dealer, and now had come across the salt-water to Odense fair, where she
should meet with Mr. Otto.

"Her parents lived on my grandfather's estate," said Otto to Sophie,
who observed with a smile the young wife's delight in meeting with
an acquaintance of her childhood. The husband was busily employed in
selling his wares; he heard nothing of it.

"Nay, but how elegant and handsome you are become!" said the young wife:
"but see, I knew you again for all that! Grandmother, you may believe
me, thinks a deal about you! The old body, she is so brisk and lively;
it does not trouble her a bit that she cannot see! You are the second
acquaintance that I have met with in the fair. It's wonderful how people
come here from all parts of the world! The players are here too! You
still remember the German Heinrich? Over there in the gray house, at the
corner of the market, he is acting his comedy in the gateway."

"I am glad that I have seen you!" said Otto, and nodded kindly. "Greet
them at home, and the grandmother, for me!"

"Greet them also from me!" said Sophie smiling. "You, Mr. Thostrup, must
for old acquaintance sake buy something. You ought also to give me a
fairing: I wish for that great jug there!"

"Where are you staying!" cried Wilhelm, and came back, whilst the rest
went forward.

"We would buy some earthenware," said Sophie. "Souvenir de Jutland. The
one there has a splendid picture on it!"

"You shall have it!" said Otto. "But if I requested a fairing from you,
I beseech of you, might I say"--

"That it possibly might obtain its worth from my hand," said Sophie,
smiling. "I understand you very well--a sprig of heather? I shall
steal!" said she to the young wife, as she took a little sprig of heath
and stuck it into his buttonhole. "Greet the grandmother for me!"

Otto and Sophie went.

"That's a very laughing body!" said the woman half aloud, as she looked
after them; her glance followed Otto, she folded her hands--she was
thinking, perhaps, on the days of her childhood.

At St. Knud's church-yard Otto and Sophie overtook the others. They were
going into the church. On the fair days this and all the tombs within it
were open to the public.

From whichever side this church is contemplated from without, the
magnificent old building has, especially from its lofty tower and
spire, something imposing about it; the interior produces the same, nay,
perhaps a greater effect. But as the principal entrance is throu