Now the moon,[997] who had been hiding in a veil of misty lace,

Wishing to embarrass no one by the shining of her face,

Peeped again, in modest wonder, ere her cloud she gently broke,

And she saw the good-wife smiling, as to Thora thus she spoke:

“Since thou hast chosen, daughter—every bird[998] must try his wings—

Tell me, how didst thou discover that thy heart to Halvor clings?”

“Well,” she said, in sweet confusion, while her eyes grew big with tears,

“Thou wouldst scarcely understand it, mother dear—I boxed his ears.”

[Gestures.]