224 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
between families. When once the thing is done, and 
the abducted bride has reached her new home, he sub- 
mits with patience to what cannot be avoided. Exas- 
peration would only make him ridiculous, for the bold 
lover has the precedent of long-established custom, and 
the laugh on his own side. 
Tt certainly has occurred that the parents or relations 
have kept guard over a too amatory maiden, and, for 
further precaution, have even kept her under lock and 
key, or bolted her in the cellar ; but almost always the 
loving couple have found means to obviate all impedi- 
ments—“ for if a man’s stratagems are deep laid, we 
know well that a woman’s are unfathomable.” When a 
girl has had two or more suitors, and she gets at last 
weary of such an existence, it often happens that, in 
order to put an end to it, she allows herself to be carried 
off by the one who has been the secret object of her 
heart’s affections. The rejected rivals have then nothing 
else left than to find another sweetheart as quickly as 
possible. Such is the prescribed custom. They are to 
be then seeing going from door to door, and making 
proposals to the first girl they meet with; for if the 
rejected rival can only feel inclined, and can get married 
before the favoured lover, then—and then only—has he 
wiped out the disgrace which the refusal and the being 
jilted has cast on his good name and reputation; a 
custom which, if generally followed, would contribute 
