The time certainly passed swiftly and pleasantly there.  He had written to Christiania that he should probably spend some time at Dal.  The story of his adventure at the Rjukanfos was known throughout the country.  The newspapers had got hold of it, and embellished the account after their fashion, so a host of letters came to the inn, to say nothing of pamphlets and newspapers.  All these had to be read and answered, and the names of Joel and Hulda which were necessarily mentioned in the correspondence, soon became known throughout Norway.

Nevertheless, this sojourn at Dame Hansen’s inn could not be prolonged indefinitely, though Sylvius Hogg was still as much in doubt as ever, in regard to the manner in which he should pay his debt of gratitude.  Of late, however, he had begun to suspect that this family was not as happy as he had at first supposed.  The impatience with which the brother and sister awaited the arrival of the daily mail from Christiania and Bergen, their disappointment and even chagrin on finding no letters for them, all this was only too significant.

It was already the ninth of June, and still no news from the “Viking!” The vessel was now more than a fortnight overdue, and not a single line from Ole!  No news to assuage Hulda’s anxiety.  The poor girl was beginning to despair, and Sylvius Hogg saw that her eyes were red with weeping when he met her in the morning.

“What can be the matter?” he said to himself, more than once.  “They seem to be concealing some misfortunes from me.  Is it a family secret, I wonder, with which a stranger can not be allowed to meddle?  But do they still regard me as a stranger?  No.  Still, they must think so; but when I announce my departure they will perhaps understand that it is a true friend who is about to leave them.”

So that very day he remarked: 

“My friends, the hour is fast approaching when, to my great regret, I shall be obliged to bid you good-bye.”

“So soon, Mister Sylvius, so soon?” exclaimed Joel, with a dismay he could not conceal.

“The time has passed very quickly in your company, but it is now seventeen days since I came to Dal.”

“What! seventeen days!” repeated Hulda.

“Yes, my dear child, and the end of my vacation is approaching.  I have only a week at my disposal if I should extend my journey to Drammen and Kongsberg.  And though the Storthing is indebted to you for not being obliged to elect another deputy in my place, the Storthing will know no better how to compensate you than I do.”

“Oh!  Mister Sylvius,” cried Hulda, placing her little hand upon his lips to silence him.

“Oh, I understand, Hulda.  That is a forbidden subject, at least here.”

“Here and everywhere,” replied the girl, gayly.

“So be it!  I am not my own master, and I must obey.  But you and Joel must come and pay me a visit at Christiania.”

“Pay you a visit?”