Garman and Worse

s vast cool depths it has place for all mortal woes. It is not true that the sea is faithless, for it has never promised anything; without claim, without obligation,

and it in the same manner, for the sea has a distinct w

ome rolling in on the beach, and while the weary eye follows the long hoary breakers, the stripes of foam wash up in sparkling curves over the even sand; and in the hollow sound, when the billows r

one, and the look which gazes over the sea changes with its varying aspect, now comforting, now half fearful and defiant. But take one of these shore-dwellers, and move him far landward among the mountains, into the loveliest valley you can find; give him the best food, and the softest bed. He will not tou

e in your lighthouse?" The old gentleman always answered, "Well, you see, one never feels lone

ething of all three, he had quieted down, and never once thought of leaving the lighthouse of Bratvold. This was what no one could have credited; and when it was rumoured that Richard Garman, the attaché, a son of the first commercial family of the town, was seeking the simple post of lighthouse-keeper, most people were inclined

eak-neck pace from Paris to the death-bed of the old Consul, in a costume and with an air which took away the breath of the ladies, and caused confusion among the men. Since then Richard had been but little seen. Rumour, however, wa

head of the firm, Consul C.F. Garman, and his daughter Rachel, while little Gabriel, his younger so

the Hamburg steamer was expected. At length an employé of the firm came to the car

swered Consul Garman, while with a movement peculiar to himse

," "the attaché" as he was sometimes called; and with a daughter, too! But how could t

returned shortly after with his brother and a littl

e same; while the hair, though crisp and curling as in the old days, was now slightly necked with grey at the temples. He greeted them all with a friendly

and away down the long avenue which led

t without any satisfactory result. The hou

e whole of his large fortune, or else he would never have consente

went, a most cordial one. The Consul gave a grand dinner, at which he drank his brother's

hthouse-keeper at Bratvold, and lived there year after year without a sign of doing anything worthy of remark, each one in the little town

ge of little Madeleine, his only thought was to make an end of his wasted life, the sooner the better, directly his daughter was placed in safety. But just then he happened to get a remittance enclosed in an extraordinary letter, in which occurred several puzzling business terms. There was something about "liquidation," and closing up an account which required his presence, and in the middle of it all there were certain expressions which seemed to have stumbled accidentally into the commercial style. For instance, in on

that he wished to settle up the accounts that were therein mentioned. Nothing could have been further from the attaché's thoughts, and he

her, "Shall we drive out to Bratvold,

d the lonely coast, with its long stretches of dark heather and san

ttaché said, "Do you know, Christian Frederick, I can't imagine a position mor

u should not have it,"

ged?" answered Richard, as he k

ult with you for, it is your want of self-reliance. Don't you suppose that, with your g

exclaimed the attaché, regardin

must give it to you; and if there should be any difficulty, I feel pret

of his gifts and attainments or by reason of a timely word to the authorities. The very sameness of his existe

got on with his income. To live on a hundred a year seemed to him nothing less than a work of art, and yet he managed it. It must be acknowledged that he had a small private income, but his brother always told him it was as good as nothing; how much it was, and from what source it was really derived, he never had an idea. It is true that there came each year a current account from Garman and Worse, made out

-horse as well. His cellar was well filled with wine; and he always had a little ready money at hand, for which he had no immediate use. Thus, w

she had got quite at home in the language (her mother had been a Frenchwoman), she soon got on the best of terms with all their nei

was sent to fetch him. The chilly, old-fashioned house, and the reserved and polished manners of its inmates, had made a repellant impression on Madeleine. For her cousin Rachel, who was only a few years her elder, she had no liking. She preferred, therefore, to remain at home, and her father was never absent for more than

to the lighthouse. Per was tall and strongly built, with a crop of stiff, sandy hair, and a big hand as hard as horn from constant rowing; hi

e waited the more brothers and sisters he had to share with. His friends laughed at him, and somebody one day called him "Wait Per," a joke which caused great amusement at the time, and the nickname stuck to him ever afterwards. Beyond this, Per was not a lad to be laughed at; he was on

ppened that when she was out with Per, a fresh north-westerly breeze sprang up. Per's boat and tackle were always of the best, so that there was no real danger; b

Madeleine; "I wonder if

tter than that," sai

nd the point of the pier, so that she glided easily into the smooth water behind it, the old gentleman could not help being impressed by his skill. "He knows what he's about," he m

ok hands with both Madeleine and her father in a friendly manner, they could all perceive that Per was in the lighthouse-keeper

ain. No one could make out what Per wanted with "Silly Hans" in his boat; but there! Per always was an obstinate fellow. Both he and Madeleine were well contented with his choice; and when, a few days after, she put her head in at the door, and called t

s sitting aft, and he saw Madeleine jump down into the boat. On the forward thwart t

sigh of relief. "It is well they have g