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When this entertainment was over, and after lunch, Zenith, at our urgent request, seconded by Thorwald's solicitation, resumed her narrative. "We read," she began, "that during the time when men were grudgingly bestowing the right of suffrage on our sex, woman was making rapid strides toward a position in society fitted to her talents and aspirations.
But their constant experience had been that, when a native became a follower of the Christian missionary, from that moment he became merciful, especially towards the weak and helpless. Counting upon this, they were stunned as well as astonished at Thorwald's message; for they believed implicitly that he meant to do what he threatened.
Oswif, Thorwald's father, knew more about the maiden than did Thorwald, who had been on a journey, and he tried to turn his son's thought to some other damsel, but Thorwald only answered, 'Whatever you may say, she is the only woman I will marry; and Oswif made reply, 'Well, after all, the risk is yours and not mine. So they two set out for Hauskuld's house and he bade them welcome heartily.
And on the way we asked how we might try to plan for her. "Oh, if you will but do so," she said eagerly. "In any case, let me go back to Norway as soon as I may. Yet I do not know where to look for a friend who can help me to my own there." "We had thought of Harald Harfager, the king," I said. "He was Thorwald's friend, as you told us. He will act as your guardian."
In due time we landed on the ruddy planet, and there was great diversion for us all in seeing Mona's continued astonishment and in hearing her varied song. It seemed almost like home to enter Thorwald's house again, where we found everything just as we had left it.
"I have not thought of it since those days," laughed Sigurd. He swept the mass of gold and silver trinkets back into the velvet pouch at his belt, and came over and joined them. "What fine times we had planning those trips, over the fire in the evenings! By Saint Michael, I think we actually started once; have you forgotten? in the long-boat off Thorwald's whaling vessel!
Men were yet to learn that the maxim which the politicians were fond of quoting, 'the greatest good to the greatest number, should have a world-wide application to give it any meaning at all." While my prejudices were receiving another shock, I knew the doctor was really enjoying this part of Thorwald's talk.
Outside his gate he was met in the same cautious manner by a dark-skinned human being, the character of whose garments was something between those of a sailor and a West India planter. This was Sambo, Thorwald's major-domo, clerk, overseer, and right-hand man.
Then he went to Gerda and asked if she did not remember him. "You were a little thing, though, when I came with your father to Thorwald's hall," he said; "mayhap you do not recall it, but we were good friends then for a week or two. You have changed less than I." Gerda looked shyly at him, and at last smiled. "I remember," she said. "You are Thoralf the Tall."
These friends of mine over-persuaded me, saying that I should need it. Now I am in your care, and I have not so much as to hire a ship to take me home. It was Thorwald's. What if you had come back and asked him to help you? Would it not have been laid at your feet for the sake of the old land and the old friendship?" He smiled, but did not answer.
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