e Hansen's i

," answer

Hansen

n return, and if you

is nothing I wa

ou like

best in

repare dinn

ee to it that everything is

tter had alighted from the kariol, in which he had journeyed to the heart

with black, and guided with a simple rope passed, not through his mouth, but around his nose, two large, slender wheels, whose springless axle supports a small gay-colored, shell-shaped wagon-body, scarcely large enough to hold one

the stranger rose, straightened himself out, and finally alighted, thoug

er shelter?" he asked, curtl

r," repl

ind my

put in the stab

m well c

sk if you intend to rema

't kno

of some trees at the foot of the mountain. It was the only stable conn

mself before the fire he had ordered lighted. In the meantime, Hulda, to satisfy this exacting guest, bade the piga (a sturdy

ointed nose, small eyes that looked you through and through from behind large spectacles, a forehead generally contracted by a frown, lips too thin for a pleasant word ever to escape them, an

oad-brimmed, low-crowned hat, a snuff-colored suit, the breeches fastened at the knee with a leather strap

he would soon learn it, as he would h

guest who demanded the best room and the best food that the inn afforded, bu

give his name?"

mot

whence

N

Dal?" said Dame Hansen to herself rather than to her d

uestion, as the new-comer had acq

the main hall, from which his door opened, but seeing

his hostess was to him; but he finally walked toward he

said, without even touching the hat

s,

perienced, like her daughter, an uneasiness for which she

Dame Hansen, of D

e you anything parti

. Am I not your guest? And now I should like you

rposed Hulda, "and if you wi

wil

door indicated, and a moment afterward he was seated n

dly help wondering whether this fault-finding was due to a poor digestion or a bad temper. The soup of cherries and gooseberries did not suit him, though it was excellent, and he scarcely tasted his salmon and salt-herring. The cold ham, broiled chicken and nicely seasoned

lighted his pipe and went out

e inn. He seemed to be studying it under all its varied asp

t how much Dame Hansen's inn was really worth? Did he aspire to become the owner of it, though it was not for sale? All this was certainly very strange, especially as he afterward turned his attention to the little yard, the trees and shru

creature was this, and what could be the object of his visit? It was greatly to be regretted that all this too

is a madman?

ansen. "But he is a very eccen

nt of the name of the person you are

that you carry the register into his room. Pe

, mo

of brandy, then without saying a word, or even bidding any one good-night, he took his wooden candlest

barn, where he was already sound asl

ill sleeping. A little after nine o'clock he made his appearance even more glum and ill-tempered than the evening before, complainin

te his time. With his pipe in his mouth he walked about the inn as if trying to familiarize himself with the arrangement of the interior. He visite

rt, almost rude tone. How long had the inn been built? Was it her husband that built it, or did he inherit it? How much land was there around it, and what was the extent of the adjoin

ter that had been placed in his room, for that would have gi

where Hulda had placed it the evening bef

"but if you wish to know the state of our business, nothing could be easier. You have only to exa

t there before I leave, which will be immediately after breakfa

peated Dame H

me my breakfast as

live in

ything astonishing about the f

left without making the slightest effort to see anything of the surrounding country, Gous

o he must have come on business, and the sole object of his visit see

for she seated herself in her big arm-chair, and pushing as

efore, it seemed to give no better satisfaction; and yet the guest eat and drank in the same leisurely fashion. His attention seemed to be chiefly bestowed upon the silv

rations for departure; and by eleven o'clock the hors

then big drops of rain dashed against the window-panes; but this traveler with

andy, lighted his pipe, and put on his coat, then

tely," replied Hulda, seati

nd now," he added, "you had better bring m

o get the register, which, on her re

ook at Dame Hansen over his spectacles; then he wrote

ok it, examined each item separately, and then proce

y dear! Seven marks and a half fo

dskarl and the hors

I really don't see how you can expect to pro

me Hansen, in a voice that tremble

the name inscribed upon it, and now taking

e me no

my opinion,'" rep

val, he climbed into his kariol, and the skydskarl jumped upon the board behind him. A few seconds later

st, from