“Will you come for a walk?” she asked.
“Good idea. Where shall we go to-day?”
“Well, we haven’t been to see Aunt Marit at Bruseth yet. We really ought to go, you know. I’ll take you there to-day.”
Peer found these ceremonial visits to his new relatives quite amusing; he went round, as it were, collecting uncles and aunts. And to-day there was a new one. Well, why not?
“But—my dear girl, have you been crying?” he asked suddenly, taking her head in his hands.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Come—let’s go now.” And she thrust him gently away as he tried to kiss her. But the next moment she dropped into a chair, and sat looking thoughtfully at him through half-closed eyes, nodding her head very slightly. She seemed to be asking herself: “Who is this man? What is this I am taking on me? A fortnight ago he was an utter stranger—”
She passed her hand across her brow. “It’s mother—you know,” she said.
“Is anything special wrong to-day?”
“She’s so afraid you’re going to carry me off into the wide world at a moment’s notice.”
“But I’ve told her we’re going to live here for the present.”