Old Mr. Lonner and Magde were much gratified at this unexpected change in Nanna's deportment, and they could account for it only by supposing that she was much wiser than other girls of her age.
Carl, however, had peculiar views upon this subject, and when Nanna would exclaim, "O, how pleasant it is to be beloved!" he would reply:
"You know right well that there is some one who loves you, or else you would not be so light hearted."
When Carl thus spoke Nanna would blush with confusion.
"You must not speak so when any one can hear you," she would reply.
Carl would then nod his head pleasantly, and one day he learned the secret, for he felt he could not remain long on this earth, and he wished to know all, and aside from that Nanna was anxious to discover whether he believed as firmly as she did in Gottlieb's vows.
"Do you think, Carl," said she, as she concluded her recital, "do you think he will return?"
"As certainly as I shall never see the sun rise on St. John's day, for I saw that in his eye, which assured me he would not break his promises."
"Why do you use such an ominous comparison, Carl? Why do you think you will not see the sunrise on St. John's day?"
The pain caused by the beginning of Carl's remark, clouded the pure joy which his concluding words would have otherwise created.