"Just what I expected," said Macdonald, unfolding his plans. "There is the plan of Rosendal as it now is--that is, the house, woods, lake, and gardens; you must look it all over first, and see if you know the place, and then you'll be prepared for the next plan. You see, Mr. Hardy, there is practically little room for alteration. The little low whitewashed wall round the house can come down, the kitchen garden made into a shrubbery with walks; the turf is so coarse that you cannot make anything of it. The kitchen garden can be placed at the back. The valley of roses can be made into a pretty place, and I should advise the _Pinus Montana_ being planted, to contrast with its dark green the roses when in bloom; it will shelter them also. The little wall being down, the ground can be sloped and planted, as shown in plan. For the valley of roses I have prepared a large plan." Hardy interrupted, but seeing the Pastor about to speak, said-- "No, Herr Pastor; we must have Froken Helga's opinion first. She it is that has so blamed the obstinacy of my conduct in thinking that Rosendal can be improved. Let her speak; but, first, Macdonald has more to say." Macdonald suggested several other changes, which, although small in themselves, yet in the aggregate made considerable alteration. "Well, Froken Helga?" said Hardy, after she had seen the plans. "I think it will make Rosendal perfectly lovely," said Helga, warmly. "I should not have thought it possible so few simple changes could effect so much." "The cost," said the Pastor, "cannot be much either. I heartily approve of the plans." "We will come over and see you at Rosendal to-morrow, Macdonald, and go through the plans on the spot," said Hardy. And after Macdonald had experienced the hospitality of the Pastor, he left. "He is a clever man," said the Pastor, referring to Macdonald. "He is a good man," said Hardy; "but he has been educated to such work, and consequently he sees things that did not even strike the quick intelligence of Froken Helga Lindal." "I have been very foolish and----" said Helga, but stopped and blushed. "Not at all," said Hardy. "You had liked Rosendal as it is. It was very natural that you should have thought any change would be for the worse." "Thank you, Herr Hardy," said Helga; but her voice had a softer tone. "I wish," she added, after a pause, "you would sing to us the German song you sang once to my father." Hardy rose at once and did so. He looked round to ask if he should sing another song, when he saw Helga looking at him as a woman sometimes looks at the man to whom she has given her heart. Her back was turned to her father and brothers. Hardy sang the popular "Folkevise," beginning-- "Det var en Lordag aften Jeg sad og vented dig Du loved mig at komme vist Men kom dog ej til mig."