e can
find rest by going to any place, in this world or out of it, unless--
if--The truth is, Erica, I know my father and mother think that people
who are afraid of selfish and revengeful spirits, such as demons and
Nipen, can never have any peace of mind. Really religious people have
their way straight before them;--they have only to do right, and God is
their friend, and they can bear everything, and fear nothing. But the
people about us are always in a fright about some selfish being or
another not being properly humoured, and so being displeased. I would
not be in such bondage, Erica,--no, not for the wings I was longing for
just now. I should be freer if I were rooted like a tree, and without
superstition, than if I had the wings of an eagle, with a belief in
selfish demons."

"Let us talk of something else," said Erica, who was at the very moment
considering where the mountain-demon would best like to have his Gammel
cheese laid. "What is the quality of the cream, Frolich? Is it as good
as it ought to be?"

"Stiorna would say that the demon will smack his lips over it. Come and
taste."

"Do not speak so, dear."

"I was only quoting Stiorna--"

"What are you saying about me?" inquired Stiorna, appearing at the door.
"Only talking about the cream and the cheese? Are you sure of that?
Bless me! what a smell of the yellow flowers! It will be a prime
cheese."

"How can you leave the cattle, Stiorna?" cried Erica. "If they are all
gone when you get back--"

"Well, come, then, and see the sight. I get scolded either way, always.
You would have scolded me finely to-night if I had not called you to
see the sight--"

"What sight?"

"Why there is such a procession of boats on the fiord, that you would
suppose there were three weddings happening at once."

"What can we do?" exclaimed Frolich, dolefully looking at the cream,
which had reached such a point as that the stirring could not cease for
a minute without risk of spoiling the cheese.

Erica took the long wooden spoon from Frolich's hand, and bade her run
and see where the bishop was going to land. The cream should not spoil
while she was absent.

Frolich bounded away over the grass, declaring that if it was the
bishop, going to her father's, she could not possibly stay on the
mountain for all the cheeses in Nordland.--Erica remained alone,
patiently stirring the cream, and hardly heeding the heat of the fire,
while planning how the bishop w