“It is best I do so. A happy morning to thee! What more is in my heart shall lie quiet at this time.”
Sunna went away with the air of a happy, careless girl, but she said many angry words to herself as she hasted on the homeward road. “Most of the tales tell how women are made to suffer by the men they love––but no tale shall be made about Sunna Vedder! No! No! It is Boris 125 Ragnor I shall turn into laughter––he has mocked my very heart––I will never forgive him––that is the foolish way all women take––all but Sunna Vedder––she will neither forgive nor forget––she will follow up this affair––yes!”
By such promises to herself she gradually regained her usual reasonable poise, and with a smiling face sought her grandfather. She found him in his own little room sitting at a table covered with papers. He looked up as she entered and, in spite of his intention, answered her smile and greeting with an equal plentitude of good will and good temper.
“But I thought then, that thou would stay with thy friend all day, and for that reason I took out work not to be chattered over.”
“I will go away now. I came to thee because things have not gone as I wanted them. Thy counsel at such ill times is the best that can happen.”
Then Vedder threw down his pencil and turned to her. “Who has given thee wrong or despite or put thee out of the way thou wanted to take?”
“It is Boris Ragnor. He has sailed north with the recruiting company––without a word to me he has gone. He has thrown my love back in my 126 face. Should thy grandchild forgive him? I am both Vedder and Fae. How can I forgive?”
Vedder took out his watch and looked at the time. “We have an hour before dinner. Sit down and I will talk to thee. First thou shalt tell me the very truth anent thy quarrel with Boris. What did thou do, or say, that has so far grieved him? Now, then, all of it. Then I can judge if it be Boris or Sunna, that is wrong in this matter.”
“Listen then. Boris heard some men talking about me––that made his temper rise––then he heard from these men that I was dancing at McLeod’s and he went there to see, and as it happened I was dancing with McLeod when he entered the room, and he walked up to me in the dance and said thou wanted me, and he made me come home with him and scolded me all the time we were together. I asked him not to tell thee, and he promised he would not––if I went there no more. I have not danced with McLeod since, except at Mrs. Brodie’s. Thou saw me then.”
“Thou should not have entered McLeod’s house––what excuse hast thou for that fault?”