Hardy looked at her. It was clear that, as usual, she said nothing but what she meant.
"If you come here again, you will go to Rosendal?" said the Pastor.
"Yes," replied Hardy. "My intention is to go to Rosendal in May, next year, and I hope to bring my mother with me; but, meanwhile, I have told the bailiff that the place is at your disposition, and Karl and Axel can catch all the fish in the lake they can; and as it is my intention to clear the lake of pike and put in trout instead, I hope they will use their best endeavours. My rods and tackle I will leave to assist them."
"You are so good to us, Herr Hardy!" said Karl.
"Yes; but I am afraid I have a proposition to make with regard to you, Karl, which may interrupt the fishing."
"Your present view with regard to Karl is that he should go to Copenhagen and be a legal student. Now, my proposition is that he returns with me to England, that he resides at Hardy Place and learns English, during the winter. I will get a tutor in the English curate with the English rector of my parish. I will, meanwhile, inquire if I can find him a place in an English house of business in London, and, if I can, it will be a better future for him than that of a legal student in Copenhagen. At any rate, the experiment can be tried; and there is another reason--it will cost you, Herr Pastor, nothing."
"It is kind," said the Pastor. "I will think of it, and I thank you, Hardy."
"I have much to thank you for, Herr Pastor. I have learnt much here," said Hardy, "and as you will take nothing from me for the cost I have put you to during my stay here, it will give me the opportunity of repaying in part my debts to you."
The Pastor rose up and extended his hand to Hardy, and said, "I cannot say how much I thank you. I accept it, Hardy."
His daughter had knitted as usual, but her head was bent over her work.
"Helga," said the Pastor, "why do you not speak?"
"Because, father," said Helga, "Herr Hardy is so good I do not know what to say. He is better than other men."
When Hardy said "Good night" to her, before he went to his room, she said, "Good night, sir!" in English, but would not take the hand Hardy held out to her.
"_Piscator._--But come, sir, I see you have dined, and therefore, if you please, we will walk down again to the little house, and I will read you a lecture on angling." --_The Complete Angler._