Macfarlane vied with the ever-gallant Duprez in making a few compliments to Britta, who was pretty and engaging enough to merit attention, and who, after all, was something more than a mere servant, possessing, as she did, a great deal of her young mistress's affection and confidence, and being always treated by Gueldmar himself as one of the family.

There was no reserve or coldness in the party, and the hum of their merry voices echoed up to the cross-rafters of the stout wooden ceiling and through the open door and window, from whence a patch of the gorgeous afternoon sky could be seen, glimmering redly, like a distant lake of fire.

They were in the full enjoyment of their repast, and the old farmer's rollicking "Ha, ha, ha!" in response to a joke of Lorimer's, had just echoed jovially through the room, when a strong, harsh voice called aloud--"Olaf Gueldmar!" There was a sudden silence.

Each one looked at the other in surprise.
Again the voice called--"Olaf Gueldmar!" "Well!" roared the _bonde_ testily, turning sharply round in his chair, "who calls me ?" "I do!" and the tall, emaciated figure of a woman advanced and stood on the threshold, without actually entering the room.

She dropped the black shawl that enveloped her, and, in so doing, disordered her hair, which fell in white, straggling locks about her withered features, and her dark eyes gleamed maliciously as she fixed them on the assembled party.
Britta, on perceiving her, uttered a faint shriek, and without considering the propriety of her action, buried her nut-brown curls and sparkling eyes in Duprez's coat-sleeve, which, to do the Frenchman justice, was exceedingly prompt to receive and shelter its fair burden.
The _bonde_ rose from his chair, and his face grew stern.
"What do you here, Lovisa Elsland?
Have you walked thus far from Talvig to pay a visit that must needs be unwelcome ?" "Unwelcome I know I am," replied Lovisa, disdainfully noting the terror of Britta and the astonished glances if Errington and his friends--"unwelcome at all times,--but most unwelcome at the hour of feasting ad folly,--for who can endure to receive a message from the Lord when the mouth is full of savory morsels, and the brain reels with the wicked wine?
Yet I have come in spite of your iniquities.