"Beautiful!" exclaimed the old man, "what put that into your little head?"
"Magde told me that all poor women ought to be born ugly, that their reputation might not be suspected."
"Magde was a little out of humor, when she said that, and she who wishes to please her husband so much, could not have really intended what she said."
"Yes, but when a woman is married, it alters the case entirely."
"But why should not an unmarried girl wish herself handsome for the sake of her father, her brother, and above all for her own sake? That is a good wish so long as it continues innocent."
"When then, is it not innocent?" inquired Nanna.
"It is no longer innocent when the love of fine apparel, and the desire to be beautiful, changes the heart, and the girl neglects her duties, and gives her sole attention to that which should only serve as a simple recreation; but that I am sure will never be the case with you."
Nanna was silent. She drooped her head. "There is no danger of that," thought she, "for who will care to witness the change?"
"On next St. John's day," continued her father, "you must wear that elegant silk shawl which belonged to your poor mother."
As Nanna heard these words, a smile of peculiar meaning passed over her lips. It was the smile of a woman who anticipates a future triumph.