d just on that account, and on account of many other things, do you
hear, Sally? Promise that you never again go that way when you want to
come to me. Will you promise?"

"Yes, indeed I will. I do not intend to do it again. Good night,
Marianne! Now I have forgotten the main thing: 'Lizebeth sends her
greetings and she will come to see you on a fine Sunday."

The last words came from some distance, for Sally had already started on
a run while she gave the message, and when Marianne wanted to send her
greetings, Sally was already far away. After a few more jumps Sally
arrived at the house of the Justice of Peace, in front of which stood a
large apple tree which shaded the stone well. Here stood Kaetheli who
did not look sick at all, but splashed with two fat, red arms about the
water in which she seemed to clean some object eagerly.

"Then you are not sick. Why didn't you come to school then?" Sally
called out when she saw her.

"Oh, it is you? Good evening! I could not make out who was jumping
about, and I hadn't the time to look," Kaetheli said with some
importance. "That is also the reason why I did not go to school. I
hadn't the time, for Mother has gone away today to see sick Grandmother,
and then we got young chickens, twelve quite small ones, and that is why
I have to wash a stocking, for I have run after the chicks everywhere
and near the barn I stepped in the dirt quite deep. But come, I will
show you the chickens. Never mind if I have only one stocking on."

But Sally had only very little time left and besides, her head was full
of quite different things and she wanted to hear Kaetheli tell of
something else than the new chickens, so she said quite decisively: "No,
Kaetheli, I haven't time enough to see the chickens. I only wanted to
know whether you were ill and I want to tell you something. I have seen
the strange lady and the boy whom you know. He does look nice. Do you
know his name?"

"He?" said Kaetheli, shrugging her shoulders. "Of course I know. His
name is Erick and just think, he goes to school at Lower Wood; I have
seen him myself today, with his school sack, going there."

That was a blow for Sally. He went to school at Lower Wood. What was now
to come of her beautiful plans? Of all the planned Sundays which were to
be so full of joy and delight, and the whole friendship with the
prepossessing Erick? For how could Edi ever be brought to making friends
with a fellow who went to Lower Wood to s