“I wanted to ask whether I may say ‘’Lizebeth’ like the others, or whether I ought to say ’Mistress ’Lizebeth’.”

Now Erick had won over ’Lizebeth’s whole heart for the reason that he wanted to know what title she ought to have by rights, and that showed her what a fine boy he was.  She patted his shoulder protectingly, and his curly hair, and said:  “You just call me ‘’Lizebeth’, and if you want to ask anything, then come into the kitchen, and I will tell you everything you want to know and—­wait a moment!” With these words she turned round and chased about the kitchen, then she came to him with two splendid, bright red apples in her hand.

“Oh, what beautiful apples!  Thank you ever so much, ’Lizebeth!” he cried delightedly, and now ran out.

’Lizebeth looked after him with such pride as if she were his grandmother, and said to herself:  “Let anyone come now and show me three finer little boys in the whole world than our three are.”  With this challenge, and the proud consciousness that no one could accept it, she turned to her pans and kettles.

So Erick had won over everyone, but there was still one who looked at him from the corner of his eyes and always with a look of wrath, for a few days after Organ-Sunday, the Mayor had ordered that Churi should appear before him, and the bold Churi could hardly keep on his feet when he had to appear before the judicial tribunal, for he expected to receive the well-earned punishment from the strong hand of the Mayor.  But the latter only pinched his ear a little and said:  “Churi, Churi! this time you get off better than you deserve, for I know now who got the grapes last year, and I also know who wanted to get them again a few days ago.  If from now on, even one single little bunch is missing, I shall hold you responsible, and you will be surprised at what will happen to you, think of that!  Now go.”

Churi did not need to be told that twice; he was gone as if his life was at stake; but from that time on he thought of revenge on Erick, and when he met him, he shook his fist at him and said:  “You wait!  I will get you sometime.”  But so far he had never met Erick alone, and had never been able to do him the slightest harm.  This secretly embittered Churi still more.

Now winter had set in.  Upper Wood lay deeply buried in snow, and everyone was busy thinking of Christmas and New Year.  In these days the pastor gave a gentle hint to his wife, that the time for Erick’s change to the institute, for which the Mayor also had offered his help, was fast approaching.  But the lady hardly let him finish his sentence for excitement, and answered at once:  “How can you even think of such a thing!  In the first place; we must wait for the answer from Denmark, before we do anything; and secondly, the whole Christmas joy would be spoiled completely for the children, through such news; thirdly, we ourselves, you and I, could not separate ourselves so suddenly and unprepared from a child who is as dear to us as one of our own—­”