"I shall never sail under another captain. I shall be captain myself, hereafter. The owners of the vessel have tendered the captaincy to me."
"Is it possible?"
"It will soon be more than possible, for my old captain has so well recommended me, that Mr. Lund has advanced me a sufficient sum of money to pay the charges of my examination, and as soon as Christmas is over—for until then I shall study at home—I will take a journey to prepare myself, and after the examination you will be the wife of a captain. Then you and Nanna can go with me to Goteborg, that you may see the vessel before I go to sea."
Magde quietly clasped her hands. Her pious gratitude was evinced in her every expression. She thanked her God for having thus favored them with fortune.
Ragnar silently embraced her. "I did not say anything about it yesterday, for I wished to tell you here near Carl, who always placed his pleasures aside that they might not interfere with yours."
"Bless you, bless you, Ragnar! I now know why I found so many four leaved clovers last summer—only think, a captain's wife!—and still you love me as before?"
"Now and forever, my Magde. You shall have a bonnet as magnificent as any other lady; you shall have a cashmere shawl, and a black silk dress. Yes, I promise you all this, and more."
"Let us return home quickly, that I may rejoice father and Nanna."
And Nanna and her father were as much rejoiced at the glad tidings as was Magde herself.
A few days afterwards, Magde and her father were seated together in the parlor consulting about the future.