So she was greatly surprised when he ignored her question and asked quickly, "Is Greta to be married?"
"Tomorrow," replied Fru Svenson, and set the dish of cakes before him on the table. "She is to wed a great nobleman."
With a sudden shove of his arm, Erik swept the dish off the table, and it crashed to the floor.
"What!" he cried. "She is not to marry Nils?"
Fru Svenson's two big hands settled upon her fleshy hips. She narrowed her eyes at the broken dish lying in pieces on the floor. Then she raised them to Erik's flushed face. He was breathing hard, and the look he gave her was pathetic. With an unexpected gesture, Fru Svenson swept him into her arms and hugged him close.
"Bless you, child!" she cried. "Don't look like that. It was your brother Nils whom I meant when I said that Greta was to marry a great nobleman. Nils is the greatest nobleman in the land and will make Hanssonborg a strong and clever manager."
The following day, the golden sun awoke and seemed to know that this was to be his day. The pagans who lived in ancient times used to worship the sun, and the Swedish celebration on Midsummer Eve is as joyous and natural as those festivities which took place many years ago.
MIDSUMMER EVE FESTIVAL
Greta and Nils were married in the village, in a pretty little church with a fat, round dome.