“But how is it possible that your father should be so well educated?  Yesterday, when we were walking together, you told me that he had resided in this valley nearly half his lifetime, with scarcely sufficient means to support himself and family.”

“Alas! a sorrowful story is connected with my father’s younger days; but he never speaks of it.  He had high hopes, when young, and had they been realized, he would have been a man of consequence; but the death of his patron crushed everything.”

“I must call upon your father some pleasant evening.  Do you think he would be pleased to see me?”

“Of course, and Magde would also.”

“Your sister-in-law?  Well, well, I will soon visit them both; but listen now—­”

“I will.”

“As the error has already been committed—­”

“What error?”

“That you should have been taught more than you ought to know; but still, it is now too late to repent as you have already learned a little, and I do not think there will be any harm in teaching you more.”

“Who will teach me?”

“I shall of course.—­I have an idea.”

Nanna glanced inquiringly towards her companion.  “You might be able,” he continued, “to earn a little competency for yourself; would you be willing to become a school-teacher?”

“O, yes, nothing could be better!  Then I would not be obliged to think of—­of—­”

“Of marriage?”

“Yes, of marriage.”

“And I am of your opinion, for to speak candidly, whom could you marry?”

“I do not know; there is the parish tailor, who has already spoken to Magde about it—­”

“The parish tailor!—­Aha!”

“And Captain Larsson who owns a sloop, offered Ragnar two barrels of rye flour if he would speak a good word to me about him.”

“Two barrels of rye flour as a bribe!  And your brother’s reply?”

“O, Ragnar is not to be played with,” replied Nanna; “’if you wish to purchase my sister,’ said he, ’you had better speak to her yourself, she has not authorized me to sell her.’”

“So you have two lovers!”

“Yes, and the sexton, an old widower, is the third.  He has considerable wealth, and therefore applied to my father, himself.”

“Without success?”

“Yes, father told him I was too young.”

“Do you not prefer either of your suitors?”

“I would rather throw myself into lake Wenner, than to marry either of them.”

“Then let us speak of the school.  It will give you a little income, and is, as far as I can see, the only method of using your accomplishments to advantage.”

“You are right.  It is my only choice.”

“I fear so too, for a lover suitable for you would not in all probability find his way hither; but in me you have found a friend at least.”

“Thank God, for that.”

“But it is necessary that we should make one agreement—­”