miners all went into his house one after another. Elis followed
involuntarily, and stood at the threshold, so that he overlooked the
spacious floor, where the miners took their places on benches. Then the
doors at the side opposite to him opened, and a beautiful young lady,
in evening dress, came in. She was in the full glory of the freshest
bloom of youth, tall and slight, with dark hair in many curls, and a
bodice fastened with rich clasps. The miners all stood up, and a low
murmur of pleasure ran through their ranks. "Ulla Dahlsjoe!" they said.
"What a blessing Heaven has bestowed on our hearty alderman in her!"
Even the oldest miners' eyes sparkled when she gave them her hand in
kindly greeting, as she did to them all. Then she brought beautiful
silver tankards, filled them with splendid Aehl (such as Falun is
famous for), and handed them to the guests with a face beaming with
kindness and hospitality.

"When Elis saw her a lightning flash seemed to go through his heart,
kindling all the heavenly bliss, the love-longings, the passionate
ardour lying hidden and imprisoned there. For it was Ulla Dahlsjoe who
had held out the hand of rescue to him in his mysterious dream. He
thought he understood, now, the deep significance of that dream, and,
forgetting the old miner, praised the stroke of fortune which had
brought him to Falun.

"Alas! he felt he was but an unknown, unnoticed stranger, standing
there on the doorstep miserable, comfortless, alone--and he wished he
had died before he saw Ulla, as he now must perish for love and
longing. He could not move his eyes from the beautiful creature, and,
as she passed close to him, he pronounced her name in a low, trembling
voice. She turned, and saw him standing there with a face as red as
fire, unable to utter a syllable. So she went up to him, and said, with
a sweet smile:

"'I suppose you are a stranger, friend, as you are dressed as a sailor.
Well! why are you standing at the door? Come in and join us."

"Elis felt as if in the blissful paradise of some happy dream, from
which he would presently waken to inexpressible wretchedness. He
emptied the tankard which she had given him; and Pehrson Dahlsjoe came
up, and, after kindly shaking hands with him, asked him where he came
from, and what had brought him to Falun.

"Elis felt the warming power of the noble liquor in his veins, and,
looking the hearty Dahlsjoe in the eyes, he felt happy and courageous.
He told him he