CHAPTER V.
Hulda was considerably surprised at the persistency with which Olealluded in his letters to the fortune that was to be his on hisreturn. Upon what did the young man base his expectations? Hulda couldnot imagine, and she was very anxious to know. Was this anxiety duesolely to an idle curiosity on her part? By no means, for the secretcertainly affected her deeply. Not that she was ambitious, this modestand honest young girl; nor did she in looking forward to the futureever aspire to what we call wealth. Ole's affection satisfied, andwould always satisfy her. If wealth came, she would welcome it withjoy. If it did not come, she would still be content.
This is precisely what Hulda and Joel said to each other the dayafter Ole's last letter reached Dal. They agreed perfectly upon thissubject, as upon all others, by the way. And then Joel added:
"No; it is impossible, little sister. You certainly must be keepingsomething from me."
"Keeping something from you!"
"Yes; for I can not believe that Ole went away without giving you someclew to his secret."
"Did he say anything to you about it?"
"No; but you and I are not one and the same person."
"Yes, we are, brother."
"I am not Ole's betrothed, at all events."
"Almost," said the young girl; "and if any misfortune should befallhim, and he should not return from this voyage, you would be asinconsolable as I would be, and your tears would flow quite as freelyas mine."
"Really, little sister. I forbid you to even speak of such a thing,"replied Joel. "Ole not return from his last voyage to the greatfishing banks! What can have put such an idea into your head? Yousurely can not mean what you say, Hulda!"
"No, certainly not. And yet, I do not know. I can not drive awaycertain presentiments--the result, perhaps, of bad dreams."
"Dreams are only dreams."
"True, brother, but where do they come from?"
"From ourselves, not from heaven. You are anxious, and so your fearshaunt you in your slumber. Besides, it is almost always so when onehas earnestly desired a thing and the time when one's desires are tobe realized is approaching."
"I know it, Joel."
"Really, I thought you were much more sensible, little sister. Yes,and more energetic. Here you have just received a letter from Joelsaying that the 'Viking' will return before the end of the month, andit is now the 19th of April, and consequently none too soon for you tobegin your preparations for the wedding."
"Do you really think so, Joel?"
"Certainly I think so, Hulda. I even think that we have delayed toolong already. Think of it. We must have a wedding that will not onlycreate a sensation in Dal, but in all the neighboring villages. Iintend it shall be the grandest one ever known in the district, so Iam going to set to work immediately."
An affair of this kind is always a momentous occasion in all thecountry districts of Norway, particularly in the Telemark, so thatevery day Joel had a conversation with his mother on the subject. Itwas only a few moments after Dame Hansen's meeting with the stranger,whose message had so deeply agitated her, and though she had seatedherself at her spinning-wheel as usual, it would have been plain to aclose observer that her thoughts were far away.
Even Joel noticed that his mother seemed even more despondent thanusual, but as she invariably replied that there was nothing the matterwith her when she was questioned on the subject, her son decided tospeak only of Hulda's marriage.
"Mother," he began, "you, of course, recollect that Ole announced inhis last letter that he should probably return to Dal in a few weeks."
"It is certainly to be hoped that he will," replied Dame Hansen, "andthat nothing will occur to occasion any further delay."
"Do you see any objection to our fixing upon the twenty-fifth of Mayas the day of the marriage?"
"None, whatever, if Hulda is willing."
"Her consent is already given. And now I think I had better askyou, mother, if you do not intend to do the handsome thing on thatoccasion?"
"What do you mean by the handsome thing?" retorted Dame Hansen,without raising her eyes from her spinning-wheel.
"Why, I am anxious, if you approve, of course, that the wedding shouldcorrespond with the position we hold in the neighborhood. We ought toinvite all our friends to it, and if our own house is not large enoughto accommodate them, our neighbors, I am sure, will be glad to lodgeour guests."
"Who will these guests be, Joel?"
