Midsummer \ LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OP CALIFORNIA J LIFR. MIDSUMMER A STORY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK BOSTON CHICAGO DALLAS ATLANTA SAN FRANCISCO MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED LONDON BOMBAY CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN CO. OP CANADA, LTD. TORONTO "THAT IS NORE CARLSON, JUST A FISHER BOY.' EDUC.- PSYCH, UBRAftY MIDSUMMER A Story for Boys and Girls BY KATHARINE ADAMS AUTHOR OF "MEHITABLE," ETC. J?eto gorfe THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1921 All rights reserved PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA memo* COPYRIGHT, 1921 BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1921 FERRIS PRINTING COMPANY LJL&-, FOR EUGENIA PALMER JANE EDWARD MARY FELL AND FRANCIS ANNE ARTHUR JULIA LYNN CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. On the Rocks - i II. Axel's Invitation - 13 III. "En Socker Bagere" - 26 IV. Making Friends 37 V. The Name's Day - 49 VI. Hjalmar's Story 72 VII. On the Way to the City Beautiful - 85 VIII. Sun and Shadow 97 IX. Midsummer Night - 116 X. Eugene 128 XI. By the Palace Steps - - - 138 XII. The Dejeuner 147 XIII. On the Balcony - 157 XIV. Boo - 172 XV. In the Tower - - 189 XVI. Sorrow - - 198 XVII. About Rudolph 206 XVIII. Anticipation - 217 XIX. The Castle Opens It's Doors - 225 XX. Nore - - 236 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "That is Nore Carlson, just a fisher boy" . . . .Frontispiece "The Castle is so big and gloomy," said Audrey 8 The stately palace gleamed in the sunlight, across the bridge 102 Astrid had never seen a street like this before 129 MIDSUMMER A STORY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CHAPTER i On the Rocks U WE are to meet them on the rocks, old Hjalmar from the castle is to row them over. Isn't it splen- did to think they are really here!" Valfried Zander tossed her gold braid of hair over her shoulder as she helped her little sister Astrid to climb into the green, freshly painted boat, then she called. "Jacken come." A fat black and brown dachshund waddled slowly across the shiny beach and as slowly scrambled over the edge of the rowboat, settling himself comfortably under the first seat. Bjorn, her brother, gave a shove with his hand on the hot beach, as he jumped into the boat. He had been fishing and his plump good-natured face was very red. He took the oars and the boat glided out onto the grey green water. There were splashes of color everywhere, purple and gold streaks on the bay, the sky too was purple with strange flashes of green and scarlet, for it was evening in Sweden and it was almost midsummer time. Valfried seated herself in the stern of the boat, 2 Midsummer fanning herself with her wide straw hat. Her blue cotton frock was splashed with seaweed. Little Astrid left her seat and came and sat next her sister. She had a doll under her arm, a doll dressed in a red skirt, white bodice and tall black velvet cap; her cousin Signa Thorm had brought it to her when she had come from Dalarne, to see them at Christmas. Bjorn frowned at Astrid. "How many times have I told you not to change your seat when the boat is on the bay!" He spoke in a cross sort of way. Bjorn was sixteen and he felt that he should keep his sister in order, especially Astrid who did not mind his scoldings in the least. "The new girl will like my doll, I know she will. I don't think she's ever seen one as nice, do you, sis- ter?" Before Valfried could answer she said to her brother: "Oh Bjorn, mother told you to put on a clean collar and you forgot." "We've so hoped that the Count Essen's grand- children would come from America and now they're really here, in a few minutes we shall see them and soon we shall know them well. Audrey, what an odd name the girl has, it's not at all Swedish; but the boy's name is sensible, it is Sven," said Valfried, putting her arm around Astrid. "The girl is like her name, she's not a bit Swed- ish," answered Bjorn, lifting his oar and watching the drops that fell from it, turn to azure and gold On the Rocks 3 in the brilliant light. "Our Karl saw her this morn- ing when he took the milk, he says she has dark eyes and hair and that she looks quite unlike of any us. He didn't see her to speak to, but the boy walked down the path with him. He told him they felt a bit lonely and were looking forward to knowing us, the boy's all right Karl says, he spoke a little Swed- ish. It must have been funny Swedish for Karl didn't understand much that he said." "Karl is rather stupid. Oh isn't that just like a boy. Why didn't you tell us before that he had seen them? I should have told you right away." "Here's the Gustafsburg boat, we'll have to hurry unless you want to take the waves," called Bjorn as suddenly from around a huge pile of rocks at the end of the bay, appeared a large white steamer. The rocks were grey and mysterious, rising out of the clear rainbow tinted water, the fjords were deep but so narrow, guarded as they were by the great piles of granite, that the boats glided through them un- observed until they appeared at the opening of the bay. "I don't want to take the waves, Bjorn," whim- pered Astrid, holding her doll tightly. "You're not a coward I hope, all your ancestors have been in the navy and one of them saved seven lives in a wreck," said Bjorn. However he good nat- uredly pulled hard at the oars. It was too late for the steamer was close on them and so in spite of 4 Midsummer Astrid, there was nothing to do but turn the boat so that its brow met the waves squarely. The next moment they were dipping down, down into the great green waves, the spray sweeping over them. Valfried laughed with delight but Astrid held her doll very tightly and cuddled close to her sister. Peo- ple on the decks waved to them, and soon after the boat went by, the waves grew calmer and they were able to land. Bjorn shoved the boat well up on the sand at the foot of a great stretch of rocks, then he lifted Astrid out, setting her on a ledge just above him. Valfried had jumped quickly out and by the time the others reached her, was waving towards a rowboat which appeared as suddenly from behind the rocks, as the steamer had done. An old man was rowing a boat in which were the two new comers, a boy and a girl. As soon as they had landed he rowed quickly away, disappearing behind the rocks. Bjorn went half way down to meet them but Val- fried, suddenly shy, sat at the top and tried not to appear as excited as she felt, when they came up to her. She stood up and gave the girl her hand, pull- ing hard so as to help her over the last boulder. "You're Sven and Audrey, aren't you? We're so glad you've come," she said, pulling her sister around in front of her, for Astrid too, had felt shy and this was very unusual indeed. The girl spoke first; she had short dark hair which On the Rocks 5 flapped about her face and she wore a dark sailor suit. "Yes, we came last night. We've heard of you from Tante Greta and I guess we'll be great friends." She smiled at the three of them and so did Sven. |His hair was not as dark as his sister's and he had blue eyes. "It's great fun being here, it's dandy. I'm mighty glad we're going to get acquainted," said Sven, as they all sat down on the rocks. "We can have much fun out here on the rocks, and in the water. Do you swim?" asked Bjorn. "Oh, yes, we go to the seashore every summer with granny, but it's all so different from this, hun- dreds of people on the beach; you don't know how different it is," answered the girl before her brother could speak. She opened a basket and brought out an elaborate cake covered with sugar and nuts, a flask of milk and five white enamel cups. "Tante Greta asked if we wanted coffee and I said we never drank it, so she gave me the milk to have with this wonderful cake. She says a woman makes them who lives in a place called Boo, near here such a funny name Boo." Audrey Bradford threw back her head and laughed and the others laughed too. "It's a funny little village an hour's sail from here, it's the nearest village to the castle. Your aunt means old Fru Wallman. This is good 6 Midsummer isn't it!" exclaimed Valfried. Audrey poured out the milk and Sven passed around the cake which Audrey had cut into ample slices. "Don't you like coffee?" asked little Astrid; she had been looking steadily at Audrey ever since she sat down beside her on the rock. Audrey smiled at her. "Not much, do you? Oh will you let me see your doll?" She held it up ad- miringly. "She's dressed like a Dalacarnian peasant; we have cousins who live where they all dress that way," explained Valfried. "Astrid and I went to visit them once; we all went to church in a boat and rowed across the bay in the longest boat you ever saw." "It was most a mile long," put in Astrid. "Nonsense, Astrid, it was nothing of the kind, but it held about twenty people." "We must go there, Sven. Oh I want to see every- thing, I want to see all the world." The Zander children looked at her with great in- terest, she was so different from them. "Tante Greta seems so quiet and sad, poor dear, and the castle is so big and gloomy. Sven and I were homesick last night, weren't we, Sven?" Sven nodded. "It was sort of funny, so different from New York; we'd just arrived, and, well, grand- father and Tante Greta aren't like father." "They almost never leave the castle. Mother asks your aunt to come for coffee but she never does. On the Rocks 7 Mother's been to have coffee with her, she was asked to come the last time, when the letter had arrived saying you and Sven were coming," said Val- fried who had always very much wanted to see inside the castle and had begged her mother in vain to take her when she went to see Froken Essen, the children's aunt. "It's going to be splendid now that we know you," Audrey went on. "Isn't it strange to think of all the things we've seen that you've never seen and all the things you've seen that we don't know anything about!" "I don't believe they've ever heard of Coney Island; think what they've missed," remarked Sven with a laugh, as they gathered together the remains of the cake and the cups. Sven was already begin- ning to feel better, it was so jolly, meeting these new friends. "Yes, I've read about Coney Island, I'm going to see it some day. I'm going to be in the navy and so I'll travel around everywhere," answered Bjorn. Audrey looked at the silver flagon which she held in her hands; it had the Essen coat of arms embossed on one side, two swords crossed. She gazed at it curiously for a moment, shaking the dark hair out of her eyes. "This is mother's country, our mother whom we cannot remember. You must tell us, oh, so many things. You see father was only just one month in Sweden years ago when he first met mother. Path- 8 Midsummer er's so American, he says he only remembers Sweden because it was where he met mother. He was in Stockholm all the time, he only came out to the Castle On The Rocks to be married." Audrey spoke in a quick, impulsive sort of way but the Zanders seemed to understand her. "You know English pretty well, don't you?" said Sven to Valfried, as Audrey finished speaking. "Well, we had an English governess for five years, we ought to be able to speak and understand it. Don't you two speak Swedish at all?" "Not much, just a few words," answered Sven, as though he were ashamed of the fact. "We're going to learn, old Hjalmar has prom- ised to teach me, I asked him. I like Hjalmar, he's so sort of, Oh like an old servant in a story book, he's so different from any one at home," Audrey laughed as she spoke, putting her arm around Astrid who snuggled up to her. "I love you," announced Astrid, "I'm going to tell you all my secrets, you're nicer than Valfried," she went on. "She's always talking things to Irigeborg Wicander and telling me to run along and not bother." They all laughed, except Valfried who did not seem any too well pleased. "I know we're going to have some dandy times, all of us together," said Sven, "I think it's jolly here." "THE CASTLE IS SO BIG AND GLOOMY," SAID AUDREY. On the Rocks 9 "It's like a dream," answered Audrey, looking off at the flashes of green in the northern sky. "Sweden isn't a dream," exclaimed little Astrid indignantly. "It's the very best country in the world. ' They all laughed merrily at this, and Sven patted Astrid's arm. "I think it's a tip top country, Astrid," he said. "We'll swim and row and have picnics," Valfried smiled at Audrey as she spoke. Bjorn and Sven started down the rocks to look for Bjorn's fishing rods which he kept in a cave-like place in the side of the rocks, with some other treasures. The girls began at once to get better acquainted. Valfried forgot to be shy and seeing that Audrey was interested, told her of school in Stockholm in the winter, of the dancing class that met every Sat- urday night, at the home of different playmates, where they learned to dance their national dances and wore the dresses of the different provinces. "Oh the dances are such fun, Audrey, I know you'd love them; perhaps we can go up to Stockholm while you're here and go out to Skansen and see the peas- ants dance." "They have chocolate with whipped cream on top and cakes too, when the dancing class meets at our house. Mother lets me stay up till the cakes are passed around," said Astrid. Some hungry seagulls flapped their wings nearby and she took the last of her piece of cake to share io Midsummer with them, climbing down the rocks as fast as her fat legs would take her. The boys called to them to come down and Val- fried called back: "In a few minutes, it's early yet." Then she said, turning to Audrey, "It's wonderful to think you've really come ; I've thought about it for so long and have wondered about you." Audrey nodded. "I'm glad we've come. Last night I was homesick and after I'd gone to bed I thought of the hotel where we live, in New York, of the busses on Fifth Avenue and of the colored boy, at the hotel, the elevator boy who used to sing hymns for us, of soda water and even chewing gum though I don't like it very well. Such funny things came into my mind, I mean things I never would have thought I'd miss." She looked off towards the castle, towering high above them, on the great rocks. "The castle must be the most dismal place in the world in winter, it's dismal anyway. Do you know, Val- fried, I'll love everything here, except the castle, but whenever I think of it, I'm sad." Valfried was silent for a minute, she hesitated before she answered, "Your grandfather is a very sad old man, or so the people say; he hasn't talked to any one for years, I mean, anyone outside the castle." Audrey nodded. "They're both sad, Aunt Greta hasn't smiled once since we came,' yet she is so gentle On the Rocks 1 1 and kind. There's a mystery oh, Valfried, do you suppose there is one, wouldn't it be well sort of interesting if there should be a mystery? Anyway, the castle isn't a happy place at all." The boys called again and they both stood up. Valfried wound her fair hair around her head as they stood for a moment, looking off at the gorgeous scarlet and purple of the sea and sky. The two girls looked at each other after a min- ute, they smiled at each other, happy in their new- found friendship. Audrey had brown eyes, with black specks in them. "Pepper and salt eyes," Sven called them. Her black bobbed hair stood out each side of her tanned little face, she wore a dark blue Peter Thompson suit and Valfried in her pale blue cotton frock, with her light hair, looked very fair beside her. There was a sound of water splashing and both girls looked down quickly. A boat glided around the bend in the rocks and slowly passed by them. In the boat stood a boy, paddling with an oar; he wore rough dark trousers and a white shirt, which was open at the throat, showing his brown neck and chest. The afterglow of the sun fell full upon him, the water around the boat was bronze and gold and the boy's hair shone like gold in the dazzling light. He held his head slightly back and as he passed the girls, he saw them, where they stood, high on the rocks. He smiled a little shyly at Valfried and 12 Midsummer slightly nodded his head and the boat glided on, down the bay. Audrey turned and put her hand on Valfried's arm. "Who is that?" she asked. Valfried looked at her a little curiously, for she seemed startled. "Why that is Nore Carlson, just a fisher boy who lives across the bay. He taught Bjorn to fish and sail, he's just his age, fifteen." Audrey stood quite still near the edge of the rock and watched the vanishing boat, a black spot in the rainbow water. U A fisher boy," she said half to herself. "I don't know why, but I want that boy to be my friend." CHAPTER 2 Axel's Invitation "CALL the children, Nore, supper's ready." "Yes, mother." Nore shouted across the sun- drenched beach: "Thure, Marta, Karl, come!" There was a faint answering shout, in the dis- tance, and several little figures, dark against the pur- ple and scarlet of the sea and sky, came running towards their brother. Nore stood waiting for them, tossing his cap high in the air and catching it. He was tall for his fifteen years, slightly built but strong enough. When his sister Thure ran up to him, he caught her in his arms, swung her to his shoulder, and ran with her into the little low-roofed cottage which was their home. The tiny house was set in the midst of a heaped up pile of rocks, stones and seaweed. The other children ran laughingly after Nore, up the wooden steps and into the living room. Their mother looked up at them as she set a plate of freshly fried fish on the table. 13 14 Midsummer "Wash your hands quickly for supper, children; you must have been playing for over an hour on the beach," she said. "Oh mother, we found a star fish. Oh mother, I'm so hungry," called little Thure, as Nore set her down from his shoulder. Marta, a girl of thirteen, caught her hand and they ran on out through the door at the back, leading from a tiny bedroom, to the bright green pump which stood at one side of the cottage. They danced about, a moment, in the fresh bril- liant air, before they pushed the creaking handle, up and down, and washed their hands and faces for supper. When they were all seated at the table and had been plentifully helped to the fish and potatoes and hard grey Swedish bread, their mother, smiling first at Nore and then at the others, said: "Old Hjalmar from the castle was here, while you were out, all of you, to-day. He had news!" "May we each have three guesses, mother?" asked Marta "I guess then, it was some surprise for Thure's Name Day, old Hjalmar always has a surprise for her." "I guess that it's something to do with the mid- Summer dance, on the green at Boo, next week," said twelve year old Karl. The mother turned towards the eldest boy. "What do you guess, Nore?" she asked. Axel's Invitation 15 Nore smiled at her as he passed her the bread. "My guess is that the Fairy Princess has come," he said. The mother nodded. "Nore is right," she said. "It was hardly a guess, mother, because I saw her; she was standing on the rocks with Froken Valfried Zander when I went by them in the boat, a few minutes ago." There was a clamor of voices as the children eagerly questioned him. Fru Carlson looked at him as eagerly as the others, though she said nothing. She was a sweet faced woman, whose light hair was brushed straight back from her face. Her hands were rough and work worn but they were the most loving hands in the world, to the four children who sat about the table. "I only saw her for a moment," said Nore, in answer to the children's questions. "The boy wasn't there, I think I saw him with Bjorn, in the distance. The girl is very dark." He stood up and carried his plate and cup over to the sink, as he spoke, and his mother's eyes followed him. Marta cleared the table quietly and neatly and put before her mother a bowl of wild strawberries. Nore smiled with pleasure when he saw them. "Thure and I picked them this afternoon, we played in the woods where we found the lingon* in September," said twelve year old Karl. * lingon small bright red berry, tasting like cranberry. 