And now a curious thing happened. As Katharine and Gerda were standing waiting for their boat, the sound of English voices broke upon them.
"English," said Gerda. "That is a greeting for you."
"Well, it's very odd," said Katharine, listening; "but I've heard that voice before."
"Perhaps you think it is familiar because it is English," suggested Gerda.
"Perhaps," answered Katharine; but she was still arrested by the sound.
"I thought the Sorenskriver said that no English people came here?" she said.
"He said they came very rarely to these parts," Gerda replied. "One or two Englishmen for fishing sometimes; otherwise Swedes, Danes, Finns, Russians."
"I am sure I have heard that voice before," Katharine said. She seemed troubled.
"There they go, you see," Gerda said, pointing to two figures. "They were in the little copse yonder—two of your tall Englishwomen. How distinctly one hears voices at this height! Well, the Kemiker is waiting for us. Du milde Gud! Look at my Ejnar handling the oars! Bravo, Ejnar!"
"Come, ladies," called Clifford cheerily from the boat. "Let us be off before the Botaniker upsets the boat. He has been trying to reach a plant at the bottom of the lake."