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      Magnhild failed to notice this, because she had just heard steps on the stairs. Tande, the composer, was coming to join them.

      "How your hand trembles!" cried the little one.

      A hasty glance from the lady sent the hot blood coursing up to Magnhild's neck, cheeks, temples – yet another from Tande, who stood on the door-steps, not wholly free from embarrassment, and who now bowed.

      "Are we going up in the wood?" asked the little girl, clinging tightly to Magnhild's hand.

      "Yes," replied the lady; "is there not a path across the fields behind the house?"

      "Yes, there is."

      "Then let us go that way."

      They went into the house again, and passed out of the back door, through the garden, across the fields. The wood lay to the left of the church, and entirely covered the plain and the tower mountain slopes. Magnhild and the child walked on in advance; the lady and Tande followed.

      "What is your name?" asked the little girl.

      "Magnhild."

      "How funny, for my name is Magda, and that is almost the same." Presently she said: "Have you ever seen papa in uniform?"

      No, Magnhild never had.

      "He is coming here soon, papa is, and I will ask him to put it on."

      The little girl continued to prattle about her papa, whom she evidently loved beyond all else upon earth. Sometimes Magnhild heard what she was saying, sometimes she did not hear. The pair walking behind spoke so low that Magnhild could not distinguish a single word they were saying although they were quite near. Once she gave a hasty glance back and observed that the lady's expression was troubled, Tande's grave.

      They reached the wood.

      "Just see! here at the very edge of the wood is the most charming spot in the world!" exclaimed the lady, and now she was radiant again, as though she had never known other than the most jubilant mood. "Let us sit down here!" and as she spoke she threw herself down with a little burst of delight and a laugh. Tande seated himself slowly and at a little distance, Magnhild and the child took their seats opposite the pair.