1 6 Midsummer Marta and Thurc were busy talking over the ar- rival of the children at the castle, as they washed the dishes. Marta washed and little Thure dried the dishes very nicely with some clean blue and white towels, and put them away in the white wood cup- board, behind the door. "Come, Nore, help put the dishes away, just for fun, and go on with the story about the lost Viking ships please," called Marta gaily, as she put a ket- tle full of fresh water on the stove to heat, so that the pretty little rose china saucers which they had used for the wild strawberries could be nicely washed. "Their mother sat in the doorway, her hands fold- ed in her lap; she turned and spoke over her shoulder to Marta: "Nore didn't hear you, he's gone off down the beach, he's had a long day." She sighed as she spoke and as she looked off at the dancing waters there was a strange expression in her eyes. It was as though she was thinking deeply, as though she was struggling with some thought that she could not put in words. "Karl," she said a little sharply, "fix the nets. Your brother needs rest; you must learn to do more of the work for you are almost twelve." She put her hand lovingly on the boy's shoulder as she spoke but she looked off down the beach at the slight figure of the older lad. Karl who sat on the rough ground Axel's Invitation 17 close to his mother, stood up at her words, and start- ed to go around the corner of the cottage. He, too, looked off at his brother. "Mother," he asked, "do you think when I'm as old as Nore that I'll be as straight and tall and and" he paused a minute "as different?" His mother smiled. "No, you will not be like Nore, my alskling,* but no doubt you will be fine and large and always your mother will love you," she spoke quite merrily and hugged little Thure who had come and sat down in her lap, the dish cloth still in her hand. "Mama lilla, I want a new dress for Sophie," she coaxed, patting her mother's cheek, and holding out her very forlorn doll for her mother to see. "I want to play that she is invited to the castle, to a ball, and she could not go like this." Fru Carlson laughed and so did Marta who came and sat beside her mother, on the step. "Oh mother, I do want to see the strange chil- dren, just think, they've come all the way from America." Marta put her chin in her hand and looked off at the great grey mass of granite, across the bay. "It can't be a very happy place, mother, not for a girl." She put her arms about her mother and hugged her. "I'd rather be here, just all of us together, than in any castle anywhere!" she ex- claimed. alsklinfc darling;. 1 8 Midsummer Karl came around the corner, his arms full of the slippery nets. He went slowly down the rocks and Marta ran to help him. They stretched the nets to dry, across some poles; there were little rolls of birch bark attached to the upper sides of the poles, to keep the nets tight. 'They'll be dry before breakfast if it's the sort of day I think it'll be tomorrow," said Karl, "I'm going to ask Nore if I can go along too, if mother can spare me, I'm tired of playing with Magnus Larson, I want to see something." "Well, you won't see very much, just going up the skerries a little way, with Nore," answered Marta as they walked back to the cottage. "Nore and I have good times when I go fishing with him see those new sails of old Gustaf Mam- burg," exclaimed Karl, turning to watch the stately sail boat, with it's red sails. He waved his hand and someone from the boat waved back. Meanwhile Nore had walked slowly down the beach. He threw himself down on the sand at last and pulled his cap down: over his eyes, for the eve- ning sun was blinding. He had been fishing all day and he was tired. "Pepparkakor," a half breed sheep dog, who had appeared suddenly at his side, as he walked along the beach, lay down beside him and sighed as though he too, were tired. "Where have you been, Pepparkakor. the children have looked for you since breakfast, why do you run dxel's Invitation 19 away?" asked Nore sleepily, putting his hand on the dog's head, as they both lay there in the sand. Nore was thinking of the arrival of the American children, the dark looking girl whom he had seen with Valfried Essen. For all the Carlson children the castle on the rocks held the greatest charm, but for Nore, it held more than that. He had gone there once, on an errand for the pastor at Boo, the near- est village. He had been given a note by the pastor, who had been in a great hurry to take the next boat for Stockholm. He had happened to see Nore and had asked him as a favor, to deliver the message. "Give this, yourself, to the Count Essen, do not leave it with a servant," he had said. Nore had waited in the great hall until a man- servant had shown him into the library, where the count was sitting. Nore could shut his eyes and see the room so plainly, the rich old room, the walls lined with books, the dark room, deeply shadowed, the great wolf rug in front of the fire, and in a carved oak chair, close to the fire, the old man himself. Nore had spoken. "A note for you, Greve Essen, from the Herr Pastor." How the old man had jumped! "Who spoke?" he had asked sharply, even though half asleep. "I, Nore Carlson, the Herr Pastor's messenger," he had answered. He had put the note into the hands of the old man who sat up dazedly, roused suddenly from his sleep. Nore had turned away at once, he ao Midsummer had been only a little boy at the time and he suddenly felt a little frightened. He stumbled over a rug as he crossed the dark room, and as he went out, he heard the count mutter again, "Who spoke, who spoke?" Nore had never told anyone of his "adventure," as he liked to call it, it had been fun, just keeping it to himself. When he heard his sisters and brother wondering as to what it could be like, inside the castle, he had thought, "Some time I'll tell them about the library," but he never had; even his mother did not know that he had been there. He was almost asleep, and Pepparkakor was far in the land of dreams when suddenly a voice called him, there were flying steps, and a boy of about his own age came and threw himself down beside him. The newcomer flung his cap down on Pepparkakor, who wagged his tail sleepily in answer, then he lay panting for a moment for he had run far across the beach. He talked between gasps of breath and as though he had news of the greatest interest. He was Axel Jensen, Nore's greatest friend. "I'm going to Stockholm for midsummer, and you're going too, we've talked of it so many times and now the chance has come an invitation from mother's friend, Fru Strom, who has the Konditori, she wrote a note which came by this afternoon's boat," he panted, throwing a great handful of sand on Pepparkakor. Then he took a deep breath and went on. Axel's Invitation 21 "The note said: 'Send your oldest boy up. for a few days, at midsummer, I've my nephew's cot I can put up in a corner of the shop, and if his friend wants to come, one of them can sleep on the window set- tle/ " Axel sat up and pulled on his coat which he had jerked off as he ran along the beach. Nore, too, sat up and looked at Axel eagerly. "I'd like to go, well, I should say I would," he said slowly. "Stockholm at midsummer! but it's no use, Ax, I can't go, be- cause I'm selling all the fish I can catch, at a good price, to the summer villa people. Mother mustn't work so hard next winter, I'm trying, she and I are trying to save a bit." He hesitated and then turning towards Axel, he frowned in a puzzled sort of way. "The rug weaving is such tedious work for mother and the girls need shoes and clothes I've got to fish and fish and fish all summer." Axel gave an exclamation of impatience. "Oh bother! Stop talk- ing like an old grandfather," he exclaimed. "You've got to come, you never do anything but fish, we haven't had any fun for ages, you spend the whole summer fussing about how you'll get through the winter, the chance has come and you've got to go." Axel was so in earnest that there was a lump in his throat, but Nore shook his head. "It's no use, Ax, there's no chance of my going," he said simply. They started off across the beach towards the 22 Midsummer Carlson's cottage, Pepparkakor running around and around them. "We're not sheep, why are you trying to round us in, old funny Peppar?" laughed Nore, shaking the fair hair out of his eyes. There was a lump in his throat too, but he would not have owned it for the world, he was no baby to cry because he could not have a holiday; rather he was the head of the house. Axel was in a bad temper, he kicked the sand into a cloud, as they walked slowly along the beach. He would not answer when Nore spoke to him, and though he removed his cap, when they came up to the cottage door where Fru Carlson was standing, he did not smile as was his custom, but stood, frowning. "Why, Axel, you seem sad, what then is the mat- ter?" asked Fru Carlson kindly, for Axel was a prime favorite with them all. "Oh, it is because Nore is so stubborn. He will not go with me to Stockholm for midsummer. We can stay with mother's friend, Fru Strom, she has written asking us." Fru Carlson put her hand on Axel's arm. "Why, of course he shall go, Axel, write at once to your mother's friend, thank her many times and say that he will be delighted to go. Hjalmar from the castle says that the Essen children are to go to Stockholm for midsummer also, with the Zanders, so you will each be having a holiday in your own way," said Fru Carlson. Axel's Invitation 23 "But mother, you know I cannot go, this is the height of the season. Indeed Axel I shall wait till another time," exclaimed Nore. "You will do as I tell you, I am not in the habit of being contradicted. Understand that you are to go with Axel, and say no more against it." Never had his mother spoken so sternly to him ! Nore hardly noticed when Axel took himself off, running home to write the letter to his mother's friend, with the glad news that they both could come. Nore went slowly inside the cottage and hung his coat on a nail by the door. How oddly his mother had spoken when she had said that the Essen chil- dren: were to go to Stockholm with the Zanders. "You will each have a holiday, in your own way," she had said. It was almost as though she wanted him to have a holiday because they were having one. As he turned away from hanging up his coat, his mother stood beside him; he put his arm around her and kissed her, as he always did. "You never spoke to me that way, before, mother," he whispered, speaking out of his perplex- ity and pain "Were you angry with me?" he asked. The mother held his face close to her's for a mo- ment, she was not demonstrative and her caress sur- prised him as her rebuke had done. "No, no," she answered, "or rather angry not with you but because of the look of care in your 24 Midsummer face, because you do not have fun with the other boys." The color rushed suddenly to his sensitive face. "Mama lilla," he said, "It's better than fun to be out in the air, on the sea, fishing, it's the jolliest thing I do, and oh you should know of the thoughts I have." He threw back his head and laughed. "Sometimes I think of all that's going to be, when I'm grown up. You are going to have everything. Oh yes, yes, you are going to have velvet dresses, and the children, Oh they shall feast upon straw- berries, sugar and cream." He laughed again and Thure in bed in one corner of the room, laughed also. "What are you going to be, Nore?" asked Marta, calling from the next room. "An artist if life is kind, you know that well, Marta," he answered as he took up the wood box and went on through to the back of the house. He whistled as he came in again with the wood. Now that it wa's actually decided that he was to go to Stockholm, he was beginning to be very excited, he lay awake until late that night, in his cot beside Karl. The events of the evening kept going through his mind: the little American girl on the rocks, then Axel's invitation to go to Stockholm, the wonderful city that he had never seen, his mother's reproach, then her sorrow that he did not have as much fun as did the other boys. Well, he had his dreams! Axel's Invitation 25 Perhaps he would see the king, in Stockholm, that would indeed be wonderful! He fell asleep, think- ing of this and did not waken until little Thure called that breakfast was nearly ready, and that they were having pankakar as a treat. At breakfast the children were full of the news that their brother was to go to Stockholm. Karl offered to lend him his jack knife. "A jack knife will be of no use to him, in Stock- holm," said Marta scornfully. "But you shall have my new dark blue scarf, Nore, the one the wife of the pastor at Boo, gave me for my Name's Day." Marta smiled at her brother as she spoke. "That will indeed be good," agreed Fru Carlson. "He will need it when he sits out at night to listen to the music." "They always sit out in Stockholm, at midsummer. Froken Valfried Zander told me so Oh mother, do you think Thure and Karl and I can go, some- day?" The mother smiled. "Stockholm is not Paradise, as you seem to think it, Marta, but sometime if you are good, yes, I daresay, you can go." "Someday we will sail down to Stockholm in a golden boat, all of us," said Nore as he went out to his nets which had dried in the fierce early sun. CHAPTER 3 "En Socker Bagere" AUDREY was right, the castle was a gloomy place. It was built of stone and stood high on the rocks, overlooking the sea. Gulls flapped their wings about its turrets and harsh-voiced crows screamed cease- lessly at its windows. "You old crows, if only I had a shot gun and could shoot you all off at one shot, wretched things !" Audrey pulled aside the curtain at one of her win- dows and frowned at a very impudent crow who seemed to sneer at her. It was two o'clock in the morning and the sun shone brilliantly. Gradually the magic of the scene outside drove away the frown and she stood drinking in the almost blinding beauty of the sea and sky, swept as they were by the magic of a northern sunrise. "It's gorgeous beyond words, but it's too too big, it almost scares me," she thought Then she spoke again to the crow who was perched just near her window and whose loud cawing had awakened her. "I'll get even with you yet, old man, don't you forget it." She drew the curtain together after this 26 "En Socker Bagere" 27 speech and went back to bed. The light cre.pt in at every corner, the dark green curtains doing little towards keeping it out. "It's just day all the time, I'll never get used to it. I wish we were at Newport with granny," she thought, but she knew that was not really true; it was only that she was not quite used to the strangeness yet. Her very large bed was deeply carved and there were faded red velvet curtains around it. She lay still for some time, staring at a black and gold chest in one corner and at the tall white tombstone-like stove in the other. "Funny idea having that stove here, it looks so out of place," she thought. "Was she homesick?" she wondered. "Of course she was, but it would pass away, and after all, it was splendid meeting the Zan- ders, they were all such fun." Four days had passed since they had all met on the rocks, days of sun and laughter. Twice they had had "coffee parties" on the rocks, and every day they had been in swimming, and she and Valfried had rowed out to catch the swell from the Gustafs- burg steamer, as it came from the fjord, into the bay. What fun that had been! She and Valfried were becoming splendid friends, Audrey never tired of hearing Valfried tell of Stockholm in the winter, the strict school that she attended, where she had to be in her seat at half past seven in the morning. "Oh, it's so dark and cold, Audrey, you can't think, 28 Midsummer just as black as night; if you stay next winter, you'll see!" Stay next winter! The very thought was out of the question. Not to see New York, Fifth Avenue and the girls at Miss Daly's school, and best of all, her dear, kind, busy father! She looked at the picture of a young girl in white, which hung just in front of her. It was a painting of her mother, done before her debut in Stockholm, before she had married the American and had gone so far away to live and die. Audrey was rather cross at breakfast the next morning. She and Sven ate alone in the great dark dining room. Aunt Greta had been up for some time. "Funny this room is always dark, with all the sun outside," remarked Sven cheerfully, as he spread some butter on a piece of freshly baked, spicy coffee cake, and began to eat it with enjoyment. "The whole place is dark and the people in it have dark souls," exclaimed Audrey, taking a savage bite of bread and butter. She often made remarks like this and her brother, being used to them, went calm- ly on with his breakfast. "Nice thing to say about your relatives, hope you don't count me in, you seem to have a grouch. What's the matter with you, aren't we having a peach of a time?" "I didn't mean that our relatives are wicked, I "En Socker Bagere" 29 mean they're sad. Yes, it's great fun being with the Zanders, I'm^keen about going to Stockholm with them next week, aren't you?" asked Audrey, cheered by her breakfast and inclined to look on the brighter side. She felt that Sven could not understand many of the things that troubled her, he was so slow and matter of fact. The gloominess of the castle and the cawing of the crows did not disturb his sleep. "You and Bjorn might try to do something about the crows, they're mean, impudent creatures, I'll never get used to their screeching. Isn't it funny here, Sven? and, oh dear, if we could only make Aunt Greta laugh more, she's only laughed the one time when you and I danced the cake walk, down the hall and grandfather why they both of them just stay in, all day, they just sit by the fire and Aunt Greta knits and knits, and every time we speak grandfather mutters, 'Sigreid's children, Sigreid's children !' " "Grandfather likes to have you around, just the same," answered Sven, pouring some cream