i would take Freneli any time--the sooner the better; but that Uli was
afraid to say anything to Freneli for fear she'd hold up Elsie against
him. At that she had thought that she would speak, if Uli was afraid to;
for that Uli didn't suit the girl, nobody could convince her; her eyes
weren't in the back of her head yet. So Uli couldn't help it at all.

"But then why did he come into the room today while I was packing up and
want to give me a kiss? He never did that before."

"Oh," said Uli, "I'll just tell you. After I had talked with old master
today you were in my mind more than ever, and I thought I'd give
everything I had if I knew whether you loved me and would have me. I
didn't know a thing about the farm. Then when I found you alone,
something came over me, I didn't know what; I felt a sort of longing in
my arm; I had to touch you and ask for a kiss. At first I thought I had
had one; but then later I thought it couldn't have been, or else you;
wouldn't have pushed me out into the room so wildly. I thought you
didn't care for me, and that made me so sad at heart that I wished
Christmas was here and I could go away; indeed I was going far, far away
down into Italy, so that nobody would ever hear anything of me. And I
feel so still, Freneli, if you won't have me. I don't want the lease,
and I'll go away and away, as far as my feet will carry me, and no one
shall ever know where I've gone."

He had stood up and stepped up to Freneli, and tears stood in his honest
eyes; while they were rolling down her aunt's cheeks. Then Freneli looked
up at him and her eyes grew moist, though mockery and defiance still
quivered about her mouth; but the repressed love broke through and began
to send its shining rays out of her eyes, while her maidenly reluctance
cast up her lips as bulwark against her surrender to his manly insistence.
And while her eyes radiated love, still there came forth from behind the
pouting lips the mocking words: "But, Uli, what will Stini say, if you're
after another girl so soon? Won't she sing to you:

'A dove-cot would be just as true:
It's off with the old love, on with the new.'"

"But how can you play the fool with him so?" queried her aunt; "you see
he's in earnest. If I was in his place I'd turn my back on you and tell
you to whistle for me if you wanted me."

"He's free to do it, Auntie, and you don't know but I wish he would,"
said Freneli.

"No you don't," retorted her aunt; "I ca