there of such as look severely upon
themselves, while plenty of the looser sort streamed down.

From year to year the accounts grew of the large fair-balls, of the
trumpets, the coloured lamps in the garden, and the matadores who stood
treat. It was tempting and attractive.

As early as the second day Kristofa came, excited and eager, with a
solution of the question as far as she and Gunda and Silla were
concerned--money for tickets and cakes too, for all three!

She behaved most mysteriously, talked all the time of a certain person,
whom she dared not, for all the world, mention.

Silla had never before been to anything of the kind, the most she had
ever done was to stand outside among the longing crowd, who had to
content themselves with looking at the coloured lamps and listening to
the music. Now at last there was a chance for her too.

Oh, if she dared!

She was restless the whole morning, and had two round red spots of
colour on her cheeks.

At dinner-time her mother came up tired and out of breath from the town.

She had had to promise the Antonisens to stand at their cake-stall on
the market-place through the fair-week and help sell. It was
hardly-earned money in the cold there and in the middle of all that
shouting and bawling; but she would do her duty, and not swerve from it
when there was a penny to earn. It would not be closed and packed up
before midnight, so she must stay down there these few nights.

There was a buzzing and singing in Silla's ears; it was as if the door
were opening to her of itself. She could go now if she liked.

She was almost frightened.

As she was taking some washing home in the afternoon, down the street,
young Veyergang suddenly brushed close by her.

She almost screamed; then he had come back!

She dared not look up, and felt herself turn red, but had a momentary
impression that he smiled and looked steadily at her and then nodded.

She knew the delicate scent of his cigar, and had a feeling that his
clothes creaked, as it were, when he moved--a peculiarity which was
connected with the romantic ideas of distinguished gentlemen that
Kristofa had awakened in her.

It was he, she was quite sure now, who had given them the tickets.

Her heart beat and fluttered within her like a disturbed and frightened
bird.

She went home in a reverie, so that at last Mrs. Holman had to ask if
she were out of her mind.

She stole a glance into the looking-glass over the drawe