think, Hr. Bogstad?"

As the girl caught sight of the new arrival she started and the color
came to her face. He went up to her. "How are you, Signe?" he said. "How
do you like life on a _saeter_?"

"Well, I hardly know," she said, seemingly quite embarrassed.

"Oh, I'll tell you," broke in the busy Hansine, as she came with a pail
full of salt. "She just goes around and looks at and talks about what
she calls the beauties of nature. That she likes; but as for milking, or
churning, or making cheese, well--"

Then they all laughed good naturedly.

Hansine was a large, strong girl, with round, pleasant features. She and
the cows were good friends. At the sound of the _lur_ every afternoon
the cows turned their grazing heads towards home, and, on their arrival,
each was given a pat and a handful of salt. Then they went quietly into
their stalls.

It was quite late that evening before the milk had been strained into
the wooden platters and placed in rows on the shelves in the milk house.
Hr. Bogstad and Signe had proffered their help, but they had been
ordered into the house and Signe was told to prepare the evening meal.
When Hansine came in, she found the table set with the cheese, milk,
butter, and black bread, while Signe and Hr. Bogstad sat by the large
fireplace watching a pot of boiling cream mush.

The object of Hr. Bogstad's visit was plain enough. He had been devoting
his attentions to Signe Dahl for some time, and now that he was home
from college on a vacation, it was natural that he should follow her
from the village up to the mountains.

Hr. Bogstad, though young, was one of the rich men of Nordal. He had
lately fallen heir to a large estate. In fact, Signe's parents, with a
great many more, were but tenants of young Hr. Henrik Bogstad; and
although it was considered a great honor to have the attentions of such
a promising young man--for, in fact, Henrik was quite exemplary in all
things, and had a good name in the neighborhood--still Signe Dahl did
not care for him, and was uneasy in his company. She would rather sail
with some of the fisher boys on the lake than be the object of envy by
her companions. But Signe's slim, graceful form, large blue eyes, clear,
dimpled face, light silken hair, combined with a native grace and
beauty, attracted not only the fisher boys but the "fine" Hr. Bogstad
also. She was now spending a few days with her cousin Hansine in the
mountains. Her limited knowledge of _sae