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Helga did not look up from the knitting, which was her constant employment every spare moment; so Hardy addressed himself to her father, as if he had not put the question. "Before I came here," said Hardy, "I read in the Berlinske Tidende an advertisement for the sale of Rosendal, which to-day appears to be the same place. "Yes," said Pastor Lindal.
"If I said anything that pained you, I am sorry for it; but do not always keep it alive against me." "There is the rose of Rosendal, mother, and the jewel of Hardy Place," said Hardy to his mother, on his unpunctual return to lunch. "She is so good and single-minded that it is impossible to invent ways of teasing her." "Then I should not try, John," said his mother.
The side saddles were placed on Hardy's Danish horses, and they went to Rosendal, the Frøken Jensens enjoying the ride greatly. Fru Jensen went through the dairy and criticized, her husband did the same with the farm buildings, and gave Hardy useful and practical advice, which Hardy noted down and afterwards followed.
When they came to Rosendal, the respectful demeanour of the bailiff towards Hardy struck the Pastor. Hardy placed his forefinger across his lips. The bailiff told Hardy that if they wished to have lunch in the mansion they could do so, after a walk in the beechwoods and by the lake and rosary. "The boys are so intent on the pike fishing," said Hardy, "that I will go with them.
Surely a change that introduces a thought of beauty in the landscape would not be destructive to Rosendal, Frøken Helga." "You appear, Herr Hardy, to find fault with everything Danish," said Helga, sharply; "our horses are inferior, our houses are, and even our gardens are." "But I never said you were," broke in Hardy, with a laugh. "No; but I see you think it," retorted Helga.
Off Dragør, the jack was again hoisted for the Copenhagen pilot, and the Rosendal steam yacht was at anchor off the Custom House at Copenhagen, before a late dinner, that evening. "We must fill up with coal and water, mother, and it had better be done here," said Hardy; "it would give us time for an excursion to Roeskilde to see the Domkirke, or elsewhere." "No, John," said Mrs. Hardy.
There was also another reason why I did not wish you to teach me to ride, that I cannot tell you." "Then do not tell me," said Hardy. "But supposing I am at Rosendal, in May, next year, will there be any objection then, if your father has none?" "No," said Helga, involuntarily. "Then I will recollect to bring over an English lady's saddle," said Hardy.
Pastor Lindal assented, and John Hardy drove over as early as he thought advisable, and in returning to Rosendal insisted on Helga's driving and telling him everything that had occurred in his absence at sea. It was a pleasure to Mrs. Hardy to see their happy faces as they drove up at Rosendal. "Bless you, dear mother!" said John.
"You called me a cool and calculating Englishman; but if you knew how it hurt me when you said so, you would not have said what you did." Mrs. Hardy had come on deck, and Helga went to her. Mrs. Hardy saw she was agitated, and was alarmed, but waited for Helga to speak. "I know now he loved me from the first time we went to Rosendal," said Helga, "and I have been so bad to him.
"But why have you not said a word to us?" asked Pastor Lindal. "Because it was so uncertain, and because I wished, as a surprise to you, to say that any enjoyment of Rosendal stands at your disposition and your family's," replied Hardy. They all looked at Hardy, but there was no doubt of the sincerity of his meaning. "And may we come here and catch the pike?" asked Karl, with some anxiety.
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