"Hear what he has to say, Jörgen," said Ma, quickly comprehending the situation; "this way, out the veranda door. Appear as if you came of your own accord."
Both the girls flew in to the windows of the best room in order to peep out under the curtains.
He was coming in by the steps to the outer door with Jörgen, who suddenly vanished from his sight into the kitchen.
Little Thea stood in the door of the sitting-room with a piece of bread and butter, clutching the latch, and, holding the door half shut and half open, stared at him; she was altogether out of it.
"Is your father at home?"
"Yes, but you must go by the kitchen path, do you hear? And wait till we have had lunch; he is not going up to the office before that." She took him for a man who was going to be put on the roll.
"But I am not going to the office, you see."
Ma herself came now; she had managed to get her cap on in her hurry, but it was all awry.
"A young man, I see, who has perhaps come a long distance to-day. Please walk in."
Her smile was kind, but her eye underneath it was as sharp as an officer's review; here were holes and darns with coarse thread for the nonce and rents in abundance, and it was not easy to free herself from the suspicion of some questionable rover, especially when he dropped straight in through the door with the remark: "I come like a tramp from the mountain wilds, madam. I must make many excuses."