Eli had no doubt wanted to ask who she was, but could not command the courage to do so, because the other was so much older than she; now she said that she did not remember having seen her before.
"Well, to be sure, that is scarcely to be expected; old folks seldom get out. You may perhaps know my son, Arne Kampen. I am his mother." She stole a sly glance, as she spoke, at Eli, on whom these words wrought a considerable change. "I am inclined to think he worked over at Böen once, did he not?"
Yes, it was Eli's impression, too, that he had done so.
"The weather is fine this evening. We turned our hay to-day, and got it in before I left home; it is really blessed weather."
"There will surely be a good hay-harvest this year," Eli observed.
"Yes, you may well say so. I suppose everything looks splendidly over at Böen."
"They are through harvesting there."
"Oh, of course; plenty of help, stirring people. Are you going home this evening?"
No, she did not intend to do so. They talked together about one thing and another and gradually became so well acquainted that Margit felt at liberty to ask Eli to walk a short distance with her.
"Could you not keep me company a few steps?" said she. "I so seldom find any one to talk with, and I dare say it will make no difference to you."