She will now sing; you
something. It is astonishing what a voice she has! Last Whitsuntide she
sang in the church with the musical people; she sang louder than the
organ!"

Otto approached the sofa, over which a large piece of needlework hung,
in a splendid gold frame. "That is Maren's name-sampler," said the
mistress of the house. "It is very pretty. See! there stand all our
names! Can Mr. Thostrup guess who this is? Here are all the figures
worked in open stitch. That ship, there, is the Mariane, which was
called after me. There you see the Lemvig Arms--a tower which stands on
the waves; and here in the corner, in regular and irregular stitches,
is her name, 'Maren, October the 24th, 1828.' Yes, that is now two years
since. She has now worked a cushion for the sofa, with a Turk upon
it. It went the round of the city--every one wished to see it; it is
astonishing how Maren can use her hands!"

Rosalie inquired after the excellent girl.

"She is preparing the table," said the lady. "Some good friends are
coming to us this evening. The secretary will also come; he will then
play with Maren. You will doubtless, in Copenhagen, have heard much more
beautiful music; ours is quite simple, but they sing from notes: and I
think, most likely the secretary will bring his musical-box with him.
That is splendid! Only lately he sang a little song to the box, that was
much better than to the larger instrument; for I must say he has not the
strong chest which Maren has."

The whole family assembled themselves for the first time at the
dinner-table. The two persons who took the lowest places at table
appeared the most original; these were the shopman and the aunt. Both
of them had only at dinner the honor of being with the family; they were
quite shut out from the evening parties.

The shopman, who in the shop was the first person, and who could there
speak a few words, sat here like a quiet, constrained creature; his hair
combed toward one side, and exhibiting two red, swollen hands: no sound
escaped his lips; kissing the hand of the lady of the house, at coming
and going, was all he did beside eat.

The aunt, who was not alone called so by the family, but by the whole
of Lemvig, was equally sparing of her words, but her face was constantly
laughing. A flowered, red cotton cap fitted close to the thin face,
giving something characteristic to the high cheek-bones and hanging
lip. "She assisted in the household, but could take no