ich had returned fat and plump from the Saeters, wandered on its
green banks. The chapel-bells rung joyously in the clear air, while the
church-going people streamed along the winding footpath from their
cottages towards the house of God. From the margin of the river at Semb
ran a little fleet of festally adorned boats. In the most stately of
these sate, under a canopy of leaves and flowers, the Lady of Semb; but
no longer the pale, sorrowful one, whose glances seemed to seek the
grave. A new youth appeared now to play upon her cheeks, to breathe upon
her lips, while the clear eyes, with a glad and quiet enjoyment, gazed
around her, now on the beauties of nature, and now on a more beautiful
sight which she had immediately before her eyes--a happy human pair.
Near her, more like a little angel than a mortal child, sate little
Hulda, with a wreath of the flowers called by the Norwegians
"thousand-peace," in her bright locks. All looks, however--as they
ought--were fixed on the bride and bridegroom; and both were, in truth,
handsome and charming to look upon; the more so, because they appeared
so perfectly happy. In a following boat was seen a little strife between
a young lady and her husband, who would wrap round her a cloak, which
she would not willingly have. The spectators were tempted to take part
with him in his tender care for the young wife, who was soon to become a
mother. The issue of this strife was, that--Alf got the upper hand of
Alette. Other boats contained other wedding guests. The men who rowed
the boats had all wreaths round their yellow straw hats. And thus so
advanced the little fleet, amid joyous music, along the river to the
chapel.

The chapel was a simple building, without any other ornament than a
beautiful altar-piece, and an abundance of flowers and green branches,
which now, for the occasion, adorned the seats, the walls, and the
floor.

The sermon was simple and cordial, the singing pure; in a word, no
dissonant tone came hither to disturb the devotion which the arrangement
of divine service in Norway is so well adapted to call forth and
maintain.[19]

Here Harald and Susanna called on heaven, from faithful and earnest
hearts, to bless their sincere intention, in joy and in trouble on the
earth, to love one another, and were declared by the congregation to be
a pair.

Many people had come this day to church; and when the wedding-train
returned homewards, many boats joined themselves to it