The Pastor, after the usual morning prayers with his household, said, "Stay, Kirstin! You have wickedly cast shame on an honest man; you have attributed sin to another without cause. You have heard that Rasmussen is dead, and how he died; but you do not know that the man you foully slandered had done his utmost for his brother man. When I came to Rasmussen's house, Herr Hardy's clothes were covered with dirt and blood. He had tended the dying man the whole night; he had torn up his linen shirt and under-clothing for bandages; and when I was about to speak to the widow, he gave me money for present need, and has ordered it so that she shall not want for the future. And yet this is the man to whom you would impute sin and shame. Ask forgiveness of God, and beg Herr Hardy's pardon. Go!" The hard-natured Jutland woman was overcome. Froken Helga's eyes filled with tears, and she went and kissed her father. "We were wrong to think evil of another, under any circumstances," said the Pastor, "or to allow suspicion of evil to grow in our minds." Hardy was ignorant of the little episode thus acted in the Pastor's household, and when he came down from his room some time later, he found a breakfast waiting for him, the Pastor shook hands with him, and asked how he was. "I feel what I have gone through this night," replied Hardy, "but am quite well." "An honest answer," said the Pastor. "But, little father," said Froken Helga, "can you not tell Herr Hardy that he has been kind and good?" Praise from her father's lips for a duty well done was with Helga more than gold or incense; and how wrong had they not all been towards Hardy! "Your father has already said enough," said Hardy. "Then I will speak for myself," said Helga, "and say that I thank you for your goodness to Rasmussen and his family;" and she took his hand and kissed it. Hardy saw she was governed by a momentary impulse, but it evinced a warm sympathy for what she considered a good act, and impressed him the more so as her manner was always towards him cold and retiring. At this juncture Kirstin appeared in an unusual state of agitation. "I have come," she said, "to ask Herr Hardy's pardon, for what I have said and done." "My servant reports to me that you beat him yesterday," said Hardy, "and as you did not beat me I have nothing to forgive. I have told my man, if you do so again, to lay the matter before the authorities. He will have to come here in acting as my servant; but if you beat him because you cannot understand him, he must be protected, the more so as his orders are not to strike you, under any circumstances. The matter has been brought to the Herr Pastor's knowledge, and that is enough, and you can go out." There was a stern dignity in John Hardy's manner, always present in a man of his type when accustomed to obedience. Kirstin hesitated. "You can go out, Kirstin," repeated Hardy; and she obeyed.