"Hand it here," said Dame Hansen, in a tone that betrayed keen
anxiety.

"Here it is, clean and not wrinkled in the least. But the letter is
not for you."

Dame Hansen seemed to breathe more freely.

"Then who is it for?" she asked.

"For your daughter."

"For me!" cried Hulda. "It is a letter from Ole! I am sure it is--a
letter that came by way of Christiania. My brother did not want me to
be kept waiting."

Hulda had snatched the letter from the boy's hand, and now taking
it to the table upon which her mother had deposited the candle, she
examined the address.

"Yes, it is from him. It is certainly from him! Heaven grant that he
writes to announce the speedy return of the 'Viking'!"

"Won't you come in?" said Dame Hansen, turning to the boy.

"Only for a minute. I must get back home to-night, for I am to go with
a kariol to-morrow morning."

"Very well. Tell Joel, from me, that I expect to go to Moel to-morrow,
and that he must wait for me there."