"'But, Johnnie!' thundered the voice of the farmer, who tried thus to overpower the tittering that went round the table.
"The tone was a merry one. Johnnie was much teased, and he swallowed down his vexation with his hot soup. The bailiff sat opposite Willi, and they often exchanged secret glances.
"'Johnnie is my crown prince,' said the farmer; 'and he will once reign over all this domain, while Willi will have all the money and wed the Raven farmer.'
"'That I will not,' said the girl, without looking up from her plate, and again that stern look came into her face; 'I do not like that man.'
"'She does not want to be a raven mother,'[1] the head-maid whispered to the bailiff, and all began to laugh.
"'What is all this whispering?' asked the farmer, frowning darkly.
"No one would reply. At last Johnnie called out—
"'Willi does not want to be a raven mother.'
"Then the laughter knew no bounds. Willi threw a censuring look at her brother; the farmer said dryly—