“Well, what if you hadn’t?” said she.  “You’d have lost a chance of airing that cane of yours that you’re so fond of.”

Oh, Barbro, she had lived in Bergen, she knew how to jeer at a man; she had seen real walking-sticks, and could ask now what he wanted to go swinging a patched-up umbrella handle like that for.  But he let her go on.

“I suppose now you’ll be wanting that photograph back you gave me,” he said.  And if that didn’t move her, surely nothing would, for among folks in the wilds, there was nothing counted so mean as to take back a gift.

“That’s as it may be,” she answered evasively.

“Oh, you shall have it all right,” he answered bravely.  “I’ll send it back at once, never fear.  And now perhaps you’ll give me back my letter.”  Eleseus rose to his feet.

Very well; she gave him back the letter.  But now the tears came into her eyes as she did so; this servant girl was touched; her friend was forsaking her—­good-bye for ever!

“You’ve no need to go,” she said.  “I don’t care for what Axel says.”

But Eleseus had the upper hand now, and must use it; he thanked her and said good-bye.  “When a lady carries on that way,” he said, “there’s nothing else to be done.”

He left the house, quietly, and walked up homeward, whistling, swinging his stick, and playing the man.  Huh!  A little while after came Barbro walking up; she called to him once or twice.  Very well; he stopped, so he did, but was a wounded lion.  She sat down in the heather looking penitent; she fidgeted with a sprig, and a little after he too softened, and asked for a kiss, the last time, just to say good-bye, he said.  No, she would not.  “Be nice and be a dear, like you were last time,” he begged, and moved round her on all sides, stepping quickly, if he could see his chance.  But she would not be a dear; she got up.  And there she stood.  And at that he simply nodded and went.

When he was out of sight, Axel appeared suddenly from behind some bushes.  Barbro started, all taken aback, and asked:  “What’s that—­where have you been?  Up that way?”

“No; I’ve been down that way,” he answered.  “But I saw you two going up here.”

“Ho, did you?  And a lot of good it did you, I dare say,” she cried, suddenly furious.  She was certainly not easier to deal with now.  “What are you poking and sniffing about after, I’d like to know?  What’s it to do with you?”

Axel was not in the best of temper himself.  “H’m.  So he’s been here again today?”

“Well, what if he has?  What do you want with him?”

“I want with him?  It’s what you want with him, I’d like to ask.  You ought to be ashamed.”

“Ashamed?  Huh!  The least said about that, if you ask me,” said Barbro.  “I’m here to sit in the house like a statue, I suppose?  What have I got to be ashamed of, anyway?  If you like to go and get some one else to look after the place, I’m ready to go.  You hold your tongue, that’s all I’ve got to say, if it’s not too much to ask.  I’m going back now to get your supper and make the coffee, and after that I can do as I please.”