frequently
spoken her inmost thoughts to the boy, whose dawning intellect and
thoughts were entirely concentrated on his father. He had formed the
most singular ideas about him, and was perpetually asking why his
grandmother persisted in plaguing his father, and preventing his coming
home to them.

"Which way will my father come to-day?" asked Joseph.

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do know, and you must tell me," said little Joseph, beginning
to whimper; and his mother, drawing him closer to her, said, "Hush,
hush! no one must overhear us. If you are quite good and quiet, I will
tell you presently."

The boy checked his sobs, and his mother began to tell him what pretty
presents he was to get at Christmas, and asked him if there was
anything he particularly wished for. The boy cared for nothing but a
horse: people had told him that his father had fourteen horses in his
stable. All attempts to distract his attention were vain; his thoughts
were entirely concentrated on his father; and he repeated, "Tell me,
which way will he come to day?"

The mother said in a subdued tone, "You must not tell a living creature
one syllable about your father coming here to-day. Give me your hand on
it; not one word to any human being."

The boy gave his mother his hand, and stared at her, his large eyes
still swimming in tears. Martina said no more, for she thought she had
pacified the child. But presently, with the most obstinate pertinacity,
he began again, "Which way will he come? tell me!"

"There are several roads, but I think he will come through the valley
and the wood. But now not another word; you are not to plague me any
more. Go and fetch some fir chips from the workshop."

The boy went out to fetch the wood, and the mother thought, with quiet
satisfaction, "He will one day be a true man: when he wants a thing he
will never rest till he gets it."

She then went with the boy into the sitting-room, but Leegart said,
"Send away Joseph, for we can't talk before the child."

"Joseph, go to Haespele, and look at the new boots he is making for
you," said the mother.

Joseph did not want to go, but his mother persisted in sending him out
of the house. The boy stood outside, looking very indignant, and
muttering, "When my father comes I will tell him all about it. I am not
to stay anywhere; neither with my grandfather nor at home."
Nevertheless he did go to see Haespele, and was as merry and good
humoured as possible, for Ha