The excursion to Marielyst was in every way a success. But during the course of it a coolness arose between Mary and Jörgen Thiis. It happened thus. Jörgen came on board with a tall, strongly-built lady, the sight of whose broad forehead, kindly eyes, small nose, and projecting chin brought a slight blush to Mary's cheeks, which she concealed by rising and asking: "Are you not a sister of Captain Frans Röy?" "She is," answered Jörgen Thiis. "For safety's sake we are taking a doctor with us." "I am glad to meet you," said Mary. "Of course I have heard your brother speak of you; he has a great admiration for you." "So we all have," Jörgen Thiis declared as he left them. Miss Röy herself had not spoken yet. But her scrutinising eyes expressed admiration of Mary. Now she seated herself beside her. "Are you to be at home long?" "I can't say. Possibly we shall not travel any more; my father is not strong enough now." Miss Röy did not speak again for some time; she sat observing. Mary thought to herself: It is tactful of her not to begin a conversation about her brother. The two ladies kept together during the sail. And they also sat beside each other when dessert was served out of doors at Marielyst and speeches were made. The success of the entertainment went to Jörgen Thiis's head. One after another came round to him and drank his health; he became sentimental, and made a speech. His toast was "the ideal, the eternal ideal." Fortunate the man to whom it was revealed in his youth! He bore it in his breast as his inextinguishable guiding lamp on the path of life! Pale and excited, Jörgen emptied his glass and flung it away. This sudden earnestness came so unexpectedly upon the merry company that they laughed--one and all. Miss Röy said to Mary: "You met Lieutenant Thiis abroad?" "Both this winter and last," answered Mary carelessly; she was eating ice. A young girl was standing beside them. "He is a curious man, Jörgen Thiis," said she. "He is so amiable with us; but he is said to be a perfect tyrant with the soldiers." Mary turned towards her in surprise. "A tyrant--in what way?" "They say that he irritates them dreadfully--is exacting and ill-tempered, and punishes for nothing." Mary turned her largest eyes upon Margrete Röy. "Yes, it is true," said the latter indifferently; she, too, was eating ice. When, late in the evening, after the dance, they were all trooping down to the steamer, Mary and Jörgen arm in arm, she said to him: "Is it true that the soldiers under your command complain of you?" "It is quite likely that they do, Miss Krog." He laughed. "Is there anything to laugh about in that?" "There is certainly nothing to cry about." He was in a very jovial mood, and would fain have put his arm round her and danced down to the pier, as many of the others were doing. But Mary warded him off. "I was very sorry to hear it," she said. Then he understood that she was in earnest.