lations and cries. That plump buxom figure--that tumbled brown
hair streaming wildly on, the breeze,--that round rosy face--why! it was
Britta! Britta, driving all alone, with the reckless daring of a
Norwegian peasant girl accustomed to the swaying, jolting movement of
the carriole as well as the rough roads and sharp turnings. Nearer she
came and nearer--and Duprez hailed her with a shout of welcome. She saw
him, answered his call, and drove still faster,--soon she came up beside
him, and without answering his amazed questions, she cried
breathlessly--

"Jump in--jump in! We must go on as quickly as possible to Bosekop!
Quick--quick! Oh my poor Froeken! The old villain! Wait till I get at
him!"

"But, my _leet-le_ child!" expostulated Pierre, climbing up into the
queer vehicle--"What is all this? I am in astonishment--I understand not
at all! How comes it that you are run away from home, and Mademoiselle
also?"

Britta only waited till he was safely seated, and then lashed the pony
with redoubled force. Away they clattered at a break-neck pace, the
Frenchman having much ado to prevent himself from being jolted out again
on the road.

"It is a wicked plot!" she then exclaimed, panting with excitement--"a
wicked, wicked plot! This afternoon Mr. Dyceworthy's servant came and
brought Sir Philip's card. It said that he had met with an accident and
had been brought back to Bosekop, and that he wished the Froeken to come
to him at once. Of course, the darling believed it all--and she grew so
pale, so pale! And she went straight away in her boat all by herself! Oh
my dear--my dear!"

Britta gasped for breath, and Duprez soothingly placed an arm round her
waist, an action which the little maiden seemed not to be aware of. She
resumed her story--"Then the Froeken had not been gone so very long, and
I was watching for her in the garden, when a woman passed by--a friend
of my grandmother's. She called out--'Hey, Britta! Do you know they have
got your mistress down at Talvig, and they'll burn her for a witch
before they sleep!' 'She has gone to Bosekop,' I answered, 'so I know
you tell a lie.' 'It is no lie,' said the old woman, 'old Lovisa has her
this time for sure.' And she laughed and went away. Well, I did not stop
to think twice about it--I started off for Talvig at once--I ran nearly
all the way. I found my grandmother alone--I asked her if she had seen
the Froeken? She screamed and clapped her hands like a mad woman!