at 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;