"Why, I think we ought to invite all our friends from Moel, Tiness andBamble. I will attend to that. I think, too, that the presence of HelpBros., the shipowners, would be an honor to the family, and with yourconsent, I repeat, I will invite them to spend a day with us at Dal.They are very fine men, and they think a great deal of Ole, so I amalmost sure that they will accept the invitation."
"Is it really necessary to make this marriage such an importantevent?" inquired Dame Hansen, coldly.
"I think so, mother, if only for the sake of our inn, which I am surehas maintained its old reputation since my father's death."
"Yes, Joel, yes."
"And it seems to me that it is our duty to at least keep it up tothe standard at which he left it; consequently, I think it would beadvisable to give considerable publicity to my sister's marriage."
"So be it, Joel."
"And do you not agree with me in thinking that it is quite timefor Hulda to begin her preparations, and what do you say to mysuggestion?"
"I think that you and Hulda must do whatever you think necessary,"replied Dame Hansen.
Perhaps the reader will think that Joel was in too much of a hurry,and that it would have been much more sensible in him to have waiteduntil Ole's return before appointing the wedding-day, and beginning toprepare for it, but as he said, what was once done would not have tobe done over again; besides, the countless details connected with aceremonial of this kind would serve to divert Hulda's mind from theseforebodings for which there seemed to be no foundation.
The first thing to be done was to select the bride's maid of honor.That proved an easy matter, however, for Hulda's choice was alreadymade. The bride-maid, of course, must be Hulda's intimate friend,Farmer Helmboe's daughter. Her father was a prominent man, and thepossessor of a very comfortable fortune. For a long time he hadfully appreciated Joel's sterling worth, and his daughter Siegfrid'sappreciation, though of a rather different nature, was certainly noless profound; so it was quite probable that at no very distant dayafter Siegfrid had served as Hulda's maid of honor, Hulda, in turn,would act in the same capacity for her friend. This is the custom inNorway, where these pleasant duties are generally reserved for marriedwomen, so it was rather on Joel's account that Siegfrid Helmboe was toserve Hulda Hansen in this capacity.
A question of vital importance to the bride-maid as well as to thebride, is the toilet to be worn on the day of the wedding.
Siegfrid, a pretty blonde of eighteen summers, was firmly resolvedto appear to the best possible advantage on the occasion. Warned bya short note from her friend Hulda--Joel had kindly made himselfresponsible for its safe delivery--she immediately proceeded to devoteher closest attention to this important work.
In the first place, an elaborately embroidered bodice must be made toincase Siegfrid's charming figure as if in a coat of enamel. Therewas also much talk about a skirt composed of a series of jupons whichshould correspond in number with the wearer's fortune, but in no waydetract from her charms of person. As for jewelry, it was no easymatter to select the design of the collar of silver filigree, set withpearls, the heart-shaped ear-rings, the double buttons to fasten theneck of the chemisette, the belt of red silk or woolen stuff fromwhich depend four rows of small chains, the finger-rings studdedwith tiny bangles that tinkle musically, the bracelets of frettedsilver--in short, all the wealth of country finery in which goldappears only in the shape of the thinnest plating, silver in the guiseof tin and pearls, and diamonds in the shape of wax and crystal beads.But what does that matter so long as the
_tout ensemble_ is pleasingto the eye? Besides, if necessary, Siegfrid would not hesitate togo to the elegant stores of M. Benett, in Christiania, to make herpurchases. Her father would not object--far from it! The kind-heartedman allowed his daughter full liberty in such matters; besides,Siegfrid was sensible enough not to draw too heavily upon her father'spurse, though everything else was of secondary importance providedJoel would see her at her very best on that particular day.
As for Hulda, her anxiety on the subject was no less serious, forfashions are pitiless, and give, besides, not a little trouble in theselection of their wedding-toilet.
Hulda would now be obliged to abandon the long plaits tied with brightribbons, which had heretofore hung from under her coquettish cap, thebroad belt with fancy buckles that kept her apron in place uponher scarlet skirt, the girdle to which were appended several smallembroidered leather cases containing a silver tea-spoon, knife, fork,needle-case and scissors--articles which a woman makes constant use ofin the household.
