evening comes on. I want to be sure that the horses are
not on this side of the saeter." So off he went.

Lisbeth was still sitting on the king's table. It was the first time
she had ever received a letter. Indeed, even Ole and Peter had never
received any. They were entirely overwhelmed with respectful surprise
and took their stand at a suitable distance.

On the outside of the letter stood:

_Salve Titel._[18]
To the Highly Respected Maiden,
Lisbeth Jacob's-daughter Longfrock,
at Hoel Saeter, on the West Mountain.

At Convenience, by Messenger.

Post Free.

[18] An expression from the Latin, often used in old-fashioned
Norwegian correspondence. It meant, in a general way, "Pardon any
error in the address."

Lisbeth broke the seal solemnly and opened the letter. Then she read,
half aloud:

NORDRUM SAETER, 15th of this month.

_Salve Titel._

TO THE MAIDEN LISBETH LONGFROCK.

_Good Sister:_ Since time and opportunity permit, I now take my pen
in hand to write to you and tell you that I have nothing to write
about except that it is a long time since I last saw you. But I
have a spare day due to me from Hans. I took care of his animals
for him when he went to his mother's burial. It was really two
days, but I only reckoned it as one, because it was his mother. And
now I will take that day from him on the next Sunday of this month.
In case you have a day due to you from Peter or Ole, I write to ask
if you cannot take it from them. But if you have not, you can take
a day, all the same, because I am stronger; but I did not mean
anything by it when I gave Peter a thrashing last winter. So I
wanted to write to you and ask if we could not meet at Peerout
Castle, for I have not been there since--

You are requested to come to the meeting in good season. Bring
something to eat with you.

With much regard,

Respectfully,

Jacob Jacob's-son Nordrum, Esq.

P.S. Please answer.

That evening Lisbeth Longfrock sat with her tongue thrust into one
corner of her mouth, and wrote her response.

HOEL'S SAETER, 17th of this month.

TO BACHELOR JACOB JACOB'S-SON NORDRUM.

_Good Brother:_ I will now wri