And without affectation he began to talk about all the good people of Noroe, asking questions about each one; inquiring for his old school-mates, and about all that had happened since he went away.  He asked about their fishing adventures, and all the details of their daily life.  Then on his part, he satisfied the curiosity of his family, by giving an account of his mode of life in Stockholm; he told them about Dame Greta, about Kajsa, and the doctor.

“That reminds me that I have a letter for you, father,” he said, drawing it out of the inside pocket of his vest.  “I do not know what it contains, but the doctor told me to take good care of it, for it was about me.”

Mr. Hersebom took the letter, and laid it on the table by his side.

“Well!” said Erik, “are you not going to read it?”

“No,” answered the fisherman, laconically.

“But, since it concerns me?” persisted the young man.

“It is addressed to me,” said Mr. Hersebom, holding the letter before his eyes.  “Yes, I will read it at my leisure.”  Filial obedience is the basis of family government in Norway.

Erik bowed his head in acquiescence.

When they rose from the table, the three children seated themselves on their little bench in the chimney-corner, as they had so often done before, and began one of those confidential conversations, where each one relates what the other is curious to know, and where they tell the same things a hundred times.

Katrina busied herself about the room, putting everything in order; insisting that Vanda should for once “play the lady,” as she said, and not trouble herself about household matters.

As for Mr. Hersebom, he had seated himself in his favorite arm-chair, and was smoking his pipe in silence.  It was only after he had finished this important operation that he decided to open the doctor’s letter.

He read it through without saying a single word; then he folded it up, put it in his pocket, and smoked a second pipe, like the first, without uttering a sound.  He seemed to be absorbed in his own reflections.

Although he was never a talkative man, his silence appeared singular to Dame Katrina.  After she had finished her work, she went and seated herself beside him, and made two or three attempts to draw him into conversation, but she only received the most brief replies.  Being thus repulsed, she became melancholy, and the children themselves, after talking breathlessly for some time, began to be affected by the evident sadness of their parents.

Twenty youthful voices singing in chorus before the door suddenly greeted their ears, and made a happy diversion.  It was a merry band of Erik’s old classmates, who had conceived the pleasant idea of coming to give him a cordial welcome home.

They hastened to invite them into the house, and offered them the customary feast, whilst they eagerly pressed around their old friend to express the great pleasure which they felt in seeing him again.  Erik was touched by the unexpected visit of the friends of his childhood, and was anxious to go with them on their Christmas journey, and Vanda and Otto also were, naturally, eager to be of the party.  Dame Katrina charged them not to go too far, but to bring their brother back early, as he needed rest after his journey.