lder one with an air of indifference, the
younger one with triumph in his pimpled face and flashing eyes. For the
first time Roennaug roused to interest. Although nearly five years had
elapsed since she had served as "skyds" girl to the unknown man who had
talked about Magnhild's destiny, and who had seen her herself in
circumstances of which she was now ashamed, she recognized him at once.
Hurriedly grasping Magnhild's hand, she cried:--

"Do you know him? What is his name? Does he live here?"

In her eagerness she quite forgot to use her mother-tongue.

Magnhild replied only to the last question:--

"Yes, since last winter."

"What is his name?"

"Grong."

"Have you had any conversation with him?"

"More with his son; that was he who was standing by the cariole."

Roennaug looked after Grong, who at this moment drove briskly, it might
almost be said angrily, past them.

They soon came to the second hotel on the right hand side; a maid
servant was asked if a lady had stopped there with a child. They were
shown up-stairs. There stood the lady who had accompanied Roennaug. The
latter asked her in English where the child was, at the same time
presenting Miss Roland to Mrs. Skarlie, after which all three went into
the adjoining room.

"Ah, we have a cradle!" exclaimed Roennaug in English, and threw herself
on her knees beside the cradle.

Magnhild remained standing, at a little distance. The child was very
pretty, so far as Magnhild could see. Roennaug bent over it and for some
time she neither looked up nor spoke. But Magnhild saw that great tears
trickled down on the fine coverlet that was spread over the cradle.
There arose a painful silence.

Roennaug rose to her feet at last, and with a side glance at Magnhild she
went past her into the front room. Magnhild finally felt constrained to
follow her. She found Roennaug standing by the window. A carriage stopped
at that moment in front of the hotel. Magnhild saw that it was drawn by
three men. It was a new, handsome traveling carriage, the handsomest she
had ever seen.

"Whose carriage is that?" asked she.

"It is mine," replied Roennaug.

Betsy Roland came in and asked some question. Roennaug went out with her,
and when, directly afterward, she returned to the room, she went
straight up to Magnhild, who still sat looking at the carriage. Roennaug
laid one arm about her neck.

"Will you go with me in this carriage through the country, Magnhild?"
she