going to fall into a grave. I can hear the clods thrown on her
head--thump--thump! It does not take long to bury a dream! Come,
mistress, let us follow the sunshine!"

And, taking the hand she extended towards him, he turned away, looking
back once, however, to call out loudly--

"Good-bye, bad dreams!"

As they disappeared behind the trees, Lovisa turned angrily to the
still-sobbing Ulrika.

"What is this folly?" she exclaimed, striking her staff fiercely into
the ground. "Art mad or bewitched?"

Ulrika looked up,--her plain face swollen and stained with weeping.

"O Lord, have mercy upon me! O Lord, forgive me!" she moaned. "I did not
know it--how _could_ I know?"

Lovisa grew so impatient that she seized her by the shoulder and shook
her violently.

"Know what?" she cried; "know what?"

"Sigurd is my son!" said Ulrika, with a sort of solemn
resignation,--then, with a sudden gesture, she threw her hands above her
head, crying, "My son, my son! The child I thought I had killed! The
Lord be praised I did not murder him!"

Lovisa Elsland seemed stupefied with surprise. "Is this the truth?" she
asked at last, slowly and incredulously.

"The truth, the truth!" cried Ulrika passionately. "It is always the
truth that comes to light! He is my child, I tell you! . . . I gave him
that scar!" She paused, shuddering, and continued in a lower tone, "I
tried to kill him with a knife, but when the blood flowed, it sickened
me, and I could not! He was an infant abortion--the evil fruit of an
evil deed--and I threw him out to the waves,--as I told you, long ago.
You have had good use of my confession, Lovisa Elsland; you have held me
in your power by means of my secret, but now--"

The old woman interrupted her with a low laugh of contempt and malice.

"As the parents are, so are the children!" she said scornfully. "Your
lover must have been a fine man, Ulrika, if the son is like his father!"

Ulrika glared at her vengefully, then drew herself up with an air of
defiance.

"I care nothing for your taunts, Lovisa Elsland!" she said. "You can do
me no harm! All is over between us! I will help in no mischief against
the Gueldmars. Whatever their faults, they saved--my child!"

"Is that so great a blessing?" asked Lovisa ironically.

"It makes your threats useless," answered Ulrika. "You cannot call me
_murderess_ again!"

"Coward and fool!" shrieked Lovisa. "Was it _your_ intent that the child
should live? Were you