keep flying to him and flying away again. Ah, Manna!
Manna!"

It was very odd to her to see and hear this joyous, fluttering youthful
companion; she could say nothing in response, and Lina did not seem to
expect her to say anything, for she continued:

"So I was thinking as I was coming here, that if I were you, I'd issue
an order or something of that sort to the whole country round, that in
three days they should bring me all the birds they could catch, and I'd
pay them an awful amount of money for doing it, and then I'd let all
the birds fly away again up into the air. Don't you feel as if you were
a bird that had been caught, and had got free again? Ah, and it's smart
in you to come in the spring; there's too much dancing to be done, if
you come home in the winter. Fourteen balls I went to, the first
winter, and ever so many small parties. And if one then has her
sweetheart--Ah, Manna, you can't think how beautiful that is! or
perhaps you do know now. I beg you do tell me every thing. I am not yet
betrothed to Albert, but we are as good as betrothed. You won't be a
nun, will you? Believe what I say, they don't want you for a nun at
all, they are only after your money. Would you like to be a baroness? I
shouldn't. To be 'my lady'd' all the time when there's no need of it,
and then to be laughed at behind one's back; no, I shouldn't like it at
all. If a born lady does anything foolish, there's nothing to be said;
but if one of us commits a folly, hi! the whole city and the whole land
has to bear the blame of it. Ah, such a rich girl has a good deal to
suffer for it! Here come the men and want to marry her money, and here
come the nuns and want her to become a nun for her money. You may be
sure, if you were one of those women yonder carrying coals out of the
boat, the nuns wouldn't have you; you might be as clever, and as
lovable, and as good as you are now. Yes, if you hadn't any money, and
if you hadn't so much money, the nuns wouldn't want to have anything to
do with you. Don't they try to make you believe that you've been called
to be a saint? Don't believe it. Ah, in the convent! When I hear people
telling how beautiful it was there on the convent-island, I've always
thought: Yes indeed, right pretty, if one only goes there on a pleasure
excursion; but to be a nun there!--Ah, Manna, if I could only make you
as happy as I am! Do be jolly too! Ah, good heavens, why can't one give
to another some of his enjoyment; I