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in which she and her mother and a certain family of the name of Hantsenof whom she had much to saywere the only Swedes； still she expected to find the brother almost as soon； as I may say； as they saw the land。
She felt badly enough that he did not come on board with the quarantine officer。 When the passengers were brought to Castle Garden； and no brother came； she felt worse。 However； with the help of the clerks there； she got off a letter to him； somewhere in Jersey； and proposed to wait as long as they would let her； till he should come。
The second day there came a man to the Garden； who said he was a Dane； but he spoke Swedish well enough。 He said her brother was sick； and had sent him to find her。 She was to come with her trunks； and her mother's； and all their affairs； to his house； and the same afternoon they should go to where the brother was。
Without doubt or fear she went with this man； and spent the day at a forlorn sort of hotel which she described； but which I never could find again。 Toward night the man came again and bade her take a bag； with her one change of dress； and come with him to her brother。
After a long ride through the city； they got out at a house which； thank God！ was only one block from Fernando Street。 And there this simple； innocent creature； as she went in； asked where her brother was； to meet only a burst of laughter from one or two coarse… looking men； and from half…a…dozen brazen…faced girls whom she hated； she said； the minute she saw them。
Except that an old woman took off her shawl and cloak and bonnet； and took away from her the travelling things she had in her hand； nobody took any care of her but to laugh at her； and mock her if she dared say anything。
She tried to go out to the door to find even the Dane who had brought her there； but she was given to understand that he was coming again for her； and that she must wait till he came。 As for her brother； there was no brother there； nor had been any。 The poor girl had been trapped； and saw that she had been trapped； she had been spirited away from everybody who ever heard of her mother； and was in the clutches； as she said to my mother afterward； of a crew of devils who knew nothing of love or of mercy。
They did try to make her eat and drink；tried to make her drink champagne； or any other wine； but they had no fool to deal with。 The girl did not； I think； let her captors know how desperate were her resolutions。 But her eyes were wide open； and she was not going to lose any chance。 She was all on the alert for her escape when； at eleven o'clock； the Dane came at last whom she had been expecting so anxiously。
The girl asked him for her brother； only to be put off by one excuse or another； and then to hear from him the most loathsome talk of his admiration； not to say his passion； for her。
They were nearly alone by this time； and he led her unresisting； as he thought； into another smaller room； brilliantly lighted； and； as she saw in a glance； gaudily furnished； with wine and fruit and cake on a side… table；a room where they would be quite alone。
She walked simply across and looked at herself in the great mirror。 Then she made some foolish little speech about her hair； and how pale she looked。 Then she crossed to the sofa； and sat upon it with as tired an air as he might have expected of one who had lived through such a day。 Then she looked up at him and even smiled upon him； she said； and asked him if he would not ask them for some cold water。
The fellow turned into the passage…way； well pleased with her submission； and in the same instant the girl was at the window as if she had flown across the room。
Fool！ The window was made fast； not by any moving bolt； either。 It was nailed down； and it did not give a hairs…breadth to her hand。
Little cared she for that。 She sat on the window… seat； which was broad enough to hold her； she braced her feet against the foot of the bedstead； which stood just near enough to her； she turned enough to bring her shoulder against the window…sash； and then with her whole force she heaved herself against the sash； and the entire window； of course； gave way。
The girl caught herself upon the blind； which swung open before her。 She pulled herself free from the sill and window…seat； and dropped fearless into the street。
The fall was not long。 She lighted on her feet and ran as only fear could teach her to run。 Where to； she knew not； but she thought she turned a corner before she heard any voices from behind。
Still she ran。 And it was when she came to the corner of the next street that she heard for the first time the screams of pursuers。
She turned again； like a poor hunted hare as she was。 But what was her running to theirs？ She was passing our long fence in Fernando Street； and then for the first time she screamed for help。
It was that scream which waked me。
She saw the steeple of the church。 She had a dim feeling that a church would be an asylum。 So was it that she ran up our alley； to find that she was in a trap there。
And then it was that she fell against my door； that she cried twice； 〃Oh； my God！ Oh； my God！〃 and that the good God； who had heard her； sent me to draw her in。
We had to learn her language； in a fashion； and she to learn ours； before we understood her story in this way。 But at the very first my mother made out that the girl had fled from savages who meant worse than death for her。 So she understood why she was so frightened at every sound； and why at first she was afraid to stay with us； yet more afraid to go。
But this passed off in a day or two。 She took to my mother with a sort of eager way which showed how she must have loved her own mother； and how much she lost when she lost her。 And that was one of the parts of her sad story that we understood。
No one； I think； could help loving my mother； but here was a poor； storm…tossed creature who； I might say； had nothing else to love； seeing she had lost all trace of this brother； and here was my mother； soothing her； comforting her； dressing her wounds for her； trying to make her feel that God's world was not all wickedness； and the girl in return poured out her whole heart。
When my mother explained to her that she should not let her go away till her brother was found； then for the first time she seemed perfectly happy。 She was indeed the loveliest creature I ever put my eyes on。
She was then about nineteen years old； of a delicate complexion naturally； which was now a little browned by the sea…air。 She was rather tall than otherwise； but her figure was so graceful that I think you never thought her tall。 Her eyes were perhaps deep…set； and of that strange gray which I have heard it said the goddesses in the Greek poetry had。 Still； when she was sad； one saw the less of all this。 It was not till she forgot her grief for the instant in the certainty that she might rest with my mother； so that her whole face blazed with joy； that I first knew what the perfect beauty of a perfect woman was。
Her name； it seemed； was Frida；a name made from the name of one of the old goddesses among the Northmen； the same from whom our day Friday is named。 She is the