"Next, note that the eel seldom stirs in the day,
but then hides himself; and therefore is usually caught by
night, with one of those baits of which I have spoken."
--_The Complete Angler._
The two Danish horses were driven by Garth, and, in his hands, soon
grew accustomed to harness and the light carriage John Hardy had
purchased at Horsens. Longer expeditions were made to fish the smaller
Danish streams, and, to the great gratification of Karl and Axel, to
Silkeborg. The lakes at Silkeborg, with their idyllic picturesqueness,
interested Hardy, while the pike and the perch fishing yielded good
sport. Hardy was skilful in spinning a heavy minnow deep in the water,
casting it from a boat, and thus attracting the heaviest perch. A
paternoster also in his hands caught a quantity of perch. Pike were
caught by casting a dead roach, with a rod with upright rings, and
Hardy threw his bait with a length and certainty that the Danish
fishermen were not accustomed to. The bait would fall into a little
spot of water amongst the reeds. A jerk and pull made the dead fish
appear like a wounded live one; when out would rush Herr _Esox lucius_
from his lair, and, after expostulating in the usual manner, would
come into the boat with the sullen look of
how-I-should-like-to-bite-the-calf-of-your-leg, peculiar to Herr
Esox's genus.
The Danish fishermen at Silkeborg began to entertain the notion that
John Hardy, if his stay was prolonged, would depopulate the lakes of
both pike and perch; and they hugged the idea with affection that at
least he could not catch eels, with which the lakes abound.
"Can you catch eels, Herr Hardy?" said Karl. "The fishermen say you
may be able to catch pike and perch, but you do not know how to catch
eels with a line in the lakes."
"Yes," replied Hardy, "if you and Axel will undertake to take them off
the hooks when caught; it is not an agreeable bit of work."
"Yes, that will we," said Karl and Axel at once.
They had then no idea of the difficulty of getting off the slime of an
eel from their clothes, and what very pointed personal remarks would
be made by Kirstin, when they returned to Vandstrup Praestegaard.
The preparations for catching eels with lines was of immense interest
to the boys. Hardy had several stakes made with sharpened ends. The
stakes were driven into a shallow part of the lake, and a line
attached to each, of about thirty yards' length. The line was a cotton
one, with copper wire twisted in it; and to each line, at the distance
of every six feet, was attached a strong gimp hook, baited with a dead
minnow. The lines were laid down at dusk, with a weight at the end of
about half a pound. A boat was chartered, and the lines visited at
intervals the half part of the night. By drawing the line, it was easy
to detect if an eel was on the line. The result was the constant
employment of Karl and Axel in taking eels off the lines; and the next
day their clothes were white and shiny, with slime from the eels.
"You are so good to us, Herr Hardy," said Karl, "I wish you would live
always with us."
"We do not live only to catch fish," said Hardy; "each of us has his
duty and work to do; but there is no reason why we should not enjoy
the beautiful world God has given us, when we do our duty first. My
duty I know; yours you have yet to learn."
These simple words had a strong impression on the two lads, and were
never forgotten; and when Karl and Axel returned to their father's
house, they told him what Hardy had said, and he never forgot it
either.
"I think," said the Pastor to his daughter, "that Herr Hardy is as
good as he is kind."
One little circumstance that now occurred it is necessary to mention.
Hardy had been some time at the parsonage, and he therefore offered to
pay what he had agreed to pay for his board and lodging.
The Pastor refused to accept payment, "You have come here, and whilst
here have repaid us again and again by your kind ways and manners. My
two boys have grown in a few weeks to be gentle and considerate in
their conduct. They were rough and wild before. You have taught them
English, and their progress has astonished me. I have taught them
daily, but you have succeeded in teaching more in a few weeks than I
have years. I cannot repay this. I can only say I will receive no
money of yours."
"But I am well able to pay the moderate sum you stated that was your
wish I should pay, and I will pay it with pleasure."
"That may be," said the Pastor, "but the principle is the same. I
could not honestly take anything from you."
"Then I must leave," said Hardy; "I could not remain here at your
charge. I see I put you to more expenditure than is usual with you,
and I could not continue to do so."
"You are, of course, at liberty to leave when you wish," said the
Pastor; "but if you will give way in this, I shall feel I have at
least recognized in the only way in my power what you have done for me
and mine."
