Little Tora, The Swedish Schoolmistress and Other Stories

ly and as unharmed as if he had been a happy bird. The boots, however, of his companion seemed a tight fit for climbing, and at last a straggling bramble that crossed the way turned up two l

eeable path," she exclai

iss the service if you'd give her a bucket of red apples." The boy had evidently named his ultimatum in the wa

n his best style, which did not disturb his backbone, but brought his chin down till it touched his breast. He had taken off his cap for the performance, and his white hair fluttered in the breeze as he watched his late companion making her way up to the cottage

t a small woman with a short, dark skirt was bowed over, evidently washing the steps, with her back towards the path and her unexpected guest. A noise near her made the figure stand upright and turn its face towards the new-comer. One sight of the visitor prompted a series of bobbing co

id the girl, holding out the beautifu

stily wiped on the apron, and then stretched out to take that of the stranger for the usual expression of gratitude. "Thank you, miss, for bringing it," continued the old woman, with an

" said the young wo

the answer, with

that followed, while the fair face flushed wit

g, and a long look of almost unbelieving surprise. There was no move to take this c

eighbourhood, and so I got some one to show me the way to where you were living." She did not say that she had seen her mother at church, nor would

rtesying as to a stranger. "It's a

e a transplanted flower from a far country. They who had once been so near

" said Karin at last. She had been sile

as he always was. He pulled himself down, and was sick a long while, and then he died. There was the funeral, and the

e all you had!" said t

he went to heaven when he died. He was my only boy, and I loved him!" she continued, as if she were speaking to a stranger; and then suddenly remembering who her visitor was, she added: "You would not have known him for the same. 'Tell Karin,' he said to me-

ave any word at the inn where I was going. I will come soon again. Don't feel hard to me about Erik or anything. Remember I did not kn

ottage, and nothing would do but I must come down with them; and so I did. You can't think how kind they have been to me. I've done a power of knitting since I have been here. She sees that somebody bu

tood at the door and watched the tall girl hurrying down the