No! It is only their way; and perhaps their way is as good as any other, after all.
So it came to pass that one day, when all four of them were sitting quietly together, Ole remarked, without any preamble whatever: "An idea occurs to me, Hulda." "What is it ?" "It seems to me that we ought to marry." "I think so too." "And so do I," added Dame Hansen as coolly as if the matter had been under discussion for some time.
"I agree with you," remarked Joel, "and in that case I shall naturally become your brother-in-law." "Yes," said Ole; "but it is probable that I shall only love you the better for it." "That is very possible." "We have your consent, then ?" "Upon my word! nothing would please me better," replied Joel.
"So it is decided, Hulda ?" inquired Dame Hansen.
"Yes, mother," replied the girl, quietly.
"You are really willing ?" asked Ole.

"I have loved you a long time, Hulda, without saying so." "And I you, Ole." "How it came about, I really do not know." "Nor I." "But it was doubtless seeing you grow more beautiful and good day by day." "That is saying a little too much, my dear Ole." "No; I certainly ought to be able to say that without making you blush, for it is only the truth.

Didn't you see that I was beginning to love Hulda, Dame Hansen ?" "I suspected as much." "And you, Joel ?" "I was sure of it." "Then I certainly think that you ought to have warned me," said Ole, smiling.
"But how about your voyages, Ole ?" inquired Dame Hansen.

"Won't they seem intolerable to you after you are married ?" "So intolerable that I shall not follow the sea any more after my marriage." "You will not go to sea any more ?" "No, Hulda.

Do you think it would be possible for me to leave you for months at a time ?" "So this is to be your last voyage ?" "Yes, and if we have tolerable luck, this voyage will yield me quite a snug little sum of money, for Help Bros.