Bo[^z]a m[,e]ka, which stood on the outskirts of her father's
field, and they used to look lovely when she stuck a few flowers among
the moss. True, she had no more flowers, for the few that she once had
in the little garden behind the palings had lived only a very short
time; they had soon been choked by the weeds that flourished so
luxuriantly there. But if she put some of the bird-cherries which grew
on the roadside into it, or some of the cranberries that shone like
drops of blood in the moss, the wreath would look very bright.

Rosa was very happy and excited to-day. The sedate [Pg 166] girl was
completely changed; she tore up handfuls of moss and, standing behind
Marianna, threw them gleefully on her cap and down her neck, as she
bent forward. And when the latter, scolding and panting, loosened her
frill and picked the earth and bits of moss off her neck, she jumped
upon her like a wild cat, put both arms round her, and imprinted
numerous boisterous kisses on her brown throat.

"Just look at little Rosa, she's like a lover," cried Marianna.
Throwing her arms round the girl she wrestled with her and kissed her
merrily, so that Rosa's delicate little face glowed and she was quite
breathless.

What a beautiful day it was! At last the two let go of each other, and
falling on the grass lay there and laughed. There was only a little bit
of sky to be seen between the interlaced branches; they were quite
alone. Then Rosa, summoning up her courage, said to the maid:

"Do tell me, Marianna, I should so like to know what happens when a man
says to a woman, 'I love you.' Does he kiss her then as I kissed you?
And then does she kiss him as you kissed me? I should like to know it;
please tell me." She folded her hands as she always did when she was
praying.

Marianna laughed.

Why did Marianna laugh so? Rosa felt annoyed; the girl had no right to
make fun of her. "Don't laugh," she said angrily, stamping her foot.

"You'll find out what it's like when somebody says to you, 'I love
you,'" said Marianna, hardly able to contain herself. How stupid the
girl was still.

"Nobody will ever say to me, 'I love you,'" whispered Rosa, bending
her head, suddenly saddened. "I'm going into a convent. But, of
course"--she jumped up, and opening her eyes wide spread out her [Pg
167] arms--"of course, He'll love me as I love Him." Passing from
sudden sadness to brightness, she sang in a loud voice:

"Pray to God for