This speech affected Uli like a sudden blow.  He dropped his mutton-laden fork on his plate, but kept his mouth open, turned his saucer eyes upon his mistress and stared at her as if she had come down from the moon.  Freneli, who had been standing at the window, vexed at Uli’s slow eating, turned swiftly about and opened eyes and ears to see what would happen.

“Yes, look at me all you want,” said the mistress to Uli; “I mean it seriously; if you won’t stay as servant would you stay as leaseholder?”

“Mistress,” said Uli at last, “how should I be able to become your tenant?  I’m not able; I’d have to be lots better off than I am.  You’re only making game of me.”

“No, Uli, I mean it,” said his mistress, “and your not having money doesn’t matter; we could arrange it so that it wouldn’t cost you anything to begin; the whole place is furnished.”

“But what do you suppose, mistress,” exclaimed Uli; “even if you did this, who would be my security?  A single bad year on such a farm would ruin me.  The place is too big for me.”

“Ho, Uli, that can be managed, and we’re not such hard-hearted wretches as to let a tenant that suits us be ruined on account of a single year.  Just say you’re willing, and we’ll fix all that.”

“Well, mistress,” said Uli, “even so; but who would look after the housekeeping for me?  There’s a lot to do there.”

“Ho, take a wife,” said she.

“That’s easily said,” answered Uli; “but where should I find one that would be the right person for it and that would have me?”

“Don’t you know of anybody?” asked the mistress.

At that Uli’s voice stuck in his throat, and hesitating and embarrassed, he poked around on his plate with his fork.  But Freneli said quickly that it seemed to her it was time to go, for Blackie must have eaten his oats long ago and Uli had probably had enough by this time; they, could continue their jokes another day.

Without listening to these words her aunt finally said, “Don’t you know of anybody?  For I do.”

Again Uli turned saucer eyes upon her; Freneli said she was curious too.  Her aunt, with undisturbed, playful ease, one hand on the table, her broad back rested comfortably against her chair, said, “Give a guess; you know her.”  Uli looked around at the walls; he could not find the right word; he felt as if he had a whole bagful of mashed potatoes in his mouth.  Freneli tripped up impatiently behind her aunt, remarking that they ought to start out, as it was getting dark.  Her aunt, however, did not listen to Freneli, but went on, “Can’t you think of her?  You know her well.  She’s a hard-working girl, but acts up a little at times, and if you don’t quarrel you can have a very good life together.”  Thereupon she laughed very heartily, and looked first at one and then the other.

Then Uli looked up; but before he had gulped out an answer Freneli intervened, and said, “Go and hitch up; Auntie, one can carry a joke too far, too.  I wish I’d never gone along.  I don’t know why I can’t be left in peace.  Yesterday other folks made me angry, and today you’re worse still.  That’s not kind, Auntie.”