"Come!" said Uncle Thor. "Let us hurry home now, before we are late to
dinner. It is a wonderful old tower, having survived both fires and
bombardments. Once Copenhagen was fortified with a wall and a moat, for
Denmark's capital has passed through many vicissitudes, but in these
peaceful days they both have been turned into parks for the people."
Dinner had been awaiting the hungry sightseers for some time when they
reached home.
When they had all gathered about the dinner table, it was plain that
there was some great secret in the air. Fru Ingemann's face wore a
bright smile, in spite of the late dinner, and little Karen held
herself with an air of supreme importance, her cheeks bright, and her
blue eyes dancing with suppressed excitement.
"Great news, Brother Thorvald!" began Fru Ingemann, handing him a great
white envelope bearing the arms of His Majesty, King Frederik. "When
Karen and I were quietly studying the recipe book, and thinking of
the dinner far more than of kings, the bell rang sharply, and, lo and
behold! there stood the King's royal _Jaeger_[17]--in green uniform,
three-cornered hat and all--inquiring for you, brother!
"'His Majesty, the King, sends this message to Hr. Professor Svensen,'
he said with a gracious bow, and, again bowing low, departed. Karen
and I, as you can well imagine, have been guessing everything possible
and impossible ever since, and given up in despair, waiting for you to
explain it all to us yourself, Thorvald."
By this time, Valdemar's and Karen's eyes were bulging wild with
curiosity, and even Mr. Hoffman's face showed extreme interest. What
could it be?
"I am summoned to the Royal Palace Tuesday at eleven o'clock,"
explained Hr. Svensen, "to begin immediate work upon a statue of His
Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Olaf of Norway, who has graciously
consented to give me a few sittings during his short visit in Denmark."
When Uncle Thor had finished reading, he passed the great white
envelope, headed "Royal Palace," with its interesting contents, over to
his sister and the children. Never before had the King's _Jaeger_ come
to Fru Ingemann's little apartment out on Frederiksberg-Alle!
Valdemar was the first to speak.
"Oh, Uncle Thor! I wonder if dear little Prince Olaf will pose with his
beautiful big dog! He is never without him, you know. And oh, _dear_!
Uncle Thor, can't you take me along with you to mix your clay--keep it
damp for you, and just do lots of things you'd like done? I want to go
with you so much, Uncle Thor, to watch you work! I know I could help
you ever so much, if _only_ you would just take me!" urged the little
embryo sculptor of the now great one.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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