on his porridge. "You've made him laugh several times, especially when you told about the time we took granny in the subway, for the first time." "I'm going to wake grandfather up this summer, see if I don't Aunt Greta too, she's a dear, really, she just needs to be happy, she needs to be interest- ed." Audrey said this last over her shoulder as they left the dining room, and Sven replied, as they went 30 Midsummer out of the great hall into the morning sunshine. "You can wake her up, if it's possible for any one to do it, sis." They were to sail with the Zanders and after a kiss for little Astrid, Audrey sat down between her and Valfried and watched the boys as they worked at the sails. The wind was brisk and just right in the right direction and the sea as blue as Valfried's eyes. "We have to sew, this afternoon, Astrid and I, we can only sail for an hour or so, but we do want to talk about Stockholm. We're so glad you and Sven are going with us. We're to open the flat on Strandvagen won't it be fun, showing Stockholm to Audrey and Sven, Bjorn?" Valfried laughed as she spoke, giving Audrey a little hug. "Sit tight, girls ! Yes, it will be fun. I'm going to take Sven over to the navy yard." Astrid spoke up shrilly. "I'm going, too, and I'm to have a pistache cake with whipped cream on the top of it. Mother said I might." Then she began to sing in her funny little high voice. Astrid was only eight years old but she liked very much to be the central figure. This is what she sang: "En socker bagere som bord i staden, Han hakar kakarna hala dagen, Han bakar stura, han bakar smo, Han bakar nogra med socker po." "En Socker Bagere" 31 "It's a nice song," she said, turning to look up at Audrey. "It's about a lovely baker who just baked cakes all day long. Little ones and big ones." Astrid leaned over the side of the boat, trailing her fat little hand in the water, as she sang. The wind had come up briskly and Bjorn was busy trimming the sail. A moment later they entered one of the narrow water ways and Bjorn called out a greeting to a boy who was coming towards them in a row- boat. It was Nore. No one ever knew quite what happened next ex- cept that there was a sudden sound as of something tearing, then a harsh creaking and quicker than thought the back mast tore away from the boom and little Astrid was flung violently into the water. The force of the mast, swinging back, although it did not hit Sven or the girls, threw them back against the far side of the boat. They were unhurt and, like a flash, both Sven and Bjorn turned to leap after Astrid. Someone was quicker, however. Nore had jumped from his boat, caught Astrid as she rose to the surface, and was treading water, holding her in his arms, at the side of the boat, almost before one could breathe. Bjorn, seeing that Astrid was safe and that Sven was helping them into the boat, bent his energies on fixing the sail. They were still in danger. The boat rocked violently. There was a sharp side wind which caught it. Bjorn gave Sven quick 32 Midsummer directions and after a moment, Norc was able to help too. The sail was fastened as securely to the boom as two pairs of strong boy's hands could make it. Then Bjorn cleverly brought them close to Nore's rowboat, which Sven fastened to the sail boat, and Bjorn steered them safely into the open bay, towards home. Astrid cried at first but not for long. Audrey wrapped her jacket around her; putting Bjorn's on top of that, she held Astrid close to her and Valfried sat close, on the other side, so that they could keep her as warm as possible. Audrey trembled but she hoped no one noticed it. She was not as used to the sea as were the Swedish children, and she had been badly frightened. Valfried, too, had had a scare and reproached herself that she had not taken better care of her little sister. Bjorn was very angry. "If she got what she de- served she would be well whipped when she reaches home," he muttered. "Why should you blame Astrid because the mast broke away?" asked Audrey. Astrid was a great favorite with her, already. "I do not blame her for that but she is very dis- obedient. It is always the same way. She does not do anything I tell her when she is in the boat. She was leaning way over the side of the boat; I saw her but I had no time to cry out as the mast broke from "En Socker BagerS* 33 the boom. I shall never take her sailing again. She has spoiled the morning for us." Astrid did not seem greatly alarmed by her brother's remarks, and now that she was safe, with Audrey's arm around her, smiled on them all, though she was wet to the skin. Audrey looked at Nore. He, too, was dripping wet and the water ran down his hair and face. He looked at Audrey and smiled shyly but did not speak. He was thinking what an adventure he would have to tell the children! The American boy was about his own age, and had such a friendly nice face and the girl was the most interesting human being he had ever seen. Her shaggy black hair, the life and sparkle in her odd brownish grey eyes ! How differ- ent she was from any one of them ! Nore would not stay when: the Zander children entreated him to come to Sunhem, their summer villa, and see their mother. "She will want to thank you, herself. Think what you did, Nore, you saved Astrid!" exclaimed Valfried as they all stood on the shore, together. "I was only a minute quicker than the boys, be- cause they had the boat to manage. It was really Bjorn's good work that saved you all from a duck- ing, at any rate, Froken Valfried," he answered, as he jumped into his boat and started off. Bjorn had thanked him warmly and said as he rowed away: "He's more at home on the water than on land. He's 34 Midsummer queer, I mean he likes to go off by himself, a good deal. He taught me to sail, he's a good fellow." Audrey waved goodbye to Valfried who was hur- rying the dripping Astrid towards the large green amd white villa which was their summer home. "Oh Sven, isn't Nore sort of like a story book person?" exclaimed Audrey as they made their way up the rocks. Sven answered vaguely. As a matter of fact he hardly heard what she said, for he was writing, in his mind, an urgent letter to his father, asking if he could have a sail boat. He went on around the side of the house to find Hjalmar, and Audrey climbed the castle steps and ran on through the great hall to a little sitting room. Tante Greta sat by the window, sewing. She was a delicate looking woman, her fair hair was touched with grey, she had a gentle pale face. About her shoulders was a soft blue-grey shawl. She looked up as Audrey came in, and smiled faintly. Audrey at once told of the morning's excitement, and was immediately sorry, for her aunt at once grew nervous and said that they must not sail at all if they were not more careful. "Your father has trusted you to us, your grand- father and me. He surely would not approve of the sailing," she said. Audrey laughed and going to her aunt put her arms around her and kissed her. u Dear Tamte Greta, the sailing is almost the most wonderful part "En Socker Eager e" 35 of our being here, it's next to seeing you and grand- father." She gave her aunt another hug and went on impulsively. "Oh, Tante Greta, I wish you ever had any fun, you just sit here day after day. I know your eyes trouble you but I don't believe the sun- shine would hurt them. Oh I'd like to take you home with me, when we go back, I'd like to take you for a ride on the top of a Fifth Avenue bus at half past five on a Saturday afternoon when the matinees are just over. We'd have chocolate at Maillard's and then go back to the hotel for dinner and then " Audrey reflected a moment, "then we might go to Ringling's circus at Madison Square Garden in the evening." Audrey paused for breath and Tante Greta gave one of her rare little laughs. "It's sweet of you, child, to want me to go back with you, but I do quite well as I am, and I could never leave your grandfather." She smoothed Audrey's arm gently as she spoke. After Audrey had left the room she stood for some time at the window, looking out, her work falling idly at her side. "I always felt that Knut Carlson knew some- thing," she thought, "I wish I could have seen him after he came back that last time, but of course there was really nothing he could have told me." She sighed as she turned away from the window, but as she stooped to pick up Audrey's hat which she had 36 Midsummer dropped and forgotten, she smiled. How different indeed was the little American niece from any child she had ever known, how quickly she spoke and moved, how impulsive she was ! "I am glad indeed that Sigried's children are here," she thought, as she went on out to the balcony in answer to a querulous call from her father. CHAPTER 4 Making Friends SVEN went off with Bjorn after supper that evening and Audrey had coffee alone with her aunt and grandfather on the balcony which opened from the library. The old man was well wrapped in shawls and his daughter tucked a fur rug about his feet. He fretted a good deal about the air being too keen and kept them busy adjusting cushions and screens until things were just to his liking. Tante served coffee and with it they had freshly baked coffee bread; it had an odd flavor of annis seed which Audrey was trying to become accustomed to. She liked having coffee out there with her aunt and grandfather. Audrey was fifteen but she was still young enough to enjoy doing grown up things. Her aunt made her coffee quite weak by putting in plenty of cream, it was sweet and fragrant and she drank it each evening out of a red and gold cup with a red and gold dragon on one side. It had belonged to her mother and Tante Greta had given it to her. "Tell me, Tante Greta, tell me about when you and mother were young, you must have had splendid 37 38 Midsummer times, running all around here, I wish I had a sister, Sven is all right of course, but he doesn't like to pretend or make up plays, he just wants to do some- thing all the time and while he's doing it he never thinks of anything else. Why, when he was collect- ing stamps it was awful, he just wouldn't talk of any- thing else. It's sail boats now. Tell me, Tante, did you and mother have great fun when you were young?" Her aunt glanced a little uneasily towards the old count. "Your grandfather does not like to talk of the past, it worries him," she whispered. Audrey was silent for a moment and then she stood up and came over to the old man. She sat on the stone rail- ing opposite him, tossed the dark hair away from her shoulders and smiled at him. "Goodness, grandfather, why on earth are they all so afraid of you? Any one would think you were Bluebeard or the cross old grandfather, the sort of witch-like old man in the Green Fairy book. Why, I like you, I think you are rather a dear." Tante Greta gazed, in silent amazement at her daring, and the old count chuckled. "So, I might be an ogre or a Bluebeard, is that it, young America? Well you're outspoken anyway. You don't seem to share the shrinking of the rest, you're not afraid of me, eh?" He glared up at Audrey rather fiercely from under his bushy brows. He had a fine head and face but he looked ill and Making Friends 39 very old and there was a listlessness about his whole appearance. "It's just as though he doesn't care about anything," Audrey thought. She met his look quite bravely. "No, why should I be, you seem a very nice old man to me, besides you're my grand- father and a part of mother's life. I do think you're rather selfish and certainly you are, all of you, well, sort of funny, even Hjalmar seems Oh sort of sol- emn and different!" "Hjalmar too, aye, well we must all of us do bet- ter, we must try to make more of an impression. But it's cold here, it's too cold, help me in, Greta, you should not have urged me to come out at all," said the old man, suddenly remembering himself and his ills. His daughter helped him to go inside and then turned back to speak to Audrey. "He will want me to read to him for some time, can you amuse yourself, alskling?" she asked. Audrey assented eagerly. "I'll just look around for a little while," she said. Her aunt went inside and she ran down the balcony steps and stood for a moment looking off at the sea, then she began to climb down the very steep rocks, down, down to where her own new, white rowboat lay rocking at the foot of the cliff. The bay was very quiet. She unfastened the boat and jumped in, shoving it away from the little stretch of sandy beach, with her sunbrowned hands. There was something very exciting to her in going 40 Midsummer off this way for a row, it was so new to her, so mysterious, the wonder of the sea and sky, the odd dark water ways, so narrow, so silent, then the wide open stretches of sea, sail boats in the distance, the voices of children, music from nearby villas. It was like a dream. She felt full of energy in the evening air and she rowed for some time before she began to realize that she was a little tired. She drifted lazily for a little while and then came to herself with a start for the boat was bumping against some rocks. Audrey de- cided at once to explore them. She liked the feeling of being quite by herself in a new place, so she jumped out and managed with a strong pull to bring the boat safely on shore. "I don't want you to go sailing off and leave me, Mr. Boat," she said. Then she began to climb, scrambling higher and higher until she found a nice little crevice where she seated herself comfortably. There were a few black clouds in the sky and all around them glowed the purple and scarlet of the summer night. There was a wide open bay in front of her, tinted faintly to palest green and pink and grey, and in the distance there was a sharp outline of pines against the beauty of the sky. Some brown sails flapped lazily in the middle of the bay and a boat from Stockholm was stopping at a landing far r*n the other side. She could hear the noise it made a it churned the water. * Making Friends 4 1 After a while she stood up and began to wander about the rocks. Tante Greta would be worried if she were gone too long but it was so enchanting there in the chill, sweet, wonderful air, with the sea and the rocks all about her. She began to think of her espe- cial girl friends in New York, what would they think of the castle, her grandfather, Tante Greta, Hjal- mar, all the funny new ways and things. Quaint Hjalmar who had said he would tell her stories. She stooped and picked a handful of purple and gold flowers that grew in the sides of the rock, clinging so close to the rough granite. How wonderful that was! The delicate bits of color growing, no one knew how, out of the very heart of stone. A row boat was coming close, and she watched it idly. It was a fishing boat and she could see the dark nets, so heavily laden that they hung far over the sides of the boat. As it came nearer she saw that a boy was rowing and after a few minutes she recog- nized Nore. She sat down on a ledge and watched him; he could not see her for the light was almost blinding as he came towards the sunset. He tugged at his boat after he had jumped on the rock, for it was heavy with its burden of fish. Then he sprang lightly up the rocks as though they were old friends of his and as though he had often come to them, be- fore. Audrey could only see him now and then for jagged boulders stood in her way but suddenly as he jumped onto a very high white one, he saw her, and 42 Midsummer smiling with surprise, he leaped across two rocks between them and stood before her. He bowed in his odd ceremonious way and said: "Good evening, Froken." "Sit down and let's talk for a while, I've wanted to talk to you ever since the day we sailed and Astrid fell in the water. Do you think it queer that I should want to talk to you?" she asked in her direct way. Nore sat down on the rock beside her and clasped his brown, slender hands about his knees. "Why, yes," he answered simply, "it's odd that you should want to talk to me. It's different with me for of course there are so many things you and your brother could tell me, I've never been anywhere or seen any- thing." His English was quite as good as that of the Zander children and as though he guessed her won- der, he smiled, saying. "It was Bjorn Zander who really taught me my English, though of course I've had some in the school at Boo. I taught him to fish and sail and he paid me with English. We^ve talked a good bit when we've been off together." "That is splendid. Bjorn is slow but he is good, I'm sure." "I'd like to tell you anything you'd like to know, I can tell you about New York and all, but if you don't mind, I'd like to talk about Sweden tonight. You see it's all so strange to me and no one seems to understand. It's just home to the Zanders, I mean Making Friends 43 not odd or different at all. They've never known anything else, neither has Tante Greta. Oh I know you haven't either but I think you'll understand, you can imagine things, canit you? You can tell me of the old legends, the old, old things." Nore turned and looked at her. His pale face brightened. It was rather a cold face, oddly care- worn in spite of his youth. When he smiled as he did then, it became at once boyish and happy. Still with his hands clasped about his knees, he turned and looked at Audrey. "Why, Frokeir, what sort of a friend could I be for you? There is so little I have seen, so much I have to learn. I only fish and dream." He looked off at the sunset-tinted sea as he spoke. "Well, couldn't you tell me about your dreams," laughed Audrey. Then she went on, speaking eagerly. "You see that's just what I want to hear about. I want to feel that it's like a fairy story here. I want to imagine these are enchanted islands. It's fun. I'm very fond of Sven, of course, but he never could imagine anything!" She laughed and so did Nore. He seemed suddenly to lose his shyness and soon: both children were talking busily. Nore told of the dark, silent, icy days when the Zanders and all the other city folk had left. He told how he and the other children crossed the fields on their snow- shoes until they came to the narrowest fjord and then how they went over the narrow, dark, ice- 44 Midsummer covered water, still on the shoes, until at last they came to the little school house at Boo. "It is a long way and a hard way but you see there are no neighbors to help us. Old Gustaf Mamburg had a sledge and a funny old horse but the poor animal died. That was sad for us because sometimes Gustaf would drive us all the way. He is a good man, old Gustaf. Often of an evening he and Hjalmar come to us. Then indeed we have a pleasant time for they have many things to tell of the strange things at sea. Sometimes they come for sup- per. Except for Gustaf and old Hjalmar we are so alone. There is no village nearer than Boo, no one at all except the Jensens and ourselves, I mean no children for school, just fishermen. I'm not going to school next winter, I'm going to have work." Nore flushed slightly as he spoke. "Gustaf Solson is going to let me help in his butcher shop. I make a good deal with the fish but it's not really enough to carry us through the^ winter, even with mother weaving carpets for a shop in Stockholm." Before Audrey could answer, Nore pointed to an oddly shaped gold cloud in the sky. "Isn't it like a boat?" he asked. "I so often dream of boats when I'm sailing at sunset. I like to think I'm in a sort of enchanted boat that is sailing through an unknown sea, one that no one has ever seen: before, I like to imagine that I'm a strange enchanted person, not a prince for I wouldn't care about that but someone Making Friends 45 t who has done and seen wonderful things." He stopped speaking suddenly. "It sounds very childish, but when you're off alone, fishing as I am, most of the time, you get to thinking and imagining." "I have thoughts, too, though Fm almost never alone, but they are not as interesting as yours only since IVe come to Sweden, some way things seem so. well I can't explain, so strange and so utterly dif- ferent from anything Sven and I have ever known. It's sort of what you dream about and yet never really expect to see, the strange light at night, the queer fjords, the castle, the odd way of speaking and doing things, Tante Greta and grandfather, old Hjalmar, no one caring to hear about America and yet everyone being so polite and kind!" Audrey paused, out of breath, she spoke so quickly that it was a little difficult for Nore to follow her, though he listened carefully. At any rate, she had been able to unburden her mind and she felt the better for it. Nore looked for a moment at Audrey. She wore a white dress and a scarlet and white sweater, her grey-brown eyes were bright with the interest of the moment her short, black hair stood out about her tanned, eager, intense little face. "She looks like America as IVe thought of it, she is very, very dif- ferent from us and yet she understands," he thought. The stars came out faintly as though they did not dare to shine in the midst of so much gorgeous color. 