e farm-house,
Mr. Dyceworthy rapped loudly at the rough oaken door with his knuckles,
there being no such modern convenience as a bell or a knocker. He waited
sometime before he was answered, repeating his summons violently at
frequent intervals, and swearing irreligiously under his breath as he
did so. But at last the door was flung sharply open, and the
tangle-haired, rosy-cheeked Britta confronted him with an aspect which
was by no means encouraging or polite. Her round blue eyes sparkled
saucily, and she placed her bare, plump, red arms, wet with recent
soapsuds, akimbo on her sturdy little hips, with an air that was
decidedly impertinent.

"Well, what do you want?" she demanded with rude abruptness.

Mr. Dyceworthy regarded her in speechless dignity. Vouchsafing no reply,
he attempted to pass her and enter the house. But Britta settled her
arms more defiantly than ever, and her voice had a sharper ring as she
said--

"It's no use your coming in! There's no one here but me. The master has
gone out for the day."

"Young woman," returned Mr. Dyceworthy with polite severity, "I regret
to see that your manners stand in sore need of improvement. Your
master's absence is of no importance to me. It is with the Froeken Thelma
I desire to speak."

Britta laughed and tossed her rough brown curls back from her forehead.
Mischievous dimples came and went at the corners of her
mouth--indications of suppressed fun.

"The Froeken is out too," she said demurely. "It's time she had a little
amusement; and the gentlemen treat her as if she were a queen!"

Mr. Dyceworthy started, and his red visage became a trifle paler.

"Gentlemen? What gentlemen?" he demanded with some impatience.

Britta's inward delight evidently increased.

"The gentlemen from the yacht, of course," she said. "What other
_gentlemen_ are there?" This with a contemptuous up-and-down sort of
look at the Lutheran minister's portly form. "Sir Philip Errington was
here with his friend yesterday evening and stayed a long time--and today
a fine boat with four oars came to fetch the master and Froeken Thelma,
and they are all gone for a sail to the Kaa Fjord or some other place
near here--I cannot remember the name. And I am SO glad!" went on
Britta, clasping her plump hands in ecstasy. "They are the grandest,
handsomest _Herren_ I have ever seen, and one can tell they think
wonders of the Froeken--nothing is too good for her!"

Mr. Dyceworthy's face was th