Part 4 (1/2)

”Ah! it happened thus----” and then he said no more.

Arne went away from him straight indoors; and there he found his mother weeping; a thing he had not seen her do ever since the father's death. He turned back again, just as though he did not notice it; but he felt the mother was looking sorrowfully after him, and he was obliged to stop.

”What are you crying for, mother?” he asked. She did not answer, and all was silent in the room. Then his words came back to him again, and he felt they had not been spoken so kindly as they ought; and once more, in a gentler tone, he asked, ”What are you crying for, mother?”

”Ah, I hardly know,” she said, weeping still more. He stood silent a while; but at last mustered courage to say, ”Still, there must be some reason why you are crying.”

Again there was silence; but although the mother had not said one word of blame, he felt he was very guilty towards her. ”Well it just came over me,” she said after a while; and in a few moments she added, ”but really, I'm very happy;” and then she began weeping again.

Arne hurried out, away to the ravine; and while he sat there looking into it, he, too, began weeping. ”If I only knew what I am crying for,” he said.

Then he heard Opplands-Knut singing in the fields above him:

”Ingerid Sletten of Willow-pool Had no costly trinkets to wear; But a cap she had that was far more fair, Although 'twas only of wool.

It had no tr.i.m.m.i.n.g, and now was old; But her mother, who long had gone, Had given it her, and so it shone To Ingerid more than gold.

For twenty years she laid it aside, That it might not be worn away: 'My cap I'll wear on that blissful day When I shall become a bride.'

For thirty years she laid it aside Lest the colors might fade away: 'My cap I'll wear when to G.o.d I pray, A happy and grateful bride.'

For forty years she laid it aside, Still holding her mother as dear: 'My little cap, I certainly fear I never shall be a bride.'

She went to look for the cap one day In the chest where it long had lain; But, ah! her looking was all in vain: The cap had mouldered away.”

Arne listened, and the words seemed to him like music playing far away over the mountains. He went up to Knut and asked him, ”Have you a mother?”

”No.”

”Have you a father?”

”Ah, no; no father.”

”Is it long since they died?”

”Ah, yes; it's long since.”

”You haven't many, I dare say, who love you?”

”Ah, no; not many.”

”Have you any here at all?”

”No; not here.”

”But away in your own place?”

”Ah, no; not there either.”

”Haven't you any at all then who love you?”

”Ah, no; I haven't any.”