46 Midsummer Some peasants going by in a boat for a picnic farther on sang as they rowed by. "I must go, it is late and Xante Greta might worry. It seems so odd, the brightness all the time, light, light, light. Oh, I do want to hear so many things ! You tell me about Sweden and your dreams about the islands and I'll let you take my books if you like, I've ever so many." "You are kind, Froken Audrey, indeed it would be good to read, I have more time in the winter; when I come back at night from Gustaf Solson's shop winter evenings I can read and study. There is a verse I read in an American book of poems that Fru Zander gave me once on my birthday, I like to think of it when I watch the stars :" "Once as I told in glee Tales of the stormy sea, Soft eyes did gaze on me, Burning yet tender. And as the soft stars shine On the dark Norway pine, On this dark heart of mine, Shone their soft splendor." u That seems just like here, doesn't it? I've watched the stars from the castle windows at night, they are they almost frighten me." Audrey stood up as she spoke and they climbed down the rocks, Nore Making Friends 47 knew them all so well he never missed his footing, and he helped Audrey over the most jagged ones. When they reached the boats he helped her in and shoved her boat off for her. She held out her hand to him. "Nore, we're friends, aren't we? It's been so nice to hear about things. You make Sweden seem so mysterious. Let's be really good chums, you and I. You'll like Sven, too, when you know him, he's slow and funny but he's really a dear." Nore smiled again, he was too fine to tell Audrey that he was but a fisher lad and that she was the Count Essen's granddaughter. "It would mean a great deal to have you and your brother for friends, thank you indeed. You have given me new thoughts, some day perhaps you will tell me of your own coun- try, I have always wanted to know of it, Oh, so much!" "Yes, and the books, I'll not forget them. The Wind In the Willows' is one that you'll be simply crazy about, it's about darling animals that are like people, only far more interesting." She picked up her oars and with Nore rowing beside her, they began their homeward journey. Except for the wide spaces, they could not row together for it was not safe, a large boat might come through and they must be ready for one at any time. "What a nice boy he is, so different from Bjorn, for he makes me really feel what Sweden is. If only he wouldn't be so formal! Froken! Why that is 48 Midsummer the way they speak to grown up people here, it's so funny," she thought as the castle hove in sight and they made for the landing. Nore bowed in his quaint way, jumped out of his boat and pulled her's up on the sand, helped her out and then jumping lightly into his own boat, lifted his oars and smiled good-by. She stood watching him as he rowed steadily towards the little shabby hut across the bay, that was his home. CHAPTER 5 The Name's Day OLD Hjalmar sat on an overturned rowboat, filling his pipe and looking meditatively off at the lazy blue sea. He was thinking so intently that he did not see a flying figure coming towards him. It was Audrey. She sank breathlessly down beside the boat on the warm sand and smiled up at him. "It's my Name's Day, Hjalmar, what a funny idea! Sven and I have been laughing about it, it's so odd to celebrate a day that belongs to your name !" Hjalmar took his pipe from his mouth. "There is nothing at all amusing in that, Froken Audrey, it is a very special happy time, there is much feast- ing, you will see." He nodded at her gravely as he spoke. They were very good friends, Audrey and the old servant. Audrey loved to talk and Hjalmar was an excellent listener. He had picked up a knowledge of English in his travels years ago and he was try- ing to teach Audrey to speak Swedish. "It is very bad that you do not know the language 49 50 Midsummer of your mother, Froken," he said to her. "There is no language so wonderful. When it is spoken it is very fine, and when it is sung ah! then it is the best of all." "It's a good thing, Hjalmar, that they gave me some Swedish names when I was baptised, other- wise there wouldn't be any name to fit the day. Audrey Bradford could never have anything as in- teresting as a real celebration in her honor, but Audrey Signed Maria Bradford is invited to spend the afternoon and have dinner at Sunhem, with the Zanders !" This was Sigried day and one of Audrey's names was Sigried, the name that had been her mother's. "Oh, I do wish they had called me Sigried, Hjal- mar, it's the loveliest name I know and it was mother's you knew her when she was a little girl. Was she anything like me?" Hjalmar shook his head. "No, Froken," he answered slowly, "no, she was .as different" he pondered for several minutes "she was as different as a calm from a squall!" [Hjalmar thought always slowly and this was so unusual a way for him to speak that he himself was surprised. He smiled as Audrey's laugh rang out in the sparkling air. "Oh, you're so funny, Hjalmar," she said. She grew earnest suddenly. "There are so many things I want to ask you. The Name's Day 5 1 Did she and Aunt Greta have jolly times together Hjalmar, you are not listening to me, you look as though your thoughts were way off, there is some- thing I want to speak to you about." "Ja, so!" ejaculated Hjalmar. "Yes, there are many things I want to know about, the castle for one thing, you seem such a part of it!" Audrey folded her hands about her knees and looked up at Hjalmar. She wore a new Peter Thompson suit, with a dashing red tie, her eyes sparkled with the excitement of the day, the sun and the keen salt air seemed to laugh in their depths. "There is someone I want especially to ask you about," she said. "It is Nore." Hjalmar knocked his pipe against the side of the boat and looked down at Audrey. "Nore," he re- peated, "Nore !" He was obviously surprised and gazed silently at the little red and white clad figure, in the sand at his feet. "Nore !" he said again. Audrey nodded. "I saw Nore sailing by, far below me, when I stood with Valfried on the rocks, the very first evening I was here, and I thought right away that I would like to have him for a comrade." Hjalmar knocked his pipe against the side of the boat again and put it in his pocket, then he stood up. "You would be friend with a fisher boy?" he asked. Audrey nodded. "Yes, with Nore," she answered. There was a bewildered look in Hjalmar's eyes. 5 2 Midsummer "I must go to the farm for the master's milk. He will want it when he wakes from his nap. Good morning to you, Froken." He turned and walked slowly down the beach with a ponderous rambling gait. As he walked he kept muttering, "Ja so, ja so, ja so!" "Hjalmar," protested Audrey, calling after him. "You haven't answered my questions, you haven't talked at all." She sat gazing at him as he made his slow way across the beach. When Hjalmar reached the corner that led to the farm, he looked back at Audrey. She was still sit- ting there by the boat and she was waving to Val- fried and the boys, who were running towards her. For a moment Hjalmar stood there watching her and as he turned away he muttered to himself, u ja so, ja so, we'll trust the good God!" "The boys only let me beat them, of course, but it's fun, winning," gasped Valfried, sitting down on the boat and fanning herself with her brown straw hat. "Oh, what a day this is," she went on. "It's glorious for your Name's Day, Audrey, I'm so glad. You'll meet the Wicanders this afternoon, I know you'll like them, they're our great friends and they are so wanting to me'et you !" "Are the Wicanders really going to Stockholm for midsummer, too?" asked Audrey. Sven and Bjorn, who had been having an extra race of their own sank down breathlessly on the sand, red in the The Name's Day 53 face for they had been having a long series of races on the beach, most of the morning. "Yes, of course, the Wicanders are coming and they'll stay with us. What splendid fun it will be !" answered Valfried. "We'll go to Skansen midsum- mer night and " "Don't tell all we're going to do, how like a girl that is!" exclaimed Bjorn, throwing a great handful of sand on Sven who returned in kind. "Well, I'll not say another word to Audrey but I know Ingeborg will want to talk to you about it all, this afternoon, Audrey," said Valfried. What an afternoon it was, there at Sunhem, the Zanders's summer villa ! Ingeborg, Nils and Petrus Wicander were city children whose parents had a villa some way up the bay. They were great friends of the Zanders but this was the first time they had been at Sunhem since the Bradfords came. They had heard of Audrey and Sven because Fru. Zander and Valfried had spent the day there, the week before. It was with the greatest interest that they all met that golden after- noon at Sunhem. Audrey knew from the first that she was going to like Ingeborg very much and the young Swedish girl said right away that she had always wanted to have an American girl for a friend. Was there ever a garden like Sunhem ! "It's not that it's more beautiful than any other, but it might be the garden in a very strange fairy 54 Midsummer tale," Audrey said to Ingeborg, as they walked around for a little while, getting acquainted. One reason for the strangeness of the garden was the great boulders that were scattered through it, among the rose bushes, at the end of a hedge of hollyhocks, down by the spring house. Everywhere they appeared suddenly when one least expected them and they were so odd in shape and so grotesque they almost frightened you if you came upon them too suddenly, running around a corner. To the Bradford children they were fascinating beyond words and after a game of hide and seek, they all climbed up on one, a very big scraggly one, and sat there fanning themselves while they decided what to do next. They had all been invited to spend the afternoon and stay to dinner, which was to be at four o'clock. The Sunhem garden was a wonderful place for hide and seek and they had had a splendid game. "Hide and seek sounds such a childish game, but here in the Sunhem garden it's really more fascinat- ing than any game I've ever played," laughed Audrey. "It's because of the rocks, of course," Bjorn said as he lifted Astrid up higher on the big boulder. "We've never grown tired of the game here because the rocks always seem different, there is always a hiding place we never saw before." "We're growing too old for hide and seek, but The Name's Day 55 I'll always love it." Valfried plaited her braid of bright hair as she spoke. She was very fair indeed in her white dress with some blue corn flowers at her waist. Fru Zander called to them from the draw- ing room window, "Lillemore says you will find something to drink in the tree hollow." "Good enough, I'm thirsty, aren't you, boys?" ex- claimed Nils Wicander, a large, fair boy with funny horn-rimmed goggles. "I hope there is something to eat, too," laughed Bjorn, lifting Astrid down from the rock. The tree grew very close to the water, so close that its branches trailed over so that they dipped into the water. It was a huge tree and there was a wooden platform built into it. Here Valfried and Astrid kept their special treasures. Bjorn lifted up little Astrid and Petrus Wicander who was so very short and fat that he never could have climbed up himself. "I wish we could do something once in a while without having the children along, we can never get rid of Astrid for a second, she's always around," muttered Bjorn to Audrey as he helped her up into the hollow. The girls managed to squeeze onto the platform and the boys sat on nearby branches. Astrid was wedged in very tightly but she was happy because she had a cooky in each hand. Lillemore, the very fat nurse of the Zanders, had left a tall jug of fresh milk and a large plate of cookies in the hollow for the 56 Midsummer children. They all enjoyed the refreshment for it was an hour before dinner and they had been playing for a long time. "You're right, Val, we're too old for hide and seek," said Ingeborg Wicander. "In three years now we'll be going to the Cadet Ball, perhaps." "Oh, what a wonderful thought!" exclaimed Val- fried. "You will wear pink, I hope, Val, and I Oh, I'll wear white or anything. It doesn't really matter, for I'm not pretty," went on Ingeborg. Audrey felt a little embarassed when Ingeborg said this for it was true indeed, Ingeborg not only was not pretty but she was quite unusually plain. "It's the same with me if I wear pink or blue, it makes me look so dark and queer," Audrey exclaimed impulsively. "I shall wear white at my first ball and I'll carry American Beauty roses." "What about your hair? You'll look an odd sort of young lady with short hair," said Sven. "Oh, Sven, how little imagination you have ! I'll have dusky hair, high on my head and fastened with a tortoise shell comb," answered Audrey and they all laughed. "Oh, let's talk sense," Bjorn blurted out suddenly, in his blunt way. His mind never strayed very far from boats and fishing. "Of course it's your Name's Day, Audrey, and you've a right to talk of anything you like." The Name's Day 57 They laughed again at this, it was easy to laugh at almost anything there in the tree, with sunshine all about them and a jolly salt breeze coming in from the sea. "I'll be a cadet at the cadet school very soon now and then the sea for me," said Nils Wicander. "I'll be one, too, some day," piped up his little brother Petrus. They laughed again at this, for Petrus was so little and fat and had such a moon-like face that the thought of him in a cadet uniform was very amusing. u Nore Carlson is always on a boat or in the sea, he would be a better sailor than any of us," said Bjorn. "The sea tells him things, he sees pictures in the sea," exclaimed Audrey. She stopped in confusion, for she had forgotten that no one knew of her acquaintance with Nore. Astrid had nearly fallen out of the tree and so no one noticed what she said at that moment. She was glad, for it was sort of fun just having it a secret for awhile. "I'm going to keep a Konditori for awhile when I grow up," said little Astrid suddenly. "Then I can have all the cakes I want all the time." She ate her fifth pepparkakor, as the cookies were called, and smiled sweetly at Bjorn when he frowned at her, saying disgustedly, "I'm ashamed to have Audrey and Sven see how greedy you are." Old Hjalmar opened the gate that led to the 58 Midsummer Zander villa and walked slowly around the winding garden path. When he saw the old pastor, the Zan- der children's grandfather, sitting in the sun in front of the villa, he quickened his pace. The old man heard his step on the path and looked up. When he saw Hjalmar he smiled and motioned to a chair near him on the grass, but 'Hjalmar shook his head. "Good evening, pastor." "Good evening, Hjalmar, and welcome to you." "I've come but for a moment, sir, and IVe nought to say leastways I'm worried in my mind." "That's a bad way to be. Could you not tell me your trouble?" said Pastor Zander. He was very old and he had retired long ago from his pastorate in the south of Sweden. He had never preached in that part of the country and only came there in the summer with the family, yet the people in Boo, the nearest village, knew him well and often brought their troubles to him. Hjalmar made an odd figure in his rough trousers and red shirt, his spectacles were somehow so out of place with the rest of his appearance. There was a moment's silence and then Hjalmar said slowly: "The young Froken has cheered the master a bit, twice she has made him laugh." Hjalmar spoke wonderingly, as though the fact of his master's hav- ing actually laughed were beyond credit. The pastor nodded. "She is a bright child, she is The Name's Day 59 full of the country across the sea, a country, Hjal- mar, that you and I will never know." Hjalmar, too, nodded. He w&s slow thinking and he could not make his mind wander at once to America. "The master is keen, you know; he wanHers at times and he broods over the past, but I don't know, maybe he thinks a good bit, yes, he's keener than we know," Hjalmar spoke as though he were thinking out loud. "I never knew him in the old days, Hjalmar, never knew the family until the past few years, since we have come here for our summers, but I do feel that there has been trouble and sadness at the castle on the rocks and all in good time, perhaps, maybe you will tell me of it and, who knows, perhaps I can help you. For whatever the trouble is, Hjalmar, it has hurt you, too." Hjalmar's face worked curiously for a moment, he cleared his throat and then spoke more cheer- fully. "Well, I'll be going on. I only wanted to wish you a pleasant day, a word with you does cheer a body, sir." He tipped his cap and started away down the path, then he paused a moment and looked back. "It's a big worry, one of the gravest a man ever had, sir," he said and with this remark he walked slowly away. The voices of the children in the tree came to the 60 Midsummer old man as he sat there in the sun with Jacken at his feet. "Our play days are over, Jacken," he said to the dog and he was right. Jacken could go for a picnic, sail in the