“‘Oh! is that all you wish to know,’ said the wise lady; ’then I think that you will be content.  For here where I now sit, I can tell you that it will be like this with Oestergoetland:  it will always have something to boast of ahead of other provinces.’

“‘Yes, that was a good answer, dear lady,’ said the peasant, ’and now I would be entirely at peace if I could only comprehend how such a thing should be possible.’

“‘Why should it not be possible?’ said Ulvasa-lady.  ’Don’t you know that Oestergoetland is already renowned?  Or think you there is any place in Sweden that can boast of owning, at the same time, two such cloisters as the ones in Alvastra and Vreta, and such a beautiful cathedral as the one in Linkoeping?’

“‘That may be so,’ said the peasant.  ’But I’m an old man, and I know that people’s minds are changeable.  I fear that there will come a time when they won’t want to give us any glory, either for Alvastra or Vreta or for the cathedral.’

“‘Herein you may be right,’ said Ulvasa-lady, ’but you need not doubt prophecy on that account.  I shall now build up a new cloister on Vadstena, and that will become the most celebrated in the North.  Thither both the high and the lowly shall make pilgrimages, and all shall sing the praises of the province because it has such a holy place within its confines.’

“The peasant replied that he was right glad to know this.  But he also knew, of course, that everything was perishable; and he wondered much what would give distinction to the province, if Vadstena Cloister should once fall into disrepute.

“‘You are not easy to satisfy,’ said Ulvasa-lady, ’but surely I can see so far ahead that I can tell you, before Vadstena Cloister shall have lost its splendour, there will be a castle erected close by, which will be the most magnificent of its period.  Kings and dukes will be guests there, and it shall be accounted an honour to the whole province, that it owns such an ornament.’

“‘This I am also glad to hear,’ said the peasant.  ’But I’m an old man, and I know how it generally turns out with this world’s glories.  And if the castle goes to ruin, I wonder much what there will be that can attract the people’s attention to this province.’

“‘It’s not a little that you want to know,’ said Ulvasa-lady, ’but, certainly, I can look far enough into the future to see that there will be life and movement in the forests around Finspang.  I see how cabins and smithies arise there, and I believe that the whole province shall be renowned because iron will be moulded within its confines.’

“The peasant didn’t deny that he was delighted to hear this.  ’But if it should go so badly that even Finspang’s foundry went down in importance, then it would hardly be possible that any new thing could arise of which Oestergoetland might boast.’

“‘You are not easy to please,’ said Ulvasa-lady, ’but I can see so far into the future that I mark how, along the lake-shores, great manors—­large as castles—­are built by gentlemen who have carried on wars in foreign lands.  I believe that the manors will bring the province just as much honour as anything else that I have mentioned.’