herself. The fact was, old Jacob had very well understood that the smart
young navy-lieutenant did not come out there for his sake; and as he
could not very well shut the door in his face, he had very sensibly
warned his granddaughter against him. He explained to her that people of
his class were not in the habit of marrying a common man's child,
although it happened far too often that they might play at love with
them. "Such a lad as Salvé Kristiansen, now," he remarked, in
conclusion, "that is the sort of stuff that will not disappoint you;"
and he thought he had played the diplomatist there with some skill.

"I didn't understand you to mean that exactly, grandfather, that time
you were going to beat him," she said.

The old man was rather nonplussed for the moment, but he growled out
something about youngsters requiring correction occasionally, and went
on, "He's a god lad, I tell you; and if he came and made up to you, he
should have you without a moment's hesitation; and then I should be easy
in my mind as to what would become of you when I'm gone."

Elizabeth made no further observation, but a certain expression about
her mouth seemed to denote that she reserved to herself the liberty to
have an opinion of her own in this matter. Salvé Kristiansen had been
very dear to her as the only friend and confidant she had ever had; but
since she had seen the lieutenant, it had been he who had exclusively
occupied her thoughts. All that had formed the ideal of her young
enthusiasm had suddenly in his person appeared upon the rock; but
whether it was his uniform, or the bravery of the fleet, or himself,
that was the object of her admiration, she had never asked herself,
until hurt and rendered thoughtful by that warning of her grandfather.
Now, it was unmistakably himself, the handsome, brilliant embodiment of