come to meet him here in order that their
meeting might not be private.

On the way up to the house they talked of the swallows, which were now
assembling for their departure--of the farm-overseer, who had just shot
a huge eagle--of the writing-board which Mrs. Dawes had had
constructed--of the good aftermath, of the price of fruit and turnips.
In the hall she left him with a short "Excuse me!" and hurried
upstairs. The boy who was carrying Joergen's portmanteau had followed
them in; Joergen and he stood still, not knowing where to go. Then Mary
called from above: "This way, please!" Opening the door of the visitors'
room next her own, she told the boy to take the portmanteau in there. To
Joergen she said: "Shall we go and see Father?" She led the way. The
nurse was not in the room. Probably it was to send her away that Mary
had run up first.

A light kindled in the sick man's eyes as he saw Joergen enter. As soon
as the door was closed, Mary went up to her father, bent over him, and
said: "Joergen and I are engaged now, Father."

All the affection and happiness that a human face can express beamed
from Anders Krog's. Smiling, Mary turned towards Joergen, who, pale and
agitated, was prepared to rush forward and embrace her. But he felt that
though his astonishment, his gratitude, and his adoration were quite
acceptable to her, she desired no such manifestation of them. This did
not detract from his happiness. He met her smiling eyes with an
expression of intense, perfect delight. He pressed the hand which Anders
Krog could move; he looked into his tearful eyes, his own filling. But
no word was spoken until Mary said: "Now we must go to Aunt Eva."

With a feeling of triumph she led the way. He followed, admiring. His
heart was full of many feelings, not least among them admiration of the
magnanimity with which she had forgiven. He thought: Out in the passage
she will turn round, and then ... But she went straight to Mrs. Dawes's
door and knocked.

When Mrs. Dawes saw Joergen, she clapped her fat hands, tugged at her
cap, and tried to sit up, but could not for excitement. She fell back
again, wept, blessed them, and stretched out her arms. Joergen allowed
himself to be embraced, but would not kiss her.

As soon as sensible conversation became possible, Mary said: "Don't you
think too, Aunt Eva, that we ought to go and call on Uncle Klaus
to-morrow?"

"Most certainly I do, my child! most certainly! Why should ther