There was no doubt of the sincerity of the Pastor's meaning. His open
face was as clear to read as print.
Froken Helga was present at this interview, and Hardy looked at her in
the hope of finding in her expression as to what he should do. She was
knitting as usual. He thought there was a feeling that she wished the
matter should drop, so Hardy said--
"Well, Herr Pastor, all I can say is that the money is at your
disposition, and if you refuse to take it when I go away I shall pay
it to the Fattigkasse (poor box); and I must insist I have done
nothing more than any Englishman would do."
"Good, very good!" said the Pastor. "Let us shake hands, and there is
an end of it."
As Hardy took the Pastor's hand, he thought Froken Helga's face bore
an expression of approval, but her retiring manner made it impossible
to discover what her thoughts really were.
A few days after, at breakfast, the Pastor said to Hardy, "There is an
invitation for you to go to Gods-eier (landowner) Jensen's. They are
going to celebrate their silver wedding. They have also invited me and
my daughter Helga. Jensen breeds horses, and his reason for asking you
is probably because he has heard of your English horse. Niels Jacobsen
has talked with him about it. He saw him at a market some days ago.
You can, of course, decline; and, at any rate, you can do as you wish.
We shall go because they are friends of ours, and it would be a want
of respect not to go on such an occasion as a silver wedding. There
will be several persons there, and there will be a dinner at about
three, and a dance after, in which the younger people will join."
"Thank you," said Hardy; "I should like to see more of Danish society,
and I should wish to go for that reason."
John Hardy did not say that he had a strong wish to see Froken Helga
in society. He had seen her only at home, perpetually knitting and
occupied in the management of the affairs of the parsonage. He
observed, when she expressed a wish, that neither the wayward boys nor
the strong-minded Kirstin had the least thought of acting in
opposition to it, and he felt an interest in the opportunity of seeing
her in society, and observing whether there would be the same
unbending nature.
The invitation was therefore accepted.
The distance was about five English miles, and Garth drove the pair of
Danish horses in the neat livery of Hardy Place; and the Pastor and
his daughter sat together, while Hardy sat beside Garth. He did this
because he thought that Froken Helga would rather dispense with his
society.
"They will do eight miles," said Garth, "but I do not believe they
will do more; they go what you may call pretty, but there is not much
stay in them, and if you drive them out of their pace, they are cut
down at once."
"Yes, Bob," said Hardy; "but they will suit my mother, and they are
just what she wants and would like."
"Yes," said Bob Garth, "there is that; but they starves them so much
when they are young, and that does not make sinew or bone."
Notwithstanding Garth's predictions, the Jensen's mansion was reached
in half an hour from Vandstrup Praestegaard, and Garth drove up with a
flourish that impressed Herr Jensen, who was on the door steps.
"Are these the horses the Englishman bought a few days ago, Herr
Pastor Lindal?" asked Herr Jensen.
"Yes," said Pastor Lindal. "But how are you, and how is Fru Lindal and
your family?"
"They are all right, thank you, Herr Pastor," replied Herr Jensen.
"But I never saw horses so managed! Why, they could be sold in
Hamburgh for a lot of money. They are fit for any carriage anywhere."
If Fru Jensen had not appeared on the scene, it is possible that her
husband's interest in the horses might have been prolonged
indefinitely; but she conducted Froken Helga Lindal into the house,
introduced herself to John Hardy, and told the Pastor to tell the
English groom where to put up his horses and where to wait until he
should be required to return to Vandstrup Praestegaard.
Herr Jensen looked at the Englishman with interest, as he stood before
him in his evening dress, broad-shouldered with fine limbs, his
clothes fitting well, and looking like a wedge from his broad chest
down to his feet.
They went into an assembly-room, where many guests were gathered.
There were several landowners of the district with their families, and
John Hardy's simple manners and unmistakable stamp of gentleman made a
favourable impression. He was introduced to a Froken Jaeger, and was
told he would have to take her in to dinner. Hardy bowed.
"How old are you?" said Froken Jaeger.
"Twenty-eight," replied Hardy.
"What is your profession?" inquired Froken Jaeger.
"Landowner," replied Hardy. And Hardy was subjected to a
cross-examination that elicited from him that his father was dead
years ago, that his mother lived at Hardy Place, that he was a
magistrate for the English county where he resided, and was also an
officer in the yeomanry cavalry.
