Now Frithiof was quite in the humor to dislike any one, more especially a man who was young, handsome, well-dressed, and prosperous-looking; but some subtle influence crept over him the instant he heard the Italian’s voice; his hard eyes softened a little, and without being able to explain it he felt a strong desire to help this man in finding the song which he had come to inquire about, knowing only the words and the air, not the name of the composer. Frithiof, who would ordinarily have been inclined to grumble at the trouble which the search involved, now threw himself into it heart and soul, and was as pleased as his customer when after some little time he chanced to find the song. “A thousand thanks,” said the Italian warmly. “I am delighted to get hold of this; it is for a friend who has long wanted to hear it again, but who was only able to write down the first part of the air.” And he compared the printed song with the little bit of manuscript which he had shown to Frithiof. “Now, was it only a happy fluke that made you think of Knight’s name?” “I know another of his songs, and thought this bore a sort of likeness to it,” said Frithiof, pleased with his success. “You know much more of English music than I do, most likely,” said the Italian; “yet surely you, too, are a foreigner.” “Yes,” replied Frithiof, “I am Norwegian. I have only been here for nine months, but to try and learn a little about the music is the only interesting part of this work.” The stranger’s sympathetic insight showed him much of the weariness and discontent and _Heimweh_ which lay beneath these words. “Ah, yes,” he said, “I suppose both work and country seem flat and dull after your life among the fjords and mountains. I know well enough the depression of one’s first year in a new climate. But courage! the worst will pass. I have grown to love this England which once I detested.” “It is the airlessness of London which depresses one,” said poor Frithiof, rolling up the song. “Yes, it is certainly very oppressive to-day,” said the Italian; “I am sorry to have given you so much trouble in hunting up this song for me. We may as well take it with us, Gigi, as we are going home.”