thought of it.

Leonarda. And you looked foolish?

Aagot. I don't know what I looked like!

Leonarda. What did you do?

Aagot. I gave one scream--a real good scream--and ran; ran home, packed
my trunk, and got on board the boat as quick as I could.

Leonarda. And was that all?

Aagot. All? It happened out of doors amongst all the people.

Leonarda. Aagot!

Aagot. It happened so frightfully unexpectedly. I never was so
frightened in my life--and so ashamed of myself afterwards. I did
nothing but cry on the boat, all the way.

Leonarda. But he must have come by the same boat.

Aagot. Just fancy, he had travelled overland across the promontory and
caught the boat on the other side. And I knew nothing about it till
I saw him before my eyes! I thought I should sink through the deck. I
wanted to run away then, but--oh, aunt, I couldn't! He looked at me with
such a wonderful look in his eyes, and took hold of my hands. He spoke
to me, but I don't know what he said; everything seemed to be going
round and round. And his eyes, aunt! Ah, you haven't looked at them, and
that is why you took it so--so--

Leonarda. No, dear.

Aagot. There is something about his mere presence--something so true.
And when he looks at me and says--not in words, you know, but still says
all the same "I love you so much," I tremble all over. Oh, aunt, kiss
me!--There! Thank heaven!--Do you know what he said to-day?

Leonarda. No.

Aagot. That the woman who had fostered--that was the word he used--such
a solemn word, but then he is studying for the church--well, that the
woman who had fostered such a girl--he meant me, you know--I thought of
all my faults, but he will get to know them soon enough--

Leonarda. Well? That the woman who had fostered such a girl as you--

Aagot.--as me, could not have her equal anywhere!

Leonarda. You must have been praising me up nicely?

Aagot. On the contrary. It was afterwards when he said he would come
here first, before me--it was his duty, he said, to stand the first
shock. "For heaven's sake don't," I said; "you don't know her, she will
crush you!"

Leonarda. Oh, Aagot!

Aagot. It was then that he said, "No, the woman who has fostered such a
girl," etcetera, etcetera. Ah, now I see you have been horrid to him.

Leonarda. I had been worried all the morning--and I misunderstood--

Aagot. You shall have no more worries after this. Because people are so
kind, you know, and you are going to mo