And now once more outer things began to appeal to him he became conscious of the Christmas bells ringing gayly in the stillness of the night, of the stars shining down gloriously through the clear, frosty air, of the cheerful glimpse of home to be seen through the uncurtained window of the drawing-room.
Cecil and Frithiof had left the veranda and returned to the piano; they were singing a carol, the German air of which was well known in Norway. Sigrid did not know the English words; but she listened to them now intently, and they helped to reconcile her to the one thorn in her perfect happiness—the thought that these other two were shut out from the bliss which she enjoyed.
Quietly she stole into the room and stood watching them as they sang the quaint old hymn:
“Good Christian men rejoice,
In heart and soul and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss;
Joy! joy!
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath oped the heavenly door.
And man is blessed evermore.