“Not at all.  But it was a lucky day for them when the Hansen family made your acquaintance.”

“Nonsense! it was a much more fortunate thing for me that they crossed my path.”

“I see that you have the same kind heart still.”

“Well, as one is obliged to have a heart it is best to have a good one, isn’t it?” retorted the professor, with a genial smile.  “But you needn’t suppose that I came here merely in search of compliments,” he continued.  “It was for an entirely different object, I assure you.”

“Believe me, I am quite at your service.”

“You are aware, I suppose, that but for the timely intervention of Joel and Hulda Hansen, the Rjukanfos would never have yielded me up alive, and I should not have the pleasure of seeing you to-day?”

“Yes, yes, I know,” replied Mr. Benett.  “The papers have published full accounts of your adventure, and those courageous young people really deserve to win the capital prize.”

“That is my opinion,” answered Sylvius Hogg, “but as that is quite out of the question now, I am unwilling for my friend Hulda to return to Dal without some little gift as a sort of memento of her visit to Christiania.”

“That is certainly an excellent idea, Mr. Hogg.”

“So you must assist me in selecting something that would be likely to please a young girl.”

“Very willingly,” responded Mr. Benett.  And he forthwith invited the professor to step into the jewelry department, for was not a Norwegian ornament the most charming souvenir that one could take away with one from Christiania and from Mr. Benett’s wonderful establishment?

Such at least was the opinion of Sylvius Hogg when the genial merchant exhibited the contents of his show-cases.

“As I am no connoisseur in such matters I must be guided by your taste, Mr. Benett,” he remarked.

They had before them a very large and complete assortment of native jewelry, which is usually valuable rather by reason of the elaborateness of its workmanship than any costliness of material.

“What is this?” inquired the professor.

“It is a ring with pendants which emit a very pleasant sound.”

“It is certainly very pretty,” replied Sylvius Hogg, trying the bauble on the tip of his little finger.  “Lay it aside, Mr. Benett, and let us look at something else.”

“Bracelets or necklaces?”

“At a little of everything, if you please, Mr. Benett—­a little of everything.  What is this?”

“A set of ornaments for the corsage.  Look at that delicate tracery of copper upon a red worsted groundwork.  It is all in excellent taste, though not very expensive.”

“The effect is certainly charming, Mr. Benett.  Lay the ornaments aside with the ring.”

“But I must call your attention to the fact that these ornaments are reserved for the adornment of youthful brides on their wedding-day, and that—­”