l they were out of sight of the farmhouse
that he resumed anything like a reasonable pace.

As soon as they had disappeared, Thelma turned into the house and seated
herself at her spinning-wheel. Britta soon entered the room, carrying
the same graceful implement of industry, and the two maidens sat
together for some time in a silence unbroken, save by the low melodious
whirring of the two wheels, and the mellow complaints of the strutting
doves on the window-sill.

"Froeken Thelma!" said Britta at last, timidly.

"Yes, Britta?" And her mistress looked up inquiringly.

"Of what use is it for you to spin now?" queried the little handmaid.
"You will be a great lady, and great ladies do not work at all!"

Thelma's wheel revolved more and more slowly, till at last it stopped
altogether.

"Do they not?" she said half inquiringly and musingly. "I think you must
be wrong, Britta. It is impossible that there should be people who are
always idle. I do not know what great ladies are like."

"I do!" And Britta nodded her curly head sagaciously. "There was a girl
from Hammerfest who went to Christiania to seek service--she was handy
at her needle, and a fine spinner, and a great lady took her right away
from Norway to London. And the lady bought her spinning-wheel for a
curiosity she said,--and put it in the corner of a large parlor, and
used to show it to her friends, and they would all laugh and say, 'How
pretty!' And Jansena,--that was the girl--never span again--she wore
linen that she got from the shops,--and it was always falling into
holes, and Jansena was always mending, mending, and it was no good!"

Thelma laughed. "Then it is better to spin, after all, Britta--is it
not?"

Britta looked dubious. "I do not know," she answered; "but I am sure
great ladies do not spin. Because, as I said to you, Froeken, this
Jansena's mistress was a great lady, and she never did anything,--no!
nothing at all,--but she put on wonderful dresses, and sat in her room,
or was driven about in a carriage. And that is what you will do also,
Froeken!"

"Oh no, Britta," said Thelma decisively. "I could not be so idle. Is it
not fortunate I have so much linen ready? I have quite enough for
marriage."

The little maid looked wistful. "Yes, dear Froeken," she murmured
hesitatingly; "but I was thinking if it is right for you to wear what
you have spun. Because, you see, Jansena's mistress had wonderful things
all trimmed with lace,--and the