TROUT IN NOR IV A V, 19 



and again she returned to the house. Once more we 

 heard her coming after a long absence, and this time, 

 what a reward for our waiting ! we were invited into the 

 house. As we entered, we were received by a young lady, 

 who apologised for the absence of her father ; but when 

 we saw the table, we thought it as well that the cur- 

 mudgeon we had been warned against should be away. 

 On a dark, polished board were spread all the delicacies 

 that a substantial Norwegian house affords — dried meats 

 and fish, sausages of various sizes and hues, fruits, fresh 

 and dried, wines, and beer. Clearly w'e had fallen on 

 our feet this time. At the pleasant sight every eye 

 twinkled and we quickly settled into the places our kind 

 hostess bade us occupy. Every plate was filled, every 

 glass charged — but, as the first mouthful was impaled 

 on our forks there came a hurried footstep on the wooden 

 stairs, and a grating voice bawled in at the open door 

 " Dampen er kom !" (the steamer is here). These words 

 suggested a particular form of blessing on the interrupter 

 of the feast, which I fear rose to every lip though polite- 

 ness kept all silent. There was no help for it ; we must 

 go as hungry as we came, and we quitted our Tantalian 

 feast with the best grace we could assume. In miserable 

 plight, and in single file, we marched disconsolate away. 

 Our good hostess gave her hand to each as we left, and 

 received our " tousand tak " with sorrowful eyes, though 

 methought that the comicality of the scene half provoked 

 a smile to her lips, and when the last of us disappeared I 

 doubt not that she burst out, as did we all, into peals of 

 merriment. Our jolly friend, to whom we had nearly 