boat, comfortably curled under the seat, he could sit at Astrid's feet at supper and devour the choice bits that were given him, but he could not enter into their play as once he had done, he was too old. Lillemore appeared suddenly under the tree and called up that supper was ready. She was so fat and her face was so very red that in her purple frock she looked not unlike a large purple plum. None of the Zander children thought her odd looking, for they loved her dearly and were so used to her bigness and redness they would not have had her otherwise. Dinner was served outdoors back of the villa. There was a stretch of blue and gold sea in front of them, a .long table set with white and gold dishes was placed just where one had the best view of the sea. On the table was a white embroidered cloth and in the center was a white bowl filled with blue corn flowers and wild red poppies. "Oh, I love them, it's so beautiful the flowers and everything," exclaimed Audrey, putting her arms around Fru Zander, who escorted her to the seat of honor, next herself, at the head of the table. Bjorn and Sven had carried out the long green benches from the veranda and they all stood for a The Name's Day 61 moment quietly, as, at a nod from her mother, little Astrid folded her fat hands, bowed her head and said a little grace. Fru Zander had led Audrey to her seat but laugh- ingly told her she could not sit down until she had had the smorgas. She gave her a plate and gave one to each of the other children and they all went up to a side table near the veranda. Little Astrid was so excited she jumped up and down. Holidays always affected her this way. The long afternoon of play in the salt air had made them very hungry. The side table was covered with plates of cheese and fish and little hot omelettes. To Audrey and Sven it seemed an odd way to begin a meal, standing up and eating cheese and fish on the hard grey Swedish bread, but this was the way one always did in Sweden. There were so many kinds of fish and cheese it was rather hard to choose, but the lobster omelette was delicious and Sven enjoyed a mixture of anchovy and egg spread on the hard bread. All this was before the regular dinner began and soon they were seated each side of the long table with Fru Zander at one end and Herr Zander, a jolly, stout, kind-faced man, at the other. Two smil- ing maids, assisted by Lillemore, waited on them. Jacken came and sat beside Audrey as though he realized she was the guest of honor. Astrid sat on the other side of Audrey. "When the efterratt comes you're going to have 62 Midsummer presents, but don't say I told you," she whispered excitedly to Audrey, who knew that efterratt meant dessert. She had learned some Swedish words and wondered what her American friends would think if they could hear her say them. "After all, it's my country too; it seems strange in some ways, but it's partly mine," she thought, looking about at the happy faces, at Fru Zander, very sweet and motherly in her white gown. How kind they were, all of them. The fresh salmon was delicious. It was served with peas and carrots, cooked together in the Swed- ish way, then came crystal dishes filled with rasp- berries and frozen cream. "Now the presents are coming," whispered Astrid, as Lillemore put a tray down in front of Audrey. The color rushed to Audrey's face and she sprang to her feet. She looked very radiant, eager, and happy as she stood there in her white frock, the scar- let sash about her waist. "Oh, you are all so kind, so good. [How can I thank you? You've all made us feel at home when everything was so strange." She spoke impulsively, stammering a little in her emotion, and she looked at Fru Zander, who smiled back at her understandingly, for she realized that Audrey was having some of the things she had missed in her life, home and fun and companionship. Bjorn forgot to be bashful and stood up. Holding The Name's Day 63 his glass of saft, like our raspberry vinegar and looking at Audrey, he said : "Skoal." The word means hail and it was used in the old days by the vikings. They all drank Audrey's health and looked at her while she opened her presents. Fru Zander had given her a little brooch such as the Lapp women wear. It had three little gilded sprays, and it was fastened with a clasp, underneath. Audrey was charmed with it and saw herself wearing it before her especial girl friends in New York. How foreign she would look ! Astrid had made her a white kerchief to wear wear about her neck with the Swedish dress she was to buy when they went to Stockholm. They were looking forward to helping her pick it out. Astrid could sew very nicely, though she was only eight years old. Valfried's gift was not done up at all. It was a leather box and inside were two bright cups and saucers, plates, knives and forks and two blue and white napkins. "It's for a picnic, when you go off in your boat," explained Valfried. "It's splendid, thank you so very much, Val. Sven will want it for his fishing trips but he can't have it, I shall sail away towards the sunset with it and then I'll boil the kettle and make some tea." Herr Zander laughed at this. "What a combina- tion of romance and American practicality you are, 64 Midsummer child," he said. Then from his pocket he drew a box of candy which he handed to Audrey. He bowed in the formal, rather stiff Swedish way, as he gave the box to her. Bjorn's present was "Whaling in Alaska" and it seemed to greatly amuse his family that he had given the book to Audrey. "It's his favorite story. He sent in to the biblioteck by father. He would never part with his own copy," laughed Valfried, as they left the table. They all went up to Fru Zander and kissed her, saying "Tac fur mat," which means thanks for food, in Swedish. Then they danced. It was fun dancing the clapp dance, all of them together. Finally Sven said they ought to go and Valfried and Bjorn walked with them to the foot of the rocks. When Audrey had said good-bye to Fru Zander, she exclaimed: "I love you all, from Astrid to Lillemore. I love Sunhem !" She stood watching the boys and Valfried as they started back. "Sven and Bjorn are going off on some sort of escapade, I'm sure of it. I saw Bjorn wink at Sven just before he said we'd have to be going." Audrey looked up at the castle but did not seem to want to go to it. Suddenly she saw a young girl coming towards her. She was carrying a heavy bundle and on top of it were balanced two smaller packages. One of them fell off almost at Audrey's feet and she stooped and picked it up. The Name's Day 65 The young girl had a fresh, smiling face. She had come suddenly around the corner of the rock and when she saw Audrey she grew very red in the face. She had been walking quickly and she was a little overcome at meeting the young Froken from the castle. Audrey smiled at her. She bent over and put her presents under the curve of a rock, all except the box of candy. This she held out to the newcomer. "Have some," she said, and the girl took a chocolate a little timidly, making a courtesy which in Sweden is called a niga. "Thank you, Froken," she said. "You are indeed kind. We seldom need provision from Boo, but to- night I went there on the boat and alas I missed the one back that would have taken me to our side of the bay. Now I do not know what I shall do!" She smiled her shy smile and did not seem very much put out at her predicament. "Is it just across the bay? Why, I can row you over. I'd love to, I love being out on the bay." She nodcjed up at the castle that towered above them. "I'm staying there with my grandfather," she added. "The young Froken from the castle!" gasped the girl with the bundles. "Pardon, Froken, you could not mean that you would row me across. No, no, I could not permit it, I shall do quite well, I can wait. Soon my brother, who is a fisher lad, will return and then he will come to look for me." The girl spoke 66 Midsummer excitedly and in Swedish and Audrey did not under- stand very much that she said but she did catch the words ''brother" and "fisher boy," and she asked the young girl eagerly: "Are you Nore Carlson's sister?" "Surely, yes, Froken, Nore has spoken of you and your brother and old Hjalmar whom they knew well and who spent his Saturday evenings with them. He too has spoken of the young Froken and her brother." "Well, I'll tell you just what I'll do, I'll row you over and we'll give this candy to little Thure. Oh, you see I know the names of every one of you. I'm tired of the thought of anything sweet, you see I've had a Name's Day party at the Zanders." She put the bundle she had picked up, on top of the candy box and in spite of the other's protests she took her by the arm and ran with her down to the shore where the white rowboat rocked invitingly. "Hop in," she cried and in a few minutes the two girls and the bundles were started out across the bay. "I call this boat 'The Swan,' because it's white and because I like the swan boat in an opera called 'Lohengrin,' " said Audrey gayly, smiling at Marta who sat opposite her and whose round good-natured face fairly beamed with pleasure. "What would they say at home, what would they think to see her being rowed across the bay by one of the castle chil- dren ! Indeed it was an adventure ! Could she ever The Name's Day 67 be thankful enough that she had missed the other boat!" These were some of Marta's thoughts as she sat quietly in the stern of the boat. The young Froken was very talkative, her Swed- ish was a little strange but what could one expect, she had so lately come from America. Did she like going to school in Boo ? Yes, but next winter she hoped she could stay home and help her mother with the weaving, but Nore said she must have schooling. Nore read to them at night in winter. Yes, it was cold, they all kept close to the fire. "We keep close to our mother, we all huddle up close to her, and Nore reads and then we have something hot to drink and then we go to bed," she told Audrey, an- swering her questions as well as she could under- stand them. The row was nearly over, already they could see several figures close to the shore, evidently watch- ing them. "It's Karl and Thure. Yes, and there is Nore, he must have just come home, see he is dragging in the nets !" "Oh, ho," she called, her young voice ring- ing through the still air. There was an answering shout and Karl ran out towards them through the water. He was barefooted and his laughter as he splashed the water, sounded very loud and it echoed down the beach. Marta sprang out and before she had finished shoving in the boat, Nore had reached her and gave 68 Midsummer one quick pull which brought it high up on the beach. He was bare-headed and his rough fishing clothes were dripping with water and seaweed. He smiled at Audrey but he did not hold out his hands except to look at them ruefully and shake his head. "They are fishy, you see, Froken Oh, I'm always with the fish, you see; I'm not fit for human beings." He, too, laughed happily and little Thure threw her arms about Audrey before she was even introduced. Audrey knelt beside her on the beach and put her arms around the little quaint figure in her odd shrunken blue dress with its quaint neck-piece of red cotton. She had fair hair which was almost white and like Astrid's, it stuck out each side of her face. "See what I've brought to you and Karl, yes, to you all, it is a nice big box of candy. We could not eat it at the party because we had so many goodies," she said, hugging little Thure close to her. "But come, please, that we may thank you and that you may do my mother the honor of making her acquaintance, Froken," begged Marta and so they walked up the rocky way to the hut, little Thure clinging to her hand, Marta on one side and the boys coming behind with the bundles. Someone appeared suddenly in the doorway of the little fishing hut. It was Fru Carlson who had been taking down some clothes from the line at the back of the cottage. She stood there in the door- way with them flung across her arm, she wore a The Name's Day 69 faded grey print dress, her face seemed oddly white as she stood there in the glaring light of the sunset. It was a strong face, weatherbeaten by cares and sorrows as well as by the storms that had always raged about her home. When she saw Audrey in the midst of her children, coming towards her, she stood still as though in great astonishment. Nore reached her first, putting his hand on her arm, as though protecting her from something, he knew not what. "See, dear mother, the Froken from the castle, who in her great kindness rowed poor Marta over across the bay. Marta lost the boat for our side and would still be waiting over the bay had it not been for the young Froken." "You are indeed welcome here, Froken, and do know that with my heart I thank you for your thoughtfulness. Come, a chair, Marta, put it just in- side the door so that the Froken can have the air; it is so full of fish I fear, the room is full of it." Fru Carlson twisted her apron together nervously and Nore looked at her in wonder, he had never seen his mother like this, she was always so calm, so pos- sessed. "No lady has more calmness than my mother," he had so often thought. She was look- ing tired, the mother, she had seemed sadly worried of late. They all clustered around Audrey as she sat in the doorway. Nore brought a chair for his mother and the children sat about on the stone doorstep 7 o Midsummer and on a log that lay near the door. In front of them was the sleeping silver sea, touched here and there with crimson and mauve. Audrey talked mostly, using her Swedish as best she could, appealing often to Nore for the right word, and very often becoming so mixed up that she had to stop entirely. Karl had read about a circus in a paper that one of the summer visitors had given him, and he had asked Audrey about it. She had at once plunged into a description of the circus at Mad- ison Square Garden in New York, and the children had listened, trying to understand. Audrey finally threw back her head and laughed. "I can never make them understand about the ele- phants. Do tell them, Nore, tell them it is true, I've seen twenty-five elephants all dancing in a row." The children listened in awed silence, even Fru Carlson seemed impressed. "You see, Froken, the children have never been anywhere, they know only here, they have not seen, oh, there are many things that they have not seen but Nore, he reads and reads." She turned towards her oldest boy as she spoke and her voice deepened. "Mother knows a great deal, she taught school when she was young and she knows English well, does she not?" There was pride in Nore's voice as he spoke. "And Nore is going to Stockholm, for midsum- mer," put in little Thure but Audrey did not hear The Name's Day 71 her because Fru Carlson had spoken to her at the same minute. "You find the castle a happy place, Froken?" she asked. Audrey shook her head. "It is the saddest place I've ever seen and yet I can't quite tell why. Oh, I wish you were all there to play with me !" She turned towards the children as she spoke, then she held out her hand to Fru Carlson. "Goodnight and it's been so good to see you all," she said. Fru Carlson gave a niga and answered her gently: "You have honored us, Froken, will you accept my thanks for the kindness you showed to my Marta. Come, boys, take the other boat and see the Froken home," she said turning to the others. "May we go, mother, Thure and I?" asked Marta. "Yes, if you return at once. Go then, it is late for the Froken to be out, they may worry at the castle." She stood in the doorway watching them, Nore and Thure and Audrey in one boat and Marta and Karl in the other. "Good-night, Karl, good-night, Marta and Nore, good-night, little Thure. Thank you for seeing me across, it's been a wonderful day, my first Name's Day, wonderful, good-night all of you, see you soon, good-night." CHAPTER 6 Hjalmar's Story THE first thing in the morning, when she woke, Audrey thought of the day before at Sunhem, the fun they had had, all of them together, the sunshine, the hide and seek in the garden, the talk in the tree while they ate the pepparkakor, the wind and flow- ers, Fru Zander in her white gown, the dinner out of doors, the presents, then meeting Marta, the row across, the meeting with Fru Carlson. "She was polite and kind but she didn't ask me to come again. She wasn't very glad to see me. Oh, I do wish she had asked me to come again !" Audrey slapped her hair rather vigorously with her brush and then ran down to breakfast. There were off for Stockholm in a few days and she wanted to talk to Sven about a number of things. It grew quite cold in the afternoon and for the first time since the children came the sky was grey. "This is the coldest place I ever saw. Do you know what I'm going to do, Sven? I'm going to ask Val- fried to come over and we can go down to the kitch- en and make fudge, Val has never tasted it, old 72 Hjalmar's Story 73 Margot isn't a bad soul, she won't mind," said Audrey as the two stood in the great hall. "All right, but I bet grandfather would be hot. He doesn't want people coming here and you know it. No one ever does come. They don't like com- pany, either of them. It's a wonder they ever let us come," answered Sven. "Grandfather doesn't need to know about it. His gout bothers him and he's gone to bed. I'll tell Greta that I'm going to ask Val and I know she will she will be glad, she's a dear, she's just too timid, that's all." "Of course ask Valfried if you like, Audrey lilla," Xante Greta that I'm going to ask Val and I know phoned over to Sunhem. "Hello, Val, it's Audrey. Can you come over to make fudge to-night? Xante Greta has to stay with grandfather, he has gout, so you come over and we'll ask Margot if we can make fudge." Xhe last was in a whisper. "You can come? Dandy!" Sven whispered close to the receiver: "Have Bjorn come for you, early, and then he can stay on." Audrey rang off and then made straight for the kitchen. She ran down the steep stone steps and on through an archway into the biggest room she had almost ever seen. It had a built-in stone fireplace at one end and great flames leaped and roared in it. Xhe room in spite of its size was quite warm. Xherc 74 Midsummer were woven rugs on its stone floor, and warm cur- tains at the windows. A fat woman with black curls each side of her face looked up as Audrey ran in. She was Margot the cook. She put her hands on her hips and surveyed Audrey in some astonish- ment. "What brings you here then, Froken Audrey?" she inquired. Audrey danced about the big room and up to Margot. "I was lonesome, Valfried is coming over and I thought perhaps if we are very careful, you would let us make some fudge." "Fudge, what then can that be, Froken?" "It's a kind of candy we make in America. We'll wash up the pans and leave everything in perfect order, do say we can have the kitchen to-night, it's such a good time for making candy!" Margot could not make out all that Audrey said, but she was good natured and she was going out for the evening with Magnus, the Zander's gardener, to