Knowing Dyceworthy as a zealous member of the Lutheran persuasion, and, moreover, as one who had in his youth lived for some years in Christiania,--thereby gaining a knowledge of the Norwegian tongue,--he invited him to take his place for his enforced time of absence, offering him his house, his servants, his pony-carriage and an agreeable pecuniary _douceur_ in exchange for his services,--proposals which the Reverend Charles eagerly accepted.

Though Norway was not exactly new to him, the region of the Alten Fjord was, and he at once felt, though he knew not why, that the air there would be the very thing to benefit his delicate constitution.

Besides, it looked well for at least _one_ occasion, to go away for the summer without asking his congregation to pay for his trip.

It was generous on his part, almost noble.
The ladies of his flock wept at his departure and made him socks, comforters, slippers, and other consoling gear of the like description to recall their sweet memories to his saintly mind during his absence from their society.

But, truth to tell, Mr.Dyceworthy gave little thought to these fond and regretful fair ones; he was much too comfortable at Bosekop to look back with any emotional yearning to the ugly, precise little provincial town he had left behind him.