That evening it was decided that Andrea should be sent as a Warder to the Moravian Mission at Kristiansfeldt.
Andrea wept bitterly, but to no purpose; she had to go, whether she liked it or not.
Peter Oiland came several times to the house, but got no farther than the doorstep; the maid invariably greeted him with the words: "Mr. Sukkestad's compliments, sir, but he's not at home."
On the occasion of his last attempt before Andrea's departure, he had just got out of the gate when he heard the drawing-room window open, and Andrea's well-known voice singing:
"Thou are my one and only thought,
My one and only love...."
He stopped and looked up, but saw only the stern countenance of Papa Sukkestad hastily closing the window, and the music ceased abruptly.
It was quite enough for Peter, however, and he walked home gaily, confident now that all would go well.
Andrea went off without having spoken to Oiland, but the post was busy between Strandvik and Kristiansfeldt, for letters passed daily either way—while Mrs. Sukkestad went about complaining that Andrea never wrote home.