"Go, Erik," she said. "And you may tell your mother to come. Cook needs her to help in the kitchen."
Erik reached for her hand. There were big tears in his eyes.
"Oh, please, Fru Hansson," he said, "don't make Greta marry Baron von Engstrom!"
Fru Hansson felt a strange little hurt down in her heart. She squeezed the small hand and replied kindly, "I have given the Baron my promise, child. Now go."
Erik found Greta in the garden. As he poured out his story, she listened sympathetically.
"But even though Hanssonborg does not need the Baron's money now," he finished, "your mother will not call off the wedding because she has given her promise."
"And so," said Greta, "Karl is to be master of Hanssonborg tomorrow!" Her lake-blue eyes had turned ocean-green.
"Oh, but he must not! He must never be master of Hanssonborg," cried Erik. "Baron von Engstrom is a coward!"
Greta gave Erik a strange, quick look. "If my mother believed that," she said, "the wedding would be called off at once."
"Then she must believe it," said Erik, "because it is true."