42

THE MAID OF THE INN.

Chap. IV.

CHAPTER IV.

Thea, the maidservant — Gear, the geyser-guide — Reykjavik hotel— View of the town—Visitors— Late and substantial break-fast— Preparing for the geyser-trip — Grand ball — Historicalsketch — Form of government — Greenland colonised — Disco-very of America — Colony of Vineland — Icelandic literature —Norwegian subjugation — Romish innovations — Plague andpestilences — English settlers — The printing - press and theReformation — Present state of-Iceland .

July 28th .— Morning dawns, and I am startled bya living apparition in the form of Thea, the maid,who deposits a bowl of cafe au lait w T orthy of theBoulevards within reach of my pillow. She is a fair,flaxen-haired girl, of some sixty-six inches — vinosympatico —clad in a close-fitting sort of brown friezegown of home manufacture, with nought to dis-tinguish her from the European but her silver waist-belt and the native cap, which is very coquettish;her hair is pendent in two large plats behind, andher beaming blue eyes proclaim the goodness of herdisposition. Poor creature! she was up until threethis morning, and now it is only six, but she looks aswell and is as carefully dressed as if she passed a lifeof ease ; however, she sleeps all the winter, like everyone else in these parts. She tells me it is time to