CHAPTER VI.

Erik’s decision.

The next day the fisherman called Erik to him, and in the presence of Katrina, Otto, and Vanda, spoke to him as follows: 

“Erik, the letter of Doctor Schwaryencrona was about you.  He writes that you have given entire satisfaction to your teachers, and the doctor offers to pay all the expenses of your education, if you wish to continue your studies.  But this letter also requires you to decide for yourself, whether you will accept this offer, or remain with us at Noroe, which we would like so much to have you do, as you no doubt know.  But before you make up your mind, I must tell you a great secret, a secret that my wife and I would have preferred to keep to ourselves.”

At this moment Dame Katrina could not restrain her tears, and, sobbing, she took the hand of Erik and pressed it to her heart, as if protesting against the information which the young man was now to hear.

“This secret,” continued Mr. Hersebom, in a strangely altered voice, “is that you are our son only by adoption.  I found you on the sea, my child, and brought you home when you were only eight or nine months old.  God is my witness that we never intended to tell you this, and neither my wife nor myself have ever made the least difference between you, and Otto, and Vanda.  But Doctor Schwaryencrona requires us to do so.  Therefore, I wish you to read what he has written to me.”

Erik had suddenly become deadly pale.  Otto and Vanda, surprised at what they had heard, both uttered a cry of astonishment.  Then they put their arms around Erik, and clung closely to him, one on the right, and the other on the left.

Then Erik took the doctor’s letter, and without trying to conceal his emotion, he read what he had written to Mr. Hersebom.

The fisherman then told him all the facts about himself.  He explained how Dr. Schwaryencrona had undertaken to try and discover the family to which he belonged; and, also, that he had been unsuccessful.  How, that but for his advice and suggestions, they would never have thought of doing so.  Then Dame Katrina arose, and going to the oaken chest, brought out the garments that the baby had worn, and showed him also the coral which had been fastened around his neck.  The story was naturally so full of dramatic interest to the children, that they forgot for a time, at least, how sad it was.  They looked with wonder at the lace, and velvet, the golden setting of the coral, and the inscription.  It almost seemed to them as if they were taking part in some fairy tale.  The impossibility of obtaining any information, as reported by the doctor, only made them regard these articles as almost sacred.

Erik looked at them as if he were in a dream, and his thoughts flew to the unknown mother, who, without doubt, had herself dressed him in these little garments, and more than once shook the coral before the eyes of the baby to make him smile.  It seemed to him when he touched them as if he held direct communion with her through time and space.