whom she was betrothed. Margot was named after the wife of a French cobbler, a distant relative, but her name was the only French thing about her. She was large, like Lillemore, but she did not have the latter's temperament, nothing disturbed her. "Yes, cook what you will, your American sweets are bad they say, bad for the digestion, but do as you will. I shall be out with my Magnus. We are going to have mulled wine and sweet cakes at the Hjalmar's Story 75 home of Inge Neilson who is housekeeper to the pastor at Boo. We shall not be back until it is very late." "Go and phone Bjorn to come right along with Valfried, I wish Nils and Ingeborg were here." Audrey danced about the kitchen again and then be- gan to explore the pantry, Margot having taken her- self upstairs to make ready for her evening's enter- tainment. "We can make toffy too, I found some molasses, Margot uses it for pepparkarkor. Here's butter, just grease the pans, Val. Now boys, why don't you help too? Margot gave me some nuts, you might crack and shell them. They'll be good in the fudge and in the toffy," said Audrey later after Valfried and Bjorn had been quietly let in a side door, way downstairs, the one leading to the kitchens. "This is fun, aren't you clever, Audrey! I didn't know you could cook so well. Bjorn, don't just stand around, do as Audrey says, begin to crack the nuts. Oh this apron of Margot's is so funny, it just swal- lows me up !" exclaimed Valfried, greasing the pans with vigor. "Here are three more, I'm going to make the boys each wear them, I know Sven, he will smear molasses all over him, otherwise." Valfried shrieked with laughter as Audrey tied a huge green and blue checked apron about Bjorn's neck. "He wouldn't wear that for one second at home," she laughed as y 6 Midsummer she watched Audrey pour the milk for the fudge into a big sauce pan. There were heavy foot-steps outside and the next moment old Hjalmar appeared in the doorway. He stood on the threshold of the kitchen gazing in amazement at the sight that met his eyes. Bjorn and Sven, with Margot's aprons tied about their necks, cracking nuts ; Valf ried and Audrey busy over the fire and already a savory odor in the air. "Ja so, ja so," he ejaculated. u ja so, ja so, ja so 1" jahso!" ' Audrey turned and waved at him from her post by the stove. "Come and join the party Hjalmar, you're just the one we want and pretty soon you can have some of the best fudge you ever tasted. Sit down and wait and Oh Hjalmar, tell us some stories." "Come on, do, Hjalmar," coaxed Valfried and the boys put in a hearty, "Come ahead, Hjalmar!" The old seaman regarded them silently, then he gave a low chuckle. "You do seem outlandish to be down here." Hjalmar's English was strange at times. "It do be queer, this old place ain't seen anything like you be- fore, no, by the sun and stars it ain't not even when not even in the old days." "A story, Hjalmar. Sit here now by the fire, there's room at this side. Boys, are the nuts ready? That's it, I want them now. Hjalmar, you must pay Hjalmar's Story 77 for the wonderful candy you are to have, when it's ready, by telling us a story now !" "What about?" queried the old man, sitting down in Margot's most comfortable chair. He put his hand in his pocket for his pipe, glanced at Audrey, and brought it out empty. "Hjalmar wants to smoke, he won't be any good for a story unless he has a smoke, will you, Hjalmar?" asked Sven. "Smoke away then," ordered Audrey, and very soon there was another odor mingled with the boil- ing molasses and the simmering fudge. "Tell about some of your travels, Hjalmar," sug- gested Valfried, sitting on the edge of the table and watching Audrey as she let the chocolate drip from the spoon to see if the mixture was done. "It's not ready yet, it doesn't string. Yes, do tell about your travels when you used to sail all over the world, Hjalmar," she urged. The others, excepting Audrey, who had still to watch her cooking, sat up on the huge kitchen table and prepared to listen. Just then there was a loud mew outside the door and Audrey flew to open it. "It's dear little Smorgas," she said, catching the thin grey, rather scrawny animal up in her arms and hug- ging her. Hjalmar frowned and the others laughed. "Of all the forlorn objects, Audrey, that cat cer- tainly is the worst," exclaimed Valfried. "It is bad, bad indeed, Froken, to have so poor 7 8 Midsummer a creature about, a cat, bah, a cat!" The contempt in Hjalmar's voice was enormous. Audrey put the kitten down gently, giving it a little pat, then she poured out a saucer of creamy milk and placed it in front of the little animal. "You ought to be ashamed not to like cats, they're the dearest things in the world almost. Yes, they are, they're adorable. Magnus gave me this one, he found it when it was half starving. I'd think Sweden was even nicer than I do now, if you liked cats; you ought to, anyway, Hjalmar. All sailors are sup- posed to think the world of them," she added, turn- ing to look reproachfully at the old sailor who nod- ded and said gruffly, "That's true enough, it's true enough !" "Your fudge will burn," warned Sven. Audrey rushed to the stove, rescued the candy and poured it into the pans that Valfried had greased for her. "Put them outside, boys, and wait, cover them with these tins. That's it." When the boys came back, Audrey, too, sat on a corner of the table to rest and to wait for the toffy to be ready to pull, and again they begged Hjalmar for a story. He pulled several long puffs on his pipe and then he said, speaking in his usual slow, gruff way: "I know a funny tale, a queer one, aye." He was silent again, looking dreamily into the hot bed of coals in front of him. H]almar y s Story 79 "Tell it, go ahead," urged Sven. "Yes, do, please," put in Audrey. "All the tales you've told me so far are queer, Hjalmar, but they are splendid." "This one is the really strange one, Froken," he said slowly. "Strange," he added. "Strange," he repeated again. Then he settled himself comfort- ably, pulled at his rough grey beard, and began his story: "It was my first long travel, what is the word?" "Voyage, I guess you mean," put in Sven. "It was my first voyage and we had calm waters for weeks and weeks. It was good, aye, good, we had plenty to eat and because of no storms we hadn't so bad work. The first mate was a fine man, so were most all the officers and it was the only travel I ever had where we knew them, those above us, knew them so as to have speech outside of just taking orders. Yes, it was always different, that one time. There was one officer that I knew quite well, the first mate, he had almost broke his leg by an accident. I was near and pulled him out, 'twas nothin', nothin'." Hjalmar waved his hand deprecatingly as Bjorn said, "Good for you, Hjalmar." "Well, this young mate, he was a gentleman, he came from good family in England. Oh yes, he had good smile and good voice, he gave me little drink sometimes. Oh not much, not much, nothing to hurt. I was young, I was steady but the young gentleman 8o Midsummer I fear, yes, once in a great while he was little too fond of spirits. It was all there was against him, he was a fine young man. I tell you about that for may- be that was why, maybe that was reason why he saw what he did but I dunno I just dunno, maybe not, sometimes I think yes, sometimes I think no." Hjalmar puffed at his pipe and Audrey said as pa- tiently as she could: u Do go on, Hjalmar, you're getting us interested, hurry up a little." Hjalmar glanced at her reproachfully. "One night one of the sailors says to me : *A storm before morninY and sure enough! We paid for our fine weather, yes, sir, we paid storm, why it was nothin' earthly nor yet heavenly, I dunno what it was the shrieking and the howling, just like voices. Yes, yes, I had no sleep until late the next day. Things was better and the wind was dying fast. I'd fell to sleep when a voice woke me, it was the first mate. 'Hjalmar,' says he, 'is you awake?' 'I be now, sir,' says I, 'what is it, sir?' Then he told me, I can't give it to you in his words, you'll have to take mine, here's his story: "We sat long over dinner for as you know, Hjalmar, the storm came suddenly and though we did suspect it some we thought little of it's coming so soon. We had a great talk," and Hjalmar paused, "an argument was what he said. It all be- gan because of the captain's friend sailing with us. Hjalmar's Story 81 He was an American and during dinner the captain himself, who was a Norwegian, said something as to America being found first by the Vikings. Then Hjalmar, he says, you should have heard the the" "Discussion," put in Sven. "But of course the Vikings didn't discover America." "Of course they did, why Sven, you must know that. They called it Vinland. Leif, the son of Red Eirik, discovered it, he and his men he." "I tell you he did not, Columbus discovered America." Sven had grown red in the face and his eyes were like two blue sparks. Audrey looked at him uneasily. Sven was seldom roused but he had a hot temper when once it came to the surface. "The toffy's ready. Come on, boys, it will be great fun pulling it. Here you are, go ahead, never mind about who discovered America a million years or so ago. Sorry your story was interrupted, Hjalmar, you can go on, now, if you will, we're really very interested." Audrey pulled her brother unceremon- iously off the table. "Wash your hands quickly, both 'of you, at the sink. Hurry for the toffy must be pulled at once." The two boys could not help but smile over the toffy pulling, but Sven repeated: "Columbus dis- covered America," and Bjorn, who was not at all put out, but just his usual slow calm self, replied: "Don't be stupid, Sven, it's not what I think, it's history. The Vikings discovered America in 986!" 82 Midsummer "Be still, Bjorn, how stubborn you are. Do go on, Hjalmar, I so want to know what the young officer told you about the night of the storm." Valfried smiled at Hjalmar, looking not unlike a Viking's daughter, herself, in her white dress and with the long golden braids falling each side of her face. Hjalmar was not at all put out at the interrup- tion. He chuckled to himself and slapped his knee, once or twice as the boys were disputing and he looked at Sven as though he rather liked his spirit. Then he sighed and stirred uneasily in his chair, gaz- ing off, across the bay, through the kitchen window which was opposite him. There was in his eyes the look that the old pastor had seen, the look, of deep perplexity. "Do go on," urged Sven and Bjorn together and so Hjalmar started once more. "I tell the rest my own way, I'll not try to tell it like the young first mate. His speech was fine and his voice was soft and his words were beautiful, like reading poetry." "What did he tell you? Hurry!" begged Audrey. "He told me this strange story. First his speech was of the dinner and the talk about discovering America. There was hot talk, too, just like the young master and you, Master Bjorn, but the captain he kept to what first he said and like you, Master Bjorn, he gave the date, also he spoke of Leif. It was all in good part. They sat late at wine and those who Hjalmar's Story 83 were passengers, and they were enough, slept well I daresay; but the first mate and we, the sailors, aye, and the captain, that was a night for us ! The mate told me that towards morning when things had calmed a bit, he tried to cross the decks ; he had tied a rope around his waist and he was making slow way. There was something to say to them that was aft and he was doing his best. Sudden, he says he saw a light as gold as the sun, only different, and then he saw yes, this is what he swears he saw a ship, a long ship, half decked, with sails of green and yellow and red. The boat, as he stared at it, dipped down, down into the great waves, but when it rose up again he saw the red and black shields that hung outside the gunwhale and the prow was carved and painted of the brightest colors. It was a mighty sight, he said, a strange one for mortal eyes !" "A Viking ship," gasped Bjorn. "Aye, just that and more. Strange men were on its decks, men with, what's the word helmets and spears, men in long scarlet mantles. He stared and stared and then quite sudden they were no more there gone where or how, he could not tell." Hjalmar was silent, drawing long puffs from his favorite pipe. "What do you think, Hjalmar, was it a dream?" asked Audrey. "Maybe!" 84 Midsummer "Do you think the first mate had had a drop too much? I do/' exclaimed Sven. "Maybe!" "A Viking ship," repeated Bjorn, more impressed by the tale than any of the others. "What do you think, what do you really think about it, Hjalmar?" Audrey asked him earnestly. Hjalmar puffed slowly. "I'd best be keeping my thoughts quiet and to myself. Where's the sweets, little Froken? I want my pay for the story." The evening ended with laughter, toffy, fudge and good humor. Even Smorgas, the cat, won her way into Hjalmar's affections, and was allowed to sit up- on his knee. That night before Audrey fell asleep she thought to herself: "Hjalmar believes the mate's story about the Vi- king ship; he would not say so but he believes it." CHAPTER 7 On the Way to the City Beautiful IT WAS a blue and gold day when they started for Stockholm. "I hope we'll have all sorts of adventures," said Audrey to Valfried as they waited for the white boat to glide up to the wooden landing. "There are Nils and Ingeborg, see them on the upper deck," called Bjorn as he and Sven arrived, laden with packages. They had hurried down the path and behind them came Fru Zander and Lille- more, the latter carrying two bags and a number of packages. "Lillemore will not go for a journey unless she is laden with bundles," Fru Zander said laughingly to Audrey. She took her youngest child firmly by the hand as she spoke. She knew Astrid of old and had no intention of letting her out of her sight until they were safely on board. What fun it was, running up the slippery gang plank with Lillemore calling to them shrilly to be careful. Then waving good-bye to old Hjalmar, who stood waving his scarlet handkerchief from the 85 86 Midsummer landing. Everyone was waving; a number of sum- mer people had boarded the boat at their landing and their friends and servants had come down to see them off. "You'd think they were going to be gone a month," whispered Audrey to Sven as they stood a little apart from the others. "Even the old Pastor has come way down to the land to say good-bye and he is so lame." Audrey waved to the Zander chil- dren's grandfather as she spoke. "Yes, isn't it funny, the fuss they make about be- ing away for a few days. There is Aunt Greta, see there on the balcony," answered Sven. The boat was passing underneath the castle and the children called out: "Good-bye, Tante Greta, good-bye," and waved frantically. The Zanders and Wicanders also waved. "After all, it's rather nice, the waving I mean," exclaimed Audrey impulsively. She was glad of their holiday, poor Tante Greta, and she had given them each ten kronar to spend. "I wish Tante Greta had come with us; she never has any fun," said Audrey to Valfried as the castle and bay faded from sight and they found them- selves suddenly gliding through the narrow water- way just beyond. "Why, I couldn't fancy your aunt being anywhere but at the castle," Valfried replied. "But come," grasping Audrey's arm, "let us hurry upstairs be- On the Way to the City Beautiful 87 fore Astrid sees us; she is with mother and Lillemore now, the others have gone up." The two girls ran quickly up the companionway but Astrid spied them. "Wait, wait for me," she called eagerly, but they were up and away and seated in a far corner of the deck, with the Wlicanders and Bjorn and Sven, be- fore her fat legs had reached the top step. She saw them at once and ran towards them. She wore a blue print frock and her flaxen braids stood out each each side of her round, excited little face. "Oh bother Astrid; she is so forward, never will- ing to stay with mother and Lillemore," exclaimed Valfried crossly. u We left Petrus home at the villa. Mother said he would do better in the country," remarked Inge- borg, as Astrid settled herself comfortably beside Audrey, quite unconscious of the lack of welcome that awaited her. "Good idea, wish our mother felt the same," grumbled Bjorn. Audrey put her arm around Astrid's eager little figure. They were great friends, these two. "Suppose you be my little sister while we're in Stockholm," she whispered, and Astrid whispered back, "Yes, you can look after me, but you must let me eat as many cakes as I like." She nestled contentedly against Audrey's shoulder. The wind flapped the canvas siding of the boat, the sun sparkled on the sea, from below came 88 Midsummer the strains of a harmonium playing the Hambo Polka. A boy came up the companionway with a tray laden with glasses in which was a golden mixture. "Appelsene saft," he called, and Bjorn beckoned him to come up to them. "A glass for each of us," he said to the boy. He counted out his change and soon they were all sip- ping the cool, bitter-sweet drink. They all hummed the air of the Hambo Polka, the boys keeping time with their feet. Suddenly Bjorn gave a shout and pointed to a big boat. They had come to an open bay and what looked very like a man-of-war lay near them. "It's one of the boats from the Fort Vaxholm, I think. Let's get a closer look," exclaimed Nils and the three boys rushed off together. Ingeborg and Valfried were talking eagerly about all they meant to do in Stockholm. "Audrey will love some of the pictures in the Na- tional Museum, won't she, Valfried?" asked Inge- borg. "Oh we're not going to spend our time in mouldy old places like the Museum or Ridderholm," an- swered Valfried a little crossly. She was not at all pleased at having Astrid with them and it had ruffled her temper. "We're going to Stockholm to amuse ourselves, not to moon around tombs. We're going to stay On the Way to the City Beautiful 89 out on the boats and hear the music and see the wild cats at Skansen and just let old Gustafus Adolphus and the other old kings and things stay where they are !" she went on. The other girls laughed at this, and so did Val- fried. Audrey stood up suddenly. "I've a cramp in my leg so I'm going to walk up and down for a minute. I'm going to see what's below." She smiled back at the other two, and with Astrid at her side, she walked off down the deck. At the far end they stopped and looked down. Way below them some peasants were eating their dinner. They sat about on the floor of the hold or on coils of rope and were eating large pieces of hard bread and cheese. A group of young lads and girls were dancing to the lilting air that an old man played for them on the harmonium. Who was that yes, why, could it be ? Why, yes, it was Nore ! He sat with another boy on a coil of rope, apart from the other. The boy, his com- panion, had a fat, uninteresting face. They, too, were eating dark bread and something that looked like cold sausage, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves very much