No, on the fast approaching day of the nuptials, Hulda's hair would beallowed to float down upon her shoulders, and it was so abundantthat it would not be necessary for her to have recourse to the juteswitches used by Norwegian girls less favored by nature. Indeed,for her clothing, as well as for her ornaments, Hulda would only beobliged to resort to her mother's big chest. In fact, these articlesof clothing are transmitted from marriage to marriage through allthe different generations of the same family. So one sees reappearingagain and again upon the scene the bodice embroidered in gold, thevelvet sash, the skirt of striped silk, the gold chain for the neck,and the crown--the famous Scandinavian crown--carefully preserved inthe most secure of all the chests, and made of pasteboard coveredwith embossed gilt paper, and studded with stars, or garlanded withleaves--that takes the place of the wreath of orange-blossoms worn bybrides in other European countries.
In this case the crowned betrothed, as the bride is styled, wouldcertainly do honor to her husband; and he would be worthy of her inhis gay wedding suit: a short jacket trimmed with silver buttons,silk-embroidered waistcoat, tight breeches fastened at the knee with abunch of bright ribbons, a soft felt hat, yellow top-boots, and inhis belt the Scandinavian knife--the dolknife--with which the trueNorwegian is always provided.
Consequently, there was plenty to occupy the attention of the youngladies for some time to come. Two or three weeks would barely sufficeif they wished to have everything in readiness before Ole's return;but even if Ole should arrive sooner than he expected, and Huldashould not be quite ready, she would not be inconsolable, nor wouldhe.
The last weeks of April and the first weeks of May were devotedto these matters. Joel assumed charge of the invitations, takingadvantage of the fact that his vocation of guide gave him considerableleisure at this season of the year. One would have supposed that hehad a large number of friends in Bamble, for he went there very often.He had already written to Help Bros., inviting them to attend hissister's wedding, and in accordance with his prediction, these worthyshipowners had promptly accepted the invitation.
The fifteenth of May came, and any day now they might expect Ole toalight from his kariol, throw open the door, and shout in his hearty,cheerful voice:
"It is I! Here I am!"
A little patience was all that was needed now, for everything was inreadiness, and Siegfrid needed only a word to appear before them inall her splendor.
The 16th and 17th passed, and still no Ole, nor did the postman bringany letter from Newfoundland.
"There is no cause for anxiety, little sister," Joel said, again andagain. "A sailing-vessel is always subject to delays. It is a longway from St. Pierre-Miquelon to Bergen. How I wish the 'Viking' werea steamer and I the engine. How I would drive along against wind andtide, even if I should burst my boiler on coming into port."
He said all this because he saw very plainly that Hulda's uneasinesswas increasing from day to day.
Just at this time, too, the weather was very bad in the Telemark.Violent gales swept the high table-lands, and these winds, which blewfrom the west, came from America.
"They ought to have hastened the arrival of the 'Viking,'" the younggirl repeated again and again.
"Yes, little sister," replied Joel; "but they are so strong that theymay have hindered its progress, and compelled it to face the gale.People can't always do as they like upon the sea."
"So you are not uneasy, Joel?"
"No, Hulda, no. It is annoying, of course, but these delays are verycommon. No; I am not uneasy, for there is really not the slightestcause for anxiety."
On the 19th a traveler arrived at the inn, and asked for a guide toconduct him over the mountains to the Hardanger, and though Joel didnot like the idea of leaving Hulda, he could not refuse his services.He would only be absent forty-eight hours at the longest, and he feltconfident that he should find Ole at Dal on his return, though, totell the truth, the kind-hearted youth was beginning to feel veryuneasy. Still, he started off early the next morning, though with aheavy heart, we must admit.
On the following day, at precisely one o'clock, a loud rap resoundedat the door of the inn.
"It is Ole!" cried Hulda.
She ran to the door.
There, in a kariol, sat a man enveloped in a traveling-cloak, a manwhose face was unknown to her.