Poor Hulda sunk half fainting into a chair while Sylvius Hogg was reading this letter, and she was sobbing violently when he concluded its perusal.

Joel, with his arms folded tightly upon his breast, listened in silence, without daring to glance at his sister.

Dame Hansen, as soon as the reading was concluded, went up to her room.  She seemed to have been expecting the blow.

The professor beckoned Hulda and her brother to his side.  He wanted to talk with them calmly and sensibly on the subject, and he expressed a confidence that was singular, to say the least, after Help, Junior’s letter.  They had no reason to despair.  Were there not countless examples of protracted delays while navigating the seas that lie between Norway and Newfoundland?  Yes, unquestionably.  And was not the “Viking” a strong craft, well officered, and manned by an excellent crew, and consequently in a much better condition than many of the vessels that had come safely into port?  Most assuredly.

“So let us continue to hope,” he added, “and wait.  If the ‘Viking’ had been wrecked between Iceland and Newfoundland the numerous vessels that follow the same route to reach Europe would certainly have seen some trace of the disaster.  But no, not a single floating plank or spar did they meet on the whole of this route, which is so much frequented at the conclusion of the fishing season.  Still, we must take measures to secure information of a more positive nature.  If we receive no further news of the ‘Viking’ during the coming week, nor any letter from Ole, I shall return to Christiania and ask the Naval Department to make careful inquiries, and I feel sure that the result will prove eminently satisfactory to all concerned.”

In spite of the hopeful manner assumed by the professor, Joel and Hulda both felt that he did not speak as confidently as he had spoken before the receipt of the letter from Bergen—­a letter whose contents gave them little if any grounds for hope.  In fact, Sylvius Hogg no longer dared to venture any allusion to the approaching marriage of Hulda and Ole Kamp, though he said to himself again and again: 

“No, no, it is impossible!  Ole Kamp never cross the threshold of Dame Hansen’s house again?  Ole not marry Hulda?  Nothing will ever make me believe such a misfortune possible.”

He was perfectly sincere in this conviction.  It was due to the energy of his character, to a spirit of hopefulness that nothing could crush.  But how could he hope to convince others, especially those whom the fate of the “Viking” affected so directly?

A few days were allowed to elapse.  Sylvius Hogg, who was now entirely well, took a long walk every day, and persuaded Hulda and her brother to accompany him.  One day all three of them went up the valley of Vesfjorddal half-way to the falls of the Rjukan.  The next day they went to Moel and Lake Tinn.  Once they were even absent twenty-four hours.  This time they prolonged their excursion to Bamble, where the professor made the acquaintance of Farmer Helmboe and his daughter Siegfrid.  What a cordial welcome the latter gave to her friend Hulda, and what words of tenderness she found to console her!