the society of educated people might be necessary for my comfort. I was
less annoyed at the want of politeness in the gentlemen; for I am no
longer young, and that accounts for every thing. When the women were
wanting in kindliness, I had no right to expect consideration from the
gentlemen.

I tried to discover the reason of this treatment, and soon found that it
lay in a national characteristic of these people--their selfishness.

It appears I had scarcely arrived at Reikjavik before diligent inquiries
were set on foot as to whether I was _rich_, and should see much company
at my house, and, in fact, whether much could be got out of me.

To be well received here it is necessary either to be rich, or else to
travel as a naturalist. Persons of the latter class are generally sent
by the European courts to investigate the remarkable productions of the
country. They make large c