CHAPTER XVIII.
THE FIRST FIRE UPON THE HEARTH.
AMRIE in the mean time went on, lost in dreamy thoughts. She looked inquiringly up at the trees that stood so calmly upon the place, and that will stand, she thought, and look down upon thee for years; many years, perhaps thy whole life, and be thy life’s companions! Meanwhile, what will be thy life’s experience?
Amrie was too old to look for support in the outward world, and it was long since she had asked the service-tree for advice. She now tried to turn her thoughts from all surrounding objects; and yet she must look at the fields that would soon be her own, and she could not help thinking of what was to come; of her entrance and reception, question and answer; the confusion of a thousand possibilities whirled around, and the Silver-trot waltz played itself in her head. She said at last, half aloud, “What is the use of all this thinking? When the music plays I must dance, be it hop or waltz. I know not how I shall move my feet; they must go of themselves. I cannot think—I will not think, that perhaps in an hour I may be coming this way again, the heart broken in my body! And yet I must move on, step after step! Enough! Now let whatever will, come; I am prepared.”
There was more within than this out-spoken resolution; she had not, in vain, from her childhood, solved riddles, and from day to day had to wrestle with life; the whole power of that, which through effort she had become, rested quiet and secure within her mind. Without further question, as one goes to meet a necessity, calm in her self-possession she went on with courageous and firm steps.
She had not gone far when she saw an old man sitting with a red-thorn stick between his feet, and his hands and chin resting upon it.
“God bless you,” said Amrie. “Do you enjoy your rest?”
“Yes. Where are you bound?”
“Up to the farm. Will you go with me? You can lean on me.”
“Ah! So it is,” laughed the old man. “Thirty years ago I should have been delighted. Then, if a pretty girl had said that, I had sprung like a colt.”
“But I should not have said it to one who could spring like a colt,” laughed Amrie.