Meanwhile, however, she did not dare to express her desire to be liberated from her irksome position.  Why was she afraid to do so?  She asked herself the question; the only reply she could make was, that yesterday it would have been easy for her to say, “Father, I want to take a little walk in the meadow;” but to-day, oh! that was different!

“I see you have your bonnet on!” said her father, “were you about taking a walk?”

“I have not been out of the house before, to-day,” replied Nanna.

“Well, then run away, my child; take all the enjoyment you can.  You have but little here.”

Perhaps it was by expressions of this description from her father, that mournful thoughts were engendered within the mind of the young girl, causing her to fancy that something was wanting to complete her happiness, and that she stood beyond the pale of those who should have been her companions.

It is certainly plausible to suppose that these moments which the old man had set apart for familiar conversation with his daughter, whom he loved above all earthly things, for she reminded him of past days, might have proved highly detrimental to Nanna’s sensitive and susceptible mind.

As matters now stood, it was plainly evident that, however economical, industrious and thrifty she might be, Nanna would be compelled to be content with her lot, should she wed an honest mechanic or a sloop captain, which were the highest prizes which she, or any of the neighboring maidens, might expect to win.

Like a captive bird which, after many fruitless struggles, finally regains its liberty, Nanna quickly made use of her restored freedom, and hastened from the door-yard.  She was fully convinced that the young man was no longer in the meadow, and now she suddenly remembered that she had said nothing to her father or Magde about the stranger whom she had encountered the previous evening.  How strange it was that she had forgotten to tell them!  Yes, it was the strangest thing that ever had occurred during her whole life, and how greatly astonished they would be when she should tell them of her little adventure!  Thus thought Nanna, as she proceeded towards the meadow.

CHAPTER VI

The agreement.

“It was just as I thought!” exclaimed our heroine, as she looked, with pouting lips at the reflection of her pretty figure in the clear waters of the spring.  Never before had her hair been so nicely arranged, and her neat white apron, which she had kept concealed beneath her cloak during her entire conversation with Magde and her father, and which she had carefully tied about her waist as soon as she had entered the meadows, how pretty it looked!  But how was she repaid for all her trouble?  She was about disencumbering herself both of her apron and a little scarf which she had thrown over her shoulders, when she heard a voice that she had already learned to distinguish, calling to her in the distance.