Tell us, General, are your new quarters to your taste, and before you reply know that we inspected them ourselves, and, having a liking for such tasks, attended to their furnishment.

'Tis done, you will see, in the Northern style, which we think somewhat cold and heavy--like your sword and tongue." "If the Augusta asks me," I said, "the quarters are too fine for a single soldier.

The two rooms where I dwelt before were sufficient." "A single soldier! Well, that is a fault which can be remedied.

You should marry, General Olaf." "When I find any woman who wishes to marry me and whom I wish to marry, I will obey the Augusta's commands." "So be it, General, only remember that first we must approve the lady.
Venture not, General, to share those new quarters of yours with any lady whom we do not approve." Then, followed by the Court, she turned and walked away, and I went about my business, wondering what was the meaning of all this guarded and half-bitter talk.
The next event that returns to me clearly is that of my public acceptance as a Christian in the great Cathedral of St.Sophia, which must have taken place not very long after this meeting upon the terrace.
I know that by every means in my power I had striven, though without avail, to escape this ceremony, pointing out that I could be publicly received into the body of the Church at any chapel where there was a priest and a congregation of a dozen humble folk.

But this the Empress would not allow.