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climbing the hillside to the 〃Giant's Hood；〃 from whence they had a wide
view of the fjord； and could see the sun trailing its long bridge of flame
upon the water。 It was Inga's week in the kitchen； therefore her sister
was Arnfinn's companion。 As they reached the crest of the 〃Hood；〃
Augusta seated herself on a flat bowlder； and the young student flung
himself on a patch of greensward at her feet。 The intense light of the late
sun fell upon the girl's unconscious face； and Arnfinn lay； gazing up into it；
and wondering at its rare beauty； but he saw only the clean cut of its
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features and the purity of its form； being too shallow to recognize the
strong and heroic soul which had struggled so long for utterance in the life
of which he had been a blind and unmindful witness。
〃Gracious； how beautiful you are； cousin！〃 he broke forth； heedlessly；
striking his leg with his slender cane； 〃pity you were not born a queen；
you would be equal to almost anything； even if it were to discover the
Polar Sea。〃
〃I thought you were looking at the sun； Arnfinn；〃 answered she；
smiling reluctantly。
〃And so I am； cousin；〃 laughed he； with an other…emphatic slap of his
boot。
〃That compliment is rather stale。〃
〃But the opportunity was too tempting。〃
〃Never mind； I will excuse you from further efforts。 Turn around and
notice that wonderful purple halo which is hovering over the forests below。
Isn't it glorious？〃
〃No； don't let us be solemn； pray。 The sun I have seen a thousand
times before； but you I have seen very seldom of late。 Somehow； since I
returned this time； you seem to keep me at a distance。 You no longer
confide to me your great plans for the abolishment of war； and the
improvement of mankind generally。 Why don't you tell me whether you
have as yet succeeded in convincing the peasants that cleanliness is a
cardinal virtue； that hawthorn hedges are more picturesque than rail fences；
and that salt meat is a very indigestible article？〃
〃You know the fate of my reforms； from long experience；〃 she
answered； with the same sad； sweet smile。 〃I am afraid there must be
some thing radically wrong about my methods； and； moreover； I know that
your aspirations and mine are no longer the same； if they ever have been；
and I am not ungenerous enough to force you to feign an interest which
you do not feel。〃
〃Yes； I know you think me flippant and boyish；〃 retorted he； with
sudden energy； and tossing a stone down into the gulf below。 〃But； by
the way； my friend Strand； if he ever comes； would be just the man for you。
He has quite as many hobbies as you have； and； what is more； he has a
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profound respect for hobbies in general； and is universally charitable
toward those of others。〃
〃Your friend is a great man；〃 said the girl； earnestly。 〃I have read his
book on ‘The Wading Birds of the Norwegian Highlands；' and none but a
great man could have written it。〃
〃He is an odd stick； but； for all that； a capital fellow； and I have no
doubt you would get on admirably with him。〃
At this moment the conversation was interrupted by the appearance of
the pastor's man； Hans； who came to tell the 〃young miss〃 that there was a
big tramp hovering about the barns in the 〃out…fields；〃 where he had been
sleeping during the last three nights。 He was a dangerous character； Hans
thought； at least judging from his looks； and it was hardly safe for the
young miss to be roaming about the fields at night as long as he was in the
neighborhood。
〃Why don't you speak to the pastor； and have him arrested？〃 said
Arnfinn； impatient of Hans's long…winded recital。
〃No； no； say nothing to father；〃 demanded Augusta； eagerly。 〃Why
should you arrest a poor man as long as he does nothing worse than sleep
in the barns in the out…fields？〃
〃As you say； miss；〃 retorted Hans； and departed。
The moon came up pale and mist…like over the eastern mountain ridges；
struggled for a few brief moments feebly with the sunlight； and then
vanished。
〃It is strange；〃 said Arnfinn； 〃how everything reminds me of Strand to…
night。 What gloriously absurd apostrophes to the moon he could make！
I have not told you； cousin； of a very singular gift which he possesses。
He can attract all kinds of birds and wild animals to himself； he can
imitate their voices； and they flock around him； as if he were one of them；
without fear of harm。〃
〃How delightful；〃 cried Augusta； with sudden animation。 〃What a
glorious man your friend must be！〃
〃Because the snipes and the wild ducks like him？ You seem to have
greater confidence in their judgment than in mine。〃
〃Of course I haveat least as long as you persist in joking。 But；
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jesting aside； what a wondrously beautiful life he must lead whom Nature
takes thus into her confidence； who has； as it were； an inner and subtler
sense； corresponding to each grosser and external one； who is keen…
sighted enough to read the character of every individual beast； and has
ears sensitive to the full pathos of joy or sorrow in the song of the birds
that inhabit our woodlands。〃
〃Whether he has any such second set of senses as you speak of； I don't
know； but there can be no doubt that his familiarity； not to say intimacy；
with birds and beasts gives him a great advantage as a naturalist。 I
suppose you know that his little book has been translated into French； and
rewarded with the gold medal of the Academy。〃
〃Hush！ What is that？〃 Augusta sprang up； and held her hand to her
ear。
〃Some love…lorn mountain…cock playing yonder in the pine copse；〃
suggested Arnfinn； amused at his cousin's eagerness。
〃You silly boy！ Don't you know the mountain… cock never