"I have come to keep my word," answered the visitor in firm tones, without noticing the proffered seat.
"Indeed? You are in earnest?" And the hostess tried to twist her mouth into a smile. "The boy is in the barn; I will call him." She went toward the barn, the other woman following her.
Upon hearing his name called, Renti appeared in the barn door. When he saw the mistress of Lindenhof he started impulsively toward her, but suddenly checked himself, and hanging his head came slowly forward; for his first joy at seeing the mistress with whom he had once been so happy immediately gave place to the conviction that she must be angry with him, as everybody else was, for having been so bad. She had noticed his start of joy, however, and now held out her hand toward him smilingly and said, "Come, Renti; you need not be afraid."
"He probably has good reason for being afraid," said the woman of Stony Acre sharply.
He felt that he had indeed, and his head dropped lower and lower. The visitor watched him closely.
"Renti," she said, "what do you say to going home with me?"
Renti's head went up at that; he thought he was to take a walk to Lindenhof, and that would be fine. But his mistress had forbidden him to go away to-day. He looked at her questioningly; she said nothing.
"Well, get your bundle and we will be off," said the visitor.
Renti looked up with wide eyes.