. The rector seemed to be pleased with him, for the man
is rich. But his daughter would not hear to it at all. Pastor Soeren
may have tried hard to persuade her to consent at first. But when he
saw how much she disliked the man he let her do as she would. It was
not pride on her part, Rasmus said, for she is as simple and modest as
she is good and beautiful. And she knows that her own father is
peasant-born as well as Bruus.

Now I know what the Ingvorstrup horses were intended for. They were to
blind the judge and to lead him aside from the narrow path of
righteousness. The rich Morten Bruus covets poor Ole Andersen's peat
moor and pasture land. It would have been a good bargain for Morten
even at seventy thalers. But no indeed, my good fellow, you don't know
Erik Soerensen!

Rector Soeren Quist of Veilbye came to see me this morning. He has a
new coachman, Niels Bruus, brother to the owner of Ingvorstrup. Niels
is lazy and impertinent. The rector wanted him arrested, but he had no
witnesses to back up his complaint. I advised him to get rid of the
man somehow, or else to get along with him the best he could until the
latter's time was up. The rector was somewhat hasty at first, but
later on he listened calmly and thanked me for my good advice. He is
inclined to be violent at times, but can always be brought to listen
to reason. We parted good friends.

I spent a charming day in Veilbye yesterday. The rector was not at
home, but Mistress Mette received me with great friendliness. She sat
by the door spinning when I arrived, and it seemed to me that she
blushed. It was hardly polite for me to wait so long before speaking.
When I sit in judgement I never lack for words, but in the presence of
this innocent maiden I am as stupid as the veriest simpleton of a
chicken thief. But I finally found my voice and the time passed
quickly until the rector's return. Then Mistress Mette left us and did
not return until she brought in our supper.

Just as she stepped through the doorway the rector was saying to me,
"Isn't it about time that you should think of entering into the holy
estate of matrimony?" (We had just been speaking of a recent very fine
wedding in the neighborhood.) Mistress Mette heard the words and
flushed a deep red. Her father laughed and said to her, "I can see, my
dear daughter, that you have been standing before the fire."

I shall take the good man's advice and will very soon try my fate with
her. For I t