indeed. Nore was coming to Stockholm too ! Would they see him there? Why had he not told her? Suddenly she called softly, "Nore!" He did not hear her, for he was watching a flock of sea gulls silhouetted against a gold-touched cloud. She called 90 Midsummer again and then he turned and saw her. His face was lighted by the joy the picture the gulls made had given him. There was a smile on his lips and in his eyes. He showed no surprise at seeing her. "Froken, did you see the gulls, the gold and white picture that they made?" he asked her. He came nearer so that they could talk with more ease. She spoke to him reproachfully. "Oh, Nore, why did you not tell me that you, too, were going to Stock- holm, for that's where you're going, isn't it?" Axel meanwhile had stood up and moved away to speak to his cousins who were making a merry meal nearby. Nore nodded towards him as he answered Audrey. "Yes, Froken, it is with my best friend, Axel, that I am going. We are going to stay with a friend of his mother who keeps a Konditori in Ridderholm, that is the very old part of Stockholm, you know." "I spoke only of my holiday on my Name's Day night, when you and Marta rowed me across the bay. You never said that you were going to have one, too." Audrey had to call over the side of the boat because of the noise of the harmonium and the swishing of the water, but Nore seemed to speak quite quietly, yet she heard every word. "But it was in your holiday I was interested, Froken," he said, smiling up at her. "Oh, I do hope we'll all see each other in Stock- On the Way to the City Beautiful 91 holm, I want you to tell me about the old places, and Oh so many things. Valf ried doesn't want to see old things, she says, and I don't really care much about tombs of kings but the pictures, Oh I do want to see the pictures." As she spoke of the pictures, Nore's face light- ened still more and he nodded. "I do hope we'll see you in Stockholm," Audrey insisted. Nore shook his head. "Stockholm is a large city, Froken, there will be many thousands of people there." u But at the park, Skansen, midsummer night, you'll surely be there then," exclaimed Audrey. u Yes," he answered eagerly. "Midsummer night, the flames, the stillness and then the song!" "I hope we'll see you then," she said. She turned away before he could answer. Sudden tears came to her eyes as she walked slowly back, far down the deck, where the others awaited her. Nore had not answered her in kind, he did not wish to be the com- rade she would have him. He had not said that he hoped he would see them all in Stockholm; he had spoken only of the sea gulls and the fire, the great bonfire that they would see at Skansen, midsum- mer night. She winked back tears, smiled and waved her hand at the others who were calling to her. "We're coming to Surdetelje where we can buy the 92 Midsummer nice little cakes/' exclaimed Astrid joyously, jump- ing up and down as was her way when particularly happy. "Lillemore's grandmother sold cakes here, years ago," said Valfried, as they all stood close to the railing and watched the boat glide slowly through the lock. The little green, grey village seemed so carefully tucked away among the sheltering pine trees. As the boat stopped, puffing and swishing, at the little landing, a group of little old women came close, calling out their wares. They wore short skirts and funny frilled caps and they looked, all of them, most exactly alike. "They are always there, " laughed Ingeborg, put- ting her arm around Audrey. "Sometimes I wonder what would happen if just once they should be late for the boat." "Oh, I do like Ingeborg so much," thought Aud- rey, "I like her being sort of plain and dark and when she speaks of pictures and things, Oh I don't know, but I can almost see them. I love Valfried too," she thought loyally. "Kringler, kringler, I want kringler," sang Astrid, as Sven and Bjorn ran down the companionway and the others watched them. They laughed and talked with the old women and came away with a big bag of the dainties for which Surdetelje is famous. They were still laughing when they joined the others. "One old dame told Sven he spoke perfect Swedish," On the Way to the City Beautiful 93 laughed Bjorn as he passed the bag around. They were soon enjoying the crisp, sweet, twisted cakes. "Nore Carlson is below, he and Axel Jensen. We've been talking to them," said Bjorn. "I hope he will have a good time. Just think, he's never been to the city." It was evening when they entered the harbor of Stockholm. Down the bay they steamed and the children watched the ships that lay at anchor, the spires of Stockholm, silver and gold against the startling crimson of the sky. How swiftly and smoothly their boat glided past the navy yard! There seemed to be music everywhere, glorious music, great sweeps of melody. "That's the Finnish band, they're playing over there." Bjorn pointed to a blur of trees along the shore. Back and forth, like hurrying little fishes, plied the boats, boats of all kinds and sizes: sail boats, lazily dipping at their anchors, pleasure boats chugging in from their journeyings up the Malar Lake or down the fjords; and always the little steamboats that glide back and forth, constantly, from one part of the city to another, for Stockholm is built on seven islands. "We're here, isn't it fun?" exclaimed Valfried as the boat glided up to the wharf. Lillemore called to them shrilly to hurry. "Your mother is waiting, the luggage is waiting, 94 Midsummer we must find cabs at once," she shrieked up the com- panionway. "I wish Lillemore would stop yelling, she seems to think we're still babies," grumbled Bjorn as he leisurely descended the gangplank, hurrying, how- ever, when he saw his mother. "I have had a splendid rest," said Fru Zander cheerily. "Now: we are really here, has the journey seemed long, dears ?" she asked the girls, as they waited on the wharf, while the boys and Lillemore put the luggage into two taxis. "We're really here," Audrey repeated to herself as they stood there with the almost blinding beauty of the city and the sea and sky about them. "I'm going to do just as I like, all the time I'm here," said Astrid happily, "I'm " "Audrey, Astrid, come." Valfried called them and the next moment they were all packed in be- tween the many bags and bundles and had started along the sea front, across the wide bridge that led from the great palace to the grey square where stood the statue of Gustaf Adolf, that brilliant king of Sweden who once made all of Europe draw its breath in astonishment. They whirled along so fast that before they knew it, they were sweeping up Strandvagen, a lovely boulevard facing the bay, and after a few minutes found themselves in the lobby of the Zander's apart- ment house. There was plenty of bustle bringing in On the Way to the City Beautiful 95 the luggage, Lillemore and the maids calling back and forth. The servants had come up the day before and had put everything in readiness. Every one in Stockholm lives in apartments, but the Zanders had two and as they were connected by a staircase, it seemed like a real house to them all. The staircase was in the dining-room and from the first, it fascinated Audrey more than anything else in the house. It was painted bright red and it had all kinds of odd little figures on it. "It's the nicest staircase I ever saw, it's like the garden at Sunhem different," said Audrey to Val- fried, as they stood for a moment in the midst of a varied assortment of bags. Fru Zander had gone on upstairs, and the boys were there, having carried up some of their belongings. Suddenly Fru Zander's voice called sharply: "Valfried!" The next moment she stood at the head'of the stairs, she was quite pale and in her hand she held an open letter. "Valfried, your Aunt Lisa is ill. Such a pathetic letter, Karl is away and she is all alone, way up there in that lonely Jevla. I must go to her at once. She has had one of those bad attacks again, so far away from home. How can I leave you all, children. But indeed I must go." Valfried ran upstairs, threw her arms around her mother's neck and gave her a hug. Bjorn stood just behind his mother, his honest freckled face 96 Midsummer full of concern, for his Aunt Lisa was his especial favorite. "Never mind, mother, we'll do finely. I'm the man of the house now, I'll see that they none of them do anything foolish all except Astrid I'll not be re- sponsible for her." Bjorn smiled as he spoke and was only joking, but Fru Zander looked worried. "Yes, I ought to take the baby but, of course, Lillemore is a host in herself. And she has so counted on having the holiday here with you all. She will be good, I'm sure." Audrey ran quickly up the stairs and she, too, threw her arms around Fru Zander. "Let Astrid be my little sister, too, while you are gone, I promise to take care of her." CHAPTER 8 Sun and Shadow "FROKEN VALFRIED, I've called you five times to come to breakfast," Lillemore's voice called loudly up the red staircase. "Here we are, the three of us, and sorry to be late," laughed Ingeborg, as the three girls ran down the stairs, and up to the breakfast table, with its blue and white china and its big bowl of cornflowers in the center. Astrid was just finishing her porridge and seemed downcast. "The boys went to the navy yard and they would not take me with them," she com- plained. Audrey laughed as she kissed her and said, "You are to look after me and show me the sights of Stockholm." The boys came in just as breakfast was over, and while the girls ran to put on their hats, they finished what was left of the spicy coffee cake. They had had an early breakfast and had sailed over to the navy school, where a friend of Nil's had shown them around. Sven was full of delight in the city, and when the girls returned, ready for the out- 97 98 Midsummer ing, they all started off in high spirits, Astrid's hand tight in Audrey's. They walked along towards Gustaf Adolf's Square as Bjorn had suggested they watch the king's guard change. "Audrey and Sven will like that, they've never seen it," he said. "Never seen the king's guard!" Astrid could not believe it, for the first thing she could remember was standing with Lillemore, watching the soldiers. As they all stood there in the great grey square, she waved excitedly when the blue and silver uniforms flashed in the sun, and the guard crossed the bridge from the palace, saluted the soldiers going to take their place to guard the king, and passed on down the broad street. The stately palace gleamed in the sunlight, far across the bridge, and the children walked towards it, stopping now and then to watch the many boats that lay at anchor, and the others that steamed back and forth, under the white bridges. "Don't you love it, Audrey, the sea and the boats? I don't want to boast, but I do love my own city, just the best of all. I've seen Paris and Venice and Vienna but Stockholm is different." Ingeborg looked off across the harbor as she spoke. Her dark plain face was filled with the artist's love of beauty. "It is enchanting, Ingeborg. I'm learning things, someway, I can't explain, but I just feel different," answered Audrey. They stood for a moment, watch- Sun and Shadow 99 ing the little boats weave in and out amongst the larger craft, and sturdily steam away to far parts of the city. The many bridges gleamed like silver in the sunshine. Sven confided to Audrey afterwards that he hadn't cared very much for the palace. "It's too gloomy," he had said. "I like to be out, not stuffed up in old mouldy buildings. I don't see any use in having so many rooms, they don't use half of them, any way." It was not so with Audrey; she always remem- bered that hour in the old palace. "It's not really so very old, you know," Nils Wicander explained to her, as they stood together in the throne room. "It's not like Gripsholm up the Malar Lake, or Drottingham they're old castles. If you like, perhaps we can see them before we go back. We could take our lunch and go off on one of the boats and spend the day. Gripsholm is only an hour from here." "This one seems old and strange enough for me," answered Audrey, gazing at the great silver throne. The others had gone on into the next room and Valfried called from the doorway, "Come into the White Sea, Audrey!" It was well named, this great ball room of the palace, but it was not because of its beauty or its gran- deur that Audrey stood for a moment on its thres- hold and that the tears came suddenly to her eyes. It was because it was here, in the magnificence of the ioo Midsummer famous ball room, that her father had first seen her mother. "Standing with some officer of the court, in the center of the ball room, she was like a sunbeam caught in marble." Those were the words he had said to her, her practical, unromantic father. "She was like a sunbeam caught in marble." How lovely! The tears were near Audrey's eyes and she hardly heard all that Nils told her of the people coming into the throne room once a year, to the king. The parliament opening when the pages and the soldiers, the court and royalty made so magnificent a spec- tacle. Nils had seen it all the winter before, because his father was a member and there had been a box for the member's children. They wandered through the old rooms, seeing even the private apartment of the royal family, as they were away for the summer in their various palaces along the sea coast. When they came out again into the sunshine, Inge- borg said something about going to Ridderholm Church but Valf ried spoke up decidedly : "We don't want to spend our time in stuffy places." "I should say not," agreed the boys. "Should say not," echoed Astrid. "Let's see where there is a nice place for cakes," she suggested. "Isn't that the museum across the way, couldn't we go and look at the pictures for a little while?" suggested Audrey. Sun and Shadow 101 Valfried frowned. "Two is company, three is none; come on Astrid, we'll go by ourselves." Audrey looked at her in amazement. Valfried was put out. There was no doubt about that. What was it? She had not seemed at all like herself since they started. "It's because of Astrid perhaps," Audrey thought. "It is because we have to look after Astrid." "Of course, I hoped you would come, too, Val- fried," exclaimed Audrey. "No, I'll take Astrid to the bird shop, she always wants to go when she's here in town. You and Inge- borg will be quite happy, by yourselves." She took Astrid's hand and the girls could see that she was still frowning. "Very well," said Bjorn cheerily, quite unconscious that there was anything amiss. "We'll all meet at the Franska Konditori at one. Hurry girls ! you can just catch the boat, if you run!" The girls had only time to wave their hands as the little boat was whistling at the landing at the foot of the palace steps. A few minutes later they were chugging across the wide glistening bay. Audrey stood by the railing, the beauty of the morning all about her. There was a lump in her throat; it had been there since she stood in the doorway of the White Sea. Something dimmed the loveliness of the day. Valfried was cross because she had asked Inge- borg to go with her to the museum. How stupid IO2 Midsummer she had been, impulsive as always, never waiting to think a moment before she spoke. She had some- how taken it for granted that Valfried would not want to go because she had said she was tired of stuffy places, because she always said she liked better to be out of doors. The sudden idea of the museum had come to Audrey and she had thought of Inge- borg who loved pictures and knew so much about them. Ingeborg's voice sounded at her side. "Look back at Stockholm On The Islands, Audrey," she said. So Audrey looked back at the proud city, gleaming in the sunlight, touched with silver and gold, the proud palace, and back of it, the dark mass of old Ridderholm. It was only a few minutes sail across to the museum. They walked up the steps and stood foi some time, watching the doves that hovered close to the grey old building. Seagulls walked about among them or hovered near, calling harshly. Statues of marble and bronze gleamed coldly in the half light as the girls climbed up the stairs to the gallery above. "We'll only have time to see a few of the pictures now, but we can come again, the last of the week. It's so nice having you all to myself while we see the pictures," said Ingeborg, putting her arm through Audrey's. They went into the great silent room, and paused tr**H Sun and Shadow 103 at once before a painting hung near the entrance. It was a picture of David, the shepherd lad, playing to Saul. The lad sat on the floor, a tiger skin about him, playing his harp and looking up with so loving and inspired a glance, at the sad face of the king. "It's my favorite picture, I've loved it since I was a child," whispered Ingeborg. After a few moments, they separated, and Audrey went over to a far corner of the room. It was her whim to look at the pictures and ask Ingeborg about them, afterwards. She looked up at the great paint- ing of the mad King Eric and the little nut-selling girl that he made his queen. The face of the man was so sad, so tragic, for he had terrible moods and then only the little Karin, his queen, could comfort and soothe him. It was a wonderful picture but it was not a happy one. Ingeborg was way off at the other side of the room studying something she was trying to copy. Audrey looked up suddenly and there, not far from her, stood Nore^ He was alone, his grey suit seemed a part of the grey room; the startling colors of the pic- tures seemed to flare like flames in the misty dim- ness. As he was turning away from the picture of Charles the Twelfth, he saw Audrey at once and came up to her. "I'm glad you came here, Froken, I was thinking of you because you said you liked pictures have you seen this one of our great king?" he asked. IO4 Midsummer Audrey went over with him and they stood under the picture, together. "No," she whispered. Every one seemed to speak softly in the gallery. "Tell me about it, Nore," she added. So Nore told her of the great king who had made all Europe quiver, who had conquered and conquered and who at last was brought home, across the moun- tains, wounded to the death. "Do you see his face?" asked Nore softly. "Noth- ir g could conquer him, nothing! It is the face that is the most wonderful. O to paint a picture like that, Froken!" They stood there together, looking up at the face of the king, lying on a stretcher, a blood-stained bandage about his head. The lonely mountain pass, the few faithful soldiers carrying the litter, defeated at last, straggling back to Sweden across the snow. The only ones to do honor to the great king are a solitary huntsman and his son, who stand with bowed heads. Just as Nore had seemed to forget her, in watch- ing the seagulls, so now he seemed to do, looking at the picture. But he turned suddenly and said simply, "You are sad, Froken, can I help you?" How had he known! "I don't know really why I should be, everything is so happy but I am thinking of mother. We were at the palace and it was there, in the ball