Lisbeth was still sitting on the king's table. It was the first time she had ever received a letter. Indeed, even Ole and Peter had never received any. They were entirely overwhelmed with respectful surprise and took their stand at a suitable distance.
On the outside of the letter stood:
Salve Titel.[18]
To the Highly Respected Maiden,
Lisbeth Jacob's-daughter Longfrock,
at Hoel Sæter, on the West Mountain.
At Convenience, by Messenger.
Post Free.
Lisbeth broke the seal solemnly and opened the letter. Then she read, half aloud:
Nordrum Sæter, 15th of this month.
Salve Titel.
To the Maiden Lisbeth Longfrock.
Good Sister: Since time and opportunity permit, I now take my pen in hand to write to you and tell you that I have nothing to write about except that it is a long time since I last saw you. But I have a spare day due to me from Hans. I took care of his animals for him when he went to his mother's burial. It was really two days, but I only reckoned it as one, because it was his mother. And now I will take that day from him on the next Sunday of this month. In case you have a day due to you from Peter or Ole, I write to ask if you cannot take it from them. But if you have not, you can take a day, all the same, because I am stronger; but I did not mean anything by it when I gave Peter a thrashing last winter. So I wanted to write to you and ask if we could not meet at Peerout Castle, for I have not been there since—