"Then why do you not wear a uniform?" inquired Froken Jaeger, with
some asperity.
"Because it is not allowed, and I do not wish it, when in a foreign
country," replied Hardy.
It is to be feared that if the cross-examination had been much longer,
that Hardy would have declined to answer any more questions, and have
exhibited some of that insularity that is so common in Englishmen; but
dinner was announced, and Hardy offered his arm, and Froken Jaeger was
soon occupied in other and more material subjects. She was about
thirty-five, according to Hardy's judgment, and had a long sharp nose
and an equally sharp chin, tending ultimately to form what some people
ungenerously call nutcrackers; but her appetite was good, and it left
an opportunity to Hardy to observe his fellow guests.
The Pastor sat near his host, and his daughter was paired with a young
Danish landowner, who paid her great attention. Her dress was simple,
with an ornament or two inherited from her mother; but her clear
complexion, her tall figure and clean-cut features impressed Hardy.
She talked with every one with animation, and Hardy could scarcely
realize the comparison between the quiet figure steadily knitting with
ear and eye always at her father's service to the perfect Danish lady
before him.
There were several toasts proposed during the dinner. The event of the
day had to be particularly recognized, which was done with much
enthusiasm. Then followed other toasts, and Hardy's health was drunk,
to which he had to reply. He rose quickly, and said in Danish that his
knowledge of the language was yet so imperfect that he could say
little more than thanks, but that he would add that he owed a debt of
kindness to the Danes with whom he had been brought in contact, and he
thanked them and his host for their kindness and consideration to a
foreigner. Hardy read in Froken Helga's face that what he had said was
what had her approval, and that he had said enough.
"You appear to look at Froken Helga Lindal, Herr Hardy," said Froken
Jaeger; "are you engaged to her?"
"No," said Hardy.
"But what do you think of her?"
"That she is an excellent daughter," replied Hardy.
"And that she would make an excellent wife?" said Froken Jaeger.
"Possibly," said Hardy, with a determination to say nothing more.
The dinner party broke up. The elder people of the male sort adjourned
to a very strong tobacco-parliament and cards; the younger went into
the assembly-room, which was now converted into a ball-room. Froken
Jaeger said, "Herr Hardy, I have put your name down in my list of
dances for the first dance, and you will dance with me."
Hardy went to Froken Helga Lindal, and besought her to deliver him
from Froken Jaeger; but she declined, and said, "You have to dance
with Froken Jaeger; you have taken her in to dinner, and it is our
custom."
"Then," said Hardy, "let me have one dance with you, a waltz?"
Helga gave him her list, and he wrote his name down for the first
waltz possible.
"Is it your father's wish to stay here a long time, Froken Helga?"
asked Hardy.
"No; but it depends on you," replied Helga. "He will not leave until
you wish, but I know the sooner he is home the better for him. But
Herr Jensen will want to talk to you about his horses."
"I will see him at once," said Hardy, "and tell him I will ride over
to-morrow to see his horses, and that will, I think, prevent any delay
arising from that cause."
So Hardy went into the tobacco-parliament, and arranged with Herr
Jensen to see him the following day, and the catechising Froken Jaeger
had to wait while the dance and the waltz she loved so well had begun;
but Hardy's appearance and his good dancing allayed her rising anger.
"Do you dance much in England?" said Froken Jaeger.
"No," said Hardy; "I do not like it."
At length the time came for his dance with Froken Helga Lindal, and as
they stood up the personal beauty of both was remarked. Helga's
elastic movement on Hardy's arm, the ease with which she danced in
perfect time, and her bright manner had its effect on Hardy. He was
not quite sure but that he had just told Froken Jaeger a story, in
saying that he did not like dancing.
"You dance well, Froken Helga!" said Hardy.
"I can do nothing so well as you," replied Helga. "But my father would
wish to leave, and if you can arrange it, I shall thank you so much.
You can do what you like; we cannot."
A short time after, they were sitting behind the trotting horses, and
the Pastor thanked Hardy for his consideration. "They are kind
people," said he, "but they do not think that my duty is never to be
away from my home, so that I can be called at any moment to do what
duty may arise, and which, if I should delay or omit, would be wrong."
"It is a strict view," said Hardy, "but it is the right one. I cannot
say it is general in England."