^. 



Vadsasth and Svardal. i8i 



been enjoyed on the fjord steamer at 2 p.m. the previ<3u8 

 afternoon. 



It was exactly two hours after our arrival that we sat 

 down to a repast of eggs, bread, and coffee, the natives 

 having occupied the interval in running about all over 

 the country-side collecting the food and table requisites. 

 That interval, we both agreed, was not the most pleasant 

 of our existence, but it is best to allow the people to have 

 their own way in these little matters. 



An incident, though trifling in itself, was not without 

 humour, especially as we had existed for some hours 

 without a laugh. A good lady having laid the table, and 

 supplied us with food and cofiee, was then utterly at 

 a loss to know where to locate herself. First she stationed 

 herself in such proximity to my right elbow that I was 

 unable to lift my arm ; not satisfied with this position, 

 she proceeded to pay Tom a similar attention. 

 ■ We moved not a muscle, nor dared to glance at each 

 other. However, she seemed to think she was not yet in 

 quite the right position, so, taking up a chair, with difficulty 

 she managed to squeeze it in between our two, and 

 inserted herself upon it. 



The three of us, thus crowded together in about one- 

 fourth the space of the table, would have afforded a 

 touching picture, and we were much relieved in more 

 ways than one when the good lady was enticed away in 



