IN GOD'S WAY

A NOVEL

BY

BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON

TRANSLATED FROM THE NORWEGIAN

BY

ELIZABETH CARMICHAEL

LONDON WILLIAM HEINEMANN 1890

[All rights reserved]

TO MY BEST FRIEND ETATSRÅD FREDERIK HEGEL IN REMEMBRANCE

Thou never hast been here; yet I roam Often up and down and meet thee everywhere. Here is no room, nor road But thoughts of thee stand forth Awaiting me from by-gone days, When thou by deeds of faithful friendship Brought comfort to my home in all its troubles.

And ofttimes as I wrote this book, Thy kindly eye would beam on me; We were alone then, thou and I, and All that silently grew into words-- Here and there the book must needs Be like thy heart, thy simple faith, And therefore may thy name impart a blessing unto it.

Aulestad, September 11, 1889.