"I only tell dem you cannot buy all de market out. You can say vat you like," she said.
Pears and cherries, and plums too, because the old plum-woman looked poorer than the rest, I bought; and as we drove away the chorus followed us again with good wishes. "Dey are like crazy old vomans," remarked Katrina; "I never heard such noise of old vomans to once time before." A few minutes after we reached the house she disappeared suddenly, and presently returned with a little cantaloupe melon in her hands. Standing before me, with a curious and hesitating look on her face, she said, "Is dis vat you like?"
"Oh, yes," I exclaimed, grateful for the sight. "I was longing for one yesterday. Where did you get it?"
"I not get it. I borrow it for you to see. I tell the man I bring it back," she replied, still with the same curious expressions of doubt flitting over her queer little face.
"Why, whose melon is it?" I exclaimed. "What did you bring it for if it were not for sale?"
"Oh, it is for selled, if you like to buy," she said, still with the hesitant expression.
"Of course I like to buy it," I said impatiently. "How much does it cost?"
"Dat is it," replied Katrina, sententiously. "It is too dear to buy, I tell the man; but he said I should bring it to you, to see. I tink you vill not buy it;" still with the quizzical look on her face.
Quite out of patience, I cried, "But why don't you tell me the price of it? I should like it very much. It can't be so very dear."
"Dat it can," answered Katrina, chuckling, at last letting out her suppressed laugh. "He ask six kroner for dat ting; and I tink you not buy it at such price, so I bring to make you laugh."