Invisible Links

That which she dare

r to the rose, like the sweetness to the berry, imperc

ood or evil, fair or foul, still it is forbidden; that which

st the same. "It" turns back the blood in her veins and flows there, drives the thoughts from her brain and reigns there, dances through her nerves and trembles in her finger-tips. It is everywhere

o think of "it" constantly. How has she become so wi

our souls, and how easil

ad not come at breakfast

en so terrified when she came down to breakfast and f

w of course that it was wise to keep away from his uncle for a few hours until the latter became calm again. He could not know that she was so shy, nor that she

she have been able to answer. The old lady knew the story well, but he told it just the same. Then Anne-Marie remembered that Maurits had laughed at his uncle beca

the breadth of homespun. She saw Maurits before her; how royally proud he would have look

nderstood Maurits had gone hunting to escape his wrath and that he knew how she thought to win him over. -Yes, yesterday, then they had been able to make plans, Maurits and she, how she should coquet with uncle, but t

princely speech: "Had my brother not done it, I would have done it myself." He said it with

boy. "What do you think," he cried, "Bengt Lagman thought when he came hom

not playing your part, my little girl." And every time she had looked at him the brown eyes had repeated: "Had my brother not done it, I would have

"it" came, nor during t

with pleasure at the beautiful place and that nature was so wonderfully ne

country lass as soon as she put her foot on the sandy p

out her on the lawn in front of the door. Then she suddenly began to whirl about; she hung her hat on her arm a

brave

rns and out-houses. She met a farm-girl and said a few words to her. She was surprised to hear how brisk her own voice sounded; it was like an officer at the front. And she

ut at pasture. A single calf stood in its pen and seemed to expect her to do something for him. She went up to him, raised

graciously let him lick her little finger. She could not resist looking about her, as if to find some on

come to pass that she was no longer afraid of Uncle Theodore. He was like her mother; he seemed to know al

terraces by the pond, but that was not to her mind. She wis

vants' rooms; the laborers' cottages and the wood-carving room. She became a little confused by all the different rooms that Uncle Theodore had considered necessary to establish on his estate; but her heart was glowing with enthusiasm at the thought of how splendid it must be to have all that to rule over. So she was not tired, although they walked thro

this perfection. But most of all, she was moved by the great brewh

t to see tha

had told of her home. He was already like a friend, a

was only as play that she was allowed to help in the baking and in the shop. Somehow she came to tell him that her father called her Downie. She had also said: "Everyb

She could have struck him with her switch. She re

." Whereupon she had cried: "Ah; Uncle Theodore, why do you not marry

Maurits's inheritance?" u

ance, for that was just what they did do. She wondered if it was very ugly for them to do so. She suddenly had a feeling a

a tiny, little thing on the thinnest legs, with fluttering ea

s, that I have such

re had

I do," she

but Jenny who has taken me as a master. You would like to hea

she understood that it would be s

ue that you had it! And I thought what a little rat it was. But do you know when that little creature was put down on the ground here some memories of her childhood or something must

ou must understand, a little thing that had only lain in a basket and been carried on the arm! It was wonderful. And so when they were going to leave, Jenny would not go. She stood on the steps and whined so pitifully and jumped up on me, and really asked to be

she rushed away so hurriedly. But she had felt as if he had meant her when he spoke of Jenny. And

t then "it" c

d her if she had danced much, she would have needed to reconsider and acknowledge that she had not. But it was the

severe to him at breakfast and laughed at him yesterday, it was such a pleasure to

nced only with her. But it had been pleasure enough for her to see how every one liked Maurits

e up and whispered: "You see, I can't get away from her. We are old friends. Here in the country they are so unaccustomed to have a partner

adies. He was wonderful. Both Uncle and she had watched Maurits, and then their eyes had met. Uncle had smiled and nodded to her. Uncle certainly was proud of Maurits. She had felt badly that Uncle did not

uncle, and it had sounded rather patronising. She

turned on his heel and w

her and said with a

to dance with you? If you could know what he said to me yesterday about you! You mu

wish me to

game is spoiled. Think all I had wo

like, Maurits." And she really meant it.

g to do; but one can ask nothing of an

o the smoking-room, which was almost empty. U

t dance with me?

d how a prisoner must feel when he thinks of his chains. It made her sorry for Uncle. It seemed as if he had needed her much more than M

He began to stroke her hair with his b

ir. It came stealing, it came creeping, it came