He had excused himself from going, but with good tact had let me go.
In the cabin, which was open on account of the heat, sat the minister's wife and the sheriff's two ladies, and outside, one on each side, the minister and the sheriff, smoking their silver-mounted meerschaum pipes, and chatting comfortably: they were college-friends.

Susanna and I, together with the housemaid from Trondhjem, who was adorned for the occasion, had a place in the roomy bow.

The minister's wife wanted to keep that part of the boat in which she had an immense provision basket--a regular portable larder--under her own eye.

The big basket and the little lady entirely occupied one bench, while the two other ladies, with their starched dresses, quite filled up the rest of the narrow cabin.
There was not a breath stirring, and the West Fjord heaved in long, smooth swells.

The fjord lay like a giant at rest, sunning itself.