room, the Sun and Shadow 105 wonderful White Sea, that my father first saw her. Oh, Nore, I don't know what it is, but something is wrong at the castle. We're not like other families; we're not happy It's not just because it's all strange to us, it's something else Tante Greta and grand- father" Nore listened intently as he had done on the rocks, for it was not always easy for him to understand her. "The castle," he said, speaking in his clear slow way, "The castle has a charm for me so great that I have dreamed of it, so many times! The castle has a secret, Froken, I have felt that always what it is I do not know, but it is there." "Oh, Nore, if you and I could find it out!" ex- claimed Audrey softly but eagerly. Nore smiled his rare smile it lit up his quiet face, making it at once eager and boyish and happy. "You and I are really friends, do say so, Nore," said Audrey. "You are the friend I have always wanted," he answered, and she noticed that he did not address her as Froken this time. He had spoken quite easily, as Bjorn and Nils would have done. Just then Ingeborg came up to them, greeted Nore and then reminded Audrey that they must hurry or they would be late in meeting the others. They said good-bye to Nore and were soon out in the sunshine again, sailing across the bay. 106 Midsummer "Nore Carlson looks like an artist. Isn't it odd, for he has been a fisher lad since he was enough to hold a rod. Yet somehow he seemed such a part of the pictures, there in the gallery." Ingeborg leaned her arms on the boat railings as she spoke. Audrey answered her eagerly: "I feel that too, but it's been something I couldn't put in words." They all had a jolly lunch at the Konditori. Val- fried seemed to be herself again and the boys were full of their adventures. Bjorn chose a table for them in a corner and told them to order anything they liked. His mother had given him money before she left and he greatly enjoyed playing host. They all chose the same things for lunch. "Mother would think we were foolish, just choco- late and cakes and raspberries and frozen cream for a meal," laughed Valfried. "I'm going to have as many, many cakes as I like," crooned Astrid, her round face beaming. "How can you let people see how greedy you are, it's disgusting," scolded Bjorn. Then he gave their order to the smiling waitress. "We took Sven up to the top of the Katarina Elevator," said Nils. "It was better than the Woolworth building." Sven gave Astrid a part of his cream, as he spoke, and she gave him a sweet but sticky smile, for thanks. "This is the funniest meal, choosing all the cakes Sun and Shadow 107 from the counter, taking as many as we like. Aren't they ever afraid that people will be dishonest about it?" asked Audrey. "Why, no," answered Valfried as they came out again to the street. u No one would ever think of it." It was a long day of sunshine and fun. The tang of the salt air was everywhere, as was the scent of birch leaves and of flowers, and bright splashes of color, as girls from Dalacarnia went laughing by, up from the country for a holiday. Lillemore greeted the children a little anxiously at five o'clock when they reached the apartment, a tired but undaunted Astrid in their midst. "We had a great many cakes for lunch, and I saw the birds, and Audrey and I went to the Bee Hive, and she bought some sewing so she can sew with us when we go home and " "Well, well, Froken Astrid, do not talk any more, IVe been fairly distracted you're all so late getting home. Supper will soon be ready, run upstairs and wash," answered Lillemore. "Do interest Astrid in something tonight, Lille- more, we don't want her with us. After supper we want to get away without her knowing," said Bjorn to the nurse. "You know very well that your mother wouldn't wish you to be out in the evening without an older person, Master Bjorn," objected Lillemore. io8 Midsummer "It's bright daylight, isn't it? I was fifteen my last birthday, wasn't I? When papa isn't here, I'm man of the house, isn't that so?" demanded Bjorn fiercely. Lillemore had great respect for the man of the house and Bjorn looked so tall and manly and was so in earnest, that she shook her head and only said, "You must come home early, then. It's a bad time now, the city is full of strangers and pick- pockets. You know that as well as I do." After a jolly supper during which they did ample justice to the Smorgas and the fish omelette, Lille- more suggested to Astrid that she come up and try on the new dres's which she was to wear the next night at Skansen. The child was always interested in her clothes, and followed Lillemore up the red stairway, delightedly. She stopped on the top stairs and looked down at the others. "I'm coming right down again, I'm not going to bed for a long time," she announced. The others slipped out quietly and stood in the entrance hall for a moment, debating what to do. "We might go to Hassleback&i'to hear the King's band play," suggested Bjorn. "Can we go in a boat?" asked Sven. "Of course! What do you say, girls?" Bjorn turned to Audrey as he spoke. "I think Audrey would love the music, but Bjorn, what would mother say!" exclaimed Valfried. Sun and Shadow 109 Bjorn hesitated. "It's bright daylight, we can leave before the late crowds come, I don't think she would mind so very much," he answered. They boarded a boat at a landing near the apart- ment house and the girls sat on a bench on the tiny upper deck. The wind blew joyously. It was still too early for much of a crowd. From a nearby boat came the sound of many voices, singing. Boats were everywhere, some so covered with 'birch leaves they looked like the floating tops of trees. When they reached the pleasure garden, Bjorn found a good table, and ordered chocolate for the girls and Nils, and saft for himself and Sven. "There's Nore and his friend," he exclaimed sud- denly, "there in the entrance way, they're just look- ing in." The first strains of the orchestra had begun and the boys, Nore and Axel, stood in the entrance way a moment to listen. They were on their way to Skansen, the great forest park that loomed dark and mysterious, just beyond Hasslebacken. "Let's ask them to come and join us," suggested Sven, and Aud. y felt she had never loved her brother as she did at that minute. "Yes, do," said Ingeborg. Valfried said nothing and Audrey felt that she would rather the boys did not join them. Sven went up to Nore, Bjorn following him. "Come," he said to Nore, "you and Axel are here iio Midsummer for fun, too, come and have some saft with us and listen to the music." Nore hesitated for a moment, and then turned to Axel. "Would you like to come, Ax?" he asked. Axel seemed so overcome with shyness that he could only nod his head, so the two boys followed Bjorn and Sven back to the table where the others were sitting. Sven drew two chairs from the table next them and Bjorn ordered more saft and cake while the others greeted the boys cordially. Nore sat next Sven and Axel just behind him. Axel did not speak at all, ex- cept to say "Yes, Froken" and "No, Froken," when the girls spoke to him. He knew no English and he was quite overcome at the invitation from the young ladies and gentlemen. When the music began, Nore closed his eyes. The truth of the matter was that he was very tired, more from excitement than for any other reason. He was seeing all that he had dreamed, at least of Stock- holm. Perhaps some day other dreams would come true. His feet ached for he was not used to the hard pavements; he had known only grass and sand and the feel of a boat under his feet. The music rose to a burst of melody. Audrey and Sven had heard orchestras in New York but they had never heard such enchanting music as that which sounded there in the wonder of the Swedish night. It had grown so cold that people began to wrap Sun and Shadow 1 1 1 themselves in red blankets that an attendant of the gardens passed around. One rented them for a few ore. Audrey was soon wrapped up in one and won- dered if she looked as odd as did Valfried and Inge- borg in theirs. In spite of the music Bjorn wanted to talk. "Hope you're having a jolly time in the city, Nore," he said heartily. Nore smiled eagerly. "It is wonderful, I owe it all to Ax." He looked gratefully at his friend as he spoke. Then he turned and listened to the music. "I wish they'd play the "Star Spangled Banner," said Sven to Bjorn. "Hush! not so loud, boys! we want to hear the music!" admonished Valfried. "I tell you what I'll do," whispered Bjorn to Sven, "I'll write a note to the Herr Director and ask him if they'll play it as a favor, because there are some Americans here. It will be a surprise to the girls ; we won't tell them." "Do you think they could possibly know it?" asked Sven. "They might! Perhaps they've learned it so that they can play it when American tourists are here; anyway, I'll see." Bjorn tore a piece of paper from a note-book in his pocket and replaced three post cards, a fish hook, a bar of chocolate and a pair of cuffs links which he had been obliged to unearth, in 1 1 2 Midsummer order to find it. Then he wrote a few lines on the paper and beckoned to a waiter. "Take this to the Herr Director, please," he said. Sven and Nore became a little acquainted during the intermission. Sven had many questions to ask about sailing and he told Nore that he had written to his father, asking for a sailboat. "I told him I'd find some way to earn the money to pay him back, sometime. Not that he'd ever want me to." Nore was more interested in the American children than he had ever been in any human being before. He had never seen any one outside of the little world up the Skerries. His inner life had been in the dreams he had woven for himself of places and things. Now these children had come, both of them, the boy and the girl, so different from anything he had ever known. Audrey with her impulsive quick ways, her fearlessness, her charm, and Sven with a life behind him that Nore could not fancy, even in his dreams, a life full of independence and rush, of wealth and excitement. Suddenly the strains of the "Star Spangled Ban- ner" rose on the sweet night air. Audrey caught Valfried's arm in a tremor of delight, then she and Sven rose to their feet. "It's their national song," whispered Bjorn to Val- fried, "I asked the Herr Director to play it." "Oh, Bjorn, we're just children, how did you dare Sun and Shadow 113 to do it?" Valfried whispered back. People watched smilingly the two eager faces of the American chil- dren. Nore spoke to Bjorn: "Shall we stand up too, all of us ? I think perhaps they would like it." So the other children jumped up also, and stood there with Sven and Audrey until the last strains died away. How they applauded! "Oh, that was wonderful of the Herr Director! How I love him for it!" ex- claimed Audrey, rubbing her hands, for she had clapped until they hurt. "Bjorn asked them to do it, he sent a note to the Herr Director," said Valfried, knowing it would please Bjorn to have her tell them. "That was fine, and it was dandy for you all to stand up with us. We'll do the same for you when you all come to see us in New York and the band at Coney Island plays 'Du Gamla du Friska,' for you !" This from Sven. They all laughed and just then the music caught their voices. It was the Finnish March and the glory of it boomed through the still cold air. "There's nothing like it in the world!" exclaimed Bjorn. And this was a good deal for him to say, as he did not care for music. As the melody ceased some one came up to their table and stood by Nore, someone who had been watching him for a long time, ever since he had joined the others at the table. It was a man, a tall man with a dark unusual face. One could see that ii4 Midsummer he was a gentleman and a foreigner. He touched Nore's arm. "Who are you?" he asked. He spoke in a low clear voice and he repeated the question: "Who are you, please, what is your name?" Nore stood up and answered him in his simple way. "I'm Nore Carlson, sir," he said. "Where do you live?" "Up the Skerries, near a village called Boo." A sudden eagerness came into the man's eyes and vanished as quickly as it came. "This Boo, then, is the nearest village to your home?" "Yes, sir, there are only fishing huts and some summer villa; Boo is a few miles away." "Is there not a castle there, a castle on some rocks?" Sven and Audrey leaned forward in their interest as the stranger said these last words. Audrey was breathless. If Nore was at all surprised at being thus questioned he did not show it; it was not his way. "Yes, there is a castle there, sir," he answered. The stranger did not glance at the others at the table. "I beg your pardon," he said to Nore, "the music must have bewildered me." He hesitated, lifted his hat, and turned away. The children watched him until he had quite disappeared out of the entrance gate. They talked excitedly among Sun and Shadow 115 themselves as to who it could be. Of them all Nore seemed the least curious, but in reality he was excit- ed. The stranger had had an artist's face, he had shown such interest; what could it mean? "He must have thought I looked like someone that he knew," said Nore as he and Axel bade good-bye to the others. "It has been a splendid time; we've liked it the best of any of our fun, so far," he said, speaking for his bashful friend as well as for him- self. He and Axel then hurried off, as they had pro- mised to stay in with Fru Strom's baby so that she could have a little holiday herself. It was nearly eleven o'clock when the Zander chil- dren and their guests were being scolded by Lille- more for their tardiness. CHAPTER 9 Midsummer Night "BjORN, I do think it was stupid asking Nore Carl- son and that clumsy Axel to sit with us last night." "Nonsense, Val. Nore is fine. What if he is a fisher lad? We all like and admire him and you know it !" "Oh I like him well enough but well I don't want to be snobbish, but after all Ingeborg's grand- mother was lady-in-waiting to the old queen; she must have thought it odd." "Ingeborg and Nils are not snobs even if you are. I'm ashamed to think you're my sister," Bjorn an- swered Valfried angrily. "Frukust!" called Lillemore, and the brother and sister turned from the window where they had been standing in the early morning light, and walked slowly towards the hall. Audrey moved quickly away from the open door of the next room, ran down the hall and was waiting by the table when the Zan- ders came in. She had unwittingly overheard their conversation and she was very angry, so angry that for a moment she could not speak. Then she bade 116 Midsummer Night 117 Lillemore a cheerful good-morning and even man- aged a smile when the others came in. They must not know that, much against her will, she had over- heard them. Lillemore put a plate of hot "platter" down on the table, little Swedish pancakes of which they were all very fond. There was a dish of wild strawberry jam to eat with the pancakes. Ingeborg and Val- fried had put on their best white dresses in honor of midsummer day. Lillemore thought this very foolish. "They will be quite black by evening time, when you wish to look your best," she remonstrated, as the children sat down to breakfast. All through the meal Audrey heard the others talking and joined in, now and then, herself, but she wanted to be alone. She wanted to think over the strange happening of the night before. There was an outdoor bazaar at the end of Strand- vagen and half the day was spent there. Audrey's head ached a little, the sun was so blinding, the cries of the fruit venders and the pancake men, so pierc- ing. She grew tired of riding on the merry-go-round, and eating slabs of shiny gingerbread, and when Valfried suggested that she and Ingeborg go in and have their fortunes told, she shook her head. "I'm tired, you go in the tent without me." She caught sight of Lillemore's purple dress and found her swinging Astrid, who kept calling: "I want to go as high as the moon, as high as the moon !" 1 1 8 Midsummer It was cool there under the shade trees and away from the glitter and noise. "I'll swing Astrid, you rest awhile, Lillemore," she suggested and the faith- ful nurse assented gladly, mopping her purple face as she sat down under a tree with her knitting. Aud- rey felt happier than at any time during the day. She liked being with little Astrid, enjoyed her delight in the swinging and laughed at her quaint sayings. All sorts of thoughts went through her mind, as she swung the child, back and forth. The stranger who had spoken to Nore who was he, why had he seemed so eager and puzzled and hesitant all at once? Nore had ansswered so simply, "I'm Nore Carlson, sir." Of course, what else could he answer? He was Nore Carlson. If only the stranger had not gone away, if only he had said why he wanted to know about Nore. Valfried her words of the morning! Oh she must not be angry with Valfried, her new friend who was so kind to her, who was making the summer such a happy one for her. Gradually the anger died out of her heart, and when the others ran to her through the trees and Valfried called joyously: "It's almost midsummer afton, Audrey, midsummer afton," she too smiled joyously. Her headache was forgotten and they all went home to make ready for the evening in the best of spirits. Lillemore held Astrid firmly by the hand as they started for Skansen that night. Lillemore had a Midsummer Night 119 toothache and was not in holiday humor. She had expected Maria, the house maid, to go with them and to return with Astrid, early in the evening, but Maria's young man had come up from Skane for the holiday and she had begged so hard to have the eve- ning off, that Lillemore had not had the heart to refuse her. What could she do! Astrid wore her new pink and white dress and there were wide pink ribbons on her stiff little braids. She was in fine spirits and though she held Lillemore's hand on one side she held Audrey's on the other. The boat was so crowded they were glad to be on land again. It was twilight, under the dense foliage of the trees at Skansen, delightful there. Audrey was a little tired of the brilliant light, and this was a very splendid midsummer night. The sky had been fearful in its beauty as they had come across the bay in the little boat. What joy it was to run down the wood paths at Skansen, music and laughter sounding everywhere, the open spaces, the caves where the polar bears lived, the caves where the wild cats lived, the funny little yellow-faced Lapps, in their huts ! It was all quite different from any park that the Bradford chil- dren had ever seen before. "It's like an enchanted forest. I know Nore could make up a wonderful story about it," thought Aud- rey. "Where is he, I wonder, somewhere with that stupid Axel, I suppose." 1 20 Midsummer They all stood by the cave watching the baby wild- cats. "The little Frokcn may hold one if she likes," said the kindly keeper and with a squeal of delight Astrid held out her arms and caught close to her heart the sleek baby cat with its tawny skin and funnily marked little face. "Oh, the darling!" They all crowded around \